What
TV is to some people, books are to me. They are also an delicious midnight
snack, which makes it a difficult moral choice for me to wake up for
an 8:30 class. To that end I keep with me my library, the books that
meet my finicky criteria and have earned my approval. Reading is more
than a hobby for me; it is not just something to pass the time. I find
it difficult to go to bed without reading at least a chapter. The allure
of immersion is a strong one. In any case reading is a healthy thing
to do: it expands the vocabulary (albeit, to the detriment of pronunciation)
and puts whole universes at one's fingertips for relatively small fees.
Below are a smattering of my favorites. I'll work to add to the list.
I've got quite a lot of books, you see. Some are old friends, kept out
of nostalgia, and some are read about once a month. Some are, regretfully,
bad investments and sit on the shelves like dirty dishes. Metaphorically
speaking. You won't find those, here.
What's
with the hardback book links? I love hardback books. The binding is
strong and will not fray or tear (and is much more resistant to cockatiel
nibbling), and I may keep the dust jackets on the shelf when reading
the book. There is something to be said for opening a book without fear
of creasing the spine. Yes, they cost more, weigh more, and take up
more room, but I feel the pure kinesthetic pleasure of hefting a good
book in my hands outweighs the costs.
Hah!
Some may call me a hedonist of a peculiar variety. I enjoy my life and
take pleasure in the things I do. What else can I say?
| David
Brin is fine writer of science fiction. I like his high tech and
his alien races. His books tend to be a bit slow in unfolding, mainly
since he maintains a lot of simultaneous plot lines, but they are
rich with detail and cool ideas. I may read his books only once every
few years, but I enjoy his craftsmanship. I consider him a rock-solid
foundation of science fiction. |
Uplift Series:
Sundiver
Startide
Rising
The
Uplift War
Second Uplift
Series:
Brightness
Reef
Infinity's
Shore
Heaven's
Reach
|
| C.H.
Cherryh is also a creator of interesting alien races. She strives
to illustrate complete differences in psychology, to make her aliens
more than just humans in funny suits. Her main characters are three-dimensional
people who are trying to do the right thing while getting caught up
in world-altering events. I like how she handles high tech and interstellar
space travel. Her plots deal with complicated politics, and my only
complaint is that she tries to make her politics seem more complicated
than I might think it is; or, perhaps, I haven't fully grasped what
she was writing. |
Atevi
Series:
Foreigner
Invader
Inheritor
Precursor
Defender
Explorer
Chanur
Series:
The
Pride of Chanur
Chanur's
Venture
The
Kif Strike Back
Chanur's
Homecoming
Chanur's
Legacy
|
| Jon
DeCles --- rather, Don Studebaker --- wrote this delightful humorous
romp of a post-apocalyptic fantasy that I shelve right next to the
Last Unicorn. His style is light and irreverent while allowing his
characters to be serious or angry. I wish he'd write a sequel. Haven't
seen much else written by him. |
The
Particolored Unicorn |
| Diane
Duane is something of a mixed writer to me. The omnibus, 'Support
Your Local Wizard', seems aimed toward a younger audience, with thirteen-year-old
main characters stumbling into the world of magic. There are more books beyond these, I simply have not read them. The two New York cats
books could be read by anyone and happen in the same world, roughly
after 'Support'. I happen to think she forces her magic to reflect
current science a little too much, but that's just me. I won't tell
you how many times I reread her books 'cos I've forgotten. |
Support
Your Local Wizard
So
You Want to Be a Wizard
Deep
Wizardry
High
Wizardry
The Book of Night with Moon
To Visit the Queen |
| Raymond
E. Feist is a prolific writer. I prefer the original Riftwar Saga
books to any of his later series, for his writing style matured (and
his cast of characters shifted over time). His descriptions are rich
and his characters likeable enough. This is good old fashioned epic
fantasy, with dragons, awesome magic, and world-threatening enemies. |
Riftwar
Saga:
Magician: Apprentice
Magician: Master
Silverthorn
A Darkness at Sethanon |
| Eve
Forward is a new writer, but I love her mock-epic fantasy. Her characters
are not flat or static; I enjoyed seeing what they thought and how
they changed. Her enemies are all the super-stereotypical good guys
you might find in another series. She made me laugh with a great twist
on the old-fashioned treasure hunt of heroes: find all the pieces
of the one thing that will save the world. |
Villains
by Necessity |
| Barry
Hughart only wrote these three books about Li Kao and Number Ten
Ox. Many of those who have read his books wish that he would write
more of them. The wily and ancient Li Kao (who has a slight flaw in
his character) and the strong and honest Number Ten Ox solve three
great mysteries filled with blood, magic and humor in a fanciful China
that never was, filled with gods and pomp and circumstance. My life
would be less had I not read this book. Demand to read this book! |
The
Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox:
Bridge
of Birds
The Story of the Stone
Eight
Skilled Gentlemen |
| Mercedes
Lackey and Larry Dixon have a vast array
of books to their credit. I enjoyed reading Mage Winds and Mage Storms
at the time, but I find myself not rereading them as much, anymore.
