Reading Recommendations

[DJ Skrudge]

So it's 3AM here in Melbourne and I've been reading some HP Lovecraft and Stephen King. My god, it feels really creepy lying in bed reading on an iPad and hearing little sounds just outside and something moving around in the roof (probably just a possum, but still...)

Anyway, would anyone have any suggestions for books/short stories for me? I'm into horror (King, Lovecraft) and science fiction (Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke etc.). I don't mind other genres too much though

[Nine Volt]

The "Contagion" series by Scott Sigler is a really good non-science-fiction-y zombie type infection kind of story with cosmic horror elements.

[the4thImpulse]

The "Contagion" series by Scott Sigler is a really good non-science-fiction-y zombie type infection kind of story with cosmic horror elements.

For zombie stories 'World War Z' beats everything.

[Nine Volt]

Zombie Survival Guide is a nice parody (of ridiculous survival guides) by the same author as World War Z.

The Contagion series isn't really about a zombie infection scenario, more of an alien infection kind of thing, to be honest. Also, something amazing happens to a city we all hate.

[DJ Skrudge]

Oh, I've read World War Z! It was pretty good and well thought-out, but I was slightly disappointed at how stale it became towards the end. Contagion sounds really interesting too, your description reminds me of another series; the first book was 'The Time of the Reaper' by Andrew Butcher. Except it was more 'all the adults are dead dystopia Lord of the Flies blah blah blah' which ended up being a really stupid alien invasion storyline. Contagion sounds a lot better though, thankfully

[itroitnyah]

On an unrelated note to books, Alan Wake is an incredible game for the xbox 360. Great story line, and it's fairly scary the first time you play it. It's really well made and everything.

Sorry, I don't read much, lol.

[LoreRD]

Read Neil Gaiman. He's basically the foremost author of (slightly more upbeat) dark fantasy (Sandman, American Gods).
Also: Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men, The Road) and Battle Royale (the book)

[the4thImpulse]

I have not gotten into it myself yet but I have nothing but awesomeness from the game of thrones books. My friend lent me the box set months ago but I haven't had the time for that kinda of reading as it is no 'short story'.

[Symphon]

Not quite either of the genres you asked for (maybe sci-fi in a small sense), but Truancy is a fantastic book. Like, just dang amazing. Read it.
That's not a request.
READ IT.

[CaptainFluffatun]

Yeah, American Gods by Neil Gaiman is an awesome novel, and I recommend reading it.

[TheMalenEst]

Metro 2033 + 2034 (The book)

The Road by Cormac McCarthy is AMAZING in my opinion

World War Z

The Last Man by Mary Shelley

I'm a post apocalypse nerd :3 kinda.

[colortwelve]

I'd recommend John Dies at the End and This Book is Full of Spiders by David Wong (the editor in chief of Cracked). They're both hilarious and horrifying.

[Watashig]

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/81015819/SAO/S ... incrad.pdf

this, so hard

[KingTrollestia]

Been reading Cloud Atlas recently. despite the movie sucking, the book is fantastic

[soultensionbenjamin]

my mom got me this book she said it was a real hoot

[CDPP]

If you're looking post-apocalyptic, On the Beach is a must read. It's basically witnessing the fallout world from a submarine.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Obligatory World War Z

Life On Urth was amusing (and borderline perverted) but it kinda did a few important things too suddenly. Plus they have Jawa-like creatures who're all called Morgan (maybe they all have the last name Freeman. I forget.).

John Marsden is a good author if you read the right books from him (Checkers... ;-;) some of his other work is a little too "WOO KID POWER. TEENS ARE AWESOME" for my tastes. Hell, I've read a couple of his old choose-your-adventure books. Those are kinda neat, if a little behind my age.

This was one of my favorites as a kid. Might be a little past the age group here, but it's worth a look. http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780141307312/midnite

[Callenby]

I'm not much of a sci-fi connoisseur but I must say that Philip K. Dick's work is superb. The Man in the High Castle is one of my absolute favorite books. Yeah, it's less sci-fi and more alternate history but don't let that stop you. It's brilliant! It does in around 260 pages what other books would need 600.

Also, like a couple of others already I would recommend Cormac McCarthy. Again, not really sci-fi or horror but still worth your time.

[Ed Viper]

Anyway, would anyone have any suggestions for books/short stories for me? I'm into horror (King, Lovecraft) and science fiction (Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke etc.). I don't mind other genres too much though

I'll just list my favorite writers below (along with my favorite book by them in parentheses).

Horror: Dean Koontz ("Brother Odd"), Alfred Hitchcock (there should be printed collections of short stories of his works around).

Science Fiction: Robert A. Heinlein ("Stranger in a Strange Land", although "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is great, too), Isaac Asimov (if you don't know who this guy is by now, you're doing it wrong - also "Robot Dreams"), Edgar Rice Burroughs (John Carter series - way ahead of its time).

Shit, John Carter is so old, the first five novels are public domain in the US now.

[Djeinus]

Well, let's see...

If you don't mind some ultra-violence, A Clockwork Orange is an interesting read.

Lolita by Vladimir Nebokov (I think it's the right name anyway) is pretty good, although the characters are all despicable. Wouldn't venture into it if pedophilia triggers something more than "ugh!" in you.

Despite the bad rap it gets, Atlas Shrugged isn't all that bad. Just look past all that preaching about the virtues of selfishness and you'll be just fine.

And War and Peace, although long, is pretty good.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best books I've ever read. I recommend it if you're looking for a very um... humane book, I guess? It's a simple love story, but has nothing to do with romance.

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are way too much fun.

A Brave New World is a good one too. It's a dystopian novel that isn't all too depressing.

Also, the Locke Lamora series are very fun if you like stories of thieves in a fantasy setting. It's like Robin Hood except he doesn't give to the poor.

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

Let's see...

If you want to be a decent human being with a good life,



Read the Scott Pilgrim series. All of it. The first one is in color now. Do it.

[ph00tbag]

I can't say much about horror, but Neal Stephenson's Anathem is some really rock solid hard sf. In general, Neal Stephenson is pretty good, although he does just as much action, spec-fic, cyberpunk, and historical spec-fic as he does hard sf.

William Gibson is a good choice for cyberpunk. Neuromancer is what he's best known for, but he's got a good library. Of note is that he kind of invented steampunk with his collaboration with Bruce Sterling, The Difference Engine.

Also, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is required reading for anyone that likes Science Fiction.

[topitmunkeydog]

Aww, I just love Scott Pilgrim.

But seriously, if you want to be truly creeped out, read some plays by Eugene Ionesco. They are hilarious but sometimes downright horrific in their absurdity. Or maybe that is because I read "The Killer" while sleep deprived on an airplane at three o clock in the morning while listening to of Montreal.
My favorite thing by him is Rhinoceros, which is easily the most sane and probably the funniest. As far as scary stuff, read The Killer, The Lesson, Jack/The Submission, The Future is in Eggs, or like The Chairs. He is seriously the best author out there.

Also Italo Calvino is a lovely author.

[vladnuke]

Homestuck

Do it

You won't regret it.