The Mysterious Stranger.

Written by Mark Twain, it is about an angel named Satan who is the nephew of The Satan. It is pretty much a novella describing Mark Twain's thoughts on the human race and the things we do. Very cynical. It was never finished, so there are three different versions out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mysterious_Stranger

For some more information about it and so you can decide which of the three versions sounds most interesting.
The first takes place during the Middle Ages.
Second in America with Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in it.
And the third goes back to the first book

I had read the first one, plan on reading the second two sometime.
I found it really interesting. Normally donn't care much for Mark Twain.

Stormlight Chronicles vol. 1: The Way of Kings
by Brandon Sanderson

The first in about a 10 book epic. Very interesting world that half of it seems to be ravaged by a Highstorm, so it adapted. Therefore, a lot of crustacean life on the surface. The main characters have a lot of detail and are fleshed out rather well. Some other characters get mentioned once, but I suspect will be brought into the series at a later date. Kept me interested until the last page and I can't wait until book 2.

Elantris
by Brandon Sanderson

Very interesting magic system. The Elantrians are "ascended" people, but no one knows what causes a normal person to become an Elantrian. The city of Elantris is a beautiful and magical city that one day turns ugly and into a city of despair. Becoming an Elantrian turns to be a curse instead of a blessing. It has a bit of politics but it's ultimately learn about the city of Elantris. Yet another book that kept me reading to the very end.

(Note: Seems I've inadvertently turned into a Brandon Sanderson fan >_<)

Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga, this is one of my favourite book series.

Stephen King's Dark tower series

I know you don't like fiction, but you definitely have to check this one out:

A short novel called I have no mouth and I must scream

Except the intriguing title, this novel is about either humanity or machine cruelty. In not so distant future, great war destroyed almost all countries and cities. Three great nations built their own supercomputers. During the war, one of them combined with the others and created AM -> superior artificial intelligence with strong HATRED to all humanity.

AM managed to kill all humans on the Earth except five of them. Also managed to make them immortal (and not able to comit suicide) and tortures them for eternity. Near death, near starvation state, physicall and mental tortures, and this is the end of humanity.

The action starts when one of the survivors comes with an idea, there should be canned food stored somewhere.

This is one of the most disturbing, touching short story I have ever read.

Great quotation? "I think therefore I AM"

The Ancestors Tale. Good account of where we might have come from and another opportunity for Richard Dawkins to take cheap shots at flat earthers.

Or the Nights Dawn Trilogy by Peter Hamilton. Ghosts, possession and spirituality... in spaaaace! Honestly it's pretty good sci fi.

Always wanted to play the computer game based on this short story. Haven't read the short story but the game seems like it should be on GOG. because it looks awesome.

I heartily recommend Lies of Locke Lamora. It's fiction. But it's great fiction. It's a tale of a band of thieves, con artist with honor of course. They still from the rich and keep it for themselves.

The book has two parts intertwined. One is a story of Locke growing up and learning his skills. The other is a story of survival when somebody tries to take over the city's criminal activities. All of them, with deaths at every corner. Soon, Locke has to avenge his friends and he even needs help from the nobility he stole from. Oh, how will it end for our group of bandits :D

Also, the story in the game is MUCH DIFFERENT (character names are the same but they are someone else) than a story, they both complete each other.

The game is pretty buggy, though :-/

bit of the classics, but you probably already read it - Moby Dick or the Whale
Action:
Clancy's The Hunt for Red October - my fav novel by this author
Also every novel by Alisteir MacClean - one title = one evening...

The Book Thief
I Am Legend.

They are both really great books and you need to read them.

I plan on reading this whole thread but for now,

TL;DR.

My recommendation:

Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman.

Easily the best inspirational book I've ever read. It's semi autobiographical with good moral stories and ancedotes sprinkled in it - Dan is an ex world champion gymnast who eventually changed pathways in life and became a man of peace. Highly recommend.

The Dresden Files, yes they're kind of silly but they are entertaining and fun to read.
Not ever book has to be a literary masterpiece.
Besides, how many books feature stuff like this?

Oh shit, how could I forget....

ANYTHING by David Gemmell. True tragedy that he's dead now. :(

In particular:

Lord of the Silver Bow (book one of the Troy trilogy) and the following two.

Legend - his first book - truly REAL warriors vs impossible odds. So good.

Lion of Macedon and the sequel Dark Prince - about Alexander the Great.

There was a videogame based on that story

http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream/cover-art/gameCoverId,837/