Science fiction/fantasy, with a dash of romance? - Page 5

[Pinoikoi]

Ok- I JUST finished Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold which someone on this thread recommended. It was GREAT! It is two books published together, so if anyone can't find it the first one is actually called Shards of Honor and second is Barrayar- but they were republished together as Cordelia's Honor.

Anyway, I saw the continuation of the series listed in the back, and went to look for A Warrior's Apprentice in my local library system, and although they seem to have a TON of these books in this series, they don't have THAT one! ACK!

Does anyone know if maybe IT was republished with a different title? Like maybe book 3 and 4 were republished as something??

otherwise I will be combing the used book store this weekend!

[Pinoikoi]

Anyone read Shadow Gate? I read two in this series just before Cordelia's Honor, and although I think there are SEVERAL heroes/heroines in the plotline, I would definitily put it down in this category, and third book is about to come out.. Traitors Gate I think..

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

Does anyone know if maybe IT was republished with a different title? Like maybe book 3 and 4 were republished as something??

otherwise I will be combing the used book store this weekend!

Young Miles

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

Ok- I JUST finished Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold which someone on this thread recommended. It was GREAT! It is two books published together, so if anyone can't find it the first one is actually called Shards of Honor and second is Barrayar- but they were republished together as Cordelia's Honor.

Anyway, I saw the continuation of the series listed in the back, and went to look for A Warrior's Apprentice in my local library system, and although they seem to have a TON of these books in this series, they don't have THAT one! ACK!

Does anyone know if maybe IT was republished with a different title? Like maybe book 3 and 4 were republished as something??

otherwise I will be combing the used book store this weekend!

I've found that you don't really need to read the Vorkosigan books in order. I've jumped around a lot, and still really enjoyed them.

And, yes- that one's in Young Miles. They've bundled a bunch of them together as "Miles" books...Young Miles, Miles in Love, Miles, Mutants & Microbes, etc. I don't remember them all off the top of my head, but I think most of the stories have been reprinted by now.

[Aubergine68]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I've found that you don't really need to read the Vorkosigan books in order. I've jumped around a lot, and still really enjoyed them.
.

ITA. And I hope you will look for Bujold's other books, Pinoikoi. I have enjoyed her non-Vorkosigan books even more than the Vorkosigan ones -- like the Sharing Knife series and especially the Curse of Chalion and its sequel.

Now I want to go to the library and borrow all these books again!

[Otidea]

I like Robin Hobb. She's got three triologies worth checking out

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Aubergine68

ITA. And I hope you will look for Bujold's other books, Pinoikoi. I have enjoyed her non-Vorkosigan books even more than the Vorkosigan ones -- like the Sharing Knife series and especially the Curse of Chalion and its sequel.

Now I want to go to the library and borrow all these books again!

I still haven't read those. I hate getting this kind of book at my local library, because I like to read paperbacks. The paperbacks are only organized very roughly (eg. SF/fantasy has its own rack, but the books are only sorted by the author's last initial - no further sorting. They also clear out old paperbacks and don't replace them, so they frequently have only a partial series. I may have to buy them. I really need to find a used bookstore. I haven't had a good one to go to in a long time.

[WC_hapamama]

I'll ditto the recommendations of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

The paperbacks are only organized very roughly (eg. SF/fantasy has its own rack, but the books are only sorted by the author's last initial - no further sorting. They also clear out old paperbacks and don't replace them, so they frequently have only a partial series. I may have to buy them. I really need to find a used bookstore. I haven't had a good one to go to in a long time.

That SUCKS. We live very close to a HUGE library, and we love it! They have free bands and performers all summer long- plus all the library info is available online, so I can search online for whatever book I want, reserve, it and then they email me when it comes in.. it is super handy.

We also live about three blocks down from the largest used bookstore in the city.. they are an independent, but still have a vast selection.. we live in kind of an iffy neighborhood (seedy past, but making great strides) but when I think about the bookstores, outdoor gear shops, organic juice bar, boutiques, the movie theater, and the coffeeshops, wow.. I love where I live!

[Storm Bride]

Our library is pretty big. The old building closed down just a few months ago, and they opened this big new building. I think the hardcovers are pretty well organized...but not the paperbacks. I tend to do a lot of my reading while doing other things (eg. nursing), so I really need books I can hold relatively easily in one hand.

I still have some birthday money from my in-laws. I may use some of it for some McMaster-Bujold books.

[DaughterOfKali]

War for the Oaks. (fantasy. About the Fae world)

[Pinoikoi]

There's a scifi trilogy by Dana Stabenow.. very strong female character.. Usually Stabenow does Alaskan murder mysteries, but scifi is really where her heart is, she just makes way more money writing the Alaskan books. I read this trilogy, though and there are a lot of Alaskan references that I loved.. Red Planet Run is number 3 I think.. let me see if I can find a link.

