The book Den

Nobody's rec'd Dresden Files yet here, so I figured that I would. I've only read the first four books (haven't found book Five anywhere and I don't yet have the money to buy it) and am obsessed with this series.

I'm sure that many of you have already read this series, but I'm reccing it anyway, because it deserves to be rec'd! :D

Here's what the preview says on the website for "Storm Front" the first book in the series:

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things — and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a — well, whatever.

There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get… interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

It's an awesome series.

I wish I could find other series that are similiar, but it's definitely unique in its own way. :)

EDIT: Livejournal should have a mood called "Obsessed". :D

Title: Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero
Author: Dan Abnett
Publisher: Angry Robot
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Warnings: violence, some sexual innuendos

Synopsis: "It is the year 2010. Her Divine Majesy Elizabeth XXX sits upon the throne. Britain's vast Empire is run by alchemy and superstition. Now, Sir Rupert Triumff, dashing swordsman, has uncovered a vile plot to dethrone her glorious majesty. For the honour of the nation to arms!"

Two words can best sum up this story - ridiculous fun. If you enjoy Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams then you're going to enjoy Triumff. Exciting hilarious, great characters and good times all around.

Title: Malice
Author: Chris Wooding
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: YA novel/graphic novel/fantasy
Warnings: violence

Like Alice in Wonderland... after the Armageddon. Malice is the story of a sinister comic book about a dark and sinister world. It is ruled over by a mysterious figure known as Tall Jake. With the right ingredients and by chanting the right words, you can enter the world of Malice itself.

Just a rumor, right? After the disappearance of their friend, Seth and Kady soon find out just how real and deadly Malice is.

The moment I started reading, I could not put this book down. Wonderfully original, with excellent, two dimensional characters and a twisted yet fascinating world. This book is part novel, part comic and the comic lends itself wonderfully to the story. It's mysterious, creepy, and leaves you constantly on the edge of your seat. It was hard to put this book down, it really was, and I can't wait to read the sequel: Havoc.

Title: Icarceron
Author: Catherine Fisher
Publisher: Dial Books
Genre: Science fiction, (older) young adult
Warnings: Violence

Icarceron is the story of a boy named Finn, a prisoner in the prison world of Icarceron and looking for Escape, and a girl named Claudia who lives Outside, daughter to the Warden and doomed to an arranged marriage.

This book is brilliant, the idea original, the characters very three dimensional and very human, and the world so incredibly imaginative that saying "incredibly imaginative" doesn't do it justice. I am an incredibly stingy reader, so don't take it lightly when I say this book sucked me in and refused to let me go. The plot thickens from the start and keeps on thickening, with a mystery, political intrigue that isn't stuffy and long winded, and twists you don't see coming. It was quite the ride, emotionally, mentally, and I'm already chomping at the bit for it's sequel (said to come out in December of this year).

Title: Airborn
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: HarperCollins (2004)
Genre: Sci-fi, Young adult
Warnings: Death, mentions of violence

A fantastic look at Victorian-era steampunk. It's got a bit of everything: adventure, suspense, airships and pirates (of the air-faring variety), even a touch of romance. There are two more books in the series--Skybreaker and Starclimber--and while I haven't been able to get my hands on Starclimber yet, I thought Skybreaker was excellent.

They're in first-person, so that might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thought Oppel handled it extremely well. The main character, Matt, seems very human, very realistic, and he never gets irritating as many first-person POV characters tend to.

Here's what the official website says:

"Set in an imaginary past where giant airships rule the skies, Airborn is the story of Matt Cruse, a fifteen-year-old cabin boy of the 900 foot luxury airship, Aurora. Hundreds of feet over the Pacificus Ocean, Matt fearlessly performs a dramatic rescue to save an old man from his crippled hot-air balloon. Before he dies, the stranger tells Matt about the fantastic, impossible creatures he has seen flying through the clouds. Matt dismisses the story as the ravings of a dying man, but when a beautiful, bold girl arrives on the Aurora a year later, determined to prove the story is true, Matt finds himself caught up in her quest. But can he and Kate solve the mystery -- before pirates, shipwreck, and frightening predators end their voyage forever?"

Dresden Files (just started show) book 1 “Storm Front” [one of my FAVORITE television shows, but got CANCELLED!!! Woe!-I’ve not read the series. I remember picking up the first book before I saw the show, and not reading it-now I’m regretting that action.]

 

Mercedes Lackey Tales of Valdemar-Magic’s Pawn series [warning: is filled with gayness inside, and will most definitely make you cry-I’ve already read this book a dozen times over because it’s so sad, yet so well-written, it’s almost unbelievable!]

