In a most likely futile effort not to while away my entire upcoming winter break in front of my computer screen playing WoW, I have set a goal for myself: read two books on my "I've Been Meaning To Read That One" list.

After sifting through the complex series of lists, charts, and graphs that make up this so-called "list" and several rolls on my trusty d100, I narrowed my endeavors down to James Clavell's classic Shogun and the epic Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Apparently, I was hungry for Japanese food at the time I made my decision.

In any case, I was wondering if anybody had comments on the selected texts or any great reads they are working on themselves to fill the newly created void in my to-do list.

I just finished up a reread of "Starship Troopers" and I'm almost done with "Neuromancer"

I would recommend reading Terry Brooks' Shannara series. I enjoyed every one of these books, favorites being The Sword of Shannara, and the High Druid of Shannara series. Im heading down to the store tomorrow to pick up the third book in the High Druid of Shannara series.

I too in a WoW addict, with over 130 days clocked into my main character. Although I do other things besides gaming, reading the books by Terry Brooks is one of the few activities besides WoW that I truly enjoy.

I have to admit, "Starship Troopers" has sort of niggled around the edges of my interest for some time... I know that it is TOTALLY different from the movie (which I loved) and that it is regarded as something of a classic, but I know very few people who can actually claimed to have read it. What did you think of it? Is it a "Must Read" or a "When I Get Around To It" kind of book?

In answer to the Shannara point, it really has been years since I picked up a Terry Brooks book. I felt a little lost at the time since I think i just picked up a random book or two. Where would you recommend beginning? I think I read the "Sword of Shannara" and one that had to do with something about elf-stones and an island or something. Like I said... it's been a while. *ashamed*

Starship Troopers isn't a very "sci-fi" book at all.

It's a commentary on society, mostly the notion of citizenship and duty. In the future "federation" there are two types of people, residents & citizens. In order to obtain citizenship (and thusly gain full rights, sufferage, etc.) you have to serve first. It also breaks down the basics of military life, the chain of command, and the camaraderie formed within. Furthermore it touches on the idea of punishment in society, and what the meaning of punishment is.

And it still draws you in. The story is there enough that you're not bored while the message gets across.

If anyone wants to read it, they can borrow my copy.

A good book that really has nothing to do with fantasy at all is Terry Davis' "Vision Quest" - I'm a Spokane-area transplant, so, I heard it was based in Spokane... and amateur wrestling is interesting to me, so I picked it up and thought it was worth a read - pretty good, too.

If you're more along the lines of wanting a fantasy, but a little "off-kilter", then Christopher Moore's books might be better... he has a novel called "Lamb" and it's the story of Jesus Christ as told from the perspective of his best friend, Biff. It's not really anything heretical, it's just a story that makes up some stuff about Christ travelling in search of the Three Magi - he's looking for them so he can find out how exactly he's SUPPOSED to be the Messiah, and the story itself IS funny - I mean, Jesus inventing Judo is worth a laugh or seventeen.

Hmm... Jesus and Judo... that might be worth a look!

Read some Time Powers ( on Stranger Tides is a personal fave), Read all the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stories by Leiber, Moondance by S.P. Somtow is a wonderful take on werewolves and Native Americans, and you can never go wrong just pickin anything by Bruce Sterling.

Starship Troopers is a fun read, Enders Game gave me a similar feel, when I got around to reading it, but Heinlein was an early friend, so he always gets the nod from me.

I have many more ideas, feel free to ask

Bret

read any and all
R.A. Salvatore
i got a book he signed i met him 2
drizzt kiks arse

The Sword Of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
any and all Anne Bishop novels, especially the Black Jewels Trilogy
Niel Gaimen's American Gods
and yes, read Terry Brook's books as so-and-so stated above. He is good.

There are loots of books by these authors and I love them all very dearly. They are like family, those books. I really do recommend American Gods, though. It's really interesting how it works out, and the variations of gods and goddesses they have and how they are intermingling.

I personal y am a fan of the dan abennet books and i have also read a few other good sci-fis

I was reading the complete Frank Herbert and got all the way to the first 1/3 of God Emperor of Dune. Not really worth it. I think that's why the Sci-Fi channel cut it off where they did.

-PJ

I would recommend anything by Alastair Reynolds (hard sci-fi) and Richard K. Morgan (cyberpunk). I've REALLY enjoyed a number of books by those guys over the last couple of years.

And in the fantasy realm, George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice" series is stellar.