Finished,'Bloodchild' and Other Stories by Octavia Butler. Fantastic. Plan to start the Parable of the Sower after I finish what I'm reading right now: One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Only 120 pages in. Tightly written with little/no compassion for the 'reader'. Still, it is compelling. Also, the man didn't believe in paragraphs.

Picked up the Spider-Man comics again in the last two weeks.
I'm in the 90s now, up until the transition from Peter Parker to Ben Reilly it was enjoyable.
I'm in between series now, where Reilly figures out how to proceed in his life and is not yet Spider-Man. The whole "Cyber" stuff is getting annoying. Hope it get's better when he switches to Spider-Man.

 whembly wrote:
Recently finished "Ready Player One".

...

I read that last month and wrote a review that for some reason I didn't post at the time but here it is:

In the near future the world is in the grip of a long term depression caused by the end of the era of cheap energy, made worse by long term environmental degradation caused by the era of cheap energy, everything leading to famine, crime and war.

Most people live in miserable “stacks”, vertical trailer parks built upwards to save space, get by on welfare and miserable jobs, and spend as much time as they can afford in the OASIS cyberspace virtual reality system that has in effect replaced the Internet and WWW. A few lucky people have jobs as corporate drones with companies like the IOI media giant.

OASIS was created by a genius games programmer called James Halliday, who became hyper rich as a result. When he dies in 2040, his will leaves his entire fortune and control of the OASIS company to whoever manages to solve a series of elaborate riddles and tests based on his love of 1980s nerd culture -- films, videogames and comics, and so on. The whole contest is based in OASIS and the prize is the ultimate “easter egg”. The people who take up this challenge become known as egg hunters, or “gunters” for short.

Five years later no-one has even cracked the first riddle. A 17-year-old called Wade Watts, or Parzival inside OASIS, has been preparing to enter the contest. WIth a sudden brainwave he solves the first clue, and finds himself pitched against other solo gunters, clans, and the IOI corporation, which has violated the spirit though not the letter of the contest rules by creating a massive “Oology” organisation to gain control of OASIS.

The rest of the book is Parzival’s quest for the egg, and his relationships with some of the other solo gunters. It reads like a boy’s teen/crossover fiction based on video games and nerd movies and TV of the 1980s, which is great fun for people like me who grew up in that era. For instance I played most of the games that Parzival has to master for his quest.

It’s far from great literature, but it’s a good fun, fast read that rolls along at a cracking pace, and will appeal to anyone with an interest in ancient or modern video games.

Unsurprisingly, it has already been optioned for a film script.

The 5th Wave

So far a most enjoyable Alien Invasion story with some good well drawn characters.....must check out the film .

Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Winter Night. Enjoyed the first volume immensely and picked up 2 and 3 for cheap

I'm now reading Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi. I'm liking it so far!

Reading the 40k Novel 'Silver Skulls: Portents' when I get the chance. Downloaded the digital version to my phone.

I recently signed up for Marvel Unlimited. - It's probably Knight Models fault with them finally releasing the Marvel Universe game.

But seriously, it's awesome. 7 pounds a month, 17000 comics to read.

I've never been much of a comic person (outside of Oor Wullie, The Broons and Sonic the Comic when I was young). As an adult, with the superhero boom, I've always struggled with basically the return on comics. I'd go off and buy like a £15 collection of, say, The Long Halloween or something. Then I'd read through it in about an hour and be like, "ok, so, good story, but was that it?"

Basically, I'm rubbish at comics, I have the aesthetic sense of a blind monkey so I'm absolutely no use at sitting appreciating art, or the styles or panel referencing or whatever, even if I notice the art at all.

So, Marvel Unlimited on my tablet is pretty much perfect for me. I've had it about a month and a half now and I've read:

The Phoenix Saga
Days of Future Past
Age of Apocalypse
The Night Gwen Stacy Died (<Snap&gt
Secret Wars (Original)

Avengers Dissassembled

House of M
Blood of Apocalypse

I'm planning on reading Civil War after the film comes out. Aside from that, I'm planning on just reading this current X-Men run that Blood of Apocalypse is in until, well, probably I get distracted by a shiny thing.

Eisenhorn series.

brothers in Blood by Simon Scarrow.

series set during the roman empire about 2k or so years ago.

Cracking series.

 reds8n wrote:
brothers in Blood by Simon Scarrow.

series set during the roman empire about 2k or so years ago.

Cracking series.

I started reading this series too - based on your recommendation...

