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Seeking that certain read
Belasco32
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm searching for something elusive, a special kind of brain candy, and I'm hoping y'all can help.
I'm after a book or series of books with a happy ending, that isn't a dark or emotionally painful read, isn't fluff, has a plot, characters one can revile and cheer for, preferably in a fantasy setting, AND available on Audible.com.
I'm a bit more flexible than that sentence makes out, but only a bit. I loved David Eddings' Belargiad and The Malorian, and I'm a huge Tolkien and Stephen King fan. I've read pretty much everything King has ever written, and loved the vast majority of it. The thing is, I'm looking for an escape - a break from how remarkably difficult my life is and I have an illness that can make it super painful to hold a book or tablet for very long. Audiobooks have been a saving grace, but I don't want to waste my precious Audible credits on something that doesn't fit the bill.
Help?
I'm after a book or series of books with a happy ending, that isn't a dark or emotionally painful read, isn't fluff, has a plot, characters one can revile and cheer for, preferably in a fantasy setting, AND available on Audible.com.
I'm a bit more flexible than that sentence makes out, but only a bit. I loved David Eddings' Belargiad and The Malorian, and I'm a huge Tolkien and Stephen King fan. I've read pretty much everything King has ever written, and loved the vast majority of it. The thing is, I'm looking for an escape - a break from how remarkably difficult my life is and I have an illness that can make it super painful to hold a book or tablet for very long. Audiobooks have been a saving grace, but I don't want to waste my precious Audible credits on something that doesn't fit the bill.
Help?
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Posts
It's the Napoleonic era with dragons.
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
Doooo eeeeeet
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
Yeah, many times
*looks @Delmain from the corner of her eye*
You might also look into the Shannara series if you haven't already read it. Granted, it's been a while since I've read them, but I remember enjoying them. Epic fantasy quest, reminded me of Tolkein at the time (but as I said, it's been a while since I've reread them).
His Majesty's Dragon (and the rest of the Tremaire series, it looks like) is also on Audible. It's set in an alternate history during the napoleonic wars. Only in this book, a;; of the governments have dragons. I've got the omnibus of the first 3 books and it's a very entertaining read.
Edit: Or you could just follow the advice of the people who made the same suggestions... Guess that'll show me for listening to the samples instead of posting.
The Lyonesse trilogy by Jack Vance.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Lyonesse-Suldruns-Garden-Gollancz-ebook/dp/B004OBZNVW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410933247&sr=8-2&keywords=jack+vance+lyonesse
Edit: and why not also pick up The Dying Earth by the same author?
EDIT2: Free Audible verion of book 1, apparently: http://www.amazon.com/Suldruns-Garden-Lyonesse-Book-1/dp/B0039OZFUY/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_2_audd?ie=UTF8&qid=1410933691&sr=8-1&keywords=jack+vance+lyonesse
I'm actually about half-way through the second in the Shannara series, it would probably be a better book to just read rather than listen to. It's not that the narrator is horrible, he's just sort of, well, dull to listen to. I mean, seriously, I found my attention wandering when he was describing demons coming out of the ground.
This was easily one of the best fantasy series I've ever read. Also, anything by Dianna Wayne Jones, but especially the Chrestomanci books, and Howl's Moving Castle.
I highly suspect her books, and the Enchanted Forest Chronicles (Dealing with Dragons) are only marked at kids because of the lack of sex and cursing. They're definitely "grown up" in terms of language difficulty and theme.
Dresden Files is awesome and you should totally read them.
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I think Howl's Moving Castle fits the bill rather well, but then I am partial to that series. (Note: the book is quite different from the film)
But fuck you — no, fuck y'all, that's as blunt as it gets"
- Kendrick Lamar, "The Blacker the Berry"
If you liked the belgariad/Mallorian, try the Elenium/Tamuli book series by David Eddings (First book is The Diamond Throne). I liked them both.
After listening to many many samples last night I opted to buy the first book in The Dresden Files - partly because it sounded sort of campy and fun while still having something of an actual plot. It was a 10 hour listen, and I am now on book 2 of the series. It was perfect for a pain filled sleepless night, it's fun and, thus far, requires no heavy lifting of the listener while still being actually entertaining.
I've added nearly all 42 of the Discworld series to my wishlist, and will sink my teeth in to that in the near future. I also discovered that while my daughter had permission to help me use up some credits (they don't let you keep more than 12 at a time) she bought the David Eddings series @azith28 mentioned - as an aside, it appears to be a trilogy.
I am in your debt oh sage bookish people of help/advice, and you have my sincere gratitude!
The Diamond Throne, The Ruby knight, The sapphire rose is the Elenium. Then the Tamuli......uhm...damn cant remember the first book of the second trilogy.. second one is the shining ones, third...also cant recall offhand. having a brain fart. been awhile since ive re-read it.
Dresden files ...first 3 books are good but feel like the series isnt going anywhere as a whole, but after that they get better and better each book. Most recent one was amazingly good.
Ahhh, she got three of them, so I assumed they go together. Here's hoping the narrator is good!
Do some research on the Wiki's. Discworld theoretically could be read in order, but there are basically 5 or 6 (or more) different storylines that are fairly distinct from the rest of the series. off the top of my head :
Rincewind
The witches
The Night watch
The "Moist" series
Death
What i would suggest is you get a list of the books for each storyline and read those in order, then go to the next storyline and start from the beginning of that one, etc.
I would also recommend the Dresden Files for a more adult fun and easy read.
Uncanny Magazine!
The Mad Writers Union
I enjoyed the series, and I think it checks all the boxes you listed.
Read those. All of them. Terry Pratchett is my very favorite author and his work is amazing.
Terry Pratchett is a treasure of an author, and from what you're describing, Discworld will be just the thing for you.
I recommend starting with Going Postal for a few reasons:
1. It is a good introduction to a lot of the characters, so even though it's not chronologically first in any of the storylines, you'll get to know a lot of the people, and can go from there.
2. The quality of the discworld books can be somewhat variant, but Going Postal is very, very good.
3. It's just a fantastic book. Not that the rest of discworld isn't, but still.
I think my first read was Pyramids and the next was Small Gods (which is my absolute favorite, and I have a copy signed and oh my god I need to go read this book again).
Good Omens is a pretty good read as well, and is pretty damn hysterical.
Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld would be a pretty good resource for checking out the various stories and character lines in books.
My second favorite is Reaper Man.
On the other hand, Pratchett and Stephen Baxter worked together on the Long Earth series, which is an entertaining read. Definitely more sci-fi than fantasy though. Turns out our Earth is just one in an infinite series of universes, one day somebody puts the design for a Stepper Box on the internet, letting anyone with a couple bucks worth of electronic components and a potato move at will through the Long Earth. Follows the effects on humanity when half the population of Earth decides they'd much rather live on their own private beach on almost-Hawaii rather than go back to the office on Monday.
Also, second vote for Good Omens.
I have a bunch of credits since I haven't known what to get in ages, though they won't let me keep more than 12 at a time. I've got a monthly subscription, so I get 2 credits a month - which is basically 2 books a month. I'm just super careful with them. I will definitely check out the checkout section, though, thank you!