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Post by Sue on May 31, 2003 13:59:49 GMT -5
Based on a discussion on the ScoopMe S'cubie board, part 35, post #282-#300, Nan, Patti and I decided to start a thread over here to share general book recommendations.
The books which led to the discussion are the Amelia Peabody series written by Elizabeth Peters. The first book in the series (which is now more than 20 books, covering a time frame from the 1890's to after WWI) is: Crocodile on the Sandbank.
The books are well written and entertaining and combine several "genres": historical romance (with melodramatic tongue-in-cheek), murder mystery, humor. The central protaganist is Amelia Peabody, a strong willed young woman with a penchant for exploring pyramids. Read posts 282-300 for further recommendation.
deborah, ellie, Anne D., Alexandra and Gail were also part of the discussion and someone brought up the Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy Sayers.
I also recommended a book I just finished and will simply copy the previous post:
As I was reading fanfic I came upon an author--magista (on fanfiction.net)--enjoyed her "The Letter and More" very much. In her intro to herself she mentioned an author: Lois MacMaster Bujold.
Months and months later I ordered several of her books from Amazon (most are only about 6-8 dollars). I'm enjoying them very much. She writes very well. She has a series going about "Miles Vorkosigan"--sci fi. Very interesting protagonist. Has some physical handicaps so has to use brain and diplomatic skills. Gets into bizarre situations. Also has the human/relationship element.
But I just finished one of her non-Miles books, Curse of Challion. It was VERY good. I guess you could characterize it as fantasy, but it's not so heavy on the magic, etc. Clearly set in another universe it's about love, loyalty, politics-war-alliances, theology (it's less about magic than miracles wrought by the "gods" of that universe) and has something interesting things to ponder about free-will and what makes a "saint" (or champion). Just wanted to recommend both the author and the book.
Finally, when I get the chance I will post the list of children's fantasy recommendations which we collected earlier.
Both the Peters' and Bujold books contain no material rated higher than PG-13 (if that) and are suitable for teen readers, but I doubt teenagers would be interested in the Peters' series.
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Post by RAKSHA on May 31, 2003 19:41:59 GMT -5
Based on a discussion on the ScoopMe S'cubie board, part 35, post #282-#300, Nan, Patti and I decided to start a thread over here to share general book recommendations. The books which led to the discussion are the Amelia Peabody series written by Elizabeth Peters. The first book in the series (which is now more than 20 books, covering a time frame from the 1890's to after WWI) is: Crocodile on the Sandbank.The books are well written and entertaining and combine several "genres": historical romance (with melodramatic tongue-in-cheek), murder mystery, humor. The central protaganist is Amelia Peabody, a strong willed young woman with a penchant for exploring pyramids. Read posts 282-300 for further recommendation. CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK was a ripping good read! Amelia is a lot of fun, and her relationship with crusty Mr. Emerson is delightful...
Is this thread about mysteries/historical romances in particular, or all genres?
Gail
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Post by raenstorm on May 31, 2003 19:54:56 GMT -5
CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK was a ripping good read! Amelia is a lot of fun, and her relationship with crusty Mr. Emerson is delightful...
Is this thread about mysteries/historical romances in particular, or all genres?
Gail I think it's intended to be about any/all book recommendations (meaning... all genres).
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Post by Sue P on Jun 1, 2003 6:56:59 GMT -5
To the PTB: You can delete the previous post. I'm not logged in so it wouldn't let me even edit, let alone delete.
It was intended to answer Gail's question: Rae is correct: any and all genres. Anything to help us get through the summer!
