Charles Allen Gramlich's Blog, page 74
February 7, 2011
WHEN THE SUN GOES
WHEN THE SUN GOES
The copper sky, I watch.
The sun in the water,
its reflection sinking.
Clouds build
as the heat of the day dies.
A wind is born.
It runs like a wild horse
with a mane of frost.
The day takes off its face.
Saffron blushes away.
Pomegranate red fades to kohl,
fades to indigo.
Behind the face lives black,
and the hungry stars.
When the sun goes.
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----
The copper sky, I watch.
The sun in the water,
its reflection sinking.
Clouds build
as the heat of the day dies.
A wind is born.
It runs like a wild horse
with a mane of frost.
The day takes off its face.
Saffron blushes away.
Pomegranate red fades to kohl,
fades to indigo.
Behind the face lives black,
and the hungry stars.
When the sun goes.
----
----
February 4, 2011
What to Say, and the Curse of the Working Man
I no longer understand how people manage to blog every day. I actually never did blog 'every' day, but I used to get a post up every 2 days at least, and then every 3. Now the days sweep past and I seem to have less to say and less time to say it in. One reason is that I'm trying to get back to the science book on Charles Darwin that I started several years ago. The book is over 2/3 rds done but every time I get ready to make the final push some major issue or a host of minor issues arise. I even got some release time this semester to work on it, but as soon as the world found out I had the release time it began dumping stuff in my lap. And there's also the matter of revision. Science doesn't stand still and in the couple of years I've been away from the book some major changes have occurred in scientific thinking on evolution. I'm finding that the chapters I thought were "done," are not done. All my facts need checking to make sure they are indeed still accepted. That has slowed my progress considerably.
I generally find nonfiction easier to write than fiction, but I'm starting to realize that this may be true only for short works. A short, nonfiction essay or article can be completed fairly quickly and sent off for publication before the world changes out from under it. But a long nonfiction work, a book, creates its own set of problems, particularly in a rapidly changing field such as science.
Despite the fact that I'm carrying a cold with me everywhere I go, I actually made a lot of progress on the book this week because I literally stayed home from school for 2 days, shut off my phones, and largely stopped checking my email. But when I got in this morning I found that the work I'd skipped had caught up with me. I even came in an hour early this morning for just that purpose, and I made a dent but not much more. At least part of my weekend will be dedicated to finishing up the stuff I let slide this week so I could write. In other words, I didn't really gain much of anything.
If this post seems to ramble, that's because I had no idea what I was going to say when I started typing. I just noticed that I'd not posted since Friday and it seemed like I ought to get something up. Maybe I should have just let it slide another day, or three.
OK, I'll shut up now. Doesn't seem I have much to say.
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I generally find nonfiction easier to write than fiction, but I'm starting to realize that this may be true only for short works. A short, nonfiction essay or article can be completed fairly quickly and sent off for publication before the world changes out from under it. But a long nonfiction work, a book, creates its own set of problems, particularly in a rapidly changing field such as science.
Despite the fact that I'm carrying a cold with me everywhere I go, I actually made a lot of progress on the book this week because I literally stayed home from school for 2 days, shut off my phones, and largely stopped checking my email. But when I got in this morning I found that the work I'd skipped had caught up with me. I even came in an hour early this morning for just that purpose, and I made a dent but not much more. At least part of my weekend will be dedicated to finishing up the stuff I let slide this week so I could write. In other words, I didn't really gain much of anything.
If this post seems to ramble, that's because I had no idea what I was going to say when I started typing. I just noticed that I'd not posted since Friday and it seemed like I ought to get something up. Maybe I should have just let it slide another day, or three.
OK, I'll shut up now. Doesn't seem I have much to say.
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February 1, 2011
New Orleans Comic Con
This past Sunday I attended my first "Comic Con." This is the first big one they've ever had in New Orleans. It was put on by Wizard World, the same people associated with the bigger Comic Cons that everyone raves about. Apparently it was successful enough to bring them back next year and I'll probably try to attend again. I liked it quite a lot, and my son seemed to like it as well. He's 23 and I told him I was glad he wasn't "too cool" to attend a comic con with his old man.
It was smaller than I expected it be, and there weren't as many costumers as I thought there might be. The cost for a single day pass was 35 bucks, which I thought was a little high. I also wish there'd been more booths selling the "graphic novel" formats. There were quite a few selling individual collectable comics but only one that had a selection of graphic novels. Those are the less positive things.
On the positive side, I got to renew friendships with quite a few folks in local SF/Fantasy fandom. I got to talk to a number of comic book artists, although I'm not really enough into the comic book scene to know people's names. I picked up a number of cool book or comic book items that I most likely would not have found elsewhere, and got much of it signed.
I met Walter Koenig and Adam West and thought that was kind of cool. I got "Chekov's" autograph on a photo. There were also a number of other celebrities there that I recognized, although I don't know their real names. There was "Xander" and "Spike" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the mom from No Ordinary Family. There were several actors from the Walking Dead series that I really enjoyed this past year on AMC. There was a lady named "Claudia" something from Babylon Five. I recognized her but can't recall the last name. One of the "Monkees" was there. I have no idea which one. There was a woman who played a demon on Buffy, and there was Ernie Hudson from the Ghostbusters movie. Apparently Burt Ward (Robin) was also there but I didn't see him. I met a "character" in a graphic novel that I recently read and did an article on. He was one of the folks featured in A.D.: New Orleans after the Deluge.
