Booklist: 28 Series and Standalone Books Featuring Male Main Characters

When book lists are compiled we are often treated to a litany of popular and/or classic literature.  There is nothing wrong with these lists but they often give the impression that people do not read science-fiction, fantasy and its’ many genres, or adventure books.  There seems to be an unspoken taboo against admitting that you read these books in polite society as if the use of the imagination is something shameful.  I can tell you that I love Hamlet (which I do), but if I admit an equal love for the Dresden Files (I do) people start looking at me funny.

I was approached several times within a two weeks period for a list of books with male main characters.  Specifically these men ranged in age from 22-50+ were interested in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Adventure novels.  Intrigued I attempted to find a book list online and, while I did find books for boys and teens; the adult book lists for men did not fit the bill at all.  This list is an attempt to fill that gap.

Disclaimers.

This book list was compiled for adults. While the main characters in all of these books are men they may also be enjoyed by women.  This list assumes the reader is familiar with Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and James Bond.

The only screening I provided for this list was that the driving character in the book was clearly the male lead.  I strongly suggest looking at the links I provided below before buying or checking out any of these books.  These books cover a wide range of topics and some people may be offended by the content of some books.

Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/

Stormbreaker
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/stormbreaker.html

Point Blanc
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/pointblanc.html

Skeleton Key
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/skeletonkey.html

Eagle Strike
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/eaglestrike.html

Scorpia
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/scorpia.html

Ark Angel
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/arkangel.html

The Bahzell Series by David Weber

Oath of Swords
http://www.webscription.net/p-297-oath-of-swords.aspx

The War God’s Own
http://www.webscription.net/p-451-war-gods-own.aspx

Wind Rider’s Oath
http://www.webscription.net/p-467-wind-riders-oath.aspx

The Belisarius Series by Eric Flint & David Drake

An Oblique Approach
http://www.webscription.net/p-300-an-oblique-approach.aspx

In the Heart of Darkness
http://www.webscription.net/pc-225-1-in-the-heart-of-darkness.aspx

Destiny’s Shield
http://www.webscription.net/p-106-destinys-shield.aspx

Fortune’s Stroke
http://www.webscription.net/p-157-fortunes-stroke.aspx

The Tide of Victory
http://www.webscription.net/p-425-the-tide-of-victory.aspx

The Dance of Time
http://www.webscription.net/p-94-the-dance-of-time.aspx

Codex Alera Seris by Jim Butcher
http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/alera/

Furies of Calderon                  Captain’s Fury

Academ’s Fury                         Princeps’ Fury

Cursor’s Fury                            First Lord’s Fury

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
http://www.chrismoore.com/dirty_job.html

Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley
http://www.robinmckinley.com/books/dragonhaven/

Dragon Prince Series by Melanie Rawn

Dragon Prince
http://www.melanierawn.com/books/Dragon_Prince.html

The Star Scroll
http://www.melanierawn.com/books/The_Star_Scroll.html
Sunrunner’s Fire
http://www.melanierawn.com/books/Sunrunners_Fire.html

The Dresden Files
http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/

(This series is a mystery/action/urban fantasy series.  The link above is the series homepage.  This is a long series planed to go over 20 books including a 3 book apocalyptic finale.)

The Ecolitan Matter Series by L. E. Modesitt

Empire and Ecolitain (Collected Volume)
http://www.lemodesittjr.com/ecolitan_matter/empire_ecolitan.html

Ecolitian Operation

The Ecologic Secession

Ecolitan Prime (Collected Volume)
http://www.lemodesittjr.com/ecolitan_matter/ecolitan_prime.html

Ecologic Envoy

The Ecolitan Enigma

The Excalibur Alternative by David Weber
http://www.webscription.net/p-131-the-excalibur-alternative.aspx

The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski
http://www.sniegoski.com/fallen/

The Fallen

Leviathan

Aerie

Reckoning

The Hurog Series by Patricia Briggs

Dragon Bones
http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/dragonbones.shtml

Dragon Blood
http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/dragonblood.shtml

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
http://www.librarything.com/work/21223

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/Good+Omens/

The Last Herald Mage Trilogy

Magic’s Pawn
http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/magic1.html
Magic’s Promise
http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/magic2.html
Magic’s Price
http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/magic3.html

Lord Darcy by Randall Garrett
http://www.webscription.net/p-255-lord-darcy.aspx

Med Ship by Murray Leinster
http://www.webscription.net/p-275-med-ship.aspx

Nightrunner Series by Lynn Flewelling

Luck in the Shadows
http://www.librarything.com/work/2156155

Stalking Darkness
http://www.librarything.com/work/2416323

Traitor’s Moon
http://www.librarything.com/work/2156244

Shadows Return
http://www.librarything.com/work/4403977

The White Road
http://www.librarything.com/work/8122475

The Nightside Series by Simon R. Green
http://www.bluemoonrising.nl/nightside.html

Something from the Nightside            Paths Not Taken

Agents of Light and Darkness             Sharper than a Serpent’s Tooth

Nightingale’s Lament                         Hell to Pay

Hex and the City

Nursery Crimes Series by Jasper Fforde
http://www.nurserycrime.co.uk/

The Big Over Easy
http://www.jasperfforde.com/subindex/boesubindex.htmlThe Fourth Bear
http://www.jasperfforde.com/fourthbear.html

Remy Chandler Novels by Thomas E. Sniegoski
http://www.sniegoski.com/apocalypse.html

Resonance by Chris Dolley
http://www.webscription.net/p-344-resonance.aspx

The Sword of Shanara by Terry Brooks
http://www.terrybrooks.net/novels/sword.html

The Watch (A Series of Discworld) by Terry Pratchett
http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk

Guards! Guards!Men at Arms

Feet of Clay

Jingo

The Fifth Elephant

Night Watch

Thud!

The Vampire Files by P. N. Elrod
http://www.vampwriter.com/ESCOTT’S%20OFFICE.htm

Bloodlist                              Chill in the Blood

Lifeblood                           Dark Sleep

Bloodcircle                         Lady Crymsyn

Art in the Blood                  Cold Streets

Fire in the Blood                 Song in the Dark

Blood on the Water            Dark Road Rising

Von Neumann’s War by John Ringo
http://www.webscription.net/p-449-von-neumanns-war.aspx

Warlock by Wilbur Smith
http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/novels/warlock.html

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
http://awizardofearthsea.com/book

Greetings!

This site will chronicle my adventures in library school (Drexel University) , volunteering at a research library, and hopefully into a paid position as a librarian.  I’ll post various useful items like subject resource guides which might be useful for others and links to websites I find useful.   I may digress from time to time about books, Japanese food and culture, and any random but interesting facts I stumble upon.

It’s an information rich world and I’m going exploring!

~Kiyomi