Yes, I have to vote for the Dresden Files, too. I have to admit that I spend way too much time thinking about these books. I'm currently halfway finished with my third read-through of the entire series. Jim Butcher has another series called the Codex Alera that I tried to read but couldn't get into because I'm not that big into traditional fantasy. I guess The Dresden Files are considered urban fantasy. It's set in present-day Chicago, rather than a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. Some people might have seen the very short-lived series on SciFi called the Dresden Files. It's not bad but it only lasted one season. I found the books after I came across the shows on Hulu last year.
Harry Turtledove has two good series that I've read. The first is World War - where aliens invade slap bang in the middle of WW2. The second is Southern Victory - which starts at the end of the US civil war, which the South has won, and goes all the way up to 1945.
World War is fantastic. Sadly, the sequel Colonization series isnt nowhere near up to par. I also liked turtledoves "Guns of the South" where a racist white organization from South Africa go back in time to the American civil war and arm Lee's army with AK-47's.
That guy doesnt joke around with his series. He has written a ton. I love alternative history too. I have the first book of the Civil War series coming my way. I read the first 2 books of the Hungar Games series and they are fantastic. Some of the best books I have read in a long time. As embarrassed as I am to admit it, I started reading Twilight. My wife and daughter are obsessed with the books and movies and the movies are on all the time in my house. Since they are much like Harry Potter movies and really only a Cliff Notes version of the books, I wanted to read them to get the background because I hate not knowing the details. They arent bad, I would call them average at best.
Yeah it was a bit below par but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I read that civil war one too. Classic! The civil war series is brilliant and this from a non yank.
I know the request was not for sci-fi, but I would strongly reccomend the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. While it is indeed space opera with a strong policial influence, it was written as a cross between Star Wars and Horatio Hornblower. The 12th main book was released this past July, and I am trying to read it slowly so I can savor it.
I just finished Mockingjay the final book of the Hungar Games series and I strongly recommend reading that trilogy.
I would second the recommendation of the O'Brian seafaring novels. I didn't care for them as much, but really a series you can sink your teeth into. I love Dune, I think it is possibly the greatest sci-fi work ever. But the sequels suck, I think because the book was not designed to be part of a series. The extreme success of Dune "forced" Herbert to write more. The series is way beyond melodramatic and the younger sister of Paul Atreides/Muad'Dib is as annoying as Scrappy Do. If you want to go a little more literary, read the Nick Adams short stories by Ernest Hemingway. Read together, they are a fascinating coming of age story that is by far his best writing. While I greatly loved the Eddings' Belgariad/Mallorean quintains, if you had to look for a sci-fi series that is a little different, try Stephen R Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever I and II. I would also echo the John Carter of Mars series by ER Burroughs. ERB really, really cannot end a story, but he pulls you into the action so quickly. Wonderful series in that the first 2 are all John Carter, but by books 3-10 he focuses on a different main character in each book, and for the last (without bothering to google it, I think there are 11 books in the series) all the characters form one of the richest tableaus in sci-fi. The Sherlock Holmes is an interesting recommendation. There are numerous sites that have ordered the books/stories in the order they should be read. One of the nice things about Doyle, though, if you don't in fact like Sherlock Holmes (like myself) you will find out relatively quickly.
Re: O'Brien's Aubrey-Maturin series. I've enjoyed that as much as anything I've read. SF and Fantasy: Zelazny's Amber is another great call. CJ Cherryh's Morgaine series probably rightly belongs to the second (rather than the top) tier of fantasy, but I really enjoyed it the first time I read it, years ago. Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser books absolutely belong to the top tier. There is so much that derives from them, but doesn't come close to their imagination and pure fun. Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun series is also peerless, in my opinion.
I've read most of the books mentioned so far - like the Honor Harrington universe ones a great deal. Also like the Hammer's Slammers novels and short stories by David Drake. What about Raymond Feist's intertwined series of books based on Krondor? As to Turtledove, I do not like his World War series as well as his Videssos fantasy series. Eric Flint - his alternate history novel 1632 has expanded into a series of novels and short stories by himself and a number of other people. Charlaine Harris has created several sets of series that I like a lot - the Southern vampire novels being fantasy while the Lily Bard and Roe Teagarden ones are mystery series.
I am getting into the climax of "Dragon Tattoo" and loving it. It takes awhile to pick up but now I cant put it down. I had to sneak off a couple of times at work today and read a little of it.
a few favorite fiction/fun reading series of mine: Crime/mystery Henning Mankel's series of books featuring Kurt Wallander is really good Michael Connolly's Harry Bosch series is also an excellent set of police procedurals Spy books Le Carre's George Smiley series of books Charles Cummings series (only a couple books so far) Historical fiction Jeff and michael sharra's series about the civil war, then expanded to revolutionary war and others Just for fun Lee Child's Jack Reacher series--not as well written as the other series i list but fun as hell
Just finished that one today and went to Border's and picked up the 2nd to start tonight. Great stuff so far.
I hit that part about 2:30 on a warm, sunny Spring afternoon on my front porch. I proceeded to finish the book, my lunch, and dinner on the front porch. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Oh -- and Billy's Pan Pizza actually kind of sucks, in case anyone was wondering. I tried some in Oslo because of the book.
I finished it yesterday and proceeded to attempt to watch the movie last night. I got irritated about 45 minutes in and had to turn it off. Why change so much stuff? I understand taking some out but no need to change the story.
It was odd to me how they did it. But then again, the movie clocked in at 2.5 hours (all three do, actually) so I assume they thought they did the right thing. Thinking about it now, I'm not sure if I could provide a better edit. I'm curious to see how the American version of the film holds up. (They are actually filming it in Sweden. Besides, it can't be worse than the Swedish version. I hope.)