Favorite Series of Novels

Off Topic
61

[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
When I was a kid, my favorite books were “Tom Swift, Jr.” books. (There was a much older series called “Tom Swift” – that’s the dad in the second generation of books.)

Basically, he was a boy-genius who invented things, got into trouble, and saved the day. The series was the inspiration for “Iron Man.” Steve Woziniack said the books inspired him to work on computers.

I was attracted to engineering in no small part because of childhood day dreams related to them.

They were pretty kitchy – about the same as a “Hardy Boys” book, but science fiction.

My daughters all read my old collection and remember them fondly.[/quote]

Tom Swift Jr. was awesome!

Have to admit I read the Hardy Boys as well, plus, cough, cough, Nancy Drew…

edit to add: was reading all the Tarzan and Doc Savage novels at that time as well

62

[quote]Diddy Ryder wrote:
If you like historical fiction and/or Asia, then James Clavell’s Asian Saga is worth a read. The first two are the best: Shogun and Tai Pan, set in feudal Japan and colonial Hong Kong respectively. They’re pretty thick books but real swashbuckling adventures, and although the series spans 400 years it does have one or two common threads.
[/quote]

Shogun is one of my top ten books of all time. Read all the related ones as well.

The start and end -“lesson” if you will- in Shogun was, and is, my favorite of all time due to how it was presented. (even if you think you know what the future holds, you don’t LOL!).

63

[quote]punnyguy wrote:

[quote]Diddy Ryder wrote:
If you like historical fiction and/or Asia, then James Clavell’s Asian Saga is worth a read. The first two are the best: Shogun and Tai Pan, set in feudal Japan and colonial Hong Kong respectively. They’re pretty thick books but real swashbuckling adventures, and although the series spans 400 years it does have one or two common threads.
[/quote]

Shogun is one of my top ten books of all time. Read all the related ones as well.

The start and end -“lesson” if you will- in Shogun was, and is, my favorite of all time due to how it was presented. (even if you think you know what the future holds, you don’t LOL!).[/quote]

I, too, am a big Shogun fan, although I never read any of the other books.

A pretty good mini-series was made of it as well.

64

Currently on the last book in the Dresden Files -highly, highly recommend. Be forewarned, I was told the first 2 might be a little slow, but personally it took me until Book 4 to really get into it (15 total so far).

Just finished Book 12 of Reacher -very, very mediocre. The best so far imo is The Enemy, which is a “prequel” type story -most nuanced of the series by far. Romance-type description from another poster was apt. Tom Cruise playing Reacher is beyond absurd… Lee Child’s “inspiration” from what I gather is the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald -more depth, nuanced, sophisticated etc. Child was a TV screenwriter, and in too many of the books it shows.

65

[quote]twojarslave wrote:

[quote]punnyguy wrote:

[quote]Diddy Ryder wrote:
If you like historical fiction and/or Asia, then James Clavell’s Asian Saga is worth a read. The first two are the best: Shogun and Tai Pan, set in feudal Japan and colonial Hong Kong respectively. They’re pretty thick books but real swashbuckling adventures, and although the series spans 400 years it does have one or two common threads.
[/quote]

Shogun is one of my top ten books of all time. Read all the related ones as well.

The start and end -“lesson” if you will- in Shogun was, and is, my favorite of all time due to how it was presented. (even if you think you know what the future holds, you don’t LOL!).[/quote]

I, too, am a big Shogun fan, although I never read any of the other books.

A pretty good mini-series was made of it as well.
[/quote]

Read your post about Dune earlier. Loved, loved Dune…then I got to Child Emperor of Dune (or whichever became densely, densely preachy/religious/spiritual/whatever) and hit a stone wall. For the first time in my life (no hyperbole) I flipped to the end of a book to see what the ending was; also for the first time in my life, abandoned a series and never finished it.

66

[quote]Edgy wrote:
The Saxon Tales - srsly, if you havent read these yet, Pushie - you need to, gimme your address and I’ll mail you the set - 6 volumes so far.[/quote]

Looked this up, sounds intriguing…

Will also be trying out the Repairman Jack series mentioned earlier in this thread.

67

[quote]punnyguy wrote:

[quote]twojarslave wrote:

[quote]punnyguy wrote:

[quote]Diddy Ryder wrote:
If you like historical fiction and/or Asia, then James Clavell’s Asian Saga is worth a read. The first two are the best: Shogun and Tai Pan, set in feudal Japan and colonial Hong Kong respectively. They’re pretty thick books but real swashbuckling adventures, and although the series spans 400 years it does have one or two common threads.
[/quote]

Shogun is one of my top ten books of all time. Read all the related ones as well.