I'm only on the first book, UNDER THE EAGLE, about a third of the way through...and I've already bought the next 10 books!

[quote=BobtheInquisitor 661330 8509823

 Hulksmash wrote:

 kronk wrote:
I read The Dwarves by (Markus Heitz), having found it in a half-priced book store and enjoyed it very much. So I picked up the sequel The War of the Dwarves, and found it to be dreadful. I put it in the "Take to half-priced books to sell" pile after I was only halfway done. Oh, well. There were 4 books in that series and I was hopeful.

Yeah, first one was great. Second one was horrible but I happened to read it when I had a fair bit of spare time so finished it and tried the third. 10 pages in I was sad I'd wasted money

That was almost exactly my experience. I'm not sure how much to blame on the translator and how much on the original author, but that series was an awkward read even when it was good.

This made me sad because I was just about to start book 2. I also found the first a little awkward but had hope he would improve not degenerate.

I am reading the Thrawn Trilogy, just finished Heir to the Empire.
Also Betrayal, inspired by the comparisons between Jacen and Kylo.
Nearly finished Malice by John Gwynne. Its good, without being great; lots of GOT borrowing

 Alpharius wrote:

 reds8n wrote:
brothers in Blood by Simon Scarrow.

series set during the roman empire about 2k or so years ago.

Cracking series.

I started reading this series too - based on your recommendation...

I'm only on the first book, UNDER THE EAGLE, about a third of the way through...and I've already bought the next 10 books!

I really must start looking into commission %s

Glad you're enjoying them !

I've just finished Tom Holt's The Portable Door;

"Starting a new job is always stressful (especially when you don't particularly want one), but when Paul Carpenter arrives at the office of J. W. Wells he has no idea what trouble lies in store. Because he is about to discover that the apparently respectable establishment now paying his salary is in fact a front for a deeply sinister organisation that has a mighty peculiar agenda. It seems that half the time his bosses are away with the fairies. But they're not, of course.

They're away with the goblins."

and I'm just starting the sequel, In Your Dreams.

There's definitely a formula to a lot of Tom Holt's novels - a slightly pathetic, rather put-upon protagonist, a female lead who's much more competent and more than he deserves, a plot that meanders around and probably isn't that important anyway - but that's OK; I like the formula

Taking a break from WoT and found out that there were 2 more novels in a series I loved the first two of so I'm rereading "Heroes Die" by Matthew Stover since it's the first book in the series.

Deals with a megacorporation/caste system earth sending people to an alternative earth in which elves, dwarves, dragons and such exist to have "adventures" that they then show like movies or tv to the masses.

I reread some portions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Really critical of the last 3 books now that I've had years to process them. They have many shortcomings and quite a few ass pulls. Also reread some Lovecraft and am still enamored with his writings. Charles Ward is such a riveting story.

The expanse series.

Currently on Abaddon's gate (book 3) - already finished Leviathan wakes and Caliban's War (and Gods of Risk between 2&3).

Might have finished them all before S2 of the series comes to air.

 chromedog wrote:
The expanse series.

Currently on Abaddon's gate (book 3) - already finished Leviathan wakes and Caliban's War (and Gods of Risk between 2&3).

Might have finished them all before S2 of the series comes to air.

I really enjoyed them, not caught much of the TV show yet
Just waiting for August when book 6 comes out

Personally I just finished re-reading the Mortal Engines Quartet

Just finished Little Machines by Paul McAuley



Paul McAuley is a Scottish born, English bred SF writer who has been around long enough to start a career as a research biologist, then divert off into writing SF and produce about 20 books including some non-fiction stuff. However it’s his SF that I enjoy. McAuley’s first book, Fairyland (1996) was an award winner and is already reckoned an SF Masterwork by Gollanz, and he’s won a number of prizes.

Little Machines is a collection of short stories that move around various themes. It includes parallel worlds, horror, time travel, and some classic hard SF.

Here are 17 stories, one or two of them only a few pages, and a few longer ones including two connected stories about Alien TV that could form the seed of a novel. This means there are plenty of ideas to be explored.

The great thing about a short story is that it can explore an idea and deal with it succinctly, or leave a open ending that makes you wonder, “What happens next?” There are examples of both resolutions in this collection. EIther way, if the story isn’t good then at least it’s over fairly quickly. Luckily, most of the stories in this collection are great.

The opening piece, set inside the head of Philip K Dick in an alternate world where he abandoned SF early in his career, is an absolute humdinger, written in the style of Dick’s own books. This is practically worth the price of the Kindle version (currently £1.99) on its own, if you’re a Dick fan.

