I totally recommended GRRM's "Song for Lya." It's a book of short stories that he won the Nebula for, I believe. It's science fiction, but for those who prefer fantasy over sci-fi, like me, wait wait wait. It's GRRM we're talking about. He doesn't do anything the normal way. The fact that these are sci-fi short stories is almost not important. Incredibly interesting stories that deal more with fascinating questions about life. When I finished reading the longest story in from which the book gets its title "Song for Lya." I just sat for about 20 minutes in the coffee shop thinking about it. The premise, no spoilers, is that a couple of married telepaths are sent to a planet to investigate a strange phenomenom. It's a bronze age culture, and when its citizens reach the age of 40 they put some weird slime on their heads and walk around for 10 years in complete bliss. When they are 50 they commit suicide. Typical cheery GRRM. One of the best stories I've read in my life.