Influential Fiction

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Harry Potter, definitely. These tidbits of wisdom, amongst others, influenced me immeasurably as I was growing up (and still do to this day).

The Chronicles of Narnia (all seven of them :dry: )

Also, Mark Robson's little-known 'Darkweaver Legacy' series. Another YA Heros Journey...I highly recommend it. Again, they were highly formative for me, and are a source of wisdom that I still mentally turn to now despite it being many years since I last read the books.

Talariq wrote: The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind is amazing. The first book, Wizard's First Rule, is chock full of wonderful life lessons and even contains some interesting psychological/metaphysical tidbits that have helped me with meditation, overcoming challenges in life, getting through tough times, and all sorts of things you really wouldn't expect from a fantasy book.

Side Note: The Legend of the Seeker, which is based on these books, is a HORRIBLE representation of the source material. If you've seen the show and hated it as much as I did (or even if you liked it), I would highly recommend reading at least Wizard's First Rule, as it is almost a completely different story when it comes down to it.

I love Legend of the Seeker. Some of the writing and acting is pretty shoddy, but Bridget Regan (Kahlan) more than makes up for it... I like the classic Heros Journey arc, and I'm always a sucker for anything underpinned by a good old forbidden-love story...

I haven't read the books though, and I had heard before that they are infinitely better, so...maybe I'll give them a go sometime.

A tad on the serious side of fiction, I suppose, but Faulkner and Huxley line my bookshelves. The Sound and The Fury, Brave New World, The Unvanquished, Island...I am also very fond of J.G. Ballard, specifically, The Drowned World.

And of course, Harry Potter...

Chronicles of Narnia...

Sherlock Holmes...

The list goes on...

I have always loved The Princess Bride, both the book and the movie.

V-Tog wrote: I love Legend of the Seeker. Some of the writing and acting is pretty shoddy, but Bridget Regan (Kahlan) more than makes up for it... I like the classic Heros Journey arc, and I'm always a sucker for anything underpinned by a good old forbidden-love story...

I haven't read the books though, and I had heard before that they are infinitely better, so...maybe I'll give them a go sometime.

I should have put a disclaimer... The show in and of itself isn't terrible. I love the casting for Kahlan and Zed, but Richard is so very wrong and the story is extremely watered down. To use Harry Potter as an example, it would be as if the movies cast a Home Alone-era Macaulay Culkin as Harry, made all seven books into one movie, and had him kiss Voldemort to death instead of fighting him or learning any lessons along the way.

(Sorry for the short derail. I'll be over here fan-boying. :blush: )

I like these two specifically for the philosophical bits.

I third the Dune suggestion. Specifically the Litany against fear.

I have no fear, for fear is the little death that kills me over and over. Without fear, I die but once.

Extended to:

I will not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain

I also second the Sword of Truth. Goodkind uses the last few books (7-10 of 12) to wax poetic about his philosophies (objectivism, free will, etc) via Richard. But there are some goodies by others...

"There is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, least of all in people. In the best of us there are thoughts or deeds that are wicked, and in the worst of us, at least some virtue. An adversary is not one who does loathsome acts for their own sake. He always has a reason that to him is justification. My cat eats mice. Does that make him bad? I don't think so, and the cat doesn't think so, but I would bet the mice have a different opinion." — Zedd

"Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed." — Richard

"Reality is irrelevant; Perception is everything." — Zedd

"Evil is not one large entity, but a collection of countless, small depravities brought up from the muck by petty men." — Richard

And lastly, Richard's thoughts on combat, despite a strong desire to not get involved.

"Cut. Once committed to fight, Cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no rule more important, no commitment that overrides this one. Cut." — Richard