Good short stories and/or Book series?

[ReignFaLL]

I love short stories and/or long drawn out series where theres a common 'hero' (If you will) that does different tasks throughout the plot.

I was wondering if anyone here could suggest some cause I can't seem to find any good ones anywhere.

It can be anime or whatever else - just follow the theme. ;)

[Saggy]

Probably going to sound really lame, but Harry Potter.

[n00b1n8R]

Rob (I think it was him) had a cool short story here a few years back about a house run by an AI which gives drugs to the people living in it.

[Aerowyn]

See, the only series I can suggest to you is the Daughter of the Blood series by Anne Bishop. I don't know exactly if it fits your theme--it's a very complicated story with a lot of character-to-character connections you have to keep up with.

The cover and descriptions makes it look like a romance novel but I assure you, while it is EXTREMELY graphic (sexually speaking as well as the amount of gore/mature subject matter) it is really thrilling, and not as romantic as one would think.

And you know it's good when Satan is a recurring character in the series. XD

[Rob Oplawar]

Anything by Isaac Asimov, especially his I, Robot series of short stories.
The Ender series by Orson Scott Card is quite enjoyable, and follows the same characters through, no joke, thousands of years (relativistic space flight is involved, and there are plenty of new characters along the way).
The Dune series by Frank Herbert is fantastic, and ought to be required reading for sci-fi buffs. The later books continue with the distant descendants of the characters of the first books.
If you're into mathematics, cryptogrophy, computers, puzzles, or any of that sort of stuff, I recommend checking out Neil Stephenson's book Cryptonomicon, and some of his other novels. His characters are well developed and get to do some fun stuff, and it all ties together in the end.
Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite sci-fi authors; I like his short stories better, but Farenheit 451 is pretty good. His short story "The Toynbee Convector" is my favorite short story by any author.
Let's see, who else...
If you're into Star Wars, Timothy Zahn does some terrific derivative works, some following characters from the films and some with new characters. Grand Admiral Thrawn is my favorite villain of all time, because he's not really a villain.

That's all just off the top of my head.
Now I really want to read a good book... *picks up one of the dozens I have lying around in my "I need to read this" pile*

e: Oh also, Aerowyn's remark about Satan reminded me, you ought to read Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Actually, I hear Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is very good, although I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

[Chainsy]

Twilight.

[legionaire45]

Ender's Game series.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Enderverse-rev1.png)
Bean's series is really good, although the last book will really make you hate his character, even if his actions are justifiable.

[PopeAK49]

All halo books; The Fall of Reach, The Flood, First Strike, Onyx.

[Rob Oplawar]

@above: Make that all the Halo books by Eric Nylund. I loved the ones he wrote; the rest were meh.

[PopeAK49]

A different guy wrote The Flood but I forgot who.

[bleach]

William C. Dietz was the author of Halo: The Flood

[Con]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sword_of_Truth

Read these, they're awesome. One of the best epic fantasies out there.

[Siliconmaster]

Anything by Isaac Asimov, especially his I, Robot series of short stories.
The Ender series by Orson Scott Card is quite enjoyable, and follows the same characters through, no joke, thousands of years (relativistic space flight is involved, and there are plenty of new characters along the way).
... If you're into Star Wars, Timothy Zahn does some terrific derivative works, some following characters from the films and some with new characters. Grand Admiral Thrawn is my favorite villain of all time, because he's not really a villain.


Ender's Game series. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Enderverse-rev1.png)


All halo books; The Fall of Reach, The Flood, First Strike, Onyx.

Er, so I second all of those- I hadn't read some of the ones in your post Rob, so I can't say either way. I'm amazed at how many of those I had read, though.

