OT - nerd books

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:16 PM
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white_pony_rocks
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OT - nerd books

So I just finished my last final for my undergrad and I told myself that I was going to start reading more after I was done.  I'm looking for a good sci-fi/fantasy book, maybe a series.  Either something with dragons and magic or something in the future but not set on earth.  Any suggestions?  I keep asking the gf and shes keeps telling me to read Magical Thinking and I keep telling her that i want magic in the book, not in the title.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:24 PM | Game of Thrones Series - George R. R. Martin (Score:5 Normal)
jrblue
Joined: 09/05/2009
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I guess you get a nerd hall pass for not having been on top of this already since your excuse is that you were studying other books.  Read the books, then watch the series on HBO.  It doesn't get much better right now in fantasy/dragons/sex/magic/blood/guts/intrigue/power politics.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:26 PM | Yeah, you can't go wrong with (Score:2)
IncognitoWolverino
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Yeah, you can't go wrong with the Song of Ice and Fire series, but be prepared to wait awhile for Martin to release the next book (the sixth), there have been some significant gaps in between releases.

But honestly they are worth the wait, a very good series.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

July 28th, 2012 at 5:43 PM | SM Stirking (Score:1)
Dominick's_Lunch
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SM Stirlings Dies the Fire series is good. Post Armageddon. Also Johnny Ringos Prince Rdger March Up Country books are good too.

July 28th, 2012 at 4:27 PM | my roommate has the series (Score:1 Normal)
white_pony_rocks
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my roommate has the series but out of principal i cannot accept his opinion on anything

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:34 PM | Came here to recommend that (Score:1 Offtopic)
a2_electricboogaloo
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Came here to recommend that one as well. I just finished the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire (A Game of Thrones), and it did not disappoint. I would highly recommend it.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:54 PM | in the middle of storm of swords... (Score:2 Normal)
jdon
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amazing series so far (2 and a 1/2 books in).

I can't belive how well he writes and the way he uses the third person limited but with multiple characters is very well done.  

jdon

We are the dead.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:16 PM | Go ahead and skip feast for crows. (Score:2 Normal)
bluenbama
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Read about eighty percent and gave up. To many new characters. Made me hate the dornish folks as well as the iron born. Second thought never mind. Try it out .

July 28th, 2012 at 6:08 PM | It was hard going (Score:1)
Waldorf Wolverine
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It took me so long to finish that volume that I forgot what happened before, but I'm glad I made it through, because "A Dance with Dragons" picks up the pace and is much more entertaining.  Skip ahead and read the last 5 chapters or so of "Feast of Crows," as major events occur therein. 

July 28th, 2012 at 7:06 PM | Ugh, I'm a little over (Score:2)
finch
Joined: 01/09/2011
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Ugh, I'm a little over halfway through right now. I read the first three books in about a week each on my commute to work. This book feels like a chore to read and I've been reading it for about a month.

That said, I highly recommend the Dunk and Egg series - three short stories (so far) written by Martin that take place in the same universe about 90 years before A Game of Thrones. Read the first one novella before A Feast for Crows since the fourth book has some spoilers for the mini-series that takes away from a few of the reveals.

July 28th, 2012 at 8:06 PM | I would have to disagree with (Score:1)
gutnedawg
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I would have to disagree with this. George martin's writing is subpar and nothing like that of vonnegut, lem, Phillip k dick and other prominent sci-fi writers

/°>

 

July 28th, 2012 at 5:33 PM | Read three in the series (Score:1)
bringthewood
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The first book was very good, second book good, 3rd pretty good.  The storyline seems like it is being dragged out just to get some more dollars.  I'm stopping at book three.  There are better suggestions here IMHO.

