NationStates Jolt Archive

Umm… Ok, so what is your favourite book/book series? Why do you like it so much? Do you get the phone number to God if you multiply the ISBN-number by pi? Whatever…


Personally I’d have to say Terry Pratchett’s Discworld-series; because they’re about the funniest and most clever thing I’ve ever read. I haven’t read all books and I most certainly haven’t read them in anything that could pass for any form of order, but I’ve probably read most of them. I like how it has evolved from a rather simple fantasy-parody like in the Colour of Magic to the more complex satire on almost all aspects on human life as seen in the later novels, while all the time remaining so incredibly funny.

abhorsen trilogy by garth nix. the books are called sabriel , lirael and abhorsen. my favourite one is abhorsen coz its much faster paced than the other two

abhorsen trilogy by garth nix. the books are called sabriel , lirael and abhorsen. my favourite one is abhorsen coz its much faster paced than the other two

I think I have a friend who's read those books. Might give them a try one day or another

The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, that series is the funniest shit I've ever read. Discworld is great, but pales in comparison. And there's no need for gods number after reading them. God's dead. He left a message though, in big flaming letters. And the really good knews is the King is alive :p

"Colours of Mars" By Kim Stanley Robinson.

"World War" By Harry Turtledove.

"A Song of Ice and Fire" By George R. R. Martin. (Assuming he ever finishes it, God damn it!)

The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, that series is the funniest shit I've ever read. Discworld is great, but pales in comparison. And there's no need for gods number after reading them. God's dead. He left a message though, in big flaming letters. And the really good knews is the King is alive :p

Noticed that my post above actually was my fourty-second?

No, you probably didn't and now when I've finished this one it'll be saying 43 posts. Awww, my bad ;)

I like the Hitchhiker's Guide series (Adams) and the Foundation Trilogy (Asimov). Also everything ever written by Agatha Christie, although I don't know if those count as a series (i.e. the Hercule Poirot novels, etc.)

That's tough.
Fiction, short stories would be Collected Fictions, a translated collection of Jorge Luis Borges' short stories.

Fiction novel would maybe be Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy. I know it's not highbrow art, but it's entertaining as hell.

Non fiction would be The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan.

Fiction series might be the "Burke" private detective series by Andrew Vachss. They're a little over the top sometimes, but they're fun.

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. To get the full effect you have to read about thirty books, though. Most are his but there are allusions to Shardik by Richard Adams and the Harry Potter books. I think it's fascinating that he tries to tie toggether all his work, but can't quite make it all fit, so he writes that in.(If you've read it you'll understand that. Maybe you will if you haven't.) That combined with rich characters, wonderful settings, and an amazing plot blew me away.

(I know I started gushing a little half way through, but these are really good books.)

Probably The picture of Dorian Gray but that probably was something to do with me packpacking round spain when i read it......

The Belgariad and The Mallorean, by David Eddings. He's a genius.

I would have to go with Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Second would be...Margart Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance, especially Chronicles and Legends.

I would have to go with Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Second would be...Margart Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance, especially Chronicles and Legends.

i also like the Wheel of Time.

however, weis and hickman books, i prefer the death gate cycle.

Chronicles of Amber

The Ender series by Orson Scott Card. Those were some amazing books. Psychology, philosophy, and theoretical science all rolled into one.

The Silmarillion. Tolkien.

Other books are good, but that's just... indescribable.

The Velgarth/Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey is my absolute favorite.

I also have enjoyed the Xanth series, INcarnations of Immortailty, Rowan/Powers, Brawn/Brainship series, Pern, and Acorna.

And Star Trek in all it's incarnations, but particularly New Frontier.

Umm… Ok, so what is your favourite book/book series? Why do you like it so much? Do you get the phone number to God if you multiply the ISBN-number by pi? Whatever…


Personally I’d have to say Terry Pratchett’s Discworld-series; because they’re about the funniest and most clever thing I’ve ever read. I haven’t read all books and I most certainly haven’t read them in anything that could pass for any form of order, but I’ve probably read most of them. I like how it has evolved from a rather simple fantasy-parody like in the Colour of Magic to the more complex satire on almost all aspects on human life as seen in the later novels, while all the time remaining so incredibly funny.
I'm just going to second your choice.:)

I've just read Jane Eyre, and I'm in love! It was a bit overly-religious at times, but being that it was written during the 19th centuary, I can overlook that.
Other favourites of mine include The English Patient, His Dark Materials and Sally Lockhart series' (Phillip Pullman), and To Kill a Mockingbird. There are more, but I'd be here all day...

