reading recommendations, please?

[ravnsdaughter]

I got into reading science fiction and fantasy relatively late in life, though I'm familiar with a lot more authors than I've read because of working in a library for a while. So, I have two questions for my f-list in this regard:

First, what series would consider to be scifi/fantasy classics and/or must-reads?

Second, I've never read anything by Neil Gaiman, but would like to. Which book should I start with?

Third, graphic novels. What would be a good one to start with? (keep in mind I can't stand anime).

Edit: stuff I have read/really liked, off the top of my head:
copious amounts of Marion Zimmer Bradley (she's a favorite author of mine)
Lord of the Rings
Piers Anthony's Incantations of Immortality
A few books of the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, I'm slowly working my way through them (and love them to bits)
Rick Cook's Wizard's Bane series (another favorite)
The Kushiel trilogy and the followups, by Jacqueline Carey (which I consider fantasy, anyways)

Comments

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

For Gaiman, start with Neverwhere. Follow that with Good Omens, then The Graveyard Book, then Coraline, then American Gods. By that point, your eyes will have crossed and you'll be hooked.

[panivazka.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already, read Piers Anthony's Incarnation of Immortality series.

[gwynn-aaron.livejournal.com]

For fantasy I will throw out a couple of authors who are on my must read list.
• J.R.R. Tolkien
• Katharine Kerr

For science fiction things get a little trickier because I read a lot of it. Nonetheless, here's a couple authors I like a lot and would recommend to anyone.
• Robert A. Heinlein
• David Weber

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

Gaiman and graphic novel-wise, you could kill two birds with one stone and read Sandman.

Must-reads... just because no one else is likely to recommend her, I'm going to push the works of Kage Baker. Engaging characters, a good sense of humor without being all-out farce, and the overarching plot in the Company series builds at a wonderful, gradual pace that was clearly well-thought-out.

[moukin.livejournal.com]

Stardust is my favorite Gaiman novel. I reread it frequently.

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Neil Gaiman-- start with either Coraline or M is for Magic

[sterlingspider.livejournal.com]

In the "OMG so good the idea of getting someone to read them usually has me jumping up and down and practically peeing my pants with excitement" category...
The Hyperion Tetrology by Dan Baker
The Books of the New Sun (including the 5th) by Gene Wolfe
The Black Company series by Glen Cook
if you like Pratchett: the Discworld books (they do start a touch slow, totally worth the slight slowness of the first three books)
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King (start with Eyes of the Dragon if you want the full "Dark Tower as Fantasy" experience)
Any of The Eternal Champion cycle by Michael Moorecock (start it the basic Elric of Melnibone books, branch from there)
The Fafhard and the Grey Mouser books by Fritz Leiber
The Dragon and the George (and sequels) by Gordon R Dickson
I've never met a Gaiman book I didn't like.

Seconded by a billion to start with Sandman if you're looking for both a good start to Gaiman and graphic novels.
I do like my graphic novels a bit dark but I wholley endorse Preacher and pretty much anything by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan is the usual starting point there) Also the Batman-Dark Knight series, and (of course) Watchmen and V for Vendetta.

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

I know someone already chimed in with Gaimen, but I cannot recommend Neverwhere enough; but the short story collections Fragile Things and Mirrors and Magic provide a great introduction to his range of writing (and horror side). Stardust is a very good story, more of an adult fairy tale. Good Omens, yes, yes read it!

Read George RR Martins' Song of Ice and Fire series (follow the tag in my blog to see how much I gush about this damn thing). The first book is Game of Thrones, and he has 4 books written in it so far. It is...addicting. Completely and utterly and probably one of the series I handsell most successfully at the bookstore.

(I love Incancation of Immorality btw myself.)

I guess you must already be reading Pratchett.

For another contemporary author, try Jim Butchers other series, Codex Alera (starts with Furies of Cauldron).

I am not a big sci fi reader, but if you have not read Bradbury (as classic as you can get, really), do. His stories are always amazing.

I have to confess, I am not a huge graphic novel fan - for that, I have stuck mostly to the things I enjoy anyway - Serenity and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (both the original and season 8) and Angel, season 5 (all which have been great).

But do try to read some of Alan Moore's stuff- there is a reason why they keep making it into (toned down and not so well done, alas) movies. Certainly start with the Watchman - that is amazing. If you enjoy it, try V is for Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentleman (three volumes, I think so far, are both disturbing and hysterical).

[anaiya.livejournal.com]

"Guy Gavriel Kay. Pretty much anything, but The Fionavar Tapestry is a good starting point." - Yes yes yes!! Totally agree. Amazing series.

"Read George RR Martins' Song of Ice and Fire series (follow the tag in my blog to see how much I gush about this damn thing). The first book is Game of Thrones, and he has 4 books written in it so far. It is...addicting. Completely and utterly..." - See above. This is one of the most amazing book series that I have ever, ever read.

"Seconded by a billion to start with Sandman if you're looking for both a good start to Gaiman and graphic novels..." - Thirded, oh-so-much!

"If you like Pratchett: the Discworld books (they do start a touch slow, totally worth the slight slowness of the first three books)..." - I have read every single book in that series, some of them many times over, and Pratchett never fails to amaze me.

Also try The Belgariad and the Mallorean series' by David (And Leigh, I think!) Eddings.

And finally, 'Wicked' and 'Confessions Of An Ugly Stepsister' by Gregory Maguire. Well worth the read.