Book Recommendations
Over the years, I've been asked about what books I've read or which ones I would recommend to a friend. I've decided to compile a list of my recommendations here which I can link, update, and easily revisit. I've broken them up roughly into subgenres of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. In no particular order here is my list. Take a look!
Classic Sci-Fi
These are mostly from the pioneers and originators of the genre. Many of these are written decades ago and are the foundation that many other stories are built upon. All of these are must reads for the genre!
ποΈ Dune by Frank Herbert:
The first book of a classic and very famous sci-fi series. This first one is excellent but the story gets a little weird in later books. Great series overall which spans thousands of years and pioneers some of the most iconic sci-fi themes seen across the genre. It follows the heir of a great house in the galactic empire and how he adapts and rallies the people of his adopted planet Dune. The planet is incredibly desolate and survival is difficult but it also contains a precious resource needed by the entire galaxy to allow space travel.
ποΈ Foundation by Isaac Asimov:
Another classic and very famous sci-fi series. Asimov is one of the godfathers of science fiction known for his amazing world building and ideas although not as much for his character building. The Foundation series is amazing and covers thousands of years. He also has a series of Robots books that are set in the same universe which are also excellent. I, Robot is the first book of that series which is more character based and follows a pair of detectives, one robot and one human who solve cases. Foundation is about a man who creates a complicated mathematical equation that can predict the future of massive populations like an entire galaxy. It predicts the destruction of society but by following his formula the destruction will be limited.
π₯οΈ Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card:
Yet another classic sci-fi novel. This is also a series but I have not read the later books which I heard were decent. Orson Scott Card is a bit of a controversial figure due to some of his political views but this is still one of my favorites. It's about gifted children who are taken from their families to train and simulate war to better determine the best ways to combat an alien race.
βΎ The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein:
Heinlein is another godfather of sci-fi. He has multiple great books which I love but this is my favorite and one that everyone should read. People are forced to live on the moon and as their society grows over multiple generations they eventually they want their independence. It's a great story and very funny at times.
π Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein:
I also really liked this novel by Heinlein. Pretty much anything from Heinlein is good stuff but this is another classic. It's a satirical take on military propaganda and the cold war where humans fight an alien race of bugs.
Modern Fantasy
This is my description for fantasy novels and series which are more relatable by being based in modern times and in our familiar world.
π§ββοΈ Storm Front by Jim Butcher:
The first book in the massive Dresden Files series that has become my favorite series ever. A professional wizard in modern day Chicago solves strange cases. He's literally in the yellow pages under wizard. I love this series so much. It starts out very good but after the first few books it really comes into its own and becomes absolutely amazing. It's still ongoing and I cannot recommend it enough.
πͺ½ Good Omens by Neil Gaimen & Terry Prachett:
Gaimen has become one of my favorite authors although there is now a controversy about him. Prachett is quite famous for his Discworld series which I never was able to get too far into. Anyways, this one is a fun story about heaven and hell. An angel and a devil who both work on Earth have become friends and don't want to the apocalypse to happen.
π¬ American Gods by Neil Gaimen:
Another Gaimen novel I really loved. This is a very interesting take on gods from ancient pantheons of mythology and their battle against "modern" ideas as gods that are worshipped now. Think of ideas like "Radio" or "Media" being used so much it manifests as a god. It follows a man caught in the middle of the struggle between the new and old gods and is an interesting take on American history.
πΊ Hounded by Kevin Hearne:
This is the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles which I ended up really loving. Its about a druid who lives in modern day Arizona and has been alive for over 1000 years. This one also involves mythology and gods. It specifically follows the Scottish/Celtic gods but other pantheons get involved later on which is pretty fun.
π¦Έββ Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson:
I adore Sanderson and he is currently my favorite author. He has multiple series going all at once and is able to continue to write great stuff for all of them. Many of his series are in the same universe called Cosmere although this series is not part of it. This is the first book of The Reckoners series which is about superheroes who become evil when they get their powers and how a team of resistance fighters try to stop them by discovering their weaknesses.
π§ Legion by Brandon Sanderson:
Another Sanderson series and this is actually his other non-cosmere series. This one is about a man with multiple personalities in his head. Except he can use each of their abilities by talking to them and having them help him. Its a very interesting take on the mind and very entertaining.
Epic Fantasy
These are what I consider more of the classic fantasy novels and series. These can be written decades ago or now but are typically based in completely different worlds with history, swords, and sorcery.
π The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien:
The first book in the Lord of the Rings series. Probably the most famous series in the history of Fantasy and the most obvious pick in the world. Anyone reading this has likely already read this series and its predecessor The Hobbit but in case you haven't of course read it (and watch the movies).
π₯ The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan:
The first book in the very famous and very long Wheel of Time series. It was so long that Jordan passed away and didn't finish it. Brandon Sanderson was asked to complete the series and he required a trilogy of his own to do it. This is also how I discovered my love for Sanderson. I love the story and characters but I can't fully recommend it without the caveat that there are 14 books in the series and each one is 1000+ pages. It follows 3 friends who are convinced by a sorceress they are prophesied to lead the fight against the dark one.
βοΈ Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson:
I'm sure you are sensing a theme now. Yet another Sanderson series but I love them all and this is another fantastic series. It follows a girl who discoveries she has metal based powers that allow her to do nearly anything. She joins a unique thieving crew to pull a heist to try to overthrow an immortal dictator.
π₯ Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher:
This is the first book in the Codex Alera series. Unsurprisingly Jim Butcher has another series that is also really good. It follows a young man who has trouble learning his magic who eventually ends up being more than he seems. His kingdom is at war with other enemies but they eventually band together to face an even greater threat.
