OK guys, here's my poll. What types of books does everyone out there read? I'll start with a few authors I have read recently: Robert Maccammon, C.S. Friedman, Terry Goodkind, Robert Jordan, Brian Lumley, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, and on and on!

Lets see... uh. I read the Baldur's Gate 2 Manual last week (ok, you caught me, only half of it). And uh, lotsa TV guides! Uhhhhhh... (scratches head) ...uhhhhhhh... oh yeah, and I read the instructions on those mac and cheese boxes. Ok, it's your peoples turn now...

I read a lot of Fantasy, among them : David Eddings, Raymond E.Feist, Terry Brooks, Robin Hobb, Mercedes Lackey, Weiss & Hickmann, Robert Jordan, Anne Mc Caffrey, Jennifer Robinson (Oh, LadyWendy, if you don't know this one, try the 'Sword' series : Sword-born, Sword-sworn, ...)

I read Anne Rice now and then (I prefer the 'Witches' serie).

Otherwise, I pick a biography or a history or archaeology book or a French fiction book.

Oh, and I am a big fan of novels about time travel, time paradoxes and such.

R.A. Salvatore, David Eddings, Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Anne McCaffrey, some stuff nobody probably reads anymore like books by Alexandre Dumas (3 Musketeers and so on), and some biographies. Oh, and auto and computer graphics/animation magazines. Exciting.

I read more Sinince finction but right now im reading Terry Goodkin

I read more Sinince finction but right now im reading Terry Goodkind

Moiraine, those two you mentioned Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey I've seen on the shelves at the book store and came very close to buying one. Now I think I will, thanks! I'll keep the Sword born series in mind as well. Next on my list though is Robin Hobb, not in case you think one of the others is better?

I like fantasy-books, so I have read the wheel of time by Robert Jordan, shannara-series (don't remember the author), Katherine Kerrs books (don't know what the books are called in english), David Eddings books, and of course Tolkiens books.
Beside from fantasy, I haven't read that much, but I have read books written by Anne Rice (the interview with a vampire) and Stephen King.

I am not very good with names, so I am probably wrong when I said Anne Rice have written the interview with a vampire.

Books? You peoples are liek sooooo twentieth-century.

Did you ever really check this Forum?
the is a whole forum called Books any realm
the is where you should post it

Anyways i'll answer
currently i'm reading the Darksword series and the Portal of Death series both from Weis&Hickman
and i really like them
but i can't find a lot of others in holland

Hmmm, I enjoy Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J. D. Salinger, Edgar Allan Poe, P.G. Wodehouse, Ian Fleming, Robert Frost, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and about any book on history.

I'm currently reading Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. Very good book. I should have finished it a mnoth ago but things have been busy. Next up is Timeline by Michael Crichton which my mom sent me for christmas. Anyone read it and is it any good?

As I said as always - I love books by a man named "Joe Dever", him and his Lone Wolf Series, they kick ass!! I also read other gamebooks by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone and even my mum's cookery book.........well at least the cover anyway .

And steven king
Micheal Crichton
and
John Grisham
also Asimov and Silverberg

I read just about anything. I love Fantasy and Action/Adventure. History is great two. I like J.V. Jones, Salvatore, Goodkind, Terry Brooks (Sword of Shannara), Lawhead, Grishom,
Ludlum, Brain Lumley. Many others to numerous to mention. I'm going to try Robin Hodd. I truly love fromn the Very bottom of my heart
J.R.R. Tolkein. I don't have a clue how amnay times I have read those books. My mother-in-law gave me the BBC Radio adaption
for Christmas and thats all I listened two for two or three days at work. One of the greatest books I have ever read (over and over again). I even took them with me, to Saudi Arabia, during the Gulf War. Oh well, I guess you can tell I'm a fan. Can't wait for the movie.
during the Gulf

Greetting, i enjoy and have read books by the followings, the titles are to many to list.
Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grub, R.A.Salvatore, Margaret Weis, Don Perrin, Anne Macaffrey, Terry Brooks, David Eddings, Elaine Cunningham, Terry Pratchett, Weis&Hickman and Stan Nicholls. i also have other books who's authors i can't remember.

