this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2024

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Can you recommend a book for me please? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by foofiepie@lemmy.world to c/books@lemmy.ml

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I’ve basically been ordered to pick up any fiction book and read, after a friend discovered I’ve not read anything but non-fiction for a decade.

The ones I’ve enjoyed in the past have been short, fantastical or sci-fi (think Aldous Huxley, Ian McEwan), but crucially with amazing first person descriptive prose - the kind where you’re immersed in the writing so much you’re almost there with the character.

I liked sci-fi as the world’s constraints weren’t always predictable. Hope that makes sense.

Any recommendations?

Edit: I’m going to up the ante and, as a way of motivating myself to get off my arse and actually read a proper story, promise to choose a book from the top comment, after, let’s say arbitrarily, Friday 2200 GMT.

Edit deux: Wow ok I don’t think I’ve ever had this many responses to anything I’ve posted before. You’ve given me what looks like a whole year of interesting suggestions, and importantly, good commentary around them. I’m honouring my promise to buy the top thing in just under 4 hours.

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[–] nightofmichelinstars@sopuli.xyz 3 points 9 months ago

There's a lot of good stuff here but I have to throw Andromeda Strain and World War Z into the pot.

[–] i_am_not_a_robot@feddit.uk 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The Mistborn Trilogy (start with The Final Empire) by Brandon Sanderson is superb.

After that initial trilogy they are a massive struggle, but the first three are well worth reading.

[–] TheaoneAndOnly27@kbin.social 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I absolutely agree with your recommendation, but man if they're looking for something short, the mistborn series is the opposite lol

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[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 3 points 9 months ago

Not really sci-fi, but shirt and very good: Fictions/Ficciones and Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges. Also, Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.

[–] laurelraven@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 9 months ago

Something not by one of the more well known authors I could recommend are the Indranan War trilogy and Farian War trilogy, by K. B. Wagers

Also, The Frontiers Saga series by Ryk Brown is fantastic, and I think getting close to 40 books by now

[–] fleet@lemmy.ca 3 points 9 months ago

Naive Super. Not sci-fi, but a quick enjoyable read. I've read it 4 times now. Its just a fantastic simple book to get back into reading fiction.

[–] carcus@lemmy.ml 3 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Haven’t seen this one mentioned, but The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin might work. I don’t believe there’s a lot of first person, but it’s an interesting read.

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[–] Ixoid@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago

There are some great suggestions here - I'm also adding to my reading list!

I almost exclusively read sci-fi, and my favourite author is Peter F. Hamilton. He has written some mind-bendingly good space opera, much of it spanning multiple novels.

His best work IMHO is a one-shot, standalone novel called Fallen Dragon. It's got rampant uber-captialism, space marines, geurilla warfare on colony worlds, and aliens. And a very satisfying conclusion that I didn't see coming.

[–] Zellith@kbin.social 3 points 9 months ago

You might try some of Azimovs short stories. For a bit more meat you might try Frederik Pohls Hee Chee saga. Book 1 was great.

[–] shortwavesurfer@monero.town 3 points 9 months ago

Its not scifi, but Thieves Emporium by Max Hernandez.

[–] OldManBOMBIN@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Read Everworld

[–] plasticcanliner@firefish.ranranhome.info 2 points 9 months ago

@foofiepie@lemmy.world Iain M Banks books are always a treat, and I mean the Culture ones

[–] Ghostsheetz@alaskan.social 2 points 9 months ago

@foofiepie continuing with sci-fi definitely check out the Monk & Robot series by Becky Chambers!
“A Psalm For the Wild Built” & “A Prayer For the Crown Shy”
Short & beautiful.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago

Roadside Picnic. Not too long, but phenomenal overall and told via first person.

[–] Michal@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

John Scalzi's book are an easy read. Its a lightweight Sci fi though.

Old Man's War, and Starter Villain are the two of his books I've read and enjoyed.

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