(Part 2) Best science fiction & fantasy books according to redditors
We found 24,941 Reddit comments discussing the best science fiction & fantasy books. We ranked the 7,114 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Use of Weapons and, everything else by Iain M. Banks. Amazing stuff. Trust me.
The Blade Itself and the rest of that series by Joe Abercrombie.
Altered Carbon and the rest of that series as well as Thirteen and The Steel Remains, and it's sequel (still waiting on book 3) by Richard K. Morgan. He's pretty amazing.
That would keep you busy for a long time and are all pretty amazing. Seconding Dune, which is amazing, and the Name of the Wind which is great but very popcorn.
But really, if you were to read everything by Iain M. Banks you would be a better person.
Edit: The Sparrow
If you'd like to know a little bit more about the human society in Warhammer 40K's universe, I recommend you read the Eisenhorn Trilogy. You'll understand how Chaos can breed inside human planets, how the Inquisition works, and how Godly Space Marines are to common humans, or even less common humans, such as psychers. If you like 40K, I'd say it's a must read.
Its for young adults mostly. You are 18 now and officially a man. Its time to read some MANLY fantasy
Anything by Timothy Zahn is solid gold, but I'd start with Heir to the Empire. It was one of the earliest Expanded Universe works, so you don't have to know a bunch of obscure backstory to read it. It's also notable for creating a lot of the canon that appeared in later EU stuff and even some stuff from the prequels.
They published the campaign 1 setting as a book:
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840
It's safe to assume they'll do the same with campaign 2 when it's over.
Edit: I think theres a book called 'Chronicals of Exandria', I don't know if it's a campaign setting book or not.
http://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413465938&sr=1-1&keywords=the+mote+in+god%27s+eye
The Mote in God's Eye - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. One of the greatest First Contact books ever. Hugo and Nebula nominee.
"Writing separately, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle are responsible for a number of science fiction classics, such as the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ringworld, Debt of Honor, and The Integral Trees. Together they have written the critically acclaimed bestsellers Inferno, Footfall, and The Legacy of Heorot, among others.
The Mote In God's Eye is their acknowledged masterpiece, an epic novel of mankind's first encounter with alien life that transcends the genre."
Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land, both by Robert Heinlein; both amazing reads. "Stranger" being possibly on of the greatest Sci-fi novels ever written.
>Anyone read this book?
Dude, it's practically the Citizen Kane of cyberpunk. Dated, hard to grasp and totally genre changing. I loved it when I discovered it in the early 90's but truth be told it's been surpassed several times.
Read it, and if you find the themes interesting try Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.
I would recommend:
Patrick Rothfuss's Name of the Wind
Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, or his newest series The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive).
If you made it all the way through Sword of Truth series, you probably will enjoy Jordan's Wheel of Time.
Scott Lynch's Lies of Locke Lamora is also very enjoyable.
If you are looking for another big one, enjoy the gritty and dark elements from Martin, Stephen Erikson's Malazan series might be up your alley. The first book is a little difficult to get through, but it picks up after that.
Try Frank Herbert's Dune for starters. A more modern author would be Neal Stephenson, maybe start with his Cryptonomicon.
I really enjoyed Nancy Kress' Beggars in Spain as well, though I haven't read anything else by her.
It's way cheaper on amazon. Nearly half price.
I'll skip over the classics (Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Philip K Dick) as they've already been covered.
Finally:
Seriously. No space combat, but without doubt one of the most entertaining fiction I've read in any genre, and a superb example of dystopian sci-fi. For god sakes, the hero - Hiro Protagonist (I know, right?!) - is a Hacker / Samurai that works for the mafia. Delivering pizzas. Trust me on this: Go with it, you won't be sorry.
Hope that helps and wasn't a Great Wall of Boring Text :-)
Sci-Fi Starters:
Starship Troopers by Heinlein
Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
The Foundation series by Asimov: Foundation -> Foundation and Empire -> Second Foundation
The Robot series by Asimov: I, Robot...
The credits roll to completion after episode 10 of season 6, the closing music concludes as well. The crackling of a fire can be heard against the black screen. There is a now shot is of Kit Harrington sitting in a chair in front of a hearth in Winterfell. A the fire is roaring, and Ghost is sitting at his feet. He is looking down, reading a book. The camera pulls into a mid-shot and he looks up at us, breaking the fourth wall and says:
"I hope you enjoyed tonight's episode, and this whole season. Mr. Benioff and Mr. Weiss wanted to thank you, our fans, for watching and we look forward to an even more exciting and compelling season seven." [he shifts his weight and closes the book in his lap] "But really I am here to tell you that Mr. George RR Martin has given me permission to announce that--" The tip of an ice spear bursts through his chest. Ramsay, now a walking ice-corpse, is at the other end of the spear. Ghost immediately leaps onto him to tear out his throat. In the ensuing kerfuffle the camera shakes and tumbles to the ground. The book falls into frame, just out of focus, but the cover is somewhat visible...
Start with Eisenhorn omnibus. Brutal and glorious.
Some of my favorite books available on Kindle Unlimited:
They Mostly Come Out At Night and Where the Waters Turn Black by Benedict Patrick
Paternus by Dyrk Ashton
Danse Macabre by Laura M. Hughes
The Half Killed by Quenby Olson
A Star Reckoners Lot by Darrell Drake
Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe
Jaeth's Eye by K. S. Villoso
Here are some that I haven't read, but have heard mostly positive things about:
The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes
Revenant Winds by Mitchell Hogan
Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R Fletcher
A Warrior's Path by Davis Ashura
Valley of Embers by Steven Kelliher
Faithless by Graham Austin-King. He also has another series, The Riven Wyrde Saga, beginning with Fae - The Wild Hunt
Ours is the Storm by D. Thourson Palmer
Path of Man by Matt Moss
Threat of Madness by D.K. Holmberg
To Whatever End by Claire Frank
House of Blades by Will Wight
Path of Flames by Phil Tucker
The Woven Ring by M. D. Presley
Awaken Online: Catharsis by Travis Bagwell
Wolf of the North by Duncan M. Hamilton
Free the Darkness by Kel Kade
The Cycle of Arawn Trilogy by Edward W. Robinson
Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw
Benjamim Ashwood by AC Cobble
The Crimson Queen by Alec Hutson
The Queens Poinsoner by Jeff Wheeler
Stiger's Tigers by Marc Alan Edelheit
Rise of the Ranger by Philip C. Quaintrell
Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron
Devil's Night Dawning by Damien Black
Here are some older fantasy and sci-fi books that I enjoyed:
Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany - African inspired S&S by an extremely talented writer.
Witch World as well as other good books by Andre Norton
Swords and Deviltry The first volume of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser by Fritz Leiber - Many of the tropes of the rogue/thief came from this legendary duo created by Leiber. And it's worth noting that Leiber actually coined the term Sword & Sorcery. This collection contains 3 stories, two average origin stories for each character and the final story is the Hugo and Nebula winning novella "Ill Met in Lankhmar" detailing the first meeting of Fafhrd and The Grey Mouser.
Swords Against Darkness - A '70s S&S anthology. It has few stinkers, a few mediocre stories, and a some really good ones. Poul Anderson and Ramsey Campbell both have awesome stories in this anthology that are well worth checking out. For some reason, there were quite a few typos in this book, it was slightly distracting, but may have been fixed since I read it.
The Best of C. L. Moore by C. L. Moore. I read this earlier this year and I absolutely loved it. The collection is all sci-fi and one Jirel of Joiry story, which is her famous female Sword & Sorcery character. I was suprised by how well her sci-fi stories held up, often times pulp sci-fi doesn't age well, but this collection was great. Moore was married to the writer Henry Kuttner, and up until his death they wrote a bunch of great stories together. Both of their collections are basically collaborations, although I'm sure a few stories were done solo. His collection The Best of Henry Kuttner features the short story that the movie The Last Mimzy was based on. And, if you are into the original Twilight Zone TV series there is a story that was adapted into a memorable season 1 episode entitled "What You Need". Kuttner and Moore are two of my favorite pulp authors and I'm not even that into science fiction, but I really enjoy their work.
The first 2 books are free on Kindle.
https://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-Book-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0
https://www.amazon.com/Honor-Queen-Harrington-Book-ebook/dp/B00BBI9WD6
Dude, do give the original book a read. It's called Roadside Picnic, not Stalker, and it's a sci-fi cult classic. It's not in Chernobyl, the original idea is a visit of an advanced alien form beyond our comprehension. The title comes from this analogy made by a character in the book:
>> A picnic. Picture a forest, a country road, a meadow. Cars drive off the country road into the meadow, a group of young people get out carrying bottles, baskets of food, transistor radios, and cameras. They light fires, pitch tents, turn on the music. In the morning they leave. The animals, birds, and insects that watched in horror through the long night creep out from their hiding places. And what do they see? Old spark plugs and old filters strewn around... Rags, burnt-out bulbs, and a monkey wrench left behind... And of course, the usual mess—apple cores, candy wrappers, charred remains of the campfire, cans, bottles, somebody’s handkerchief, somebody’s penknife, torn newspapers, coins, faded flowers picked in another meadow. [2]
>
>In this analogy, the nervous animals are the humans who venture forth after the Visitors left, discovering items and anomalies that are ordinary to those who discarded them, but incomprehensible or deadly to those who find them.
>
>This explanation implies that the Visitors may not have paid any attention to or even noticed the human inhabitants of the planet during their "visit" just as humans do not notice or pay attention to grasshoppers or ladybugs during a picnic. The artifacts and phenomena left behind by the Visitors in the Zones were garbage, discarded and forgotten without any preconceived intergalactic plan to advance or damage humanity. There is little chance that the Visitors will return again because for them it was a brief stop for reasons unknown on the way to their actual destination. ^[Wikipedia]
The games rewrite the setting into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and do away with the whole alien thing, carrying over the figure of the stalker, anomalies and artifacts, making the NPP accident have the same effect on the environment as the alien visit in the book, and adding a lot of combat because game, so the book brings a lot more stuff to everyone who's played the games, it's pretty meaningful. And there's a lot of "ooohhhh that's why" moments if you're reading after playing, where some game element just clicks when you see where it came from.
Oh, and the book is super short, you can read it in an afternoon or something, and can be had new for ten bucks on Amazon.
This is my favorite book even outside of 40k.
http://www.amazon.com/Eisenhorn-Warhammer-40-000-Omnibus/dp/1844161560
EDIT: Jesus its $37?!!? Get a used copy or pick it up at your library.
There is an official Wheel of Time RPG, and it is, IMO, very well-written. I'd recommend just playing that or adapting it for Pathfinder. It's d20 3.0, so it's pretty easy to make the transition from Pathfinder to either playing or adapting the WoT RPG.
My favorite 40k books are usually by Dan Abnett (and it's not a very unusual opinion). The omnibus about inquisator Eisenhorn is probably the best of his that I've read.
I agree that Horus Heresy series is also a great place to start, as it sets the background for the 40k universe. I really enjoyed the first 5. At the time that was all that was published -- I had no idea there were 28 now, wow!
Glad you liked the book!
I consider SAM to be somewhat of a mix between a "hard magic" epic fantasy novel and something in the LitRPG genre. As such, I'd recommend taking a look at options within both genres.
There are some good suggestions here already. I'll second Threadbare, Mother of Learning, and Will Wight's Cradle series. Those are all excellent choices.
If you're looking for more hard magic fantasy books, I recommend the following:
If you want to try some other LitRPG books, I'd recommend the following:
In terms of published Western LitRPGs, I'd say Ascend Online is my favorite. The central protagonist isn't a complete psychopath like a lot of LitRPG protagonists, and he immediately starts treating the highly intelligent AI NPCs as people. That's a huge selling point for me, since it's so rare to see LitRPG protagonists that are friendly to NPCs.
Also, rather than immediately jumping into save the world stuff, it's reasonably paced. The main character doesn't start out with any crazy game breaking abilities, and the setting itself feels largely realistic - it feels very similar to a futuristic version of Everquest.
In terms of non-Western LitRPGs, Log Horizon is my favorite. The author has clearly played MMORPGs, and the tactics used in there - both by the main character and other characters - feel like the types of things real people would do in a MMO setting. Once again, the main character also takes NPCs seriously and treats them well, which is a big plus for me. Shiroe for Log Horizon is probably the closest character I've seen to someone with my own background in a book.
I also love I'm a Spider, So What?, which is a hilarious story about a girl who gets reincarnated into an RPG setting as a tiny spider monster. Fortunately, she can grind to get stronger! It's a bit of a strange one, but tons of fun. Note that this one is not strictly going into a VR game - they're just reincarnated in a world with RPG stats. It's a little different, but similar.
If you want a character that's actively looking for bugs and exploits, I'd recommend Kono Sekai ga Game da to Ore dake ga Shitteiru. I enjoyed the first book a ton. The second book started getting into tropes I didn’t enjoy quite as much.
One of my other recent favorites is The Tutorial is Too Hard, which focuses on a main character transported into a dungeon on “Hell” difficulty that needs to make his way through to the top floor. We see a lot of his analytical process, which gives it a somewhat similar feel to Sufficiently Advanced Magic.
Here is a few:
Starship Troopers - the book, not the movie
https://www.amazon.com/Starship-Troopers-Robert-Heinlein/dp/0441783589/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522947608&sr=1-1&keywords=starship+troopers
Man's Search for Meaning
https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522947637&sr=1-1&keywords=mans+search+for+meaning
Sapiens
https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316117/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522947665&sr=1-3&keywords=sapiens+a+brief+history+of+humankind
12 rules for life an antidote to chaos
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=12+rules+for+life+an+antidote+to+chaos&sprefix=12+rules%2Cstripbooks%2C199&crid=1I6JP76TCR7PC
First books that come to mind:
No Mistborn? Bookit: ಠ_ಠ
Allow me to fix that.
Mistborn Trilogy:
Highly Recommended!
The commonly accepted pronunciation, as determined by the creator of the Forgotten Realms is like now or cow or prow.
EDIT
This pronunciation may be specific to the Realms, or universal to all planes.
Source: This super awesome book I got in the reddit Fantasy exchange.
The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game
The Wheel of Time: Prophecies of the Dragon
A landscape, three-panel, customizable screen (this one) filled with this excellent three-page cheat sheet. All the other stuff - tables, random NPC names, campaign-specific stuff - I keep in my binder.
Edit: Uh, whoops. Fixed the link to the DM screen. Here's the link to the stir fry recipe. I haven't tried it yet but most recipes from that site are really good. Will report back.
Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn. It's where I started, and in my opinion some of the best published. What it did better than anything else was capture the adventure and excitement of the star wars movies. It also introduces a good number of characters that you will end up reading about later if you continue to read the books. After that you can read Kevin J. Anderson's trilogy, and then start picking up the singles, like Truce at Bakura, Courtship of Princess Leia, the one with the jedi hutt and luke has a girlfriend ghost. If you decide to skip all those and only read the Thrawn books also read the Thrawn duology which ties up a lot of the stuff from the trilogy that is left open. It isn't left open in a bad way, there is just more stuff that could happen. You will eventually get to the New Jedi Order stuff and then everything else that happened after that, but that is beyond the scope of my recommendations. Also, the links are for the first books, I figure you can figure out the sequels if you end up buying the first books. Also, you can get them for like a dollar at your used book store so don't get them from amazon.
edit: Also, if you have any questions feel free to ask, I read all of the books published by bantam as a child and half the new jedi order series before I gave up and started reading "real" science fiction. Don't take that the wrong way, I enjoyed the star wars books, sometimes one just needs to diversify! I should re-read the thrawn trilogy. :-D
MHI is part of Baen's free library. There's a large number of book 1's for various Baen series that remain free permanently on Amazon and other places.
----
The last time this was brought up here's what I said:
So Baen is heavier on SciFi than Fantasy/Urban Fantasy...and their authors tend to display their Conservative/Libertarian philosophies a bit more. But they do tell some fun stories if you lean towards their politics or can roll your eyes at that.
There's some others out there that I can't think of, but these are favorites of mine other than MHI...
John Ringo has a fantasy series I haven't gotten to yet and the weakest of his SciFi series up for free. I wish they had Live Free or Die or Through the Looking Glass, which are much much better series, but alas:
http://www.amazon.com/Hymn-Before-Battle-Legacy-Aldenata-ebook/dp/B00BEQP50Y/ref=la_B000APPSXE_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456879886&sr=1-1&refinements=p_82%3AB000APPSXE
http://www.amazon.com/There-Will-Dragons-Council-Wars-ebook/dp/B00BER04VI/ref=la_B000APPSXE_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456879886&sr=1-2&refinements=p_82%3AB000APPSXE
David Weber does great space navy battles in his Honor Harrington series.
http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-Book-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0/ref=la_B000APBAFE_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456879923&sr=1-1&refinements=p_82%3AB000APBAFE
Williamsons Freehold is a Libertarian's utopian heaven, but it's a favorite popcorn read of mine - the latter half is heavy military SF.
http://www.amazon.com/Freehold-Book-Michael-Z-Williamson-ebook/dp/B00BEQLTZY/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456879862&sr=8-1&keywords=freehold
The Ring of Fire series is about a 1990's era West Virginia coal mining town that gets thrown back into the year 1632 in Europe.
http://www.amazon.com/1632-Ring-Fire-Eric-Flint-ebook/dp/B00BEQLQNE/ref=sr_1_4_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1456882709&sr=8-4&keywords=1632
Kinda in order. Keep in mind I don't read the translated Asian novels because most of the translations are hot garbage and I just can't get used to those.
Cradle from Will Wight- Excellent writing and plotline, it's what got me into this subreddit in the first place. No need to say any more, this is a stable of the sub.
Mother of Learning from Domagoj Kurmaic- Also really solid, the story is a few months away from finishing, highly recommend.
Metaworld Chronicles from Wutosama- The author took a generic isekai plotline and twisted it. The writing might not be completely as good as the others, but probably competing for personal enjoyment right up there with Cradle. It's not as popular as the others, but read the first few chapters and give it a shot if you want.
Arcane Ascension from Andrew Rowe- Very solid too, but slightly inferior to Cradle imo. Probably because I read Cradle first. Honestly, the book is quite forgettable since I don't remember the plotline, but I still remember it being good.
The Traveler's Gate Trilogy from Will Wight- It gets really wordy at times, and I get confused by the plot sometimes because I get impatient and my eyes skip a few lines or so. Still solid, but the weakest one out of the ones I've read.
I should have seen this coming, but I'm ashamed to admit that it took me way too long to figure out what you were asking for.
Book 1: House of Blades
I'm a fan of the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. I would love to see a movie made from these books.
Lets include more nonsense in this pointless debate.
4e D&D outsells Pathfinder!
4e Amazon Sales Rank: #4,549
Pathfinder Amazon Sales Rank: #14,423
Lets all just play the game you enjoy. Who cares which sells better.
Steven Erikson - Malazan Book of the Fallen
Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn
Brandon Sanderson - The Stormlight Archive
Peter Brett - The Demon Cycle
R. Scott Bakker - The Second Apocalypse
Joe Abercrombie - The First Law
Scott Lynch - The Gentleman Bastard
Patrick Rothfuss - The Kingkiller Chronicle
All excellent. Some slightly more excellent than others.
http://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Picnic-Rediscovered-Classics-Strugatsky/dp/1613743416 It seems be available on Amazon ('Olena Bormashenko: Translator')
Amazon will gladly sell it to you. The paperback version is $7.88, and the Kindle version (which you can read on any computer or mobile phone, not just a dedicated hardware reader) is $7.49.
Kylar, Durzo, Dorian, Solon, Feir, Logan, Lantano, Viridiana, Elene...so many characters that I absolutely fell in love with from the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.
Also right now I decided to start reading some Warhammer books i've had sitting on my shelf. Am almost done with the first book in the Eisenhorn omnibus and it is amazing. I never knew how badass an imperial inquisitor is! I can't wait to read the next Inquisitor trilogy by Dan Abnett, "Ravenor"
On Basilisk Station
(Honor Harrington, Book 1) by David Weber is only $1.99 if you pick up the free Kindle version first and then add narration.