Talieson, you should also try C.S. Friedman, you won't regret it. The "Coldfire" series and "In Conquest Born" were excellent fantasy books! My personal favorite! BTW, sounds like you are in the military?

I once put up a post such as this one. If you want to see it I think this should work.

Click Here

Yes it is big but it should get you there.

(Ziroc: I fixed the long link for ya)

[This message has been edited by Ziroc (edited 03-06-2001).]

Just trying to have a poll of my own here. Why so negative, Armageddonx, Rikard, Drake?

I was not being negative. There was just a lot of good answers there.
Believe me I ment no offence at all.

Ladyzekke,

Yeap, I was in the military. Combat Engineer in the US Army. (actually in the reserve). I'll have to try Friedman. I don't think I've read anything by him. I have to admit that when I go into the bookstore, one of the things I look for is a THICK book. As expensive as one is now day, I want to get my moneys worth. That means I have probably passed over a lot of good arthors. I saw somewhere (your profile maybe that you live in VA. What do you do?

Talieson,

I understand about wanting to get your money's worth concerning books. Where I live they are up to $7.00 now! What??! C.S. Friendman's books are medium-large I would say. I noticed you mentioned Brian Lumley. If you read his books, one book I would highly recommend is Swan Song by Robert Maccammon. It is a fairly large book and my favorite horror type book. Although it is unique and not your normal "horror", it is more a futuristic possible realty/fantasy. Hard to explain, but still a great read! Yes, I'm in Virginia and work in Crystal City at a patent and trademark law firm. Been there for 11 years or so now. My boss is a retired Rear Admiral in the Navy. Before this job, I worked for two years at another Navy affiliated corporation. I have a great respect for our military, and as a citizen of the U.S., salute you for your courage! Unlike fantasy heroes like in games like BGII, you are truly one of our country's Knight in Shining Armor!

1. Regarding ladyzekke's comments regarding Talieson ... ditto!!!

2. I'm a big fan of David Weber. I've read and own every thing he's every published. Of course, I've also known him personally for 20 years. David Weber is primarily a sci-fi writer but has also written 2 fantasy novels.

3. I've also read Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, Anne McCaffery, Asimov, and a few others.

Let's see... Playboy, Penthouse, ... OOOPS! Just looking at pictures doesn't count, right? ;>}

Seriously, Tolkien (all of 'em about every 12-18 mos), James Michener, Dean Koontz, Leon Uris, Shakespeare (I was an English/History double major), John LeCarre, Alexander Dumas, only a little Anne Rice, haven't read Ray Bradbury for a while but used to love his stuff, TH White, Tom Clancy, Louis L'Amour (may the gods forgive me), Michael Chrichton, John Grisham, Scott Turow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Howard Fast, Terry Pratchett, Elmore Leonard, (Sir) Walter Scott, almost anything related to the US Civil War (I'm a CW buff), various histories (primarily US) and generally anything well written that makes one care about the characters or events of which it speaks.

"A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever." - Martin F Tupper

Great poll, ladyzekke, thanks!

BTW, glad you didn't ask for favorite book... impossible (like favorite song)... brain would melt... a few more:

AC Doyle (big Holmes fan), Aldous Huxley, Rudyard Kipling, EL Doctrow, Edna Ferber, Caleb Carr... ah, now you're making me want to shut this thing off and pick up a book...

"Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die.
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."

Hey Melusine I dont want you to get angry at me but... Id prefer if dont call persons that think on suicide 'morons'. I know suicide often isnt the right way to solve problems, but there are persons that have a deppresive personality and might be offended (not me).

Well, about the language, im spanish. And about the name of the rose, maybe ill try it when i finish the book my mum bought yesterday: Karamazov brothers by F.Dostoyevski, one of my favorites (love crime & punish (?, translated directly form spanish)and its mad-depressing atmosphere). But this one (karamazov9 will take me some time, its 1100 pages.

