Books/authors you enjoy reading

[Lissa]

Just wondering what type of books you KBers are interested in.

Not really a thriller fan, mostly 'girly books' and romance (not mills and boon type though), also history.

My pic for the books/authors I enjoy reading are:

The Cross Stitch Series by Diana Gabaldon.
The Other Boleyn Girl... and others by Philippa Gregory.
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.
Stephen Donaldson Novels.

The Brief History of Nearly Everything.. Bill Bryson. (read it in a week)

And I also have most of the Terry Pratchett 'Discworld' Novels.... Very funny. :sunny:

Porn magazines dont count even for the articles! :Punk:

[Drum]

I'm currently reading Pay Zero Taxes! a tax-smart guide for all new zealanders by Peter Sibbald.

Prior to that was Letters, by (sir) Bob Jones.

[Stickchick]

I like anything from Patricia Cornwall, James Patterson, John Grisham, Tess Gerritsen and Jodi Picoult

[McJim]

Quite a mix really.

Stephen Donaldson.
Terry Pratchett.
Douglas Adams.
Tom Holt.

And of course JRR Tolkien (before his work was associated with New Zealand!)

[Chisanga]

John Irving is a fave and anything that looks interesting and/or different.

Haven't read much for fun recently due to the large amount of academic reading I have had to do for Uni :(

[Biff]

The Brief History of Nearly Everything.. Bill Bryson. (read it in a week)



That be one of the most wonderfullest books I've ever read that be.


I'm into a Robert Baer at the mo', and the Earth's Children series.

[skelstar]

Used to read heaps of the Clive Cussler books

<img src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n5/n27777.jpg">

...and have read heaps of non-fiction about the Beatles, Space Race, Astro-Physics, Science.

[Lissa]

Quite a mix really.

Stephen Donaldson.
Terry Pratchett.
Douglas Adams.
Tom Holt.

And of course JRR Tolkien (before his work was associated with New Zealand!)
Another Terry Pratchett Fan!! Most people I know dont think they are very funny at all... dont know whats wrong with them. :mellow:

My favourite Stephen Donaldson books would be "The mirror of her Dreams" and "A man rides through".

[Lissa]

That be one of the most wonderfullest books I've ever read that be.


I'm into a Robert Baer at the mo', and the Earth's Children series.
Its an awesome book, couldnt put it down. Although everyone I have told about it, thinks I am nuts when I start talking about atoms and DNA. Found it really interesting. :yes:

[Chisanga]

Probably the best book I have read in a long time is "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. Definately worth checking out if you enjoy a good book.

[Big Dan]

SE Hinton
Witi Ieriema(wrong spelling)
Rohl Dahl
John Marsden

[McJim]

Another Terry Pratchett Fan!! Most people I know dont think they are very funny at all... dont know whats wrong with them. :mellow:

My favourite Stephen Donaldson books would be "The mirror of her Dreams" and "A man rides through".

Stephen Donaldson made the leap from fantasy fiction to science fiction pretty well. Try to track down the Gap series. No gravity on them there spaceships unless they are spinning. I hate the convenient sci fi books/films with gravity on spacecraft.

[JimO]

stephen king, dean koontz, tolkien, used to like patrica cornwell but her books seem to fizz out at the end

[What?]

Dean Koontz for well written fantasy
Richard Laymon for being plain nasty
Douglas Adams for the social commentary
Terry Pratchett for being Terry Pratchett
People who write about motorcycles/motorcyclists for writing about motorcycles/motorcyclists.

[phaedrus]

i'm reading The invisible man - H.G. Wells at the moment. I also like a bit of Jules Verne, throw in some David Drake and some cyberpunk/steampunk themed stories.

[Panther]

'Catcher in the Rye' by JD Salinger

awesome insight into Salinger through his persona Holden Caufeild.

[bobsmith]

The wheel of time series by Robert Jordan. 11 books so far and one more to go...

One of the best fantasy series out there if not the best. and Definately the biggest.

[skelstar]

'Catcher in the Rye' by JD Salinger
Man that book bored me senseless...but I'm no scholar and know there are subtleties I missed.

Only got it due to the Mark Chapman link.

[Skyryder]

Lissa you may be interested in the

The Lost Letters of Aquataine by Judith Koll.

The Hounds of God http://www.rafaelsabatini.com/hounds.html This might be hard top get but if you check out second hand book stores keep and eye out for it.

The Historian. By Elizabeth Kostova. Recomended

While nominally a modern re-telling of the Dracula story, The Historian delves deeply into the nature of history and its relevance to today's world, as well as serving as a cautionary tale on the historical antagonism between Western Civilization and Islam.


Tales of the Otori All four books


The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart.
The Crystal Cave; The Hollow Hills; The Last Enchantment.

Wicked Day is the forth book and deals with the death of Arther by Mordrid.


These are just a few from the historical genre.

Fantsy anything by Raymond Feist.


Skyryder

[cowpoos]

awesome insight into Salinger through his persona Holden Caufeild.
sounds like you read the first line on the back of the book?

[Skyryder]

That be one of the most wonderfullest books I've ever read that be.


I'm into a Robert Baer at the mo', and the Earth's Children series.


Mother Toungue by Bryson is alsoa good read.