Is this a good introduction to McAuley’s other work? I’ve read only two of his full length novels, so I don’t know if any of the themes here are developed in complete novels. It will give you a good idea of his range and ability to tackle different styles, and is recommended from that angle as well as on its own merit.

Been reading a lot of Star Trek and Star Wars lately. Recently finished Star Wars: Razor's Edge. Good read, makes me sorry they canned the "Legends" version of the Expanded Universe.

I've been reading the old Warhammer novels since they canned the Bretonnians. Read The Red Duke, two of the Brunner books, Dead Winter, some stories, and now I'm on Skarsnik.

Put 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' down (again; read three and soon to be four other books since starting it) for Junot Diaz's 'This is How You Lose Her'. So far it's done little more than make me re-live every crappy break-up and pathetic relationship I've ever had. If it keeps going like this, I may start questioning the entire concept (love/relationships).... Good times!

I just finished 'Valley of Horses' last night, really wanted to pick up it's follow on 'The Mammoth Hunters', but college wants me to read 4 different books at the same time... so time to drop the fiction for a bit.

Was reading Les Miserables earlier, but needed something else for an interlude. Tried to use The Shining, and now I need an interlude for that one too.

As of late I have read a lot of Neil Asher books, not in any particular order but here what I am reading/rereading as of now.
The Technician, Prador Moon, Zero point and Shadow of the scorpion, all solid reads and enjoyebal if a bit grim at times

 Trondheim wrote:
As of late I have read a lot of Neil Asher books, not in any particular order but here what I am reading/rereading as of now.
The Technician, Prador Moon, Zero point and Shadow of the scorpion, all solid reads and enjoyebal if a bit grim at times

Love Neal Asher!

I've got "WAR FACTORY" coming on its way to me as we speak!

As for timelines:



The 'new' stuff would come in at the end of that chronology - I think!

Personally, I'd read the CORMAC stuff start to finish, then the SPATTERJAY stuff, then everything else on there, then DARK INTELLIGENCE and WAR FACTORY.

I'd also really recommend his OWNER trilogy too - good stuff there!

I have recently finished The Desert War, by Alan Moorehead. This is a narrative history about the WW2 campaign in north Africa that lasted from June 1940 to May 1943, split into three stages each taking about a year.

Moorehead was an elite war correspondent for the Daily Express, at the time a respectable newspaper of record. He had regular contact with the top level staff as well as the front line soldiers, and came under fire several times while bucketing around the desert. The material is drawn from his own diaries and notes, and his despatches for the Express, and it is first rate.

As well as the North Africa campaigns, Moorehead writes about his assigments to the Sudan/Ethiopia campaign, the Syria/Iraq campaign, and his more civilian oriented assignments in India, the USA and UK.

There are many details of life in the desert war and also of travelling by plane, and several ships including a liner carrying German prisoners and a corvette on convoy escort. You get a vivid impression of life during wartime, a good overall view of the strategic war and some good descriptions of tactical fighting.

My only criticism is that the casualty figures given are wartime estimates and in some cases have been revised by historical research over the past 50 years. So you should not take this as a definitive piece of historical research.

This apart, the book is an excellent read and gives a good general overview of the Desert War.

Summer of the Apocalypse, by James van Pelt (2006)

This apocalypse story is about a man called Eric, whose second name we never discover.

In the 1980s when Eric is a teenager, the world is engulfed by a flu-like disease that kills about 99% of the population in a couple of months. Many of the survivors go mad or feral. Eric manages to stay sane, and together with a 25-year-old woman called Lena, also a lucky immune, he escapes the immediate apocalypse and sets up a community of survivors in his home town of Littleton in Colorado.

60 years later Eric, now an old man and the last surviving “Gone Timer” in his community, sets off to walk to Boulder, Colorado where he hopes to find a major university library that will contain the knowledge needed to solve the problem of increasing infant mortality in his community. Eric believes in learning and rebuilding the old world while his son, Troy believes in a slightly schizophrenic method of simultaneously relying on scavenging old technology while also trying to build a primitive agricultural culture.

The story unfolds in two strands, alternating between Eric the teenager and Eric the old man as they travel on their parallel journeys. The young Eric has a series of encounters with other survivors, while the old Eric meets various tribes of people who are building new civilisations in their own way. The relationships between Eric and his father, and between Eric and his son and grandson, are an important part of the novel.

