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recomend more books like LOTR and Harry Potter

post #1 of 45
11/22/09 at 1:35am
Thread Starter 
I loved reading Lord of the Rings, and I just finished the 7th Harry Potter book. I honestly don't know if I've ever had such a good time reading. Rowling's characters are so rich and real I love her simple, visual writing style. I really miss being able to dive into that world whenever I had spare time. I wish there were more books!

So those of you who have enjoyed lotr and harry potter, please recommend some other books like these. I was thinking of the Chronicles of Narnia, but my mother read them to me when I was a kid. Not that I remember them, but there might be others I'd rather read first.

I'm looking for imaginitive books that are written simply and beautifully. Could be fantasy or could be something else. There's tons of more critical or analytical books I'd love to read, but the truth of it is, that I just don't read when they're the ones I'm aiming for. I just want to enjoy. Thanks
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post #2 of 45
11/22/09 at 1:36am
Dune?
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post #3 of 45
11/22/09 at 1:45am
You'll love Twilight.
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post #4 of 45
11/22/09 at 1:54am
For Fantasy, try Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy

On the Sci-Fi/Fantasy, give Frank Herbert's Dune Series a try (Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor Of Dune, Heretics of Dune & Chapterhouse Dune)
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post #5 of 45
11/22/09 at 2:07am
The Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin, six in all: A Wizard of Earthsea, Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea, and The Other Wind. I like them as much as LOTR and over His Dark Materials and the Harry Potter series. In fact, I like the series so much I actually have both the hard-copies and audible audibooks.
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post #6 of 45
11/22/09 at 2:25am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zodduska View Post
You'll love Twilight.
lol I actually thought of it...but I do have some self respect. Well, and I suspect I'm a little old/male. as in im not a 14 year old girl. But maybe I'm judging too harshly? I only know them by the movie, which well
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post #7 of 45
11/22/09 at 2:31am
Steven Erikson's "The Malazan book of the Fallen", Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" and Glen Cook's "The Black Company" are all far superior IMO. I heartily endorse the Earthsea cycle recommendation. I liked Pullman's first ("The Golden Compass" in the US, "Northern Lights" in the UK) but was disappointed by the following 2. Try also L.E. Modesitt, David & Leigh Eddings, Greg Keyes, George R. R. Martin, R. Scott Bakker and Steven Brust.
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post #8 of 45
11/22/09 at 2:44am
I also recommend Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Great story and well written, too.

Try Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" series. I read those some years back and remember enjoying them a great deal.

Same with Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series - completely engrossing.

There are a few not in the sci-fi/fantasy genre that you should try, as well. One is Neal Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon." Terrific story, intelligent and a page turner. Same with Thor Heyerdahl's "Kontiki." Except "Kontiki" really happened and is an amazing book you won't be able to put down. It has a happy ending, too, and that's not spoiling anything. Another with superbly realized characters is John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." One of the funniest books ever written and it holds up as literature, too. The back story of Toole is tragic, but be thankful we got this book.
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post #9 of 45
11/22/09 at 3:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by appophylite View Post
For Fantasy, try Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy
3rd'd.

Much better than Harry Potter imo.
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post #10 of 45
11/22/09 at 3:45am
LittleBig by John Crowley -Americana Fantasy (probably my favourite novel)

Name of the Rose- Umberto Eco - medieval detective story
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post #11 of 45
11/22/09 at 3:51am
David Eddings and Raymond E Feist are very good in the fantasy genre. If you like more contemporary fantasy try the Dresdner Files by Jim Butcher.
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post #12 of 45
11/22/09 at 3:52am
Ender's Game and Dune are my recommendations. Dune is a little heavier (as much as sci-fi can get...) but Ender's Game really grows.
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post #13 of 45
11/22/09 at 4:51am
Enders Game is a must read.

Eragon, It's a 4 book series and the guys still writing the fourth book (even though he said it was going to be a 3 parter, and I didn't really care for the 3rd book)

Anyway. If you saw the movie...I'm sorry. The book is nothing like it.

If not. Dragon/Dragon rider... The first and second books were really good.
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post #14 of 45
11/22/09 at 5:05am
I feel a little disgusted seeing LotR and Harry Potter compared as novels (as films, I have no objection).

If you want something like Harry Potter: Deltora Quest, Twilight.
If you want something like harry potter, except that it is good: Narnia chronicles.


For LotR I can't think of anything that really reads the same. Maybe some Aasimov. Have you read the other tolkein books? (the hobbit etc).

I agree with the His Dark Materials suggestion, as well.
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post #15 of 45
11/22/09 at 5:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhythmdevils View Post
... I was thinking of the Chronicles of Narnia, but my mother read them to me when I was a kid.
I keep picking these back up from time to time. They're a very easy but fun read as an adult. My wife read them to our boys recently and I found myself sneaking them after everyone went to bed.

x2 on The Hobbit and the Dune series. Tolkein's The Silmarillion is absolutely brilliant, but the time frame is so broad and the chronology so epic it may turn your brain inside-out. Not necessarily an easy read. But worth it.

For something rather different, Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is a real interesting read.

EDIT: Oh, what about Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series: The Black Cauldron, et. al?
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