summer book

[merwy]

So, I am looking for a book or several to read this summer... anyone got any ideas?
I like fantasy and sci-fi and things that are neither, and crime fiction and romance, historical novels and well, pretty much anything.
But I want something at least a little intelligent.

Comments

[alienor77310]

Do you know Neal Stephenson's novels? "The baroque cycle" is a bit too much for a beginner, but I'd advise pretty much anything by him.

do not know them, but...

[merwy]

they will go on the list of things that are fun ;-). When you say much for a beginner do you mean a beginner to fantasy, or to reading (to which I am neither) or just to his books specifically?

Re: do not know them, but...

[alienor77310]

"The Barroque Cycle" is extra-dense, can't find another word. It's also an exception in that it is more historical novel than sci-fi of fantasy.

In his other books, Stephenson leans more towards cyberpunk than fantasy, but his novels are clever, funny, and often enlightening.

[gary_jordan]

Do you have a strong preference either way in eBook vs. Treebook? I love both, and I can point to sources of free eBooks.

I'd love to recommend Bujold's The Sharing Knife as fantastic romantic fantasy. I'm a huge Bujold Fan. :)

The problem is, it's like the Lord of the rings - it's one book published in two parts. The first part, The Sharing Knife - Beguilement is available in paperback, but the second half, The Sharing Knife - Legacy just shiped as hardback. It's still quite pricey. (Mind you, I bought both as hardbacks, and as eBooks.)

As for links to free eBooks, I gave one in the comments here:
http://gary-jordan.livejournal.com/117914.html?nc=5
It goes to Joe Buckley's Baen CD site. Over a hundred novels for free.

[gary_jordan]

I sent any email through yahoo groups with an offer. If you didn't get it, let me know.

[anonymous]

When reading fantasy i go for Terry Brooks and David Eddings, fairly "mainstream" i know however you can pick 'em up in most charity shops for like 99p a book which is good when full price is like £7 plus. I'd personally recommend the Heritage of Shannara (by brooks) in four books, but any of Shannarah books are good. With Eddings i'd go with the Belgariad (may be spelt wrong) 5 books followed by its sequel if you enjoy it. Eddings is harder to get into than Brooks but still worth a read. I finished the 5th Belgaraid book in four days it was that engaging. Of course when i finish my novel i would recommend it, its brilliant... but you may have to wait a few sumemrs...

[clone56]

That was me by the way... and that last word was summers...