Your favorite series of books.

[Justin D.]

We hear all the time about series of books like Harry Potter, Dune, Wheel of Time, Rucka's Atticus Kodiak books, Discworld, and other well-known series. But what about the others? There are a lot of other series of books out there that don't get discussed as often. Here's one of my favorite series of books.

The Orion series by Ben Bova

* Orion (1984)
* Vengeance of Orion (1988)
* Orion in the Dying Time (1990)
* Orion and the Conquerer (1994)
* Orion Among the Stars (1995)

A fun read about a strong character that jumps around from ancient Egypt to futuristic space fights. Then again, I haven't read this in years and it might be possible I'm remembering through some sort of rose-tinted lenses. I remember really looking forward to finding each new book. Not all were equal in quality. I may try rereading them soon after I finish what I'm reading now.

Hmm.. this seemed more rambling that I intended it to be. Anyone have recommendations for a good series of books?

[Jay]

Hmm, a few of mine -


-Sea of Fertility Tetraology by Mishima Yukio

Spring Snow
Runaway Horses
The Temple of Dawn
The Decay of the Angel

-Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard

Empire of the Sun
The Kindness of Women

-Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake

Titus Groan
Gormenghast
Titus Alone

-Viriconium by M. John Harrison

The Pastel City
A Storm of Wings
In Viriconium
The Floating Gods
Viriconium Nights


-New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

City of Glass
Ghosts
The Locked Room


-Well Built City trilogy by Jeffrey Ford

The Physiognomy
Memoranda
The Beyond

-A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons (forthcoming)
Winds of Winters (forthcoming)

-Aeygpt Tetrology by John Crowley

Aegypt
Love and Sleep
Daemonomania

-The Prince of Nothing by R. Scot Bakker

The Darkness That Comes Before
The Warrior-Prophet
The Thousandfold Thought (forthcoming but excelent)

-Dune by Frank Herbert

Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune

-Cornelius quartet - by Michael Moorcock

The Final Programme
A Cure for Cancer
The English Assassin
The Condition of Muzak

-Between the Wars quartet (aka Pyatt quartet) by Michael Moorcock

Byzantium Endures
The Laughter of Carthage
Jerusalem Commands
The Vengeance of Rome (forthcoming)

-Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

Gardens of the Moon
DeadHouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
BoneHunter (forthcoming)
Dust of Dreams (forthcoming)
Hounds Toll (forthcoming)
Reapers Cale (forthcoming)
Crippled God (forthcoming)

-Fredrica quartet by A.S. Byatt

The Virgin in the Garden
Still Life
Babel Tower
A Whistling Woman

-The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe

The Shadow of the Torturer
The Claw of the Conciliator
The Sword of the Lictor
The Citadel of the Autarch
The Urth of the New Sun

-Cities of the Night by William Burroughs

Cities of the Red Night: A Boy's Book
The Place of Dead Roads
The Western Lands


-Rondua by Jonathan Carroll

Bones of the Moon
Sleeping in Flame
A Child Across the Sky

- Last Call by Tim Powers

Last Call
Expiration Date
Earthquake Weather

-The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson

Quicksilver
The Confusion
The System of the World

-The Jerusalem Quartet by Edward Whittemore

Sinai Tapestry
Jerusalem Poker
Nile Shadows
Jericho Mosaic


-Culture by Iain M. Banks

Consider Phlebas
The Player of Games
The State of the Art
Use of Weapons
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward

-New Crobuzon booka (technicaly ntoa series busame setting) by China Mieville

Perdido Street Station
The Scar
Iron Council

-Hainish sequence by Ursula Leguin

Planet of Exile
Rocannon's World
City of Illusions
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Word for World Is Forest
The Dispossessed

Border Trilogy by Cormac Mccarthy

All the Pretty Horses
The Crossing
Cities of the Plain

The First Chronicles of Amber - Roger Zelazny

Nine Princes in Amber
The Guns of Avalon
Sign of the Unicorn
The Hand of Oberon
The Courts of Chaos

Hyperion Cantos - Dan Simmons

Hyperion
Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
Rise of Endymion

[Chiasm]

Hyperion Cantos - Dan Simmons

Hyperion
Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
Rise of Endymion

This is my all time favorite series. I've never read anything that comes even close to how much I enjoy it. Although I liked the first two books better than the second two.

