[stylist] SF and fantasy novels

[Jacobson, Shawn D]

OK

Since I started the string, let me give you my favorite SF books.  I'm more an SF guy than a fantasy person.

My favorite Heinlein juvenile is "Have Spacesuit Will Travel"  I also liked Star Beast" and Space Cadet".

I like books that do interesting aliens, so "The Mote in God's Eye" was one I enjoyed.  I believe by "Niven and Pournelle.

The Coyote series by Alan M Steele is also very good and comes highly recommended by yours truly.

A couple of oldies book goodies are "The Witches of Karres" by James H. Schmitz and the Zenna Henderson people stories found in "Ingathering".

Anyway, good reading.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 10:05 AM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Subject: Re: [stylist] SF and fantasy novels

Eragon is okay. Personally, it gets a little weird, and turns into a high fantasy story, which I'm not always a fan of. Lord of the Rings is great, but even now, I much more prefer urban fantasy and fractured fairytales over high fantasy.

Harry Potter seems to be the exception for most people. I don't know how many people tell me they do not like fantasy except HP. I took a HP class at university as a literature elective. The instructor was not a fantasy fan, but she loved HP and was curious as to why so many people, especially non-fantasy readers, loved it, so she designed a course. It was a really fun class, and I knew a lot going in but learned so much more about all the historical and literary references Rowling used in HP. I hear she may return to HP's world, though she said she was done with it. That would be amazing.

I do like a lot of epic fantasy as well. Anthony Ryan's Raven Shadows trilogy is really good, though the third and final novel was a bit of a let-down but still worth the read. The first book, Blood Song, is amazing.
Another one is Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind series. Awaiting the third and final installment, but the first two are great. Wind has really great characters and an interesting plot. It's well-written, and I think most fantasy fans will enjoy it.

I hate most modern vampire novels, especially Twilight, gag, but I just finished The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black and really liked it.
First, I like how Black writers, often lyrical at times. And this story was a lot darker compared to most vampire fluff these days. The vampires were actually scarey. A lot closer to Rice's Interview than Meyers Twilight.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chelsea Cook via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 6:16 AM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Chelsea Cook <astrochem119 at gmail.com>
Subject: [stylist] SF and fantasy novels

Apologize for any cross-posting; got this back once.

I'm much more of a science fiction reader than fantasy, but couldn't agree with you more about Harry Potter. Have you read the Inheritance series?
eragon  is the first book.

Chelsea
Chelsea Cook
astrochem119 at gmail.com



On Aug 18, 2015, at 12:08 AM, Debby Phillips <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Oh, you have given me some ideas about where to take the plethora of
cookies I might bake.  (Grin).  I never could get into Stranger In A Strange Land, either.  Very weird book! Very weird! I have not read Starman Jones.
I should try and get it.  I will get Red Thunder.  I love SF for escape, too.  I also like some fantasy, although I'm not really into the magic stuff so much, although I really did and do like Harry Potter.
> 
> Well, time to head for bed.  No reading in bed tonight.    Debby
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