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  4 0 Anything by China Mieville! I just finished Kraken, and loved it. I also liked his trilogy that started with Perdido Street Station. If you like Sherri Tepper, you might also like Connie Willis. Bellweather is funny and smart. The Doomsday Book was good, and Blackout is kind of a sequel to that, with All Clear due to come out this fall. Patti answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 5 comments by Basil, ozchick, and Alissabeth Newton… 0 0 Yeah, I was going to suggest Kraken too. I just picked it up and was going to start it this afternoon. +1 Basil commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Connie Willis rocks ozchick commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I ended up getting a Connie Willis book - Passage. So far its great. But a quick read, so I'll have time to get to lots of others as well! Alissabeth Newton commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Definitely read Willis' "Doomsday Book" if you like Passage at all. I pick that novel up almost once a year to re-read - amazing stuff. Also agreeing with Mieville - I took "The City & The City" to the beaches of Maine this summer and "Kraken" is next, on my nightstand. Peter F commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 A third (or is that fourth) on Doomsday Book. One of my favorites. To Say Nothing of the Dog is great, too. Geni commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  3 0 Try Garth Nix's trilogy (Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen)--it's one of my very favorite fantasy series. I second the vote for China Mieville, but his stuff is quite dark and he doesn't pull any punches on his characters, so it might not be the perfect light and summery reading material. I have also recently enjoyed In The Night Garden and In The Cities of Coin and Spice, by Catherine M. Valente. Charles de Lint is another fun fantasy author, but I would recommend his short story collections over his novels. MLP, the Pullman trilogy is "His Dark Materials": The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. Sphinx answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Sphinx… 0 0 *Catherynne* M. Valente. Sorry 'bout that. Sphinx commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  3 0 The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe. Not light, but some of the best writing in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Laba_no_hear answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 I'll second "Hunger Games". Great books (2) and the 3rd comes out this fall. Easy to read. You might also want to try Cherie Priest's "Boneshaker" I'm OK, You're OK answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Alissabeth Newton… 0 0 oh yeah - I've been meaning to check out Boneshaker. thanks for the reminder! Alissabeth Newton commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 Hunger Games! Pullman Trilogy, the name of which I can't remember for some reason. MLP answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by kwood… 0 0 His Dark Materials (the Pullman trilogy). In addition to these great Young Adult series, I'd like to suggest: "Birthmarked," by Caragh O'Brien ("Handmaid's Tale" meets "Hunger Games," post apocalyptia ensues) "White Cat," by Holly Black (urban fantasy, wonderful, the mafia only with magic powers) "Graceling," by Kristin Cashore (magical fighting female decides to use her power for good instead of evil, straight up fantasy) kwood commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  1 0 You might check-out: The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Miller. I read it a few years ago and enjoyed it. It's a fun book about fairies fleeing to NY and messing the with lives of some troubled New Yorkers. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. If you enjoy Harry Potter you will love this. It is like a Dickensian novel with magic. Sort of an imagined history of England where magic, sprites and other creatures are a reality. The Belgariad Series by David Eddings. An oldie but goodie. I read these when I was in high-school and re-read them a few years ago. They are great fantasy novels in the Lord of the Rings tradition. Dan Williams answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 6 comments by Basil, CrazyCatLady, and Cedarthvader… 0 0 Martin Miller is great, but I would suggest: http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Werewolf-Girl-Martin-Millar/dp/0979663660/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1280519359&sr=8-1-fkmr1 It is even better than The Good Fairies (which is very good). Basil commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I 2nd Lonely Werewolf Girl as entertaining supernatural fluff, I just finished it and it has more zip to the plot than The Good Fairies. CrazyCatLady commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I love Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell but I wouldn't say everyone who loves Harry Potter would like it. I love HP too, but I think the only thing those have in common are that they're about wizards. Cedarthvader commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 HP and JS & MR have much in common: 1. Wizards 2. Both contain detailed imagined histories of England where wizards and magic are realities. 3. Both contain myriad classical and literary allusions. 4. Etc., etc. That being said there are also significant differences between the books but it has been my experience that generally people that like the Harry Potter series like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Floyd E. Williams commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 will definitely be checking out the Susanna Clarke book, thanks! (LOVE Eddings earlier stuff like the Belgariad. I have read them multiple times as well.) Alissabeth Newton commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I read the Belgariad a few times, but I never recommend it to anyone. Mostly I just want to punish David Eddings for proceeding to re-write the exact same series four or five times. dwight moody commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  1 0 Have you read Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead? Check those out. Cedarthvader answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 2 comments by Alissabeth Newton and Geni… 0 0 yes - great books. I wish the author hadn't turned out to be a creep, though! Alissabeth Newton commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I've taken to only reading his books in the library or if I can buy them at yard sales. I still like Card's books, I just wish he weren't a homophobe. Geni commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  1 0 I mostly read science fiction, but recently was turned on to the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. It's great stuff - everyone that I know, even non-fantasy