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[Jackrabbit]

Concurred. And yet I've only read The Stand.

Anyway, read Twilight!

Just kidding.

I quite liked the Magician series (once again, I bring this up) because as a fantasy series it really is epic. And you really end up liking (or hating) the characters the way the author wants you to.

Other than that, I need new stuff to read too.

[ChairmanPoo]

Hmmm... I sort of liked Robin Hobb's assasin series. The first three books that is.

"A Song of Fire and Ice" is pretty nice, too. Intrigue in a fantansy world. It pretty much subverts most of the fantasy themes in different ways, too. Give it a try.

Stephen Brust's Dragaera series are a fantasy subversion as well.

Alfred Bester's "Tiger Tiger" is a classic.

I second the recommendation of Asimov.

Stanley Weibaun is a rather unknown sci-fi author with some very nice stories.

And now, for some non-SF/F suggestions...
- John Kennedy Toole's "A confederacy of dunces"

- Sigmun Freud's "Moses and monotheism"

- John Grisham in general.

- Raymond Chandler in general, specially his Marlowe series.

[Vester]

I've read Moses and Monotheism. First parts were interesting, especially the theory about the first Moses being Egyptian.

Also, "A Song of Fire and Ice" is fantastic.

Jackrabbit, you managed to read the Stand? Awesome. What did you think about the book?

[Jackrabbit]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaalmost done. It's another case of my tenuous grasp of grammar getting the best of me. But so far, it's fucking awesome. 

[Vester]

That it is.

Also, chaoticag, what about the His Dark Materials trilogy?

[Jackrabbit]

My opinion on that? First one was good, second two were not.

[Vester]

Well, tackling

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the voice of God

off a cliff isn't exactly the most climactic thing to do...

But yeah the first one was excellent.

And the movie was terrible.

[Jackrabbit]

No, I mean the whole thing is an enormous downer and the

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

love interest

was spontaneous and confusing. Predictable, sure, but there wasn't the least bit of build up.

It was written well, but just didn't click for me. Second one was... preeeeety good.

[Vester]

Ohhh you meant that part.

Well, the third book was technically also about puberty.

[Jackrabbit]

Here's how I saw it.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"The two children are now in love."

Guh?

"The two children cannot be together."

Aw, that's sad, it's always hard to say goodbye to a friend.

"Actually, it's supposed to be sad because they love each other and cannot be together."

Oh shut up. As if I care about that. They didn't show the least bit inclination beforehand. It's hormones, nothing more.

[Vester]

Yeah, that was it exactly. It came on so fast and hard that it could have been nothing but that.

EDIT (in response to Jackrabbit's post below, so that the derail does not continue):

Oh my god I didn't notice that until you pointed it out. Thanks a lot.

[Jackrabbit]

Yeah, that was it exactly. It came on so fast and hard that it could have been nothing but that.

I'm sorry, I can't help myself. Was that intentional?

Wait, don't answer.

Derail over.

[userpay]

Okay first off I feel obligated to bring this site to everyones attension
http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
This a great site for getting rid of old books and getting new (read used but new to you) books.

Okay now for suggestions hmm... I loved the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the second one, Catching Fire, just came out and I've just started reading it. I'm not good at describing books so heres a spoiler for it from the paperbackswap site

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When Kat's sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.

its got just the right about of mindfuck (if thats the right word for it) to keep things interesting.

Another I'd suggest is the Night Angel Trilogy, the first of which is The Way of Shadows, with this description from paperbackswap

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist. For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint. But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death.

these three books are a good solid 700 pages apiece.

Thats all for now, if I come up with more I'll post them.

[chaoticag]

That it is.

Also, chaoticag, what about the His Dark Materials trilogy?

I read that, although at the time I couldn't make heads or tails of the story. The problem I had with the movie was that they cut out the suprise twist ending in favor of the classical Hollywood happy ending, which made the movie that much shallow despite one of the characters acting as if it was bound to happen. I just know an executive was involved somehow. But I digress...

I need new stuff to read too.

As user pay said, the Night Angel Trilogy is good, and filled with all sorts of badass.
I also think you ought to read Stranger in a Strange Land, which was cool and bittersweet.
I wouldn't recomend anything by Tad Williams, I've gotten two of his books and cannot be bothered to finish them.
One of the best fantasy books I've read though, was The Painted/Warded Man, which sadly doesn't have a TV tropes article. Imagine a world where people are nearly powerless to stop demons of the night, and nearly everyone has become afraid of doing anything about it, with anyone who does try fighting ends up dying. Interesting, dark book, with the second book in the series coming out in the next two months.

[Sensei]

I've been liking Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle (19th century language is annoying, but worth it).

"nay," quoth Robin, "I am right glad to see thee, Will, and thou wilt add great honor and credit to my band of merry fellows."

You know what that means?

it means Will Gamwell is credit to team.