In FANTASY here are some I (Fittings Doc) would recommend:
"Legend” (1984) by David Gemmell (The MASTER of Heroic fantasy)
(first book of the “Drenai Saga”)
Hell EVERYTHING by David Gemmell is worth reading!!!
He is a master at character development and readability.
If you like HEROIC FANTASY, You’ll find you cannot put his books down.
“The Curse of Chalion” (2001) by Lois McMaster Bujold
(first book of “Chalion” series)
(Won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature and nominated for the Hugo, World Fantasy, and Locus Awards)
“The Seer King” (1997) By Chris Bunch
(first book of “The Seer King Trilogy”)
“Luck in the Shadows” (1996) by Lynn Flewelling
(first book of the “Nightrunner” series)
"The Dark Tide" (1984) by Dennis L. McKiernan
(first book of the "Mithgar" series)
"The Iron Tower" (an omnibus edition)
Originally published as a trilogy (The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom, and The Darkest Day).
"The Misplaced Legion" (1987) by Harry Turtledove
(first book of the "Videssos" series)
One of Julius Caesar's legions is transported to a world with magic.
"Magician" (1982) by Raymond E. Feist
(first book in "The Riftwar Saga")
"The Riddle-Master of Hed" (1976) by Patricia A. McKillip
(first book of "The Riddle-Master trilogy")
In SCIENCE FICTION, here are some I would recommend:
"Dorsai" (1959) by Gordon R. Dickson
(the first book of “The Childe Cycle”)
Deals with genetic drift and specialization, and there effects on humanity as a whole.
Nominated for the Hugo award.
"The Forever War" (1974) by Joe Haldeman
Deals with the effect of time dilation, on those involved in an interstellar war.
(Won the Hugo and Nebula Awards.)
"Foundation" (1951) by Issac Asimov
(the first book of the "Foundation Series")
Postulates the societal change, which would accompany the expansion into the stars.
The seiries won the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966.
(One of the other books in the series also won a Hugo Award.)
“Dune” (1965) by Frank Herbert
(the first book of the “Dune Series)
(Won the Hugo and Nebula Awards.)
“On Basilisk Station” (1993) by David Weber
(the first book in the "Honor Harrington" series)
This Space Navy series has FEMALE lead character. Beyond the Technology of the spacecraft and weapons, the story revolves around interpersonal relationships with which you will be able to identify.
"Warriors Apprentice" (1986) by Lois McMaster Bujold
(the first book of "The Vorkosigan Saga")
After being genetically "damaged" by a bio weapon in his mother's womb, Miles Vorkosigan overcomes prejudice to claim his birthright.
"Cross Time Engineer" series - (aka the "Conrad Stargard" series)
by Leo Frankowski
which begins with "The Cross Time Engineer" (1993)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Frankow…
Its even better if you are POLISH as the main character is as well!
This was an eye opening look at how technology could transform a society, and gave some very good descriptions of simple improvements that lead to our own industrial revolution.
I guess you can tell I loved these books.
"The Forge" (1991) by S.M. Stirling.
(the first book of "The General" series)
"An Oblique Approach" (1998) by Eric Flint
(the first book of the "Belisarius" series)
"Hammer's Slammers" (1979) by David Drake
(the first book of the "Hammer's Slammers" series)
"Sten" (1982) by Chris Bunch and Allen Cole
(the first book of "The Sten Chronicles")
Sten is orphaned and then recruited into the Eternal Emperor's "Mantis" covert intelligence corps.
"The Man Who Never Missed" (1985) by Steve Perry
(the first book of "The Matador" series)
"The Planet Savers" (1958) by Marion Zimmer Bradley
(the first book of the "Darkover" series)
“For Love of Mother-Not” (1983) Alan Dean Foster
(the first book in the “Humanx” series - featuring Pip and Flinx)
“1632” (2000) by Eric Flint
(first book of the “Ring of Fire” alternate history series)
"Island in the Sea of Time" (1998) by S.M. Stirling.
(the first book of the "Nantucket" series)
“The Ayes of Texas” (1982) by Daniel Da Cruz
(the first book of the “Republic of Texas” series)
About commercial space exploration.