I appreciate that guys, but it wasn't any big thing. Probably tougher on my wife than it was me. She had to worry all the time. I was in the same boat as the rest of my unit. Just did my job. Louis Lamor (I know thats not right), now there is a blast from the past. I
us to read one of his books in a night. I especially loved the Sackett series, they had somewhat of a local flavor. I am from and live in East Tennessee (Gods Country LOL).
I love Civil War stuff as well. Lots of ancestors on both sides. I have even tied my ancestry to RPGs by using one of there names.
Anyone ever been to a Scotish Highland Game?
Anyway I'm making a list of all these authors. The list is getting rather long. By the way has anyone been to J.V. Jones website. If not check it out. Especially BODGER & GRIFT. They are Hilirous!!! Night Guys!

It has been a long time since I have sat down and read. There are so many authors that I enjoy but at the moment I cannot remember them except for Stephen King. Some of the ones named here sound familar. I hope to start taking more time to read when my 8 month old daughter is more content to play with her 2 brothers instead of trying to take everything out of my hands. I do want to read the Baldur's Gate books that I found and I was able to read a chapter from the book and it seems ok. Until then, I will keep in mind some of the books and authors mentioned here so when I am able to read again, I know where to start.

Talieson: If you're a Civil War buff, and have not done so already, I HIGHLY recommend "The Killer Angels" by Michael Schaara. His son, Jeff, has written a few but I haven't read them yet. "The Killer Angels" is an historical novel about the battle of Gettysburg. Schaara retells the sad tale through the eyes of the principal participants on both sides. For anyone who thinks war is glorious, this is a "must read" as it personalizes the tragedy of war. Isn't it amazing that in time of war, no one has ever said, "God is on their side."

"What conceit of man to believe God would have interest in such barbaric custom."

I'm not being negative
I just say there's a whole Forum about it
And the nicest thing about that forum is that not only people from BG2 join
but also people from the W&W and IWD forums
i just wanted to notest that

Mmmm... I like so much russian literature (Dostoievski, Tolstoi, Chejov...) and Raymond Carver, who isnt vry famous (he´s dead).
On fantastic literature, I havent read so much, only Tolkien (Lord of the rings, the Silmarilion and the Hobbit) but these three ive read three times each .
Besides this, some time ago i used to read Stephen King, Crichton and Grisham but now i prefer 'ancient' literature like the russians ive said, Oscar Wilde, Kafka...
Oh and there are 2 single books that i like so much: the godfather by Mario Puzo (though the films are much better) and Dracula by Bram Stoker.

I never finished a book that isn't Danielle Steel... Steele? Ah whatever! I dunno why... I find it now... weird. Im currently reading 'A Separate Peace' by John Knowles... is for school : ), and 'Hannibal' by Thomas Harris.

Ladyzekke, i'm too smashed to think right now, just came home from an all day beach party, its 1 AM and i need to go to work tomorrow (today) but i just wanted to say:

HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THIS POLL! 30 RESPONSES IN 1 DAY!!

I told u so...

Will answer in detail tomorrow (i had to hit the backspace key 20 times just to type this message!)

First of all congratulations to the (sadly very limited) number of people who actually read anything other than SF/Fantasy (Penguin Boy, Ertai). Not trying to offend or lecture, but there is a HUGE world outside Fantasy books...it's called literature and it's great fun!
Thanks to ladyzekke for starting this thread!

Second, hi I'm back! I was gone for some time, my computer broke down!