readers (like myself) - love it. Everyone in my house read all four books this spring! Do it. Do it now. mel answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Jessica… 0 0 It's coming to HBO as a series next year with Sean Bean, so read it now and brag about it when everyone else starts talking about the show! Jessica commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  1 0 I heartily second the Gene Wolfe recommendation. Phenomenal, original sci-fi. Also - Phillip Pullman is amazing and has drawn the ire of evangelicals and Catholics alike (plus his characters and stories are preternaturally engaging, despite being categorized as "young adult fiction")! Rickler answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 My latest foray is into Jacqueline Carey's work, starting with "Kushiel's Dart." Amazing fantasy mixed with an alternate history involving myth, religion, sexuality, and political intrigue that rivals anything I have ever read before. It seems to be set around the eleventh century in Europe but later novels include travels into Asia and Africa. There is enough magic to keep it interesting and nearly believable. seattle firefly answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 2 comments by Alissabeth Newton and Jessica… 0 0 thank you! I'll be checking this out for sure. Alissabeth Newton commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I think the first Kushiel trilogy (about Phedre) is the best, but the second is still pretty good, too. The Naamah trilogy is interesting, but not quite up to the same level. Jessica commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 2 if you havent already read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, do it now. do it yesterday. American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Mort by Terry Pratchett, Vurt by Jeff Noon ( PLEASE! its out of print, i'm campaigning for it to come back! sallybobally answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Tom Sackett… 0 0 A big second on Terry Pratchett. You can read all of the Discworld books, not just Mort. You also don't have to read them in order, for the most part. Pratchett also co-wrote a great book with Neil Gaiman, "Good Omens", that I really enjoyed. For the Hitchhiker's Guide series, I wouldn't bother with the last one by Douglas Adams, "Mostly Harmless". It reads like he was tired of the series, and wanted to kill it off. Tom Sackett commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Check out The Mathuzalem Factor by Alex Bowser. It's a scifi/supernatural fantasy set in New York city and it's great. It's outside the box, so you don't have to worry about it being like everything else: trust me, there's nothing on the planet like this. Check out the website if you're interested, it's www.mathuzalemfact.com, and the book is available at Createspace.com, Amazon.com, and Amazon.com.uk. The ISBN is 13:978-1456514808. Honestly, it's a good read. Tell everybody. stepup answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 I'm currently blowing through Naomi Novik's Temeraire series-- it's like if Jane Austen, Patrick O'Brian, and Anne McCaffrey wrote a series about dragons as part of the British naval forces in the Napoleonic wars. Jessica answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Dune and it's sequels by Frank Herbert Anything by William Gibson, but especially Nueromancer and Iduru. If you're in to steampunk, Boneshaker by Seattle author Cherie Priest is pretty great; it's set in an alt-history 1871 where the Civil War is still going on and Seattle is infested with zombies. Dan Howes answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Tad Williams! I don't think I've read anything of his that I didn't love. Some of it is slow to start, but holy crap, once you really get into it, he writes some good stuff. The Otherland series is a prime example - the first book starts slowly, but by the end of the series, you'll be very sorry it's over. I loved The War of the Flowers, the Memory Sorrow and Thorn series, Tailchaser's Song. I'm withholding judgement on Shadowmarch just yet - again, I find that it starts slowly. Greg Bear is one of my favorites, but that's definitely SF, not fantasy. Darwin's Radio is one of my all-time favorite books. Geni answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 I recently discovered Charles Stross and really enjoy his stuff. "Saturn's Children" and "Glasshouse" most of all. The Merchant Princes series is good but not really great. Have you read Elizabeth Moon? She's done some really good scifi and her fantasy trilogy (The Deed of Paksenarrian) is one of the best ever. dwight moody answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Can anyone suggest some lighter Sci-Fi for a teen to read? They have a week or two of summer left. "Cagey" answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi - Fantastic, disturbing near-future sci-fi. Gene mutations and spread of genetically modified food that bears diseases that taint 'natural' crops has left the world in a famine, while rising sea levels have destroyed most coastal cities. Bangkok, however, due to massive engineering and successful wars between Thailand and it's neighbors, survives in a surreal animal power driven nightmarish state, and the machinations and plottings of some expatriate corporate types with a need to get their hands on the imperial seed bank drive the plot for the most part. The windup girl of the title, Emiko, is a Japanese creation abandoned after her owner left her in the city, and her 'life' has become a nightmare. Questions of civil rights for artificial life are hard to look at in a novel where humans suffer this much, but miraculously, Emiko's struggles are as agonizing, if not more so, as the humans she was created to obey. LexiLibrarian answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 I'll further endorse the suggestions for China Mieville, and also add the Age of Unreason series by J. Gregory Keyes, starting with Newton's Cannon. You might also give Vernor Vinge a whirl, particularly Rainbows End. d-tek answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Jack L. Chalker's "River of the Dancing Gods" series is light but thoughtful fantasy. His "Wonderland Gambit" trilogy is a fast read that provokes some existential debate and is more sci-fi. Mike Smith answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Agreed on Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, the footnotes especially were a nicely added touch. Also, if you haven't read it yet, check out Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Not normally a sci-fi author, but the book is outstanding (I hear they're adapting it into a film now). j_lee answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Varley and Meluch BasementDweller3 answered in Books & Writing about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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