I just finished reading Richard Dawkins' "The Ancestor's Tale" which is a history of evolution traveling backward through time via humanity's genetics. A bit heavy reading, but worth it if you like science.
I finished Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five", which is a semi-fictional account of the bombing of Dresden ( the Dresden parts are all real, apparently, as Vonnegut is an extra in the novel ). Incidentally, I checked out the book before he croaked and he died while I had it. Certainly the best war novel I have ever read.
Oddly, I also read Clive Barker's "The Thief of Always", which is good even though it's a novel intended for children. Don't want to spoil it too much, but it's good and can be read quickly.
Read CB's Weaveworld, people. It's a good book about a magic carpet.
Novels which I have read at some time in the past that I highly recommend are:
Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" Follett's novels are all over the spectrum as far as elegance goes. I personally feel this is his best, and it is certainly his longest that I know of. It is set in the Middle Ages, and features, among other things, the burning of a cathedral by a central character, and the phrase "pig fucker"
Gary Jennings' "Aztec" Well-written Central American epic with literally every kind of sex and brutality imaginable. Highly recommended.
James Michener's "The Source" Michener is the god of historical fiction. This is about the history of the "Holy Land". Nuff said.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novels -- Douglas Adams. Adams is the god of being funny *and* British. He also wrote Last Chance to See, which is his only serious bookl that I know of, and haven't read. It is about the search for the Aye-aye in Madagascar.
Ambrose Bierce -- It's all good. In particular, if you haven't read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", you need to.
That's all for now. Post your own, particularly if it's a good underdog.
--Glenn
I finished Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five", which is a semi-fictional account of the bombing of Dresden ( the Dresden parts are all real, apparently, as Vonnegut is an extra in the novel ). Incidentally, I checked out the book before he croaked and he died while I had it. Certainly the best war novel I have ever read.
Oddly, I also read Clive Barker's "The Thief of Always", which is good even though it's a novel intended for children. Don't want to spoil it too much, but it's good and can be read quickly.
Read CB's Weaveworld, people. It's a good book about a magic carpet.
Novels which I have read at some time in the past that I highly recommend are:
Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" Follett's novels are all over the spectrum as far as elegance goes. I personally feel this is his best, and it is certainly his longest that I know of. It is set in the Middle Ages, and features, among other things, the burning of a cathedral by a central character, and the phrase "pig fucker"
Gary Jennings' "Aztec" Well-written Central American epic with literally every kind of sex and brutality imaginable. Highly recommended.
James Michener's "The Source" Michener is the god of historical fiction. This is about the history of the "Holy Land". Nuff said.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novels -- Douglas Adams. Adams is the god of being funny *and* British. He also wrote Last Chance to See, which is his only serious bookl that I know of, and haven't read. It is about the search for the Aye-aye in Madagascar.
Ambrose Bierce -- It's all good. In particular, if you haven't read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", you need to.
That's all for now. Post your own, particularly if it's a good underdog.
--Glenn
A shame I can't read it that often.