There were also quite a few very cool posters, including a zombie Clint Eastwood in one of his Spaghetti western poses. I almost bought that one, but with all of the paintings we already have up at home and the wall space taken up by bookshelves I don't have any place to hang it. All in all, it was fun, and afterward my son and I ate at Mulates across the street and had frog legs and alligator with cold brews. That might have been the best.
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It was smaller than I expected it be, and there weren't as many costumers as I thought there might be. The cost for a single day pass was 35 bucks, which I thought was a little high. I also wish there'd been more booths selling the "graphic novel" formats. There were quite a few selling individual collectable comics but only one that had a selection of graphic novels. Those are the less positive things.
On the positive side, I got to renew friendships with quite a few folks in local SF/Fantasy fandom. I got to talk to a number of comic book artists, although I'm not really enough into the comic book scene to know people's names. I picked up a number of cool book or comic book items that I most likely would not have found elsewhere, and got much of it signed.
I met Walter Koenig and Adam West and thought that was kind of cool. I got "Chekov's" autograph on a photo. There were also a number of other celebrities there that I recognized, although I don't know their real names. There was "Xander" and "Spike" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the mom from No Ordinary Family. There were several actors from the Walking Dead series that I really enjoyed this past year on AMC. There was a lady named "Claudia" something from Babylon Five. I recognized her but can't recall the last name. One of the "Monkees" was there. I have no idea which one. There was a woman who played a demon on Buffy, and there was Ernie Hudson from the Ghostbusters movie. Apparently Burt Ward (Robin) was also there but I didn't see him. I met a "character" in a graphic novel that I recently read and did an article on. He was one of the folks featured in A.D.: New Orleans after the Deluge.
There were also quite a few very cool posters, including a zombie Clint Eastwood in one of his Spaghetti western poses. I almost bought that one, but with all of the paintings we already have up at home and the wall space taken up by bookshelves I don't have any place to hang it. All in all, it was fun, and afterward my son and I ate at Mulates across the street and had frog legs and alligator with cold brews. That might have been the best.
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January 29, 2011
Ebooks and Paying Markets
In case you didn't know, two of our Blog Colleagues have published with Kindle in the past few days. They are Avery Debow with Resonance, and Bernardl (Bernard Lee Deleo) with Monster. I've got my copies.
Also check out Full Throttle Steve for an ebook offer HERE.
And our friend Rick over at The Writer and the White Cat has some very exciting news for the writers among us.
Just a little Linky Love for everyone.
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Also check out Full Throttle Steve for an ebook offer HERE.
And our friend Rick over at The Writer and the White Cat has some very exciting news for the writers among us.
Just a little Linky Love for everyone.
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January 26, 2011
When Dreams Come True
January 21, 2011
Battles, Broadswords, and Bad Girls
I'd normally leave the last post in my "100 Books Everyone Should Read" series up a bit longer, but I have breaking news I want to share with the crew. Many of you may remember the award nominated story that Chris F. Holm set up over at Beat to a Pulp featuring Simon Rip through time. The next installment of this serial story is up now over there, and it's by yours truly. It's called Battles, Broadswords, and Bad Girls." I hope you'll check it out.
Before you read the story itself, though, you might want to check out David Cranmer's post about the story and about where it's been and where it's going. That's over at his personal website.
Thanks for tuning in.
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Before you read the story itself, though, you might want to check out David Cranmer's post about the story and about where it's been and where it's going. That's over at his personal website.
Thanks for tuning in.
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Gramlich's 100 Books You Should Read: Part 4
Here's the last installment, with some commentary afterward.
81. Something by Raymond Chandler. Chandler's and Hammett's names are synonymous with the Private Eye Detective novel, and that genre has been hugely influential on fiction and film. I recommend The Big Sleep, Chandler's first novel.
82. Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. First published in 1798, later republished in 1800 and again in 1802 with material added. Generally credited with ushering in the "romantic" movement in English literature. The most famous work in the collection is "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge.
83. Something by Alexandre Dumas. Dumas, who died in 1870, was an early practitioner of the historical adventure novel. His stories have great zest. Best known works include The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
84. Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott. This was the 19th century's "Shogun." A huge, sprawling novel, but a great adventure. Set in 1194, after the third crusade when many knights are returning to England and Europe. It also features Robin Hood.
85. The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. A literary ghost story, and scary as hell. One of the very few books that scared me.
86. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William Shirer. The most complete and most compelling history of Hitler's Third Reich. The rise of fascism in the 20th century put an end to a period of rationality that had been growing in England and parts of Europe. Rationality has yet to recover.
87. Arctic Dreams, by Barry Lopez. A beautifully written ode to the great white north, and considering how rapidly the ice is receding in the summertime it's a world that is becoming increasingly exotic.
88. Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey. I'm a big fan of Abbey's. This is his nonfiction work about living in the desert. A number of books on my list are about Earth's wild places. I love them, and I love the loners who visit them.
89. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, as translated by Edward Fitzgerald. A collection of poems about life, drinking and love originally written in Persian.
90. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks. I've read about everything Sacks has written. It's all good. Sacks is a medical doctor with a knack for bringing out both the humanity and the fascinating aspects of patients he's worked with. This particular book illustrates some incredible things about the brain and how it works. Or sometimes fails to work.
91. Something by Louis L'Amour, the bestselling western writer of all time. L'Amour knew how to tell a story and combined the real and mythical wests in an appealing package. However, not all L'Amour is equally characteristic of his work. I recommend such books as: To Tame a Land, The Man Called Noon, Milo Talon, Flint, Silver Canyon, or Utah Blaine. To Tame a Land is my favorite.
92. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien. A children's or young adult story. But it's just wonderful and so imaginative. Loved it.
93. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. One of the great children's classics.
94. The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. Imagine little people living in your walls. Imagine that the things you misplace aren't really misplaced. They are "borrowed" by the little people. This story ignited my imagination so much as a kid that I can't help but include it here. I was disappointed when I grew up and found there were "sequels" I'd never known about. Sigh!
95. Something in the Romance genre. People ought to be familiar with the whole range of human literature. Every genre has strengths and weaknesses. None are worthless and something like Romance, which has survived a long time and is still a force in the marketplace, deserves to be taken seriously. I've read a dozen or so romance novels but don't know enough to suggest a specific book. My favorite among the ones I've read was The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Definitely an historical novel as well as a romance.
96. A book's worth of H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft wrote short stories and quite a few are really good. Others are slow for modern audiences and heavy on description. I like that myself. Whatever you read by him, make sure it includes "The Color out of Space," "The Statement of Randolph Carter," and something from his "Dream story" sequence. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos has been a huge influence on modern fiction and film.
97. Something by Dean Koontz. Koontz's best work is a virtual lesson in how to write a thriller. Not all his stuff is equally good, however. Stay away from his humorous stuff, but do try something from among Midnight, Lightning, Watchers, or Phantoms.
98. Night, by Elie Wiesel. I don't always agree with the "experts" on what folks should read, but they got this account of the Nazi Death camps right.
99. Something by Tom Robbins. I recommend Jitterbug Perfume, but others are also excellent, including another personal favorite, Still Life With Woodpecker.
100. Something completely trashy. Just because you should.
There are many other good books that didn't make my list here, although they came close: "The Turn of the Screw," "The Name of the Rose," "Childhood's End," "A Canticle for Leibowitz," "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Cold in the Light," :)
There are also many books I left off deliberately. I don't think you need to read "On the Road," or "The Metamorphosis," or "Silas Marner," or "The Catcher in the Rye." I took the hit for you on these and I wish I had the hours back.
There are also some that might make this list, based upon their frequent recommendations on such lists, but which I've not read yet and can't make a judgment: "To Kill a Mockinbird," "Catch 22," "Slaughterhouse Five," "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest." Someday I'll read them and then my list may change. That's the beauty of such a list. It is forever changing, both from experience and from changing lives and personalities.
I hope you enjoyed 'my' list. I won't mind if you disagree, or if you make your own. That's also part of the fun.
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81. Something by Raymond Chandler. Chandler's and Hammett's names are synonymous with the Private Eye Detective novel, and that genre has been hugely influential on fiction and film. I recommend The Big Sleep, Chandler's first novel.
82. Lyrical Ballads, a collection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. First published in 1798, later republished in 1800 and again in 1802 with material added. Generally credited with ushering in the "romantic" movement in English literature. The most famous work in the collection is "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge.
83. Something by Alexandre Dumas. Dumas, who died in 1870, was an early practitioner of the historical adventure novel. His stories have great zest. Best known works include The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
84. Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott. This was the 19th century's "Shogun." A huge, sprawling novel, but a great adventure. Set in 1194, after the third crusade when many knights are returning to England and Europe. It also features Robin Hood.
85. The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson. A literary ghost story, and scary as hell. One of the very few books that scared me.
86. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William Shirer. The most complete and most compelling history of Hitler's Third Reich. The rise of fascism in the 20th century put an end to a period of rationality that had been growing in England and parts of Europe. Rationality has yet to recover.
87. Arctic Dreams, by Barry Lopez. A beautifully written ode to the great white north, and considering how rapidly the ice is receding in the summertime it's a world that is becoming increasingly exotic.
88. Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey. I'm a big fan of Abbey's. This is his nonfiction work about living in the desert. A number of books on my list are about Earth's wild places. I love them, and I love the loners who visit them.
89. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, as translated by Edward Fitzgerald. A collection of poems about life, drinking and love originally written in Persian.
90. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks. I've read about everything Sacks has written. It's all good. Sacks is a medical doctor with a knack for bringing out both the humanity and the fascinating aspects of patients he's worked with. This particular book illustrates some incredible things about the brain and how it works. Or sometimes fails to work.
