Difference between revisions of "Book Recommendations"

 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
= Recommended books for novelists =
 
== Recommended books for novelists  ==
 
== Recommended books for novelists  ==
  
Line 50: Line 51:
 
*Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft by David Morrell
 
*Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing: A Novelist Looks at His Craft by David Morrell
  
 +
=== Books on World Building ===
 +
TrudyG wrote:
 +
''So, does anyone have any good book recommendations for worldbuilding, in any categories of world creation, maps, culture, creatures, beings, political units, etc? I have the start of a collection of them, and I’m always interested in new ones. Note that all the ones I list have at least some things in them I’ve found useful, even if it’s basics.''
 +
 +
Available at Amazon:
 +
* Creating Life: The Art of Worldbuilding Book 1 by Randy Ellefson: Looks at creating creatures, beings, and some elements of culture.
 +
* Creating Places: The Art of Worldbuilding Book 2 by Randy Ellefson: Looks at creating worlds, continents, countries, etc. including basics of mapping.
 +
(Note that both the above do have a potentially irritating amount of references to the author’s website, but they can be useful.)
 +
* Way With Worlds Book 1: Crafting Great Fictional Settings by Steven Savage: Looks at basic philosophies, essentials, magic & tech, religion, sex, species, and characters.
 +
* Way With Worlds Book 2: Details and Discussions by Steven Savage: Looks at heroes, villains, & author’s pets, utopias & dystopias, conflicts, communication, tools & techniques, skills, and originality.
 +
 +
Available on Smashwords
 +
* Pantheon Building by Julie Ann Dawson: Looks at creating gods and religions, for both stories and RPGs
 +
* Worldbuilding 101 by Julie Ann Dawson: Looks at the basics of worldbuilding for both stories and RPGs; based on a workshop that she holds.
 +
Both the above are short and were created more for RPGs, but can be useful for fiction worldbuilding as well.
 +
 +
WriterofNumenor wrote:
 +
 +
Storyworld First by Jill Williamson is the best!
 +
 +
= References =
 
== Links with Book Recommendation Lists ==
 
== Links with Book Recommendation Lists ==
  
Line 57: Line 79:
 
* [http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Books-Genre-Novelists-Should/lm/1DAFASHU4VYQV Amazon Writing Books Genre Novelists Should Read]
 
* [http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Books-Genre-Novelists-Should/lm/1DAFASHU4VYQV Amazon Writing Books Genre Novelists Should Read]
  
== Some favorite books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours) ==
+
= Favorite SF books =
 
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Cycle The Childe Cycle] by Gordon R. Dickson (also known as the Dorsai books. Tactics of Mistake and Soldier, Ask Not are very good)
 
 
 
Black Easter and the Day After Judgement, by James Blish (what if the forces of heaven lost?)
 
 
 
Cities in Flight, by James Blish (imagine New York city in flight through space...)
 
 
 
The Riverworld Series, by Philip Jose Farmer (imagine everyone who ever lived on Earth suddenly all being resurrected on the banks of a million-mile long river...)
 
  
Three Hearts and Three Lions, by Poul Anderson (fantasy about Ogier du Danske)
+
== Favorite SF books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours) ==
  
The Compleat Enchanter, Le Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt
+
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childe_Cycle The Childe Cycle] by Gordon R. Dickson (also known as the Dorsai books. Tactics of Mistake and Soldier, Ask Not are very good)
 +
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_in_Flight Cities in Flight], by James Blish (imagine New York city in flight through space...)
 +
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverworld The Riverworld series], by Philip Jose Farmer (imagine everyone who ever lived on Earth suddenly all being resurrected on the banks of a million-mile long river...)
 +
* Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
 +
* Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card
 +
* Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card
 +
* Pastwatch, Orson Scott Card
 +
* Startide Rising, by David Brin
 +
* Eon and Eternity, two excellent, thought-provoking novels by Greg Bear
 +
* Last Legends of Earth, an epic SF adventure by A. A. Attanasio
 +
* Replay, by Ken Gibson
  
The Gift, by Patrick O'Leary (wonderful adventure tale with magic)
+
= Favorite Fantasy books =
  
Seventh Son, by Orson Scott Card
+
== Favorite Fantasy books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours)  ==
  
Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
+
* Black Easter and the Day After Judgement, by James Blish (what if the forces of heaven lost?)
 +
* Three Hearts and Three Lions, by Poul Anderson (fantasy about Ogier du Danske)
 +
* The Compleat Enchanter, Le Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt
 +
* The Gift, by Patrick O'Leary (wonderful adventure tale with magic)
 +
* Seventh Son, by Orson Scott Card  
 +
* Lyonesse, by Jack Vance
 +
* The Green Pearl, by Jack Vance
 +
* Madouc, by Jack Vance
 +
* The Black Company, by Glen Cook (great fantasy series with terrific, memorable characters and neat concepts)
 +
* Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman
 +
* American Gods, Neil Gaiman
 +
* Stardust, Neil Gaiman
 +
* The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
 +
* 9 Princes in Amber, Roger Zelazny
 +
* The Hollowing, Mythago Wood and Lavondyss, by Robert Holdstock
  
Startide Rising, by David Brin
+
<headertabs />

Latest revision as of 07:42, 30 June 2019

[edit]

Favorite SF books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours)

  • The Childe Cycle by Gordon R. Dickson (also known as the Dorsai books. Tactics of Mistake and Soldier, Ask Not are very good)
  • Cities in Flight, by James Blish (imagine New York city in flight through space...)
  • The Riverworld series, by Philip Jose Farmer (imagine everyone who ever lived on Earth suddenly all being resurrected on the banks of a million-mile long river...)
  • Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
  • Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card
  • Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card
  • Pastwatch, Orson Scott Card
  • Startide Rising, by David Brin
  • Eon and Eternity, two excellent, thought-provoking novels by Greg Bear
  • Last Legends of Earth, an epic SF adventure by A. A. Attanasio
  • Replay, by Ken Gibson

Favorite Fantasy books for reading/inspiration (feel free to add yours)

  • Black Easter and the Day After Judgement, by James Blish (what if the forces of heaven lost?)
  • Three Hearts and Three Lions, by Poul Anderson (fantasy about Ogier du Danske)
  • The Compleat Enchanter, Le Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt
  • The Gift, by Patrick O'Leary (wonderful adventure tale with magic)
  • Seventh Son, by Orson Scott Card
  • Lyonesse, by Jack Vance
  • The Green Pearl, by Jack Vance
  • Madouc, by Jack Vance
  • The Black Company, by Glen Cook (great fantasy series with terrific, memorable characters and neat concepts)
  • Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman
  • American Gods, Neil Gaiman
  • Stardust, Neil Gaiman
  • The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
  • 9 Princes in Amber, Roger Zelazny
  • The Hollowing, Mythago Wood and Lavondyss, by Robert Holdstock