So, yes, we know. This kind of article has been written time and time again. But please, bear with us. We can assure you that this one will be different. No, we will not recommend you your typical classic books—don’t expect to read about Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brönte, Jane Austen, or William Shakespeare. Even if we do enjoy these beloved authors, it is time we broaden our horizons. Without further ado, here are five classic not-so-common recommendations based on some of your contemporary favourites!

The Silent Companions (2017) by Laura Purcell > The Turn of The Screw (1898) by Henry James

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell proved to be one of the spookiest releases of the last few years. Driving both the main character and the readers themselves through the most paranoid parts of the mind, the book plays numerous mind games that do not give you (or the poor protagonist) a single second to rest. Similarly, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James relies heavily on its “unreliable narrator”, keeping you at the edge of your seat and not allowing you to put the book down until you uncover what is real and what is not. Dive head first on the gothic atmosphere of Henry James’ masterpiece and unravel the mystery of this delightful piece of gothic fiction.

Scythe (2016) by Neal Shusterman > Brave New World (1932) by Aldous Huxley

Have you ever wondered about the future? Do you think it is possible for humanity to reach a perfect society? And what if that idyllic society is not as perfect as it appears to be at first glance? If you enjoyed the paradoxical dystopian utopia of Neal Shusterman’s Scythe, get ready for Aldous Huxley’s masterpiece. Polarising to George Orwell’s 1984, where humankind deeply resents their futuristic situation, Huxley offers the reader a future where people are happy with their situation, or so it seems. Dealing with similar topics, both Shusterman’s and Huxley’s works offers a glimpse of the possible outcome of our world, where humanity has surrendered to abusing our power as a species for the sake of greater good. Deliciously dark food for thought.

Tess of the Road (2018) by Rachel Hartman > Don Quixote (1615) by Miguel de Cervantes

This one may seem like a bit of a stretch, but hear us out. The hero’s quest trope is not uncommon in epic novels of self-discovery, and it is the main link between these two books. Even if Tess lacks Don Quixote’s madness, and the latter is missing a dragon companion, both characters share that certain feeling of adventurous picaresque. Furthermore, Rachel Hartman wrote her undergraduate thesis about Cervantes’ masterpiece, so it is not that crazy to find some reminiscence of it on her novel. If you enjoyed the lazy, episodic rhythm of Tess’ journey, don’t hesitate to immerse yourself in the world of Don Quixote —one of the central pieces of Spanish literature.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (2018) by Hank Green > Slaughterhouse V (1969) by Kurt Vonnegut

Surrealism at its finest. For fans of Hank Green’s imaginatively weird debut novel, Slaughterhouse V by Kurt Vonnegut should definitely be your next read. If you enjoy the literary production of Hank’s brother, John, you will have definitely heard about Slaughterhouse V, as it is quoted several times throughout The Fault in Our Stars, which is written by his brother, John Green. Painstakingly odd yet utterly gripping, Vonnegut’s novel will give you that same sense of uneasiness characteristic of what almost appears to be an alternative reality, where everything is not quite right. In both cases, you will not be able to stop yourself from quoting that meme with the crazy-haired guy saying aliens.

All The Crooked Saints (2017) by Maggie Stiefvater > Love Medicine (1984) by Louise Erdrich

Were the miracles that happened in Bicho Raro not enough for you? Then, you have a few more waiting for you thanks to Louise Erdrich collection of short stories. Even if this book is the closest to our days, it is widely considered a classic now, even if it is not as popular as it should. For lovers of Stiefvater’s masterful use of magic realism and folklore, Love Medicine will hook you in with the mysterious and enchanting stories of three Native American families whose lives are irrevocably intertwined. Like All the Crooked Saints, the collection also explores the depths of family bonds, love in all of its forms, and self-discovery.

Have you ever heard about any of these classics? Do you have any other recommendations? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Classic Recommendations Based On Contemporary Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From another fantasy masterpiece by the popular Brandon Sanderson to a new novel by Andy Weir, the very author who wrote the best-selling novel turned film, The Martian. Also coming out this November is the sequel in Joe Zieja’s brilliant sci-fi spoof series, a collection of stories with a twist on classics such as The Wizard of Oz, and a magical tale where a djinn warrior is accidentally summoned.

Check out our picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be adding one of these reads to your booklist or if you have enjoyed reading one of them!

