Recommended Reading?(Fantasy)

[Fivelives]

"Hey, nice writing"? Sex isn't awkward! Well, rather it shouldn't be =p Over and above the fact that there's at least a little separation between "a novel with sex scenes" and "porn" in my book; the bedroom scenes all have a purpose to them, over and above the sex aspect.

I guess you haven't read the clan of the cave bear series. There is no point. It's just mindless, graphic, girly sex every 5 pages.

To be fair, it's not every 5 pages. More like every 6 pages. Auel needs room to Mary Sue her main character and have them invent everything in the history of mankind.

But yeah, that series is just a glorified "romance" novel. I suspect it would've been published by Harlequin, but it was even too tasteless for them. All it's missing is a picture of Fabio standing in front of a big fan on the cover.

[Brekkie]

I'm trying to remember all the things she invents. Help me out.

The Spear Thrower (could even be generalized to The Lever)
The Cart
The Wheel
Contraceptives
Animal Domestication
The Saddle

[Delphineas]

Sarah Zettel's Firebird trilogy. Even though the second book is more a prequel, better interesting stuff.


Different world, romance, an intriguing magic system, and russian folklore. Talking foxes.

[Arnock]

Talking foxes.

Always a plus.

[Fivelives]

I'm trying to remember all the things she invents. Help me out.

The Spear Thrower (could even be generalized to The Lever)
The Cart
The Wheel
Contraceptives
Animal Domestication
The Saddle

The spear thrower was an atlatl, and contraceptives were something she learned. Domestication and the saddle are two big ones, but I don't remember her inventing the wheel? And the travois isn't a cart - close enough though, I guess.

Can't forget "firestones" or major advances in flint knapping. And the concept that sperm + egg = baby instead of spirit + spirit = baby. She also invented the blowjob, apparently.

[Hokahey]

I always wonder what it must be like for authors who write books like this to go on dates, or to a formal event or business interview.
If the other party is in any way familiar with their work, it must be weird as all hell. Like if you found out your golf buddy was a famous porn star.

Now we know why many authors elect to use psuedonyms. The fact is, people are getting shitcanned for making moderately controversial statements/pictures on Facebook, as it is. I've known people fired for being known to be "loose" and drinking "too much" in their personal time. Its very risky to have something like that associated with your identity, unless you plan on making writing your full-time career.

Also, I thought Clan of the Cave Bear was great when I read it...when I was 13. Probably *because* of the sex scenes.

She also invented the blowjob, apparently.

Proof positive the character is an author avatar in her personal sex fantasy. I'm fairly convinced just about every woman believes this, or believes they just do it better than everyone else.

[Fivelives]

It's pretty safe to assume that any Mary Sue/Marty Stu character is an author avatar.

[Shyrtandros]

A large thank you to fuzzygeek, Hrobertgar, and Koatanga, I picked up the first book of Riftwar Saga the other night and spent my late evening reading the first roughly.. 200 pages of the authors prefered edition of book one!

I like it very much so far, it seems like the writer doesn't give nearly as much physical or mental details of his characters (at least so far) but your not missing key information that is vital.

I originally intended on only reading maybe 100 pages but it was a very gripping book and by about 2am I decided it was time to put it down! lol.

If the other recommended books on the suggestions list are as good as this one is so far.. I believe I will have to buy a new book case... and find a way to afford so many books!

[katraya]

Totally not part of the requested genre but my favorite author is Anne Perry. The entire top shelf of my bookcase is devoted to her books.

She primarily writes Victorian era murder mysteries. She has two main series that focus on two different couples and are both equally good. You don't really need to read either in order but it does give you better insight into the characters.

Her characters are one of the main things I like about her books. She also does an excellent job of highlighting the dark sides of Victorian society.

Actually, she does have a fantasy novel but I didn't much care for it. She also has another series set during WWI but I can never remember which book I left off with.

She also spent time in jail as a teen for murder...

[Fivelives]

Ooh, yeah. I forgot about the Riftwar saga. I've only ever bothered with the first 5 books or so, mostly because it started to peter out for me around book 3, and 4 just got downright ridiculous (think God-like power and obvious plot hole patches - "haha, you didn't actually rip my arm off and beat me to death with it kill me, I was just using an illusion to make you THINK you did!). I occasionally pick others up to read them, but they've mostly not been all that memorable.

Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master are still two of my favorite books, though.

[Nikachelle]

Totally not part of the requested genre but my favorite author is Anne Perry. The entire top shelf of my bookcase is devoted to her books.


She also spent time in jail as a teen for murder...

Huh, didn't know the jail part. Just looked it all up... and wow. Think I'll be watching Heavenly Creatures sometime soon!

[Shyrtandros]

Ooh, yeah. I forgot about the Riftwar saga. I've only ever bothered with the first 5 books or so, mostly because it started to peter out for me around book 3, and 4 just got downright ridiculous (think God-like power and obvious plot hole patches - "haha, you didn't actually rip my arm off and beat me to death with it kill me, I was just using an illusion to make you THINK you did!). I occasionally pick others up to read them, but they've mostly not been all that memorable.

Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master are still two of my favorite books, though.

Dagnabit Fivelives, don't spoil the books for me! I want them to CONTINUE to be good.. lol

[katraya]

Totally not part of the requested genre but my favorite author is Anne Perry. The entire top shelf of my bookcase is devoted to her books.


She also spent time in jail as a teen for murder...

Huh, didn't know the jail part. Just looked it all up... and wow. Think I'll be watching Heavenly Creatures sometime soon!

That is a great movie, one of my favorites. Although it probably helped that I was 16 the first time I saw it. I love Kate Winslet.

[Sero]

Having recently quit WoW, I decided to start reading a bit. Never been the reading type, but I've always been fascinated by worlds of say, LotR, WoW etc. Was also a hardcore Lost fan, and I heard from many sources how it had alot of parallels to Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. Going through The Gunslinger as we speak

[bldavis]

NOES!
I MUST NOT GET STARTED AGAIN!

......
shit

now i just know ill be digging up my copy of The Gunslinger again

edit: btw, heres a site for you to check out for the list of the series, as well as some brief summaries