Book Recommendations?

[joreth]

Several people have given me book recommendations recently, and without a smartphone or notepad, I have forgotten them all. What books would you recommend to read?

I like fantasy, sci-fi, military sci-fi, historical fiction, & nonfiction. I like my books to be internally consistent and prefer egalitarian, skeptical (pro- science-based, rational, critical-thinking), & transhumanism themes even if not explicitly so, and even if they're set in magical worlds.

I don't like books heavy on the sexism, that penalize reason or critical thinking, that use science as the "bad guy" or weapon of the bad guy (i.e. Michael Crichton), and I'm starting to detest books clearly set in our own future that nevertheless show no progress or even explorations into futuristic ideas (i.e. it's 3023 and we're space-faring & we have AI, but we still haven't even broached personhood theory).

I like complicated characters and plots that are not black and white (i.e. Firefly - yes I know it's not a book). I like characters I can empathize with or who make me feel as though I can get to know them or are similar to people I actually know. I like character-driven stories and I can excuse some bit of plot-mangling or lack of explanations if I can relate to the characters.

I don't like books that are too heavy on the technical specifications - especially if they don't spend equal intensity on the character development. I appreciate technical accuracy, but without the characters to get into, the specs just wash over my head.

I've enjoyed reading the Honor Harrington series and the Vorkosigan series but am finding the Wheel of Time series too painful for its sexism. I really enjoyed the Anita Blake series in spite of the author desperately needing an editor and being generally a terrible writer of sex scenes, and I vaguely remember liking the Hollows series (Dead Witch Walking / Rachel Morgan) although I've forgotten many details. I have Hunger Games & Game of Thrones in my queue.

So, any other suggestions?

Comments

[ximinez]

Do you like Cory Doctorow?

[joreth]

I don't know who that is

[ximinez]

From your criteria, I think you'd like him. Start with _Down And Out In the Magic Kingdom_. Also worth mentioning that he puts all of his stuff on his website for free under a Creative Commons license. Http://craphound.com

[sumit-mittal.livejournal.com]

"A song of fire and ice" series! Well written, intricate plot, and well-developed, interesting characters.

Provided, you haven't already read it...

[sumit-mittal.livejournal.com]

ok i got over-enthu, and typed my suggestion before i saw that Game of thrones is already in your queue. I'd say nudge it to the top of the queue.

[hollyqueen.livejournal.com]

Urban Shaman, the first book in The Walker Papers by CE Murphy is one of my favorites. Actually, I think the first 6 books are all favorites. Anything by Tanya Huff is good and she has high fantasy, urban fantasy and space opera.

[slutbamwalla.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the Codex Alera books by Jim Butcher. I know that Butcher's taken some flak recently in regards to his Dresden Files series being soaked in privilege, but I didn't really see that in the Alera books (though take that with a grain of salt, as I, by definition, don't always notice such things). It's military fantasy, so it sounds like it might be right up your alley. In a world where pretty much everyone has access to some level of magic use, the main character has none, so he's constantly having to look for alternate ways to accomplish his goals, usually more science-based solutions. Plus, it has a number of strong, positive female characters and actually passes Bechdel in just about every book.

[corpsefairy.livejournal.com]

Have you read much Connie Willis? One of my very favorite books of all time is her To Say Nothing of the Dog. It's Victorian time travel screwball comedy, and it's completely delightful. Doomsday Book is also excellent, but is, uh, not a comedy. Willis' strong points are character development and interactions.

I'm rereading George Alec Effinger's When Gravity Fails. I don't know why this trilogy isn't better known, because it's brilliant. It's Arabic noir cyberpunk.

[amauzume.livejournal.com]

I just finished Y: The Last Man and it immensly enjoyable. It's a graphic novel, but don't let that scare you off.

[nickup.livejournal.com]

Iron sunrise & Singularity Sky by charles stross

sci-fi, some military sci-fi an dmost of your criteria