Can you recommend a book for me please?

I’ve basically been ordered to pick up any fiction book and read, after a friend discovered I’ve not read anything but non-fiction for a decade.

The ones I’ve enjoyed in the past have been short, fantastical or sci-fi (think Aldous Huxley, Ian McEwan), but crucially with amazing first person descriptive prose - the kind where you’re immersed in the writing so much you’re almost there with the character.

I liked sci-fi as the world’s constraints weren’t always predictable. Hope that makes sense.

Any recommendations?

Edit: I’m going to up the ante and, as a way of motivating myself to get off my arse and actually read a proper story, promise to choose a book from the top comment, after, let’s say arbitrarily, Friday 2200 GMT.

Edit deux: Wow ok I don’t think I’ve ever had this many responses to anything I’ve posted before. You’ve given me what looks like a whole year of interesting suggestions, and importantly, good commentary around them. I’m honouring my promise to buy the top thing in just under 4 hours.

Praxinoscope ,

The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells is a collection of short books in the first perspective of a cyborg. You might enjoy that.

SzethFriendOfNimi ,

This is exactly what I came to say.

OpenTheSeaLegs ,

This year I discovered the Elderling Saga, by Robin Hobb. Starts with the Farseer Trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice. Great epic fantasy.

As for sci-fi Isaac Asimov's Foundation is great.

Neuromancer is also a great read, and one of the earliest examples of cyberpunk.

Since you asked for a single book, and you might not be keen on jumping into multi-book sagas, I'd say go for Neuromancer

taaz ,

The style of Neuromancer might not fit well with some people but if it does I would absolutely recommend it.

leraje ,
@leraje@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Hard agree with the Eldering Saga. I'm just starting the first book of the last trilogy and I have lived these books.

Haven't seen a mention of Dune yet. It's not first person style but it is absolutely immersive and in terms of world building second only to Lord of the Rings.

Iain M Banks Culture novels are also great. Again, not first person but still great. Lots of people say Player of Games is the most accessible and that may be true but my favourite is Excession.

Chainweasel ,

If you're into the sci-fi, you'll probably like Project Hail Mary, it's hard sci-fi and you get very invested in the story.
Ray Porter also does a great audiobook narration of it on audible.

shortwavesurfer ,

Oh, that's a good choice. That was a fantastic book.

zcd ,

+1 for a Project Hail Mary that was great

Berttheduck ,

Thirding this. Excellent book. Jazz hands!

datavoid ,

I'm going to be upset if they change the ending in the movie, it was amazing

Nefara ,

They could definitely do a fake out after a time skip, even the book does that haha.

foofiepie OP ,

The time is up. I have a promise to keep.

Thanks for the recommendation!

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/0e50306b-b4b2-4f26-8c98-eba392584df4.jpeg

Chainweasel ,

I hope you enjoy it!
I actually picked it up again after recommending it myself lol

zcd ,

For something a little shorter and easier to chew through quickly you could check out Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. A short story set in Norse mythology, I remember it being an entertaining read

shortwavesurfer ,

Its not scifi, but Thieves Emporium by Max Hernandez.

MentallyExhausted ,

The Kite Runner (beautiful)

The Stand (incredible character development)

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (hilarious)

MajorMajormajormajor ,

I reread the stand yearly. It's a longer book but it definitely hooks you and draws you into the world exactly like how op is asking.

SzethFriendOfNimi ,

Heads up on The Stand. It’s a huge book. A good one but huge.

MushuChupacabra ,
@MushuChupacabra@lemmy.world avatar

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein.

Rhaedas ,

My pick if it was Heinlein would be my own first of his, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

TheaoneAndOnly27 ,

I have a moon as a harsh mistress rib tattoo of Simon Jester

342345 , (edited )

If you like Andy Weirs novels, Tchaikowskys books are worth a try. I.e.:

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Mannimarco ,

I second Children of Time!

whatsgoingdom ,

If you also want some fantasy recommendations:

Malazan book of the fallen is one of my favorites

The King killer Chronicles if you can stand the long wait for book 3 to finally drop is also really awesome

HoodsOwn ,

HAIL THE MARINES!

drengbarazi ,
@drengbarazi@lemmy.world avatar

I think I read "The Name of the Wind" in two long sittings, about 12 years ago.

Holy fuck, what a great book that was.

whatsgoingdom ,

Hasn't been 12 years for me but it sure feels that long. I also pretty much inhaled both books.

hybridhavoc ,
@hybridhavoc@lemmy.world avatar

Sadly it has been more than 12 years we've been waiting for the next book. 🙁

tonylowe ,

Anything by Octavia E. Butler.

SzethFriendOfNimi ,

Did she ever finish the earthseed series?

dandelion ,
@dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

No, unfortunately she did not finish Parable of the Trickster before her death. :-(

SzethFriendOfNimi ,

I’ve read the first one but I’m not sure I want to read the rest if there’s no closure for the story.

dandelion ,
@dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

I've read both Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, and while you can tell the general arc she was going for with the next book (and can imagine the broad strokes of what would happen next), I never felt there was a lack of closure for the story.

They are emotionally difficult books to read, so it's also hard to recommend them to people, but I would encourage you to not let the lack of a third book prevent you from reading the first two, they are worth reading on their own merits. The Parable of the Talents especially has significance to the situation in the U.S., as some say it predicted Trump.

SzethFriendOfNimi ,

I read the first. Just wasn’t sure about the second

dandelion ,
@dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Definitely worth reading, I remember it being better than the first book.

OldManBOMBIN ,

Read Everworld

Jaysyn ,
@Jaysyn@kbin.social avatar

Anything by Iain M. Banks.

vudu ,

The Player of Games is reportedly the best place to start but I personally started with Consider Phlebas and can't complain!

plasticcanliner ,
@plasticcanliner@firefish.ranranhome.info avatar

@foofiepie Iain M Banks books are always a treat, and I mean the Culture ones

cosmicrookie ,
@cosmicrookie@lemmy.world avatar

I can't believe that **Hitchhiker's guide to the gallaxy **isn't mentioned yet!

Its more of a funny story set in the future but its a classic, and its well worth reading (all 4 books of the trillogy)

Ixoid ,
  • Six books in the trilogy, if you include And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer (of Atemis Fowl fame)
richieadler ,

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin.

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