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Post by Sue on Jun 1, 2003 12:53:10 GMT -5
Key: **means this author was recommended by more than one S'cubie (Y) means appropriate for young readers and up (PT/YT) appropriate for pre-teen and young teen and up(10+) (OT/A) appropriate for older (15+) teen and adult **Richard Adams: Watership Down (OT/A)
Adventures of Captain Underpants (Y)
**Lloyd Alexander: The Book of Three (PT/YT), The Black Cauldron, The Children of Llyr, Taran Wanderer The High King, The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastien, and more
Catherine Asaro (A)
Natalie Babbitt: Tuck Everlasting (PT/YT)
Frank L. Baum: The Wizard of Oz series
Berenstain Bears (Y)
**Gillian Bradshaw: (OT/A) Hawk of May, Kingdom of Summer, In Winter’s Shadow, The Beacon at Alexandria The Sand-Reckoner, and more
Peter S. Beagle: The Lost Unicorn
Brothers Grimm: fairytales
Lois McMaster Bujold: The Miles Vorkosigan Series (OT)
**Lewis Carroll: Alice In Wonderland
***Orson Scott Card: Seventh Son series: Red Prophet, Alvin Prentice, Alvin Journeyman, and more (OT/A), Ender’s Game series: Ender's Game, Shadow of the Hegemon, Xenocide, and more
**Joy Chant: Red Moon, Black Mountain, The Grey Mane of Morning (YT/OT)
C.J.Cherryh: The Faded Sun: Kesrith, Shon’jir, Kutath (YT/OT)
John Christopher: When the Tripods Came, The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead, The Pool of Fire(YT/OT) Matt Christopher:--boys' sports--not fantasy (PT/YT) **Eoin Colfer: Artemus Fowl, Artemus Fowl: The Arctic Incident (YT/T)
**Susan Cooper: Over Sea, Under Stone(YT), The Dark is Rising, The Greenwitch, The Grey King, Silver on the Tree, King of Shadows, The Boggart (PT-OT)
**Roald Dahl: Matilda(Y), James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, and more (Y/PT)
Tomi DePaola: young children, read aloud
Dr. Seuss: all ages
Lois Duncan: Down a Dark Hall, A Gift of Magic, and more (YT/OT)
**Edward Eager: Half Magic, Knight’s Castle, and more(Y/PT)
Eleanor Estes: The "Pye" books
Monica Furlong: Wise Child, Juniper (YT)
Walter Farley: the Black Stallion books (PT/YT)
Alan Garner: The Weirdstone of Brisengamen, The Moon of Gomrath (YT/T)
Nicholas Stuart Grey: Grimbold’s Other World (YT/T)
Margaret Peterson Haddix: Running Out of Time, Just Ella(YT/Y)
Lian Hearn: Across the Nightingale Floor(T/OT/A)
Frank Herbert: Dune (OT/A), Dune Messiah, Children of Dune
Diana Wynne Jones: Charmed Life, Witch Week, The Lives of Christopher Chant, Fire and Hemlock, The Ogre Downstairs and more (PT/T/OT)
Norton Juster: The Phantom Toolbooth
Rudyard Kipling: The Jungle Book
E. L. Konigsburg: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Y/PT)
William Kotzwinkle: Dr Rat
Katherine Kurtz: The Deryni Chronicles (T/OT/A)
Andrew Lang
Jane Langton: The Diamond in the Window
**Ursula K. LeGuin: A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tomb of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu (T/OT)
***Madeleine L’Engle: A Wrinkle in Time, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, A Wind in the Door, The Austens series and more (PT and up)
**Gail Carson Levine: Ella Enchanted and more (PT/YT)
***C.S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia (YT and up), Out of the Silent Planet (OT/A), Perelandra(OT/A), That Hideous Strength(OT/A)
**George MacDonald At the Back of the North Wind, The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie ,The Light Princess (PT/YT)
Anne McCaffrey The Dragonriders of Pern series (T/OT/A)
Eloise McGraw: The Moorchild (PT and up)
Patricia McKillip The Riddle Master of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, Harpist in the Wind, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (YT/OT/A)
Robin McKinley The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown, Beauty, Deerskin, Spindle’s End, Rosedaughter (YT/OT/A)
A. A. Milne: Winnie the Pooh (Y)
**E. Nesbit: Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet, and more (Y and up)
Ruth Nichols: A Walk Out of This World, The Marrow of the World (Yt/OT)
William Nicholson: The Wind Singer, Slaves to the Mastery, Firesong (YT/OT)
Mary Norton: The Borrowers
**Mary Pope Osborne: Magic Tree House (Y)
Edith Pargeter The Heaven Tree (excellent historical fiction), The Green Branch, The Scarlet Seed (OT/A)
**Tamora Pierce: Alanna: The First Adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess, Lioness Rampant ,The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (YT/OT)
Peter Pan
Elizabeth Marie Pope: The Perilous Gard, The Sherwood Ring (YT/OT)
**Terry Pratchett: The Amazing Maurice and Educated Rodents (YT/OT)
**Phillip Pullman: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass, and more (YT/OT)
Ellen Raskin: The Westing Game (solve it yourself mystery) (PT)
***J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and the other Harry Potter books(PT and up)
Mary Doria Russell: The Sparrow (for older readers), The Children of Heaven (OT/A)
Princess Bride (William Sheridan??)