91. Something by Louis L'Amour, the bestselling western writer of all time. L'Amour knew how to tell a story and combined the real and mythical wests in an appealing package. However, not all L'Amour is equally characteristic of his work. I recommend such books as: To Tame a Land, The Man Called Noon, Milo Talon, Flint, Silver Canyon, or Utah Blaine. To Tame a Land is my favorite.
92. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien. A children's or young adult story. But it's just wonderful and so imaginative. Loved it.
93. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. One of the great children's classics.
94. The Borrowers, by Mary Norton. Imagine little people living in your walls. Imagine that the things you misplace aren't really misplaced. They are "borrowed" by the little people. This story ignited my imagination so much as a kid that I can't help but include it here. I was disappointed when I grew up and found there were "sequels" I'd never known about. Sigh!
95. Something in the Romance genre. People ought to be familiar with the whole range of human literature. Every genre has strengths and weaknesses. None are worthless and something like Romance, which has survived a long time and is still a force in the marketplace, deserves to be taken seriously. I've read a dozen or so romance novels but don't know enough to suggest a specific book. My favorite among the ones I've read was The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Definitely an historical novel as well as a romance.
96. A book's worth of H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft wrote short stories and quite a few are really good. Others are slow for modern audiences and heavy on description. I like that myself. Whatever you read by him, make sure it includes "The Color out of Space," "The Statement of Randolph Carter," and something from his "Dream story" sequence. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos has been a huge influence on modern fiction and film.
97. Something by Dean Koontz. Koontz's best work is a virtual lesson in how to write a thriller. Not all his stuff is equally good, however. Stay away from his humorous stuff, but do try something from among Midnight, Lightning, Watchers, or Phantoms.
98. Night, by Elie Wiesel. I don't always agree with the "experts" on what folks should read, but they got this account of the Nazi Death camps right.
99. Something by Tom Robbins. I recommend Jitterbug Perfume, but others are also excellent, including another personal favorite, Still Life With Woodpecker.
100. Something completely trashy. Just because you should.
There are many other good books that didn't make my list here, although they came close: "The Turn of the Screw," "The Name of the Rose," "Childhood's End," "A Canticle for Leibowitz," "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Cold in the Light," :)
There are also many books I left off deliberately. I don't think you need to read "On the Road," or "The Metamorphosis," or "Silas Marner," or "The Catcher in the Rye." I took the hit for you on these and I wish I had the hours back.
There are also some that might make this list, based upon their frequent recommendations on such lists, but which I've not read yet and can't make a judgment: "To Kill a Mockinbird," "Catch 22," "Slaughterhouse Five," "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest." Someday I'll read them and then my list may change. That's the beauty of such a list. It is forever changing, both from experience and from changing lives and personalities.
I hope you enjoyed 'my' list. I won't mind if you disagree, or if you make your own. That's also part of the fun.
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January 19, 2011
Gramlich's 100 Books You Should Read: Part 3
Here's my third installment of the list. Just one more to go.
51. Watership Down, by Richard Adams. Animals have been used many times to illustrate human heroism and human villainy. It's never been done better.
52. Something by Jack London. People talk most about Call of the Wild and White Fang, but the best thing London did were his short stories, like "To Build a Fire" and "A Piece of Steak."
53. Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch. Louis L'Amour introduced me to this book and it's definitely worth reading, particularly as an introduction to historical literature and biography.
54. Something by Dashiell Hammett. One of the first noir writers. Many folks recommend The Maltese Falcon or The Thin Man. Both are worthwhile, but I actually like Red Harvest the best.
55. Cosmos, by Carl Sagan. The best introduction to our planet, solar system, and universe I've ever read. An excellent source of information about science, and full of Sagan's sense of wonder, which I found contagious.
56. The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas. I felt I should include at least one modern poetry collection, and Thomas is my favorite poet and the one who has most influenced me. His influence has extended much further than that, though
57. Why People Believe Weird Things, by Michael Shermer. With one exception, this book is a relentless expose on pseudoscience and superstition. A very good lesson in rational thinking.
58. The Year of Living Biblically, by A. J. Jacobs. Besides being pretty funny, this book really examines the difficulties one stumbles upon in trying to live a religious life based on the Bible. It shows very clearly that an absolutely literal interpretation of the Bible is neither possible nor desirable.
59. Never Cry Wolf, by Farley Mowat. One of the funniest and most endearing books I've ever read. I was assigned this book and griped around for a week about being 'told' what to read. But from the first page I was hooked and roaring with laughter. Mowat's sensitivities for wild creatures is inspiring.
60. Something by Loren Eiseley. Eiseley is probably our greatest naturalist since Thoreau. All his nature essays are outstanding. I recommend his collection called The Night Country most, but The Immense Journey is also awesome.
61. The Closing of the American Mind, by Allan Bloom. An indictment on higher education in America, and the problems he pointed out in 1987 are still with us today. In fact, they're growing worse.
62. House Made of Dawn, by N. Scott Momaday. One of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, second only to The Snow Leopard. A novel about a Native American character by a Native American author.
63. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes. To my chagrin, I've never read this. Considering that it's generally judged one of the cornerstones of modern western literature I think I better get to it. I think we all should.
64. Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe. Love this book. Perhaps the archetypal story of marooning, and quite a few books and films have taken their cue from it, including a decent SF film called Robinson Crusoe on Mars.
65. The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Very old stories, from the 14th century, written in a form of English very different from our modern tongue. Thus, they are difficult to understand and there is a voluminous concordance that usually goes with it to explain meanings and differences. I've never read all of it but have read a number of selections. Shows how much English has changed.
66. Something by Nathanial Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables are his best known and I liked both, but I prefer his short stories. An important American writer.
67. Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison. A collection of Science fiction stories from 1967. It broke emphatically with the prototypical SF story and introduced the "New Wave" of SF, which dominated for the next few decades. New Wave put far less emphasis on technological advancement and exploration and adventure, and far more on social and political issues. Although the stories in this collection are awesome, the New Wave also produced some stinkers in my opinion. However, any modern SF writer from the literary side of the field owes a debt to Dangerous Visions.
68. The Virginian, by Owen Wister. This work, published in 1902, is considered the first "Wild West" novel It generally created the cowboy hero stereotype. A bit slow for modern readers, at times, it's a set of loosely connected stories without a main plot. It's really a character study of the "Virginian," but it's enjoyable, if leisurely. I thought about putting Shane, by Jack Schaefer, here. It's more of a prototypical western, but it saw print in 1949.
69. Something by Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy is my favorite modern literary writer. He creates compelling characters and still tells a great story. My favorite by him is The Road, and it's one of his most approachable books, but I also liked All the Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men.
70. Something about Robin Hood. This is actually more about the character than a specific book. Everyone ought to know Robin Hood's story. It's been hugely influential in our culture, all the way to Star Trek.
71. Critique of Pure Reason, by Immanuel Kant. One of the most influential philosophical texts of all time. A difficult read but it really does all make sense once you work your way through it.
72. Something about King Arthur. Like with Robin Hood, everyone should have some familiarity with King Arthur, which is probably the single most influential legend in Western Civilization. There are numerous books about Arthur. I've read quite a few, and you probably have too. Most canonical might be T. H. White's The Once and Future King, which I've actually not read.
73. At least something from Friedrich Nietzsche. Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Beyond Good and Evil are his best known works. I've read a fair amount about Nietzsche's beliefs but have not read any book length materials actually by him. I need to correct that and will do so in the new year.
74. The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell. I've not read Campbell's highly influential work because, from everything I've heard, I just don't buy it. However, I of all people should know that what people say about a work and what the work itself says can be two separate things. I intend to get to this in the new year and figure most everyone ought to know something about it.
75. At least something from the greats of Russian Literature. That is Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and/or Anton Chekhov. From these writers, I've only read short stories. Nothing so far has made much impression on me, but I do want to try a novel by Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky, particularly War and Peace or Crime and Punishment. I've downloaded War and Peace to my Kindle but haven't yet gotten up the courage to begin.
76. At least something from James Joyce. I've only read Joyce's short work and it sucks. I have his most famous work, Ulysses, but have not the courage to confront that battle at the moment. I thought long and hard about including this. Joyce may have once been relevant but is he still? Maybe there's a benefit to suffering through such a work, though, and if I have to then so do you.
77. The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. Wilde has a sense of wry humor with an edge of cynicism that resonates with me. I don't know why, since I have nothing else in common with him. Yet, his work is always a delight. This is his only published novel. More's the pity.
78. A book's worth of Robert E. Howard. Howard wrote mostly short stories, but few writers in history could throw readers more headlong into adventure. I'd suggest The Best of Robert E. Howard, Volume 1: Crimson Shadows, from Del Rey, which includes many of his best pieces and gives a good sample of his work.
79. The Broken Sword, by Poul Anderson. Fantasy has never been done better, and I include The Lord of the Rings in that judgment.
80. Something from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. There are 7 volumes in the series and I think once you read one you'll want to read all. I did. This remains the only series, ever, that I read entirely back to back, without taking a break between books. The first couple are clearly for younger readers but by three the series really hits its stride. That one is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
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51. Watership Down, by Richard Adams. Animals have been used many times to illustrate human heroism and human villainy. It's never been done better.
52. Something by Jack London. People talk most about Call of the Wild and White Fang, but the best thing London did were his short stories, like "To Build a Fire" and "A Piece of Steak."
53. Plutarch's Lives, by Plutarch. Louis L'Amour introduced me to this book and it's definitely worth reading, particularly as an introduction to historical literature and biography.
54. Something by Dashiell Hammett. One of the first noir writers. Many folks recommend The Maltese Falcon or The Thin Man. Both are worthwhile, but I actually like Red Harvest the best.
55. Cosmos, by Carl Sagan. The best introduction to our planet, solar system, and universe I've ever read. An excellent source of information about science, and full of Sagan's sense of wonder, which I found contagious.
56. The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas. I felt I should include at least one modern poetry collection, and Thomas is my favorite poet and the one who has most influenced me. His influence has extended much further than that, though
57. Why People Believe Weird Things, by Michael Shermer. With one exception, this book is a relentless expose on pseudoscience and superstition. A very good lesson in rational thinking.