Skyryder

[Lissa]

Lissa you may be interested in the

The Lost Letters of Aquataine by Judith Koll.

The Hounds of God http://www.rafaelsabatini.com/hounds.html This might be hard top get but if you check out second hand book stores keep and eye out for it.

The Historian. By Elizabeth Kostova. Recomended

While nominally a modern re-telling of the Dracula story, The Historian delves deeply into the nature of history and its relevance to today's world, as well as serving as a cautionary tale on the historical antagonism between Western Civilization and Islam.


Tales of the Otori All four books


The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart.
The Crystal Cave; The Hollow Hills; The Last Enchantment.

Wicked Day is the forth book and deals with the death of Arther by Mordrid.


These are just a few from the historical genre.

Fantsy anything by Raymond Feist.


Skyryder
Thanks Sky
Just googled "Lost Letters of Aquataine"... looks like something I would really enjoy reading.

The Historian - I remember seeing something on TV about that book, when the author went to Romania to visit 'Draculas' Castle, its about the true historical figure... Vlad III? Looked really interesting, will get that one as well. :)

Thanks for the recommendations... Might look on Trade Me as well for them.

[Skyryder]

Anyone read The Outlaws of the Marsh?

http://poisonpie.com/words/others/somewhat/outlaws/index.html

I have read the Story of the Stone by Cao Xueqin Volumn One. Not entirely bedtime reading but for those with a bent for the Orient.

Skyryder

[vamr]

Anything by Pratchett, William Gibson, Neal Stephenson and Lovecraft... there are others but these are the ones that come to mind.

[MotoGirl]

I struggle to read anything more grown up than J K Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Also, disturbing stories capture my interest for some cocked up rason. It's got to be sick and twisted!

[Trudes]

I am so boring and predictable!!
I own almost every book Stephen King has written and every book Anne Rice has written. Am slowly working my way through them all, have read most of them though and can't get enough.

[cowpoos]

I am so boring and predictable!!
well you do ride a honda??

[rainman]

... William Gibson ...

Yeah. But he writes too damn slow - I'm well ready for another Gibson book.


Douglas Adams ... Terry Pratchett ...


Another Terry Pratchett Fan!! Most people I know dont think they are very funny at all... dont know whats wrong with them. :mellow:

I confess, I've read 'em all. (Both Adams and Pratchett, I think). The fun (scary?) thing is my son has now started reading Pratchett, and loves them. Other members of the family fail to see the attraction, though. :)

No Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Or does that fall into the category of

People who write about motorcycles/motorcyclists for writing about motorcycles/motorcyclists.
Or...

Phaedrus I really should re-read that book.

Currently reading:
- In Praise of Slowness, Carl Honor&eacute;
- The well of lost plots, Jasper Fforde (kinda like Tom Holt?)
- Boomtown, Greg Williams (I liked the cover but it's not living up to expectations and may go back to the library uncompleted)
- The Terra-Cotta Dog, Andrea Camilleri (Haven't started yet, murder mystery thing)
- The Dog Catcher, Alexei Sayle (just finished)
- Square Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew
- A Chomsky, can't remember which one and can't find it right now.

But then, in matters of reading or eating, I'll try almost anything once.

[vamr]

Yeah. But he writes too damn slow - I'm well ready for another Gibson book.

The last one was a lengthy wet dream about macs. Kind of odd.

[Skyryder]

I struggle to read anything more grown up than J K Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Also, disturbing stories capture my interest for some cocked up rason. It's got to be sick and twisted!

Try Aztec by Gary Jennings. It's a big book and has it all. Incest, drugs, warefare, conquest, torture, mutilation, child sex and a realy twisted twisted ending. It's a big read. Enjoy if you can last the distance.

Skyryder

[phaedrus]

No Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?

Ya know, I should have remembered where I stole my name from.

[Headbanger]

The most recent book that I have enjoyed would be Perdido st Station, Its good, certainly worth reading but not worthy of classic status.

http://www.sfsite.com/07b/ps108.htm


Very dark and twisted.

[MyGSXF]

I struggle to read anything more grown up than J K Rowling's Harry Potter series!

Hey.. they're GREAT books!! & for any age!!! :yes: (I've read them all too!!!!! ) :2thumbsup

I have read the "Clan of the Cavebear" (Jean M Auel) series, several times over.. and the same for the "Flowers in the Attic" (Virginia Andrews) series. :yes:

Re-reading "Tandia & The Power of One" (Bryce Courtenay) at the mo!

Other authors include: Catherine Cookson, Barbara Taylor Bradford & Wilbur Smith

[Waylander]

Steven Brust has to be at the top for me. Good long nearly continuous stories and even a few series in the same univers. Check the Vlad Taltos novels and the Khavreen Romances.

David Gemmell (obviously) The Drenai saga. Another long scoping story though not all of the novels are linked directly. Some you reallyhave to pay attention to to get the full connections and how they affect the others.

Glen Cook for the Annals of The Black Company. A long well thoughtout and detailed story following the same chractors throughout it's span. Very gritty descriptions of fighting and the emotions the author wants you to feel through the charactorsre well placed.