Anyone have any book recommendations for a 26 year old? No topic in particular, not necessarily financial/business or otherwise, just any suggestions?
I'm currently reading:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Be-Wrong-Mathematical/dp/0143127535
I'm not far into it, but it's basically on how to properly apply mathematics and logic to problem-solving. It's not exactly a new strategy for life or anything, but it's probably a good idea to read if you're analytical. I got it off Bill Gates reading list.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statistics-Darrell-Huff/dp/0393310728
Found through the reading list- This one I've finished and can't recommend enough. It's from the 50's and it's intended reader were investment bankers. The main suggestion is hide yourself from bad information because you can't eliminate the impact it'll have on your decision making, and we aren't exactly equipped to know what's good or bad if we don't have experience in that realm already. It's a lot of common stuff people use stats for to push a product service policy etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Starship-Troopers-Robert-Heinlein/dp/0441783589/
I'm really into it. I love sci-fi. I don't necessarily love philosophy, but I'm really enjoying this book. It's hard for me to read a lot of at once but I don't ever want to put it down. The mindset of the character and narration really gets me. Since reading this, I've heard or noticed many many recommendations for Heinlein, though I'm unsure. He seems to be a proponent of fascism, but I guess he could just be writing down the fantasy of the particular fascist society he created and not necessarily saying "ya know this is how we should be" I don't know. I see conflicting things.
Okay so I think this might meet most of your criteria but it is two books that totals about 800 pages (I think - I'd have to run down to my bookshelf and check but I'm lazy). So it's a short read but I've read both books 3 times over and I always enjoy it. So here they are:
Book 1: The Mote in God's Eye
Book 2: The Gripping Hand
1.) The Eye of The World - by Robert Jordan (and subsequent novels)
2.) 9.8/10
3.) High Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction
4.) This is the first book of a 14 book series called the Wheel of Time. The story follows a young man named Rand Al'Thor and his friends. He is absconded away from his home by a mysterious woman and a wonderful adventure comes from it. The series contains the most complex magic system I have ever read and it is always exciting. You will find yourself thinking about how you would use the magic if you had it. The Wheel of Time is one of the most critically acclaimed fantasy series of all time. You are doing yourself a disservice to not fall into this world that Robert Jordan crafts. I do it no justice, and I cannot recommend it more.
5.) http://www.amazon.com/The-World-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812511816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375429878&sr=8-1&keywords=The+eye+of+the+world
The first hit is free:
https://www.baen.com/monster-hunter-international.html / https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ/
I've tried three times, and never made it more than 25 pages in. And there's a telepathic cat, for Pete's sake. That's the litmus test right there. If you're the type of person who thinks a telepathic cat would be a horrible thing to include in a book, this series is not for you.
The writing is mediocre; it's kid's stuff. The first few books are free at Tor, but you should be able to tell if this is for you in a few pages via Amazon preview.
You talked to the right guy! If you want an awesome point of view and introduction (or just great stories if you are already a fan) to the Warhammer 40k universe I suggest you read the following in the order I put them:
Eisenhorn Omnibus
Ravenor Omnibus
The Emperor's Gift
All these are intertwined, there is another trilogy to follow up Eisenhorn and Ravenor but only the first book has been release for that so far. The Eisenhorn Trilogy are three of my favorite books and I read from many, many sources outside of WH40k
He has one out for Tal'dorei which is the setting for campaign 1.
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840
This may be a weird recommendation, but Altered Carbon. It's also cyberpunk, but a bit more violent. Looks at concepts of identity in a world where backing your brain up is easy, but bodies are expensive.
For anyone here who may be trying to cope, buy a book.
https://www.amazon.com/Eye-World-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812511816
Or listen to it
https://www.audible.com/series/Wheel-of-Time-Audiobooks/B005NB81EI
A fair metaphor is that The Wheel of Time is post doctorate level quality vs kindergarten level GOT, except for the ridiculous gratuitous sex.
> The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legends fade to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the third age by some, an Age yet to come, an age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
The series beginning with Altered Carbon is next on my to-read list. It might be worth a look for you.
I would check out The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. It starts out historical moves forward into sci-fi and then goes backwards to historical again. It's hard to explain but it is a very rewarding read and one I pick up periodically just to reread again.
I also liked Girl In Landscape by Jonathon Lethem and Dune by Frank Herbert a lot and both have been good rereads.
Oh! And The Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling which I inhaled.
Read the book.
Although it'll make you hate the movie. A lot like I Am Legend, World War Z, and countless other movies pretty much pissed on the book.
Edit: Why the downvotes, guys? Anyone who's read and seen any of those book/movie pairs knows exactly what I'm talking about. They're nothing alike.
The Strike at Shayol Ghul details Lews Therins attempt to shut the bore.
Speaking of the Strike at Shayol Ghul, there is The World of Robert Jordan's a Wheel of Time also known affectionetly as the Big White Book (BWB) or Big Book of Bad Art (BBBA). It delves into a lot about cultures, features write ups of each forsaken, pokes fun at the covers and includes the entire text of Strike.
There was a short story called New Spring included in Robert Silverberg's Legends, this was later expanded into the novella New Spring
The short story about Bao is not considered connanical and is included in the short story collection Unfettered
Eye of the world was re-released for a YA market in two parts with a new prologue Ravens
The Interview Database, just click a topic that looks intresting and prepare to lose a day or two
The Wheel of Time FAQ back in the mists of time (late 90's early aughts) this was the best resource for all things WoT related. It hasn't been significantly updated since about book 10 (i mean, yes there were updates, but nothing on the scale and detail that it used to get). Gives great insight into what the fandom was pulling its hair out about during the two years+ between books. Also, some of the info is evergreen like historical references etc.
There was a terrible video game that has almost zero to do with the series.
There was a d20 based D&D rule set released and a adventure that explained how Taim got to Rand in time to rescue himat Dumai's Wells. RJ later came out and said that this was completely made up by the authors of the module and had nothing to do with the series, which was a BIG clue about Taim's allegiance.
I feel like im missing something, but I can't put my finger on it, so I will leave you with a random fact that you should know
Tar Valon is a vagina
There is a D20 Wheel of Time game you could start from if you wanted.
Someone gave converting the D20 WoT game to Pathfinder a go. I can't really speak to the conversions quality though, I haven't messed with it.
Very nice don't forget about [this.] (https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965) One of the few items I have never had both the money and availability to buy myself.
Will post, then add links later...
How much do you want to spend?
I mean, you could buy him the authentic Wooly Mammoth Tusk dice... (WAAAAY expensive... a full set runs over $2100) or maybe a nice set of stone or metal dice... (Much more affordable. The Metal dice can be had for under $50, sometimes as low as half that) Or like another poster said: Hero Forge gift vouchers are good. But if he's mostly a DM, he might not need a character like a player would.
Another idea is a really nice dice bag. Something tasteful and made out of a premium material. Leather and Chain Mail are both popular.
Another thing he might appreciate as a DM is a customizable DM screen. https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Customizable-Screen-S2P10002/dp/1930855591 I love mine because I can put whatever info that I want in it.
Other than that, a top notch mechanical pencil is always appreciated by me. Or maybe a really nice gear bag. I personally use the convention bag of holding from Thinkgeek, but they also have some nicer ones that hold more stuff... Those can run from $45 on up to about $129 depending on what you want.
I hope something in this grab bag has helped!
The link for those interested.
For initiative tracking, Improved Initiative and Kobold Fight Club are great resources. They do initative, round number, HP, AC, everything at a quick glance. They work on mobile, though I would suggest using either a tablet or laptop.
Another thing I did was simply have all the characters and monsters written on small pieces of paper and I would hand those on my DM screen. The page on the left is whose turn it is, after they go I just move it to the right.
It's really good to have something physical and simple. For something really nice and useful, you could pick up the Paizo Combat Pad is fantastic, or you can be cheap like me and get a magnetic whiteboard and some permanent markers to make the lines.
For your questions, it all comes down to how the other guy put it. How detailed do you want to be. In Q2 you mentioned not being able to carry a loaded crossbow, but loading isn't part of the action, its part of the attack, meaning that it doesn't really matter in gameplay terms, just in terms of how descriptive you want to be.
As for loot. LMoP is where I started as well, and it's great. I do suggest to try and not use it like "This is how the adventure is" and rather as a guide for how you could run the adventure. Add your own flare to it. The book might not be saying that the goblins have loot on them, but if you want them to have a couple coppers, or maybe they kept some gold when they ambushed Gundren and Sildar, there's nothing wrong with that. At the same time, if you don't think these guys would have anything on them, then they don't.
I am also a relatively new DM who's gone through many of the things I'm sure you will, and quite recently. If you have any questions about LMoP, basic rules, or just looking for suggestions, feel free to send me a DM. Good luck!
I tried out Eisenhorn after seeing the badass cover art, and did not regret it. If you liked Gaunt's Ghosts, this is going to be candy for you.
OK, so your mother reminds me so much of Joyful.
Go on you all for taking the threat seriously and acting on it!
Many many hugs from Scotland if you would like them.
And finally, and a fellow lover of Sci-fi I would like to suggest that you check out this online, self published 'book'. There are some clunky bits, and a few bits where an editor could have pulled it together. But in terms of storyline, character progression and universe creation it is one of the better sci-fi books I have read in a long while.
(I have turned them into kindle files, if you want me to send them to you throw me a PM)
Oh and the Honor Harrington series by David Webber.
Best place to start is the Timothy Zahn series. It picks up shortly after Return of the Jedi and is some of the best writing you'll find. It has possibly the best villain in the Star Wars universe hands down, I found myself hoping the bad guys would win about halfway through.
https://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124
The Timothy Zahn books are really good. You can get all 3 on Amazon for about 23 bucks: http://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259835520&sr=8-1
Tales from Jabba's Palace was entertaining. My Mom got me the Millennium Falcon novel last Christmas, it was pretty interesting.
The New Jedi Order was good, but I stopped about 5-6 books into it. I read the summary on Wiki/Wookiepedia, and it sounds like they kind of jumped the shark. I might try to finish it up eventually though.
In all honesty, the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings are pretty tough to get into, since they are practically the ur-examples of fantasy, written back when a lot of commercial fiction methodology was still being developed.
When i read a book, I worry first and foremost if I'm entertained, if I am, I'll give it my recommendation, regardless of the flaws. These are the ones I think you'd find best for jumping in with.
YA/Middle Grade Books
Fantasy
Discworld by Terry Pratchet (I'd recommend not starting at the beginning.)
Sci-Fi
Urban Fantasy
Thrillers/Suspense
The description says it's Mistborn, which in the US is the title. The subtitle The Final Empire is not found on the mass paperback, only the first edition cover.
https://www.amazon.com/Mistborn-Final-Empire-Book-No/dp/0765350386
Perhaps the old official roleplaying game can give you pointers?
Dune series is amazing. My favorite series of all time. Deals with so many political, ecology, and philosophical issues and spans so much time.
The Unincorporated Man is a very very interesting read. Deals with a minarchist society that rose after the economic collapse of civilization due to virtual reality. The protagonist ultimately takes the view that the way the society is setup is akin to slavery, since most people in it sell a majority share in themselves (individuals can sell stock in themselves or buy stock in others. The only 'tax' is that the government is assigned 5% stock in everyone at birth but can't sell or buy any), then start getting told what to do by their shareholders. Brings up some interesting questions on just how far should contracts be enforced and such. I haven't read the sequels yet so I'm not sure where the authors take the story after the first one.
The Mote in God's Eye also features a solar sail ship powered by giant lasers.
https://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926
The concept is called a photonic laser thruster by scientists and engineers I'd you want to look up more about systems from a real world point of view.
Another different take: http://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926. It's a first-contact book with a military side, but with a twist.
I'd also add "The Mote in God's Eye" to that list (along with it's sequel.)
Edit: Also Hamilton's other space opera, the "Night's Dawn" trilogy.
And of course the follow-up trilogy to Pandora's Star, The Void series, but I consider that part of the same story as Pandora's Star.
While not the easiest option for a new person to break in with, I would put forth Candlekeep as a rambling goldmine as regarding a deeper exploration of Realms information.
http://www.forum.candlekeep.com/
One resource that should also still be relevant is "Ed Greenwood presents Elminister's Forgotten Realms" as it is mostly snippets and bits of information regarding customs and daily life in Faerun.
Here you go: Savage Worlds Customizable GM Screen https://www.amazon.com/dp/1930855591/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7fDTzb7MQEC91
Matt Colville's first couple videos in this series will be incredibly helpful, I think. He's focused on DMing.
If your more interested as a player and not a DM (though, one of your friends is gonna have to step up and do it), Colville has a video for that, too.
Bare minimum is buy dice, but getting the players handbook (PHB) is also great, though you can wait and see if you enjoy your first session before you buy it since they post the basic rules online for free.
Here is the SRD (free rules) in website form.
Here is the "official" PDF.
Also, if you really dig critical role, Matt Mercer put out a campaign book for the world. Whoever is gonna DM could buy this and run a game in the same setting.
Much of this is gone over in some detail here: https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1K8RUHNMY23GD&keywords=tal%27dorei+campaign+guide&qid=1574369485&sprefix=tal%27d%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-3
However, there's not much about Wildemount, specifically.
OP you should read this How To book before heading out.
https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ
Just in case. Cause that sure as hell looks like a coffin.
Sample.
The Course of Empire (Course of Empire Series Book 1) by Eric Flint
1632 (Ring of Fire Series) by Eric Flint
Northworld Trilogy by David Drake
Starliner by David Drake
Star Soldiers by Adre Norton
Oath of Swords (War God Book 1) by David Weber
On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington Book 1) by David Weber
The Honor of the Queen (Honor Harrington Book 2) by David Weber
The Star Agency (The Star Agency Chronicles Book 1) by R.E. Weber
The Last Praetorian (The Redemption Trilogy Book 1) by Mike Smith
Hard Duty: Merkiaari Wars Book 1 by Mark E. Cooper
The Synchronicity War Part 1 by Dietmar Wehr
Dark Space by Jasper T. Scott
The Tank Lords by David Drake
Redliners by David Drake
A Desert Called Peace (Carrera Series Book 1) by Tom Kratman
Gunship by John Davis
With the Lightnings (Lt. Leary Book 1) by David Drake
Tales of Honor #1 by Matt Hawkins and Jung-Geun Yoon
The Fringe Worlds: (The Human Chronicles Saga Book #1) by T.R. Harris
Freehold (Freehold Series Book 1) by Michael Z. Williamson
The Last Roman (The Praetorian Series Book 1) by Edward Crichton
The Sea Hag by David Drake
Forbidden The Stars (The Interstellar Age Book 1) by Valmore Daniels
FCBD 2015: Tales of Honor by Matt Hawkins and Linda Sejic
The Philosophical Strangler (Joe's World Book 1) by Eric Flint
The Creatures of Man by Howard L. Myers
In the Heart of Darkness (Belisarius Saga Book 2) by Eric Flint
Northworld Trilogy by David Drake
Starliner by David Drake
I'd recommend giving Will Wight a try. His stuff reminds me of early Sanderson. It's definitely not very polished yet, but it's innovative, you can see his improvement as a writer, and he's trying new things. His first series is called Traveler's Gate; it's a really fun read. First book is available here.
He's currently working on two parallel series set in a different world with dueling protagonists. It's interesting because they just ooze potential- they're good books right now, but while reading them you can just tell that he's going to be huge within the next 10 years.
Attention A New Bulletin From The Terran Federation
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Have you graduated high school?
Do you want to be somebody and do something?
Well then join the Mobile Infantry today and prove you have what it takes to be a citizen.
The Federation needs young men and women like you to help take our fight to the bugs.
Service Guarantees Citizenship.
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Definitely watch the movies first.
As to books, The Thrawn Trilogy is my personal favorite Star Wars book series. It's set about 5 years after Return of the Jedi. Luke is a Jedi trying to figure out what that means and one of my favorite villains in pop fiction is the antagonist.
The Jedi Academy is another great Star Wars trilogy. Pretty much anything by Kevin J. Anderson in the old Star Wars cannon is great.
When you're tired of reading about Luke, check out the Darth Bane trilogy. It's a look at how the Sith came to be the baddies they are today.
The Ender sequels (Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind) and The Mote in God's Eye all have a lot of soft science. This is probably true for a lot of stories involving first contact.
Edit - Snow Crash deals a lot with linguistics as well.
Helpful term for you: bildungsroman, which is the "making of the man," and is often applied to training the hero stories.
Some fantasy bildungsromans you haven't named:
No Wheel of Time RPG, 8/10. Just kidding nice collection. Mine is mixed between physical and ebooks and still feels a bit incomplete.
The Wheel of Time already has a RPG, based on D&D 3.0 rules:
The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game
Additionally, there was one supplement:
Prophecies of the Dragon
It wouldn't take a lot of work to update that to D&D 3.5, or first edition Pathfinder (aka 3.75), and there's guides to update from first edition to the new second edition, so put in a night's work and you'd be able to play that with a current rules set, if you wished.
Hope that helps!
The 2e Boxed set campaign guide does a great job of this... if you can find it on ebay, amazon or "elsewhere"
http://amzn.com/B00H80XPBG
if you are looking to add flavor definately check out this book
Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms
http://amzn.com/0786960345
It may ruin a bit of the nostalgia, but Pathfinder might be of interest to you. The game is, at its core, identical to 3.5e, but with minor improvements throughout. It does lose the D&D name, but retains more of the flavour than 4e did. Plus, you can get it new, and you don't need to buy a Dungeon Master's Guide, as all that info is in the core rulebook! Neato!
Most of it is in the Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide, so posting any of it online would be piracy. I can still provide what I think may be a complete list, with sources, if that helps.
***
***
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The campaign setting also has five character backgrounds, nine feats, a bunch of magic items, and optional rules.
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It's why I like Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia. Monsters exist. People get paid to kill them. It's a pretty good time.
Pathfinder core rulebook or Dnd 5th edition player's handbook
And then some dice
Yes, and that's the easiest way.
Of course if you want to jump in the deep end, all you need is the core rulebook, the beastiary, and a set of dice.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook/dp/1601251505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269579875&sr=8-1
I always found this to be the biggest problem with tabletop gaming. It's just SO EXPENSIVE. I was just in a game store last weekend and everything was $40 at minimum it seemed like. I would buy a ton of the books if they were in the $10-$20 range, but there's only so much I can afford. Same goes for board games, I want the Settlers of Catan expansions, but I'm not paying $43+tax for them.
Well this got a lot more attention than I expected. Quick list of everything in use - 1) TV1 = GH Track Android App for monster health and conditions, 2) TV2 = Gloomy Companion for monster ability cards, both are cast via chrome cast, 3) [Duchess Gaming Table] (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1296268806/the-duchess-a-gaming-table-from-boardgametablescom), 4) painted minis from /u/PintsizedProdigies, 5) Uberstax for the card holders, 6) 3-ring binder with fully sleeved items and ability cards, 7) Boye Knit Tally Counters for health and exp tracking, 8)Pathfinder Combat Pad for tracking initiative and 9) expanding accordion folder for organizing and storing map tiles. Think that's it. And I bought this house somewhat for this room, sunroom with 7 sliding glass doors.
Artisan DiceCould give better suggestions if I knew your budget
S.T.A.L.K.E.R is loosely based on Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's 1972 Scifi novel Roadside Picnic and Andrei Tarkovsky's art house film Stalker, which itself is based on Roadside Picnic and shares its name with the game series. There is an English translation of the book available and the movie is available with English subtitles.
I would recommend looking into both of them. I found the novel very interesting, especially because it was written under the USSR. The film is also very good, but definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea.
Nice. By the way, if anyone is looking for a screen, I use this one. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930855591/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
These print-outs will fit in it perfectly.
Savage Worlds Customizable GM Screen
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930855591/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Not in any particular order.
