carmie

I'm traveling across the country to Washington DC, and I'm going to be on an Amtrak train for about 48 hours straight each way. I'm excited, because it's a nice, leisurely way to travel, and I won't have to get strip-searched and tasered for the privilege of sitting on a tarmac for 5 hours in a tiny little seat that doesn't recline. I'll have a sleeper car, and I'll be able to wander around the train, watch the scenery, and it'll be a great opportunity to tear through some books.Here are the last few books I've read and I loved them all:Making Money by Terry PratchettThe Golden Compass by Philip PullmanNeverwhere by Neil GaimanSpook Country by William GibsonTime Enough For Love by Robert A. HeinleinWorldwired by Elizabeth BearThe System of the World by Neal StephensonWhat would you suggest for someone who likes these kinds of books? Or, for the heck of it, what would you recommend even if you haven't read these books?

CarolH

My first thought was Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, so I say go for books 2 and 3 (Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass). Other fantasy titles I've liked in the past: Piers Anthony and his Xanth books (especially the beginning) - full of puns; his Adept trilogy and the Incarnations of Immortality series (loved On a Pale Horse!) Might check out Katherine Kurtz and her Deryni series. It was written in the 80s I think - the Deryni are a magical race - there are very few left, because they were marked for death.Different genre - The Kite Runner is a good one. I understand his other book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is also good. Maybe a Stephen King book, if you haven't read all of them. The Stand, Misery or It? The Mist is also out now, alone, or part of the short story collection, Skeleton Crew.If I come up with some others (more variety), I'll be back. Have a great trip! Sounds wonderful. I've looking into it a few times, but the money for any trip isn't there right now.

Carmine

Hi, Read "Lonesome Dove" or "Shogun" or another Favorite, "Nobodys Fool" , those are 3 sure fire winners.

carnaby_fudge

I have read most of the books on your list, so we must have some of the same taste in books. My favorite of your list is Neil Gaiman. I have read all of his books and I suggest American Gods or Stardust. Another little known but fantastic arthor is Mary Brown. She has a series of books starting with When Pigs Fly, The Dragonnes Egg, Master of Many Treasures, etc and I really loved each one. It has orphaned heros, dragons, witches, talking animals, and much more. Try the first one and see if you are not hooked. Good luck and Happy Reading.

carolina

read this: its great ohh and have a nice journey lolharry potter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dragon Rider, Ink Heart, Ink Spell By C. FunkeDarby my story's e.g. surviveing sydney cove 1790 and 1942 the bombing of darwinbut most of all this is the best!)Alone on a wide wide sea by Michael Morpurgo.hes a 60 yr old man telling his story of how when he was a child he was seperated from his sis kitty. he gets taken to austtralia and put on farm at the age of 5 i think. he is a slave he meets some good people and when hes older has a daughter and plans a trip bak to england to find his long lost sister and find our what the key means (when he left his sis she gave him a key- he calls it the lucky key) but we he make the journey that was a bit about the story heres the blurb from the book:THERE WERE DOZENS OF US ON THE SHIP, BOYS, GIRLS. WE WERE OF TO AUSTRALIA, IT MIGHT AS WELL BEEN THE MOON.Orphaned in WW11, Arthur is separated from his sister and sent to the other side of the world. There his extraordanary journey continues as his friend Marty Survive brutal captivity on a working farm find a new family with eccentic Aunty Meg and her animals, and discover their talent for designing yachts.Sixty years later, Arthur's Daunghter Allie sets sail single-handed in a yacht sesignded by her father, derermind to find his long los sister in england. Can her family LOve stretch across time and the vastness of the oceans? And will threads of Arthurs life finally come together hope you read that book

carolel

I have answered this question so many times, I decided to dedicate a web site to answer this question. Here it is:http://www.life-after-harry-potter.comIncluded is a list of only the best sorcery fantasy books, grade reading level, a short review of each book along with a brief summary of adult content. There is also a "Reader's Choice" list of favorite books, and a list of heroine sorcery fantasy books.All of these are excellent scifi (author, followed by books).Jules Verne - free onlineJourney to the Center of the Earth (my favorite scifi)20,000 Leagues Under the SeaMysterious IslandH G Wells - free online, and roughly half-length novelsWar of the WorldsThe Time Machine (downer ending)The Invisible Man (unlike many IM stories, he's a villain. This is the original)Isaac AsimovI, Robot (you *must* read this - the only "must read" scifi)Elijah Baley books - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Baley excellent both as scifi *and* as murder mysteries - the best of both worldsFoundation Series - *the* classic scifi trilogyAndre Norton - *the* classic female scifi author, most of her books involve "coming of age" and pure scifi adventurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_Andre_Nortonher best: Star Man's Son (also titled 2250 A.D.)other excellent:Judgment on JanusForerunner seriesCentral Control seriesSolar Queen seriesThe Time Traders (Atlantis, magic - very cool!)The Zero StoneYou may also like Andre Norton's "Moon Called", a woman with psychic and magical powers comes of age in a post-nuclear holocaust world with - well, wait until you meet the *real* villains!Another excellent: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Though written for younger readers, I read this recently and it is great! Better than the movie (which was also pretty good).I hope this helps.Jim