Sci-fi/Fantasy book recommendations?

[Haruna]

For fantasy go get all of Robin McKinley's books. Yes, all. She hasn't written a dud yet, although sometimes they aren't...comfortable. But start with The Hero And The Crown, then The Blue Sword, then Sunshine, both Beauty And The Beast retellings, and DragonHaven. Chalice is a little rough to get into, and Deerskin is rough, period. But they are all fantastic.

Yes! Robin McKinley is one of my favorite fantasy authors! Her writing style is excellent. My favorite of her books is The Blue Sword.

[Miss_Pompon]

The Ocean at the End of the Lane; Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman

how did I forget Neil Gaiman... yeah, he's really good.  Try "Good Omens" it's about the apocalypse.  It's written by Mr. Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.  Also American Gods by Mr. Gaiman is awesome, but it's kinda adult themed.

~Jenn

I loved Neverwhere and the Ocean at the end at the lane so I began American Gods, and I'm not thrilled by it really and since I don't like Terry Pratchett, I won't try Good Omens.

[pineapplecupcake]

  Yay recommendations, keep 'em coming!
I love Neil Gaiman - I have read American Gods, as well as the Anaszi (sp?) one and have all the Sandman comics. If you like his sort of weird and dark style, then definitely read the comics, they are excellent. Also as somebody mentioned below, pick up Fables - it's all about fairytale characters but set in modern times. It's super good. I think I've read Good Omens, but it's been a while - all of Terry Pratchett is hilarious, I need to read more of him.
I keep meaning to pick up the Blue Sword, many people have told me it's good. Thanks for the reminder! I have also been putting off Dragons of Pern. I believe I tried them once and had a really hard time getting into them, but I will give them another go!
As for Vernor Vinge - he really hasn't written too much stuff, so I'm not sure that there's more awesome alien-y animal-y characters to be had. Like you say, the second one is less about the Tines. But, I just finished his Realtime/Bobble series - it's SOOO good. It took me a little bit to get into, but once I did, I could not put it down! The first one is The Peace War. Also, he recently was on the Invisibilia podcast on NPR - I think it is on the "Our Computers, Ourselves" episode. I also recommend Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke for a sort of deep but trippy novel. I just read it a couple months ago and by the end I was like "What was that that I just read? Like it was awesome, but so bizarre!" I also just read a good short story in an anthology - "Droplet" by Benjamin Rosenbaum. It's in that same kind of weird aliens you weren't expecting kind of vein like VV. I don't know if he's written anything else, but I'd give him a look and see if your library has any of his stuff.
I really like the psychological stuff like 1984 and Brave New World - I've read both and they just make you think. If anybody has more recommendations along this line - chime in!
I loved Mists of Avalon! Has anybody read the rest in the series? I am wondering if they're worth picking up.
So many new books to read! Squeeee
Oh, side note, fantasy people you may like the Valdemar novels by Mercedes Lackey - they have pretty magical horses that can talk to their owners via telepathy... Personally, I think the writing is a little ho-hum but I read them for the magical ponies, lol.

[elvenwine26]

I really don't read with quit the fervor I used to.  I've been hanging outin free manga land since it's easily consumable however I am a HUGE sci-fi/fantasy fangirl.  Frank Herbert's Dune is one of my all time favorite forever books! All the other Dune books he wrote are also good. I never bothered with the accessory Dune series written by his offspring.
Sharon Shinn is good.  I've read almost all of her books.  She does Sci-fi and Fantasy.  Her stories tend to focus on the characters navigating unfamiliar societies while coming to grips with their own roles etc. Though seriously, most any book is about that. Her Samaria series is a pretty solid sci-fi series about genetically modified angel people who control the weather with sound.  (which is way less cheesy than that sentence sounds) haha
Kristen Britain writes a fantasy series, Green Rider Series, that's pretty legit. 
Ursula K. LeGuin(particularly her Earthsea collection) I read it as a kid and really liked it as an adult I still enjoy it.  But what I really appreciate about it as an adult, is the fact that for an old fantasy series the main character is not another white due. P:  In fact there's only one legitimately pale person the entire series which given the historical demographics of sci-fi/fantasy literature, that's pretty rare.
Mercedes Lackey is more like candy books for me.  I pick them up for the quick read.  I honestly prefer her non Valdemar stuff.  Bardic Voices, Bedlams Bards, Serrated edge, the elemental masters, and her fairy tale reduxes are way more enjoyable.
Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber series is awesome!  His characters are great, essentially a bunch of smartasses trying to out smartass each other with magic and murder. The descriptions are super cool and well done as well.  It's very well thought out.  I'm only bummed that the author died before he could totally complete it.
I like to read Andre Norton because I enjoy the fact the majority of her stories are not cluttered up with romancy things.  Yeah there's feels every now and then, but it's mostly adventure focus.
I really loved the Avalon series that Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote.
My parents and I all read sci-fi/fantasy so I get it from them and we tend to circulate books amongst ourselves, hence I'm naming quite a few old authors.
My mom swears by C.H. Cherryh's scifi, and my Dad's big into Kate Elliot, Pier's Anthony(though that's really more for nostalgia and not because the books are any good), Terry Goodkind.
I have a tendency to browse through thrift store selections and choose books based off of their covers and how ridiculous the name sounds. The older the book the more likely to have an awesome/awful cover and a crazy name.  P: Solid gold finds right there.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned Dan Simmons yet!