My dad reads one book a year. Every year my dad goes on vacation and has me recommend his one book for him to read. I’m running out of ideas and need some help! He likes sci fi and fantasy. Best reactions have been from the Kane Chronicles, Circe, and the Martian.
This year I gave him A Darker Side of Magic by VE Schwab and only got an “okay” from him. Now I have a year to read more sci fi/fantasy books and give him a better one next year! Books should probably have some sort of satisfying ending by the first book bc he won’t commit to a series. Any recommendations?
by aglaringdolphin
13 Comments
What about collection of short stories?
Ambush him with Hyperion.
He’ll be dying to continue. That’s what I’d do. Turn him into a two book a year man at the minimum.
If that isn’t for you… consider The Wreck of the River of Stars by Michael Flynn. Little known but brilliant. Fantastic characters. Standalone.
Considering the recent release of its film adaptation, Project Hail Mary has been in my mind recently and he might like it. You could then watch the film at a later point and compare.
Three by John Scalzi:
***The Kaiju Preservation Society*** is ‘a common man put into uncommon circumstances’. It’s fun and adventuresome.
***Redshirts*** is a satire of space-opera from the point-of-view of ‘expendable’ crew.
More high-tech than sci-fi but ***Starter Villain*** is the most entertaining book I’ve read recently. It’s a spoof of the early James Bond movies. A substitute teacher inherits his estranged uncle’s villainy which comes complete with a secret volcanic lair (and glaring dolphins).
Has he read Project Hail Mary? If not, he should.
Hyperion might be great choice too. No real ending in this book but still considered a masterpiece.
Dark Matter
The Collected Short Fiction of C.J. Cherryh
Last Year , Robert Charles Wilson
The Return of the Incredible Exploding Man Hutchinson, Dave
Timescape Benford, Gregory
The Lions of Al-Rassan Kay, Guy Gavriel
A Blink of the Screen: Collected Shorter Fiction Pratchett, Terry
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – The Tales of Dunk and Egg, Martin, George R.R.
Sharps Parker, K. J.
Notes from the underground- Dostoyevsky
M-0 – Florin Alexandru Tanasa
Nathan Lowell has his solar clipper series and it many sequels and spinoffs.
Plus a soft fantasy. Tanyth Fairport and wizard’s butler.
Old man’s war
Replay
The first 15 lives of Harry August
Sort of an unexpected direction, but because of the interest in Egyptian and Greek mythology, what about Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan? It’s based in Burmese mythology
Project Hail Mary is a pretty safe bet if he liked The Martian. Same vibe but a little more emotional
Circe makes me think he might like Piranesi too. Very different, but kind of has that mythic, reflective feel
I bet he would like Isle of Luke. My dad loved that one, and he’s a big sci-fi / fantasy guy.