It’s competently written and reasonably exciting, but not very original or surprising. The first chapter is so similar to another disease apocalypse book I’ve read that I skipped it entirely, thinking I was accidentally rereading the story. But I’ve read an awful lot of apocalypse novels.

My verdict is that it’s worth the price on Kindle but if you’re only going to read a small amount of apocalypse fiction, there are better books out there.

"Deadhouse gates", to be followed by one of NIven's Ringworld prequels.

Malus Darkblade again.

I'm reading the tenth book in Taylor Anderson's Destroyermen series, Straits of Hell. So far it's good. For those of you who don't know (and might be curious), I'll summarize the premise of the series without spoiling too much:

The series begins near the beginning of World War 2, as the American fleet is retreating from the Philippines after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The old four-stacker destroyer U.S.S. Walker, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Reddy, is under attack by Japanese ships when it suddenly without warning ends up on an alternate Earth, where humans never evolved but two other sentient species did. As Reddy's crew comes to terms with their new surroundings, they realize that they are in the middle of a war between the peaceful Lemurians, a race that resembles a cross between cats and lemurs, and the ruthless Grik, a reptilian species. Basically the series involves the exploits of Walker and her crew as they become involved in this alternate Earth's events. The story is very well-written and has a good balance of action, suspense, and narrative. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has any interest in sci-fi, especially alternate history stories. The 11th book has recently been released in hardcover, and it appears that there are still more forthcoming. I always wait for paperbacks, though, so I am one book behind.

Just finished "Prince of Thorns" a few weeks ago, read it in a few days easy read. Had some good reviews but I wasn't all that impressed with it...felt very 1 dimensional (not sure if that's ac how I'd describe it but it was missing something that's for sure)

Still waiting for Doors of Stone to come out...but Rothfuss is still just caught up in his fame to finish/publish the final book (or is very afraid for it to end or mess up which is an equally possible reason to me)

Going to finish Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson next, then another one of his books, either 2023 or 40 signs of rain

Echoes of the last war. After Throneworld I knew I had to read whatever is coming up next.

The Battle of Britain, James Holland, 2011.

I’ve just finished this popular narrative history. My edition is on Kindle.

James Holland has written a number of WW2 history books and several adventure novels set in the same period, all of which draw on extensive research that includes other authoritative histories, official records, and interviews with participants including ones he has done himself. Therefore a fair of scholarship has gone into this book.

It doesn’t read at all drily, though. By using material from interviews, Holland illustrates the practical effects of the behind the scenes thinking and decisions of the higher level actors on people in the front line, including civilians under the burning skies.

The book starts just as the Battle of France is about to begin, and follows this campaign through to the completion of Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation.

Holland then looks into the German political and military planning that led to the assembly of an invasion fleet in north-west France and the strategy of using the Luftwaffe to conquer the RAF before invading the UK. In this section he also looks at the UK’s defences, including the history of radar and the development of the Downing System of air defence. This section is key to understanding the eventual result, developing the theme that the Germans got their intelligence and strategy completely wrong thus leading them into a campaign far more difficult than they expected.

The third part of the book of course is the Battle of Britain itself. While most of the action concerns the air forces, Holland also pulls in the Schnelleboot and U-boat campaigns against Britain’s sea communications. As we know, the RAF not only hangs on but actually fights back with bomber raids, and gradually it is the Luftwaffe who get ground down to near uselessness, ending the campaign with only 25% of their initial strength, despite replacements along the way.

Holland makes a convincing argument that the Battle of Britain was a key turning point in WW2. It was Hitler’s first defeat, kept Britain and the Empire in the war, and did major damage to the Luftwaffe from which it never fully recovered. He also debunks the popular idea that Britain stood alone and weak, showing that Britain not only was a powerful industrial and military force in itself, but also had much help from exiled Europeans, the Dominions and from the US.

After the campaign has fizzled out in October 1940, Holland looks at the replacement of Downing and Park with Douglas and Leigh-Mallory, and concludes with a “where are they now” chapter covering all the people whose personal accounts are used in the story.

Finally there is a lengthy and useful reference section with bibliography and so on.

I enjoyed the book very much, and it has high review ratings on Amazon and from professional reviewers. If you are interested in WW2 history, this is a good modern overview of a key period, and can lead you on to further, more in-depth reading.

I've started reading Independence Day: Crucible, a prequel to the upcoming new Independence Day movie. Good read so far, tells what happened after the first movie around the world.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
I've started reading Independence Day: Crucible, a prequel to the upcoming new Independence Day movie. Good read so far, tells what happened after the first movie around the world.

Sounds like I'll have to pick that up.

