What are good sci/fi fantasy books?

Question

For adults and kids, I'm not picky about age range. Person with most listed that I haven't already read gets 10 pts.

PLEASE keep the rating of these books G or PG which means fairly clean language and little violence and no gratutitous adult situations.

Answer 1

Alan Dean Foster:
Flinx series,
Humanx books (nor crystal tears was the first)
Or anything else!

David Eddings

J.R.R. Tolkien

C.S. Lewis

Ann McAffrey

Raymond Feist
(magician series)

Isaac Asimov
Foundation series

Piers Anthony
Xanth Series

Ursula LeGuiin

Marion Zimmer Bradley
Darkover series

C.J. Cherrh
Time Gate series

T.H. White
the once and future king

Steven E. Donaldsen

Deryni Series/ST Camber

Answer 2

Ender's Game--by Orson Scott Card...I'd say PG...maybe PG-13 for language...if you're sensitive to it, it might offend you...if you're not...you probably wouldn't even think about it being there. But no sexual situations at all. It is an adult book that has always been popular with the YA crowd. But it's no worse than your typical YA book these days...it's hard to find a book published (for anyone over the age of 12 or 13) that doesn't contain some "bad" language. The only violence it contains is when the hero, Ender, is forced to fight a bully...he didn't start it...but he's not going to let himself be beat up either. So there is some blood, but I wouldn't say its excessive.

Ender's Shadow--I don't remember the language being as prevalent as the book Ender's Game...but I haven't read it in a year. Probably PG. I don't know. But that one is by Orson Scott Card as well.

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, are of course G rated in my opinion.

Answer 3

Books by H. Rider Haggard, H. Beam Piper's "Little Fuzzy" series, David Weber's "Honor Harrington" series, any of the 'wolf' books by Jane Lindskold, Fred Saberhagen, Roger Zelazny, Emily Drake has a series sort of like Harry Potter, John Ringo's "March to..." series, David Drakes "Lord of the Isles" series, Edgar Rice Burroughs books(any), Frederick Pohl, S. M. Stirling's "Islands" series, Eric Flint's "1632" series, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, like the lady that has been reading sci-fi/fantasy for 30 years I have been reading for 20 years more. There are so many author's out there and so many books, to list them all would take days and days. Good Luck, this is just a short list of some great ones.

Answer 4

Some recent reads of mine:

Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed"--it's about a physicist from an anarchist society that goes back to the planet that his society's people split off from in an attempt to reunite the two worlds. It's excellent, and it's got a lot of good sci-fi society stuff in it.

Neil Gaiman's "Anansi Boys"--a guy discovers that his recently deceased father was the spider-god Anansi and that his brother, who he didn't know existed and who got all of the cool god-powers, suddenly pops up and makes his life miserable.

Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time"--a teenage girl, her young brother, and a guy from her school meet three old women who tesser them across the galaxy to find the kids' missing father and fight evil.

Lester del Rey's "The Runaway Robot"--after his family leaves him on Ganymede to return to earth, a robot and his young owner, who stayed behind, try to stay together, avoid the people looking for them, and get back to earth and their family.

Caroline Stevermer's "A College of Magics"--a young duchess is expelled from a magical college and then discovers that she's the Warden of the North and has to mend the rift between worlds.

Holly Lisle's "Sympathy for the Devil"--a woman challenges God to give all the souls in Hell a second chance and He answers her prayer by unleashing a few thousand of Hell's citizens into North Carolina.

Holly Lisle's "Fire in the Mist"--after a plague kills everyone in her village and she levels the remains with a blast of magic, a young girl gets taken to a magic university and uncovers a plot that threatens to destroy the city and probably the world.

Isaac Asimov's "The Caves of Steel"--in a futuristic society, a detective who really, really hates robots gets assigned a robot as a partner in order to investigate the murder of the robot's creator.

Robert Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"--the residents of a lunar penal colony start a revolt with the help of a computer that gains human qualities.

Walter M. Miller Jr.'s "A Canticle for Leibowitz"--follows society throughout several thousand years and three nuclear wars.

Answer 5

Personally I like the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, then there's the Dragon Harper Hall Trilogy also by Anne McCaffrey (these would be mid level to high school) Then there's Phantom by Terry Goodkind, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneggar. Then for some good old fashioned Sci-Fi I suggest Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. That's my choices for fiction. For non fiction, Bob Frissell and David Icke are always good for strange, but alternative history is going to be Graham Hancock and Andrew Collins.

Answer 6

War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, 1984 by George Orwell, A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Wanting Seed by Anthony Burgess, One Hand Clapping by Anthony Burgess, The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

Answer 7

The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury

Dune - Frank Herbert

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Double Star - Robert Heinlein

Answer 8

I've been reading science fiction for over 30 years, and I read every day, so I've read...thousands? My collection is huge and includes science fiction and fantasy as well as SF mysteries, humor, and just oddball stories. Since I used to be a teacher, I also know some good ones for younger readers. Tell me what subjects/themes you're interested in, and I'll suggest some good authors and books.

Answer 9

Hi there. I'm the author of a new medieval fantasy book that you might like. The title is THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY. It's 445 pages of action, adventure, magic, mystery and mayhem. If you like Conan, LOTR or Harry Potter type books, this may be one you'll enjoy.

Good luck, whatever you decide to read!

Jon F. Baxley (Author, Editor, Ghostwriter and Proofreader)

THE SCYTHIAN STONE (eBook only)
THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY (eBook and hard cover)
THE REGENTS OF RHUM (coming fall '07)

Major Media Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

STARRED Review. A fast pace, sly humor, amusing dialogue and a richly researched background lift Baxley's fantasy, the first of a new series set in medieval Britain. When Merlin's long-ago apprentice Kruzurk Makshare (aka the Boozer) receives a dreamlike visitation from the legendary mage, he learns he must destroy another former apprentice, the villainous Seed of Cerberus. To do so will require a visit to the demon-guarded Blackgloom Keep. Enter young Daynin McKinnon, who discovers a curious rune-covered headstone, which may be the fabled Blackgloom Bounty, and brings it to Kruz's attention. Kruz believes it will provide entry into the fortress, while Daynin hopes the sale of the stone will restore his family's fortunes. The colorful cast of good guys and ne'er-do-wells includes the Pictish ghost of Brude McAlpin liberated from his tomb, assorted pursuing Caledonians and a bemused Prior Bede, whose monastery serves as a hiding place for the Blackgloom Bounty. Suitable for fantasy enthusiasts of all ages.

Library Journal
"This series opener...is a good choice for fans of epic-style sagas and Scottish history."

Harriet Klausner, Amazon's #1 Ranked Reviewer!
"This terrific medieval fantasy...will elate readers for its fast-paced, action-thrilled story line starring a strong cast."

Nancy McCulloch, PRWEB Article, March 20, 2006
"Two thumbs up for a colorful cast of characters, nonstop, rapid-fire action and compelling storyline!"

Fantasybookspot.com Review by Tyler, Febuary 2006
"Taking place in Medieval Scotland, this tale of magic, adventure and love really captured my attention..."

Answer 10

Anything by Mercedes Lackey is excellent, as is anything by Anne McCaffrey. Two of the best writers ever.

The Psion series by Joan Vinge is great, as is the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. Miles Vorkosigan, by Lois McMaster Bujold, is a fabulous character.

David Eddings is really good, his Sparhawk books are great. Terry Brooks Shannara series is excellent.