We're reaching the end of my part in the Cybils, but...

...I just realized, shocker of shocks, that I'm not feeling the least burned out on sci-fi or fantasy*. 

So, Sharon Shinn.  I've been meaning to try her books.  Where should I start?

Oh, and Lois McMaster Bujold as well.

And Connie Willis.  I've got to find my copy of The Doomsday Book.  I bought it almost a year ago, with every intention of reading it (of course) but it seems to have evaporated.

Suggestions, please.  Feel free to throw any other authors in there.

*Which is a good thing, because though we're close to the end, we're not at the end.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Definitely give Bujold's Cordelia's Honor a try. I like her whole Vorkosigan saga, but CH is the first in the series and works well on it's own. One of my all-time favorites. There should be a review of it up at Dear Author sometime next week.

[Leila]

Oh, cool. I'll write that down.

[Sara]

As far as Sharon Shinn goes, I'd recommend staring with her YA series first. I believe the first one is The Truth-Teller's Tale , but they're only loosely connected so the order isn't that important!

[Electric Landlady]

Bujold: second the rec to start with Cordelia's Honor.

Sharon Shinn: or you could start with Archangel.

I adore Connie Willis. I have recently realized, though, that I always approach her with a bit of trepidation because you never quite know in advance if you're getting riotous-hilarity Connie Willis (Bellwether, To Say Nothing of the Dog) or cut-your-heart-out Connie Willis (Doomsday Book, Lincoln's Dreams). Both are good, though.

If you like Bujold and Shinn, you might want to try Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Liaden series. Other stuff I've really been enjoying recently: Sarah Monette (Melusine), Scott Lynch (The Lies of Locke Lamora), Naomi Novik (Temeraire series -- think Patrick O'Brien with dragons, and no, it's better than it sounds), Rosemary Kirstein (who I just started reading the week before last -- SO GOOD. Start with The Steerswoman's Road, which is an omnibus of her first two books).

Also, read Emma Bull, because everyone should.

[Leila]

I read and ADORED the first Temeraire book. The next two are in the pile somewhere. I think.

We have the new Emma Bull at the library, and I've been meaning to bring it home forever, but I still haven't read War for the Oaks (also in the pile) because I'm a big loser, and I want to read it first even though they aren't related.

I started the Lynch and liked it, but then something distracted me. I'll have to pick it up again, and there's a sequel, too, isn't there?

This list is getting awesomer by the minute. Keep 'em coming, guys.

[Electric Landlady]

Yes! You must read War for the Oaks instantly! It's one of my all-time favourites.

[Electric Landlady]

and yes, there is a sequel to TLoLL -- Red Seas Under Red Skies. I haven't read it yet, although I'm looking forward to it (waiting for the library to get it into the system, or maybe someone will get it for me for Christmas!).

[Bea]

Sharon Shinn -- I second Archangel and I'd add Mystic and Rider.

[Susan]

(de-lurking after a very long time)

Oh, oh, oh! I second "Cordelia's Honor", but as far as Bujold goes, my current must-read of hers is "The Sharing Knife: Beguilement" - it's the first in a trilogy. #2 is "The Sharing Knife: Legacy", which is also very good, but not quite as knock-your-socks-off as TSK:B. I'm recommending it to everyone I know.

[jessmonster]

I hope you find your copy of Doomsday Book - I just inhaled it last week.

[Tasha]

Oooo! How I envy you being able to discover Bujold for the first time! You are in for a real treat! Shinn is wonderful as well, though her angels series wore on me after awhile. I really like her recent YA series that starts with the Safe-Keeper's Secret. And Connie Willis is another favorite. The Doomsday Book is one that will linger with you long after reading it.

[Jackie]

I LOVED Doomsday Book. Read it when I was a teen, and then again in college and STILL loved it.

[Angie]

Shinn: Start with Archangel and, when you're done with that series, read Mystic & Rider. Both series are ohsogood! The Samaria books are each quite different and so go ahead and give each one a try even if the previous didn't work for ya. But definitely don't skip Archangel or Mystic & Rider.

Bujold: I'd start with The Sharing Knife: Beguilement. I was blown away.

Willis: Find The Doomsday Book in your stack and nestle in. She's wonderful.