Recently I've begun reading the Safehold series, by David Weber. There are only two books out, but a third comes out this month, and each is 650+ pages long. They're very interesting, and read somewhat like an extremely character driven RTS. If you're into detail + character + politics/ futuristic naval battles, something to look into. I also want to point out that usually I'm not one for copious amounts of detail, but the premise, which I won't spoil because it's part of the fun, makes the detail both important and fascinating. Right now they are:

Off Armageddon Reef
By Schism Rent Asunder
By Heresies Distressed (http://www.amazon.com/Safehold-Series-by-David-Weber/lm/R3LMIFWY01VWBR#height=183)

[Bodzilla]

Anything by Ian Irvine.

check out the view from the mirror quartet, the well of echoes trilogy and he has another one he's writting right now, shouldnt be long and you'll have the final of the song of the tears trilogy.

It's good, it's all based in the same word, some epic battles but what sets him apart is the role women play in his novels, It's just really well done.
But i love how he has his plot evolve, theres mistakes, fuck ups and teh consequences of them, it's not just a "AND HE SAVED THE WORLD" thing.

it's good.


But i actually just read a book called "stolen innocence" and it's the story of Eliza Wall's life up until now (she's only 22 now).
She was born into a ormon fundimental sect that broke away from teh church.
her dad had 3 wives, 24 kids but the biggest thing is the church itself.
The church decides to split her family up and boom her mom and her kids are shipped away to live with another family.
theres no consoltation with the family, it just happens, boom next day they're gone.

Marriages are the same. the head of the church The prophet (A.K.A God's mouthpiece on earth) determines who marrys who with a devine revelation and boom it's done.

at 14 because she had a strong mind and will they married her off to her FIRST COUSIN who raped her and beat her for 3 years. she told everyone what was happening within the church, even the phrophet himself but they ignored her and basically told her to go home be obediant and be submissive, she did not have a choice. She has 3 miscarriages and a still birth to her cousin, all from rape.

she later escapes from the church with a guy she falls in love with and they take down the guy that orchestrated all of it.

True story.
fucking insane life.

Remember that strange story that circulated the other year (on this board) about a HIVE of polygomous people found in southern utah that cut themselves off from teh world and are only allowed to wear Pioneer style clothing?
This is the girl that blew the lid off the whole thing.

[Bodzilla]

@above: Make that all the Halo books by Eric Nylund. I loved the ones he wrote; the rest were meh.
NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION TO DETAIL DESCRIPTION OR DEPTH!!!!!!!!
but then again i feel like we've had this argument before :P

fanboiz.

[ReignFaLL]

Anything by Isaac Asimov, especially his I, Robot series of short stories.
The Ender series by Orson Scott Card is quite enjoyable, and follows the same characters through, no joke, thousands of years (relativistic space flight is involved, and there are plenty of new characters along the way).
The Dune series by Frank Herbert is fantastic, and ought to be required reading for sci-fi buffs. The later books continue with the distant descendants of the characters of the first books.
If you're into mathematics, cryptogrophy, computers, puzzles, or any of that sort of stuff, I recommend checking out Neil Stephenson's book Cryptonomicon, and some of his other novels. His characters are well developed and get to do some fun stuff, and it all ties together in the end.
Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite sci-fi authors; I like his short stories better, but Farenheit 451 is pretty good. His short story "The Toynbee Convector" is my favorite short story by any author.
Let's see, who else...
If you're into Star Wars, Timothy Zahn does some terrific derivative works, some following characters from the films and some with new characters. Grand Admiral Thrawn is my favorite villain of all time, because he's not really a villain.

That's all just off the top of my head.
Now I really want to read a good book... *picks up one of the dozens I have lying around in my "I need to read this" pile*

e: Oh also, Aerowyn's remark about Satan reminded me, you ought to read Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Actually, I hear Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is very good, although I haven't had a chance to read it yet.


Ender's Game series.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Enderverse-rev1.png)
Bean's series is really good, although the last book will really make you hate his character, even if his actions are justifiable.


All halo books; The Fall of Reach, The Flood, First Strike, Onyx.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sword_of_Truth

Read these, they're awesome. One of the best epic fantasies out there.


Er, so I second all of those- I hadn't read some of the ones in your post Rob, so I can't say either way. I'm amazed at how many of those I had read, though.