[Sanagi]

Tough one, but I guess I'd say Discworld.

[Greg Hatcher]

Bova's Orion got his start in Byron Preiss' Weird Heroes anthologies back in the 70's, you know. The first two sections of the first novel were published there, with illustrations by Craig Russell. Other books that got their start in Weird Heroes were Greatheart Silver by Philip Jose Farmer, The Oz Encounter by Marv Wolfman, and -- my favorite -- Darkworld Detective by Michael Reaves.

Weird Heroes and its spinoffs would actually BE my favorite series, I think. Others:

The James Bond books by Ian Fleming
The Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout
The Wold Newton tie-in books by Philip Jose Farmer (see the thread elsewhere on this board)
The Kinsey Millhone books by Sue Grafton
The Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell books by Laurie King
The Gary Seven Star Trek books by Greg Cox (I guess that's a series within a series, though really I think you almost have to call Trek novels a genre now.)

There are others. I read a LOT. And I excluded guys like Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs because I enjoy ALL their stuff, not just one series. But those listed above would be the favorites.

[Karl J. Barnes]

Thomas Covenant first two trilogies by Stephen R. Donaldson:

First Trilogy:

Lord Foul's Bane
The Illearth War
The Power That Preseves


Second Trilogy:

The Wounded Land
The One Tree
White Gold Wielder

[Jared H.]

It's flawed in many ways, but it's still my most favorite trilogy:

Jack L Chalker's "Quintara Marathon."

"The Demons at Rainbow Bridge."
"The Run to Chaos Keep."
"The Ninety Trillion Fausts."

Next to that, the Discworld series.

[Calamas]

Greg’s list left the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre to also dabble in Crime. Well, that’s where I live. However, in Mysteries the series run really long, so I won’t list each entry individually:

“Travis McGee” by John D MacDonald
“Matt Helm” by Donald Hamilton
“87th Precinct” by Ed McBain
“Matt Scudder” by Lawrence Block
“Lew Archer” by Ross MacDonald
“The November Man” by Bill Granger
“Dave Brandstetter” by Joseph Hansen
“Nate Heller” by Max Allan Collins

[Roquefort Raider]

I am shocked, shocked that no one has yet mentioned "The butlerian jihad" trilogy.
















Wasn't there a barfing emoticon somewhere?

[Roquefort Raider]

This is my all time favorite series. I've never read anything that comes even close to how much I enjoy it. Although I liked the first two books better than the second two.

Same here. I found the first one absolutely brilliant and original, the second one brilliant and straightforward, the third one exellent and straightforward, and the last one satifsfyingly good.

I also have a special fondness for the series because I associate it with traveling: I read most of the first one on a very long train journey, and the second and third ones on two different cases of being stuck in transit in an airport.

[Greg Hatcher]

“Travis McGee” by John D MacDonald
“Matt Helm” by Donald Hamilton


I love these two enough that I probably should have listed them, though I have other books by those same authors and I like those a lot too.

[xgeek52]

calamas has the way of it...but i would add spenser, stephanie plum, carol o'connell's mallory and ellery queen... to name a few :D :cool:

[Nate C.]

I'm very fond of

The Three Investigators Series

and

Robert Lyn Asprin's Myth Series

[primetime]

its hard for me to stay involved for a whole series...but id go the sci-fi route with the ender series.

[Chevan]

The Redwall series by Brian Jacques - This is more of a children's series, but I was quite fond of it when I was younger. Very entertaining.

Series of Unfortunate Events - Again, a children's series, but I enjoy the style it's written in.

The Wizardy Series by Diane Duane - Same deal; young adult books, but an interesting read.

T.A. Baron's Merlin series - Another childhood favorite.

I guess there's a theme there. Most of the series I remember really well are either ones from when I was younger, or they're the wildly popular ones that everyone's familiar with.

[DrewTheXenocide]

Orson Scott Card's "Bean" books. Not so much of a fan of the Ender books.

[Justin D.]