Monster Hunters International by Larry Correia is a good book. The size of the book may be a little off-putting if you’re just starting out, but it’s a fast read. It also opens with “On one otherwise normal Tuesday evening I had the chance to live the American dream. I was able to throw my incompetent jackass of a boss from a fourteenth-story window.” which is an attention grabber. And it had tons of monsters, guns, and humor.
I just started Monster Hunters by Larry Correia--I'm less than halfway, so it's too early to give it a complete review, but so far, I'm enjoying it--not perfect, but a fun first in a series. It definitely reminds me of DF, but the protagonist is a normal human. Lots of monster fights. It's nice and long, and if you have a Kindle or Kindle app, you can get it free: http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452481390&sr=8-1&keywords=monster+hunters+correia
Are you limiting it to just these categories? Because the publisher Baen has a lot of its first- in- a-series books for free - for example:
Monster Hunters International by Larry Correia
House of Blades
I am not sure about any Canadian Forces specific books. But some standard military officer books that in my mind are good to read about leadership and wisdom would be:
(http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Little-Things-Difference/dp/0316346624/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342986110&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Tipping+Point+by+Malcolm+Gladwell)
Absolutely I have a better solution.
SERVICE GUARANTEES CITIZENSHIP
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If you're interested in the the story behind the prequel movies, Darth Plagueis is an excellent book that fills in some of the plot holes from those movies. If you're interested in post-RotJ, I'd recommend starting with the Thrawn trilogy.
You've likely read most of these, but here are a few suggestions:
I can recommend others if you've already hit all of those already.
there's also "The Mote in God's Eye "
http://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300456314&sr=1-5
May i add suggest a mote in gods eye
https://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926/ref=nodl_
The Mote In God's Eye is one of my favourite sci-fi, first contact, deep space war novels.
You mean like this?
Based on the very real copyright battles going on with WoT, you may want to tread carefully when a product has already been created. Admittedly, the D&D system did not translate well for WoT the official RPG, but you could still get trampled over rights usage.
Get this book, whatever you do. It's both a great resource and a great read. It's rules neutral and is mainly a lore thing but you'll learn more from it than really any other book that I know of, short of reading a whole bunch of the novels.
Not a novel, but Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms is a great resource for Life and Trade in the realms, including information about slave trade. I don't have my copy handy right now, but I think there's a few pages of information about it in there. Overall just a great book to own when playing in the Realms.
Pathfinder core rulebook, $49.99 at release (see the list price entry).
http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook/dp/1601251505
Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan
It's a sci-fi detective mystery, very good, and there are two other books in the series as well.
The Takeshi Kovacs trilogy by Richard K Morgan was pretty great. Last good scifi I read.
http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Carbon-Takeshi-Kovacs-Novels/dp/0345457692/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240608120&sr=8-2
Most of the characters in The Windup Girl are Thai or Chinese.
The Left Hand of Darkness messes around with gender in interesting ways. (Also, Ursula K. Leguin is an all-around fantastic author.)
Robert Heinlein can be a controversial author, but many of his works had non-white protagonists. Manuel Garcia O'Kelly-Davis from The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress is multiracial, and Johnny Rico from Starship Troopers is Filipino, if I recall correctly.
Someone else in this thread recommended The Brief But Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, and it's not exactly SFF (more in the vein of magical realism) but it is easily one of the best books I've ever read.
Aw! <3
Like, what books I'd recommend, or just....stuff to do underway that would be in the self-improvement area? The big two that jump out as underway activities are always "save money, and work out."
What platform are you floating on?
So the first thing I do with all my proteges is I hand them the grading sheet for Sailor of the Year/Quarter and a blank evaluation, and I ask them to grade themselves. Not everyone wants to be, or needs to be, Sailor of the Year or a 5.0 sailor, but if that's the standard the Navy has set as "the best," then at least we have a guideline of what we should be working toward, right?
One thing that was pretty big at my last command was the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Instruction here. One thing that is a really easy way to gain community service hours while underway is to make blankets for the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society's "Budgeting For Baby" class. You can crochet (that's incredibly easy, I promise) or you can google one of the thousand DIY no-sew blanket tutorials. If you belong to a Bluejacket Association or Enlisted Association or whatever, you may be able to get them to fund the cost of buying the material...or even ask the FCPOA if they'll give $50 to the cause. You can head over to Jo-Ann's or Fabric.com and check out their discount sections too. NMCRS offers 30 hours per blanket. Taking an hour out of your Holiday Routine for the entire float.....most of the DIY no-sew blankets only take an hour or two to make, sooooo. Collect those hours. Add in a COMREL or two, and there's no reason you can't end a float with over a hundred hours of community service. This is particularly great if you have a friend or two to make blankets with you....snag one of the TVs on the messdecks and watch a movie while you crochet. You can also contact a local homeless shelter and see if they need hats and crochet hats for them. Obviously not a good suggestion if you're stuck underway on a submarine with no space, but if you're surface side--good to go.
Books I'd suggest, well, hm, this could get out of control pretty fast, but off the top of my head:
The Thrawn Trilogy:
The Hand of Thrawn duology:
Fellow fan of series here! Let me see...
Young Adult
Percy Jackson series is fun (and finished, too, I think).
Artemis Fowl series isn't quite as good as Percy Jackson IMHO, but it's got a following.
Fantasy
Harry Dresden series This is one of my favorites. Harry is Chicago's only professional wizard. There are a ton of these books and they are still going strong.
Game of Thrones These are great...but unfinished. If you watch the show, reading the books does help you get even more out of the story, I think.
Wheel of Time Another good series. There is a LOT of this series and it's finished. (Thank you, Brandon Sanderson!)
Mistborn Speaking of Brandon Sanderson... This one is very good. I highly recommend reading the Mistborn books before trying the Stormlight Archive, but only because as good as Mistborn is, Stormlight Archive is even better.
Stormlight Archive Amazing. Man, these are good. The series isn't finished, but the two books that are available are some of my favorites ever.
Kingkiller Chronicles I loved the first book. I could not freakin' believe I enjoyed the second one even more. The third one is still pending.
Temeraire Dragons in Napoleonic times. Super cool premise! This one is not finished (I don't think, anyway).
Gentlemen Bastards Con men in a fantasy realm. It's pretty light on the fantasy elements. Very light, I'd say. I'd also say that it has some of the very best swearing that I've ever come across. :D
Scifi
Old Man's War I'm almost finished this one--it's amazing!
Horror/Thriller
Passage Trilogy I've heard these described as vampire books...maybe zombie books... It's apocalyptic for sure. Great books!
Mysteries
Amelia Peabody Egyptology + murder mysteries. Super fun, but trust me...go with the audiobooks for these. They are best when they are performed.
Stephanie Plum Total popcorn reads. If that's your thing, shut off your brain and just enjoy.
Walt Longmire These get particularly good as it goes along. The main character is a sheriff in modern day Wyoming. (Side note: The TV show is also great--just don't expect them to stick to the books.)
Graphic Novels (Everything recommended can be gotten in a "book" format instead of only in comic form, in case that matters. I've gotten most of these from my local library.)
Locke & Key Eerie as crap. Love the art! This one is on-going.
Y: The Last Man All the men on the planet drop dead in a day...except for Yorrick. REALLY good. This is the series that got me reading graphic novels. Plus, it's finished!
Walking Dead I am not a zombie fan...but I like these. They're not done, but I've read up through volume 22 and am still enjoying them.
Other
OutlanderI have no idea how to categorize these or even give a description that does them justice. I refused to pick it up for AGES because it sounded like a bodice-ripper romance and that's not my bag. But these are good!
I hope there's something in there that'll do for you. Have fun and read on!
Edit: Apparently, I need to practice formatting. :/
Edit 2: I forgot to add the Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentlemen Bastards #1).
Here's what you need. It's got NO D&D statistics, it just talks all about the realms - the people, the way they talk, what they wear, their food, some history, etc. It's fantastic and written by Ed Greenwood, the guy who created the Forgotten Realms so many years ago.
http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1409860576&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=forgotten+realms+ed+greenwood
Elminster's Forgotten Realms is pretty good, and it's not tied to any edition.
OP, have a look at http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345
It's by the guy who created the Realms, and it's pretty good, I hear.
My recommendation would be to go pick up some 2nd, 3rd or 4th edition sourcebooks for dirt cheap at Half Price Books or online. The Forgotten Realms sourcebook from 3.5 is what I am currently using, it has a removable foldout map of Faerun, and detailed lists of major sights throughout the realms, including descriptions of the major cities, ruins, etc.
I've heard good things about the Greenwood Forgotten Realms book as well.
You can probably also find sourcebooks specific to Waterdeep, Neverwinter, etc. though I don't know the specific titles.
The point is that generally speaking the edition doesn't matter when it comes to background materials, physical descriptions, major characters, history, politics, factions, maps, etc. It just doesn't. So do yourself a favor and buy this stuff cheap from older editions.
Also, keep in mind that while you are building off of an existing world, and there is something cool about that, the minute you start to play in it it's YOUR world. None of these sourcebooks are going to have every single detail fleshed out, and often will just give you the flavor of a particular city, a few major landmarks, etc. From there on you should create your own landmarks, taverns, interesting characters, history, etc.
This is the book that I use a lot:
http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Campaign-Setting-Dungeons-Roleplaying/dp/0786918365/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1417478819&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=FOrgotten+Realms
Here are more:
http://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345
Neverwinter book:
http://www.amazon.com/Neverwinter-Campaign-Setting-Dungeons-Supplement/dp/0786958146/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1417478789&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=Neverwinter+source+book
Waterdeep book:
http://www.amazon.com/City-Splendors-Waterdeep-Roleplaying-Supplement/dp/0786936932/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1417478895&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Waterdeep
http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Realms-Atlas-Karen-Fonstad/dp/0880388579/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1417478853&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=FOrgotten+Realms
Hope that helps. Also buy 4th edition stuff now if you ever think you want it. Lots of stores are having fire sales moving their 4th ed stuff.
Rocky
Aliens
Bluetooth Headphones
Game of Thrones
Gears of War 4 Collector's Edition
Seven Samurai
Big Trouble In Little China Board Game
VR Headset
Samurai Champloo
Dredd or Dredd
Dead Rising 4
2TB Portable External Hard Drive
Aliens: The Set Photography
The Way of Kings
The Eye of the World
Army Of Darkness
Ash
RoboCop: Trilogy Collection
Cold Steel Tanto Pocket Knife
You should find out which version and/or edition he is using. Then get him a player's handbook in that format. Player's Handbook 5e
There are other RPG formats:
ICRPG
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Core Rulebook
We found this place very handy.
Bud's Place Games
8033 Parkway Dr, Leeds, AL 35094
(205) 699-1066
https://goo.gl/maps/7aYwwxPAQ8M2
http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook/dp/1601251505
576 pages. Nice.
Eisenhorn is for the most part an investigation type driven story with many literary devices and themes of duality. Out of all the books in my Warhammer Library, this one by far is my favorite, mainly because of the wide-array of relatable characters. Anyone with no background knowledge of the Warhammer universe can pick up and read this book. However, if you want something more action packed oriented where the story focuses more on the Emperor and all his Primarchs and how they all fell from grace, start with the Horus Heresy novels.
I'll provide you with links to both books:
Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett: http://www.amazon.com/Eisenhorn-Warhammer-40-000-Omnibus/dp/1844161560
Horus Heresy Book 1: "Horus Rising" by Dan Abnet:http://www.amazon.com/Horus-Rising-Heresy-Dan-Abnett/dp/1849707448/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464468488&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=horus+rising
If you have the time, read Eisenhorn- it's a great introduction the Warhammer 40k universe.
https://www.amazon.com/Eisenhorn-Warhammer-40-000-Omnibus/dp/1844161560
I know it may not be what you're after necessarily, but give the Eisenhorn trilogy by Dan Abnett a go from the Warhammer 40k universe. I actually enjoy it a lot, and it's fairly similar to what you want in being gritty and sci-fi. However, it's also magnitudes darker than Cowboy Bebop. However, Eisenhorn is an Inquisitor - a man tasked with protecting the Imperium from corruption and sedition, and investigating a possible cult that has taken root.
The full trilogy in one omnibus, but you can buy them individually
Individually they're titled Xenos (Book 1), Malleus (2), Hereticus (3)
My screen is actually a vertical four-panel vinyl screen with 8 clear pockets (four on the DM side, four on the player side), so you can slide sheets into each one like so. I usually put in stats for important NPCs, maps, indexes, etc. And since it's clear vinyl, I can mark off used powers with dry erase markers.
Here is a similar one with a horizontal layout.
I use The World's Greatest Screen from Hammerdog Games. A lot of people also use the Savage Worlds screen
I think every DM owes it to themself to customize the content on their screen. Not only does it help you familiarize yourself with the rules, it also lets you tune the information for your gaming group. Here's my homebrew reference for the GM's side of the screen, which has stuff like Skill Challenges (from 4e), my custom Monster Knowledge rules, reference grids for the PC's saves (color-coded so I know which characters are more likely to fail a specific save - it's no fun if nobody gets to experience your beastie's cool gimmick), an expanded Travel Rate chart, and a Random Weather Table.
And here's the Player-facing side, which I've never been totally happy with - Either the font ends up too small for the players at the end of the table to read, or I can't fit the info I want. Oh well.
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840
You could pick the physical copy up from Amazon.com ( link ). It's currently 22$ there; and shipping to Europe is not that expensive there (can only speak for Germany, but I believe shipping rates to the UK should be similar).
I would have liked to order it from Green Ronin directly, but those shipping costs are really prohibitive.
If you haven't already read his works, Will Wight will make all his ebooks free on July 4th on Amazon.
Source
I've seen plenty of recommendations for some of his books on here due to having xianxia elements and I'll definitely take advantage to finally read his books.
Note: you have to be logged in to your Amazon account to "purchase" the ebooks.
***
Edit
"Sale" is now live, to facilitate buying I'll link Will Wight's list of books on his site with a direct link to Amazon and the first book of each series below.
Will Wight
Amazon
Looks like you haven't read "The Kingkiller Chronicles", which is a really popular fantasy series. I really couldn't recommend it highly enough, it's one of my favorites.
Codex Alera is a series by Jim Butcher, the same guy who does the Dresden novels. In the beginning of the series, the most interesting part is probably the somewhat novel way that magic works. I'll won't go into it much, but it's not the same wand-waving type you usually see. I think the story and characters take a book or two to really develop, but by the middle of the series I thought it was really good.
For something a bit less well known, I really like The Traveler's Gate series by Will Wright, an amazon self-published author. The writing itself is what I would call acceptable – you certainly won't find any poetry masquerading as prose, but I think it's probably better than the early Hunger Games stuff, for example. More importantly, it does a good enough job to get the story across, which I thought was really fun to read. (The writing also gets better as the series goes on, as you might expect from a first-time author.) This series is more about the adventure than anything, and I thought that was done really well. It's also like $4 per book, so the investment is small.
Here's some I can recommend:
House of Blades by Will Wight, narrated by Will Wight.
If you're a fan of Sanderson's magic systems or fight sequences, you might like this a lot. It's fast-paced, fun, and turns a few tropes around. I didn't listen to this on audio, but I just checked out the sample and it sounds like the author did a pretty good job narrating himself. The ebook is currently free on Amazon! So if you get the ebook for free, the audiobook should be $2 on Audible.
Forging Divinity by Andrew Rowe, narrated by Nick Podehl.
This is another book similar to Sanderson's style of hard magic systems. (Interestingly enough, Rowe is a huge fan of Will Wight and a regular member of this subreddit). The book is narrated by the same narrator who did the Kingkiller series! Also, this is the first book in what will likely be an extraordinarily epic series, with a magic school spinoff book due to release later this year.
Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds.
This book is and isn't indie/self-published, so I'm not sure if this fits what you are looking for. Sullivan originally self-published this series, and it was later picked up for traditional publication. This is the omnibus containing the first two books (both of which were self-published originally). Both the book and narration are very good, though.
***
A Warrior's Path** by Davis Ashura, narrated by Nick Podehl.
This has a society with a strict caste system, where each caste has their own magical abilities. The story follows a warrior who has to learn to reexamine this caste system and the politics of the warrior's home city. Also, there's a magical god-demon that can control hordes of evil minions.
I'd get him something a bit more intense then he expects, so his boring flights mediocre entertainment is enthralling. He's not a deep fan of any of these authors, I don't believe, but he still wants to be entertained so he keeps grabbing books. Books with a masculine tone. I think it's safe to get something with a bit of zing to it that he's not likely to grab off a prominently displayed shelf and hopfully he's grateful for it when he finishes the book. I've picked two from the best author I know at writting page flipping entertainment with mature and masculine tone that goes in line with his previous Stephen King, John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Dan Brown choices.
Dead Six by Larry Correia Military/mercenary fiction set in modern day, run and gunning, with the slightest hint of Cthulu horror.
That's the one I'd choose for him based on his books so far and for the purpose of keeping him entertained on a flight and taxi rides; however, the book I take on flights and to doctors offices and to DMV hell is
Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia In the first couple pages our main character, a burly and overworked accountant, is attacked by a monster from a B horror movie that shouldn't exist. Our guy has nothing but a pocket knife, a .38 snub nose he's not supposed to have in the building and a million gallons of scared shitless adrenaline to survive a razor clawed tornado of furred rage. The cubicle battle royale is amazing.
The Kindle edition to his first book is free, at least as I type this.
Monster Hunter International (Monster Hunters International Book 1)
You'll need an Amazon account and the Kindle App, but the price is right.
Player of Games is a good book, and it's early enough in the Culture series that Banks hadn't yet realized he made the Minds too powerful and doesn't need the human characters to actually do anything. But it is not military science fiction and I don't think it's similar to The Forever War.
If you're looking for more military sci-fi I can recommend Forging Zero, All You Need is Kill, David Weber's Honor Harrington series, Orphanage...and many more I'm sure. Armor is great and I'm sure you've heard of Starship Troopers.
A note on David Weber, I find his overuse of italics a constant irritation when reading his books. It really helps to get digital copies and run them through calibre to eliminate all the italics first.
The Honorverse series is exactly what you are looking for - start with the first book - On Basilisk Station.
Not quite so militarily focused (more about politics, espionage, and the individual stories of the characters), but also a great read, you might check out The Vorkosigan Saga - start with Shards Of Honor.
It's not fantasy, but David Weber has an amazing series that starts with On Basilisk Station. A strong female lead, a well thought out background, and a lot of math (which he does all of it for you). A hard sci-fi series that's been a treat to read.
Amazon link to the first book
I just grabbed it for free on Amazon
the first two books in honorverse are free on kindle. just started reading them and they are awesome
http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0/ref=sr_1_5_title_1_kin?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376167823&amp;sr=1-5
http://www.amazon.com/The-Honor-Queen-Harrington-ebook/dp/B00BBI9WD6/ref=pd_sim_b_8
Link
Check out /r/UnlimitedBestOF, the best place for Kindle Unlimited recommendations!
Congratulations! Getting a Kindle was one of the best things I've ever done. Check out Will Wight's Traveler's Gate series. Here's the first book, House of Blades
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
I dunno if these will float your boat but you can try:
Traitor - Amazing standalone book set in the starwars universe
Ender's saga - Philosphy, strategy
Dune series - Abstract philosophy, higher concepts
Ringworld - Haven't read it but I've heard it's worth a go. I'm going to start it as soon as I finish the bloody Sword of Truth series.
Hitchhikers - Need I explain?
Depends on what you mean with "epic" I guess.
It's hard to go more epic in SF than Frank Herberts Dune series. The story is complex and has wheels within wheels, the characters are well crafted with their own inner motivations and Frank Herbert was excellent when it came to the craftmanship of writing. There's a reason why the first book in the series gets almost 80% five star ratings at Amazon.
On the downside they can be a bit heavygoing at times, some people get put off by "The God Emperor of Dune" which reads a lot like a 500 page autobiography by the main character. But I loved it.
