Looking for a good sci-fi or fantasy book to read, but I have certain requirements.

[Darth Anarcus]

I was in Boarders yesterday bent on finding a good science fiction or fantasy book, however, here are the things I'm looking for, but was not able to find:

1. Either a stand-alone book, a duology or a trilogy. I don't want to jump into some big saga and have tons of catch-up reading to do.
2. I enjoy either futuristic space stories or swords and magic. However, I do not like girly things like unicorns and the like.

I was eyeing The Blood Knight, but they didn't have books 1 and 2.

Any suggestions?

[Bunny]

The Sellswords Trilogy is a good series of books. R.A. Salvatore is the writer and it takes place in the same era as Drizzt Do'Urden's travels, and makes a couple mentions of previous adventures had by the two wouldbe heroes of the trilogy. However, reading all of Drizzt's Saga is not a requirement to enjoy the series.

Time Master Trilogy is also a good series but you won't find it at Borders or Barnes and Noble, unfortunately. Used book stores may carry it. I make mention of it because it is serious a good series of books. Honestly. I bet my life on it.

The Highwayman by R.A. Salvatore is a standalone series that is disconnected from Forgotten Realms and all of the rest of the books associated with it. It is a very good and quick ready, highly enjoyable. It's also pretty humorous too.

[CimminyCricket]

The Dark elf trilogy, by R.A. Salvatore...and then the starwars books by R.A. Salvatore....EVERYTHING written by R.A. Salvatore

[Ben]

Dragonlance FTW!!

[ljkkjlcm9]

Ender's Game series.

There are currently four books in that series, all good, one more than a trilogy, but the first book can stand alone
Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind.


If you like that, there is another series based off those books, centering around other characters from Ender's Game. Not part of the original series, and also not required. The first book, Ender's Shadow, parallels Ender's Game
Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, and Shadow of the Giant

THE JACKEL

[Martyr]

Starman Jones, by Robert A. Heinlein

[Darth Anarcus]

The Dark elf trilogy, by R.A. Salvatore...and then the starwars books by R.A. Salvatore....EVERYTHING written by R.A. Salvatore

Oh yes, I know. I read the Star Wars books all the time. I've got every single one of them.

[Zeromus_X]

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engel.

Now, it does have a heroine for a main character, and they do ride a creature that has physical similarities to a unicorn, but it's far from girly. Please give it a read.

There are also three other books if I recall, but they are only connected by the main characters and aren't really continuations of the same story. They're all good too, but the first one is the best.

[blim]

Dont know what you have already read but Heinlein is good, i take it you've read Foundation by Isaac Asimov

[look_out_below]

I would suggest just about anything by E.E. Knight. He currently has 2 series, the Vampire Earth, which is so far 4 books long, and the Age of Fire series that has 2 books (but in the age of fire series it doesnt matter which book you read first). His books are great because you really do not know how the story is going to end, the main and secondary major characters can and do lose.

Another series for consideration would be the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, which is three books long. This series is a bit different from your normal fantasy in that it takes place during the Napolenic wars and it is about how these wars would have been fought if dragons had existed and were being used in aerial combat. Sounds weird but it is good.

[CimminyCricket]

The Dark elf trilogy, by R.A. Salvatore...and then the starwars books by R.A. Salvatore....EVERYTHING written by R.A. Salvatore

Oh yes, I know. I read the Star Wars books all the time. I've got every single one of them.

I love you

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engel.

Now, it does have a heroine for a main character, and they do ride a creature that has physical similarities to a unicorn, but it's far from girly. Please give it a read.

There are also three other books if I recall, but they are only connected by the main characters and aren't really continuations of the same story. They're all good too, but the first one is the best.

Every fourth grade at my old school(s) had to read that. So yes, its a GREAT Book.

[Ichimonji]

Try reading The Obsidian Chronicles which is a three part series consisting of Dragon Weather, Dragon Society, and Dragon Vemon. I read a lot of book, and I can honestly say that those three books are the best fantasy books I've ever read. Prepare to be captivated.

Edit - The series is by Lawrence Watt-Evans

[Renmiri]

Dragonlance FTW!!

Dragonlance is huge!!!! It is great but not a story solves itself in less then 4-5 paperbacks.

For some pretty good Sci-fi get Larry Niven:

The Mote in God's Eyes / Mote II
or
Integral Trees / The Smoke Ring
or
Bewoulf / Bewoulf's Children
or
Ringworld / RW II / RW II

I also like David Brin's Startide Rising and it's 2 sequels

Or for Fantasy: Stephen Brust
Jhereg/ Athyra and his other 4 books on the series

Stay away from Piers Anthony on the Fantasy shelves. Unicorns, kiddie stuff and girly stuff gallore. My kids love it!

[Dr Aum]

For starters, everything by Philip K. Dick is wonderful. My personal favorite is _Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep_, on which Blade Runner is based. He has several other great sci-fi novels, though.

Also, if you don't mind reading what is essentially a huge book of short stories, I can't possibly recommend Cordwainer Smith's _The Rediscovery of Man_ more. It's an absolutely amazing experience.

[Raistlin]

The Chronciles Trilogy, which starts DragonLance, is a good read that can be stand-alone (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Autumn Twilight). You get dragons, swords, and magic. And then there are other trilogies (Legends, War of the Souls) which fit into that story.