58. The Year of Living Biblically, by A. J. Jacobs. Besides being pretty funny, this book really examines the difficulties one stumbles upon in trying to live a religious life based on the Bible. It shows very clearly that an absolutely literal interpretation of the Bible is neither possible nor desirable.
59. Never Cry Wolf, by Farley Mowat. One of the funniest and most endearing books I've ever read. I was assigned this book and griped around for a week about being 'told' what to read. But from the first page I was hooked and roaring with laughter. Mowat's sensitivities for wild creatures is inspiring.
60. Something by Loren Eiseley. Eiseley is probably our greatest naturalist since Thoreau. All his nature essays are outstanding. I recommend his collection called The Night Country most, but The Immense Journey is also awesome.
61. The Closing of the American Mind, by Allan Bloom. An indictment on higher education in America, and the problems he pointed out in 1987 are still with us today. In fact, they're growing worse.
62. House Made of Dawn, by N. Scott Momaday. One of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, second only to The Snow Leopard. A novel about a Native American character by a Native American author.
63. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes. To my chagrin, I've never read this. Considering that it's generally judged one of the cornerstones of modern western literature I think I better get to it. I think we all should.
64. Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe. Love this book. Perhaps the archetypal story of marooning, and quite a few books and films have taken their cue from it, including a decent SF film called Robinson Crusoe on Mars.
65. The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer. Very old stories, from the 14th century, written in a form of English very different from our modern tongue. Thus, they are difficult to understand and there is a voluminous concordance that usually goes with it to explain meanings and differences. I've never read all of it but have read a number of selections. Shows how much English has changed.
66. Something by Nathanial Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables are his best known and I liked both, but I prefer his short stories. An important American writer.
67. Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison. A collection of Science fiction stories from 1967. It broke emphatically with the prototypical SF story and introduced the "New Wave" of SF, which dominated for the next few decades. New Wave put far less emphasis on technological advancement and exploration and adventure, and far more on social and political issues. Although the stories in this collection are awesome, the New Wave also produced some stinkers in my opinion. However, any modern SF writer from the literary side of the field owes a debt to Dangerous Visions.
68. The Virginian, by Owen Wister. This work, published in 1902, is considered the first "Wild West" novel It generally created the cowboy hero stereotype. A bit slow for modern readers, at times, it's a set of loosely connected stories without a main plot. It's really a character study of the "Virginian," but it's enjoyable, if leisurely. I thought about putting Shane, by Jack Schaefer, here. It's more of a prototypical western, but it saw print in 1949.
69. Something by Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy is my favorite modern literary writer. He creates compelling characters and still tells a great story. My favorite by him is The Road, and it's one of his most approachable books, but I also liked All the Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men.
70. Something about Robin Hood. This is actually more about the character than a specific book. Everyone ought to know Robin Hood's story. It's been hugely influential in our culture, all the way to Star Trek.
71. Critique of Pure Reason, by Immanuel Kant. One of the most influential philosophical texts of all time. A difficult read but it really does all make sense once you work your way through it.
72. Something about King Arthur. Like with Robin Hood, everyone should have some familiarity with King Arthur, which is probably the single most influential legend in Western Civilization. There are numerous books about Arthur. I've read quite a few, and you probably have too. Most canonical might be T. H. White's The Once and Future King, which I've actually not read.
73. At least something from Friedrich Nietzsche. Thus Spoke Zarathustra and Beyond Good and Evil are his best known works. I've read a fair amount about Nietzsche's beliefs but have not read any book length materials actually by him. I need to correct that and will do so in the new year.
74. The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell. I've not read Campbell's highly influential work because, from everything I've heard, I just don't buy it. However, I of all people should know that what people say about a work and what the work itself says can be two separate things. I intend to get to this in the new year and figure most everyone ought to know something about it.
75. At least something from the greats of Russian Literature. That is Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and/or Anton Chekhov. From these writers, I've only read short stories. Nothing so far has made much impression on me, but I do want to try a novel by Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky, particularly War and Peace or Crime and Punishment. I've downloaded War and Peace to my Kindle but haven't yet gotten up the courage to begin.
76. At least something from James Joyce. I've only read Joyce's short work and it sucks. I have his most famous work, Ulysses, but have not the courage to confront that battle at the moment. I thought long and hard about including this. Joyce may have once been relevant but is he still? Maybe there's a benefit to suffering through such a work, though, and if I have to then so do you.
77. The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. Wilde has a sense of wry humor with an edge of cynicism that resonates with me. I don't know why, since I have nothing else in common with him. Yet, his work is always a delight. This is his only published novel. More's the pity.
78. A book's worth of Robert E. Howard. Howard wrote mostly short stories, but few writers in history could throw readers more headlong into adventure. I'd suggest The Best of Robert E. Howard, Volume 1: Crimson Shadows, from Del Rey, which includes many of his best pieces and gives a good sample of his work.
79. The Broken Sword, by Poul Anderson. Fantasy has never been done better, and I include The Lord of the Rings in that judgment.