And as for the "sequels" and "prequels" his son Brian Herbert has written along with Kevin J Anderson I'd leave them alone. Same universe but the characters are written in a reactive way (it seems like they just bounce around like ball in a pinball game) and they keep pulling shit out of their asses when they've written themselves into a corner.
Take a look at the list of past Hugo winners and look for easily accessible ones. A few jump out at me:
Starship Troopers - Robert Heinlein
Dune - Frank Herbert
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Barrayar - Lois McMaster Bujold, or maybe the omnibus Cordelia's Honor
The Diamond Age - Neal Stephenson
Dune
A timeless masterpiece that current sci-fi literature can only aspire to be compared with
> there's a strong case that a lot of the postmodernist bullshit could be easily countered by a strong religious identity
AMEN TO THAT.
> the most optimal balances of personal freedom vs controlling the worst aspects of human behavior
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?
For anyone who enjoyed the movie, the book is also really great.
Also the sequels were just a complete abomination with worse acting, CGI, and completely void of a story.
if you like Sci-Fi at all, do yourself a favor, push the movie out of your mind and read this book.
You should check out Starship Troopers if you haven't yet. I think it was a big influence on the forever war IIRC.
> Fiction is just a mirror of reality for the most part. Many things that happen in fiction don’t even happen here. But as far as pain and sadness. Joy and love, life and death, it’s all real here. Here it’s real. - Lucian Bane
Fiction that mirrors reality and challenges the reader is more of what we need, the books i listed below have shaped my view of the world in a very thought-provoking way.
Other stuff out there, the pop-fiction, the garbage or crack cocaine for the brain is as bad as TV. Hollywood panders to the masses. Did you know Hollywood usually has two different versions for films released in America and Europe? Yep, that's right - Hollywood dumbs down movies for American audiences. Everything in media these days is centered around comic books and video games - the modern day opiates of the masses.
Some notable fiction that should be required reading:
Heir to the Empire is under $5 new right now on Amazon.
I've been buying used from there and from Powells (and a local shop) for a while, though, and the quality is almost always totally fine. Most of the time you spend about $4, shipping included.
The Thrawn trilogy books. If you haven't read them I would strongly urge you to.
1
2
3
Heir to the Empire picks up five years after Return of the Jedi. It has probably been 10 years since I've read those though.
That looks like the comic book adaptation , the novels are still in print for normal paperback prices:
First book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0553296124/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527435281&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=heir+to+the+empire&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51Q-Rpnu3-L&amp;ref=plSrch
back to the beginning
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The Mote in God's Eye has a solar sail ship, at least for a little while :) But it's a great alien world.
Mote in God's Eye by Niven and Pournelle is fantastic.
From Heinlein himself, "Possibly the greatest science fiction novel I have ever read."
http://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926
The Mote in God's Eye
If we were ever to make contact with extra-terrestrial intelligence, I would consider this book required reading for those who had to talk with the aliens. It is a very thought provoking and original take on first contact.
I got Mistborn From My SS. Awesome gift. And a big thanks to Archgoodwin for setting this whole thing up.
I love the Kingkiller Chronicles! Have you read The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson? If you're looking for something to keep you occupied, it's a long book and the beginning of his Stormlight Archive series. The second book just came out Tuesday, and I'm hoping to begin it soon! Another series by Sanderson that I like is the Mistborn trilogy. I also like the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks. In terms of things I've read recently that weren't epic fantasy, I liked The Golem and the Jinni by Helen Wecker, The MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood, NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, and everything by Neil Gaiman.
I'm reading The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel right now, but I'm not loving it.
This sounds more like something from the Final Empire
I would definitely swipe right on this.
On a side note, what is with every woman between the age of 21-33 making a Harry Potter reference on her profile. Every time I read that shit I be like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaghIdSJKvQ
See Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson - https://www.amazon.com/Mistborn-Final-Empire-Book-No/dp/0765350386
http://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Moon-Malazan-Book-Fallen/dp/0765348780
http://www.amazon.com/Hitchhikers-Guide-Galaxy-Douglas-Adams/dp/0345391802/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376093747&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=hitchhikers+guide+to+the+galaxy
http://www.amazon.com/Mistborn-Final-Empire-Book-No/dp/0765350386/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376093807&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=mistborn
http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Front-Book-Dresden-Files/dp/0451457811/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376093895&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=storm+front+jim+butcher
Do you like Fantasy? Try Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy. I can recommend more if you'd like.
Like nick1click said, Douglas Adams is good.
Are there any specific genres you're thinking of?
https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965
FYI, this is a thing that exists, and which I presume is being referred to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0786919965?pc_redir=1398191149&amp;robot_redir=1
The rest of your inquiry, however, is very valid.
That's a great question. Especially since the Realms are constantly changing and in flux. Or at least it seems that way. Coupled with a rich history and meta-story, it can be difficult to really figure out what the hell is going on currently aside from trying to read each and every novel out there. While that's do-able for some, it's not realistic for most.
Probably the best book I can recommend is Elminster's Forgotten Realms. It came out during the end of 4e and while is considered a 4e book, it really isn't. It's actually "edition agnostic," which is just a fancy way of saying that you can use it with any edition of D&D without any hassle. There are no actual stats for stuff within, it's all story stuff. Which is cool. It's like the gazetteers of old.
The only problem with the above is that it came out in 2012, and so its Sundering info is minimal, if it exists at all.
As far as more up to date information, specifically regarding The Sundering, there is the Forgotten Realms Wiki, though I cannot speak to its quality or accuracy.
Good luck and happy gaming.
I quite like my copy of “Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms: A Dungeons &amp; Dragons Supplement”!
I purchased it after WotC announced that the Forgotten Realms would be the default setting for D&D Next/5e. Simply because it’s all fluff and done by the man that created the Forgotten Realms.
OMG, I forgot the fluffiest of flufflements:
I don't have it with me right now but I think that Elminster's Forgotten Realms is probably the best bet for this.
The best general overview of the Realms I've found is Elminster's Forgotten Realms. It's system- and edition-neutral, and talks about many aspects of the Realms, including common festivals, education, literacy, and other elements that explain how this fantasy world is different than others. That said, the 5th Edition Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide gives you more stats and recent history, so it might be the more practical book.
That said, I recommend that you don't try to be completely true to the Realms. There's just far too much history and geography to learn if you want to be accurate. Start small and read up what you can, but feel free to shift things around as you see fit.
Nerd shit coming your way:
The Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
: De longe o meu favorito, recomenda-se vivamente, e se fores fã de macroeconomia... well a premisa do livro baseia se na certeza da previsibilidade de comportamento humano para populações suficientemente grandes.
"The books tell the story of the Foundation, an institute to preserve the best of human civilization after the millenial long collapse of the galactic empire".
https://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0553293354
Use of Weapons, by Ian M Banks : Livro um pouco sobre as consequencias sociais e politicas de uma sociedade utopica com uma economia pós-escassez.
https://www.amazon.com/Use-Weapons-Culture-Iain-Banks/dp/0316030570
The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan
https://www.amazon.com/Eye-World-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812511816
Randland, r/WoT. Do yourself a favor and buy the first book. Then become so absorbed by it that you can't stop talking about it even 6 years after you finished the ^^^^14 ^^^^book series the first ^^^Let ^^^alone ^^^the ^^^third time.
Then realize that the cult following culture of RJ fans has been geeking out about a future Tv show since freaking April.
Amazon has them for cheap! And their shipping isn't too bad, assuming you order from your country's Amazon. So long as they're not shipping overseas, though, it still shouldn't come to too much.
(Edit: http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook/dp/1601251505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1405582330&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Pathfinder&amp;dpPl=1 )
Ah. Yeah, sorry you bought the wrong product if you want to get in to Pathfinder =(
It's not your fault though! There are a ton of products for Pathfinder. If you want to get started in it, I'd suggest getting the Beginner box if you are completely new to tabletop RPGs, or going directly to the Pathfinder Core Rule Book if you feel more confident about it all.
The way the game is played is that you have a party of people (usually 3-5 people) who are role playing as various characters doing their thing in the world, and one more person (the DM, GM, Sotryteller, whatever name you call him) who is the world. He plays all the non-player characters, the monsters, the environment, all of it.
If you have any specific questions, I'm more than happy to answer them!
Either the Pathfinder Beginner Box or the D&D Red Box Starter Set will give you everything you need to start playing a simplified version of the full games, all in one box. Buy it, invite friends over, unwrap the box, start playing.
The rules are written in such a way as to let players get started immediately, but the person running the game (the Dungeon Master or Game Master) will probably want to look through it for a few minutes beforehand.
If you like the tutorials, you might move on to the full games. I like Pathfinder, so I'll focus on that one.
If you want to play the "full" Pathfinder game, you don't need the Beginner Box, instead you need:
All other books you will see listed are optional: they provide more options, more content, more ideas. Don't buy them until you need more. You may never.
You only need one set of books and dice, but having more copies will make life easier. It's totally optional. All of the important Pathfinder content is available for free on the internet in multiple locations, so technically you could skip the books altogether if you needed to. In practice it's nice to have a hard copy.
Also, there are thousands of RPGs out there you could play instead of D&D or Pathfinder, but I would say try them after you've gotten your feet at least slightly wet.
If you're completely new to DnD, I'd go for either DnD 3.5 or Pathfinder. Neal uses an apparently very homebrewed 2nd Edition, so, you're not going to be playing the same game with regular old 2e stuff. It's clunky and aged, and he (presumably) still uses it because it's what he's always used, so he's used to it, and he's ironed out the kinks.
So, yeah, the most recent edition of DnD is 4e, which is commonly considered to be a little bit too dumbed down, but it doesn't really matter that much if you're new. Still, the books are expensive, so you should try to look into the different versions and find out which one sounds like you'd prefer it. 3.5 and Pathfinder are very similar, as Pathfinder is actually based on 3.5 with a couple things done to streamline some of the combat. Also,the art in the books is really pretty (completely superficial, but it's nice,) and you don't have to buy a rule book, player handbook, AND a bestiary, just the core book and a bestiary if you're DMing, so it's like thirty bucks cheaper, AND Pathfinder is backwards compatible with 3.5 books, so... yeah, that's also nice. They also have a DM's guide which is all about how to make and run a game. Pathfinder and 3.5 both have a bunch of ancillary resource books too, like NPC and equipment books. I know Neal has at least one weapons book, but they aren't necessary; they're just extra guidance.
http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Paizo-Combat/dp/1601255470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1397558469&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=combat+pad
It's for pathfinder but in reality you can use it for literally any game you choose.
I feel your pain. I joined this subreddit recently because I had been lurking and because I had been reading threads and picked up Star Wars: Edge of Empires, Numenera, Eclipse Phase, and Delta Green.
https://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Combat-Pad-Paizo-Staff/dp/1601255470
Sadly, I doubt that any of the books have been translated more than once into English. Most of the Strugatskys was published by MacMillan in the 1980s as part of their "Best of Soviet SF" series, many of them by Antonina W. Bouis and with forewords by Theodore Sturgeon. (I think I own all of them except Space Mowgli.) It's possible that this 2004 translation of Far Rainbow has a different translator. Daw and Bantam also did a few paperbacks, notably Snail on the Slope and Hard to be a God — oh, man, that cover.
The situation may change now that Chicago Review Press is coming out with a new translation, with a foreword by Ursula Le Guin. Chicago Review Press is owned by one of the big guys, so if it's successful we might see a proper Strugatsky revival. Weee!
Or we could just learn Russian.
Have you ever seen the movie Stalker, or read the novel it was based on, Roadside Picnic? They were the original source for the CRPG. They are both classics, and well worth the effort.
In March, I read some novels for a change!
Famous Men Who Never Lived, a (I think debut) novel by K Chess. It's a sci-fi novel about being an interdimensional refugee. It was slight, but good while it lasted, and thoughtful. Some guy at a mexican restaurant wanted to know if it was about, like Robin Hood. Don't judge a book by its cover.
The City In The Middle Of The Night, by Charlie Jane Anders. This is a follow-two-people-and-meet-in-the-middle science fiction book set on a planet that doesn't rotate and people are forced to live right on the terminator line. It's got some good horror elements and puts some interesting thought into its setting. The story doesn't go where you think it's going, but you'll like where it goes (probably.)
Roadside Picnic, a classic piece of Russian science fiction, which people are probably more familiar with from the things it inspired, like Tarkovsky's film Stalker, and then the STALKER video games that came from that. Aliens visited our planet, but they didn't notice us. They left their trash behind. Bleak in a very Russian way. Excellent.
One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denosovich, the book that shocked the USSR by not being samizdat. It's a slim little thing but says a lot.
Hostage by Guy Delisle. This is the "unusual one" for Delisle, whose books are little sketches of life - it's a telling of someone else's story. This dude was kidnapped by Chechens and held hostage for about three months in 1997, until he escaped. An excellent and baffling story, with excellent artwork.
I want the Eisenhorn Omnibus for mine.
Any of these three series I recommend as modern-day Lord of the Rings classics
Eisenhorn, books 1-3 of a 9 book series are simply the best books I've ever read - the series is currently on book 7. I recommend Eisenhorn to anyone that just likes to read. Books 4-6 are just as good, called Ravenor, with the 7th book in the series now out, called Pariah.
Another amazing series of books I love are the Old Man's War books, effectively a series of 6 books with some short stories in between and the last book being broken up into thirteen short stories (such was the demand for the books while they were being written). Fantastic, fantastic series - I recommend them to anyone.
I also love and recommend The Dark Tower series, 7 books. They're the only thing written by King that I've liked.
The Eisenhorn Trilogy (easily found at most book stores) is probably the most commonly recommended starting point, and for good reason: It's fantastic writing, and provides most of the knowledge you need as it goes on. If you like that, there is a story about his successor called the Ravenor Trilogy.
You can also pick up any short story collection and follow along mostly without issue.
Reading 40k novels/stories is tricky because the universe has grown almost out of control with characters and places and concepts, but the more you read the more you assimilate the information, and after a while you don't even know how you learned this stuff. But damn if it isn't entertaining sci-fi.
Best of all, for something so heavily involved in war and identity and politics, there is almost zero political agenda, by some miracle. Female characters complement male characters rather than trying to replace them. "Good guys" lose and protagonists die very frequently, giving a nice sense of urgency and importance to each story because -- let's face it -- in almost any sci-fi nowadays the protagonist is going to win because box office. Romance is almost never a theme, and in the rare instance it appears, it has a more powerful effect due to occurring naturally (and sparsely), rather than as part of a formula.
Good stuff all around.
Off mobile, here's a link to the omnibus on Amazon :)
Here's an easy cheap one using 3 ring binders. You could always try something like a menu cover with the two folds and the clear plastic cover so you can slip easy to forget rules or character names or just a picture or something on the outside and all your notes and things on the inside. If you don't want to go that route there's always the Savage Worlds customizable GM screen. Matt Mercer has tips on what to include when you set your DM screen.
The Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting is what you seek!
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840
Hi TerraRising,
As mentioned above, adding Champions to the game that are not already owned by Wizards of the Coast/Dungeons & Dragons requires a lot of moving parts to align just right before it can happen.
The added difficulty with Critical Role is that those characters are also not in the Forgotten Realms. Because the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting is a homebrew creation there are the added complications of introducing characters truly outside the Forgotten Realms, which makes our conversations, design, and approval process with Wizards of the Coast more challenging.
We absolutely love The Mighty Nein, though. We would love to add them to the game!
I’m actually pretty much in the same boat (homebrew Adventure, about to start LMoP, looking for what’s next, the works haha) so I’d love to hear any answers.
That being said, idk if you’ve heard of/are a Fan of Critical Role (D&D campaign on Twitch/YouTube done by voice actors) but they released their campaign as an adventure: Critical Role/Tal’Dorei Campaign I’m getting it either way cuz I’m a fan of the show and will want to probably run this at some point, but I’m still interested in other people’s answers cuz I might not use this one right away.
> his published Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting
It's a book, you can find it on amazon, search for 'tal dorei campaign guide'
If you aren't Familiar with Brandon Sanderson... I'd check him out immediately!
His Mistborn series is amazing and finished (At least the first Trilogy), his other series are just as amazing, but no where close to finished so could be a long wait if you get as engrossed in them as I have.
Books are:
He also finished Robert Jordan's epic tale Wheel of Time when Mr Jordan passed away before completing the last 2 or 3 books.
Apologies if I'm interpreting your question incorrectly, but if a free book is what you're looking for I would highly recommend installing the kindle android app and downloading this book - http://www.amazon.com/Way-Kings-STORMLIGHT-ARCHIVE-ebook/dp/B003P2WO5E/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;sr=&amp;qid=
One of my favorites ever, and it's completely free right now.
I'm not sure if I had like a special deal or anything, but it appears The Way of Kings(Stormlight Archive 1) is actually free right now on Amazon. I think I'll pick that up and begin reading through that tonight.
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Kings-Stormlight-Archive-Book-ebook/dp/B003P2WO5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1412576096&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=stormlight+archive
The Way of Kings might be it because it has a group of knights who had special armor and swords that are priceless.
Or you can get each book individually so you don't get one large file
The Way of Kings
Words of Radiance
Oathbringer
Check out the Spinward Fringe series by Randolph Lalonde. The original prequel (Origins) story is good space opera with an upbeat feel and the later broadcasts are are a little more dark and thought provoking as parts of the galaxy devolve into wars and power plays. Good stuff all around.
Kindle light SF/Space Opera-y and free, [Spinward Fringe: Origins][http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Spinward-Fringe-ebook/dp/B004EPYUXA].
The Spinward Fringe series is good. I recommend it if you have an e-reader, because the first book (actually it's more like a prequel but whatever) is completely free. The rest of the books are nice and cheap as well. (again, if you have an e-reader)
I have the Savage Worlds Customizable GM Screen, and it's awesome. If I have enough prep time, I can print any charts -- like random encounter tables -- I'll need for that session out. It's so much more useful than the standard GM screen, which is typically loaded with the charts you use most often and thus are most likely to have memorized. Plus it's landscape orientation, so it both spans further across the table, while being easier to see and reach over.
But my favorite feature is that I can put artwork reflective of my campaign on the player's side, instead of the sort of generic artwork most screens feature.
Some other really useful toys I've picked up over the years include:
Group your participants. If you've got 5 goblins of the same type then they all go on one initiative. Or you could just roll the lowest initiative modifier for all your monsters and they all go on that roll. (I typically go lowest if I'm doing this because it'll be way more monsters than players and dogpiling can be un fun.)
Pathfinder made a magnetic combat pad and it's the single best thing i've ever purchased as a DM.