Recently, I have read Larry Cooreia's Warmachine book, which was surprisingly good, although that was entirely due to the writing and not so much the setting for me.

I read Sword of Destiny and now I want to see the Netflix series.

I read under Heaven, which was really good.

Now, I am reading Genthis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.

I have the MERCS novel, which is high up the list, but there is also a Star Trek novel about Captain Maxwell that I absolutely must read. And now an Independence Day sequel prequel.

Larry Correia writes for WarmaHordes?

I'm in. I like the guy's writing, but not a fan of his political soap boxing when he does it. Should be an interesting read.

I'm reading Footfall right now. It's better than it should be, is the best way I can think to describe it. Also working through Impending Crisis and the Epic of Gilgamesh before getting back to Le Morte D'Arthur (my Fate/Stay Night fanning got to me.)

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey

> trying fantasy genre from a different POV

so far it is a drag and I doubt I will make it through

 Manchu wrote:
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey

> trying fantasy genre from a different POV

so far it is a drag and I doubt I will make it through

I've neverf been able to finish a Mercedes Lackey book. I don't know why. Just can't get into them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Hoitash wrote:
Larry Correia writes for WarmaHordes?

I'm in. I like the guy's writing, but not a fan of his political soap boxing when he does it. Should be an interesting read.

I'm reading Footfall right now. It's better than it should be, is the best way I can think to describe it. Also working through Impending Crisis and the Epic of Gilgamesh before getting back to Le Morte D'Arthur (my Fate/Stay Night fanning got to me.)

He has two books for them, the Malcontents series. The first is basically Gaunt's Ghosts for Cygnar, but better written.

Niven and Pournelle's collaborations almost always worked. Niven's solo novels, not so much.

Been reading Robert D Kaplans book Balkan Ghost and The Enda of the world, great books that has still in my mind is valid when looking at the parts of the world the books is set in.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I've neverf been able to finish a Mercedes Lackey book. I don't know why. Just can't get into them.

I wanted to read something in fantasy for which I am definitely not the intended audience. So far I feel like I am reading fan fiction but without the fandom.

Re-reading A Song of Ice and Fire. On book 2. Only re-reading the first 4, never read the 5th one when it came out, even though it’s sitting on the shelf. So I’ll be reading that for the first time.

Watched part of season 1 of Game of Thrones on DVD, decided I should read the books again. Show was fine, but I kept feeling that there were bits missing. So I’m hitting the books before watching more. Sets/acting/visuals are nice, but I do enjoy a good book.

Picked "The Wizard & the Glass" again (of the Dark Tower series), now I'm finally past the Coos Witch part it's flowing a lot easier

Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization by Lars Brownworth. It is pretty good as I never knew much about the Byzantine empire and am enjoying learning about it.

The Byzantines are always fun to read about. So much intrigue...

I'm reading a Child's History of England, by Charles Dickens. What I have learned so far: 19th century children must have really enjoyed reading about beheadings.

So I'm nearly finished with book 6 of the Wheel of Time, and had a mental image get seared into my head.

For those who have read the book, there's a character named Nerim, who becomes the personal servant to Mat Cauthon. For some reason, I suddenly pictured Nerim as basically Woodhouse from the show Archer

 toasteroven wrote:
The Byzantines are always fun to read about. So much intrigue...

I'm reading a Child's History of England, by Charles Dickens. What I have learned so far: 19th century children must have really enjoyed reading about beheadings.

Justinian threw away Belisarius's genius all because of Theodora being paranoid (not unreasonable) and that made me so mad for some reason.

I've begun working my way through the Artemis Fowl books for the umpteenth time

Reading through the Robotech books a bit to keep motivated on my space fighters project. Also, reading a Star Trek novel about Benjamen Maxwell.

Started reading Night by Elie Wiesel. Saying that it's heavy doesn't really do the book justice or illustrate the gravity of the subject matter. I don't think I have the words that do right now, quite honestly. But I can already tell that it's a book that deserves to be read.

What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

While I haven't read it myself, it has been highly recommended by other users on these forums... but, Iain Banks' "Culture" series may fit that bill?

Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG rulebook.

Reading book 3 of the Dresden Files, Grave Peril. Fun books, not overly complex, but enjoyable.


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 Hordini wrote:
Started reading Night by Elie Wiesel. Saying that it's heavy doesn't really do the book justice or illustrate the gravity of the subject matter. I don't think I have the words that do right now, quite honestly. But I can already tell that it's a book that deserves to be read.