Felix Salten: Bambi
Shel Silverstein: Where The Sidewalk Ends (poetry for kids); The Giving Tree and more
Dan Simmons: Hyperion (especially if you liked The Matrix), The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Endymion Rising (OT/A)
Sherwood Smith: Wren to the Rescue, Wren’s Quest, Wren’s War, Crown Duel, Court Duel (YT/OT)
Zilpha Keatley Snyder: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid, Below the Root, The Changeling, and more (YT)
**Sherri S. Tepper: Grass (OT/A), and many more
Thurber, James: James Thurber: The Thirteen Clocks, The Wonderful O, The White Deer, Many Moons
P. L. Travers: Mary Poppins
**J.R.R. Tolkien: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings (OT/A)
Sylvia Waugh: The Mennyms (YT/OT)
Wind in the Willows
T. H. White: The Sword in the Stone, Mistress Masham’s Repose, The Once and Future King (OT)
Patricia C. Wrede: Dealing With Dragons, Searching for Dragons and more (YT/OT)
Laurence Yep Sweetwater (YT)
<B>And of course there are all of the classics: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Anything by: Edgar Allen Poe, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury</B>
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Post by RAKSHA on Jun 1, 2003 23:26:49 GMT -5
Here I am watching Spike and Dru torture Angel on a Season 2 rerun; so I thought of updating my Favorite Vampire Novels list, originally posted on ScoopMe...
FAVORITE VAMPIRE NOVELS (listed in approximate order of preference):
1. FEVRE DREAM, by George R.R. Martin: simply the best vampire story I've ever read. Poetic, violent and occasionally touching. Not much romance, but friendship is important. Set in the American South before and after the Civil War. Lots of riverboat action.
2. THE DRACULA TAPES by Fred Saberhagen. A tongue-in-cheek, or is that tongue-in-fang, version of Stoker's classic, from the Count's point of view.
3. THE HOLMES-DRACULA FILE, by Fred Saberhagen. Dracula meets Sherlock Holmes and Watson and the Giant Rat of Sumatra, among other things...
4. THE DARKANGEL, by Meredith Ann Pierce. A lovely fantasy novel about a resourceful young woman and a vampire prince.
5. BLOOD PRICE, by Tanya Huff. Vicki Nelson, a tough female detective, meets Henry Fitzroy, a charming vampire; and they team up against evil in Toronto. The third member of this triangle is Vicki's sometime boyfriend, Detective Mike Celluci, who put the M in macho. Bonus points if you know who Henry Fitzroy was during life before reading this enjoyable book.
6. BLOOD LINES, by Tanya Huff. Henry, Vicki and Mike battle a really nasty mummy who doesn't stay wrapped for long.
7. BLOOD TRAIL, by Tanya Huff. My favorite of this series. As a favor to Henry, Vicki goes into the country to help a werewolf clan that someone is trying to assasinate. There's a great scene with not two, but the three alpha males of the story; and of course the werewolf alpha takes it very seriously... There are two other books in the series, but I didn't like them as much.
8. BLOOD GAMES, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - my favorite of her many stories and novels about the Count St. Germain, seductive vampire hero. This one is set in Nero's Rome and has a charming heroine, Olivia. A great scene in the arena, too!