Dave Duncun is nother good one. The King's Blades Novels are intruiging and very hard to predict and very confusing if you read them out of order. though they can be read as one off novels. A few spin off series from this one aswell, Chronicals of the King's Blades nd the Kings Daggers sort of take place during the original story but don't affect it too much.

[Skyryder]

Hey.. they're GREAT books!! & for any age!!! :yes: (I've read them all too!!!!! ) :2thumbsup

I have read the "Clan of the Cavebear" (Jean M Auel) series, several times over.. and the same for the "Flowers in the Attic" (Virginia Andrews) series. :yes:

Re-reading "Tandia & The Power of One" (Bryce Courtenay) at the mo!

Other authors include: Catherine Cookson, Barbara Taylor Bradford & Wilbur Smith

Wilbur Smith. Those ones set in Egypt were good. Can not recall the names.


Africa........ India?? Sorta reminds me of two books I read ages ago. Taj

http://www.timerimurari.com/reviewoftaj.htm Reccomended.

The other one was The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye.

Skyryder

[Chisanga]

I struggle to read anything more grown up than J K Rowling's Harry Potter series.


I quite like these books although I think the first three were miles better than the last three.

[Delphinus]

The wheel of time series by Robert Jordan. 11 books so far and one more to go...

One of the best fantasy series out there if not the best. and Definately the biggest.

I read all of those that I could about 3 years ago... has there been a new one lately? Need to get back into it.

[avgas]

I dont read much actual books. But I just scored "Hiroshima" by John Hersey.....a fav of mine

[James Deuce]

A little boy waits in the hope that this thread may uncover something new, non-formulaic, and intriguing........

[What?]

A little boy waits in the hope that this thread may uncover something new, non-formulaic, and intriguing........


Guess that rules out my .vba code books then...

[James Deuce]

Errr yes. My Windows Shell Scripting and Microsoft Exchange ones too.

Non-Fiction; The Rise Of The Creative Class, by Richard Florida, and Just A Geek by Wil Wheaton.

[Kickaha]

Y
No Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Or does that fall into the category of

It falls into the category of absolute crap


Robert Heinlien, Adam Hall, Desmond Bagley, Colin Forbes, Larry Niven
Issac Asimov, David Drake, Raymond E Feist, Lee Childs, Sven Hassell
Eric Van Lustbader, Stephen Donalson, Clive Cussler, Phillip Jose Farmer
Terry Pratchett, Harry Harrison, Tad Williams, Gordon R Dickson
Jack Higgins

thats off the top of my head, I'll probably be back with some more later

[MisterD]

Yet another Pratchett fan here, but if you like your "fantasy" to be a bit more serious I'd recommend Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion series.

I don't usually do Sci-fi, but there's a book called "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card which is a stand out in that genre.

Where I seem to depart from the KB masses is a love of military history stuff, and Bernard Cornwell is, for me, the absolute master of this.

[Swoop]

Just started "And it's goodnight from him" by Ronnie Corbett. Autobiography of the Two Ronnies.
I need a laugh.

[Hitcher]

I used to read a lot of science fiction, but have latterly tired of this genre.

The Dune trilogy, before they got silly.

Greg Bear, with some notable exceptions (Queen of Angels is shit).

Lately I've read mostly motorcycling books: currently The Last Hoorah. Next is the Morgan's backroads of America.

Good Vibrations, The Long Way Round, Silkriders, Jupiter's Travels...

[Kickaha]

Lately I've read mostly motorcycling books: currently The Last Hoorah. Next is the Morgan's backroads of America.

Good Vibrations, The Long Way Round, Silkriders, Jupiter's Travels...

You might also like "Full Circle" it's about a couple who do a world trip in a sidecar, it's better than Silkriders but not quite as good as Jupiters travels

[Hitcher]

You might also like "Full Circle" it's about a couple who do a world trip in a sidecar, it's better than Silkriders but not quite as good as Jupiters travels

Excellent! Any other details to make it easier to track down would be appreciated.

[vifferman]

One of the best books I've ever read is one I read a couple of month's back: "The Time Traveler's Wife", by Audrey Niffeneger.
Currently, I am reading Sara Douglass' "The Troy Game" series.

Before that, I found "You Don't Know the Half of It" (Aaaron Slight's 'autobiography') interesting, if a tad whingey at times (understandably) and not quite as inspirational as the Barry Sheene biography.

[vifferman]

Another Terry Pratchett Fan!! Most people I know dont think they are very funny at all... dont know whats wrong with them. :mellow:

I've read a lot of them, as my son has almost every Pratchett book. My favourites are :The Wee Free Men" and "A Hatful of Sky".

[gijoe1313]

Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Harrison

Team Yankee by Harold Coyle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Yankee

Sharpe's collection http://www.bernardcornwell.net/index2.cfm?page=1&seriesid=1

iliad attributed to Homer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad

Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brothers_Karamazov

Just some of my faves

[phantom]

Bought a pile of books from the Red Cross Book Sale in Palmie at the weekend ( love books ) one of which is Trinity by Leon Uris. Fascinating story/history about the struggles in Ireland. Absolutely loving it

[Cajun]

David Gemmell (obviously) The Drenai saga. Another long scoping story though not all of the novels are linked directly. Some you reallyhave to pay attention to to get the full connections and how they affect the others.


