Books (fiction) Reviews, talk about your favorite stories Options

Currently i am reading mushashi, by eji ojikawa (hope i'm spelling his name correctly) a good book, for anyone interested in the martial arts. And i like the zen inside it too. its a great book, its the second time i am reading it. It shows the culture and setting of edo japan very nicely.

I am also reading star wars, the books are surprisingly good. Especially the story line of obi wan, before the movies began. But the books of the movies are good as well, i liked them better than the movies i think. The star wars saga has a lot of good books, most of them i find an interesting read.

Lord of the rings, good books, nuff said...

thats it for now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Jim Butcher writes a pretty good series about a wizard that lives in Chicago (modern era) and helps out the Chi town PD with "unusual" cases. Good stuff.

I just noticed this one. All book reviews should be in the "Book Talks & Reviews" folks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Moving this in...

I just noticed this one. All book reviews should be in the "Book Talks & Reviews" folks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Moving this in...

My top 4 picks.

#1
Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelanzy and the Amber series. Anyone who likes occult and sword fighting will love this series. My favorite series. The hero Corwin is a man after my own heart. <I can relate.> His son Merlin the greatest wizard who ever lived has a series by Zelanzy as well. Totally awesome books. Corwin and his entire family are demi gods and are worshiped as Gods in many worlds. These demi Gods walk from world to world wherever they wish to go. Alot can be learned about the nature of the astral and magick technique from this fiction.

#2
Conan the Barbarian series by Robert E Howard. King Kull series by Howard and Cane the pirate short stories by Howard Howard commited suicide and died dirt poor. Eventually people got rich off of his Conan character.

#3
Anything by H.P. Lovecraft. He knew more about the occult than he ever admitted as is evident in his writings.

#4
The Simirilian The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien.

All of the writers included alot of occult in thier books which is probably why I like them so much. May thier souls all rest in peace.

Peace

This post has been edited by smasher666: Aug 2 2006, 08:03 PM

The LOTR/Hobbit/Simarillion (SP?) series.

Greg Bear novels, particularly his earlier books like Blood Music, Eon, Eternity, Forge of God and Anvil of Stars, Queen of Angels, etc.

H.P. Lovecraft novels.

The early Dragonlance (before the "Fifth Age" bunk) and Forgotten Realms novels.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.

Disclaimer: Most fiction bores the hell out of me. Reality's far stranger and more interesting.

That having been said, most fiction that I like is on film, not in print. The darker and more dystopian the better. But as this is discussing books, here goes: (no particular order)

1984 by George Orwell. Intended more as a criticism of fascism and communism (primarily Stalinism), it still has quite a few valid points to make today.

Thank You for Smoking by Christopher S. Buckley. A black political comedy about a tobacco lobbyist/spin doctor who winds up switching sides, and the lengths he'll go to to pay his mortgage.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Frankly, I don't find it as dystopian as people think. It was intended as a criticism of extreme capitalism with a caste system thrown in for fun. The fact that Huxley wrote this a couple decades before DNA was discovered is even more extraordinary. Except for the emphasis on sex, which I find rather silly, to me it's not necessarily a bad place to be. Hell, we're heading in that general direction anyway, so why not embrace it.

Neuromancer, Count Zero, and Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson. Cyberpunk at its best. 'Nuf said.

Most stuff by Philip K. Dick.

Can't think of anything else ATM...

I'm sure I'll leave out some books but here are some of the ones I've enjoyed.

Tolkien- hobbit, lord of the rings

Great, albeit somewhat slow and narrative make the lord of the rings trilogy one of the greatest works in 20th century literature, lot's of stuff to discover upon second and third readings. Deep insight. The hobbit is just a fun book that anyone can read without a problem.

Tad Williams- Memory, Sorrow and Thorn

Epic tale that more people should read. Very high quality character development, very good plot. Well written and wel put together.

Terry Goodkind- Wizard's first rule up to Soul of the Fire from the Richard Rahl series

More epic fantasy, very good readings for any student of the occult. Series taled off after Soul of the Fire. Though his latest offerings show Goodkind returning to form.

Jorge Luis Borges- anything

The father of the magical real writing style, Borges use of language is one of the most masterful that you will ever find.

Luisa Valenzuela- Symmetries

Great collection of short stories, lots of symbolism. Very sharp, even comedic look at many of things in the world. Great book.

Melville- Moby Dick

What can I say? Is there any book written with the abstract brilliance of this classic. A great writing, and most often a long reading. Take a year and check it out.

Sir Thomas Malory- Le Morte Arthur

Another difficult read, but well worth it. Insight into the characters and intrigue of the life of King Arthur, Lancelot and other famous knights.

Jorge Luis Borges- anything

Here here.

Herman hesse rocks the cazbah - Demian is from my experience the best introductory occult fiction novel there is. It doesnt necessarily get you to think about what you have to think about (but then maybe it does) but it definitely gets you to think about stuff how you should be thinking about it - or something - i dont think what ive just said is ncessarily quite right - but the book is brilliant and i reckon anyone interested in the occult or spirituality should read it.

Sidhartha, steppenwolf - hesse again is the man. Im about to read the glass bead game and journey to the east.

Hitchhikers guide series is brilliant.

Of course lord of the rings. Rahdy rah.

Dion Fortune is excellent.

Huxley to - as well as brave new world try "doors of perception" and "heaven and hell".

Phillip K Dick. A scanner darkly is coming out soon to the movies. Another Richard Linklater animated spectacular (same animator/illustrator guy as waking life). Also one of my favourite Phillip K Dick stories.

Books books books - there are so many good ones. Charles Buckowski if your into drunken sex and poetry is brilliant.

This post has been edited by extinctionspasm: Nov 16 2006, 09:09 PM