The start and end -“lesson” if you will- in Shogun was, and is, my favorite of all time due to how it was presented. (even if you think you know what the future holds, you don’t LOL!).[/quote]

I, too, am a big Shogun fan, although I never read any of the other books.

A pretty good mini-series was made of it as well.
[/quote]

Read your post about Dune earlier. Loved, loved Dune…then I got to Child Emperor of Dune (or whichever became densely, densely preachy/religious/spiritual/whatever) and hit a stone wall. For the first time in my life (no hyperbole) I flipped to the end of a book to see what the ending was; also for the first time in my life, abandoned a series and never finished it.[/quote]

Well, there was Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune, and both required some combination of additional effort from the reader and increased dosages of LSD to appreciate.

I enjoyed both, but I hit the same wall you did withe the series a few books later.

The first book was brilliant. The finest science fiction writing ever, IMO.

68

[quote]twojarslave wrote:

[quote]punnyguy wrote:

[quote]Diddy Ryder wrote:
If you like historical fiction and/or Asia, then James Clavell’s Asian Saga is worth a read. The first two are the best: Shogun and Tai Pan, set in feudal Japan and colonial Hong Kong respectively. They’re pretty thick books but real swashbuckling adventures, and although the series spans 400 years it does have one or two common threads.
[/quote]

Shogun is one of my top ten books of all time. Read all the related ones as well.

The start and end -“lesson” if you will- in Shogun was, and is, my favorite of all time due to how it was presented. (even if you think you know what the future holds, you don’t LOL!).[/quote]

I, too, am a big Shogun fan, although I never read any of the other books.

A pretty good mini-series was made of it as well.
[/quote]

Taipan, the second in the series, is at least equal to Shogun so is well worth checking out.

It opens with the Chinese signing Hong Kong over to the British and focuses on a family of traders, the founding of Hong Kong, and how the British Empire was funded by tea and opium, ha. Describes the Chinese culture of “face” very well (I think!).

After Shogun and Tai Pan, I enjoyed King Rat and Whirlwind the most. King Rat is based in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during WWII and was quite controversial at the time for painting a murkier alternative to the official line of the stiff upper lip and solidarity in the face of adversity.

Whirlwind is based in Iran at the time of the revolution and was interesting as I knew nothing about that period until reading the book.

Thinking about it now, the common thread to all of the books seems to be Westerners adapting to Oriental cultures and customs. So as well as the action you actually learn a bit too.

69

[quote]doogie wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:

[quote]twojarslave wrote:

[quote]usmccds423 wrote:
What’s the Dark Tower series about?[/quote]

Trans-dimensional cowboy seeks man in black, has adventures and learns some important lessons along the way.

I enjoyed it. Some books more than others, but I definitely enjoyed it.
[/quote]

Interesting. I might grab the 4 book set and see how it goes. [/quote]

there’s 7.5 books and a short story.[/quote]

And a comic book series. And all the books that tie into the 7 book series, like Salems Lot, Eyes of the Dragon, The Talisman, The Stand and several others. He basically uses the series to tie many of his works together in one universe. The Gunslinger and The Wizard and the Glass have been my favorites so far, with The Wolves of Calla (currently reading) showing real promise.

70

Found this.

71

[quote]Edgy wrote:
W.E.B Griffin series are all good, easy read, two dimensional characters, but still fun ~

the Lonesome Dove series~

and, last - but far from least…

The Saxon Tales - srsly, if you havent read these yet, Pushie - you need to, gimme your address and I’ll mail you the set - 6 volumes so far.[/quote]

Oh thank you for reminding me of the Lonesome Dove books! Those are all wonderful.

72

[quote]Nards wrote:

[quote]Edgy wrote:
W.E.B Griffin series are all good, easy read, two dimensional characters, but still fun ~

the Lonesome Dove series~

and, last - but far from least…

The Saxon Tales - srsly, if you havent read these yet, Pushie - you need to, gimme your address and I’ll mail you the set - 6 volumes so far.[/quote]

Oh thank you for reminding me of the Lonesome Dove books! Those are all wonderful.
[/quote]

When I was a young lawyer, I helped three guys each named “David” to start a company. We called it “Triple D [COMPANY], Inc.”