π Nine Princes of Amber by Roger Zelazny:
The first book of the Chronicles of Amber series and another one of my favorites. Many of the books of the series have a mystery to solve in them including this first book where the protagonist starts out with amnesia. I enjoyed the order vs chaos theme and the politics of the princes of amber.
π¨ββ The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher:
Also by Jim Butcher and also awesome. This is the first book in the Cinder Spires series. It's still ongoing but the first few books have been great. It's more in the Steampunk sub-genre of Sci-Fi but epic nonetheless. It follows the story of the captain of an airship and the politics of various city-states in the sky.
Near Sci-Fi
I view Near Sci-Fi as a more grounded look into the technologically advanced immediate future. It is usually more a more hopeful look but there's room for some dystopian wastelands as well.
π΄ The Martian by Andy Weir:
Everybody has seen the movie with Matt Damon stuck on Mars. Turns out the book is even better than the movie. An amazing read and the movie didn't change too much from the book. I love Andy Weir's writing style because he loves to use real math and science in his fictional stories. I also enjoy the voice of his character's and how they are talking directly to the reader.
π Artemis by Andy Weir:
Another Andy Weir classic. It think it draws some parallels to another one of my favorite books: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress which is also on this list. It follows a girl who lives in the city of Artemis which is on the Moon. She becomes involved with a plot for the future of the city. A very fun, interesting, and quick read.
π΄π» Old Man's War by John Scalzi:
The first book in the series of the same name. This one really feels like a modern day Starship Troopers which is also on this list. It's a great story about how old retirees receive younger bodies but are required to join an space defense team for several years. Very funny and fast-paced. Another easy recommendation.
π Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir:
Yet another fantastic Andy Weir novel. He is really becoming another one of my go-to authors. The earth is being threatened by an anomaly that is slowly dimming the sun. A crew is sent into space to find a way to prevent the end of the world. Just another great story and plenty of math and science comes along for the ride.
𧡠Wool by Hugh Howey:
Wool came out of nowhere. This was the authors first book and he self published. He started with a short story and each following story got longer until suddenly it was this amazing series. Wool is a dystopian Sci-Fi story about survivors who live in underground silos after the end of the world. An absolute classic that I always love to recommend.
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk tends to be a more dystopian look into the future of bleeding edge high tech but low morals.
βοΈ Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson:
This is probably my favorite Cyberpunk book and one I would recommend to anyone. It follows hacker and pizza delivery driver Hiro Protagonist as he investigates a virus in the metaverse. The satire and comedy along with the action of the greatest swordsman in the world makes for great story.
π€ Neuromancer by William Gibson:
William Gibson is considered the father of the Cyberpunk subgenre. He created terms like matrix and cyberpunk in his work. The story follows a hacker who is hired for a final job against a powerful AI teaming up with a cybernetically enhanced mercenary. It's been awhile since I've read it but it's a must read if you're a fan of the genre.
πΉοΈ Ready Player One by Ernest Cline:
This is a really fun one. I would say its Cyberpunk with a lighter touch and a bunch of 80's nostalgia. People log into a global VR gaming network to find the keys to become owner of the entire game. There is a second one also but I haven't read it yet.
Dark Fantasy
I see the Dark Fantasy genre as an epic fantasy-like story in a dark, brutal, and unforgiving world. These tend be a bit depressing and can have some graphic violence but you just need to see what happens next anyways.
π The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The first book of a series called the Gentleman Bastard Sequence. This is a blend of Epic and Dark Fantasy but I decided to put in this category because of the world. It's about a group of kids trained and brought up to be master thieves. The main character plans and executes massive heists while trying to discover missing things from his past. It has been a great series so far.
π A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin:
The first book of the Song of Ice and Fire series. Once one of my favorite series. It's of course incredibly famous for its TV show. While I still think it's great it's not as easy to recommend because more time has passed between each book. Martin is getting older and still has two more novels to complete the story. Some think he will never finish. It should also be noted that each book is over 1000 pages. But each book has also been incredible. Each chapter written from the perspective of a specific character. All characters trying to survive to try to sit atop the Iron Throne. Winter is Coming.
βοΈ The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski:
The Witcher series is another one of those stories so good that it's appearing in multiple other forms of media. I have read most of the series but have not quite completed it yet but it's another dark and brutal story of survival and politics with some monster hunting thrown in. Originally written in Polish and more as a set of short stories I found it incredibly interesting to see the adaptation of Polish and Slavic folklore. It's another easy recommend as long as you can accept the occasional translation issue.
π‘οΈ The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett:
This is the first book of the Demon Cycle series which is pretty dark at times. I ended up mostly liking this series but it gets a little weird after the first book. Demons are brutally attacking the world and main character rediscovers ancient wards and how to use them against the demons.
π‘ The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie:
This is the first book in the First Law series. It's been awhile since I have read them but I definitely recall the dark and brutal tone of the series. It follows several morally grey characters as they try to survive and eventually intersect. Another great story that I couldn't put down.
Fiction
These are just a few other books I've appreciated over the years that are not really in the Sci-Fi or Fantasy genres.
β² The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand:
Ayn Rand is somewhat controversial. She is more famous for writing Atlas Shrugged but this book has similar themes. They both are very good but I preferred this one more. It follows the careers of 2 architects and what they want to achieve in life.
π± Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut:
Plenty of dark humor and satire which are the things Vonnegut is most known for. I remember this being very satirical take on the military. A quick and interesting story that is definitely worth a read.