Sci-fi/Fantasy recommendations

[Syt]

Since Grallon mentioned Mars: Ray Bradbury for some classic sci-fi!

Also, H.P. Lovecraft. It's hard to appreciate how novel his work was, since a lot of it has been tread and retread into the point of cliché, but many of his stories still make for good reading. Penguin has a few small books with his short stories, annotated by T.S. Joshi, one of the best scholars on Lovecraft. I especially loved the The Colour Out Of Space, Innsmouth Horror, and especially At The Mountains Of Madness.

In a similar vein: the original Conan stories by R.E. Howard. They're less "classic fantasy", but share some characteristics with Lovecraft's universe (e.g. the existence of "Elder Gods" etc.).

[Ideologue]

You know, I've enjoyed some of Stirling's work, but the idea of the laws of physics changing in such a way that electricity and gunpowder don't work, but life on earth can survive is silly.

That's a premise?  That's really, really,  really, really dumb.  Then again, it's not like hyperdrives can exist.

[The Brain]

Conan is pretty nice BUT if you want insane Texans Languish should be enough for you.

[Razgovory]

I was thinking about the essay shelf posted.  There is one other area where the general public will willing engage in reading fantasy without any problem and that's horror fiction.   Horror is typically a type of fantasy, though a dark and nasty one.  Ghosts, curses, demons and the like are fantasy and these abound in horror fiction.

[The Brain]

Horrible fiction is depressingly real.

[Razgovory]

We have enough of that listed in this thread.

[Razgovory]

You know, I've enjoyed some of Stirling's work, but the idea of the laws of physics changing in such a way that electricity and gunpowder don't work, but life on earth can survive is silly.

That's a premise?  That's really, really,  really, really dumb.  Then again, it's not like hyperdrives can exist.

It's also written poorly, has annoying characters, and has implausible events.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Peter F. Hamilton: has a good number of SF books written now. Usually mixes his SF with a good detective-type story.

the Greg Mandell books (trilogy, earlier work though) is a good starting point (and in a near future England too)
His most recent book is the "Great North Road".

[citizen k]

Also, H.P. Lovecraft.

Mentioned on page three. 

[The Brain]

Also, H.P. Lovecraft.

Mentioned on page three. 

His tits are meh.

[Agelastus]

"Courtship Rite" (or "Geta" as I think was its UK title) by Donald Kingsbury is one of my recommendations as a "must read". Good luck finding it though (and no, you're not having my copy. )

The "Gap" series by Stephen Donaldson (his foray into science fiction) is also a surprisingly good read. As is his "Mordant's Need" duology on the Fantasy side. Avoid any and all of his "Thomas Covenant" books like the plague, however.

As for the more obscure books recommended previously, I'd second the recommendation for the "Monarchies of God" series (now out in a two-volume compilation.) Although I do have an issue with the final book - the ending feels rushed as if the author either couldn't get a contract for another book or was determined to make it a five book sequence (for which I think there may have been something of a vogue at the time.)

Peter Hamilton, as has been mentioned, is a good author of science fiction - however, his "stand-alones" tend to suck and the Mandell books, while enjoyable, are his first novels and show it. Read either the "Night's Dawn" trilogy or the "Commonwealth Saga".

As for S M Stirling - I must confess that my mother likes his works; a lot. Personally, I think his best (and only really decent book) is "The Peshawar Lancers"; most of the rest of his oeuvre should be ignored.

On a lighter note, The "Belisarius" saga by Eric Flint and David Drake is by no-means a masterpiece; what the six books are, however, is compulsively readable (and re-readable.)

[Scipio]

I liked the Ryiria Chronicles.

http://www.michaelsullivan-author.com/MichaelSullivan_Book.html

It's pure fantasy with ridiculous tropes.

I'm reading the Chathran Voyages Trilogy by Robert V.S. Reddick but I doubt anyone here would like it, it's kinda weirdly written.

I have to tentatively endorse Riyria Chronicles.  It's not actively stupid, which puts it miles ahead of most modern fantasy drivel.

[citizen k]

A fellow Brit, J.G. Ballard.

[Neil]

You know, I've enjoyed some of Stirling's work, but the idea of the laws of physics changing in such a way that electricity and gunpowder don't work, but life on earth can survive is silly.

That's a premise?  That's really, really,  really, really dumb.  Then again, it's not like hyperdrives can exist.

I dunno.  I read his work in the Man-Kzin Wars books, so none of that nonsense there.

Yeah, I really like sci-fi that features slower-than-light interstellar space travel.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Owen Deathstalker was a fun series. Demented, certainly, but fun.