Dr. Fong Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 I finally have some time to do some reading as I will have a three week vacation and two 24 hour flights to fill. I'm looking for pure escapism. Not really interested in anything non fiction. I like sci-fi, horror, and fantasy that doesn't suck (which unfortunately is too much of it).
Deranged Rhino Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 You probably read them already, but I took up the Game of Thrones behemoth recently due to long flights and travel. I haven't traditionally been an avid reader of the genre but I've found them to be like crack. Definitely passed the time.
swnybillsfan Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 clive barker's imajica is one of my favorites. i have read it several times and it just sucks me right in every single time. seems to be right in the wheelhouse of what you are asking for.
LB3 Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 The Passage by Justin Cronin. If you like it, the second book is The Twelve. Perfect sci-fi books. A clever new spin to vampire stories. The third book should be coming out late this year.
BringBackFergy Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 Nelson Demille "The Gold Coast" and "The Gate House" are fun books to read. "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett is a great book as well.
Metal Man Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 I know it's old but if you have never read The Stand by Stephen King it is one of my favorites, make sure it is the uncut version. Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) as mentioned earlier is probably the pinnacle of fantasy right now but if you've done that Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind is also very good.
Wooderson Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is an easy read and a good book. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien The Hell's Angels, Rum Diary, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson
Azalin Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 you should consider trying the discworld books by Terry Pratchett. they're very well written, and have a sense of humor to them that is somewhere between Monty Python and Douglas Adams. this guide might be helpful: http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/the-discworld-reading-order-guide-20.jpg
Canadian Bills Fan Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 "Misery" and "The Stand" by Stephen King are both amazing books. The Stand is like 1100 pages long though CBF
DC Tom Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 If you want pure escapist horror, nothing beats "Bigfoot Wars." So over-the-top dumb it ends up being entertaining as hell.
Chef Jim Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 Two 24 hour flights? So are you flying around the world and when you're done turning around and going the other way around??
Beerball Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is a good (but old) series. If you haven't read it I'd recommend.
Zona Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 I would highly recommend the Dresden files by Jim Butcher. It is Urban Fantasy, well written, funny, and some great characters. i read alot, most of what everyone has suggested is good, but Dresden is better.
Dibs Posted July 9, 2014 Posted July 9, 2014 (edited) I'm surprised at how many of the recommendations so far are ones that I would recommend. The Stand, Game of Thrones, Terry Pratchett's discworld books(There are 39 of these......some are order dependent). I will add..... Anne Rice: Vampire Chronicles, Witching Hour Issac Asimov: Foundation Trilogy, Elijah Baley books, I Robot(Complete Robot for additional robot stories).....anything by Asimov really. Stephen King: IT, Dark Tower series(If you think you'd like Surreal Spaghetti Western Sci-Fi......and enjoy King's writing style) Robert Jordan: Wheel of Time series Frank Herbert: Dune(Just stick to the first book IMO). Raymond Feist: Magician(One of the best fantasy books ever written......the follow on books slowly degenerate into pulp though). Margaret Weis/Tracey Hickman: Dragonlance books(A much lighter read but very entertaining) Edit: Also, if you are open to graphic story telling(Graphic Novels.....better known as comic books)..... Neil Gaiman: Sandman(Gothic Fantasy Horror.......first GN is called Preludes & Nocturnes.....magnificent storytelling with fantastic artwork too). J O'Barr: The Crow(Pure poetry of pain.......yes, the 1994 movie was based on this book). John Constantine: Hellblazer(Supernatural horror by various writers.....I would recommend Dangerous Habits GN or Hard Time GN. Don't be put off by the horrible Keanu Reeves movie.....and look for the new Constantine TV series coming soon, it looks to have captured the feel and character very well). Edited July 9, 2014 by Dibs
Dr. Fong Posted July 9, 2014 Author Posted July 9, 2014 Two 24 hour flights? So are you flying around the world and when you're done turning around and going the other way around?? Exactly. With a three week gap between.
Best Player Available Posted July 9, 2014 Posted July 9, 2014 To fill the pure escapism bill. Try, LUNATICS a novel By Dave Berry and Alan Zweibel. A humorous "mystery" perfect for long boring flights, and a very easy but funny read.
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted July 9, 2014 Posted July 9, 2014 W.E.B Griffin - Presidential Agent Series Clive Cussler - Anything Dirk Pitt or Kurt Austin Dale Brown - Flight of Old Dog and follow Patrick McLanahan throughout If you like Tolkien and GRRM, try R. A. Salvatore The Legend of Drizzt
Max Fischer Posted July 9, 2014 Posted July 9, 2014 Horns & Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill (Stephen King's son) - Horns is a great fantasy/allegory/horror, HSB is mostly horror/action. Both excellent. His last novel is N024RTU - to me it was OK, while other love it. Always interesting. The Martian - Andy Weir (techno "thriller", well written, good humor). Ridley Scott may direct Matt Damon (not sure if that's a positive or negative for you) The "Wool" or "Silo" series by Hugh Howey - Excellent sci-fi trilogy. Outstanding writing and imaginative. Series launched many other stories. I will read his book "Sand" next. "Wayward" "Pines" series by Blake Crouch - Mystery/Sci-Fi. A Treasury agent winds up in a remote town to locate a fellow agent. Town is very mysterious and odd things happen. The third in a trilogy out this month. Easy to read but full of layers upon layers. Dune - of course. Altered Carbon - Sci-fi, detective story. Well done, good writing. Finch by Jeff VanderMeer - Sci-fi, detective story that is too hard to explain. If you want something different, with a good mystery, this underrated book could keep you reading for hours.
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