6.0 Added the Malazan book of the fallen.
Update 6.0
I make this thread so I and other fellow readers can post their experiences with certain books and series.
Myself is a big fantasy and lore fan, my username might suggest just that.
I'll start of
First, probably the best series I've ever read is:...
The Dark Tower by Stephen King.
It's a 7 book series, with a couple of smaller stories in other of his books.
It's about a fella called Roland, that travels across his world (and a version of ours), to find the Dark Tower. If you like fantasy or Stephen King, this is a must-read, and I suggest it to everyone. I won't tell what happens or how it ends, but if you wish to know more or want me to write a better description, send me a PM or reply in this thread
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.
It's a 14 book series, with the 13'th book released a couple of weeks ago.
It happens in another world, and it's a battle between the good, evil and madness. The plot is based around the main character Rand Al'thor, and his friends Perrin Ayabara, Mathrim Cauthon, Egwene Al'were and later on in the series Elayne Trakand. The point of view changes from chapter to chapter.
A small summary that won't spoil anything comes here:
The Dark One's prison is crumbling, and the world is in great danger. Thousands of years ago the Dragon (not acctually a dragon, but a title) Lews Therin "Kinslayer" Thelamon imprisoned him and his strongest leaders, the Forsaken, into his mountain of Shayol Ghoul, far into the Blight. You follow Rand as he discovers his fate and him and his friends struggle against the forces of darkness.
Again, I suggest this book to all fantasy fans.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.
I guess you've heard about the movie "The Golden Compass" (or something, only read it in Norwegian), and though that film sucked big time, the series are acctually one of the best I've read, and also the only I can remember reading as much as three times. It's only three books, I think about a thousand pages in total, but it's really, really good. Especially if you, like me, like the idea of several universes.
I won't write the plot on this one, you better read it yourself
WoW lore books
The War of the Ancients
trilogy is great. And especially if you are into lore, you should really, really read this. It's available on Amazon pretty cheap as far as I know. It's about the Dragonsoul, and the maddening of Deathwing which is pretty essential in the current expansion.
Trebor made a post in another thread that listed all lore books that currently exists. A link the the post can be found HERE.
So that's my 5 cent
Reply with other books and series you wish others to read, or reply with comments to other replies or the original post.
Edit: I'll update the post when I read more books, or if you make a suggestion worthy to be on the top
First update
Dune by Frank Herbert
Dune has been mentioned several times in the thread, and I agree. the Dune series are great, and everyone should read them.
The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind
This is also a great series. Myself have read couple of them. It's very good and very entertaining. The first book gave me thrills, and still does merely by thinking about it.
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
Starting with the Amulet of Samarkand which is
extremely good. I acctually started crying in the end of the third book if I remember correctly.
Second update
H.P. Lovecraft
Creator of the C'thulu Mythos, and what Old Gods from WoW are based on.
Third update
The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings is a epic tale almost everyone has heard of. The movies are also some of the best "filmatized" books ever. I'd say it doesn't matter wether you read the books or see the films first.
Fourth Update
1984 - George Orwell
George Orwell's dystopian novel describes a grim vision of the future. It follows Winston Smith, civil servant from Air Strip One, responsible for falsifying historical documents in order to put the all-ruling Party in better light. He slowly rebels, with his lover Julia, and learns what is really behind Big Brother.
Thanks to Postulio
Update 5
A song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin.
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of four published volumes with three more planned. There are also three prequel novellas available, with several more planned, and a series of novellas consisting of excerpts of the main novels. One of these excerpt novellas has won a Hugo Award. The series has been translated into more than twenty languages and the fourth volume reached the top of The New York Times bestseller lists upon its release. Overall, the series has sold more than 3.5 million copies in the USA and more than 7 million worldwide. (from
wikipedia)
Sixth Update
The Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson
A hundred thousand years ago, a god was summoned from another world to destroy a mortal tyrant. The god was severely injured and became consumed by pain and hatred, and wishes to destroy the world. The local gods and ascendants of the world chained this foreign god to the earth.
Meanwhile, several mortal empires/nations are warring with each other.
There are main characters/protagonists in each, so there are no real 'good vs evil' fights in the mortal wars. Big thanks to
Zoma.