Yeah i have read the Troy series & Rigante Series by same author

[bobsmith]

I read all of those that I could about 3 years ago... has there been a new one lately? Need to get back into it.

book 11 came out within last 2 years I think, also, there have been a short novel called New Spring which is about Moiraine and Lan when they first met. Robert Jordan was diagnosed with some kind of rare blood disease and is at Mayo clinic but he still hopes to finish the book and the book 12 is scheduled for release in late 2008 or early 2009. He says that no matter what that's going to be the last book.

[James Deuce]

Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brothers_Karamazov

Just some of my faves

Is it wrong to find everything Dostoevsky wrote incredibly funny?

[Deviant Esq]

Another Terry Pratchett fan checking in, love the Discworld series. Own about half of it, gradually collecting the lot. Other writers I read or have read plenty of are Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Lee Childs, Stephen King (Dark Tower series is good), Robert Jordan... but the one I'm most keen on lately is Bernard Cornwell. Absolutely excellent books, based in medievil times. The Grail Quest trilogy was great reading, could not put them down. Just nailed all three one after the other. It follows the life of an English archer named Thomas of Hookton, in the 14th century. Fictional, but 95% of the battles in the books actually happened at that time and place - Cornwell just adds characters to them and writes from their perspective. Fascinating stuff. His King Alfred trilogy, set in the 9th century, is also great reading. If you're into medievil stuff in any way, this is pretty much the best fiction there is on it. Even if you're not really into it, you soon will be if you start reading Cornwell!

[Waylander]

Yeah i have read the Troy series & Rigante Series by same author
Forgot about those ones. Another good series from Gemmel. Did you follow the Rigante all the way into the Jeruselem Man novels?

[Albino]

On the theme of russian authors, i've just finished:


Death and the Penguin - Andrey Kurkov

and an all time favourite is


The Clay Machine Gun - Viktor Pelevin

Keepin it international styles, have been reading a few books by Haruki Murakami.

And on the old book front, give this a go: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - Robert Tressell

[KoroJ]

Another Wilbur Smith Fan here.
Also Harold Robbins & Jeffry Archer
Liked the Jean Auell stories but not her style...she rambles too much and same goes for Robert Kyosaki

Used to read alot of:
Westerns - Louis L'amour, George Gillman (Edge series & another one ??)
Sci Fi - Hubbard, Herbert, Asimov
War - Sven Hassell
C S Lewis stories were pretty good too.
M Scott Peck was enlightening

[skelstar]

Philip Jose Farmer - Riverworld Saga

Friggin awesome series.

<img src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n2753.jpg">

[kerfufflez]

Alexander McCall Smith - The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Nothing deep, but quite amusing/droll when you want something to read but don't want to have to really concentrate, or think too much.

[rainman]

A little boy waits in the hope that this thread may uncover something new, non-formulaic, and intriguing........


Life of Pi by Yann Martel? Naah, that's not new, I suppose. Not sure about intriguing, either. Maybe just odd.

[James Deuce]

Philip Jose Farmer - Riverworld Saga

Friggin awesome series.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n0/n2753.jpg

Read that and you've read everything he ever wrote. By the start of the 3rd book you know what will happen on page 203.

[Jaxi]

Hiya,

The most awesome book I've read (more than once!) is called "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. It is set in 10th century England and follows the building of a cathedral over the 100 or so years that it takes to build. It's a great read for anyone into history but keen on a story too... Ken Follett has some other good books too, they all vary in era...

Someone mentioned The Last Hoorah in an earlier post... My Dad sent it over to me recently but I haven't read it yet (did watch the DVD though!)

For more motorcycling books.... Not sure about availability in NZ though...(these are all geezers that flog their books at the www.horizonsunlimited.com meetings)

Lois on the Loose - Lois Pryce, Cool English chickie who rode around South America on a dirt bike....

Mondo Enduro - Edited by Austin Vince (Lois's hubby) is the diary version of the DVD of the same name, a few English blokes who have done several trips but this book takes them from London to Siberia, Alaska to Chile, then South Africa back to London.... on a serious budget!!

Sam Manicom - Into Africa (Africa by Motorcycle)

And a shameless plug for "Two for the Road" by our Aussie friends Brian and Shirl, I'm sure that one is available in NZ....

For general "sit on the train on the way to work" reading, I like the James Patterson, Tami Hoag, Michael Connelly type of stuff...

[Kickaha]

Philip Jose Farmer - Riverworld Saga

Friggin awesome series.

And a totally shyte movie


Read that and you've read everything he ever wrote. By the start of the 3rd book you know what will happen on page 203.

Can't agree with you

World of Tiers series is far better http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Tiers and some of his stand alone novels like "The Green Odyssey" are quite good

[James Deuce]

Well with your KB handle it would be impolitic to agree with me.:dodge:

[skelstar]

Raymond E. Feist - Riftwar Saga!!!

Friggin cool bunch of books...they get weaker and weaker as the series goes on but Magician and the Servant/Daughter/Mistress of the Empire side stories are bloody fantastic.

<img src="http://a0.vox.com/6a00c22522d97a549d00c22522dd08549d-500pi">

[Raoul Duke]

Hunter S Thompson
John Pilger (this man should be king)
P J O'Rourke
Seymore Hersh
Noam Chomsky
Aldous Huxley

[sisterecho]

Wilbur Smith. Those ones set in Egypt were good. Can not recall the names.