Some great series suggestions so far. I think I have a few more to check out. One question though.... what are these series about?

[Rabid Trekkie]

The books of Middle Earth:

The Silmarillion
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings

That's my favorite series right there. The Hobbit was the first "big book" I had read and it got me started reading. I've enjoyed all the books immensly.

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle.

I don't know if they count but I've read the first two "24" books based off of the show and they were very good.

I still have to finish the Tales of the Otori trilogy.

[Inkthinker]

The Discworld series rules ALL. Not only is there volume (over 30 novels now) but there's also consistent quality... even the worst Pratchett is worth five of most any other fantasy novel I can name. It's a British satire on all traditional fantasy (and many other) conventions as well as a damn fine series of narratives.

That's my favorite. Runners up would include "A Song of Ice and Fire" (epic hard fantasy) and "The Dresden Files" (modern magical detective series), but I've been a nut for the Discworld since I was about 12, and 30's looming on my horizon.

:D

[Vesper]

Ian Fleming's 007 run
Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe run
Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small quartet
Shakespeare's history plays (what!)

I dunno. I'm not THAT big on serial fiction. I think one too many Xanth books did me in as a kid. (Or maybe it was The Babysitters Club, or Nancy Drew, or The Hardy Boys, or The Bobbsey Twins or Sweet Valley High or any one of a dozen other series. Yeah, I overdosed.)

[Karl J. Barnes]

It's flawed in many ways, but it's still my most favorite trilogy:

Jack L Chalker's "Quintara Marathon."

"The Demons at Rainbow Bridge."
"The Run to Chaos Keep."
"The Ninety Trillion Fausts."

Next to that, the Discworld series.

I liked his Dancing River series, Well of Worlds series(the first five novels that is) and his Four Diamonds series.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Narnia and Wizard of Oz

I read them as a kid and still love them. They're the only series I've ever read.

[Lubichev]

Sweet Pickles

[kane]

Jack reacher books

[Chiasm]

A series of books that I really like on audio book is the Myron Bolitar series by Harlan Coben. The guy reading them perfectly expresses Myron's sarcasm and Win's dry humour. I've never actually "read" one of these, just heard them all at work (I spend a lot of time in the car, sometimes six to seven hours a day at work). They are basically mystery books. Myron is a sports agent who goes around solving crimes usually related to the sports world somehow. I know that concept sounds dumb, I didn't pick them up for a long time because of that, but one day I couldn't find anything else at the library to check out so I got one and was hooked. They are funny and suspensful at the same time.

[Nate C.]

Jack reacher books

I've enjoyed those too.

I still say Howyadoin should check em out.

[mattbib]

The Chronicles of Narnia

I still re-read them every year.

[Phrozen]

Baen's 163x series:

1632
1633
1634: The Gallieo Affair
The Grantville Gazette
Ring of Fire

[GozertheGozarian]

Any of Lloyd Alexander's series of books.
Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently books.

[DF2506]

Osc=Orson scott card, btw.

OSC's Bean series-From Ender's Shadow to Shadow of the Giant, the Bean series is just gripping. Overall, I'd say its a better series then the Ender series.

OSC's Ender series-That said, I do like this series alot, especially Speaker For the Dead and Xenocide (two of my favorite OSC books).

OSC's Alvin Maker series-Yes, another Card series. OSC is a great writer, imo, and this another great one by him. Alvin Maker series isn't quiete over yet, but I have to include it anyway.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling-Not over yet either, but I've enjoyed these books a ton. Harry Potter is such a cool fantasy series.

Dune series by Frank Herbert-Beginning to end, a really great series of books (especially like Children of Dune, Dune, and God Emperor of Dune).

And there's others I'm sure. Those are the ones that come to mind right away!

DF2506
" I should prob try out some of these other series you guys have been mentioning."

[leonaozaki]

Some of these have already been mentioned, but what the hell.

1) The first Amber series by Zelazny. I have a fondness in my heart for the second series, since I love most of the characters and it's still funny as hell in places but it's nowhere near as good as the first series.

2) Erikson's Malazan series. Granted, I'm still in the first third of the whopper third book, but I still love it.

