If you like Harry Potter, you might like...

I thought I'd start a thread where we can recommend books and movies to each other.

Several book series come to mind:

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.  This is about another wizard named Harry, but it's more of an alternate reality type thing, where the police more or less know that there are vampires and magic workers out there, but pretty much choose to hide their heads in the sand.  Please note, these are not kids' books.  There's violence, cussing, and some hanky panky.  That being said, this is probably my favorite book series right now.

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman.  Set in a parallel universe where people's souls exist outside their bodies in the form of animals called daemons.  These are marketed as kid/teen books, and in lots of ways they are, but...it deals heavily with theology and religion.  Might be your cuppa tea, might not.  I personally enjoyed them.

Of course I'm gonna mention the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.  More or less for a teen audience, but I liked them, and I know ladies older than I that enjoyed them as well.  Meyer also has a new book out called The Host, which I have not read yet.

The Danny Valentine Series, by Lilith Saintcrow (yep, that's her real name).  Dante Valentine is a female bounty hunter living in an alternate future.  These are for adults/young adults, not kids.  There's plenty of violence, the main character cusses a lot, and there's some hanky panky.  The story gets monotonous but all in all I enjoyed it.

I was fortunate enough to get my copy of book 11 of the Dresden Files, Turn Coat, a little early.  I devoured it over the weekend.  Two words: Freakin' Awesome.  It does not disappoint. 

This novel shows us more of Wardens Morgan and Luccio than we've ever seen before.  Waldo Butters also puts in a couple of appearances, which is great.  I would have liked Detective Murphy to have gotten more play, but other than that, I'm pleased.  Start reading this series if you haven't already.

Original Post by sharpshootinstar:

Hi Jamie!  Yes, I highly recommend the Dresden Files.  In fact, Book 11 of the Dresden Files, called Turncoat, will be released next month.

I wholeheartedly agree with you about the Dark Tower series.  Epic.  Bag of Bones was also good, although when most people think of Stephen King, they don't think of Bag of Bones.

I have to suggest Duma Key, also by Stephen King.  Loved it.

 You are right, Duma Key was a great book.  I just read it about a month ago.  I loved it!!!!

Have you read Lisey's Story? (also by King)

You know, a good book by Stephen King that doesn't get much play is Rose Madder.  It's really a very good story.  I don't know why it didn't catch on like some of the others.

Original Post by jamiejoymathena:

I also love Neil Gaiman so far (I have read 3 books by him and they were all great).  So far I read Coraline, American Gods and Anansi Boys.  I am guessing every book I read by Neil Gaiman will be just as good.  He writes about bizarre people and occurences.

 

I also love Neil Gaiman. For those of you who are open to reading graphic novels, his Sandman series is epic and fantastic.

Fables is another great graphic novel series that fantasy fans are likely to enjoy, although it, like Gaiman's work, is a bit more adult. The story behind Fables is the characters from beloved fairy tales -- Snow White, Cinderella, etc. -- were forced from their kingdoms and live in a protected enclave in New York City. The series touches on their current lives as well as the strife in their homelands. It's incredibly intriguing and well-written.

Another series I love is Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. They can border more on sci-fi at times, but they're extremely funny bits of satire that are always enjoyable.

Finally, I can't believe I haven't seen "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" on here yet. It's a hefty tome, but concerns two wizards and weaves their stories into actual historical events masterfully. It's not a light undertaking, but it's well worth it. A fantastic novel.

I LOVED American Gods.  Great book.

I've never read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell...I will look for that one.

We got a copy of The Spirit & watched it last night.  It's shot kind of the same way Sin City and 300 was shot ( I think they all have the same producer, actually )  Ummm....it was different.  I thought it was going to be more serious, like Sin City, but it actually reminded me a lot of Dick Tracy with Warren Beatty.  Ok, to be honest, I didn't like it much.  But it had it's good points.  Samuel L. Jackson plays the villain, and I enjoyed his performance.

Has anyone read the partial draft of Midnight Sun on Stephenie Meyer's website?  It's Twilight, but told from Edward's perspective.

I read it, its so good. I actually think I like the story better form Edward's perspective. when bella tells it you dont really get how badly he wants to kill her, at first any way =)  I also read The host which is meyers first book aimed toward adults, really good read. a scifi romance

Rose Madder was a  good Stephen King Book, but i think it didnt catch on because it isnt really in the same vein as most of his other books.

I love From a Buick 8 by S.K. it is about a car that it like a transporter to another reality and its set in Pa not anywhere near where i live tho =( lol

From A Buick 8!  Good call, Jackie.  That was a good one, and creepy. 

Saw the new Underworld prequel movie.  It was pretty good.  If you liked the other movies, you'd prolly like this one.

The new Simon Green book is out next week!!! Whoohoo!

It's called The Spy Who Haunted Me.

*iz excited*

Ok, whew, I just finished reading this entire thread (I didn't want to end up repeating something already said) and, wow!, I feel like you're all kindred spirits in the fantasy/sci-fi genre.  One series I would recommend is the Shanara books by Terry Brooks.  These were the first fantasy novels I read and I've been hooked ever since.  Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series is (are?, sometimes, grammar is a curse) also a personal favorite. 

On the non-fantasy side, I highly recommend Treasure Island and Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.  They are easy to read and wonderful stories for youth (I read them in 7th grade, I think).

In the mean time, I might just have to look into this Dresden File...

Hi Slim and welcome to our little haven of geekiness :)

I've never read the Shanara books or Mercedes Lackey! Thanks for the suggestion.

Treasure Island and Kidnapped; AWESOME.  Yes.

And yes, get thee to thy local bookstore and check out the Dresden Files.  Good stuff.

I finished The Spy Who Haunted Me over the weekend.  I loved it, of course.  Simon Green rocks.

I didn't blurb when I bought it, but for you Supernatural fans out there, My Bloody Valentine (the remake with Jensen Ackles) is pretty good.  You kind of know where it's going from the start, even if you've never seen the old version, but it's still scarily worthwhile.  Please note, it's not for the kiddies.  Language and adult situations.

And a little something else for Supernatural fans; the remake of Friday the 13th with Jared Padalecki was released to dvd/blue ray yesterday.  The spousal unit picked up a copy for me so we got to watch it last night.  It was pretty good!  The gentleman playing Jason really does justice to the role.  Good stuff.  Again, not for the kids; lotsa language and adult situations.

not sure if anyone has mentioned this series yet, as i didnt read this entire post. but the seventh son series by orson scott card is petty good, well at lest the first few in the series that i read were.  its about the seventh son of a seventh son, who because of this is supposed to have specail powers.

the books are

the seventh son...the red prophet.....Prentice alvin....alvin journeyman.....heartfire....and the crystal city

i read the seventh son, the red prophet and part of the next one.....hmm i think i'll have to see if my local library has them so i an finish the series. i didnt get to finish the third on as it belonged to my boss and he needed it back.

Have I mentioned the Witches of Eileanan series by Kate Forsyth?  Great stuff.

Has anyone read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman?  It looks pretty good.  It's about a little boy who's family is murdered, but he escapes and is raised by ghosts in a cemetary.

I saw HP over the weekend, but first...

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

That's right.  I said Zombies.

Seth Grahame-Smith takes Jane Austen's classic and adds zombies.  I cannot explain it, but somehow this mashup works.

Now!  I saw HP yesterday.  Yes, I liked it.  Did I like it as much as the book? No.  It had too many important bits cut out.  That being said, if you treat it as kind of an alternate-universe HP, instead of comparing it constantly to the book, I don't think you'll be disappointed.