I don't like any of his other novels but these ones set in Egypt (River God, The Seventh Scroll) were really great.

[peasea]

Writing my own book. Fuck them all.

[Holy Roller]

Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker are awesome reads if one likes a bit of mystery and suspense. then theres Clive Cussler with Dirk Pitt must be a bit of something to do with my old seafaring days

[magicfairy]

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, if I had to pick a favourite book.

Just started Jupiters Travels by Ted Simon.

[Blondini]

Graham hancock Fingerprints of the gods is a must read:yes:

[enigma51]

My favourite book is playboy not much writing just lots of pretty pictures

[jrandom]

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand...

Really. Well, now.

Tell me.

Did you enjoy it because your brain is broken, and execrably turgid prose therefore pleasures you, or did you enjoy it because your tiny-minded worldview happens to coincide with Rand's pathetic attempt at a moral justification for fascism?

[Chisanga]

Raymond E. Feist - Riftwar Saga!!!

Friggin cool bunch of books...they get weaker and weaker as the series goes on but Magician and the Servant/Daughter/Mistress of the Empire side stories are bloody fantastic.

<img src="http://a0.vox.com/6a00c22522d97a549d00c22522dd08549d-500pi">

Magician is probably the book I have read the most times. Maybe 18-23 times :) I agree about the series getting weaker. The Daughter of the Empire stuff is awesome too.

[BAD DAD]

Just finished, "The Moon Is Down" by john Steinbeck. Enjoyed Bryson's Brief History recently. Currently going through "The Sugarbag Years" by Tony Simpson for about the 3rd time in about 15 years. Good food for thought if you are even vaughly interested in NZ history or economics.

[Guitana]

HUSTLER Black Label by Larry Flint I only buy it for the articles!!!

[Mutley]

Have read quite a few books mentioned here, eg The Earths Children series, The Merlin Trilogy, books by Lee Child, Patricia Cornwall ( the Scarpetta series ) hated her other books. Some writers not mentioned here that have had mini series made of their stories are Minette Walters and PD James. Have collected quite a few books of theirs over the years. John Case and Jeffery Deaver also write some pretty darn good books, along with Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin ( Love that abrasive old detective Rebus).
Always on the lookout for a good read. Thanks for quite a few interesting ideas KB.

[Nasty]

Ok ... there are many so I am only including some of the ones i collect the series from:

Jonathan Kellerman Psychological Thrillers/mystery
Faye Kellerman - Cop Mystery/thrillers
Patricia Cornwall - thriller
Minette Walters - thriller
Lee Child - I even met him!! and have a signed book
James Patterson - Love all the various series from this guy esp womans murder club
Jeffery Deaver - just nice quick reading
Martina Cole - great semi trashy gangster
Kathy Reiches - forensic type
Robyn Cook - Thriller
Tess Gerritson - medical Thriller
Lisa Gardner - sorta cop/fbi mystery
Linda La Plante - various with lots of dead people
Micheal Connelly - Harry Borshe - fantastic cop stories
John Grisham - we all know this one.
Val McDiarmid - Wire n the blood- and more .. great reads.

Light reading
Sue Grafton - A through to S have been written this woman titles by the alphabet - follows a detective.
Janet Evanovich - the Stephanie Plum series is wonderful



Grub has added Dick Frances to my collection but I ain't read any of them :)

These are the collected ones I have many more and from what i have read today some new authors to try out!!

[peasea]

The Edmonds Cook Book

[Jaxi]

To "Pillars of the Earth"

Couldn't wait for it to come out in paperback early next year.... bought the reduced priced hardcover the other day "World Without End"... It's f*&^en huge, and proving a bit of an handful on the daily commute but I'm sure it's gonna be worth it though!

[Jaxi]

Sorry guys... seems like only the other day that thread was going!! Didin't realise it has been dead since June!

[Cajun]

all good, I picked up the final book in the Troy Series by David Gremmal, the one he did not finsh writing before he died, his wife Stella finshed it.

You can sorta tell it is not total worded like the previous books, but still good none the less.

[Swoop]

HUSTLER Black Label by Larry Flint I only buy it for the articles!!!
An ex-navy mate had two of the Hustler cartoon magazines. Normal magazine but only containing their in-house cartoons. Bloody hilarious AND filthy!!!:laugh:

[Jaxi]

I had always avoided "fantasy" books. But loved the Troy books, awesome history and have since read loads of David Gemmell books, just finished the Rigante series tonight, boo hoo.... I really love the history , a little bit of majic that is believable as though it was someone dreaming or something is cool, but the full on jimand / joining stuff gets a bit much for me... Need to find some other authors... Books seem so cheap over her at 6 quid or so rather than 20 bucks back in NZ, that always seemed like so much money....

[Cajun]

yeah i only read fantasty books, but i do not like books that contain alot of the magic stuff that alot of fantasy contain. But been looking forward to the final Troy book which only came out, picked it up warehouse last week for $29.95, not read much been busy but wanna get my teeth in to it about 1/4 thru at moment

[Mikkel]

Everything by these authors:

Iain (M.) Banks
Neil Stephenson
William Gibson
Guy Gavriel Kay

They seriously write good stuff, and in very differing genres as well. They cover everything from high fantasy to cyberpunk and sci fi. Banks has written some awesome contemporary fiction works which I simply can not recommend enough.