3) R Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing series. Haven't started the second book yet but the first book was so good it earns a mention here.

4) Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea Cycle.

5) Alastair Reynolds's space opera. REVELATION SPACE, REDEMPTION ARK, and ABSOLUTION GAP. CHASM CITY is a stand alone mystery set in the same universe, and all four are excellent.

6) Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle.

7) The Dune series, of course. My favorites in the series are DUNE, GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE, and HERETICS OF DUNE.

8) I recently discovered Robin Hobb, and devoured the two FitzChivalry series. I don't know if they were in the same class as some of the above books but I certainly tore through them.

rob

[DarEpsilon]

The Lonesome Dove books by Larry McMurtry

[Karl J. Barnes]

8) I recently discovered Robin Hobb, and devoured the two FitzChivalry series. I don't know if they were in the same class as some of the above books but I certainly tore through them.

rob

Have you tried her Live Ships trilogy?

Another female writer that I thuink gets over looked is Katherine Kerr and heer Deverry series and C J Cherryh's Union/Alliance series.

[thetechnocrat]

I'll start with Fantasy since I have only read a handful of Fantasy genre series.

Weis & Hickman's OG Dragonlance Chronicles


Dragons Of Autumn Twilight
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n1/n6899.jpg
Dragons Of Winter Night
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n1/n6900.jpg
Dragons Of Spring Dawn
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n1/n6901.jpg
Dragons Of Summer Flame
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n1/n6906.jpg


At the time I first read them (all in a huge paperback), it was my first fantasy genre book since The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. It blew my mind.

[Solaris]

Well, I'll leave off the ones I usually talk about, and throw out one that I pick up and re-read from time to time, because it's so odd, unusual, and compelling:

John Varley's trilogy:

Titan
Wizard
Demon

Content is definitely adult-thematic, since it features topics like world wars, insanity, and some sexual content. Setting (for the first book) is about a hundred years from now, Earth, IIRC. Well, actually, the first manned space mission to the outer planets' moons.

Here's a bit of spoiler (highlight over it---I used the lemon chiffon text, so it'll be invisible unless you want to see it):

The six-person crew, when investigating changes to the telescope view of one of the moons, gets attacked and their ship pulled apart. The crew wake up in an artifical environment, totally naked and totally separated from one another. It gets really interesting after that.

Varley borrowed from tons of sources, including Sam Goldwyn and IIRC PT Barnum. It's full of cynicism and the faults of mankind... but it also has people and scenes that rivet you to the pages, flipping madly to devour the story. You HAVE to read the books in order. The first one, Titan, has some dull moments... but it gets much livelier toward the end, and the latter two books are much better at keeping your attention throughout... not to mention doing more twists and turns than a contortionist at a pretzel festival.

[Voncaster]

Harry Potter

[cactusmaac]

1. Discworld
2. ASOFAI
3. Asimov's Foundation series
4. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan books.

[Karl J. Barnes]

Well, I'll leave off the ones I usually talk about, and throw out one that I pick up and re-read from time to time, because it's so odd, unusual, and compelling:

John Varley's trilogy:

Titan
Wizard
Demon

Content is definitely adult-thematic, since it features topics like world wars, insanity, and some sexual content. Setting (for the first book) is about a hundred years from now, Earth, IIRC. Well, actually, the first manned space mission to the outer planets' moons.

Here's a bit of spoiler (highlight over it---I used the lemon chiffon text, so it'll be invisible unless you want to see it):

The six-person crew, when investigating changes to the telescope view of one of the moons, gets attacked and their ship pulled apart. The crew wake up in an artifical environment, totally naked and totally separated from one another. It gets really interesting after that.

Varley borrowed from tons of sources, including Sam Goldwyn and IIRC PT Barnum. It's full of cynicism and the faults of mankind... but it also has people and scenes that rivet you to the pages, flipping madly to devour the story. You HAVE to read the books in order. The first one, Titan, has some dull moments... but it gets much livelier toward the end, and the latter two books are much better at keeping your attention throughout... not to mention doing more twists and turns than a contortionist at a pretzel festival.

