5.Xanth novels by Piers Anthony
Starting in 1977, the Xanth series currently has 23 novels. Sent in a fantasy world, that is shaped like the state of Florida. The Xanth series is known for all the puns. In the world of Xanth everyone has a magical talent. With the more powerful talents being the people that are the Kings and Queens. I discovered this series of novels in the late 80s. I have now read about half of the books. All the ones I have read are light quick reads. But still really fun.
4.Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Starting in 1912 the Tarzan series has 24 novels in the official run. As a kid I first saw Tarzan thanks to the Filmation Saturday morning cartoon. Then after that I saw some of the Tarzan films. I loved the cartoon, but the films I didn't like. So I never bothered reading the novels. Then in 2008 I was at my local library and looking for something to read. I saw the first Tarzan novel on the shelf. Figured what the hell. That night I laid down at 9pm and started reading it. And 5 hours later I finished it. Then in 2010 at Coast Con I bought the other 23 novels for 10 cents each. Some of the ones I got have great Boris Vallejo artwork. The Tarzan of the novels is so different than the Tarzan of all those old films. He is a very intelligent man. And doesn't speak in the broken English that the film version did.
3.The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Dresden Files series of novels are about a detective who lives in Chicago who is also a wizard. There is currently 14 full length novels in the series. Plus a bunch of short stories. Plus a few comic books. I love how this series is a nice mixture of fantasy,horror,film noir and mystery. It is also one of the few series that I don't wait for them to hit paperback. As soon as a new novel comes out I buy the hardcover. Another great thing about this series is you can tell Mr Butcher has plotted out the story line. Stuff that happens in one novel might not come back up until 3 books later. Really my only complaint about this series is that I have to wait 12 to 14 months between each book.
2.Wild Cards edited by George R.R. Martin
This series started back in 1987 and is still has novels coming out today. I read the first book in 1988. The Wild Cards universe is a good example of "alternative timelines". The first book starts right after World War II. A group of humanoid aliens has sent a germ bomb towards Earth. It explodes and releases what gets nicknamed the Wild Card virus. 90% of the people that get the virus die. 9% end up being horribly mutated and get nicknamed Jokers. Then the lucky 1% gain superpowers. They are called Aces. These novels are usually a collection of short stories. That are all tied into each other. Lots of well know fantasy and science fiction authors have stories in the Wild Cards novels. There is currently a total of 21 novels in the series. With 2 more planned.
1.The Dark Tower series by Stephen King
Now it is no secret I am a huge Stephen King fan. But with Mr King my favorite books from him are the 9 books in the Dark Tower series.The first novel "The Gunslinger" was originally published as 5 short stories that came out in various genre fiction magazines between the years of 1978 and 1981. Then in 1982 they were combined into one novel and published. Then every 3 or 4 years a new book in the series was published. With book 7 "The Dark Tower" published in 2004. In 2003 King went and revised The Gunslinger and republished it. After the publication of The Dark Tower everyone thought the series was over. But in 2012 The wind through the keyhole was published. This novel takes place between books 4 and 5 of the series. This series of novels is a weird mixture of western,science fiction,horror and just pure fantasy. I have read each book in the series at least 3 times. When I finished the 7th novel I immediately picked up book 1 and started again. Now for anyone that is going to read this be warned. The first book is a hard read. At least the original version of it is. The revised version is a little easier to read. But stick to it. Because with book 2 it really picks up and that is where most people get hooked. There is also a bunch of comic book mini series that help fill in some gaps in the stories.
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