Looking for something new to read?
Feb. 18th, 2012 11:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peppymint1986Five of my favorite authors in case you find yourself with some spare time and am looking for something new to read. As much as I enjoy fanfiction there is nothing better than curling up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea (or coffee, or cocoa), your cat/dog, and your favorite book. Once again in no particular order.
1. Anne McCaffrey- Most famous for her series the Dragonriders of Pern, which centers around the ongoing struggle to protect their planet from a flesh eating organism that falls from the sky know as Thread. The original trilogy starts with Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and the White Dragon but continues far in the past and into the future. However I would also suggest The Powers that Be, the Crystal Singer Trilogy, The Ship Series, and her Acorna Books. What can I say other than she is one of my favorite authors for a reason. Note, these books are science fiction, not fantasy, as is confirmed in the background novel Dragonsdawn, no matter what some (uniformed) people may say.
2. Piers Anthony- Now these books are fantasy. Most famous for his wonderful, and wacky, magical world of Xanth. Where the figurative becomes literal and children are subject to the dreaded Adult Conspiracy. Thirty-five novels at last count, and the best part is this series has not gone noticeably downhill since it started. Mostly because while characters and background from previous stories may appear, each novel is mostly self contained, though they are vaguely gathered into trilogies. As I recall the one I ever read was Harpy Thyme (book 17). However, if you do want to start from the very beginning the first novel is called 'A Spell for Chameleon.'
3. Tamora Pierce- This author also writes fantasy though it is not as light-hearted and humorous as the Xanth novels. They are about events in a kingdom that happens to have magic instead of a magical kingdom if you know what I mean. She tends to write in quartets, usually centered around a female protagonist. Her first quartet, the Song of the Lioness, tells the story of Alanna of Trebond and the first book is called simply Alanna: The First Adventure. Not very creative I know but her titles improved after that. After switching places with her twin brother Thom, Alanna goes to the palace disguised as a boy in order to earn her knighthood. Other series include The Immortals, Circle of Magic, The Circle Opens, Protector of the Small, The Trickster, and the Beka Cooper Trilogy.
4. Lynsay Sands- Though her vampire books, the Rogue Hunter and Argeneau Series' are fairly well known I prefer her historical romances which combine just the right mix of adventure, humor, and of course romance. There is no love at first sight George/Marsha in these novels. I mean, where else would you find a story where the bride is accidentally drugged insensate before the wedding and has to flop/nod her agreement because she can't speak. Or where the fiance, irritated with her betrothed's lollygagging takes off, forcing her intended to track her down. I would start with the trilogy Devil of the Highlands, Taming the Highland Bride, and the Hellion and the Highlander followed by The Deed, The Key, and The Chase. Lady Pirate is also one of my favorites.
5. Jim Butcher- Don't be put off my the fact the main character of the Dresden Files is a wizard whose first name is Harry. That one fact is just about the only thing the two series have in common. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (named after three famous stage magicians) is nothing like a malnourished, abused (yes I said abused), naive, not stupid but not super smart either, kid being pulled this way and that. The Dresden Files are a much more adult book showing shades of gray instead of black and white and this Harry will never need a super!wand to save himself. Yes, I admit it, I only read book seven because I wanted to know what would happen and I was not at all impressed. Dresden works as a PI in modern day Chicago, and while he is perfectly happy to find a missing piece of jewelry in order to pay his rent many of his cases are much more dangerous. It is depressing really; as Harry pointed out in one book, those cases are usually the ones he doesn't get paid for. Yep, he makes more money fighting purple monkey's that throw flaming poop than he does saving the world.
1. Anne McCaffrey- Most famous for her series the Dragonriders of Pern, which centers around the ongoing struggle to protect their planet from a flesh eating organism that falls from the sky know as Thread. The original trilogy starts with Dragonflight, Dragonquest, and the White Dragon but continues far in the past and into the future. However I would also suggest The Powers that Be, the Crystal Singer Trilogy, The Ship Series, and her Acorna Books. What can I say other than she is one of my favorite authors for a reason. Note, these books are science fiction, not fantasy, as is confirmed in the background novel Dragonsdawn, no matter what some (uniformed) people may say.
2. Piers Anthony- Now these books are fantasy. Most famous for his wonderful, and wacky, magical world of Xanth. Where the figurative becomes literal and children are subject to the dreaded Adult Conspiracy. Thirty-five novels at last count, and the best part is this series has not gone noticeably downhill since it started. Mostly because while characters and background from previous stories may appear, each novel is mostly self contained, though they are vaguely gathered into trilogies. As I recall the one I ever read was Harpy Thyme (book 17). However, if you do want to start from the very beginning the first novel is called 'A Spell for Chameleon.'
3. Tamora Pierce- This author also writes fantasy though it is not as light-hearted and humorous as the Xanth novels. They are about events in a kingdom that happens to have magic instead of a magical kingdom if you know what I mean. She tends to write in quartets, usually centered around a female protagonist. Her first quartet, the Song of the Lioness, tells the story of Alanna of Trebond and the first book is called simply Alanna: The First Adventure. Not very creative I know but her titles improved after that. After switching places with her twin brother Thom, Alanna goes to the palace disguised as a boy in order to earn her knighthood. Other series include The Immortals, Circle of Magic, The Circle Opens, Protector of the Small, The Trickster, and the Beka Cooper Trilogy.
4. Lynsay Sands- Though her vampire books, the Rogue Hunter and Argeneau Series' are fairly well known I prefer her historical romances which combine just the right mix of adventure, humor, and of course romance. There is no love at first sight George/Marsha in these novels. I mean, where else would you find a story where the bride is accidentally drugged insensate before the wedding and has to flop/nod her agreement because she can't speak. Or where the fiance, irritated with her betrothed's lollygagging takes off, forcing her intended to track her down. I would start with the trilogy Devil of the Highlands, Taming the Highland Bride, and the Hellion and the Highlander followed by The Deed, The Key, and The Chase. Lady Pirate is also one of my favorites.
5. Jim Butcher- Don't be put off my the fact the main character of the Dresden Files is a wizard whose first name is Harry. That one fact is just about the only thing the two series have in common. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden (named after three famous stage magicians) is nothing like a malnourished, abused (yes I said abused), naive, not stupid but not super smart either, kid being pulled this way and that. The Dresden Files are a much more adult book showing shades of gray instead of black and white and this Harry will never need a super!wand to save himself. Yes, I admit it, I only read book seven because I wanted to know what would happen and I was not at all impressed. Dresden works as a PI in modern day Chicago, and while he is perfectly happy to find a missing piece of jewelry in order to pay his rent many of his cases are much more dangerous. It is depressing really; as Harry pointed out in one book, those cases are usually the ones he doesn't get paid for. Yep, he makes more money fighting purple monkey's that throw flaming poop than he does saving the world.