80. Something from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. There are 7 volumes in the series and I think once you read one you'll want to read all. I did. This remains the only series, ever, that I read entirely back to back, without taking a break between books. The first couple are clearly for younger readers but by three the series really hits its stride. That one is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
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January 18, 2011
Gramlich's 100 Books You Should Read: Part 2
Here's part 2 of my list. Please note, the numbers assigned to these books do not indicate a rank ordering on my part. In other words, I'm not saying that number 1 is necessairly a more imporant read than number 50.
21. On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. Primarily meant for nonfiction writers but in reality the best book for writers ever. An excellent book to read for anyone who has to write as part of their career.
22. Watchmen, by Alan Moore. Graphic novels should be represented on any list of this sort because they're becoming so big a part of our culture. This one is probably the best one yet written. It's my favorite at least.
23. The Epic of Gilgamesh. One of the oldest examples of literature in the world. And not a bad story.
24. Beowulf. The great Anglo-Saxon poem cycle. One of the most enduring heroic myths of Europe.
25. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown. Heart rending. It definitely changed my view of the world and of American History. I love America, but our history is not one of white clothed innocence. We need to know it.
26. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume One, edited by Robert Silverberg. The single greatest collection of SF short stories ever. Not a clunker in the bunch and there are some of the most powerful tales of any kind I've ever read, such as "Flowers for Algernon," "Nightfall," "The Nine Billion Names of God," and "The Cold Equations."
27. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Sometimes the folks who anoint the classics get it right. A real window into human behavior. I put this one into the horror genre.
28. Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. I find this novel flawed but it is nonetheless powerful and has influenced many later works of literature and film, most notably Apocalypse Now. One day I'm going to write my own version.
29. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley. A tale of genetic manipulation that should be a warning for people today.
30. 1984, by George Orwell. The world of 1984 came early behind the Iron Curtain and it will certainly come again. Elements are with us now, in America, in China and North Korea, in many other places.
31. Animal Farm, by George Orwell. Orwell is the only writer on my list with two books but I just couldn't figure a way around it. A morality tale for us all.
32. Walden Two, by B. F. Skinner. Not content with rewriting the field of psychology with such works as Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Skinner wrote this novel laying out his idea of a utopian society in which every behavior is controlled by appropriate reinforcement. Many find it horrifying; that doesn't mean it's impossible.
33. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The classic adventure novel that has fired the imaginations of generations of young readers, including me.
34. At least some Jules Verne. Verne, in France, was one of the first science fiction writers and his work is seminal. He wrote a lot of books but I'd recommend Journey to the Center of the Earth or Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.
35. At least some H. G. Wells. Wells was Verne's counterpart in English and I generally prefer his work to Verne's, although only slightly. He also wrote many great books but I'd recommend The Island of Dr. Moreau, The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, or The Invisible Man.
36. Ghost Story, by Peter Straub. The scariest book I've ever read. I wish I could write this kind of complex book and make it work like Straub did. He's one writer whose talent makes me jealous.
37. Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. Too charming not to include. My son's favorite book as a child, and my favorite to read to him.
38. Dante's Inferno, by Dante Alighieri. I've seen Hell done better but this version has much to recommend it. Hugely influential.
39. Something by Stephen King. King is a juggernaut, hugely influential on other writers and on TV and film. I'm not a huge King fan but everyone should know a bit about him. I'd recommend Misery, The Shining, or Salem's Lot.
40. A book's length of O. Henry. Considering today's flash fiction explosion, you'd think O. Henry would be cited more often. His pieces are masterpieces of the concise. "The Gift of the Magi" is most famous but most of his stories are worthwhile.
41. Something by Rudyard Kipling. The Jungle Book is well worth the read and Kipling's best known work. I'd personally recommend his poetry the most.
42. The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Probably the single biggest influence on modern fantasy literature. A great story. A modern myth.
43. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. I'm not Twain's biggest fan but this is a really good book. If you only read one Twain, I'd give this one the edge over The Adventures of Tom Sawyer because it's more culturally relevant. Both are good adventures.
44. At least something by Sigmund Freud. Freud wasn't a psychologist and couldn't be called a scientist. He actually delayed the development of psychology as a science. However, his work has been hugely influential on our culture and entertainment. I'd recommend Civilization and Its Discontents, or The Future of an Illusion. Both have interesting things to say about the battle between the individual and society.
45. Native Son, by Richard Wright. Bigger Thomas is born poor, born black, born in the inner city, and born for jail, or so it seems in this tremendous novel. The great thing about this work is that it doesn't turn Bigger into a hero; it doesn't mythologize him. It puts his character into a realistic context that introduced many readers to the forces that have shaped our inner cities and the lives of the African Americans who live there.
46. Something by James Baldwin. Baldwin was one of America's best literary writers, writing fiction and nonfiction with equal ease. I like his fiction a bit more. In fiction, Go Tell it on the Mountain (novel), or Going to Meet the Man (short stories) are his best known and well worth the read. I have a slight preference for a little novel called Giovanni's Room. In nonfiction, Notes of a Native Son, (essays) is the way to go. I hesitate to say it because it shouldn't make any difference, but one reason I find Baldwin's work fascinating is because he comes from such a different background from me. Baldwin was both African American, and gay.