I'm just going to second your choice.:)

I'll third the Discworld choice.

I'll third the Discworld choice.

what? with your namesake it isn't WoT? :P

o, and the basil broketail series was good..



and it's FINISHED!

(also liked the dragon and the george series, although the author died and it wasn't really finished, each book was it's own little story)

im reading Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, its brilliant.

what? with your namesake it isn't WoT? :P

WoT comes second.

To clarify, the WoT is a hell of a lot more interesting, and the possibilities for discussion/analysis of plot and even the underlying mechanics of the world, are almost limitless. But, that being said, the Discworld is so goddamn funny, and it's better written. Plus Pratchett comes from the UK, so that's another tick in the box

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has every ingredient for a great book. Amazing imagery, striking emotional depth, deep background history and intriguing storyline. Also, escapism!

Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of The Day and Irving Stone's The Agony and The Ecstasy are also favourites of mine for their emotional depth and excellence of character studies.

Dune!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dune!!!!!!!!!!!!

seconding this and fourthing discworld :D

The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, that series is the funniest shit I've ever read. Discworld is great, but pales in comparison. And there's no need for gods number after reading them. God's dead. He left a message though, in big flaming letters. And the really good knews is the King is alive :p

Those are my favourite books to.

James P. Hogan's The Giants series. Oh, and Vernor Vinge's Qeng Ho novels. And of course, the Robots/Empire/Foundation series by Asimov.

"World War" By Harry Turtledove.

If you liked the "World War" series, you'll probably also like the "Great War" series.

My favourite is Don Quijote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes, which originally was two separate books. One day I plan to read the original Castillano version...

My four favorite books are:

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
To Have and Have Not - Ernest Hemingway
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien

This thread also reminded me of some other books I liked (Discworld Series, To Kill a Mockingbird), some books I'd like to read (Jane Eyre, The Silmarillian) and some books I dearly wish I had never wasted my time on (Wheel of Time series). Honestly, just seeing WoT mentioned in a discussion of great books made me shudder. But to each his own, I suppose . . .

Herry Potter! (I've never read the book, but i felt that i must say it)

My four favorite books are:

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
To Have and Have Not - Ernest Hemingway
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R Tolkien

This thread also reminded me of some other books I liked (Discworld Series, To Kill a Mockingbird), some books I'd like to read (Jane Eyre, The Silmarillian) and some books I dearly wish I had never wasted my time on (Wheel of Time series). Honestly, just seeing WoT mentioned in a discussion of great books made me shudder. But to each his own, I suppose . . .


I couldn't get through Heart of Darkness, as much as I tried. It just wasn't the book for me. I loved Jane Eyre though, as well as And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. A good mystery novel. :)

Im gonna have to go with Dune. Anyone can write an entertaining book, and anyone can write a deep philosophical book. Few people can write a book that manages to be both. Frank Herbert managed to do this with his Dune saga. For the intellectually challenged, or those who dont pick up on allegory easily, the books are an entertaining read ripe with adventure. For those who enjoy stimulating their intellect and can look beyond the surface, the books delve into questions fundamental to humanity (the reliance on oil, drug use, short term thinking, selfishness, religion and the need for a messiah, politics, etc.).

I couldn't get through Heart of Darkness, as much as I tried. It just wasn't the book for me. I loved Jane Eyre though, as well as And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. A good mystery novel. :)

I LOVE that book! One of my favorite Agatha Christie's. She wrote one called "Giant's Bread" which was also pretty good - not really a mystery though.

Other than that, I too am a fan of the Discworld, having just read a few of them this year. "Good Omens" is up there along with "American Gods". Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (Good Omens) are a good combo. Anyone heard anything about the movie? Terry Gilliam was supposed to start work on it after "The Brothers Grimm".

