Another newbie needing recommendations...

[shadow9d9]

Most of my sci-fi/fantasy background has been tv/movies up until this point. Favorite TV shows: Star Trek: TNG, DS9, the new Battlestar Galactica, Farscape, the 4400, Quantum Leap, and Firefly.

I just recently rediscovered reading(I am young yet, 23).

I read most of the Deep Space Nine season 8 books, and once I was finished, I decided to start reading more sci-fi/fantasy. I asked for a friend's advice and I chose from his list to try Bujold's Vorkosigan's series which is being delivered to me via mail as we speak. I bought the Hobbit(though haven't read it yet) to test Tolkien's writing style(a new story since I've seen the films-yes I know there is more to LOTR than what was in the films-I will get to lotr next).

I just read Guards! Guards! which was extremely witty and intelligent writing. Somehow Pratchett seems to write in a way that makes you really care about the characters, so I will be buying more discworld...

I also bought the first book in the song of Ice and Fire series by Martin George, however, I am waiting a little bit before devling into it, just because the series still has plenty of time before its completion.

I am looking for sci-fi fantasy that isn't corny/cheesy in the way the original Star Trek was for tv... trying to avoid outdated or now considered cliched writing.

My friend recommended the following:
"clark - The Collected Short stories
asimov- Foundation
Moon-The Deed of Paksenarrion
Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land
Richard Adams Watership Down
T H Whites The Once and Future King...
Dan Simmon's Illiyum series
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series
Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages series
anything by Ursula Le Guin
"

Knowing the books that I've now read(DS9, Discworld, and upcoming Vorkosigan(next on my reading list)), which books above or otherwise would you recommend for me to read next.

Thanks!

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I would recommend that you read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. It's short - only about 300-something pages - but it really is brilliant. The series continues with a few other books, I believe, although I havn't read the rest. I also suggest that you try Dune by Frank Herbert. Most people think this to be one of the best sci-fi books ever (I found it to be a really good book, but not worthy of that title, IMHO) It's quite short, so it should suit your needs quite well. This book is also Book 1 in a series. And of course you should try to witty, clever The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

I definitely recommend that you read The Hobbit sometime soon, it's a great book. You may want to hold off on LOTR until you get a little more used to reading, however, because it can be a bit of a struggle. Also, try to get to Watership Down as quickly as possible - it's an absolutely brilliant piece of work!

 

[Kookamoor]

If you're interested in trying some short stories I would recommend JG Ballard. He's written novels too, but I haven't read those. His earlier short stories are great, and I'm not usually a 'sci-fi' fan - I'm more of a fantasy sort of person. I'd recommend picking up a 'Best of J.G. Ballard' collection.

Oh, and if you don't like Tolkein, don't rule out other fantasy. As I think you know, judging from your comments above, Tolkein's style is very wordy, and I found the LOTR books to lack a little substance in comparison to many of the more contemporary works. While Tolkein was an undeniable pioneer in the genre, I have issues with people who think he 'defines' it.

 

[shadow9d9]

I will be reading the hobbit this weekend...so we shall see what I think of it.