2 of the Davids got mad at one, and bought him out. We then re-named it "Double D [Company], Inc.

Years pass, and the 2 remaining D’s got mad and bought the other out. We then re-named it “Lonesome D [Company], Inc.”

Not sure why I remembered that.

73

[quote]Broncoandy wrote:
Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy. Some laugh out loud stuff in those 5 books.[/quote]

42

74

[quote]T-Raven wrote:
I enjoy the book and movie recommendations of the wise readers of this website. Hell I’ve even asked you men for relationship advice on occasion. I was wondering if you have any recommendations on novels that have evolved into longrunning series. I enjoy watching characters develop over the years. One of my favorites is the Spenser series written by Robert B. Parker.

[/quote]

Harry Potter. I know it’s been driven into the ground and then some, but I loved the books. Loved them and not ashamed to say it. They were brilliant.

75

[quote]albie wrote:
if anyone is interested in high fantasy, Malazan Book of the Fallen series is one of the finest around (10 books and a bunch of side story novels). Thing is, it takes a while to get going because the author just jumps right into the action without building any of the plot or characters ahead of time, there are a million characters and a ton of storylines throughout the series. It’s a tough read in that sense but if you have patience and interest in adult high fantasy, it’s totally worth it.

actually, it’s a better version of A Song of Ice and Fire, with way better character and story development, a lot less misogyny and actual elements of fantasy besides dragons[/quote]
Agreed, though some find them hard to read due to the writing. But I loved all of those books.

76

[quote]Edgy wrote:
W.E.B Griffin series are all good, easy read, two dimensional characters, but still fun ~

the Lonesome Dove series~

and, last - but far from least…

The Saxon Tales - srsly, if you havent read these yet, Pushie - you need to, gimme your address and I’ll mail you the set - 6 volumes so far.[/quote]

Another vote for the Saxon Tales. Bernard Cornwell writes some good fight scenes. I’m generally not a fantasy guy but the Mongalid series is great. Knights and some general ass-kicker go on a quest to kill the Kahn to save the western world–again some great fights especially if you are sword or martial arts nerd.

77

The Farseer novels by Robin Hobb.

78

For fans of science fiction/ military scfi, let me suggest you read the Takeshi Kovac series by Richard K. Morgan (Altered Carbon, Broken Angels and Woken Furies) . Morgan is like a more intelligent version of Weber/Drake/ Hebert Jr. He has also written several stand alone novels, which (IMHO) Thirteen is the best. Check out Altered Carbon, the first in the series. It is currently in paperback and worth the expense.

  http://www.richardkmorgan.com/books/
79

I second the Discworld novels by Terry Prachett as a great series with phenomenal characters. However, the books shouldn’t be read in publication order. The best way to read them is to choose one of the main characters/groups and read all the books in the series that focus on that character. I started with the City Watch books, the first of which is “Guards! Guards!”, and Sam Vimes is probably the best character Prachett created. However, the books where Death is the main character are also really entertaining. The wikipedia link has a table that lists all the major series/groups in every book Discworld - Wikipedia

The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfus (“The Name of the Wind” and “A Wise Man’s Fear”) are excellent as well. I was incredibly impressed with both of these books; the world he created in incredibly well designed, and the writing style is top-notch. Unfortunately, the next book in the series isn’t out until 2016.

80

[quote]Fishdog70 wrote:
I second the Discworld novels by Terry Prachett as a great series with phenomenal characters. However, the books shouldn’t be read in publication order. The best way to read them is to choose one of the main characters/groups and read all the books in the series that focus on that character. I started with the City Watch books, the first of which is “Guards! Guards!”, and Sam Vimes is probably the best character Prachett created. However, the books where Death is the main character are also really entertaining. The wikipedia link has a table that lists all the major series/groups in every book Discworld - Wikipedia

The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfus (“The Name of the Wind” and “A Wise Man’s Fear”) are excellent as well. I was incredibly impressed with both of these books; the world he created in incredibly well designed, and the writing style is top-notch. Unfortunately, the next book in the series isn’t out until 2016.[/quote]

I will second the Kingkiller ones. I am not a huge “fantasy” reader and loved these. Like you said, the detail was there without being overwhelming. Excellent main character, lots of mystery left after the second book. But yes, sucks that the next one isn’t out for a while. I got suckered when he released “The Slow Regard of Silent Things” thinking it was the final book. Still in that world, just more of a novella/short story about one of the characters giving her a bit more depth. So fingers crossed that he doesn’t delay the last volume.