Ok, Second Star I think is number 1, then Handful of Stars, then Red Planet Run

http://www.amazon.com/Second-Star-Sv...=pd_sim_kinc_1

[APBTlover]

Originally Posted by ribbon

Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters Quartet, as well as other series by this author.

Definitely. The Sevenwaters books are great (though I haven't read the 4th one yet)... some of the best books I've ever read. Fantasy, family, honor, non-doofy romance... They are based in medieval Ireland. I also enjoy the generational angle. The male and female characters definitely have different types of strength, and that's a somewhat rare find... strong female characters that aren't just trying to ape men and see how much blood they can spill.

Others have mentioned the Kushiel series and the Black Jewels Trilogy... a big thumbs up for those, too.

Anne Bishop, who wrote Black Jewels, also wrote a couple of companion novels that are decent, and another trilogy called... um... ok, I can't remember, but the first one is called The Pillars of the Earth. Some combination of the Faerie Otherworld plus witch hunts. Not quite as good or nearly as original as Black Jewels, but worth your time, IMO.

Also, although I am in complete awe of how Ms. Carey (Kushiel's author) handles characters and motives and would recommend her books to ANYONE who can stomach a liberal sprinkling of graphic sex... I should mention that the second book has a deeply disturbing sequence, full of extremely twisted rape and death. It is set up as extremely dark and is not made light of or taken in stride; it affects the psyche of the survivors even years down the road. For me it is tolerable for just that reason, but others might not agree.

Anyway, happy reading!

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Sailor

My problem with the Sword of Truth series was that I spent the first two books in anxious suspense of whether or not the confessor would get raped/mutilated/killed in a horrific way. It's all I could focus on. And then in the second book, I spent an equally anxious time wondering when she'd be thrown down that hole with those men.

I had to stop after that. I think I barely skimmed the third book. To me, at least, there seemed to be a lot of focus on rape when it came to any of the female characters.

I just can't read fiction like that. I've never been able to, though I have no issues with non fiction books that contain a similar theme or even fiction books that are more ... "literary" I suppose.

But, when I read just for fun - I don't want to see it. Or if it's there, make it a minor part of the plot.

This is probably just my own issues coming to light.

Anyway, thanks for more recommendations. I'm so excited - I think I have enough books to take me through the summer.

I had the same issue

I just stopped reading them. There is a lot of good fantasy/sci fi that doesn't contain as much rape or violence.

It was just extreme for me. It would be one thing if it was just a chapter or two or if it was only in one book but nearly all of the ones I read were like that. I think I read up to eight or nine??

I was pregnant at the time so that might have made it seem a bit worse or made it bother me more but...it did seem excessive.

[Sailor]

My library must be the worst in the world! I think I've read everything in this thread that my library has. Which just means my library sucks, lol.

They did have two books by Sheri Tepper and two by Connie Willis - both of which I absolutely loved, and so I ordered more from amazon.

I'm keeping busy with McCaffrey and Lackey - my library has a lot of those, and I'm really enjoying them. I read the Kushiel series too - really enjoyed it!

Now, I'm thinking of taking a trip to some used book stores to see if I can dig up Bujold - as everyone keeps recommending it and my library lacks it - along with the rest of these recommendations. My summer, so far, has been a bookworm's version of heaven thanks to all of you.

abimommy - it was very excessive, I think. I also could deal with a page or two. Even a chapter. But, it's like the author had some weird obsession with rape - it was everywhere (or so it seemed to me).

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by ribbon

Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters Quartet, as well as other series by this author.

I got some of these from my Library. I finished the first one and I enjoyed it.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Sailor

Now, I'm thinking of taking a trip to some used book stores to see if I can dig up Bujold - as everyone keeps recommending it and my library lacks it - along with the rest of these recommendations.

She is totally unlike any other author I've ever read, honestly...really funny, in a very...different kind of way. I'm currently re-reading all the Vorkosigan books that I own (I'm missing a couple, and I think Brothers in Arms fell apart). They stand up very well to multiple readings.

[Aubergine68]

Originally Posted by Otidea

I like Robin Hobb. She's got three triologies worth checking out

I'll second this Robin Hobb recommendation. She and Bujold are probably my two favorite fantasy writers.... I'd start with the Assasin's Quest series....

Working my way through some of the series recommended by others on this thread and loving it!

[crl]

Thank you to everyone who suggested books by Bujold! I just finished Beguilement and loved it. I've already put the next one in the series on hold at the library.

Catherine

[Katsmamajama]

I liked the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, too.

Another series that I really had enjoyed, but haven't found in ages, is Daggerspell by Katherine Kerr. If I remember right, there's three books: Daggerspell, Darkspell, and The Bristling Wood.