I’m always reading. I love it, and I can’t get enough of it. I think this blog has made that pretty obvious that I love science fiction and fantasy. But I feel like I’ve been playing catch up with my reading lately. For example, I just finished Reamde by Neal Stephenson. Finally, I know. But in my defense, that 1,000 page tome was interrupted by a re-read of books 1-4 of A Song of Ice and Fire and my first read of A Dance With Dragons.
I recently bought Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, the Mistborn trilogy boxed set by Brandon Sanderson, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Legend of Eli Monpress by Rachel Aaron. And I still have Snuff by Terry Pratchett on my bookshelf.
I’m very happy with my “to read” book list. These should all be great science fiction and fantasy, but I also realize that they are at least a year old, and some are a few years old. So I’m putting the call out: what is the latest and greatest book that I should read? What science fiction and fantasy book are you most looking forward to in the later half of 2012? What about in 2013? Okay, okay, if you want to include some classic science fiction and fantasy, I won’t get upset. What are some of your favorites that go overlooked by critics?
Post your suggestions in the comments below. I look forward to reading them. Yes, that pun was intentional.
Eric, you should definitely read Name of the Wind, and then the second installment, Wise Man’s Fear, and by the time you’re done, the third (and supposedly final) book should be out… May 2013. They are great fantasy books!
I have no idea what you like in science fiction. Some people seem to read anything. I don’t regard Hyperion and Hitch Hiker’s Guide as science fiction and mostly avoid fantasy.
I usually suggest the Vorkosigan series by Bujold. She has won a bunch of Hugos. And they are free and legal if you have some kind of e-reader.
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I wonder if you’d enjoy R.A. Salvatore’s Dark Elf Trilogy. It’s one of my favorite fantasy trilogies and it’s an easy read. Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn. They take place in the D&D world and follow a dark elf who doesn’t follow the tradition of his race. Great character and interesting story. http://amzn.com/078692683X