Recently I've begun reading the Safehold series, by David Weber. There are only two books out, but a third comes out this month, and each is 650+ pages long. They're very interesting, and read somewhat like an extremely character driven RTS. If you're into detail + character + politics/ futuristic naval battles, something to look into. I also want to point out that usually I'm not one for copious amounts of detail, but the premise, which I won't spoil because it's part of the fun, makes the detail both important and fascinating. Right now they are:

Off Armageddon Reef
By Schism Rent Asunder
By Heresies Distressed (http://www.amazon.com/Safehold-Series-by-David-Weber/lm/R3LMIFWY01VWBR#height=183)


Anything by Ian Irvine.

check out the view from the mirror quartet, the well of echoes trilogy and he has another one he's writting right now, shouldnt be long and you'll have the final of the song of the tears trilogy.

It's good, it's all based in the same word, some epic battles but what sets him apart is the role women play in his novels, It's just really well done.
But i love how he has his plot evolve, theres mistakes, fuck ups and teh consequences of them, it's not just a "AND HE SAVED THE WORLD" thing.

it's good.


But i actually just read a book called "stolen innocence" and it's the story of Eliza Wall's life up until now (she's only 22 now).
She was born into a ormon fundimental sect that broke away from teh church.
her dad had 3 wives, 24 kids but the biggest thing is the church itself.
The church decides to split her family up and boom her mom and her kids are shipped away to live with another family.
theres no consoltation with the family, it just happens, boom next day they're gone.

Marriages are the same. the head of the church The prophet (A.K.A God's mouthpiece on earth) determines who marrys who with a devine revelation and boom it's done.

at 14 because she had a strong mind and will they married her off to her FIRST COUSIN who raped her and beat her for 3 years. she told everyone what was happening within the church, even the phrophet himself but they ignored her and basically told her to go home be obediant and be submissive, she did not have a choice. She has 3 miscarriages and a still birth to her cousin, all from rape.

she later escapes from the church with a guy she falls in love with and they take down the guy that orchestrated all of it.

True story.
fucking insane life.

Remember that strange story that circulated the other year (on this board) about a HIVE of polygomous people found in southern utah that cut themselves off from teh world and are only allowed to wear Pioneer style clothing?
This is the girl that blew the lid off the whole thing.

Definitely will be looking into in the next couple hours.

Thanks for the great detailed replies everybody. It's greatly appreciated.

[StankBacon]

damn, i wish i read more, i don't know any of the names you guys mentioned.

come to think of it, in my entire life, i only read one real book.

which is a shame because i enjoy reading, and i can really make the story come alive in my head.

[.Wolf™]

Suggest you read "Tommorow when war began" series by John Marsden..Its about a group of teenagers acting as guerilla in a war in Australia...Its good..Its told from one of the mainpersons perspective and is totally über awesome..I have read all books like 5 times..It never gets old:)

[Rob Oplawar]

Anything by Phillip K Dick or Michael Crichton is a good read. They've both done a lot of shorts.

Also, StankBacon, I love your avatar and user title.

[.Wolf™]

A different guy wrote The Flood but I forgot who.Joseph Staten wrote contact harvest..Have read all of them..Very good books..Cant wait for the next two:D

[Sel]

The Dune series by Frank Herbert is fantastic,

Dune

Yes yes yes, i fucking love sand.


The first book is amazing, I especially like the part where everyone gets high and has an orgy.

[Warsaw]

Director's Cut has that in the movie as well...:haw:.

[Aerowyn]

Twilight.

:ignore:

[.Wolf™]

Director's Cut has that in the movie as well...:haw:.
Link..:D

[Alwin Roth]

SuperMarket? It has a nice story line, and the right kind of action.

http://www.chapelhillcomics.com/newimages/reviews/supermarket_tpb.jpg

here's the storyline:
http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/11/21/supermarket/

[Dotkito92]

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I didn't really understand the plot but the "scene" between Charlie Gordon and Fay is so fun to read