 

Vampire Hunter D book 1 (not sure who the author is…I’d check my sisters novels, but she refuses to let me in her room, so I don’t really know]

[Heard a lot about this series, so I’d thought to give it a try-if I can find the first novel, anyway-my youngest sister says its amazing, but I’ve yet to actually pick up a book]

 

Terry Pratchett “Good Omens”

[Read once, but don’t remember it well-am reading it again-anyone want to recommend more good Terry Pratchett books, or ones that I should avoid at all costs?]

 

Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series Books 1-4

 

So, anyone want to recommend books to me, based on what I’ve got so far? I’m not really a picky reader…the only kinds of books I probably can’t stand is Western, and sluty romance novels-those drives me ISNANE!-but I’m generally not a picky reader, after those. I’d greatly appreciate it, since I’m heading over to my grandparents whose got a huge library in their city, and I can go there almost every week I stay.

 

[Also will finally have time to read the fanfiction I’ve been missing out on-yea! I know there’s at least two or three fanfictions novels written by friendshipper and tipper that I’ve not yet managed to read, and probably a handful of others by all my other favorite Atlantis writers-Sablecain, SGAtazmy, Naye, etc. Anyone have any recs on those as well?]

 

But between all of fanfiction and the regular books out in the world, I should have plenty to read when I head over, don’t you think?

Title: Men At Arms
Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Harper Torch
Genre: Fantasy, mystery, satire
Warnings: Brief nudity, bad summary
Preceded by Guards, Guards, followed by Feet of Clay

Days before his marriage and subsequent retirement from the night watch, Captain Samuel Vimes is faced with a set of new recruits hired because of species, not aptitude, a series of murders apparently connected only by an unidentifiable murder weapon, and the possibility that he might be next on the list. To top it all off, he's been explicitly ordered by the Patrician to leave things alone. But this is his last case, and Vimes just can't let it go that easily.

This was the first Pratchett book I actually read cover to cover, and it introduced me to one of my all-time favorite characters: Sam Vimes, who is basically Batman only not, and manages to be all the more awesome because of that.

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I recently read a series by Steven L. Kent.  It's the Clone series.

1. The Clone Republic
2. Rogue Clone
3. The Clone Alliance
4. The Clone Elite

Magnificently written and I adore these books.  It's about a clone, a Liberator clone.  He's made illegally.  Most clones can't know they're clones or a gland will secret poison and they'll die.  But, Harris is different.  He doesn't have that gland.  He's a very good soldier and survives time and again, against unbelievable odds.  

Here's what the back of the book says:

"Earth, 2508 A.D. Humans have spread across the six arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. The Unified Authority controls Earth's colonies with an iron fist and a powerful military-a military made up almost entirely of clones...

Private first-class Wayson Harris was raised in a U.A. orphanage among thousands of clones born and bred as the ultimate soldiers. But Harris isn't like the other Marines: he has a mind of his own. He figures he's paying for that independent streak when his first assignment out of boot camp is the smallest Marine outpost in the whole U.A.

When a rogue general surfaces, the remote desert world Harris thought was a dead-end posting becomes anything but. Fighting off the general's raid gains Harris a promotion. But it also brings him to the attention of some unfriendly U.A. leaders. They have their own plans for the military-plans Harris disrupts by his very existence. For in an army of clones, the one unforgivable sin is to be different... "


I recommend this series wholeheartedly!

Re-reading C.S. Lewis's popular series, The Chronicles of Narnia....because I just watched Prince Caspian last night and felt like commenting.

Any one else a fan, and does anyone else have any suggestions about what to read next? 

Who here is a fan of Stephen? Or isn't a fan? What's you're favorite/hated work by him? Are you into the grapic novels, or not? 

I just finished book one "The Gunslinger" in the Dark Tower series; it was very imaginative, as well as thought provokive. I found it a very good read, for my first Stephen King book. Getting into the second novel now, and it's also very good...so far.

I'm also thinking of trying Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" set. But I was wondering-do you have to read the books in order, or is it better to start off with a certain book in the series. Because I was really thinking of starting it off with what looked like the book version of the movie: The Queen of The Damned. They looked to be very good, but I still have the Stephen King novel to finish, not to mention one or two other books as well.

I was also wondering....what's the best science fiction/fantasy author you like out there? For me, it's Orson Scott Card for the science fiction part, and for fantasy, it's Tad Williams. Just curious, and looking for new books to read, I guess. (My local librarian swears that he thinks I've already read all the books in the library, but I really haven't. Not yet. :D)