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Looking for something new to read after The Expanse (lemmy.world)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by qualifier982@lemmy.world to c/books@lemmy.ml

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Any fiction suggestions for a somewhat picky reader? The Expanse lasted me a long while but I'm finishing up the novellas now and need to start looking for something new. Not necessarily in the same genre.

I don't have a lot of books under my belt as an adult, but some of my favorites have been Stoner by John Williams, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, East of Eden, Catch 22, Flowers for Algernon, and Harry Potter. Kind of all over the place I guess. 😅

I've also enjoyed John Williams' other novels, Piranesi, The Things They Carried, House of Leaves, and Ender's Game and the sequel.

Some books I didn't really care for include Hitchhiker's Guide (although I loved the first half), Lolita, Sharp Objects, Turtles All the Way Down, The Stand, The Road, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451.

I'm always overwhelmed trying to find something new, so thanks for any suggestions!

EDIT: Thank you all! It'll be a bit daunting exploring all these new books but not nearly as daunting as if I had no guidance, so I really appreciate it!

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[–] hungover_pilot@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Mix old school yakuza family drama with a hint of mystical powers that grant the characters certain physical/mental enhancements and you get The Green Bone Saga Trilogy. Very good series I couldn't put down.

[–] mayotte2048@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

If you're looking for something longer, try Brandon Sanderson's cosmere (start with either Mistborn or Stormlight Archives.)

Or perhaps Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (hard-boiled detective who also happens to be a wizard.) First few books are a bit weak, but gets much better.

Some other ideas:

Murderbot Diaries, The Locked Tomb, Assasin's Apprentice, Broken Earth, Kings of the Wyld.

[–] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You could finish the rest of the enders game universe, it's a really interesting read

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The author is problematic if that sort of thing bothers you.

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[–] Mr_Blott@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

The best book I've ever read is The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of A Window And Disappeared

[–] Grumpydaddy@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

The Traitor Baru Cormorant https://g.co/kgs/WTj68n

[–] a_mac_and_con@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sounds like you have a lot in common with my father's reading tastes. In which case, I will recommend the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde.

[–] muse@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago

Seconded, for the nefarious villain Jack Schitt

[–] Chakravanti@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The Stone and the Flute by Hans Bemmann

One of the most profound set of allegories I've ever read.

[–] tabularasa@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

If you like DnD type stuff, He Who Fights With Monsters is about a dude who wakes up in an alternate universe where magic is real. It's pretty great, and 10 books deep.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Spiral Wars series by Joel Shepherd.

Bit more action-adventure based, but good fun read with good characters and worldbuilding.

[–] ebc@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago

Neal Stephenson has a few good SF books (seveneves comes to mind) and some good alt history (cryptonomicon).

I just finished re-reading the three body problem series and it's still good too.

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 2 points 10 months ago

If you enjoyed the mystery part of the expanse I recommend Beacon 23.

[–] w3dd1e@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You like many of the same books that I like. Try the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. I just read it recently and now it’s one of my favorites.

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[–] calculuschild@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

For sci-fi, one I haven't seen mentioned here yet is Red Rising.

Kind of an Enders Game meets Hunger Games in the first book, but quickly expands into a solar-system wide war with lots of intrigue, star-wars-like tech, and amazing characters.

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