I would criticize her characters as too politically correct, and say
that she uses them as her mouthpieces too heavily at times. I mean,
everyone seems to call the Heralds' outfits the "shoot
me now" Whites. Enough! That being said, the way she describes
magic is fun and gryphons is unparalleled. |
The
Black Gryphon
Mage
Winds:
Winds
of Fate
Winds
of Change
Winds
of Fury
Mage
Storms:
Storm
Warning
Storm
Rising
Storm
Breaking
|
| Patricia
A. McKillip has more books out there than these two. She writes only
fantasy and her style is almost lyrical and poetic. She breathes magic
into her writing. I am especially fond of these two. My words cannot
suffice, so just read the books. You might have a quest ahead of you,
though, since I fear that her books are out of print. At least, these
were. |
The Sorceress and the Cygnet
The
Cygnet and the Firebird
|
| Rand
and Robyn Miller with David Wingrove are responsible for the computer
game of Myst and Riven. These books are the history of the world of
the games. They are less lyrical than Mc Killip's books, but they,
too, have a kind of magic to them. Part of that might be the sketches,
as if the books are the journals they describe. The hardbacks have
gorgeous covers and pages beautifully printed to look as if they are
colored parchment. If you think these are flat fanboy books, since
they are based on a computer game world, you are sorely mistaken.
My words cannot suffice, so just read the books. I take intense pleasure
in having these three books in my hoard. Oh, did I mention that the
books come with beautiful colored maps? They do. |
Myst: the Book of Atrus
Myst: the Book of Ti'Ana
Myst: the Book of D'Ni |
| Garth
Nix is an author I stumbled upon at the store. I judged his book by
the cover and found a fine book, indeed. I enjoy his descriptions
of Charter Magic, and adore his bells of necromancy, with their temperaments
and names. His characters seemed weak at first, but they grew on me.
It is his plot which truly endears me to the series. |
Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen |
| Terry
Pratchett is a British author who makes me laugh out loud. Pratchett
writes interesting unfolding plots and creates characters that, while
involved in humorous situations, are not goofy, themselves. Dry Brit
satire at its best. Out of his Discworld series I prefer the Death
books and the City Watch books. |
Reaper
Man
Soul
Music
Hogfather
Thief
of Time
Guards,
Guards!
Men
at Arms
The
Fifth Elephant
|
| Douglas
Preston and Lincoln Child wrote this book-become-movie. Yes, I prefer
the book. It's scarier. Plausible characters interact in plot of cutting-edge
genetics, much like Jurassic Park. |
Relic |
| R.
A. Salvatore is a master at fantasy writing. His skill at battle
choreography is unparalleled and his characters are likeable. None
are more famous than Drizzt Do'Urden. I really must acquire more of
his books. |
The
Dark Elf Trilogy
Homeland
Exile
Sojourn
The
Icewind Dale Trilogy
The
Crystal Shard
Streams
of Silver
The
Halfling's Gem
Legacy
of the Drow
The
Legacy
Starless
Night
Seige
of Darkness
Passage
to Dawn
The
Cleric Quintet
|
| J.
K Rowling
writes an enjoyable story! The world is full of interesting quirks
and jokes, and magic is just plain fun. I suppose my only complaint
is that her minor villains are flat; but, hey, if that's my only complaint,
that's not bad. I eagerly await the remaining books. Oh, the movies?
Well, it was nice to see her imagery translated into visuals, but
I disliked the directing intensely for being heavy-handed. |
Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry
Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
|
| Tad
Williams was my favorite author when I was growing up ever since
I read Tailchaser's Song. Tangaloor Firefoot made me cry! He writes
such a rich world that his plots seem slow at times. I devoured each
Otherland book when it came out and consider it a masterwork series. |
Otherland:
City of Golden Shadow
Otherland:
River of Blue Fire
Otherland:
Mountain of Black Glass
Otherland:
Sea of Silver Light |
