Excellent science fiction and
fantasy recommendations! These are among the best.
1. Dune This Hugo and Nebula Award winning classic
chronicles an epic story about the desert planet Arrakis, its
people, and its influence on the galactic empire. Dune is one of the most famous science fiction novels ever written, and deservedly so. The setting is elaborate and ornate, the plot labyrinthine, the adventures exciting.
The second Dune
Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2) and third Children
of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3) in this series are also highly
recommended. Additional books in the series are: God
Emperor of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 4) , Heretics
of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 5) , and Chapterhouse
Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 6) . Afterwards, there is the prequel, House
Trilogy written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert. Good writing, but
not Frank Herbert: House
Atreides (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 1) , House
Harkonnen (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 2) , and House
Corrino (Dune: House Trilogy, Book 3) . Lately, a pre-prequel has been
introduced by the Brian Herbert-Kevin Anderson team: The
Butlerian Jihad (Legends of Dune, Book 1) , The
Machine Crusade (Legends of Dune, Book 2) , and The
Battle of Corrin (Legends of Dune, Book 3) .
2. The
Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Boxed Set You have likely seen the movies, but this is where it all
started. This series of four books is a masterpiece. If you are a
collector, consider instead The
Hobbit (Leatherette Collector's Edition) and The
Lord of the Rings (Leatherette Collector's Edition) .
3. The
Sword of Shannara Trilogy These three books are the beginning of one of the most
popular fantasy epics of all time. These books chronicle the quests of
the half-elfin Ohmsfords from Shady Vale. Terry Brooks is a great story
teller. The Heritage of Shannara Series follows: The
Scions of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara, Book 1) , Druid
of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara, Book 2) , The
Elf Queen of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara, Book 3) , and The
Talismans of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara, Book 4) . A prequel to
the whole series follows: First
King of Shannara . The new Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Series: Ilse
Witch (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 1) , Antrax
(The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 2) , and Morgawr
(The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 3) .
4. Neuromancer Here is the novel that started it all, launching the
cyberpunk generation, and the first novel to win the holy trinity of
science fiction: the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award and the Philip K. Dick
Award. With Neuromancer, William Gibson introduced the world to
cyberspace--and science fiction has never been the same. The rest of the
trilogy is great! Count
Zero , and Mona
Lisa Overdrive .
5. Dragonriders
of Pern Anne McCaffrey's Pern is one of the most memorable worlds
in science fiction and fantasy. Humans and their flying dragon
companions live in fear of thread, a caustic, deadly material that falls
sporadically from space. This edition encompasses the first three
unforgettable novels of McCaffrey's epic series: Dragonflight,
Dragonquest, and The White Dragon. Additional books in the remarkable
series are Dragonsong ,
Dragonsinger ,
Dragondrums ,
Moreta:
Dragonlady of Pern , and Nerilka's
Story . Dragonsdawn
is a great prequel to the series, connecting science fiction to the
fantasy world of Pern. Then follows The
Renegades of Pern , and All
the Weyrs of Pern . McCaffrey goes again back to the beginning with The
Chronicles of Pern: First Fall (The Dragonriders of Pern) . She
continues with The
Dolphins of Pern , Dragonseye ,
The
Masterharper of Pern , The
Skies of Pern , A
Gift of Dragons , and recently Dragon's
Kin . The author's son, Todd McCaffrey, who co-authored Dragon's
Kin , has his own Pern novel, Dragonsblood .
6. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Seconds before the Earth is demolished for a galactic
freeway, Arthur Dent is saved by Ford Prefect, a researcher for the
revised Guide. Together they stick out their thumbs to the stars and
begin a wild journey through time and space. This book includes the five
classic novels: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant
at the End of the Universe, Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long,
and Thanks for All the Fish, and Mostly Harmless. Adam's dry and witty humor will keep you laughing hysterically from start to finish.
7. Guilty
Pleasures Anita Blake may be small and young,
but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and
vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law--as long as
they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and
Anita agrees--with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting--to help figure out
who and why. This continues to be a successful series for her: The
Laughing Corpse , Circus
of the Damned , The
Lunatic Cafe , Bloody
Bones , Killing
Dance , Burnt
Offerings , Blue
Moon , Obsidian
Butterfly , Narcissus
in Chains , Cerulean
Sins , and Incubus
Dreams .
8. On
Basilisk Station "HH1" (as it's known to the faithful) is the
first installment in David Weber's cult hit Honor Harrington series,
featuring the commander of the starship, the HMS Fearless, and her
razor-clawed telepathic cat. The books that follow in this series are
all great: The
Honor of the Queen , The
Short Victorious War , Field
of Dishonor , Flag
in Exile , Honor
Among Enemies , In
Enemy Hands , Echoes
of Honor , Ashes
of Victory , and War
of Honor .