Oh gak I absolutely loved that book, but damn was that heavy. We had to read it in 10th grade in English class, and I burned through it the first week because I couldn't put it down. Haunting would probably be the best way to describe that book.

Just finished With the Old Breed. Its about a marine mortar loader who served with the First Marine Division at the Hell of Pelilieu, and Okinawa. HIGHLY recommend it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VMFDW2/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o02_?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then read DDay through the German's Eyes over the weekend. Its amazing, especially in counterpoint to the above.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VX372UE/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o01_?ie=UTF8&psc=1#navbar

I am on Book 2 now and will probably finish by end of weekend.

Last week I finished:



Fantastic book about advisors working with the Iraqi army and police force. Must read for anyone interested in how 'COIN' can be applied.


Just started:



Just a couple chapters in but I like it. Gonna pass this one on to Son2 who deploys as a rifle platoon leader early next year, as the story is told through the eyes of a rifle platoon leader.

Good stuff.

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

How big and involved do you want? And how hard should the sci fi be?

For example, Niven's Known Space universe is fairly well developed, and many other authors have written stories in the setting, but it is pretty silly by today's standards. Keith Laumer's Bolo series has also found new life with another generation of writers. There were similar attempts at literary sandbox worlds throughout the 70's and 80's, but they've been completely superseded by media tie-in fiction, like Star Trek, Star Wars, Halo, 40k, etc. If you like tie-in fiction, I highly recommend the old Zahn Star Wars books or the post-Nemesis Star Trek novel continuity starting with the Destiny trilogy.

If you are looking for series of books, I would recommend the Culture series, Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth series, Jack Campbell's Dauntless series, the Dread Empire's Fall trilogy, the Conqueror's Heritage Trilogy by Zahn, etc. I have heard good things about the Pip and Flinx series, David Weber's ongoing epics, the Miles Verkosigan saga, etc. you might also check out classics like the Lensmen series, the Foundation series, and the Dune series.

Why not Dune?

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

Dune, Star Wars, Star Trek, Discworld, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Ebook: Silver Skulls: Portents
Audiobook: Call to Arms: Black Fleet series

RE above request for in- depth sci-fi universe: The Undying Mercenary Series by B.V. Larson is my favorite universe outside the Big Ones (SW, ST, 40k)

I've been reading some old Star Trek books from the 1980's. They are quite different from the Trek books of today, and much of the content has been rendered non-canon, but they are enjoyable nonetheless.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:
What do you guys recommend for a book series with a big, involved, in-depth Sci-Fi universe? Like I like the 40K universe but its stuck in the never-ending year of 40,999. I'm looking for something like that. Doesn't need to end per se but at least move forward.

How big and involved do you want? And how hard should the sci fi be?

For example, Niven's Known Space universe is fairly well developed, and many other authors have written stories in the setting, but it is pretty silly by today's standards. Keith Laumer's Bolo series has also found new life with another generation of writers. There were similar attempts at literary sandbox worlds throughout the 70's and 80's, but they've been completely superseded by media tie-in fiction, like Star Trek, Star Wars, Halo, 40k, etc. If you like tie-in fiction, I highly recommend the old Zahn Star Wars books or the post-Nemesis Star Trek novel continuity starting with the Destiny trilogy.

If you are looking for series of books, I would recommend the Culture series, Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth series, Jack Campbell's Dauntless series, the Dread Empire's Fall trilogy, the Conqueror's Heritage Trilogy by Zahn, etc. I have heard good things about the Pip and Flinx series, David Weber's ongoing epics, the Miles Verkosigan saga, etc. you might also check out classics like the Lensmen series, the Foundation series, and the Dune series.

Lots of good suggestions! Thanks.
I think I'm not looking for a "sandbox" as you put it but something by one great writer. There's some stuff there to look into.


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 Manchu wrote:
Why not Dune?

I'm working on it! Read the first one. Was wondering what else is out there.

I just finshed Infinite Jest. Anyone familiar?

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.
I pretty much always re-read the series during summer.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.
I pretty much always re-read the series during summer.

I've heard of that series and was very intrigued. Is it something I should definitely track down and buy?

 ZergSmasher wrote:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.
I pretty much always re-read the series during summer.

I've heard of that series and was very intrigued. Is it something I should definitely track down and buy?

Definitely. Not too sure about the availability nowadays though, the version I have are ancient paperbacks that my dad bought long before I was born. One of the best fantasy series I have ever read. And they have certainly had and effect on many fantasy books afterwards.

 ZergSmasher wrote:

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.
I pretty much always re-read the series during summer.