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July 29th, 2012 at 10:14 AM | I can only agree for the TV series and 1st 3 books, (Score:1)
wolverine1987
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the last two books IMO have been huge letdowns--little happens, we follow some characters that I don't care about at all, and he seems to have lost the strong narrative thread that the first three books had. I'm betting the tv series will do a better job of portraying the events in the last two books than Martin did.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:25 PM | Most people don't know about (Score:5 Underrated)
ILwolverine
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Most people don't know about this but it is a great series: Harry Potter.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:26 PM | HTTV (Score:2)
redwings8831
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HTTV

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:28 PM | Hunger Games (Score:1 Normal)
maizenbluedevil
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Hunger Games

 

CJK5H

July 28th, 2012 at 4:55 PM | quick read (Score:1)
jdon
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I read all three books in a week...

a good suggestion, but don't expect anything special.  Basically good fodder...

jdon

We are the dead.

July 28th, 2012 at 4:31 PM | If you've got the time (Score:4 Normal)
pfholland
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If you've got the time there's the Wheel of Time series. If you start it now you might be caught up when the last book comes out early next year.

July 28th, 2012 at 4:56 PM | another great suggestion (Score:1)
jdon
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The wheel of time series might be the best suggestion on here (outside of harry potter, but those should be read before you turn 21) in that they are well written, extensive, and about to finish.

jdon

 

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July 28th, 2012 at 6:16 PM | Wheel of Time (Score:1)
jonvalk
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Agreed. Most epic/awesome fantasy series ever. I've read the series 3 times and I'm already on book five for the 4th time through. If only it could be made into a TV series.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:21 PM | Release of Memory of Light (Score:2)
gopoohgo
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Release of Memory of Light (book 14) scheduled for early January.

Honestly OP, would scrounge up nickels, dimes, etc., fly to SE Asia or Europe and live it up.  Books will always be available for you when you come back.

July 28th, 2012 at 6:02 PM | Wheel of Time is really long (Score:1)
Club2230
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I read much of the series then gave up and donated the first 9 back to the library.  I had an honest discussion with myself and decided that the reality of the situation was that I wasn't going to finish the series.  Most of the books I read were good, but it got to the point where it seemed like it was long for long's sake.  

July 28th, 2012 at 4:31 PM | hmmmmmm.... (Score:2)
clarkiefromcanada
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Not sci-fi fantasy but it is nerdy...give this Douglas Coupland classic a bit of your time:

 

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:34 PM | Read every MGoBlog post ever (Score:3 Normal)
TheDirtyD
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Read every MGoBlog post ever including all diaries.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:36 PM | Discworld (Score:2)
LSAClassOf2000
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If you have some time and don't mind a series which has almost 40 books in it, I would highly recommend the "Discworld" series by Terry Pratchett. It is an intelligently written and pretty funny series that makes many modern references as well. 

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July 30th, 2012 at 9:30 AM | Seconded (Score:2)
DCAlum
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Terry Pratchett's books are fantastic, and you definitely don't have to read them in order or anything to enjoy them. He is basically the Douglas Adams of the fantasy genre, brilliant satire.

July 28th, 2012 at 4:37 PM | There are lots of books in (Score:1)
readerws6
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There are lots of books in the Halo universe. Some follow games and some are separate stories.

July 28th, 2012 at 4:40 PM | Ray Bradbury's The Martian (Score:4 Normal)
M Fanfare
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Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. I barely read any sci-fi at all, but it is fantastic.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:40 PM | Malazan Book of the Fallen (Score:4 Normal)
woomba
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Great fantasy series by Erikson

July 28th, 2012 at 4:42 PM | Not sure if it qualifies but (Score:3 Normal)
JimLahey
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Not sure if it qualifies but Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorites. I'm somewhat of a nerd myself so I think you will appreciate his writing. I especially enjoy Welcome to the Monkeyhouse, a series of short stories that's very fun to dip in and out of. For a novel, Slaughterhouse Five is always a good one.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:55 PM | "and another thing Vonnegut, (Score:1)
EricTheActor
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"and another thing Vonnegut, I'm gonna stop payment on the check... Fuck me??? Hey Kurt, do you read lips??? Fuck you!"

"Ack ack!"

July 28th, 2012 at 5:05 PM | Never thought of Vonnegut as (Score:1)
ToDefyTheFrizzleFry
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Never thought of Vonnegut as sci-fi, but his books do have tons of sci-fi influence in them it seems. Slaughterhouse Five, Sirens of Titan, and Cat's Cradle are my favorites. 

