What is the best series of books ever written and why?

Question

Minimum 3 books.

Answer 1

Well...

Someone else stole my thunder and already gave my best answer: "Dune"[1] by Frank Herbert[2], though I think that the series suffers a bit from what I call "sequel-itis", that condition where the sequels are pale shadows of the origional book. This series also is being subjected to "prequel-itis" in that Frank's son Brian Herbert[3] and noted science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson[4] have used notes found after Frank Herbert's death to write six books set before the origional "Dune" series, but again, while very good reads, not nearly as good as the origional.

Now, since my #1 choice was already taken...I'll list my seconds, which aren't really seconds at all, as trying to choose between favorite books for me is an "apples and oranges" type of thing, so many series are good for so many different reasons, so:

"The Lord of the Rings"[5] by J. R. R. Tolkien[6]... If you have an ounce of poetry in your soul, this series of three books will inspire you..and the prequel "The Hobbit"[7] isn't a bad place to start reading the series, thought it is considered a "children's book". You want to know what the cost of being the "hero" is? This series will spell it out for you...and it ain't pretty. Speaking of heroes the "Velgarth"[A] series (a.k.a the "Valdemar" series) by Mercedes Lackey[B] has all the heroes a body could want, flaws included, with lots of coming of age stuff...and as it's about 30 books long, you'll have plenty to read! And along the same vein, the "Dragonriders of Pern"[C] by Anne McCaffrey [D] was my favorite as a teenager, but time has left me with other tastes...

In the "Sci-Fi" arena, I love the "Known Space"[8] saga by Larry Niven[9], especially the four "Ringworld"[10] books, simply because of the scope and breadth of the ideas involved. Heard of the video game "Halo"? Well, Mr. Niven came up with the idea for the structure the game is named for back in 1970...not to mention, he's one of those authors, like Heinlein[11], who has those "Hey, they're acutally making what he thought up!" ideas...

Now, that covers the sci-fi and fantasy genres, how about horror?
How about the "Dark Tower"[12] series by Stephen King[13], or the "Castle Rock, ME"[14] and "Derry, ME"[15] books, which, while not series, per se, are all set in related settings, and often the stories set in each fictional town reference one another?
Or the "Shadow"[16] saga, by Christopher Golden[17]? Yummy vampires...

Ok, I could go on and on...but favorite authors, series, TV shows. etc. are all subjective, and picking one is like picking a favorite child out of the family, not possible; and even if you could, why'd ya want to?

Hope that helps...

Answer 2

For me it is Stephen King's Dark Tower series because those seven books encompass most of his other stories and it is an epic tale; a classic example of a post-apocalyptic world with a twist of time warping and alternate dimensions as only Stephen King can do, and the ultimate story that delves into the horrors of the human mind. I kept on the edge of my seat waiting for the fifth book to come out after I'd read the fourth like I'd anticipated nothing else before :)

Answer 3

My opinion?

HARRY POTTER! I'm obsessed to the most unhealthy extent. Jo's writing style is definately not the best that I have seen, but her imagination is amazing and her research is very thorough. they are not just children's novels. No way. They are mystery and romance and have many adult themes. Why, even the title for the next and last one could tell you that. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"! Those books have sparked a whole new cultural movemet, a whole new genre of music (go look up wizard rock).

I also like Nancy Drew a lot. Obvously very similat to the Hardy Boys. I just like a good mystery and a female sleuth is just way too cool.

The "Lord of the Rings" series is absolutely enchanting, but quite tedious at times, as well. But brilliant, really.

Answer 4

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, because Goodkind's writting exceeds that of most authors in his genre, his characters all have definite personalities based on their decisions within the story and not by what he all out tells you, and because each book contains many moral truths that study society and people as a whole which you definately don't usually find in fantasy books. This series is also fairly graphic due to the authors love of detail, and trust me, he will not spare you.

Answer 5

Best? I don't know, but favorite:

The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis. (6 volumes)

You can take or leave the Christian themes, they aren't heavy-handed, but they are ripping tales beautifully written, with a great deal of gentle humor that adults and children can enjoy. I learned to read "real books" (as opposed to picture books) when my grandmother read these to me. By the last few books, I was grabbing them off the shelf and reading them myself. I re-read them every 4 or 5 years and find new things to appreciate. This may be heresy, but I like them better than the Rings trilogy by Lewis's buddy Tolkein.

Good question!

Answer 6

The Oz series. Modern authors dumb-down the prose, but not L Frank Baum. The subversive anti-establishment message he wove underneath what appears as nothing more than pure whimsy keeps me coming back. All of the original Oz books are available free online, so that is just one more reason to read them.

Answer 7

The Cirque Du Freak series, its full of so many twists and has such a good story.
There are 12 books in the series

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I have to say mine is Lord of the Rings. The massive scale of Middle Earth. The languages, histories and cultures of the creatures. Lord of the Rings is timeless. I have yet to read anything that would inspire or move me like Tolkien.

Answer 10

Anne Rice's Vampire series.
Interview With the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil, etc, etc.

Just forget the crappy movies made from some of these books.

But why do I say they're the best books? I dunno, I just like 'em the best.