Books - What Are You Reading / What Do You Recommend?

+1 for Peter Hamilton. Pandora's Star is my favorite book from him.

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Originally Posted by KestrelBike

If you're in for a real (and I mean real) slog of a sci-fi marathon, check out Peter Hamilton.

He has about 4-5 separate series where the technology evolves as the books move along with a good bit of overlapping.

I won't lie, the first couple series are not for everyone and can get quite slow. I like the later series better (commonwealth saga) because of the higher technology and think those are funnerto read, and its actually how I discovered the author. I basically devolved in tech by reading his books in reverse chronological order. That said, I think the best way to read his stuff is to start at the beginning. In the end, it's worth it.

My favorite book of his is probably fallen dragon.

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Originally Posted by Holger Danske

+1 for Peter Hamilton. Pandora's Star is my favorite book from him.

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High five! C-Saga was such a blur for me that its going to be like reading it anew when I go through them again in a couple years.

The next installment of the D.J Molles "the Remaining" series is out, called "Fractured". I love the series. I'm about 30% through this one and it's not as good as the others so far but there's less zombie action. Actually, no zombie action yet. Just threats of zombies that don't appear. Hopefully, it'll pick up soon.

I'll qualify all of these recommendations with this; My recreational reading is for pure escapism. Between school work and work work I spend a lot of time reading very dry stuff. When I pick up a book by choice I want something that's going to suck me in. I don't care if it's going to make me a better person, just that it's going to amuse me for the time I'm reading it.

If you're more into mysteries you might give author Dick Francis a try. He was a professional jockey in England before turning to writing so most of his mysteries are centered in that world. They're considerably less "hard boiled" than someone like Lee Child but they're fast, enjoyable reads and there are a ton of them.

I know you said you're not into Sci-Fi but I really recommend you try Starship Troopers if you like military fiction (Please don't mistake it for that abortion of a movie).

Steven Pressfield (historical fiction); Gates of Fire and The Afghan Campaign are both really good. Killing Rommel also. Tides of War was dry as hell and very convoluted. Virtues of War and Last of the Amazons weren't bad but not great. The Profession was pretty good but set slightly in the future (about a generation) so that might not be your thing. The Legend Of Bagger Vance is really good (and I don't give a shit about golf) but is a little more philosophy (think-Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance).

C.J. Box has a pretty good series of mysteries about a game warden in WY.

Leadership and Training for the Fight by MSG Paul Howe is an excellent read for anyone in a leadership position.

Jack Higgins and Alistair Maclean both wrote some pretty decent trash literature in the adventure/thriller genre.

Mario Puzo's books are decent (he's the guy who wrote The Godfather) in the Mobster/crime genre.

Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden both have a couple of good series in the Historical fiction genre.

Ken Follet wrote several good books (Pillars of the Earth is fantastic) also mostly Historical fiction.

That's it off the top of my head. Hope some of those can keep you busy.

Just finished American Gun by Chris Kyle over the weekend. Interesting read relating classic American firearms to historic events and trends.

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Originally Posted by GilpinGuy

The next installment of the D.J Molles "the Remaining" series is out, called "Fractured". I love the series. I'm about 30% through this one and it's not as good as the others so far but there's less zombie action. Actually, no zombie action yet. Just threats of zombies that don't appear. Hopefully, it'll pick up soon.

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It picks up. I always forget how good this series is and then he releases another book and I'm sucked back in.

+1 for Starship Troopers. I know you said no Sci-Fi, but given when that book was written, you have to appreciate the forward thinking.

Just finished reading Full Black and then Black List....
Both very good.
Black List is terrifyingly realistic in the sense that it appears to be happening now.
Read it in 8 hours.... couldn't put it down.
I would suggest that anyone concerned with the current erosion of rights and privacy of US citizens read this book immediately.

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Originally Posted by funkfool

Just finished reading Full Black and then Black List....
Both very good.
Black List is terrifyingly realistic in the sense that it appears to be happening now.
Read it in 8 hours.... couldn't put it down.
I would suggest that anyone concerned with the current erosion of rights and privacy of US citizens read this book immediately.

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Are either of them something that you could lend on Kindle?

My favorites-

Anything by Nelson DeMille, especially the John Corey series.
The Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman, or anything by him really.
Stephen Hunter is pretty good too. My top two by him are "Black Light" and "Point of Impact," which was the basis for the movie "Shooter." The book is far better, as per usual.
Clive Cussler's older stuff. My favorite of his is "Sahara," again far better than the movie.
Have to agree with tmleadr03 about the late, great Robert B. Parker. But I prefer the Jesse Stone series.
I do like the Scot Harvath series by Brad Thor, as has been mentioned.