[Pancakes]

All of Jared Diamonds books are great! Well written and interesting. The book about Krakatoa - the day the world exploded (I think) is a cool inbsight to the world in the late 1800's as well as the eruption itself and Critical Mass by Phillip Ball is one of my favourates too.

[vifferman]

yeah i only read fantasty books, but i do not like books that contain alot of the magic stuff that alot of fantasy contain.
Have you read any of J V Jones' books? I've read three the last few months, after my niece in Oz lent me "The Barbed Coil". She's an amazing author, but she is really hard on her characters! (She must have a really strange imagination...) If you like fantasy without all the twee or cute magical stuff, you'd love her books. :niceone:
I made the mistake of reading her latest trilogy, not realising it hadn't been completed. Ended up with three people in our house wanting to read the last one, which luckily was released in Mrka on October 16th. However, it's not available here yet, so in desperation I ordered it from Amazon, rather than waiting till January for the library to get it.

[Cajun]

Cool Ian i might have a look some of hers once i finsh my current one.

[Sanx]

Just finished Christopher Brookmyre's latest, Attack Of The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks, a couple of weeks ago. Possibly the best yet. Go and buy it, everyone. Now.

[steveb64]

Everything by these authors:

Iain (M.) Banks
Neil Stephenson
William Gibson
Guy Gavriel Kay

They seriously write good stuff, and in very differing genres as well. They cover everything from high fantasy to cyberpunk and sci fi. Banks has written some awesome contemporary fiction works which I simply can not recommend enough.

If you like William Gibson, try Peter F Hamiltons books - "The Reality Dysfunction" is the first in the 'Nights Dawn' series, and there's "Pandora's Star", the first in the 'Commonwealth Saga'. Also check out Peter Beere's 'Trauma 2020' trilogy.

As for my preferences - for Sci-Fi - just listing those authors I/we have the most (more than 6) of, or all of (series), in no particular order:

Peter F Hamilton, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, David Wingrove (Chung Kuo series), Greg Bear, Ben Bova, Orson Scott Card, Gregory Benford, David Brin, William Gibson, Gordon Dickson, Alan Dean Foster (lightweight, but some good yarns), Paul Preuss, Kim Stanley Robinson (Red, Green, Blue Mars trilogy and others), Gene Wolfe (Book of the New Sun series), Robert Silverberg ('Majipoor' books), Patrick Tilley (Amtrak Wars series), Peter Beere (Trauma 2020 trilogy), Anne McCaffrey (really lightweight, but an easy read), Poul Anderson, Harry Turtledove (alternative history...),...

...and for the Fantasy side:

David Eddings, Raymond Feist, Jane Welch (Runespell trilogy), Janny Wurts, Katharine Kerr, Sara Douglass, Fred Saberhagen, Maggie Furey (Shadowleague trilogy), David Drake (The Lord of the Isles trilogy), Michael Scott Rohan, Harry Turtledove (some interesting Roman empire alternatives), J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter),...

...and non fiction:
Ted Simon (Jupiter's Travels), Ewan & Charlie (Long Way Round), various climbing, travel, and adventure books - one of the most outstanding being "Sheer Will" by Michael Groom (mountaineering).

...and there's a shitload more, but I can't be buggered typing any more...or moving couches and chairs to see what's in the other shelves... (our library runs to >2,000 books - most Sci-Fi and/or Fantasy, but with a good smattering of other stuff). And as for 'what do I recommend?' - all of the above. If I have more than one or two of an author, it's because they're a good read! And I have a load of individual books that I enjoy - just haven't found anything else by that author (either in the shops, or that I like).

Peter Hamilton is VERY good - but REALLY solid reading, with multi-threaded plot lines, so not something to pick up, read a page, and put down again for later. The books are pretty big too (The Reality Dysfunction runs to >1200 pages in paperback).

[Mikkel]

If you want to read something hilarious, weird and absolutely brilliant I can only recommend "The Illuminatus Trilogy" by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Jordan (IIRC).

Multiple storylines, broken chronology, sex, drugs, conspiracy theories and urban myths all packed into an 8-ball of WTF!

[Usarka]

Everything by these authors:

Iain (M.) Banks
Neil Stephenson
William Gibson
Guy Gavriel Kay

They seriously write good stuff, and in very differing genres as well. They cover everything from high fantasy to cyberpunk and sci fi.


Check out Charles Stross. Now.

[Krayy]

Just finished Christopher Brookmyre's latest, Attack Of The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks, a couple of weeks ago. Possibly the best yet. Go and buy it, everyone. Now.
I second that emotion. Brookmyre is a fantastically funny & witty writer, all while being bathed in buckets of blood & other bodily fluids.

Insightful too. Read "A tale etched in blood and hard black pencil" and I dare you not to cringe at your own recollections of his descriptions of playground politics.

[Krayy]

*snip*
Raymond Feist
*snip*
Not only is Ray a great writer, but he lurks on Usenet in alt.books.raymond-feist and will answer any (reasonable) question within a day. Hows that for accessibility?