9. THE PALACE, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Saint Germain in renaissance Florence, hobnobbing with the Medicis, among others.
10. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, by Yarbro - I think this was the first Saint Germain novel. The count fights devil worshippers in Paris in 1743.
11. TEMPTING FATE, by Yarbro. A poignant tale, set in Europe between the two World Wars; wherein St. Germain experiences fatherhood (not the same way Angel did). I think this is out of print.
I've read other vampire books, including one by Laurell Hamilton, and CLUB DEAD by Charlaine Harris, but they didn't hold my interest as much as the above books.
Gail
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Post by Becky H on Jun 6, 2003 8:40:24 GMT -5
I just finished a great trilogy by an Australian writer, Garth Nix, who was new to me. The books are Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen. They're classified as young adult fantasy but they're definitely for older kids. The title characters are women whose calling is to send creatures back into Death who should not have returned to Life. Intriguing, huh? If you liked Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea books, these should appeal to you.
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Post by Mary on Jun 6, 2003 14:42:16 GMT -5
Here I am watching Spike and Dru torture Angel on a Season 2 rerun; so I thought of updating my Favorite Vampire Novels list, originally posted on ScoopMe...
FAVORITE VAMPIRE NOVELS (listed in approximate order of preference):
1. FEVRE DREAM, by George R.R. Martin: simply the best vampire story I've ever read. Poetic, violent and occasionally touching. Not much romance, but friendship is important. Set in the American South before and after the Civil War. Lots of riverboat action.
2. THE DRACULA TAPES by Fred Saberhagen. A tongue-in-cheek, or is that tongue-in-fang, version of Stoker's classic, from the Count's point of view.
3. THE HOLMES-DRACULA FILE, by Fred Saberhagen. Dracula meets Sherlock Holmes and Watson and the Giant Rat of Sumatra, among other things...
4. THE DARKANGEL, by Meredith Ann Pierce. A lovely fantasy novel about a resourceful young woman and a vampire prince.
5. BLOOD PRICE, by Tanya Huff. Vicki Nelson, a tough female detective, meets Henry Fitzroy, a charming vampire; and they team up against evil in Toronto. The third member of this triangle is Vicki's sometime boyfriend, Detective Mike Celluci, who put the M in macho. Bonus points if you know who Henry Fitzroy was during life before reading this enjoyable book.
6. BLOOD LINES, by Tanya Huff. Henry, Vicki and Mike battle a really nasty mummy who doesn't stay wrapped for long.
7. BLOOD TRAIL, by Tanya Huff. My favorite of this series. As a favor to Henry, Vicki goes into the country to help a werewolf clan that someone is trying to assasinate. There's a great scene with not two, but the three alpha males of the story; and of course the werewolf alpha takes it very seriously... There are two other books in the series, but I didn't like them as much.
8. BLOOD GAMES, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - my favorite of her many stories and novels about the Count St. Germain, seductive vampire hero. This one is set in Nero's Rome and has a charming heroine, Olivia. A great scene in the arena, too!
9. THE PALACE, by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Saint Germain in renaissance Florence, hobnobbing with the Medicis, among others.
10. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, by Yarbro - I think this was the first Saint Germain novel. The count fights devil worshippers in Paris in 1743.
11. TEMPTING FATE, by Yarbro. A poignant tale, set in Europe between the two World Wars; wherein St. Germain experiences fatherhood (not the same way Angel did). I think this is out of print.
I've read other vampire books, including one by Laurell Hamilton, and CLUB DEAD by Charlaine Harris, but they didn't hold my interest as much as the above books.
Gail I copied this, and thank you for posting it, Gail. Right now, I'm in the mood for a good vampire ROMANCE. What do you suggest? Of course, suggestions by all are more than welcome! Mary
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Post by RAKSHA on Jun 6, 2003 23:34:07 GMT -5
I copied this, and thank you for posting it, Gail. Right now, I'm in the mood for a good vampire ROMANCE. What do you suggest? Of course, suggestions by all are more than welcome! Mary Actually, all of the novels I posted have at least some elements of romance. The Saint-Germain novels have sex scenes; the Count is never without female companionship of one sort or another, the only problem being that in his universe, vampires can't have a good time with each other. Tanya Huff's books have, if not romance, very strong sexual/love relationships.