I've heard of that series and was very intrigued. Is it something I should definitely track down and buy?

The first and third books are very good. The series itself was quite influential in later fantasy with it's 'names have power' approach.

Currently working on sword arts online light novel volume #6 and folk tales of Chichibu(area in Japan near Tokyo).

Finished book #3 of the Dresden Files. Sister in law lost her copy of #4, so I gotta go buy that

Currently reading The Autobiography of James T. Kirk. It's a pretty good read, told as if it really was Captain Kirk writing it. Lots of references to TOS episodes and the movies, and it also tells how Kirk first met the members of the TOS bridge crew.

Ordered Old Man's War yesterday. I heard good things about it and I want to read it with my eye holes.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Currently reading The Autobiography of James T. Kirk. It's a pretty good read, told as if it really was Captain Kirk writing it. Lots of references to TOS episodes and the movies, and it also tells how Kirk first met the members of the TOS bridge crew.

Interesting, when was it written?

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:


I'm working on it! Read the first one. Was wondering what else is out there.

Definitely Neal Asher's POLITY series!

Start with GRIDLINKED - you won't regret it!

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Currently reading The Autobiography of James T. Kirk. It's a pretty good read, told as if it really was Captain Kirk writing it. Lots of references to TOS episodes and the movies, and it also tells how Kirk first met the members of the TOS bridge crew.

Interesting, when was it written?

Sometime in the 2280's, I think.

Seriously, I think it's brand new. Not entirely sure though.

I've mostly been reading fan fiction on this site while revisiting a favorite called Houses of Time by Jamal Nasir and pecking away at The Time Travelers Wife. I never finished it but it's pretty good even if it's a far stretch from my usual reads.

While waiting on more books to arrive, reading Salem's Lot. Pretty good atypical horror fiction.

 CptJake wrote:

Just started:



Just a couple chapters in but I like it. Gonna pass this one on to Son2 who deploys as a rifle platoon leader early next year, as the story is told through the eyes of a rifle platoon leader.

Good stuff.

Finished it last night. Fantastic book.

Probably start on this next:

 Alpharius wrote:

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:


I'm working on it! Read the first one. Was wondering what else is out there.

Definitely Neal Asher's POLITY series!

Start with GRIDLINKED - you won't regret it!

Interesting, that may be just what i'm looking for. It kind of looks like that "The Expanse" show on Sy Fy.

For a change I'm actually reading in English



Kuukai, major works plus his life history(in fairly mundane style trimming down craploads of legends surrounding him and trying to stick for actual facts that are known of him) and explanation of his thoughts.

Not super detailed since translation of bunch of his works takes up quite a bit of space so space for himself was bit limited but good start.

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:

 KamikazeCanuck wrote:


I'm working on it! Read the first one. Was wondering what else is out there.

Definitely Neal Asher's POLITY series!

Start with GRIDLINKED - you won't regret it!

Interesting, that may be just what i'm looking for. It kind of looks like that "The Expanse" show on Sy Fy.

You can never regrett reading Polity books, amazing works all around If I where to recomend any particular book by Neal Asher set in that setting it would be The Tecnichian, Gridlinked and Shadow of the Scorpion

I started reading the Star Trek Vanguard series after watching Beyond. Pretty good.

I've also been reading Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels, which are well worth a read for anyone. I'm not much of a mystery/thriller reader, having given up halfway through most of the genre's classics, but the Spenser books have me hooked.

One of these days, I'll really go outside my comfort zone and read one of those romance books by Zane. Maybe.

Picked up book 4 of Dresden Files after finishing Salem's Lot. I'd highly recommend Salem's to any classic horror fan, it's very traditional vampire stuff

Re-reading the Dalemark Quartet by Diana Wynne Jones. Still enjoyable.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
I started reading the Star Trek Vanguard series after watching Beyond. Pretty good.

Star Trek: Vanguard is possibly my favorite Star Trek novel series ever! You will enjoy them!

I'm now reading Bombs Away, by Harry Turtledove. Basically it's the story of what might have happened if the US had dropped atomic bombs on China during the Korean War in order to stop Chinese troops from entering North Korea. Let's just say the Cold War gets very hot... Anyway, good alternate history by an author who has written many good alternate history stories, notably the United States of Atlantis stories.

Arthur C Clarke, Of time and stars and Re-reading A Clockwork Orange because, why not

John Ringo's Grunge set in the Monster Hunter International universe.

Dark Duets. It's a collection of short stories, mostly horror. Each story is a collaboration between 2 authors, but I've never heard of any of them.

