The things one finds...

[sholio]

oh my god, this commercial is so, so, SO wrong on pretty much every level that I cannot stop laughing at it (at least partly in horrified amazement that it's an actual commercial and not an SNL parody commercial). The shaved cat! THE TULIPS.

You know what I need, I think? A new series of books to be hooked on. It was so lovely to sink into the new Dresden Files book, but it was all over so quickly and now I have to wait for the next one. *chews nails* My reading has been falling off lately -- I'll start books and then abandon them -- and I think a lot of it is because what I really want right now is to fall in love with some characters and spend a lot of quality time with them. Most of what I've been reading lately have been stand-alone genre and literary-type books, but I'm finding them harder to get into. Since I'm not really following any TV shows avidly at the moment, I think that I need to find me some good, escapist brain candy to satisfy my mental sweet tooth.

Recommendations? I'd prefer books with SF or fantasy elements, but I'm open to anything else, too, if you know of something that's good. If you've been reading my journal for any length of time, you probably know what I go for: ensemble casts with relationships more complicated than just "boy meets girl, love at first sight", strong friendships, quality world-building. I like to be surprised and to have a story take me places I'm not expecting. I like genre-mixing (steampunk SF, mystery fantasy). I'm very character-focused; I like to follow the same characters over years and watch them grow and change. I am an absolute sucker for ambiguous and flawed heroes, ambiguous and likable villains, and enemies forced to work together for the common good. I like explosions, and as much as I adore solid world-building, I get bored with infodumps and florid writing very quickly.

A few of the series that are the sort of thing I'm looking for right now:

- Death Gate (Weiss & Hickman)
- Dark Tower (King)
- Discworld
- Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin books
- Coldfire (C.S. Friedman)
- Tobias Buckell's Xenowealth books

I've tried both Lynn Flewelling and Janny Wurts and just couldn't get into either one (sorry, xparrot!). I also haven't tried George RR Martin because I'm scared XD, though I have the first Song of Ice and Fire book sitting in my to-read pile in case I manage to get over the fact that everyone keeps telling me these books will rip my heart into a million shreds and dance on the pieces.

Comments

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

All I can think of is the Acorna series by Anne McCafferty (sp?) if you haven't already given it a try. I really enjoyed the books, and I'm not a fan of McCafferty. Although I will admit I kind of lost interest after a while :S Chrome Circle by Mercedes Lackey was a fun read. It was no Dresden Files, but still fun and interesting (I'm still trying to locate the sequel.)

Other than that, I can't really think of anything. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, which is why I'm being slow about reading the newest Dresden book - I'm trying to savor it :D.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I read a ton of McCaffrey when I was a teen, but I don't recall reading those. I'm not sure if it would be my thing, since McCaffrey isn't really anymore, but I can see if the library has it, at least!

(edited because I remembered how to spell her name all of a sudden *g*)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

The Acorna books are co-written with another author, so are a little different from her other books, a little more engaging (for me, that is. I could never get into any of McCaffrey's books except for Acorna, try as I might). What I really liked about them, though, were the characters, who were interesting in their own right.

But, like I said, I did lose interest after a while. I would like to get back into them, though, just to find out what happens.