Into The Rolling Deep by Mira Grant | Goodreads

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Communication Failure by Joe Zieja | Goodreads

In this sequel to Mechanical Failure, Captain Rogers, despite his best attempts to do otherwise, has become the acting admiral of the 331st Meridan fleet. His first task: worrying. A lot. The rival Thelicosan fleet, under the influence of bad intelligence, a forbidden romance, and a communication officer with an eardrum injury, is about to break a two-hundred-year-old nonaggression pact. They have offered a vague, easily misinterpreted message: “We’re invading.” Rogers isn’t sure, but he thinks that’s probably bad.

Jade City by Fonda Lee | Goodreads

Magical jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon with the Green Bone warriors, including the Kaul family, using it to enhance their abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion. A new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon’s bustling capital city and they care about nothing but protecting their own. When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone—even foreigners—wield jade, causing the Kauls and the rival Ayt family to erupt into violence. The outcome will determine the fate of all Green Bones and of Kekon itself.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson | Goodreads

In the third novel in the Stormlight Archive series, Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world and awakens the subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified. Dalinar realizes that if all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together―and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past―even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.

Steal The Stars by Mac Rogers and Nat Cassidy | Goodreads

Dakota “Dak” Prentiss guards the biggest secret in the world—they call it “Moss.” It’s your standard grey alien from innumerable abduction stories and its spaceship crash-landed eleven years ago with a secret military base built around it for study. The day Matt Salem joins her security team, it’s love at first sight—which is a problem, since they both signed ironclad contracts vowing not to fraternize with other military personnel. Dak and Matt have only way to be together: do the impossible. Steal Moss and sell the secret of its existence.

The Two of Swords: Volume Two by K.J. Parker | Goodreads

A soldier with a gift for archery. A woman who kills without care. Two brothers, both unbeatable generals, now fighting for opposing armies. No-one in the vast and once glorious United Empire remains untouched by the rift between East and West, and the war has been fought for as long as anyone can remember. Some still survive who know how it was started, but no-one knows how it will end.

Artemis by Andy Weir | Goodreads

Jazz Bashara is a criminal. Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. Smuggling helps when you’ve got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent. Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But it’s just the start of her problems, as she learns that she’s stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit riskier than the first.

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich | Goodreads

The world as we know it is ending. Evolution has reversed itself, affecting every living creature on earth with woman after woman giving birth to infants that appear to be primitive species of humans. Thirty-two-year-old Cedar Hawk Songmaker is as disturbed and uncertain as the rest of America around her, especially since she is four months pregnant. Compelled to find her birth mother, Mary Potts, an Ojibwe living on the reservation, to understand both her and her baby’s origins. As Cedar goes back to her own biological beginnings, society around her begins to disintegrate, fuelled by a swelling panic about the end of humanity.

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty | Goodreads

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side, she’s forced to accept that the magical world is real. For the warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep lies Daevabad, the legendary city of brass–a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound. When Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly consequences.

Valiant Dust by Richard Baker | Goodreads

Horatio Hornblower and Honor Harrington fans will find a new hero in Sikander North. He’s always had it easy until he joined the crew of the Aquilan Commonwealth starship CSS Hector. As the ship’s new gunnery officer and only Kashmiri, he must constantly prove himself better than his Aquilan crewmates, even if he has to use his fists. When the Hector is called to help with a planetary uprising, he’ll have to earn his unit’s respect, find who’s arming the rebels, and deal with the headstrong daughter of the colonial ruler all while dodging bullets.

The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen | Goodreads

It’s time to go back to—and beyond—the treasured tales you thought you knew: The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and many more. A girl blown away from Kansas returns as a sophisticate with unusual gymnastic abilities. A talented apprentice, forging her first sword, is suddenly left to the mercies of Merlin. Alice’s infamous nemesis has jaws and claws, but also lacks the essential: a sense of humour.

The Wrong Stars by Tim Pratt | Goodreads

The shady crew of the White Raven run freight and salvage at the fringes of our solar system. They discover the wreck of a centuries-old exploration vessel floating light years away from its intended destination and revive its sole occupant, who wakes with news of First Alien Contact. When the crew break it to her that humanity has alien allies already, she reveals that these are very different extra-terrestrials… and the gifts they bestowed on her could kill all humanity, or take it out to the most distant stars.

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