Phew This'll be a long a post, but certainly reward to read by the end of it. Playing D&D/Pathfinder really is the Nerdiest, Nerd thing I've ever done, and it is a lot of fun! Watch +DawnforgedCast's Session 0 video and download his checklist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0FmGxmJLiw It's meant for a GameMaster/Dungeon Master, but that checklist will help you out greatly in understanding what you want when starting out in a new group, with or without veteran players. If you aren't able to find a group locally (I don't recommend online groups for your first introduction) then taking up the mantle of leadership as the GameMaster/Dungeon Master, can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. However, if you're one with a vivid imagination, or are good with thinking on the fly (believe me, it gets better with time) then you'll already have a headstart on the majority of GMs out there. A great beginning module that has a little bit of everything, adventure hook (i.e., reason why your players should be doing this), NPC interaction, wilderness adventuring, dungeon crawling, is the Hollow's Last Hope module for 1st Level Players as it works for both D&D and Pathfinder. You don't really need the print version, since you can download it for FREE at Paizo's website https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Hollow%27s_Last_Hope
I greatly recommend you get the Pathfinder RPG: Beginner Box ($25-$35) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601256302 it is a different game, but the rule set is uber-simplified and honestly, superior to the D&D Starter Set ($15), and is worth the extra money. The Beginner Box literally has the all of the beginning needs for play. Pre-generated characters, blank character sheets for the four classes (Wizard, Rogue, Cleric, and Fighter) with either of the three races (Elf, Dwarf, and Human) that are easy to introduce new players to, a flip out map that you can use dry-erase- or wet-erase markers, and permanent markers on (all of which can be erased off, I use these wet-erase makers that are $9 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFGW because I'll draw camp fires with brown, yellow, orange, and red colors, green helps with trees and shrubbery, blue for water, and black for everything else), a Hero's handbook, and really, really, good GM guide, plus thick, cardboard punch-out marker pawns of various Monsters, NPCs, Player characters, and other creatures, that amount to a wealth of miniatures that would take a lot of money and time to paint them all up, plus they're easier to store in the box. Unfortunately, it only comes with one set of dice, so it wouldn't hurt to get these on these 7 sets ($12) on the cheap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDJNE93 and pass them out to your players, or if they have their own, then you'll have plenty of extra multiples of dice, which will come in handy during combat with spellcasters and sneak attacks by Rogues. I handed them out to my players after they told me what their favorite colors were. =P
That'd would be all you'd really need to start, $30ish Beginner Box, plus $10 for markers, and $10 more if you or your players need dice. Now, what follows is what I used for my first GMing of a game, based on many different people's recommendations. In order to make combat work in a logical way that I could understand, I bought the Pathfinder Combat Pad $20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601255470, along with those wet-erase markers from earlier. It's usefulness has been far better, and worth it's price in gold, to use than a cheap $1 store notebook, when I would have to erase or rewrite when players would defeat monsters or would hold their actions, or would tell them the wrong initiative bonus to start (lol!). Again, rather use a dollar store binder, I bought the Pathfinder GM Screen $16ish https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601252161, because it was short enough for me to look over rather than 3-ring binders or a paper folder at the actual game table. Speaking the table, I bought the Chessex Battlemats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015IQO2O this is a link to the smaller one ($20), since I bought the Megamat ($35), only because I had a large table, and players could use it as a coaster for drinks too (even though I did have coasters, to prevent spillage). As an added bonus, I recently discovered the Condition cards $10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601252854, to use with Pathfinder, and they are great to hand out to players (as you would already know these conditions since it's written behind the GM Screen) so they know what condition they are in at a glance. Keep in mind though, you only get 4 or each, so if you are lucky enough to have more players, it wouldn't hurt to buy an extra set (however, it would be strange if all of your players had the same condition).
Now, let's say you enjoy Pathfinder, and you bought the Core Rulebook $20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601258879 (if it's a hardcover, always look inside for the Sixth edition printing, the paperback will already be that edition) but are getting tired of looking up Monster stats online, then grab the Paperback version of the first Bestiary $16 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601258887 which has the great majority of all of the "regular" monsters in either D&D or Pathfinder. If you're not much of an artist, then there's the recently released Pathfinder Traps and Treasures Pawns Collection $25 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601259719 but be warned that you only want to place on the board AFTER the players find out what it is or after they trip it since it does have text explaining what it is as a trap, and if you're use the treasure ones, make sure you add whatever is actually printed on the tile is IN the list of treasure you give the players, because they can and will ask about, "can't I grab that cup or sword, it's on the tile?" ;)
Lastly, if you enjoy being the GameMaster/Dungeon Master, the storyteller, the world builder, then I'd recommend getting the Pathfinder Gamemastery Guide $15 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601259492, which again, can be applied to both RPG games. And if you what better weather effects to throw at your party than what is presented in the CRB and GMG, then Pathfinder Ultimate Wilderness $30 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601259867 has all that you need, and then some, plus some cool spells and tons of new animal companions and familiars for spellcasters alike, and a new shapeshifting melee-fighting class called the Shifter, which is pretty neat to use (albeit, you may want to check out Paizo's website for any official errata or clarifications, just in case). If you want to actually create a campaign and are having a hard time coming up with ideas, locations, groups/factions, kingdoms, races, then one more purchase, which is what +DawnforgedCast used for his Pathfinder games seen here is the Inner Sea World Guide $45 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601252692 It is pricey, but again, very much worth it, to create your own world or to use the pre-made world, as well. Remember, the Beginner Box, Markers, and Dice is really all you need, the rest of this is to expand out. I hope this helps you and anyone else out as well. =P
You may want something to track initiative. This Pathfinder Combat Pad looks similar to the one my group uses, I'm not sure if it's the exact one.
You could use paper, but from watching my GMs it's much easier to be able to set the magnetic labels in order every time initiative is rolled, and you can write enemy status in the notes section, and save yourself a lot of scratch paper.
Alternatively, some people just fold index cards in half to make tents and put the tents on top of the GM screen, with the names on both sides. That way they can be rearranged as needed and everybody sees the order. So, you know, you can just add index cards to the order.
She probably has all of the books you've mentioned if she really likes them, bookish people usually do... A special edition might be an idea, but I won't be able to help you with that, I go for cheap paperbacks due to money ;)
I'm tempted to recommend "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin, it's not sci-fi classic per se, but it's a dystopian classic, she would probably like it if she likes Brave New World, but again, she might already have it. Still I'm sure she'd be thrilled to get a thoughtful thank you gift from you, even if she's read it before or even has a copy... Here's a link to that book on amazon, if you want to have a look: amazon link
If she does like classic sci-fi, here are some old-school, hard sci-fi (but it's not all just spaceships and aliens) that she might enjoy and possibly even not have, since a couple of the authors aren't from English speaking countries:
When you do get to the book, keep in mind that there are two translations. The 2012 translation by Olena Bormashenko corrects some errors and renders the language into more relatable English idioms, but I actually preferred the amusing quirks of the original 1977 translation by Antonina Bouis. I'd start with the original, and re-read the new translation afterward.
Check out Roadside Picnic Arkady Strugatsky. It is a quick read with some humor, good action, strangeness, aliens (tangentially), and is sort of dystopic. It was written by a Soviet, and sometimes that sensibility doesn't translate so well to the west - but I found it very accessible. I do believe there was a movie and a video game derived from it.
Listen, if you really like Russian literature, do yourself a favor, forget Lolita and read some of the earlier Nabokov's work. He wrote Lolita in the states when he needed money, he was trolling for like half the book and it doesn't hold a candle to his real art. Check out "Luzhin's defense" (don't you dare to watch the movie instead - read it first, watch later if you must) and "Invitation to Beheading". Those are his real masterpieces. Not that piece of pseudo-psychopathological crap.
Also, Chekhov. Whenever people tell me they like Russian classic literature I quiz them on Chekhov's works. If you cannot quote at least three phrases from "The Cherry Orchard" verbatim I automatically assume you don't know shit about Russian classic literature :] (jk, I'm not that much of a snob. But seriously his texts have a certain "brain-worm" quality to them, like nursery rhymes they just stick. Of course it has to be a quality translation).
Don't bother with Tolstoy too much for that matter. He might have been a great philosopher and shit but boy does he write heavy. (here's a little secret - few Russians actually read "War and Peace" in its entirety, they have been tortured with this book too much in school). Same with Dostoyevsky - put off reading his books until you're at least 30 if you want to really appreciate them.
As in for more contemporary sci-fi/social drama stuff (and I'm risking being banned from /r/russia for desecrating the holy cow right now :]) - give these guys a try. Start with this (or if you're broke full text here ). Ever wonder where Stalker theme came from? - this is where. Mindblowingly good read and just as creepy.
You may want to go all the way back to the true beginning and read the book that the movie was based on.
http://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Picnic-Rediscovered-Classics-Strugatsky/dp/1613743416/
Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers.
Shocked that no one's mentioned Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. A phenomenal post-apocalyptic/post first-contact book that really thrust the genre into the frontlines during the cold war. It's easily one of my all-time favorites.
Dan Abnett wrote a short story that went something like this, though set in the Warhammer 40k universe. It was a good story, and a linking piece of the Eisenhorn series, which is a great read if you like sci-fi stuff at all, even if you have no interest in the Warhammer 40k world. Pretty good read even if you don't like sci-fi stuff...very cool development of characters over a long period.
Eisenhorn is probably the best possible place to start in 40k. You get every possible angle of 40k explored in this omnibus as well as a some fantastic characters. Add Ravenor for flavor.
After that, dive into the military side of things with Gaunt's Ghosts. This covers primarily the Imperium vs Chaos side of the conflict, but also the internal conflicts the Imperium suffers from.
Now that you're thoroughly acquainted with the human side, view the universe through the eyes of the super-human Space Marines in The Ultramarines Omnibus. This series shows the strengths (and weaknesses) of the Space Marines as well as introducing the terrifying Chaos Space Marines more thoroughly.
Cry for death to the False Emperor with Soul Hunter. Follow up with the sequels in Void Stalker and Blood Reaver to get a very interesting perspectives from the Renegades.
Finally, finish your introductory odyssey with The Horus Heresy. You'll be reading how the modern universe came to be.
This is a "fuck-ton" of reading and will keep you busy for 6 months to a year or more before you finish. These series are the best of the best in the novel side of things. There are huge amounts more in the Army Codexes ^^that ^^you ^^should ^^be ^^able ^^to ^^find ^^for ^^$0 ^^on ^^"sharing" ^^sites and other excellent novels. PM me anytime and I'll happily answer questions/suggestions.
In the Warhammer 40000 universe:
Dan Abnetts Eisenhorn trilogy: Xenos, Malleus, and Hereticus.
or his series about Gaunt's Ghosts
I started in the Eisenhorn trilogy, personally, on a friend's recommendation. It gives you a good feel for the politics of the Imperium of Man, and the kind of intrigue that goes on behind the scenes, as well as a small glimpse at the dangers posed by the forces of Chaos.
You can purchase the trilogy in an omnibus edition here.
You said up to present day, but what about... 40k?
Pick up a few of the books. I would read, in order:
Caiphas Cain, HERO OF THE IMPERIUM
Gaunt's Ghosts
Eisenhorn
Ravenor
Those 4 will give you a fairly firm grounding of the lore and a feel for the universe. The first two are war books, the latter two focus on the inquisition.
I ran a pretty successful six-month long campaign. Actually got to finish the story arc, unlike most campaigns I've run. We found the system...workable. The character options were pretty interesting, though the psyker felt OP to the players and the psionic manifestation effects were often game changing, usually in an amusing way, but sometimes they proved distracting from the main story just because some of their effects are so life-altering.
We all love the setting and were willing to put up with the idiosyncrasies of the system mechanics. I'd highly recommend reading Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn omnibus - it will really give you a good feel for the whole Inquisitor/Acolyte feel. Abnett's a really fun read all around.
I'm sure the Imperium could accommodate a submerged city like Rapture, even its Randian philosophy (though if it deviated from worship of the emperor, it's heresy - perfect fodder for an inquisitor and his/her team). Though I'm curious to know what else you have planned for the character.
EDIT: incorrectly called Rapture a "subterranean" city.
The Eisenhorn Trilogy
https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Customizable-Screen-S2P10002/dp/1930855591
Savage Worlds has a customizable GM screen for ya.
Here is a link so you know what to look for. Its $22 USD, so it isn't cheap, but about what a regular GM screen goes for.
http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Customizable-Screen-S2P10002/dp/1930855591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413297609&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=savage+worlds+gm+screen
I got this off of amazon and its amazing.
https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Customizable-Screen-S2P10002/dp/1930855591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1492266220&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=custom+dm+screen
I ended up picking up this guy
and printing out pieces of this DM cheat sheet
I generally found it better because I was able to get the information I needed immediately quickly. I eventually ditched the DM screen for a laptop and rolling in front of my players.
The only thing I don't like about this is I use cards that hang over the top of my screen to track initiative. It's not cheap (in fact it's overpriced), but I use one of these. http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Customizable-Screen-S2P10002/dp/1930855591
It has the advantage of closing flat, and has clear pockets on all sides to use with whatever system you want.
Have you already considered just releasing them as standard printed inserts/PDFs? You could make them landscape and/or standard to fit into something like this or this or this.
There's the Taldorei campaign book
There is no free official PDF for Critical Role. You can check out the Critical Role Fandom Wiki to find things that have occurred in the stream to help you out.
They have an official book that you can purchase. I don't own the book (yet) but my friend does and it's filled with so much information. It's worth the purchase if you're looking into having a CR campaign.
Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934547840/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_h0JPDbVQQJJ2S
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1505171198&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=xanathar%27s+guide+to+everything
Looks like tomorrow?
You could have just ordered the campaign book.
Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934547840/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ERaUzbBFAVNME
What are you looking for? I've become a huge fan of Kobold Press' Tome of Beasts for new and interesting stat blocks. They have some really fun things. And I liked some of the character options from the Critical Role campaign setting. There are a few bits and pieces I've find elsewhere, including many of the free products from Dungeon Master's Guild. I've occasionally looked through the publicly available homebrew items and monsters from D&D Beyond, and I haven't found anything that fits me perfectly, but they have plenty of interesting and unique ideas.
I found out about Brandon Sanderson from this sub and really enjoyed these two series:
Mistborn
The Stormlight Archive
I also can't recommend Jon Krakauer enough.
they'll probably just tap in Sanderson like they did with Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time.
At first I was like.. so who is this random Sanderson and why should I care about his books. Eventually I did read a Sanderson book and I was.. unimpressed. It was good but not "We want you to finish WOT" good. Turns out it was his Young Adult book which was better than Patterson's garbage. Anyway one day Amazon had a Sanderson book for free. Good lord it was good. It was so epic, so good. It changed my world. If I was in high school when this series was coming out my primary user handle would come from it instead of Wheel of Time. On TOP of that. Sanderson is a bloody machine. He cranks out these epic well written books and he cranks them out regularly which in the literary world is lightning fast.
I understood after reading that book why they choose him. Because he writes good, he writes big and he's a closer.
The Way of Kings (kindle edition), the 1st book in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive series is currently FREE on Amazon. It's a bit early for my full review, but I read the prologue while taking a dump at the office today, and the whole time I kept thinking "Man, I really have to hurry up and get back to my desk for that 1:30 conference call".
Edit: spelling
It's also free on Amazon.
This is a direct link to the product
An amazon referral link has a tag in the URL appearing as "tag=XXXXX-20."
So, yes, what was removed was an Amazon affiliate/referral link.
Oh yeah that's right. It's also free for Kindle on Amazon.
I might suggest The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. It's been a while since I've read it, but I feel like the chapters might be a bit long if you wanted to read one or two over a lunch break (depending on how long you have to read on a break). It's not quite as fun of a read as Kingkiller, I would put it between Kingkiller and A Song of Ice and Fire, but I do highly recommend it regardless. Also by Brandon Sanderson I highly recommend the Mistborn Series. Warning about the way of kings, it is part one of a planned 10 part series, with the second part only coming out hopefully next year, so that might be a turn off for you.
I myself have just started reading The First Law series, and while I can't quite recommend it yet, it seems to read and feel very similar to The Way of Kings, but with shorter chapters. I am expecting good things from it, and the lengths of the chapters seem very suitable to a lunch break.
Links to kindle editions to take advantage of the reading samples:
Way of Kings
Mistborn
First Law
I'm not sure if I can pick just one, but if you like sci-fi, you might enjoy Halo: First Strike. It's a fun read if you have some knowledge of the Halo universe. Dunno if I could call it my favorite book, but it's up there.
If you're into fantasy, I'd suggest trying The Way of Kings. I just finished it the other day and ended up quite enchanted with some of the characters.
I have Flowertown and Confessions of a D-List Super Villain that can be lent. Both were very good. I'm sure there are many others, but it is so hard to search for the lendable titles on Amazon!
EDIT: Adding more lendable SF titles - only adding books that I liked a lot.
The Forever War
The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2011
Bob Moore, No Hero - this is currently free in kindle store
The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker
The God Engines
13 Bullets
Agent to the Stars
Old Man's War
Hah, that's pretty cool. I am reading his The Stormlight Archive Series. My middle daughter suggested it as a series that she, my oldest, and I could read together and discuss because The Wheel of Time was something she'd never gotten into but was shared between my oldest and myself. I realllllly love this seris.
I'll look up the Alcatraz vs. series. I tried his Mistborn series and, while I loved the first book, I couldn't even finish the second, so it turned me off of him for a while.
Well, I watched the release trailer and the extended reveal with Bryan Ekman expounding on his ideas. Interesting takeaway.
We've got this idea that humans are effectively immortal, with our consciousness, centrally stored, but able to be sent to synthetic bodies, at the least. When you leave a body to go to another in a different location, it's not completely wiped and remnants get left behind... making these machines crazy dangerous.
Serious design flaw there. Hell, may I be so bold as to say... That's not even a design flaw, the things would have to be engineered that way. Got some serious nefarious business all up in this crap.
Well, OK. I like my science fiction. I am seeing cyberpunk influences. I see Eve:Online and there's a few things a bit Spinward Fringe (Randolph Lalonde), Descent:Freespace, Freelancer, etc. The idea of consciousness transfer is not new to Sci-fi, but the remnants is. Probably because the idea is pants-on-head crazy.
What do I like? Inertia based flight. Art style.
What don't I like? The concept. More than just the Sci-fi plot hole so big you could fly Babylon 5 station through it. The idea that there won't be NPC quest givers or shopkeepers. I don't thing that's a tenable position.
I want to like it. No matter who was making it, I'd have these issues.
Entire and the Rose - The first book in the series is free on Kindle, this is an excellent example of world building. I wanted to continue reading this series, well beyond the time it ended. I wanted to know so much more about these worlds.
Spinward Fringe - First book in the series is also free on the Kindle, I'm only up to book 4 but it reminds me of a book version of Eve Online. If you enjoy epic space battles, fighting against corporate overlords and crazy science (very intelligent AI, cloning, etc) this is a great series to get into.
I've enjoyed both of those authors, so I guess I'll recommend some books I've liked.
In no particular order (links to the first book in the series, on amazon):
The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell
Spinward Fringe by Randolph Lalonde
Star Force by B.V. Larson
Honor Harrington series by David Weber
Valor series by Tanya Huff
May not be exactly what you're looking for but book 1 is free on Amazon so easy to read and check out if you like it. Spinward Fringe.
Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins: A Collected Trilogy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EPYUXA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_D4E0CbQ2CTC3N
Origins (Spinward Fringe)
Spinward Fringe: Origins Also, It's free if you have a kindle(or the kindle app).
Well my favorite author of all time is Isaac Asimov. He tends to write in a very direct way without flowery language, which I appreciate. Anything he writes is fantastic, but some specific starting points:
The Foundation Series is probably his best work.
I, Robot is probably his most famous work because of the film which has LITERALLY NOTHING in common with the book. It is very good and a great way to see Asimov's approach to robotics (a term he coined, by the way; he is credited with first usage of the word 'robotics', which is now a fricken major at most universities)
Nightfall is an amazing short-story-turned-novel. Read the short story version, it is better.
He also wrote [The Galactic Empire series] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_Empire_(series)) and the Robot series which tie in to the same universe as the Foundation series, they're all good as well, but I'd probably focus on the Foundation series first and see if you like how that goes
Other great authors of golden age sci-fi include Robert A. Heinlein, and from him I recommend The Past Through Tomorrow a collection of his short stories. Fun fact: the secret service raided Heinlein's apartment and interrogated him on how he has written such an accurate description of multi-stage rockets, as those were currently not public knowledge and highly classified. They were convinced he was a spy or was being fed information from a spy. He was really just a very good writer. He is most famous for Starship Troopers because of the movie of the same name. The thing with Heinlein is that later in life he became a dirty old man, and his writing reflects that. Evidence is Stranger in a Strange Land which is a very good novel, but there is a lot of describing the female form in it, and quite a bit about humanity's attitude toward sex. A very good book and I recommend it, but he was clearly becoming a bit of a lecherous old fart.
Leaving the golden age for a moment, we enter the 'New Wave science fiction' where I'd have to recommend the Ringworld series by Larry Niven. And later Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (a fantastic book despite controversy surrounding the author). Currently I'm reading the Spinward Fringe series by Randolph Lalonde which is recent enough it doesn't have a wikipedia entry, and is not yet finished.