I loved this series and read them as fast as I could my hands on them! The first book seemed to be mostly straight adventure. The second one, Wizard, I wasn't overly thrilled with, but it is much deeper than the first. The final book,Demon was one hilarious and moving read. It came off as a satire about mankind and all our falliables. Truely a great trilogy.

[howyadoin]

The aforementioned Travis McGee books.
Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series.
Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series.
Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight series.
Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series.

[DennyK]

Bernie Rhodenbarr & Matt Scudder series ~ Lawrence Block

Nathan Heller series ~ Max Allan Collins

Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever first trilogy ~ Stephen Donaldson

Continental Op stories ~ Dashiell Hammett

Dragonlance & Twins trilogies ~ Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

John Dortmunder & Parker novels ~ Donald Westlake

[zilch]

Rrrrrrrrringworld by Niven (tho i haven't read the last one yet)

Callahan's Bar series (and its spinoff, Lady Sally series) by Spider Robinson

Hitchhiker's Guide "trilogy"

more if'n i think of 'm

Just remembered:

Sector General by the late great James White

[Ms. M]

Childhood/Teen Favorites:
The Oz Series
Narnia
Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian series

Adult Favorites:
Patrick O'Brian's Maturin/Aubrey novels
Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston's Pendergast mysteries
Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next, a great comedy/fantasy quartet of books

[Shellhead]

1. A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin. I still prefer to call this the Game of Thrones series. So far, it has been the most amazing work of fantasy I have ever read, and even as a long-term Martin fan, this has dazzled me. The vast scope, the deep character insights, the plot twists, the politics, the action, it's all done so very well. Martin has a keen ear for dialogue, and he takes so many fantasy cliches and gives them a fresh update.

2. The Amber series, especially the first five books. Roger Zelazny created such a complex and original setting, yet familiar and enjoyable for all the archetypes brought to life with such intelligence and scheming. Every time I read these books, I discover interesting new ideas to ponder.

3. The Well World series, especially the first five books, by Jack Chalker. Nobody creates detailed and believable alien life forms like Chalker, and he has a great rationalization for their familiar way of thinking. And when we get to the heart of the mysteries of Well World, the revelations are huge and shocking.

[Edman]

-Cities of the Night by William Burroughs

Cities of the Red Night: A Boy's Book
The Place of Dead Roads
The Western Lands

this one's worth repeating.

[Capt USA]

Piers Anthony, Bio of a space tyrant, and Incantations of Immortality
Asprin MYTH series.
Orson Scott Card, Earth series(not exactly sure what the official name is, "call of earth?")
Wild Cards (shared universe)
Philip Jose Farmer, Day world and Riverworld.
Timothy Zahn, Star war series(first one he did)

[drnocturne2]

The Fu Manchu series by Sax Rohmer. Yes, they are racist (they are a product of their time) but they are great fast paced thrillers. And Fu Manchu was the originial recurring super-villain.
The original Sherlock Holmes stories, and subsequent novels and anthologies.

[Slam_Bradley]

Edgar Rice Burroughs

-Barsoom novels.

-Pellucidar novels

-Caspak novels

Sax Rohmer

-Fu Manchu novels

Raymond Chandler

- Philip Marlowe novels

Mickey Spillane

- Mike Hammer novels.

Stuart Kaminsky

- Toby Peters novels

- Roger Zelazny

- First Chronicles of Amber

Isaac Asimov

- Original Foundation stories

- First three Robot mysteries.

Robert E. Howard

- Conan stories

- Solomon Kane stories

[Gordon Smith]

I guess it would have to be the Destroyer series, with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings following very closely behind.

[Joe Rice]

Chandler's Marlowe and Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events books are my current favorites. As a kid, I was quite fond of the Wild Cards books and the Myth Adventures books.

[Doc Shannara]

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher might be my favorite series right now.

Or maybe it's James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series---his Billy Bob Holland books are awesome, too---or Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books.

I also love RA Salvatore's Demon Wars books.

Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series and Nelson DeMille's books featuring John Corey kick major ass, too.

I think Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder books are the finest novels ever written about a PI, though he has strong new competition from John Connolly's Charlie Parker series and the Derek Strange books by George Pelecanos.

And you can't beat F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack series.

Or anything by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child featuring Agent Pendergast.