[Julie Carter]

Bujold! Oh, she's wonderful.

I think I'd start with The Curse of Chalion and then immediately IMMEDIATELY read The Paladin of Souls which is one of my favorite fantasy books ever--and I've read a lot of 'em.

[Leila]

You guys are THE BEST.

[Liz]

I second the recommendation about Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Also War for the Oaks -- high on my list of best all-time books.

[Elizabeth]

I tried the Liaden stuff--ordered a big, expensive book of it as I'd heard it was for Bujold fans. I have to say, it didn't work for me. It's so angsty...yet not about teenagers. If I'm reading a book about grown-ups, I want them to act like grown-ups. The hard-ass social structure bothered me, too. Competent, educated adults still completely subject to parental authority? I suppose that could be why the characters all act like teenagers--they essentially aren't allowed to grow up. Kinda weirded me out, though.

But I'm in the minority. There was a rapturous forward by Anne McCaffrey at the front of my book, and most readers gush.

[Elizabeth]

I tried the Liaden stuff--ordered a big, expensive book of it as I'd heard it was for Bujold fans. I have to say, it didn't work for me. It's so angsty...yet not about teenagers. If I'm reading a book about grown-ups, I want them to act like grown-ups. The hard-ass social structure bothered me, too. Competent, educated adults still completely subject to parental authority? I suppose that could be why the characters all act like teenagers--they essentially aren't allowed to grow up. Kinda weirded me out, though.

But I'm in the minority. There was a rapturous forward by Anne McCaffrey at the front of my book, and most readers gush.

[Elizabeth]

Huh. Not sure how that happened.

[Wendy]

Willis: Doomsday Book is beyond wonderful, but if it's too much to start with, go for <>Lincoln's Dreams. Or stay light and go with Bellwether.

Bujold: I'd start with Shards of Honor. I loved Beguilement, and you might too, since you like romance, but it's kind of lopsided and doesn't give a fair idea of the breadth of her work.

Shinn: Angelica is my favorite, and it's also chronologically the first in the Angels series, so a good place to start. I don't care much for her YA.

[Naomi]

For Sharon Shinn's YA, the first one is The Safe-keeper's Secret, followed by The Truth-Teller's Tale and The Dream-maker's Magic. But if you read them out of order it doesn't matter much, except that the protagonist of the first book has a slightly spoilery cameo in the second.

Also, how has no one yet mentioned Summers at Castle Auburn? I really loved that one.

[Colleen]

It is hard with Connie Willis because she does write so many different types of stories - but if you can get a collection of short stories then I recommend starting with that. The best is the new one from Subterranean Press, "The Winds of Marble Arch". It's over 500 pages of amazing writing - I loved it.

[Michele]

This is my first post, but I read your blog often and just love being (even a silent) part of a community that loves the same books! Having read all of Shinn, Bujold, and Willis, I vote for Summers at Castle Auburn (Shinn) and like another poster, Curse of Challion followed by Paladin of Souls which yes, is one of my favorites ever. (A five god system that includes a manifestation of god called the Bastard. How can you lose?) That said, Miles Vorkosigan (that is, Lois McM-B) you saved my sanity as a mother of small children. What would I have done without Miles? Enjoy! You have all provided me with a beautifully tall stack of new books to read. Thanks.

[Leila]

Oh, a collection of short fiction by Willis might be just the thing -- all I've read by her is the novella Inside Job, which I looooved. So much.

I'd better write all of these down. I'm so excited!

[Cassie]

As far as Shinn's books go, I always recomend Summers at Castle Auburn. The Safe-Keeper's Secret and following books are also good, but Summers at Castle Auburn is by far my favorite of her books.

[Electric Landlady]

Just remembered CJ Cherryh -- her Merchanter Universe stuff, in particular. (I reread Finity's End over the holiday and remembered how good it is.)

[perinne]

connie willis is my favorite author after dorothy sayers, and To Say Nothing of the Dog is my favorite book in the entire world. the other recommendations are good and since this is an old post i don't know what you have already read, i just thought i'd give To Say Nothing a push! also, if you're wanting short stories, try her collection Impossible Things. she also has another novel out soon: All Clear.
i'm loving your shirts- that's where i came in- but i will be back for all these books! i love it!