Cross-posted from r/printSF to get answers from outside sci-fi as well.
For me it's Redemption of Time. I can enjoy the book despite its flaws: while it's officially published by the same publisher, ultimately it's 100% just fan-fiction of Three Body books. That's not the only issue either, it's also has issues with sexism and bad writing.
by LF000000
17 Comments
Both. If it hits both areas it’s a 5 for me.
amanda palmer’s book “the art of asking”
Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer
Flowers in the Attic. I never bring it up anymore because when I do, people look at me like I’ve just released Anthrax in the room. But I sincerely love it, I idolized Cathy as a young girl. Lol
The Story of O
Infinite Jest. My favorite book I can’t recommend.
The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker. It’s wonderfully written but more of a meditation than a story. I love it though.
Le Chevalier d’Éon: Agent secret du roi by Anne-Sophie Silvestre. A very good and very readable YA I can never recommend because I very rarely talk to people who want to read a whole YA series in French.
The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith.
It is a massive science fiction saga that is the best reflection on faith and destiny I’ve ever read. But it features every single trigger imaginable so I can’t recommend it to anyone. Name a trigger, it’s there in abundance. Also, the cover art is HORRIBLE and not at all indicative of the quality of the novel at large.
It’s on Kindle Unlimited or available for purchase online.
Tanya Huff’s Smoke Series.
There’s no problems with the first book, but the second… there are underage incestuous sibling ghosts that play a mayor part. It’s canon that they fucked before their death.
Blood Meridian. If you aren’t familiar with Cormac or haven’t read his other books that are more accessible, then this is an impossible book to recommend.
The original Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop. Still my favorite books of all time, but heavy topics and way ahead of its time (It’s an OG dark fantasy romance). The magic system and world building is just amazing, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to say the least.
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.
Revival by Stephen King. I’m an atheist so I loved the questioning of religion but I feel like some people might take issue with those aspects.
Johnny got his gun. Not that there’s anything wrong or weird about it per se, but it makes me uncomfortable to talk about it
For me it’s the Earth Girl series and all related spin-offs by Janet Edwards. It’s not weird or difficult to understand, just very wish fulfillment and a little cringe in the way it’s written. But I love the world-building enough that that doesn’t bother me at all. Janet Edwards is my fav author tbh
As an avid epic fantasy lover I hardly ever recommend two of my favorites. Wheel of Time and Malazan.
Wheel of Time is far and beyond my all time favorite series no competition. But its also 14 books with a million pages and a lot of wild gender-roles stuff that doesn’t go over too well with a lot of my friends.
Malazan is a similar struggle but with the added difficulty of always starting you in the middle of the story even if you just read and understood the previous one. Theres also some pretty graphic descriptions of sexual assault that can be distressing for people who have irl experience with that.
Honorable mention is Too Like the Lightning (haven’t read the rest of the series) by Ada Palmer. Fantastic book but only if you dont mind the narrator waxing philosophic all the time. Which i dont.