[Harpy Prince]

The Dollanganger Series - VC Andrews
Phases Of The Moon - Robert Silverberg
The Waterborn/Blackgod - Greg Keyes

Phases of the moon was my favorite it has a bunch of sci-fi short stories spanning over six decades you can really see the changes as he grows older and the genre from sci-fi futuristic style to the outerspace alien type. It's a really good read that I highly recommend.

[drnocturne2]

I've been thinking about reading some of the original Conan stories or the Solomon Kane stories. Can someone give me some idea as to what they are like? What is the tone of the stories and what would you compare them to?

[FanboyStranger]

Definitely Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle-- Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World, to which I'd also add his Cryptonomicon as a modern continuation. I could read about the Shaftoe clan until the end of time. I've also enjoyed Philip Roth's "Zuckerman" books, particularly The Anatomy Lesson, which is one of the funniest looks at neurotic hypochondria ever. William Vollman's Seven Dreams is another series Ive enjoyed, although they're linked more by theme, but it remains unfinished, and I feel diminshing returns set in after the majestic Fathers and Crows. (Granted I read the four published books in order right after one another, and was just burnt out mid-way through Argall, which is the weakest of the four, in my opinion.) Other than that, I suppose I don't read many "series" books, which is odd as I'm such a comics fan. My brother swears by the Jason Bourne books, but I think that's because he doesn't read much and is queer for Matt Damon.

[doctrinedee]

With the exception of Terry patchett's Discworld books, I've always avoided series of novels. I've no idea why; it's definitely not been a consious decision.

I do, however, love the idea of a writer's body of work being linked in some small manner rather than serialised, such as Kurt Vonnegut's references to the fictional sci-fi writer Kilgore Trout. Paul Austers New York Trilogy is also great - the three stories work well enough on their own, but together they form a book far greater than he sum of it's parts; even though they only reference each other briefly.

[Libaax]

SF and Fantasy :

Rigante books by David Gemmell

Jon Shannow Tales by David Gemmell

The Dying Earth Tales by Jack Vance

Conan by Robert E. Howard

Juvies(ST,Rocketship Galileo etc) by Robert Heinlein

Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Dune by Frank Herbert

Imaro books by Charles R. Saunders

Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Nightwatch books by Sergie Lukyanenko

The Witcher books by Andrezj Sapkowski

Vampire Hunter D books by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Tales of Otori by Lian Hearn

The Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Hitchhiker's Guide "trilogy" by Douglas Adams


Crime/Noir:

Parker books by Richard Stark/Donald Westlake

John Dortmunder by Donald Westlake

Lew Archer books by Ross MacDonald

Philip Marlowe books by Raymond Chandler

Sherlock Holmes by Conan Arthur Doyle

Jack Taylor by Ken Bruen

Derek Strange books by George Pelecanos

Kenzie/Gennaro books by Dennis Lehane

Harry Bosch books Michael Connolly

Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series

Tony Hill books by Val McDermid



Other genres :

Horatio Hornblower books by C.S Forester

James Bond books by Ian Fleming

Ceasar & Ghengis Khan books by Conn Iggulden

John Rain books by Barry Eisler

Napoleon/Wellington series by Simon Scarrow

Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz

[mr.brighteyes]

Harry Potter By JK Rowling

X-Wing By Michael Stackpole/Aaron Alston

Twilight By Stephanie Meyers

Timothy Zahn's Outbound Flight and Survivors Quest

and when she writes the sequal then Stephanie Meyers' Host series.

[fireSTRIKE!]

I've been a big fan of The Destroyer series, which originally was written by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir... recently they've been written by Murphy and Jim Mullaney... this was the series of books that helped to bring Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins to the big screen about 20 years ago... ignore that piece of crap... if you'll read a few of the books, you'll find that the book series and the film are two different bad boys, though I will admit that Fred Ward and Joel Grey make an excellent Remo and Chiun, the Masters of Sinanju... it was the screenplay or whatever that fucked up what COULD have been a decent film and a potential franchise...