For a brief overview of the author's comparative styles; Asimov is very cerebral, his books don't contain much, if any, action and are mostly about exploring interesting concepts in a brilliant way. Heinlein was focused on the near-er or alternate versions of the future and had a little more action than Asimov tended to include. Larry Niven is renowned for being a very technically accurate writer and some physics professors have actually used his science fiction books to teach in class (he explores the concept of the dyson sphere and applies it in a real-world situation). Card is a mixture of action and psychology, a very deep book with a decent amount of action. Lalonde's series is very action oriented, but he creates a complex galactic community and small innovative details that make the series interesting. There are so many more I want to recommend, but I think I'll leave you with just the 6 paragraphs, lest I get too wordy -_-
Spinward Fringe by Randolfph Lalonde
Only problem is only the first one is free and it is part of a series. Also it is written by a new writer so there are a lot of grammatical errors but it also makes for a very original series so I look past the mistakes.
The last book I read for the first time was The Valhalla Call by Evan Currie. Great end to a fun military sci-fi. I would say it was a well rounded story for sure.
Otherwise right now I am re-reading the Spinward Fringe series by Randolph Lalonde. Now that is a very hard military sci-fi universe. But a very compelling story that drags you on.
Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:
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amazon.es
amazon.com.br
amazon.nl
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amazon.fr
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The Monster Hunter International series by Larry Correia has a bit of that type of vibe. Plus it is smart and funny
Check out Larry Correia's Monster Hunter series. The overarching plotline takes entities and concepts from the Lovecraftian mythos. This is another series I'd list alongside the ones already recommended here (Peter Clines's novels, Stross's Laundry Files etc.) with the caveat that the Lovecraftian elements are only a part of this universe and not the main focus.
Looks like the first ebook is still (permanently?) free on amazon, and you can add the audiobook (highly recommended) for 2 bucks
Can I give you a list? Imma give you a list with a little from each category. I LOVE books and posts like this!
Non-fiction or Books About Things:
The Lost City of Z: In 1925, the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon jungle, in search of a fabled civilization. He never returned. Over the years countless perished trying to find evidence of his party and the place he called “The Lost City of Z.” In this masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, journalist David Grann interweaves the spellbinding stories of Fawcett’s quest for “Z” and his own journey into the deadly jungle, as he unravels the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century. Cumberbatch will play him in the movie version of this.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers: Hilariously gross and just super interesting. Her writing is like a non-fiction Terry Pratchett. Everything she's written is great, but this one is my favorite.
Devil in the White City: All about HH Holmes and his murder hotel during the Chicago World's Fair. Incredibly well-written and interesting.
The Outlaw Trail: Written in 1920 by the first superintendent of Capitol Reef National Park (aka, the area around Robber's Roost). He went around interviewing the guys who were still alive from the original Wild Bunch, plus some of the other outlaws that were active during that time. Never read anything else with actual interviews from these guys and it's a little slice of life from the end of the Wild West.
Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-Fi:
Here I'm only going to give you the less known stuff. You can find Sanderson (light epic fantasy), Pratchett (humor / satire fantasy), Adams (humor fantasy), etc easily in any bookstore. They are fantastic and should be read, but they are easy to find. I suggest:
The Cloud Roads: Martha Wells is an anthropologist and it shows in her world building in every series. She creates societies instead of landscapes. These are very character-driven and sometimes emotional.
The Lion of Senet: Jennifer Fallon starts a great political thriller series with this book. If you like shows like House of Cards or things where there's a lot of political plotting, sudden twists, and a dash of science v. religion, then you'll love these.
The Book of Joby: Do you want to cry? This book will make you cry. Mix arthurian legend with some God & Devil archetypes and it's just this very powerful story. Even though it deals with religious themes and icons, I wouldn't say it's a religious book. Reads more like mythology.
On Basilisk Station: Awesome military space opera. Really good sci-fi.
Grimspace: Pulpy space opera. Brain bubble gum instead of serious reading. But that's fun sometimes too!
Check out the Honor Harrington series its got a strong female lead and its just pretty dam cool what with the space ships and stuff :) https://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-Book-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0
I've been listening to books this way for about 3 years and I have noticed that I am a very fast speaker now. I'm not sure if it's releated but it could be.
Also, always look for whispersync books. You can almost always get the audible version for crazy cheap.
Example:
http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-Book-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1452542369&amp;sr=8-6
I can't see the audiobook price because I already have it but I bet the combination is only a few dollars for a great audiobook/ebook
http://www.amazon.com/Starliner-David-Drake-ebook/dp/B00ARPEAU4/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1452542467&amp;sr=1-8
this audiobook is only 1.99 vs 14.95 when buying it straight up.
Also available on kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375910784&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=On+basilisk+station
http://www.baenebooks.com/p-304-on-basilisk-station.aspx
For multiple formats.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ARPJBS0
For kindle.
Someone already suggested Harry Potter, they are really fabulous reads for adults too (I hadda fight my mom for em when the new ones came out....she was in her 70s :)
There's a series of books by David Weber that follow Honor Harrington, they are total space opera with lots of action and huge space battles and I believe there's a movie in the works and the first book is free on Amazon for ereader/cloud reader http://amzn.com/B00ARPJBS0
I can try to help more when I have an idea of genres!
good evening! house of blades
Here is the Australian link my friend. https://www.amazon.com.au/House-Blades-Travelers-Gate-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00D52X58Y/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465909867&amp;sr=1-8&amp;keywords=will+wight
This reminds me so much of Valinhall in House of Blades. A Hogwart-esque school/home where everything is earned and everything is trying to kill you. Everyone should check it out.
will wight
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D52X58Y
Gary Gibson does some credible space adventures. The Shaol sequence was pretty enjoyable.
A bit harder edged but brilliant is the Takeshi Kovacs trilogy from Richard Morgan. Start with Altered Carbon.
Also Neal Asher's Polity Agent series has a lot of good action tinged with horror.
These are my suggestions:
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey.
Legend by David Gemmell.
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan.
Death's Head by David Gunn.
These are all proper manly men's books, with lots of violence, casual sex, hot dames, and actually very well written stories with well-rounded and interesting characters.
EDIT I've had another couple ideas.
Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell.
Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett.
Try Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon or Walter John William's Hrdwired for some good cyberpunk. For a good post-apocalypse novel you might like Earth Abides by George R. Stewart.
In this same vein, though grittier than Banks and Hamilton, is the Takeshi Kovacs series by Richard K. Morgan, starting with Altered Carbon. The main character is a former UN envoy (think baddest of the badass special forces). People's minds are backed up continually in a cortical stack, which is almost indestructible. Instead of interstellar travel, people like Kovacs have the contents of their stacks transmitted across the galaxy and "re-sleeved", loaded into a new body on the other end.
The series raises some interesting questions about identity and morality when death and attachment to a specific body are taken out of the equation. His first book also deals specifically with the topic of very, very long-lived people.
http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Carbon-Takeshi-Kovacs-Novels/dp/0345457692
You might like this. A lot.
Get off my lawn damn kids...
I'd like to add that - according to the artist - they remaining five books will (at least for now) only be released as mass-market paperbacks. The first book is available in both paperback and mass-market editions, with the paperback being of better quality and not as tall/thin as the mass-market paperback.
Once we get closer to the movie's release, there'll probably be a whole bunch of editions and a box set too, so I'd just wait a bit.
Idk, try ASOIAF if you haven't already, or perhaps Dune.
The Stainless Steel Rat (probably the closest thing to Space Opera on my short list of suggestions)
Dune
Anything by Isaac Assimov
Anything by William Gibson (Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, and Neuromancer would be good first choices)
Ender's Game
H. G. Wells and Jules Verne are also good choices if you want some classic old-school sci-fi
I'm reading Time Enough For Love by Robert Heinlein right now. It takes place in the year 4272 in an interplanetary human civilization with "the Senior", who's been alive since the 1940's (and who's genes aided research into 'rejuvenation clinics' for the wealthy and connected), giving his life stories and wisdom to the leader of a planet who wants to leave and colonize a new world. It's a fascinating read, and gets into some decent scientific detail too. Heinlein also wrote Stranger in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers.
After loads of reading on the bus to work every day, here follows my reading list for military aviation:
Modern
Vietnam
WWII
Overall/Other
Bonus non-military aviation
I highly second the recommendations of Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and Diamond Age. I would also recommend:
I usually prefer to get people interested in reading philosophy obliquely, through pop. philosophy or fiction with philosophical themes. So much depends on what you are interested in...
Fiction:
A good overview like Sophie's World
Military Ethics / Social Responsibility Starship Troopers
Science and Faith Contact
Somewhat easy philosophy
Ethics: The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill
Mind: Consciousness Explained
War: Just and Unjust Wars
Try the book sometime by Rober A. Heinlein it is excellent.
Comic or novel? This is the first volume right?
http://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394743625&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Thrawn
I'm sorry to say the full trilogy is a little too pricy for me but i think this would be a good way to get him started
Reading this from my inbox I thought you wanted to get into Europe. Awkward.
In chronological order (and I'd very much recommend reading them in this order, it can be rather confusing trying to understand events and relationships you've never heard of). Please note these are all Post Endor; there are also many good books prior to the events covered in these, and there are certainly excellent books that have slipped my notice. I'd suggest going to your local library and searching there if you want even more.
I apologize if that was too comprehensive.
I was introduced to her by the Trawn trilogy.
https://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124
Hard science fiction I liked are:
Old, and famous authors:
The Mote in God's Eye [series] (Niven, Pournelle)
http://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926
New, and unknown authors:
Allopoly: The Cycle of Civilization (Hadges)
http://allopoly.com
David Brin's Uplift series. Some invasion novels, a lot of first contact/conflict.
Also, The Mote in God's Eye, and The Legacy of Heorot. More first contact than first invasion, but they have the same effect.
The book is The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I'm not very far into it, but I've also already seen a character named Jock (as in Jock Fireblast).
> ('remove the log from your own eye before you bother with the splinter in your brother's eye')
As a complete aside, The Mote in God's Eye, is a really good book.
I'll recommend three!
An exploration of how biology affects culture, framed in a hard science first contact story:
The Mote in God's Eye
In the near future scientists discover a dead astronaut on the moon... who died 50,000 years ago.
Inherit the Stars
A sci-fi classic with great characters along the way. The over-crowded Earth is heavily reliant on the food created by a prison colony on the moon, which decides to declare its independence, with the help of the first A.I.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
http://www.amazon.com/Mote-Gods-Eye-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926
The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Excellent book with a very well rounded universe. If you enjoy it there are several other books written in that universe.
43, less than I would like (oh... sorry, M), hard science fiction, Iain M. Banks, any of the Culture series (favorites in that are Use of Weapons, Matter, and Surface Detail)
For recommendations, I have a soft spot (because he earned it) for Charles De Lint. One of the best urban fantasy authors out there. Some others are The Name of the Wind, and the Mistborn cycle (first book here).
It's more fantasy than sci-fi, but maybe Mistborn? The series is primarily from a female perspective. Lots of great action and a really neat magic system.
In teen fiction or adult? I don't think I've read any adult books recently (published in last two years) that would be appropriate for a 13 year old.
Stardust: Quirky, fun and Neil Gaiman. His writing and stories are very strange so people either like them or they don't (I don't). However, my friends swear by this book.
Kingkiller: Badass hero, epic journey, epic story. Ultimately along the same difficulty as Sword of Shanara/LOTR and is probably super boring for a 13 year old.
Let me think: Game of Thrones is neither appropriate nor well written. Lackey is still amazing, but has strong homosexual and relationship themes. I think I waited to read her old stuff until I was 13, but her new stuff is just as -- well, her... Terry Brooks has a new series, but it is more political than Rothfuss. All the modern mystery/suspense is very sexual. I'm reading Abercombie right now, but don''t feel confident recommending it since I'm not done. Keyes reminds me of old-school high fantasy -- really, really dense and hard to digest for a 13 year old.
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Divergent, as he already read, was quite good. Hunger Games and Maze Runner are in the same genre, but both are quite a bit darker than Divergent (stupid mind control and very Lord of the Flies-esque).
I think my best modern recommendation is:
Rick Riodran: Generally awesome teen male fiction. I've read the greek (percy) and egyptian series. They are fun and very similar to harry potter in tone.
Other
Throne of Glass: Not super popular, but definitely good! I haven't had the chance to read the sequels, but the first stuck with me.
Mistborn: water-downed Trudi Canarvan. Poor girl becomes a magician/assassin who totally kicks butt. Some almost-rape scenes (2 I think).
Intisar Khanani - I got a chance to read her newest book before it was released. She is the modern equivalent of Tamora Pierce and definitely someone to watch in the future. Great - Great author, but doesn't have an established series.
If he ends up liking the Dark Elf Trilogy -- The forgotten realms are STILL making books.
I'd say that Mortal Instruments (Girl meets demon hunter -- kind of a less cool version of Bleach), anything John Green writes (watered down Nicholas Sparks), Tiger's Curse (awesome epic adventure, but kinda creepy), and the Iron Fey series are too girly.
I recently read a free kindle book that would be awesome. It was a watered-down, less rape-y/fetishy version of The Sword of Truth. I can't find it. I'll have to get back to you on that. It had dragons and magic and bad-assery in a generic fantasy way. There was also another one with lots of dragons and he had power over them... hmmm... I might be losing my mind.
I feel that way when I order english books (I live in germany) and get the american release instead of the british one.
For example compare the american version of Mistborn with the british one. The american cover looks god awful. When I went through Barnes & Nobles on my last visit every book looked like pulp, no matter if Grisham or Tolstoi.
I don't really care for WOT, but Sanderson has written some very imaginative fantasy novels in Elantris and Mistborn, so hopefully he finishes out the series on a good note. The second two books of the Mistborn trilogy are meh, though.
You can still buy the original RPG on Amazon.
This is the version I was thinking of using.
There is a WoT RPG. I don't know how good it is, as I have never played with it, but it's not so bad on amazon
EDIT: I just found a Pathfinder version. Have not looked it over, but oooo Pathfinder!
Wheel of Time RPG
Not sure how official it ever was but there was a system made for 3.0: https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965
Those archetype are certainly a lot more party friendly thanks.
Yup. Wizards of the Coast had the license to the table top version of the game a while back.
http://amzn.com/0786919965
It's a good starting point if you want to use third edition or even 3.5. Anything else and you might want to write the campaign yourself.
https://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345
Any of these types i guess. EDIT: Probebly be able to find a PDF on the DMSGuild or somewhere else. Sorry my copy is a hardcover so I don't know abut the pdf variants.
There's the wiki, which can give you some useful info.
If you're interested in a more in-depth reading, you could also try Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms, which is a very long and cumbersome title but it's an edition-neutral setting guide.
Probably too late for this weekend, but what you want is this: https://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345/
That's the book Ed Greenwood put together talking about what everyday life's like in the Realms. Very interesting if you're looking for those sorts of tidbits.
Prepare for a literally infinite lore journey. Ed Greenwood has been working on the Realms since he was six. This came out a couple of years back:
https://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345
It depends on what you're looking for. The campaign guides will give you a lot of old rules that won't always translate very good into 5e, but might give you some ideas on table resources like special subraces or divine domains. The 3.0 Campaign Setting will give you a good overview on the whole continent, which can be helpfull to get a bit of a taste on what the different regions are like. The "Players Guide to Fearûn" of 3.5 will give you a bit more insight into the planes (although I'd use the World Tree and Blood River only as additional transistive planes on top of an astral plane and not instead of one) and the "Races of Fearûn" have a nice overview on the different species and subraces that the players might want to play, although it's not so easy to translate those rules into 5e. If you're interested in translations of at least 2 of the 4 additional subraces of Elves the "Races of Fearûn" has to offer, I've worked on the Wild Elves and Moon Elves and I think they could work out the way I've mixed and matched their features now.
If you just want an overview on the History of the Realms, then there's a book even for that: "The Grand History of the Realms" provides you with the earliest history of the Forgotten Realms, over the creator races, with maps of that time and images of structures and creatures, some contemporary writings of those creatures, and up to the beginnigns of 4e story.
Uh! And then theres "Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms" with a bit of insight into the ways of living, by Word of God.
Looks like Elminster's Forgotten Realms to me. Judging from the other books (sword coast (5e) and forgotten realms campaign guide (4e)) he is using it for lore / locations
The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812511816/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_eMhtDb3VAFX24
I have the mass market paperback versions
I cannot say enough good things about The Name of the Wind. it's the first book in the Kingkiller Chronicles.
If you love fantasy and strong female characters, the Eye of the World is the first book in the just recently finished Wheel of time series. Amazing series, long, deep, complicated, but amazing.
here
The drop down menu lets you choose the type (hardback, audio cd, mass market, etc). Idk about a mass market complete set, though, I got them all individually
I'm still a kid at heart!
I was playing D&D with my friends and we got throw into jail. Me being a druid just did a little animal transformation into a bear and busted us out. On my escape from the town I turned into an eagle. The mayor of the town who had us arrested and quite the douchebag, was outside addressing a crowd. I said to the DM, I am gonna shit on his head! DM said ok roll and I got a natural 20 and yelled out CRITICAL SHIT! Everyone burst out laughing.
Pathfinder
I'm a bit late to the party but Altered Carbon and the rest of the trilogy is really good too.
They all seem to be for 8-14yr olds...
Edit: Oh. Maybe that's what the OP meant. I got excited because I thought it would be a bunch of great books for guys, not for kids.
In case that's what you came looking for too, here's a couple of greats:
Beat the Reaper It's like House meets the Sopranos, except better.
Altered Carbon The most bad ass futuristic sci-fi book, ever.
If you don't mind a sci-fi twist on the story, I highly recommend Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan.
guh, here is the Amazon link for all the other lazy SOBs out there.
Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Description from Amazon:
>In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.
Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats “existence” as something that can be bought and sold. For Kovacs, the shell that blew a hole in his chest was only the beginning. . . .
Again, a book I haven't read in a few years, so my impressions are hazy. However, it's Richard K. Morgan, so there's plenty to be drawn in by. Violence, sex, technology, it's all beautiful.
Yeah, you say you've hit the classics, but did you read all of them?
Neuromancer is my favourite book. Not just in the cyberpunk genre. So I'll more-than-second that recommendation. I agree that Burning Chrome is very good.
Mirrorshades (a short story collection) is also pretty good.
http://www.amazon.com/Mirrorshades-Cyberpunk-Anthology-Bruce-Sterling/dp/0877958688
Altered Carbon is excellent noir/cyberpunk.
http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Carbon-Takeshi-Kovacs-Novels/dp/0345457692/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1372885278&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=altered+carbon
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan. It blends genres (mystery + noir + SF) and I think does a great job of introducing a novice to SF .
[Edit] FWIW, I purposely avoided the "classics" as I think many of them would be quite dated to today's audience and would not be a good intro into the genre. But I would hope that as their taste in SF evolves that they would find the classics on their own and would be better able to appreciate them.
A few fiction suggestions -
George R.R. Martin - Game of Thrones
Philip K. Dick - Do Android Dream of Electric Sheep
Frank Herbert - Dune
Max Brooks - World War Z
As for non-fiction-
Confessions of a Yakuza
Hunter S. Thompson - Hell's Angels
Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"
Dune by Frank herbert
Crucial Conversations
If It Hurts, It Isn't Love: And 365 Other Principles to Heal and Transform Your Relationships
Halfway Human by Carolyn Ives Gilman
Hahah, I want to say this octopus just because I'd be really surprised to see it. But I'd be plenty pleased with a book so you can have enough funds to give other people toooooooo!
GOOD LUCK.
So I want to get the trade paperback from this set but I can't seem to find it on Amazon. There's this one but I don't know if the image is just a placeholder or not: https://smile.amazon.com/Dune-Chronicles-Book-1/dp/0441013597/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1554864718&amp;sr=8-1
It doesn't have a cover date, but the publisher date is 2005.
buy Dune now... you won't regret it.
[this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441013597/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1)
You mean like in this book?
FUCK YES THERE IS!
http://www.amazon.com/Starship-Troopers-Robert-A-Heinlein/dp/0441783589
You should try the Cobra series by Timothy Zahn the first book is really excellent, the others in the series aren't as good but they're still a fun read.