[vifferman]

Just finished Christopher Brookmyre's latest, Attack Of The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks, a couple of weeks ago. Possibly the best yet. Go and buy it, everyone. Now.
Oooh.....
I've read most of his, but not that one. Thoroughly enjoyed every one!

[Krayy]

Oooh.....
I've read most of his, but not that one. Thoroughly enjoyed every one!
For a quick laugh, have a read of the glossary in the back of some of the books (A Hard Tale Etched in Blood and Black Pencil is a good example)

[steveb64]

Not only is Ray a great writer, but he lurks on Usenet in alt.books.raymond-feist and will answer any (reasonable) question within a day. Hows that for accessibility?

Nothing like keeping the fan base happy to ensure the next book sells well? :laugh: ...and he probably gets some plot ideas out of it as well... :niceone:

[Sanx]

For a quick laugh, have a read of the glossary in the back of some of the books (A Hard Tale Etched in Blood and Black Pencil is a good example)

The glossaries are a classic:

diddies: Protuberant milk-producing glandular organs situated on the chest of human females and certain other mammals. See also Greenock Morton FC.
fanny: The female pudenda. Term of absue for particularly whiny and snivelling individuals. See also certain Scottish broadsheet literary critics.
erse: The posterior, buttocks or anus. Used by Old Firm supporters to accomodate the brain.
heid: Uppermost division of the human body, containing the brains, except in the case of Old Firm supporters. See erse.
honking: Emitting a foul odour; poorly thought of. See St Mirren 2001-04
jobbie: Malodorous human waste products. See the performance of Brian McGinlay as referee, Scottish Cup semi-final replay 1983.
lugs: Organs of hearing and equilibrium in humans, Old Firm supporters and other vertebrates.
self-reference: See self-reference.
tight: descriptive of a young lady of robust moral virtue, who probably has nae tits anyway.

[Mikkel]

self-reference: See self-reference.


:2thumbsup

[Swoop]

A great season for a book. I have churned through the following of recent.

First is Red Star Rogue (http://www.amazon.com/Red-Star-Rogue-Submarines-Nuclear/dp/1416527338/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198638152&sr=1-1). Non-fiction about when Russia attempted a nuclear strike on America. Well researched! Most movies stop when the "button" is about to be pushed... this time they actually did it! Amazing. A russian sub, sunk in 16,000ft of water - and the Americans recovered it.

Baa Baa Black Sheep! (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Sheep-Gregory-Pappy-Boyington/dp/0553263501/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198638362&sr=1-2) is Gregory "Pappy" Boyingtons' autobiography. 100% authentic reprint of the original book; nothing changed for today's PC bullshit world.

Bloody Heroes (http://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Heroes-Damien-Lewis/dp/0099481952/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198638704&sr=1-1)!
A different approach in Afganistan. The SBS doing their thing. From the same author as "Black Hawk Down" and equally well put together.
Saving civillians. Exposing the tellitubbies and their underhand methods of "surrendering" then attacking.
Not on the same level as BHD, but a good read nonetheless.

Currently chwing through Gordon Ramsay - Humble Pie (http://www.amazon.com/Humble-Pie-Autobiography-Gordon-Ramsay/dp/B000OLP7B2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198639011&sr=1-4).
FUCK ME!
WHAT a childhood and an upbringing...
A determined and focussed individual, that is to be sure!
Talk about putting in the hard graft. Six days per weeek for almost 20 years - AND sometimes 18 hr days!
Respect.

[PirateJafa]

The Brief History of Nearly Everything.. Bill Bryson. (read it in a week)

That be one of the most wonderfullest books I've ever read that be.


Enjoyed Bryson's Brief History recently.

Except for the fact that some of his statements in the book are bloody dodgy if not entirely incorrect?

To quote from my copy of the book verbatim:


Since 1946, the United States had been ferrying 55-gallon drums of radioactive gunk out to the Fallarone Islands, some 50 kilometres off the California coast near San Francisco, where it simply threw them overboard.

It was all quite extraordinarily sloppy. Most of the drums were exactly the sort you see rusting behind petrol stations or standing outside factories, with no protective linings of any type. When they failed to sing, which was usually, navy gunners riddled them with bullets to let water in (and, of course, plutonium, uranium and strontium out). Before this dumping was halted in the 1990s, the United States had dumped many hundreds of thousands of drums into about fifty ocean sites - almost fifty thousand of them in the Fallarones alone. But the United States was by no means alone. Among the other enthusiastic dumpers were Russia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and nearly all the nations of Europe.

If he can somehow consider NZ - probably the most anti-nuclear country in the world, with our firm stance resulting in the end of ANZUS and formal alliance with the US - to be a "enthusiastic dumper of nuclear/radioactive wastes, then I shudder to think what other scientific "facts" he has taken liberties with in the text.

[Hitcher]

If he can somehow consider NZ - probably the most anti-nuclear country in the world, with our firm stance resulting in the end of ANZUS and formal alliance with the US - to be a "enthusiastic dumper of nuclear/radioactive wastes, then I shudder to think what other scientific "facts" he has taken liberties with in the text.