Series...I'd say "The Deed of Paksennarion", "His Dark Materials", "Lord of the Rings" and "Chronicles of the Cheysuli". Hoping to get most of "The Sandman" collection for Christmas. Oh, one more! The short story anthology series previously edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley: "Sword and Sorceress".

I couldn't get through Heart of Darkness, as much as I tried. It just wasn't the book for me. I loved Jane Eyre though, as well as And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. A good mystery novel. :)

Jane Eyre is brilliant! I love the line, "He made me love him without looking at me." I'm usually too self-absorbed to cry during books, but I could identify so much with Jane that I found myself bawling.

If you liked the "World War" series, you'll probably also like the "Great War" series. Yeah it was ok, but the Confederate States and the American Civil War don't really interest me. I liked the more "internationalist" approach of the World War series, plus there are some plain awesome moments in there, like Patton's defence of Chicago, Big Bertha's last stand (told from the perspective of an artillery shell!) and Stalin's desperate bid to save Moscow.

Agatha Christie's best work is, in my opinion, "Lord Edgware Dies", the best murder plot she's ever concieved. Plus Poirot rocks!

I've always like the Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin.

I've always like the Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin.

I could never get through Ursula Le Guin's books. :( I tried reading 'em around the same time I was reading the Dragonriders of Pern, which I much preffered.

Chronicles of Amber is still my favorite, though. The way it's written is really cool; very direct, and intriguing. I need to order the Second Chronicles now. *toddles off to SFBC*

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned The Frenchman who Raped a Lion by Claude Balzac.

"A Song of Ice and Fire" By George R. R. Martin. (Assuming he ever finishes it, God damn it!)

Seconded, and seconded the waiting for him to be finished.

Best book? The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. F***ing beautiful, everyone I have loaned it to has loved it: from math majors to English teachers from ministers to advertising executives. All the more impressive when you realize it was the first book she wrote. F***ing amazing. I can't do it justice. (I think the only book which I cried while reading)

My favourite series' of books are as follows, though in no order.

JRR Tolkiens Middle Earth - Not LOTR, but the entire series of books inhabiting this world. It's basically perfect.

Peter F Hamiltons Nights Dawn trilogy Some of the best sci-fi I've ever read. Left me breathless.... Some people fault the method in which the story is executed, but I think it works.

Terry Pratchetts Discworld - I wouldn't have read most of them if they weren't hilarious, clever, and original (or humourously unoriginal) pieces of fiction.

Iain M Banks Culture novels - as very far future SF, he's my favourite. I dunno why, I think I just love the minds.

I would probably have to say that some of the books high up on the list for me would be:

The Martian Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

All the Eberron Novels so far, especially the ones by Keith Baker

The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

and Most of Jules Verne.

I would probably have to say that some of the books high up on the list for me would be:

The Martian Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

All the Eberron Novels so far, especially the ones by Keith Baker

The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

and Most of Jules Verne.

Another vote for the Discworld series here. Not read the new one (Thud!) yet, but it'll only be a matter of time. Not really part of the actual series, but I do love the Science of Discworld books - I think it's extremely clever the way Pratchett can write a story around a real book on real science science.
Also, the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice - I've yet to read all of them, and the later ones seem kinda crap in comparison to the first few, but Interview With The Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned is an awesome trilogy. Shame the film for QOTD was so shite.

No doubt about it - Foundation Trilogy (Issac Asimov). First three books are the best ever science fiction. Later books good, but not as good.

LOTR, and incidentally, the worst book ever = any tripe by Jane sodding Austen

No argument with Austen's lack of quality, but not even her stuff is as bad as The Catcher In The Rye: Holden Caulfield probably grew up to become a serial killer.


The best book ever is The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce: funny, unpleasant and mean spirited.

A series by Robert Frezza.

A Small Colonial War
Fire in A Faraway Place
Cain's Land

Probably my favorite fiction characters of all time.

Fave Book Series are

the Flashman Papers

Biggles

Just William

Hornblower

Sharpe