You should also take a look at Starship Troopers, which is nothing like the movie.
A bit more of a pleasure read, but still insightful.
Starship Troopers by Heinlein.
Also worth a read is the book of Joshua in the Bible. Read from a tactical mindset, you can gain insight into military tactics and troop management.
Starship Troopers massmarket paperbacks for around 4 dollars :D
and yea the writers of the future is the best of the the literary contests I have seen.. its sad but a lot of them are scams..
also [Cats Cradle] (http://www.amazon.com/Cats-Cradle-Kurt-Vonnegut-ebook/dp/B003XRELGQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1369440837&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=cats+cradle) is a really good book.. Kurt vonnegut can be kinda hit or miss though some people really like his stuff and others really don't like him.
a good place to start
The Thrawn Triology by Timothy Zahn. They're set after the Return of the Jedi-period. Great stories and well written too. Start off with the Heir to the Empire, the first in the series.
You need to read the Thrawn trilogy. It's fairly epic, and since it was one of the first pieces of EU literature to come out a lot of the later stuff draws on it. Heck, it was the first place where Coruscant was named and described as a city-planet.
Start here: http://smile.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124/
That's the first book of 3.
The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn 1993
Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Vol. 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553296124/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_T70lub1CFBDKQ
Han Solo Adventures Brian Daley 1992
Includes adventure in which Chewbacca vests wookie servitude unto Han and Kessel Run
The Han Solo Adventures: Han Solo at Stars' End / Han Solo's Revenge / Han Solo and the Lost Legacy (A Del Rey book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345379802/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_F90lub1EAG30Q
Both your links go to the same page, but this is the one I was recommending
I'd definitely recommend starting with the Thrawn trilogy, here's a link to the first book: http://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124/
My personal favorites (although note, neither are canon anymore):
1.) Shatterpoint: follows Mace Windu, and is essentially Star Wars' take on Heart of Darkness.
2.) The Thrawn Trilogy: Widely hailed as the best of the Star Wars EU. In my opinion, it has some of the best and worst elements. The good: a brilliant, nuanced antagonist; the bad: evil clones (a terrible subplot).
I haven't read it yet, but Lost Stars has been very well received (despite being billed as a young adult novel). I'd recommend it if you'd like a new canonical novel.
https://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1482353642&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=heir+to+the+empire
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Books/267/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_nkw=heir+to+the+empire
Amazon
Why wouldn't you want to read Star Wars novels? Is it because the new films have disregarded the expanded universe? Some of the novels are absolutely brilliant. This one is my favorite. It begins about five years after Return of the Jedi:
Heir to the Empire
Plus, if the KOTOR 2 canon is taken into account, there will have to be some grey areas.
Let's also not forget the Hire to the Empire Zahn novels. It adds a level of grey that could be used as well....also IMHO should be made into a movie ala the Clone Wars animated film.
This Star Wars book can be shipped using fancy-pants Prime, and I hear that Sandhouse just got prime! Thanks!
you might enjoy the book The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. Among other things, it addresses the issue as What's good for the species vs. what's good for the individual.
Amazon
free ebooks
I'd also add "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle.
That book reminded me of [The Mote in God's Eye] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Mote-Gods-Larry-Niven/dp/0671741926/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382107573&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+mote+in+god%27s+eye) by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Worth checking out.
The Mote in God's Eye
Probably my favorite hard science fiction novel.
Since you haven't heard of it, I would direct you towards Mistborn, as Alloy of Law is a one-off sequel between trilogies. Mistborn is somewhere between a rebellion and heist story written by an author with a penchant for creating unique systems of magic. If you're looking for good fantasy to read, I'd definitely suggest picking up some Brandon Sanderson (as well as Patrick Rothfuss).
>This is why Magneto should never have lost a battle. He just needs to carry a bunch of metal bb's around and make a shrapnel storm wherever he goes.
Read Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
The ability to push/pull metal + a handful of coins == awesomeness.
[A Hero's War] (Low Quality)
[Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality]
[Mistborn]
[The Stormlight Archive]
Beautiful
Thanks so much for the contest! You are awesome!
Would absolutely recommend anything by Brandon Sanderson. Start out with the Mistborn series, it has everything a good book should have, and kept me jumping out of my seat in excitement for the whole series.
Whatever I can do to get somebody into Sanderson, I do, because it's just too good to not be read.
Reminds me of Mistborn
https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483555257&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=wheel+of+time+rpg
I have the wot d20 sourcebook its out there
https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965
Might want to look at it as a reference for classes and stats and stuff the d20 ruleset is public so you wont get sued referencing it.
We use this book: https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965
I think it might be the same as yours.
&#x200B;
We haven't started converting it to 5e yet. We agreed to do a few one-shots with the original system and if people feel like it needs work we will convert it. I you start doing it sooner then us I'd be more than interested to take a look at it, converting a whole game to a different system is no small job and I wish you the best of luck!
[Here ya go!] (http://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965)
I used to have the book, but have no idea what happened to it.
yeah, you can buy it here https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521698985&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=wheel+of+time+RPG and you might be able to find a PDF of it online somewhere
http://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965
While reading the books is the most legitimate source; there is the slim possibility that you could find the D20 RPG book in a library. I did say slim? I probably should be honest and say next to extremely unlikely; as it's out of print from 2001- but it depends on your size of library system, etc. Or you might know a RPG friend that has one.
WoT D20 RPG Source book
Covers the system (while doing some D20 conversions) but does give a great overview of what could be possible with the magic system it and summarizes it in one book.
I absolutely love the Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game based on the D20 system for lore. I used to play a lot of D20 on other systems but never this one. Didn't matter though - it's a fun reference. Find it here!
Have you read the wheel of time compendium for the d20 system? It might give you some ideas.
http://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Roleplaying-Game-Fantasy/dp/0786919965
Also wheel of time pathfinder
http://www.jessesdnd.com/sites/default/files/WoTPathfinder.pdf
If you want a really good book to go for, I have an off the wall suggestion. Pick up, "Elminster's Forgotten Realms".
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345
The base setting for 5th Edition is Forgotten Realms anyway, so unless your GM is specifically going against the flow, this will likely be useful. Additionally, this is written (at least in part) by the guy who originally designed the setting of Faerun in Forgotten Realms. It's a great read, and all it is, is background information about how people in Faerun live day-to-day. Things everyone would know like, how the temples are run, what kind of food they have, how the calendar works and what the regular festivals are. It's great for making the world feel like a living breathing world.
I've heard this book recommended several times. It's written by Ed Greenwood - the guy who created the Forgotten Realms - and apparently it just oozes flavor. It's been on my wish list for a while now.
To any future person inquiring about the same thing:
https://www.amazon.com/Greenwood-Presents-Elminsters-Forgotten-Realms/dp/0786960345/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1474567765&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Ed+Greenwood+Presents%3A+Elminster%27s+Forgotten+Realms
Akuma mentioned it, and I also want to suggest picking up the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. It's absolutely phenomenal in terms of detail about regions, events, history, setting, etc. You will see a lot of mechanics for 3.x, but it's easy enough to disregard or even use their fluff to convert and make stuff for 5e FR.
Also worth picking up is the 4th edition book (Ed Greenwood Presents) Elminster's Forgotten Realms. It has a lot of "on the ground, personal level" detail and fluff, like what people eat in different regions, how they worship, etc. Neat book, fun read.
I forgot, I have also started Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Read by Stephen Fry), and it is well done as well.
I remembered a couple more that I liked:
Unbroken - good (true) story about WWII pilot who was captured by the Japanese
Water for Elephants - Good book (fiction) about a circus in the depression era
Anathem - I really like Neal Stephenson, and this was a good book, but it was very long, and I'm sure I would have had a much harder time if I had to read it, instead of just listen to it
Eye of the World (Wheel of Time Book 1) - Good book, but very long and if it weren't for the different voices by the narrator, I would have gotten lost pretty easily.
Hope this helps, and hope you find some good ones!
The Wheel of Time Series.
The Wheel of Time
Robert Jordan.
https://www.amazon.com/Eye-World-Wheel-Time-Book/dp/0812511816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1468092268&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=wheel+of+time
I can recommend:
The Wheel of Time is an epic fantasy series by Robert Jordan spanning fourteen books (the last three of which were written by Brandon Sanderson following Robert Jordan's death). It starts with The Eye of the World.
If you like fantasy books, and want to sink a lot of time reading a good long story, I'd recommend starting with book 1 of the Wheel of Time Series, The Eye of the World. I have read this massive series 4 times now. It's a good waste of time! :) The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0812511816/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yZrUzbW2T2FXY
Thank you. I wish i could take credit for it but i can't.
I just parodied The Wheel of Time opening, but i would be more then happy to repost it in the event you remake this thread :D
There are many classics that you should definitely check out, but I'm going to recommend two different things:
I would highly recommend Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It is a long read about an escaped Australian convict that begins when he touches down in Bombay, India. There are really interesting characters, and the story is great.
Also, if you happen to like the epic fantasy genre, you should check out The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. This is a link to the first book in the 14 book series. The series' final book is due to come out fairly soon, and it has become my favorite epic fantasy story.
This isn't Wheel of Time?
Here is a link to the Pathfinder core book that cardboardfish has and I have a PDF of. I'd totally be willing to buy a physical one as well.
Not sure what you are referring to, the core book is $30
I would recommend:
Or
> You have previously mentioned familiarity with pathfinder... WotC owns >the franchise, they're publishing books for it.
Well I can't be blamed for misconstruing this.
That you can get the books cheaper than list price on Amazon doesn't matter. I can get anything cheaper on Amazon, including other RPGs. The cost difference is still the same and you should support your local game stores. They are central to having an active local gaming community.
Nevermind that two copies of Pathfinder at $31 is less than your $66 set anyway. Lets not even worry about Pathfinder though. It is essentially just an improved version of 3.5. The award winning SotC is also $30 from amazon and you could get two of those as well. You could get the core Savage Worlds rules plus the Fantasy Companion and Deadlands for that price. Thats good for at least 3 completely different campaign settings.
I can see that we will never agree on this. Consider taking Savage Worlds for a test drive. It won't cost you anything but time.
You seem like you want to prepare. I'm also a person who prepares, so here are things you can do to come feeling like you have:
Email (or text or whatever) the GM and ask what version you're playing.
4th edition, D&D 3.5, Pathfinder or 5th edition are all very likely candidates, and all play different enough you will want to know a bit of the difference. The first night you don't necessarily need to have your own copy of the book, but it will be a lot easier if you do going forward.
If the group is totally new, everyone will be rolling characters. If you meant the group is new to you, and they're already playing, ask what character classes they have already.
You may be happy looking up what 'good' character classes are for that edition are (depends on how competitive you are)
Bring a cheat sheet on it the edition you're playing, a small notebook, 2 mechanical pencils, and a set of polyhedral dice
Cheat sheets:
5th Edition: http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpgdownloads.php?do=download&amp;downloadid=1042
4th Edition: http://kassoon.com/dnd/crib-sheet/
Pathfinder Edition: https://sites.google.com/site/paolospathfinderpage/cheat-sheets
3.5 Edition: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?231897-3-5-Rules-Cheat-Sheets
You really need to look into which version it is to get specific recommendations from /r/rpg that will be at all helpful. Once you do get that answer on what edition you're playing, find 2 easy to play classes by asking here, or looking up "tier lists" on the internet.
If you're really up for it, after finding out what version it is, go buy the players handbook for that version, read it, and watch an hour or two of "Actual play" on the internet for that version.
__
Most of D&D is about 1> Standing in the right place 2> Hitting the baddie with your big stick/magic spell 3> Not falling into traps 4> Getting loot. The game is incredibly oriented on loot and small magical items that give bonuses to attack and defense. So when an item comes up that's appropriate to your character, ask for it! Don't be a hog, but don't make the mistake of not taking enough.
When making your character, there are a lot of okay choices, a couple really really bad ones, and some superlative ones. You're unlikely to figure out the superlative ones without looking them up, but you'll probably be able to avoid the really horrible ones.
If you're worrying about the Roleplaying part, instead of the game playing part, the book "Impro" is excellent at explaining how to play characters well (the chapter on status is worthwhile on life in general)
Pathfinder Core Rulebook.
The only thing the game does assume is that everyone has the Core Rulebook and the PFS Guide
You can get a pdf version here for 9.99 : http://paizo.com/products/btpy88yj?Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook
Or if you want the physical copy go to amazon and save a lot of money here: http://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook/dp/1601251505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1377006408&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=pathfinder+core+rulebook
Now the guide to PFS play can be found for free at : http://paizo.com/products/btpy84k4?Guide-to-Pathfinder-Society-Organized-Play
The Sims 3
For a giveaway, I'd probably have people post something relevant to the game they're interested in such as personal art, favorite song from the OST, or favorite YouTuber's video related to the game. Something along those lines.
On the subject of RPG content, my favorite system is Pathfinder because it's one whole system in a book and it's a well-made system. Basically D&D 3.75. d20 stuff is probably the best system-independent content. I haven't looked much into that sort of thing. I've mainly played D&D and White Wolf games.
Would this be the proper place to start?
Agreed. The Pathfinder Rulebook really simplifies things for a new player. You can buy it here
I use one of these: https://smile.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Combat-Pad-Paizo-Staff/dp/1601255470/
$19. That gets you both the board and a bunch of dry-erase magnets.
I have a (3/4 ft wide by 2.5ft long) metal lightweight metal thing that I got from Ikea a while back that I have attached to the wall and I usually just write on it with erasable marker and when players pass we erase their name. A friend of mine uses a magnetic pathfinder initiative tracker that has a little arrow that we move to the current players turn and when a player passes in that one, we just move their name to the other column on the board
Pathfinder Combat Pad https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601255470/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1YqDAbVNZ6FKP
Pathfinder Combat Pad (Works for D&D)
https://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Combat-Pad-Paizo-Staff/dp/1601255470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483556431&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=pathfinder+combat+pad
Thanks for posting this. I will definitely be trying this in my next game. Currently I use one of these to track the combat in my games. It works okay, but I love the player view that you have here.
A few thoughts that I have after playing with it:
Anyways, I love the idea of this and I can't wait to give it a try at the table soon. Thanks for making this and sharing it with us!
I use this.
I have the non-Pathfinder version but it doesn't really matter...
https://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Combat-Pad-Paizo-Staff/dp/1601255470/ref=pd_bxgy_21_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=1601255470&amp;pd_rd_r=PKVNP9XPR69H957M4BY7&amp;pd_rd_w=CU5UX&amp;pd_rd_wg=J6K5T&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=PKVNP9XPR69H957M4BY7
Combat pad or bust
Pathfinder Combat Pad https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601255470/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4MK3BbCZA912M
I use the tracker on Roll20 but one of my friends has used the gamemastery combat pad before and he likes it.
Amazon Store Link
YouTube Review of it
I use the pathfinder initiative tracker, you can look it up in Amazon and it's cheap, it has magnetic pieces that are dry erase safe, so you just write the characters name on them and as people give you their initiative you put the pieces in decending order. It also let's you write anything you need on here like HP, A.C., any of that sort.
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1601255470/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495106512&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=pathfinder+initiative+tracker&dpPl=1&dpID=519vNFbpH7L&ref=plSrch
[Roadside Picnic] (http://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Picnic-Rediscovered-Classics-Strugatsky/dp/1613743416)
They mention STALKER and Stalker on the cover? And it has a still from Stalker... that's just awesome, I'll have to get this. I heard the original translation wasn't that good.
UK Link
This is the newest version if you want to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Picnic-Rediscovered-Classics-Strugatsky/dp/1613743416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1417033653&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=roadside+picnic&amp;pebp=1417033658813
I think this is it in English
It just came out this month. Here's a link.
I haven't read Troika yet. What can you tell me about it?
Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. An interesting, dark scifi novel from Russia.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1613743416/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1394926668&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40. I just remembered its actually called "roadside picnic"
Go here and click around. Warhammer 40k doesn't have one singular story line to focus on. It's an entire universe wherein tons of different storylines, each with their own lore, are told via books, games, movies, etc... In my opinion, this is a decent book to start on as it doesn't draw on previous lore knowledge very much. It almost reads like a sci fi/fantasy detective novel.
Books! Especially the two Dan Abnett trilogies: Eisenhorn and Ravenor.
http://www.amazon.com/Eisenhorn-Warhammer-40-000-Omnibus/dp/1844161560
http://www.amazon.com/Ravenor-The-Omnibus-Dan-Abnett/dp/1844167372
Each is an "omnibus", three relatively short novels that were combined into a single book (750 or so pages paperback each?).
Start with Eisenhorn, it's a great primer to the general 40K world. Ravenor is much darker, and also fantastic.
Oh my God, it's such good stuff. Pirate the epub versions, or buy a used copy for pennies somewhere. I think they're out of print now.
The Eisenhorn and Ravenor Series by Dan Abnett from the Black Library.
Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett
Set in the warhammer 40k universe I think it is his best work. Combines the inquisition, chaos magicks, xenos aliens, and space demons in one action packed omnibus. The emperor protects!
http://www.amazon.com/Eisenhorn-Warhammer-40-000-Omnibus/dp/1844161560
Eisenhorn is generally considered to be the magnum opus of the 40k novels.
For (currently) free Kindle books, David Weber's On Basilisk Station is the first book in the space-opera Honor Harrington series. The second book The Honor of the Queen, is one of my favorites in the entire series. Eric Flint's 1632 turned into a massive and awesome alternate-history series. If you'd like to delve into Alaskan-based murder mysteries, give Dana Stabenow's A Cold Day For Murder a try as the first in the some eighteen book Kate Shugak series.
For paid Kindle books, there's Hugh Howey's Wool Omnibus is the beginning of the dystopian Silo series; the followup Shift Omnibus is actually a prequel trilogy that I haven't gotten yet but is very readable. Naomi Novik's first novel in the alt-history Temeraire series, His Majesty's Dragon, is currently $.99.
In print, Elizabeth Moon's military fantasy The Deed of Paksenarrion is available used for a very affordable price and is an epic series. The Cage was my introduction to a fantasy universe written by SM Stirling, Shirley Meier, and Karen Wehrstein. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander is a sort of alternate history/light romance series set in Scotland that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Brent Weeks' assassin-based (excuse me, wetboy) fantasy Night Angel Trilogy was recently released as an omnibus edition. Empire from the Ashes collects Weber's Dahak sci-fi trilogy into an omnibus edition. Weber and John Ringo co-wrote March Upcountry and the other three novels in the sci-fi Prince Roger quadrilogy. If you haven't tried Harry Turtledove's alt-history sci-fi WW2 'Worldwar' series, In the Balance starts off a little slow plot-wise but picks up good speed. EE Knight's sci-fi/futuristic fantasy Vampire Earth starts off with Way of the Wolf. Mercedes Lackey wrote the modern-fantasy Born to Run with Larry Dixon, and the rest of the SERRAted Edge books with various other authors. Neal Stephenson's cyberpunk and slightly dystopian Snow Crash is hilarious and awesome. Maggie Furey's Aurian is the first of a fantasy quadrilogy that I enjoyed many years ago.
If you're at all familiar with the Warhammer 40k universe, the Eisenhorn Omnibus is Dan Abnett's wonderful look into the life of an Imperial Inquisitor. He's also written a popular series about the Tanith First-and-Only Imperial Guard regiment starting with The Founding Omnibus. He also wrote the first book in the Horus Heresy series, Horus Rising (I highly recommend reading the first three novels together as a trilogy and then cherry-picking the rest).
... and if you've read all that already, I'll be impressed.
Edit: Why yes, I do read a lot. Why do you ask?
Got one of the Customization GM screens for myself and I love it.
Edit: or the Chessex pound-O-dice
I got this screen a couple of years ago: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savage-Worlds-Customizable-Gm-Screen/dp/1930855591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1511608403&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=savage+world+screen
Its pretty neat as I can print out what ever I feel I need on my screen which is pretty useful. It also means I can change the outward sides with art themed for the campaign.