New Zealand may not have nuclear weapons or power, but we have several radioactive isotope manufacturing facilities and goodness-knows-what-all other sources of radioactivity that we will need to be able to dispose of waste materials from.

New Zealand isn't GE-free either. Don't believe everything the peacenik tree-huggers glibly espouse. Get over it.

[Swoop]

New Zealand may not have nuclear weapons or power.
What is it that Auckland Uni has... for the second one of those? Something glow-in-the-dark (brain fails me at the moment) but cannot remember what.

[Hitcher]

What is it that Auckland Uni has... for the second one of those? Something glow-in-the-dark (brain fails me at the moment) but cannot remember what.

Auckland University most probably has a radioactive isotope generator.

[Krayy]

...
Currently chwing through Gordon Ramsay - Humble Pie (http://www.amazon.com/Humble-Pie-Autobiography-Gordon-Ramsay/dp/B000OLP7B2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198639011&sr=1-4).
FUCK ME!
WHAT a childhood and an upbringing...
A determined and focussed individual, that is to be sure!
Talk about putting in the hard graft. Six days per weeek for almost 20 years - AND sometimes 18 hr days!
Respect.
I just finished Humble Pie and my god...I thought he was a legend before, but now I think he needs a capital "L" :woohoo:

It's a blunt, no-bullshit depiction of a driven man. He certainly stands tall in the Machiavellian world of the professional chef, and some of the crap that goes on in the industry makes me happy I work in a normal job. Read it now!!!

[Swoop]

I just finished Humble Pie and my god...I thought he was a legend before, but now I think he needs a capital "L" :woohoo:
Just finished his second book "Playing with fire". Much more insight into the business and how it is structured. Not as good as Humble Pie imho.

[Swoop]

Just finished a couple of good books.

Roger Ball (http://www.amazon.com/Roger-Ball-Odyssey-Monroe-Fighter/dp/0595385893/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210212362&sr=1-1)! A Naval aviation career of Hawk Smith.
From the back seat of an F-4, to development days of the Tomcat and CO of TOPGUN at Miramar.
How to hand an egotistical pilot their arse on a plate. Tactics Baby!

A-10 Warthog (http://www.amazon.com/Warthog-Flying-10-Potomac-Warriors/dp/1574888862/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210212441&sr=1-1)in the gulf war.
The aircraft that was on the way to the scrapheap, but was sent to the gulf. It ended up doing everything possible in a combat zone, from air-to-air gun kills, to SEAD, tankbusting, recon, wild weasel and everything in between.

A couple of great books, but now back to Zen & the art of motorcycle maintenance (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Inquiry/dp/0060589469/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210212540&sr=1-1).

[vifferman]

Carol Berg (http://www.sff.net/people/carolberg/).

[Laava]

Recently read the Soul Capturer by Alex Sava, The Perfect Storm[recommend] and am currently reading Peter Sheridan, I think the book is called 44

[Skyryder]

DRAGON LADY.

http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lady-Legend-Empress-China/dp/0679733698



Skyryder

[Lissa]

Just finished reading 'This Charming Man' by Marian Keyes, I enjoyed it, huge book but quite light reading with chooky characters. Although it has a underlying message about domestic abuse, dont let that put you off as it quite an enjoyable book and a bit of a laugh and it all ends well.

[sunhuntin]

lorenzo carcaterra [sleepers] love his novels. currently making my through "apaches" for about the 10th time, lol.

[Lissa]

For anyone who is interested in Military/War Stories this book is brilliant I read it in a day, just couldnt put it down. I highly recommend it to anyone who is has an interest in NZ war stories.

Up the Blue by Roger Smith http://www.ngaiopress.com/upblue.htm

[avgas]

Hmmm may not be able to remember Authors so will have to post books too.

Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged, the Fountainhead.................the only reason people fear her books is that its getting far to relevant for my liking in todays society. And when you deal with morons day in day out like i do, its does make you question the world.

John Hersey - Hiroshima.................a different world to what people my age know.

Brooks? - Assassins apprentice? series...................because having connections with animals is something special.

However i dont have much time for flights of fancy these days, in fact sitting on my desk right now is Numerical Distance Protection - Gerhard Ziegler *shudder* and my god its boring.

[Hitcher]

I have recently embarked on a science fiction catch-up mission, and have been devouring various works by SM Stirling and LE Modesitt Jr. Interesting...

[Murray]

i'm reading The invisible man - H.G. Wells at the moment. I also like a bit of Jules Verne, throw in some David Drake and some cyberpunk/steampunk themed stories.

With a name like that your fav book must be "Zen and the Art of Motorcylce Maintenance" Phew heavy reading but damn good for us philosophers

Sci Fi doesn't get easier or better than the Nicholas Seafort "hope" series by David Feintuck RIP.

[phaedrus]

yea, it's not a bad read - a good way to use up a weekend :) I wouldn't say it's my favourite, but it's up there.

I just thought to myself 'MINE' when i saw the name

[brendonjw]

Just finished reading Catch 22 for the 5th time, love that book.
Terry Pratchart is good, have also read most of the Dune novels by Frank Herbert, John Grisham is good

[Okey Dokey]

Patrick O'Brian's seafaring tales
Dorothy Dunnett's amazing historical novels
Just about everything non-fiction is great
Happy reading