July 28th, 2012 at 4:44 PM | Twilight.  But only if you're (Score:-1 Flamebait)
July 28th, 2012 at 4:44 PM | "The Hitchhiker's Guide to (Score:2 Normal)
Magnus
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"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams.

"The Magicians" by Lev Grossman.

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July 28th, 2012 at 4:47 PM | Beat me to it... (Score:2)
Wolverine Incognito
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Beat me to it...

Homer? Who is Homer? My name is Wolverine Incognito.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:29 PM | I think this is what i'll (Score:1)
white_pony_rocks
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I think this is what i'll start with.  now i just need to get a library card

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July 28th, 2012 at 5:55 PM | Currently reading "The (Score:2)
methylene blue
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Currently reading "The Magicians" and I second that recommendation

July 30th, 2012 at 9:29 AM | Definitely (Score:2)
DCAlum
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The Magicians is great, and the second book in the series (The Magician King) is also fantastic. Third book will be coming out in the next year or so, I believe?

July 28th, 2012 at 4:46 PM | Douglas Adams: (Score:2)
Wolverine Incognito
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Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy.  Don't Panic.

5 books in total, and 1 that was written by someone else, so 6 sorta.

Very good dry british humor if you are looking for something a little more light hearted.

Homer? Who is Homer? My name is Wolverine Incognito.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:56 PM | AKA (Score:1)
wild_blue_yonder
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The Increasingly Inaccurately Named Hitchhikers Trilogy

July 28th, 2012 at 4:49 PM | Malazan Series (Score:2)
SamIam
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Starts with Gardens of the Moon

July 28th, 2012 at 5:31 PM | seconded (Score:2 Normal)
BlueBadger
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im on book 6 right now. very enjoyable.

Warning: My imagination is inefficient.

July 28th, 2012 at 4:51 PM | The Old Kingdom series (Score:2 Normal)
Rorschach
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is a personal favorite. Start with Sabriel. It has necromancy and plenty of other magic set in a thoroughly fleshed-out (non-earth) world.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:00 PM | Valis - Philip K Dick (Score:1)
Serth
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Valis - Philip K Dick

July 28th, 2012 at 5:01 PM | Discworld (Score:1)
Heinous Wagner
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How can you go wrong with a series set on a flat world balanced on the back of four elephants standing on a turtle? Or where Death (yes, THAT Death with robe and scythe) rides a horse called Binky and has a granddaughter named Susan? 

July 28th, 2012 at 5:51 PM | Death (YTD)? (Score:2 Normal)
wild_blue_yonder
Joined: 04/05/2011
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Death (YTD)?

July 28th, 2012 at 5:02 PM | Mist born (Score:2 Normal)
JonSnow54
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In addition to song of ice and fire and wheel of time, which are probably my top 2 but have already been suggested, Mistborn is a great series. It is by Bradon Sanderson, who is also writing the final books of the Wheel of Time series.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:50 PM | Agreed. Everything he's (Score:2)
ryebreadboy
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Agreed. Everything he's written has been good. I just finished Alloy of Law and that was solid as well.

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July 28th, 2012 at 5:03 PM | PKD (Score:2)
OysterMonkey
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Philip K Dick is great. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Is probably my favorite, but most of his stuff is really good. VALIS is good & weird and I really liked Time Put Of Joint also.



Also second the Vonnegut suggestion.

This has nothing to do with Michigan football.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:04 PM | Out. Time Out of Joint. (Score:2)
OysterMonkey
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Out. Time Out of Joint.

This has nothing to do with Michigan football.

July 28th, 2012 at 5:04 PM | DUNE DUNE DUNE (Score:2 Informative)
Michael
Joined: 06/30/2008
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I can't believe nobody has mentioned DUNE! Seriously, "Dune" by Frank Herbert is an epic book and anyone who calls themself a sci-fi fan should read it. Frankly, even people who aren't probably should. You will not be disappointed. 

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