recently the series, which has been going on continuously since 1971 or '72, I believe, has been suspended, due to Murphy searching for a new publisher... hopefully the series will resume, as Remo and Chiun still have quite a few tales to tell... it's a witty series that includes action, adventure, a bit of satire, or parody, or whatever you want to call it, and a bit of unbelievable... you just have to suspend yourself from reality for a while as you're reading these books... it's not idiotic and it's not campy... it's just a thoroughly enjoyable read and an enjoyable and thrill-packed ride with the Masters... it's just plain fun... hey, if it's been going on for almost 40 years now, then there's GOTTA be something to it, dontcha think?... give this series a check and you judge for yourselves... I highly recommend them... at last count, there's been almost 150 books in the series, so there's plenty to choose from... with the exception of a block of books penned by Tim Somheil, Mike Newton and Alan Phillipson, which must be avoided like the plague, this is a fast-paced and dynamic series... go for it!

I'll be expecting that check in the mail, Warren and Jim... :biggrin: :cool:

[Joe Rice]

Most books in a series are written for mongoloid half-literates drooling their way through airports and masturbatory fantasies.

[Agent Helix]

Pretty much. Though I do enjoy Patrick O'Brian's nautical adventures.

[Joe Rice]

Pretty much. Though I do enjoy Patrick O'Brian's nautical adventures.

Oh, there's definitely a few good ones.

[Agent Helix]

Basically steer clear of anything labeled as a "cycle" or a "saga", and anything "based on the hit tv show/movie/breakfast cereal" and anything with ELF in the title. Anywhere.

Even if the author's name is Elfstein or Elfenhoffel or something.

[Joe Rice]

Also if "Star" is in the title.

[Agent Helix]

And if it says "<Author> presents :" before the title, BE VERY SUSPICIOUS!

[Joe Rice]

Also, Peter David.

[Agent Helix]

Mathematical rules

3 books - Okay
4 books - Pushing it
5 books - Highly suspect
6 books - Enter at your own risk
More than 6 books - HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[jesse_custer]

I can't think of a single series that satisfied me.

[Joe Rice]

Mathematical rules

3 books - Okay
4 books - Pushing it
5 books - Highly suspect
6 books - Enter at your own risk
More than 6 books - HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

One author: probably shitty. Two authors REAL SHITTY.

[Agent Helix]

I can't think of a single series that satisfied me.

Try George R.R. Martin. Those books are very thick and sturdy.

[jesse_custer]

You call that thick? You are deprived and inexperienced, Skywalker.

[Agent Helix]

Be gentle!

[Slam_Bradley]

I can't think of a single series that satisfied me.

Give Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels a try. Lots of literary in-jokes. The first novel The Eyre Affair is a quick read.

[Puma]

The "Tomorrow " series by James Madsen
"Tomorrow When the War Began"
"The Dead of Night"
"A Killing Frost"
"Darkness Be My Friend"
"Burning for Revenge"
"The Night is for Hunting"
"The Other Side of Dawn"

[Shellhead]

One author: probably shitty. Two authors REAL SHITTY.

I always thought that Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven worked better as a team than as separate writers.

[jesse_custer]

Give Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels a try. Lots of literary in-jokes. The first novel The Eyre Affair is a quick read.

That title made me snicker, so I'll check it out.

[Matthew E]

I found Jasper Fforde quite disappointing. His stuff *ought* to be interesting... and yet it isn't.

Multiple authors: I have little time for either Raymond E. Feist or Janny Wurts when they're writing solo. But somehow they combined for a magnificent three-book series set in one of Feist's fantasy worlds. If the series has a name, I never learned it (the Mara trilogy? I don't know), but the books in it are Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, and Mistress of the Empire. Highly recommended.

[Slam_Bradley]

I found Jasper Fforde quite disappointing. His stuff *ought* to be interesting... and yet it isn't.



We'll have to agree to disagree on this. I find his stuff very interesting. And anyone who can make me remotely interested in Jane Eyre is doing something right.

[Athena Bast]

Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Avalon" series.

Greg Cox's "Star Trek TOS Khan" Trilogy.

Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" books.

[berk]

Other than some of the ones already mentioned:

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series.

P. G. Wodehouse - various (Jeeves, Ukridge, Psmith, etc)

Spike Milligan - war memoirs