Gail
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Post by Mary on Jun 7, 2003 5:32:49 GMT -5
Thanks, Gail!
Mary
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Post by DaveCrenshaw on Jun 7, 2003 11:48:13 GMT -5
I recommend for reading a graphic novel (translated, fancy comic book) drafted by Christopher Golden and supposedly based on Joss' original concept for the movie. It's called "The Origin", and it adjusts the movie just enough so that it becomes parallel to the TV series in overall tone and also historical events like the burning of the Hemery High gym. If you are interested in learning even more of Buffy's backstory, consider "The Origin".
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Post by Becky H on Jun 7, 2003 16:32:02 GMT -5
I agree with Gail's suggestions about the Saint-Germain novels. And although in Yarbro's version of vampirism he can't have actual intercourse, the books are still very sensual. I'd also suggest a series I just started reading by P.N. Elrod about a 1930's era Chicago vampire who's a nightclub owner and also a sort of private detective. I've only read Cold Streets but, based on it, I'm going to search out more.
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Post by RAKSHA on Jun 7, 2003 18:02:12 GMT -5
I agree with Gail's suggestions about the Saint-Germain novels. And although in Yarbro's version of vampirism he can't have actual intercourse, the books are still very sensual. I'd also suggest a series I just started reading by P.N. Elrod about a 1930's era Chicago vampire who's a nightclub owner and also a sort of private detective. I've only read Cold Streets but, based on it, I'm going to search out more. Saint-Germain cannot have sexual intercourse, but he can do just about everything . Yarbro often mentions "his small, beautiful hands"...One interesting thing about Saint-Germain is that he was very tall for the era when he was born (I think around 2000 B.C.), but is now shorter than the ideal male height. Must be about Spike-size. (of course, since I think I'm not much taller than Buffy, would be fine with me) I tried one of Elrod's books and couldn't get into it... Gail
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Alexandra
S'cubie
Founder
"You never had it so good as me. Never."
Posts: 108
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Post by Alexandra on Jun 7, 2003 20:02:18 GMT -5
I've read the latest paperback in the Foreigner Series by C.J. Cherryh and am waiting for the hardback to come out in paper. This series is sci fi but heavy into the clash of human culture with an indigenous species of humanoids whose culture has its foundation in numbers. Sounds dry but it's not at all. I think there are six books now. I've actually read the first three books twice. This world is very compelling, with the Atevi humanoid forms psychologically wired very differently from humans. Never a dull moment in the two species trying to co-exist on the Atevi's planet. And Banichi can be my bodyguard anytime. The individual titles are: Foreigner - Invader - Inheritor - Precursor - Defender - Explorer (Explorer is still in hardback.) C.J. Cherryh has many other books also. A good web site for her is www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/C_J_Cherryh.htm
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Post by Betsy on Jun 10, 2003 22:17:47 GMT -5
I just finished this book tonite. It's called After Sundown by Amanda Ashley. Found it in the romance section at Barnes & Noble. Here's a description of the story on the back cover.
Edward Ramsey has spent his life hunting vampires. Now he is one of them. Yet Edward's human conscience -- and his heart -- compel him to save beautiful Kelly Anderson, and soon their growing love is his reason for living. And as the ancient, stunning, and merciless vampire Khira seeks supremacy among Los Angeles' undead, Edward and his former nemesis Grigori Chiavari, once Khira's lover, must unite to stop her -- before the city, and everything they chrish, is in her power . . .
Now these vampire seem to have retained their soul and could curb their bloodlush. They can teleport, read minds, compel someone and then wipe their memories of being fed on. They have prenatural eyesight, hearing, speed, and smell. They can stretch their mind throughout the city . . . they also have a weakness when face to face with silver (which was new to me). It was a good story and it's the first I've read from this authori. It's her newest book. I have another written in 97 that I'll start tomorrow.
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