Third, here's my highly abbreviated list:
Lit: A.S.Byatt, I.Banks, A.Desai, U.Eco, Ch. Marlowe, W.B.Yeats, O.Wilde, W.Wordsworth, H.Pinter, T.Stoppard, J.Keats, W.Shakespeare, M.Atwood, G.Chaucer, B.Jonson, R.Frost, E.A.Poe, Th.Pynchon, J.M.Synge, Brontë (esp. Emily), J.Swift, D.Parker, S.Plath, S.Heaney, G.Hill, V.Woolf, J.W. von Goethe, Baudelaire, Mallarmé, de Maupassant, de Beauvoir, Hesse, Kafka, G.Herbert, J.Donne, A.Marvell.......................
SF/Fantasy: Tolkien, Eddings, Jordan. I.M. Banks, Barker, King, Lovecraft, Pratchett

A truly great series has been missed. The Dragon Prince and Dragon Star series by Melanie Rawn. The title of the first three are: The Dragon Prince, Starscroll, and Sunrunner's Fire. The next three are Stronghold, The Dragon Token, and Skybowl. Every person I've lent the books to has loved them and wanted to read them again (which may be neccesary- they are not brain candy.)

HI Melusine !!!

Yep, I forgot Goethe´s Werther... made me feel very...hmmm...better not say it. Just say that i was in a similar situation to Werther (i was in love with my best friend, and her boyfriend was a friend of mine... all ended wrong and now i talk no more with them...sad).
and i want to read umberto eco´s the name of the rose (?, translated from spanish) but i CANT stand the historic things in the first pages...maybe ill have to start from page 100 or so. And i really want to try someday lovecraft...
Last christmas i got Roald Dahl´s 'someone like you' in english...but its english is SO advanced for me...Ive only read in english 'the man from ST Petersburg' which is very easy to read.
And another book which made me laugh a lot has been 'American Psycho'. It ROCKS !!!

I read a lot of history, fantasy, theology and biographies. I enjoy pouring over atlas' geographical and photographic books from time to time. I've got various books on different countries in my bookcases.

In the fantasy genre my fav. authors have been, Donaldson, Lawhead, and Feist. Eddings was an early favourite, but after the Belgariad his books started to feel 'sameish' after a while.

C.S.Lewis is an influence of mine - mainly his theological material though. Tolkien Herbert and MacDonald all reside next to John Pilger, Nora Chadwick, Shakespeare and the brothers Grimm.

One of my favourites is a series of little historical atlas' by Colin McEvedy. In five minutes you get a feel for how transient the borders of nations are, how kingdoms come and go and how so much gets forgotten in the scheme of things.

I'm about to read a biography of Keith Green, am periodically referring to a book dealing with divorce by Ken Crispin, and as I got a book by John Stott for christmas will pick that up.

I own a couple of well worn Bibles that get referred to from time to time as well.

Oh yeah, I also enjoy Leunig, Gary Larson, Herge and Goscinny & Uderzo for light relief.

Thanks for the poll Zekke!

How could I have forgotten the books from the U.S. I got given! These will be a priority of course ladyzekke!

Ha, Yorick, you talk like Luc (my husband) about David Eddings. Doesn't keep him from calling his BG II character 'Belgarion' though !
I have loved his last book 'Althalus'. I have even named my recent AD&D thief 'Althala'.
I enjoy the light and optimistic atmosphere of his books, the humour, and the feeling that the characters are all old friends.

Ertai, yes Werther is fantastic; dripping with pathos and nevertheless it touches you deeply and it tells a story everybody can relate to (as your 'best friend/boyfriend' story demonstrates). Did you know that when the book was published, a whole Werther-trend broke loose! Young men started wearing the exact same clothes as described in the book, talking like Werther and some of them actually killed themselves after his example. In later editions, the book therefore opens with a little rhyme saying that it's just a story and please don't kill yourselves over it you morons!

I think you should absolutely persevere in reading The Name of The Rose, it's fabulous!! My advice: just skip some bits that are too dense or difficult, you can always read the book again and you'll understand more every time you reread it. You said you've difficulties with reading English, may I ask what your mother tongue is?



Yorick your interests sound interesting (???) No seriously, I think you have a diverse and definitely not shallow range of studies. Your theologican(?) knowledge is quite apparent in some of your posts but the other things you read are interesting.