Book Recommendations for a long Train Ride? Question: I'm traveling across the country to Washington DC, and I'm going to be on an Amtrak train for about 48 hours straight each way. I'm excited, because it's a nice, leisurely way to travel, and I won't have to get strip-searched and tasered for the privilege of sitting on a tarmac for 5 hours in a tiny little seat that doesn't recline. I'll have a sleeper car, and I'll be able to wander around the train, watch the scenery, and it'll be a great opportunity to tear through some books.
Here are the last few books I've read and I loved them all:
Making Money by Terry Pratchett
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Spook Country by William Gibson
Time Enough For Love by Robert A. Heinlein
Worldwired by Elizabeth Bear
The System of the World by Neal Stephenson
What would you suggest for someone who likes these kinds of books? Or, for the heck of it, what would you recommend even if you haven't read these books?
Answer:
My first thought was Philip Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, so I say go for books 2 and 3 (Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass).
Other fantasy titles I've liked in the past: Piers Anthony and his Xanth books (especially the beginning) - full of puns; his Adept trilogy and the Incarnations of Immortality series (loved On a Pale Horse!) Might check out Katherine Kurtz and her Deryni series. It was written in the 80s I think - the Deryni are a magical race - there are very few left, because they were marked for death.
Different genre - The Kite Runner is a good one. I understand his other book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is also good.
Maybe a Stephen King book, if you haven't read all of them. The Stand, Misery or It? The Mist is also out now, alone, or part of the short story collection, Skeleton Crew.
If I come up with some others (more variety), I'll be back. Have a great trip! Sounds wonderful. I've looking into it a few times, but the money for any trip isn't there right now.
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