Some are decent, some are lame.

Dune Messiah

 jreilly89 wrote:
Picked up book 4 of Dresden Files after finishing Salem's Lot. I'd highly recommend Salem's to any classic horror fan, it's very traditional vampire stuff

I eventually lost interest in the Dresden Files but I did enjoy the earlier ones. The Codex Aleria books are also good (although a little bit Teens save the world!)

I should probably start reading Steven King again, I still haven't read some of this famous stuff like Pet cemetary or The Stand.

I have just spent a week on exercise so I had plenty of time to read, including:

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. A very unusual fantasy novel but very inventive and certainly worth reading. I don't think that I would like living in New Corbuzon....

The Hobbit-not much to day there

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen. I read this years ago and it hasn't aged particularly well due to its quite heavy use of popular culture references but Crowley and Aziraphal make a good duo.

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 jreilly89 wrote:
Picked up book 4 of Dresden Files after finishing Salem's Lot. I'd highly recommend Salem's to any classic horror fan, it's very traditional vampire stuff

I eventually lost interest in the Dresden Files but I did enjoy the earlier ones. The Codex Aleria books are also good (although a little bit Teens save the world!)

I should probably start reading Steven King again, I still haven't read some of this famous stuff like Pet cemetary or The Stand.

I have just spent a week on exercise so I had plenty of time to read, including:

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. A very unusual fantasy novel but very inventive and certainly worth reading. I don't think that I would like living in New Corbuzon....

The Hobbit-not much to day there

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen. I read this years ago and it hasn't aged particularly well due to its quite heavy use of popular culture references but Crowley and Aziraphal make a good duo.

Yeah, Dresden Files are fun just as a light read. I highly recommend The Stand, It, and Hearts in Atlantis. All great books.

Arthur C Clarke Earthlight. It's been a bit slow going to be honest but its great to see lots of mid 20th Century technology alive and well on the Moon. They have a proper old liquid chemical darkroom up there for developing photographic plates form their telescope! That and all the magnetic tape and hole punched tickets flying about the facility. Sci-fi lit's first Big space battle at the end or so I'm led to believe!

 theCrowe wrote:
Arthur C Clarke Earthlight. It's been a bit slow going to be honest but its great to see lots of mid 20th Century technology alive and well on the Moon. They have a proper old liquid chemical darkroom up there for developing photographic plates form their telescope! That and all the magnetic tape and hole punched tickets flying about the facility. Sci-fi lit's first Big space battle at the end or so I'm led to believe!

Arthur C Clarke and slow going is pretty much a tautology.

Sci-Fi genius, though, and the science in his books is generally hard as nails, which I appreciate.

Rendezvous with Rama is another of his which I'd recommend, if you haven't read it already

Re-reading a lot of Jack Vance lately - damn he's good!

Right now I'm working my way through The Demon Princes series.

Highly recommended!

I'm now reading Star Trek TNG: Planet X. It's a book that came out a while back and is a crossover between Star Trek TNG and Marvel's X-men. Yes you read that right, a bunch of the X-men have travelled in time and between universes and are working with Captain Picard and company. It's actually a pretty good read so far, although you have to suspend your disbelief a bit more than usual.

Jack Vance is one of those fantasy authors who wrote during the pulp magazine era, which might be my favorite era because the stories got right to the good stuff and celebrated the fantastic instead of downplaying it. I've read a fair amount of his work and really enjoy it. Sadly, I loaned Tales of the Dying Earth to someone who moved 500 miles away...

 ZergSmasher wrote:
I'm now reading Star Trek TNG: Planet X. It's a book that came out a while back and is a crossover between Star Trek TNG and Marvel's X-men. Yes you read that right, a bunch of the X-men have travelled in time and between universes and are working with Captain Picard and company. It's actually a pretty good read so far, although you have to suspend your disbelief a bit more than usual.

I bought this book years ago to use for a party game; just open the book to a random page and start reading it out loud. Hilarity ensues. Of course, my parties tend to have a lot of nerds and a lot of alcohol...

Still working on Star Trek Vanguard, but the Spenser books are just too easy to read. I've gone through half a dozen of them, and find I prefer the middle novels over the later novels over the early novels, when Parker had the formula down, but before he had run out of steam for everything but streamlined dialog and action.

Also, just started MERCS: The Worker's Heart. So far, it's pretty fun. Feels like an 80's milSF story set in Verhoeven's take on the Feudal Corporatism of The Stars My Destination.