Hi! I need new books to read. I think social media has ruined something I have always loved (reading). What is your favorite book (last few years), can be any genre of any kind, that you think would be great for inspiring a new game or new perspective? Thanks!
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I know its not strictly reading, but there's an endless well of creativity involved in them. Mountains of inspiration and perspectives!
lotr and the hobbit
the grey house
*) David Bowman - Let the dog drive
*) Julia Phillips - Dissapearing Earth
*) Anya Ulinich - Petropolis
*) Nell Zink - Wallcreeper
*) Tess Gunty - The Rabbit Hutch
Cloud Atlas - DM
Broom of the System - DFW
All Douglas Couplands
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune
Sister, Maiden, Monster - Lucy A. Snyder (not necessarily a favorite but has stuck with me)
Basically a primer pack to destroy any overnight tech bro AI expert on LinkedIn whilst enabling creatives to think of entirely new design systems, concepts or themes.
I can promise you 90% of the dipshits on LinkedIn haven't even heard of it.
Young Adult Anthropomorphic action to ADulT huMaN/CenTaur "ACtion"
Cyberpunk
Urban fantasy
Romance
And MonsterPocalypse Horror
Feel free to check these out and message me if any tickle your fancy.
https://scoghlan.com/?page_id=927
It is a dialogue-driven supernatural mystery/character drama infused with some reconstruction/subversion of japanese otaku-media tropes, as well as being really meta and occasionally experimental. It's a timeless classic and personal fave!
Monsters don't come to you, they were there from the start. inside everyone.
Monogatari is a series of stories about the pieces of our selves we avert our eyes from. reclaiming the shadows we sold for ten pieces of gold.
Robert Jackson Bennet is also great. Read all of his books.
- ambergris: one of the most interesting series i've ever read by far, so memorable
Also anything by Mariana Enriquez for horror, Jesse Ball for a bit of surrealism, and Percival Everett for being Percival Everett.
If your able to get a psychial copy the cover has squishable cat beans <3
Lord Of The Mysteries
(Victorian, dark fantasy steampunk)
Shadow Slave
(Dark fantasy, apocalyptic type)
A Practical Guide to Evil
Jackal Among Snakes
(There's uh a lot of dark fantasy...)
Books in General:
The Starless Sea
Out Of My Mind
Or really any of John Ajvide Lindqvist work o/
If you just want a one and done, I’d also recommend The Last Unicorn or The Book of Lost Things.
Pretty interesting premise and plot, too.
Weird old literary sci-fi/fantasy written by a late life Catholic convert
I've seen it compared to Ulysses, and the bible.
Ursula Le Guin called Wolfe "our Melville."
If you like sci-fi/fantasy, he's probably your favourite authors favourite author.
They're thinner, simpler books, but fun imo nonetheless!
I also really liked the Bertie Carroll books, they're murder mysteries set in theatres, set in the 30s, with a queer protagonist
It's about a man that doesn't really care about life or the things that happen and some day kills a man.
if you're looking for more found family, the six of crows duo is amazing too!
and then if you want fae politics, cruel prince is divine.
Alone Once More by Neviara is a story about a college freshman sucked into the world of an otome game where she has to struggle through the same lonely semester over and over again.
If Keystone, then join us in destroying the pyramid scheme and building a circular society.
https://destroypyramids.org
It was nice to learn that not being happy and chipper 24/7 is okay.
Berries and Greed by @authorlilymayne.bsky.social basically anything she writes. I’m sure you’ll love it.
Pierce Brown
John Gwynne
Robert Jackson Bennett
That's a starter pack. Ping me if it resonates, I will add some others..
First off, these books aren't new but they feel fresh: the Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kirstein.
Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Yes it is basically science fiction but there is a lot of social commentary, horror and a lot of other things going. I guarantee you will read it, go WTF and then try it again.i apologise up front
Could be good for inspiration
The Graceling Realm books by Kristen Cashore. Another underrated series, but I believe it's more popular since it was recently adapted into a comic? Anyways, j'adore Graceling :>
READ IT
Also been stuck listening to the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson on audible (the narration by RC Bray being a major factor).
https://bsky.app/profile/annleckie.com
@nnedi.bsky.social
I'm currently catching up on Leigh Bardugo, and everyone already recommends Six of Crows, but I'll say - Alex Stern novels are my favorites of hers so far
I also want to recommend Raw Dog by Jamie Lofthus, a non-fiction novel about hot dogs, covid, and the US
Extraordinary true story.
* life ceremony, by sayaka murata
* triomf, by marlene van nierkerk
* home fire, by kamala shamsie
* venomous lumpsucker, by ned beauman
* boy parts, eliza clark
* tender maps, by alice maddicott
Not evil in unnecessary cruel or so but that he is willing to do anything if it gives him an advantage and also outplays social norms.
Try this if u didn't read it
It's a great work
also, Flotsam by Remarque. love his books in general, you could really pick up any of them. More classic novels about 1, 2 world wars, in inbetween and after
Howl's moving castle
Heaven official's blessing
Before the coffee gets cold
Night on the galactic railroad
The cat who saved books
Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods is good too, it's about him and his friend walking the Appalachian trail
Also lots of China Mieville, especially from his Bas-Lag universe like The Scar.
Iron Council is another that I could see a game drawing from, in fact.
I also enjoy "A Diary of a Tuscan bookshop". It's about a woman who started a bookshop in a tiny village in the Tuscan hills. Its a very light but fun read
My fave all time is Use of Weapons from Iain M. Banks. His Culture books are super inventive, and that's the best.
Not too sure if it's good as game inspiration, but it has some interesting influences
Fave fiction in the last few years is Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro.
The Hundred Years War on Palestine
It's absolutely incredible. The creative energy that it took to write this is mind blowing.
I want to see a film of this book or play a game inspired by it.
Kinda Agatha Christie, whodunit vibes.
Lately I've been thinking of the book In The Palm of Darkness (Tú, la oscuridad) by Mayra Montero tho. I read it in 2022, it was interesting although a bit depressing in the end.
Wyrd Sisters or
Guards Guards are good places to start
- The Tatami Galaxy
- Ask Iwata (okay this is essential)
Again hear me out. My current favorite is Medalist (Ice Skating/Dancing) Very good underdog story.
This book absolutely can make you take a look at the world around in a new perspective