I assume you are in the UK so with the change check out https://monstermashteas.co.uk/product-category/cabinet-of-curiosity/
There are some pretty nice looking items
If you're going cheap, two 3-ring binders with binder clips to make a three panel screen. You can even add plastic sheet protectors for reference material!
Irresponsible D&D purchases have kind of become a pastime for me, so I bought this screen for $22. There isn't a big selection of landscape screens, and landscape binders are pretty expensive. I'm pretty happy with it FWIW.
Yep, lots of people build it from scratch using heavy stock paper on cardboard/posterboard. Others use laminate. Someone in another thread linked a video on how to create one using three-ring binders. You can find it here.
I personally use this DM screen available on amazon, but it is a bit pricey for what it does.
Darn, I wrote out this post before seeing you didn't want to handwrite your sheets. Oh well, maybe this will be useful for someone else:
I use the Savage Worlds GM Screen and for my inserts I just handwrote everything on graph paper. I started with a grid of important PC stats in the left panel, DnD cheat sheet in the middle panel, and DW cheat sheet in the right panel. Eventually I redid the DnD and DW cheat sheets on a single page by cutting a bunch of useless stuff out, and for the right panel put together a cheat sheet for the Elder Futhark and Ogham alphabets.
Yes, and in fact when I ran it I found it wasn't quite what I'd hoped. It's a bit bulky and cumbersome. Ultimately, I instead bought a landscape GM screen off Amazon. I really, really wanted to like the homemade one, but in addition to bulky, it's also tall. The Savage worlds doesn't have the expandability of the DIY one, but it stays slim and doesn't tempt me to fill the pockets with crap.
It seems to be this screen given the three-panel black vinyl layout. Twice as expensive as the official D&D screen, but the flexibility of the clear pockets is pretty spiffy.
For even less money and with more color choices and 33% MORE PANELS, there's this screen. It seems to stand a little taller than the first screen, too, if that's a bonus at all.
I think I saw this posted on here before but I also was inspired by this Customizable Savage Worlds GM screen.
Here's how I made my pretty awesome screen:
I picked up one of those customizable GM screens so I could put the information I need on the GM screen itself. Then I implemented tent cards. Then I blogged about it with pictures here and here.
I bought a Savage Worlds GM Screen used from Amazon on a whim and it's turned out to be awesome -- it's the same concept as the landscape TWGS I think.
I tend to put maps, images and general info in the front (player-facing) and tables and session prep in the back. I also just fold extra notes and keep them behind the "active" panels to use the whole thing as a folder, so all I bring to sessions is the GM Screen and The Noteboard. I keep dice and pencils in the bag with the noteboard. And I use OneNote and GoodReader* on my phone for the occasional additional lookup.
Edit: I think if I had to choose one thing as the most valuable, I'd go with my phone. I could run a game with just my phone (dice rollers, reference material, notes, etc), not sure I can say the same for any other tools.
I used to make my own DM screens using a customizable screen, but I really like the new DM's Screen Reincarnated. There's not one way to make a DM screen, so I'll share what I do...
I adapted the 4-panel landscape DM's Screen Reincarnated for my Tomb of Annihilation campaign, customizing with sticky tabs, and have periodically updated it to reflect what was most useful to me over a couple-session arc. Here are the current photos as the PCs spent 3 sessions exploring the lost city of Omu.
Customized cover/front https://i.imgur.com/fUhAlkU.jpg
Trickster Gods & random weather https://i.imgur.com/91NjYbQ.jpg
Trickster Gods https://i.imgur.com/uitLGnp.jpg
Random encounter table, random targeting & tracking max HP reduction due to night hags https://i.imgur.com/0u9k9Yp.jpg
PC stats-at-a-glance & exploration guidelines https://i.imgur.com/uabR1Ai.jpg
As a GM, I have had this in my amazon wishlist for absolutely forever.
Also the Terraclips (any of the kits, honestly-- just linking to one). They're awesome.
For a romantic evening once, I put together a "pirate night," with toy swords, a treasure map and poem, an eyepatch, a little locking treasure chest (key was hidden in my bra-- I played both the random pirate encounter and the siren our hero had to subdue), and chocolate coins.
Uh.... might count for a different kind of role-play, but dm;hs.
I think the most updated version is in the Taldorei campaign setting.
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840
>Just make a Critical Role adventure guide already.
That's already a thing though, just not "official WOTC."
Piggy backing on this to include the Third Party Critical Role setting: Tal'Dorei
Amazon website says Oct. 17th.
https://www.amazon.com/Critical-Role-TalDorei-Campaign-Setting/dp/1934547840
Does the amazon link (this one) also come with the PDF? I pre-ordered it through amazon but I just wanted to know if I should cancel and buy from greenronin instead for the PDF.
Well, you're in luck, because 'Orphaned farm boy who grows up to be a badass and saves the world' is one of the most common tropes in fantasy, especially in books written in the 80s and 90s.
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is an obvious recommendation. To be blunt, Goodkind 'borrowed' a lot of ideas from this series, and in general Wheel of Time is considered to be superior by most fans. One caveat is that the series is huge, 13 large books, and like many long running series it suffers from pacing issues in the middle. The Eye of the World is the first book in the series.
The Belgariad by David Eddings is another that follows this formula closely. Another classic series like wheel of time, this one moves along a bit quicker, it's a five book series that starts with Pawn of Prophecy
For some more recent examples, you might try one of the following.
The Codex Alera is a six book series by Jim Butcher, who's well known for writing the popular Dresden Files series. Codex Alera is a little different in that in this world everyone has powers to some degree, except for the protagonist, who has to be clever and capable to overcome his 'deficiency.' This is a fun series, with a unique magic system, a solid cast of characters with different motivations, several surprises and a satisfying end. My only beef is that the first book is a little slow, and doesn't do much to 'grab you,' but it picks up quickly in the second. First book is The Furies of Calderon,
The Kingkiller Chronicles Patrick Rothfuss is an ongoing trilogy with two books out that's often recommended on /r/Fantasy. It doesn't follow the 'farmboy' trope as closely as the other books I'm recommending, but it's another coming of age story about an aspiring magic user, with some really great prose. Essentially it's about a hero who's exploits have reached legendary status telling his life story in a bar. First book is The Name of the Wind
Finally, I'll recommend The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. This series has 2 books out of what will eventually be two 5-book arcs. The first two books are simply fantastic. It has a large cast of characters, but the character that's the focus of the first book has the standard Heroes Journey. First book is The Way of Kings, and the kindle edition is currently free on Amazon.
1051
The Way of Kings (e-book is currently FREE -- http://www.amazon.com/Way-Kings-Stormlight-Archive-Book-ebook/dp/B003P2WO5E/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;sr=&amp;qid= )
Pretty much anything by Brandon Sanderson, but The Way of Kings (part one of his mega epic series) is free on Kindle right now still.
I am on the lookout for things to read myself
I am on mobile so horrible formatting incoming
From litrpg top picks are:
From fantasy in general
Sci-fi
Too lazy to remember more at this point
I personally liked Mistborn, but I think Sandson's other series, The Stormlight Archive, is better, and a bit more like Name of the Wind.
I seem to remember it being planned as a 10 book series, but 5 have been announced. The first book, "The Way of Kings," is a couple years old, and the 2nd "Words of Radiance," is supposed to be out this fall.
In no particular order:
Honorable mention to The Legend of Eli Monpress.
I'm struggling through the new David Brin novel. Meanwhile, i'm reading Gotham, a history of New York City before 1898. And I just reread The Way of Kings.
Another recent one was Brandon Sanderson's Way of Kings. There was an even cheaper promo price but the Kindle edition is still under $5:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Kings-Stormlight-Archive-ebook/dp/B003P2WO5E/
And the upgrade to audio from there still saves quite a lot.
Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn or Stormlight series. Both are meticulously plotted high fantasy, and like the Kingkiller Chronicles the magic system has clear and constant rules.
For some crazy reason the first book in Stormlight is free on Amazon right now (kindle) http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003P2WO5E?cache=88d1bad7bfcdbb326b0b476fd62c6bd1&amp;pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&amp;qid=1411665231&amp;sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2
Probably Brandon Sanderson's newest series. It stands out because of how well written it is. I never had to take a pause and go "woah... that's... weird" while reading this book. And I think he makes all his characters very much 3 dimensional.
If you're into the fantasy genera, this is a must have, granted if you're well read you've probably already heard of this book and author.
I'm quite a fan of the Origin series by Randolph Lalonde.
The first book is free on Amazon, and I promise you won't have a problem investing in the rest of the series.
(Do you see the irony in the plot?)
About the book
"It is the distant future and one man, Jonas Valent, is letting his life slip by. He is employed by Freeground station as a port traffic controller, a job he took after completing a tour in the military. His only real joy in life is his participation in true-to-life military simulations with a cadre of friends who come together regularly to defeat challenges made to test the brightest military cadets and officers alike. These restricted scenarios stand as an addictive preoccupation that is so enticing that they ignore the potential repercussions of breaking in to participate.
When someone betrays their identities to the Freeground Fleet Admiralty, Jonas and his friends are faced with a far greater challenge: to venture out into the more populated regions of the galaxy to acquire technology and knowledge. They are tasked with laying the groundwork for the Freeground Nation in their efforts to reconnect with the rest of humanity, and to secure the armaments they might need to defend themselves from encroaching enemies."
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Spinward-Fringe-Randolph-Lalonde-ebook/dp/B004EPYUXA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1394982530&amp;amp;sr=8-4&amp;amp;keywords=Origins+Space
Spinwards Fringe, the first three books are free on Amazon Kindle.
Self published but good page turning spaceship battles. Every contact matters. Think Star Trek Kirk v Khan tactics.
UK clicky
I enjoyed Spinward Fringe by Randolph Lalonde. It's not high literature but I thought it was overall well written, a bit pulpy in the best possible way. It takes the Star Trek large spaceship model and dives a bit more into the leadership, tactics, day to day life of running a large spaceship, etc. At least the first one did.
More to come, that in my opinion will be better from myself.
However, I can recommend some stuff I like.
Don't need to know anything about Mass Effect for, Transcendent Humanity. and Mass Effect end of Days. Both very HFY and Free!
---
Some other stuff I like but not quite as free, so do your research!
Seven Eves - A little depressing and somewhat long winded, characters act a little too stupidly at times in my opinion but interesting none the less.
House of Suns - An exploration of Deep Time and the segmentation / division of minds and consciousness like what I was exploring with Arik and will be a large focus of my future writing. So fun to play with the concept of 'me'.
The Bobiverse - Von Nuemann eat your heart out. This one explores similar themes of consciousness and thought with regards to AI.
Spinward Fringe - It's long if you want something that doesn't leave you hanging, and the first one is free! Jumps around and suffers from what I call the 'LitRPG' syndrome without being in the genre itself, IE characters quickly gaining power and handling it almost perfectly. This only happens once so I can tolerate the lack of exposition.
hmm, that's about all I can recommend off the top of my head. Sorry for leaving you hanging on this. I do want to come back to it, but the serial format was doing my head in. Plots were unwraveling and I was writing into corners.
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Spinward-Fringe-ebook/dp/B004EPYUXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376876177&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=spinward+fringe+origins
This series is awesome in my opinion and I never see anyone talking about it. Plus the first book is free(if you have a kindle) so there is no harm in trying it. Be warned though that while I love these books the editing is awful.
Several books by Charlie Stross, including TOAST (a short story collection), two of his novels, Accelerando, and Scratch Monkey, and several other short stories are available at his website in multiple formats.
Spinward Fringe: Origins by Randolph Lalonde is available from Amazon for free and is the beginning of a great sci-fi series that I couldn't stop reading until I made my way all the way through the entire published series. I can't wait for the next one!
Cory Doctorow I believe has a couple of free ebooks for download on his website, craphound.com - including Little Brother.
I'm sure there are others I've missed but those are all good and off the top of my head. Enjoy!
Like this free kindle book here Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0. So much in this book I would love to model. Because of the long coats involved I picture a Todd McFarlane/Captain Harlock Space Pirate style thing going on. Plus there is an astroid space station in there I want to attempt but that is a long way away. Ok I'm just rambling now.
If you like Sci-Fi stuff, make sure to read the Spinward Fringe series. The first book is free from Amazon (ebook version). I am at the 4th book in the series now, and it's a really captivating read.
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Spinward-Fringe-ebook/dp/B004EPYUXA
Spinward fringe by Randolph Lalonde, first book is free.
There's also a handful from Evan Currie, cheap, inventive science fiction.
if you're in the US, look into overdrive. they team up with libraries to let you digitally borrow audiobooks. dunno if it's available outside of the US.
if you're not picky about what books you get, there are services like
audiobook boomwhich give out specific free audible books in exchange for reviews. i've been using them 1-2 months now and haven't paid full price for a book in a while.you can also checkout whispersync deals. sometimes it's possible to buy a kindle ebook for < 4$ and add on the audiobook for < 4$, which ends up being cheaper than just the audiobook. the most popular books are usually more expensive, so look into the lesser known authors. here's an example where the ebook is free and the audiobook is 1.99$ after you get the ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APAH7PQ
So is Monster Hunter International
https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ/
several of the classics provide 99c audiobooks with the free kindle book. Check these: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=amb_link_420460782_5?ie=UTF8&amp;node=6522096011&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Also Monster Hunter International has a free kindle book, providing a $2 audiobook, rather than the $4.95 of the sale.
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Hunter-International-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00APAH7PQ/
Monster Hunter International was a pretty good read. Seems like it would meet your criteria IMHO
I thought of the Salvation War as soon as the flier got shot down by missiles. Great series.
The story also reminded be of Monster Hunter International. Very similar recruitment process - except it was a werewolf instead of a vampire.
I really enjoyed the first two of the Honor Harrington Series, not sure how you feel about military scifi.
http://www.amazon.com/Basilisk-Station-Honor-Harrington-Book-ebook/dp/B00ARPJBS0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;sr=&amp;qid=
the kindle is free, and whispersync gives you the audible for 2 bucks
I don't finish books that are that bad. But the worst books I've ever read more than ~25 pages of are:
Galaxy 666 by Pel Torro (Lionel Fanthorpe).
The Dragon Never Sleeps by Glen Cook.
On Basilisk Station by David Weber.
Moan for Bigfoot by Virginia Wade. This last is cryptoerotica, which is like paranormal romance taken to the next level and then some. I tried it just to see...
I totally grok what you're asking for, and while I don't have a perfect answer to your request, I've recently stumbled across the Honor Harrington series (13 novels!) which detail both a "micro" level of detail, like what you've listed, but also engages the reader in a "large scale" level over the series, dealing with politics and mindsets of various separate human space-faring civilizations at war with each other.
The author goes into detail about the styles of clothing and background traits and habits of many minor characters, flushing many, many different diverse human cultures (spread across multiple planets over many millennia), but centers the series-- most of the time but not always, on the central character "Honor Harrington".
This series is a really unique mix of both intimate technology / culture / history / detail like what you're looking for, but also deals with a very long-term galactic war between one human-based empire and another-- and it certainly goes into detail on both sides on why the warfare is occurring, but certainly (spoiler alert) takes the position of Honor's civilization as the "good guys".
If you have an Amazon (Prime?) account, the first two books are free (at least for me), so what do you have to lose?
I thought they were pretty well written. The early books are pretty much Hortio Hornblower in the 33rd century, so I enjoyed that a lot. The latter books are more ASoIaF-ish, with large empires at war and Harrington becomes just one POV of many. You can download the first for free from Amazon so give it a try.
Well, you can read it. The Honor Harrington series by David Weber really opened my eyes to how badly done space combat is done in most sci-fi. First two books are free on Kindle.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ARPJBS0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBI9WD6
There was a planned movie but the company doing it went bankrupt.
The ebooks are on Amazon.. If you meant "free" then you're on the wrong sub: /r/Piracy/
I just finished the Traveler's Gate Trilogy by Will Wright.
I think it fits the bill nicely: enjoyable easy reading, lots of action, fairly small cast.
First book Here
I read [House of Blades] (https://www.amazon.com/House-Blades-Travelers-Gate-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00D52X58Y) the first month it came out. Same for the The Crimson Vault and City of Light.
I however admit that I did not read the Elder Empire series until much later, after I had already started Cradle. I had seen it on kindle while browsing many many times, but it didn't click with me. I very much enjoyed it once I finally started reading it, but I was very hesitant to start it for a couple of reasons I can identify for you.
This puts a little limiter on how complex I want a book to be. If I'm reading fast I don't want to have to remember a dozen different characters and each of their backgrounds and plot lines. The Elder Empire threatened to overwhelm my unprepared mind with lots of POV characters and interweaving plots. It sounded like epic fantasy to me, and don't get me wrong, I love epic fantasy, but I'd read House of Blades, which felt more like Heroic Fantasy or maybe coming of age fantasy, I wasn't sure I wanted to dive into something like that for a fairly new author I'd only read from a different sub-genre. I was somewhat afraid of putting forth the mental effort to read a story I was uncertain I'd like in the first place. I kept putting it off, thinking that I'd read it when I was in the right mood to dive into something more complex plot-wise. Unfortunately, when I'm looking for a book I can really dive into mentally I don't usually look to self-published books. I look for the big traditional names like, Rothfus' Name of the Wind or Oathbringer or A song of Ice and Fire or Malzahan book of the Fallen.
I apologize for the wall of text. There's a few more points I can think of but I'll stop here before my comment becomes too long for anybody to bother reading. Hopefully it helps you in your future marketing endeavors!
I've been in a similar mood lately, and recently read the first two books in the Traveler's Gate Trilogy. They definitely helped scratch that itch, and reminded me a bit of Mistborn.
The Name of the Wind also fits the bill if you haven't read that yet. Very much centered on one character and goes into quite a bit of detail about said character's training and education. Seems like it's exactly what you're going for from what you've described.
There's a book series called Monster Hunter International where they kill monsters with guns.
If you click on the LOOK INSIDE just above the book's image, the first 2 chapters are available on Amazon for free. Give it a try?
According to the Core Rulebook p246, if an animal companion is Awakened, it is no longer a companion:
> An awakened animal gets 3d6 Intelligence, +1d3 Charisma, and +2 HD. Its type becomes magical beast (augmented animal). An awakened animal can’t serve as an animal companion, familiar, or special mount.
This is also in the description of the spell on d20PFSRD.
So the GM failed in that one, by allowing them to have an Awakened animal companion in the first place. And as a GM myself, if a Druid was abusing the class feature in that manner, at the very least, he'd be facing an alignment change, if not more severe penalties. After all, he's supposed to be a protector of nature, not a serial murderer of the animals he's chosen as his companions.
nods
And if 5-player becomes a thing, there are accessories out there that we swear by:
Pathfinder magnetic board: Incredible for tracking initiative and monster health/status effects
Service that lets you print 5th and 6th player attack modifier decks
They missed the window for this product in a pretty huge way. This should have come out about the same time as the PHB. Now, everyone who needed one either has resorted to crafting their own, or has found VASTLY superior alternatives.
Hmm...
Could you be more descriptive in what you like about Sci-Fi? It is a huge genre. What is your aesthetic?
Also, don't feel bad about re-reading sections; it is a good habit if you don't understand the author. I'm reading The Brothers Karamazov right now, and I like to reread sections to better understand lengthy dialogue.
I think you should try reading Dune. It is a brilliant story and universe. However, you have to look up a lot of the words in a glossary in the back, which may be annoying for you.
An easier book that is sci-fi with elements of fantasy/folklore is Artemis Fowl. Definitely a favorite of my teen years. It is full of loveable characters, action, and intrigue.
If you like video games and have ever played Halo, I would recommend the first of the Halo book seires, Halo: Fall of Reach. It is well-written and develops the characters immensely, but it is still relatively easy reading. Even if you don't play the game, this is a "movie-in-the-head" kind of book.
The more feedback you give us, the better we can help you!
I came to say this series of Mistborn covers. That Spanish cover is actually rad