Lois’s answer to “Is there a character-driven speculative fiction series (other than your own) that's especially high…” > Likes and Comments
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I also have enjoyed the Elantra series, and the Liaden series of books. The Lee and Miller series currently has a lot more novels in it.
I find the minds of the POV characters in Jack Campbell's Lost Stars series reminiscent of Lois' work.
Just wanted to say a hearty thanks to Lois for the Aaronovitch recommendation. I checked the The Rivers of London series because of your "mutual admiration society" and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Can't wait for more! Thanks again!
I wish Turner would write more. Her Thief books are terrific! She has a 5th in the series coming out this May.
I would recommend Jacqueline Carey as a great author (fantastic writing, but be advised that her Kushiel series has graphic sexual content- I normally steer away from mushy romance and also stuff like Fifty Shades), she has fun stufg (Agent of Hel series) and the already mentioned Kushiel universe- her writing is intricate and intelligent, I can highly recommend it.
Also Steven Brust, a great writer with the Vald Tatos series- engaging writing, great world-building and a lot of black humor. Not much romance, more cloak and dagger and intrigue. Loved it.
Those two authors I would recommend to LMB readers because the intelligent writing is there as well, both aren't sci-fi but fantasy though.
Hope I could help.
I love Turner's Thief series and I had not heard of them until you recommended them Lois, so thanks!
Ditto Rivers of London series...they feel so fresh to me...aaronovich's mind is a fun and interesting place in which to wander.
Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series starting with Storm Front is a great read with strong characters, good plot design, and decent humor. Also, to my shame I had never tried the Discworld series until Lois recommended it to me a few years ago, so if you've never read Pratchett he's absolutely worth reading, mainly for the humor. Lots of other good recs on this thread like Turner, Aaronovitch (Lois recommended both of these to me as well) and Brust that I wholeheartedly agree with.
A couple more with slightly looser ties to the topic: Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series was worth a read. I also found Glen Cook's Garrett Files entertaining (if you like a faux-noir feel, though the characters weren't as strong). I haven't read Jack Campbell's Lost Stars, but I liked his Lost Fleet books so I'll have to look into them.
Hmm Miles for some reason always puts me in mind of Robert Asprin's MythAdventures and Phule's Company, although I prefer Vorkosigan. And from Asprin it's a short jaunt to Terry Pratchett, who mixes humanity and humor beautifully. I second The Thief series and eagerly await the latest installment - this year! Young Miles is a bit like Ender in Ender's Game, I imagine. If you like your sci fi with swords and sorcery you might enjoy Darkover. For the implications of humans getting very good at biology try Nancy Kress' Beggars in Spain. And for another insanely good plotter try Connie Willis' Doomsday Book (dark) and To Say Nothing of the Dog (light).
Oh! And also for the space military bit try Scalzi starting with Old Man's War.
I like a YA series - The Chronicles of Prydain.
Tamara Pierce has written many good character driven fantasies -- depending on the library, some end up shelved as J, some as YA and some as adult, but I've enjoyed them all.
I heartily agree with the Connie Willis and Tamora Pierce suggestions. Even though Pierce's 'quartets' tend to get labeled as YA, I enjoy and reread them all (and I"m 76 - second childhood, maybe?) I also love the Lloyd Alexander Prydain books and Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising quartet. The last I reread at least once a year!
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I also have enjoyed the Elantra series, and the Liaden series of books. The Lee and Miller series currently has a lot more novels in it.
I find the minds of the POV characters in Jack Campbell's Lost Stars series reminiscent of Lois' work.
Just wanted to say a hearty thanks to Lois for the Aaronovitch recommendation. I checked the The Rivers of London series because of your "mutual admiration society" and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Can't wait for more! Thanks again!
I wish Turner would write more. Her Thief books are terrific! She has a 5th in the series coming out this May.
I would recommend Jacqueline Carey as a great author (fantastic writing, but be advised that her Kushiel series has graphic sexual content- I normally steer away from mushy romance and also stuff like Fifty Shades), she has fun stufg (Agent of Hel series) and the already mentioned Kushiel universe- her writing is intricate and intelligent, I can highly recommend it.Also Steven Brust, a great writer with the Vald Tatos series- engaging writing, great world-building and a lot of black humor. Not much romance, more cloak and dagger and intrigue. Loved it.
Those two authors I would recommend to LMB readers because the intelligent writing is there as well, both aren't sci-fi but fantasy though.
Hope I could help.
I love Turner's Thief series and I had not heard of them until you recommended them Lois, so thanks!
Ditto Rivers of London series...they feel so fresh to me...aaronovich's mind is a fun and interesting place in which to wander.
Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series starting with Storm Front is a great read with strong characters, good plot design, and decent humor. Also, to my shame I had never tried the Discworld series until Lois recommended it to me a few years ago, so if you've never read Pratchett he's absolutely worth reading, mainly for the humor. Lots of other good recs on this thread like Turner, Aaronovitch (Lois recommended both of these to me as well) and Brust that I wholeheartedly agree with. A couple more with slightly looser ties to the topic: Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series was worth a read. I also found Glen Cook's Garrett Files entertaining (if you like a faux-noir feel, though the characters weren't as strong). I haven't read Jack Campbell's Lost Stars, but I liked his Lost Fleet books so I'll have to look into them.
Hmm Miles for some reason always puts me in mind of Robert Asprin's MythAdventures and Phule's Company, although I prefer Vorkosigan. And from Asprin it's a short jaunt to Terry Pratchett, who mixes humanity and humor beautifully. I second The Thief series and eagerly await the latest installment - this year! Young Miles is a bit like Ender in Ender's Game, I imagine. If you like your sci fi with swords and sorcery you might enjoy Darkover. For the implications of humans getting very good at biology try Nancy Kress' Beggars in Spain. And for another insanely good plotter try Connie Willis' Doomsday Book (dark) and To Say Nothing of the Dog (light).
Oh! And also for the space military bit try Scalzi starting with Old Man's War.
I like a YA series - The Chronicles of Prydain.
Tamara Pierce has written many good character driven fantasies -- depending on the library, some end up shelved as J, some as YA and some as adult, but I've enjoyed them all.
I heartily agree with the Connie Willis and Tamora Pierce suggestions. Even though Pierce's 'quartets' tend to get labeled as YA, I enjoy and reread them all (and I"m 76 - second childhood, maybe?) I also love the Lloyd Alexander Prydain books and Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising quartet. The last I reread at least once a year!
Anything by Michelle Sagara West - she has the Essalieyan books (Sun Sword, House War, etc.) which are more epic in scope with lots of characters having a focus, a bit like Game of Thrones but with the main players very often be women. And the Chronicles of Elantra which starts out as a secondary world urban police procedural with a young rookie previously mascot coming into her own - but then turns on some major magic in her background to open up an exploration of the world and how it's connected to its history and its predominant races (humans are not the apex predators there ^^).
And of course Sharon Lee & Steve Miller's Liaden books, which are space opera in nature ^^
And if you want alien aliens in fantasy, go for the Raksura books by Martha Wells, or if you want alien aliens in sf go for the Foreigner series (16 books now) by C.J. Cherryh (I would think the fact that they explore a world and a set of specific people during some important developments is an approach that might resonate with Vorkosiverse readers in particular ^^)