47. Cultural Literacy, by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.. This book is subtitled: What Every American Needs to Know. Hirsch thinks he knows everything that you should know. In many cases he was right, or so it seemed to me. In other cases he was full of it. It was fun making that determination.
48. Something by William Faulkner. I don't like Faulkner's novel length works, although some of his short stories are pretty good. But there's no denying his influence on American literature and culture. I'd recommend nothing of novel length by Faulkner really, but I forced my way through The Sound and the Fury and perhaps you should too.
49. Something by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'd recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude, but most of Marquez's work illustrates the field of magical realism and it's worth becoming acquainted with.
50. The Prince, by Machiavelli. The single best guide for tyrants and those who would resist them ever written.
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21. On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. Primarily meant for nonfiction writers but in reality the best book for writers ever. An excellent book to read for anyone who has to write as part of their career.
22. Watchmen, by Alan Moore. Graphic novels should be represented on any list of this sort because they're becoming so big a part of our culture. This one is probably the best one yet written. It's my favorite at least.
23. The Epic of Gilgamesh. One of the oldest examples of literature in the world. And not a bad story.
24. Beowulf. The great Anglo-Saxon poem cycle. One of the most enduring heroic myths of Europe.
25. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown. Heart rending. It definitely changed my view of the world and of American History. I love America, but our history is not one of white clothed innocence. We need to know it.
26. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume One, edited by Robert Silverberg. The single greatest collection of SF short stories ever. Not a clunker in the bunch and there are some of the most powerful tales of any kind I've ever read, such as "Flowers for Algernon," "Nightfall," "The Nine Billion Names of God," and "The Cold Equations."
27. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Sometimes the folks who anoint the classics get it right. A real window into human behavior. I put this one into the horror genre.
28. Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. I find this novel flawed but it is nonetheless powerful and has influenced many later works of literature and film, most notably Apocalypse Now. One day I'm going to write my own version.
29. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley. A tale of genetic manipulation that should be a warning for people today.
30. 1984, by George Orwell. The world of 1984 came early behind the Iron Curtain and it will certainly come again. Elements are with us now, in America, in China and North Korea, in many other places.
31. Animal Farm, by George Orwell. Orwell is the only writer on my list with two books but I just couldn't figure a way around it. A morality tale for us all.
32. Walden Two, by B. F. Skinner. Not content with rewriting the field of psychology with such works as Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Skinner wrote this novel laying out his idea of a utopian society in which every behavior is controlled by appropriate reinforcement. Many find it horrifying; that doesn't mean it's impossible.
33. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The classic adventure novel that has fired the imaginations of generations of young readers, including me.
34. At least some Jules Verne. Verne, in France, was one of the first science fiction writers and his work is seminal. He wrote a lot of books but I'd recommend Journey to the Center of the Earth or Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.
35. At least some H. G. Wells. Wells was Verne's counterpart in English and I generally prefer his work to Verne's, although only slightly. He also wrote many great books but I'd recommend The Island of Dr. Moreau, The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, or The Invisible Man.
36. Ghost Story, by Peter Straub. The scariest book I've ever read. I wish I could write this kind of complex book and make it work like Straub did. He's one writer whose talent makes me jealous.
37. Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. Too charming not to include. My son's favorite book as a child, and my favorite to read to him.
38. Dante's Inferno, by Dante Alighieri. I've seen Hell done better but this version has much to recommend it. Hugely influential.
39. Something by Stephen King. King is a juggernaut, hugely influential on other writers and on TV and film. I'm not a huge King fan but everyone should know a bit about him. I'd recommend Misery, The Shining, or Salem's Lot.
40. A book's length of O. Henry. Considering today's flash fiction explosion, you'd think O. Henry would be cited more often. His pieces are masterpieces of the concise. "The Gift of the Magi" is most famous but most of his stories are worthwhile.
41. Something by Rudyard Kipling. The Jungle Book is well worth the read and Kipling's best known work. I'd personally recommend his poetry the most.
42. The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Probably the single biggest influence on modern fantasy literature. A great story. A modern myth.
43. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. I'm not Twain's biggest fan but this is a really good book. If you only read one Twain, I'd give this one the edge over The Adventures of Tom Sawyer because it's more culturally relevant. Both are good adventures.
44. At least something by Sigmund Freud. Freud wasn't a psychologist and couldn't be called a scientist. He actually delayed the development of psychology as a science. However, his work has been hugely influential on our culture and entertainment. I'd recommend Civilization and Its Discontents, or The Future of an Illusion. Both have interesting things to say about the battle between the individual and society.
45. Native Son, by Richard Wright. Bigger Thomas is born poor, born black, born in the inner city, and born for jail, or so it seems in this tremendous novel. The great thing about this work is that it doesn't turn Bigger into a hero; it doesn't mythologize him. It puts his character into a realistic context that introduced many readers to the forces that have shaped our inner cities and the lives of the African Americans who live there.
46. Something by James Baldwin. Baldwin was one of America's best literary writers, writing fiction and nonfiction with equal ease. I like his fiction a bit more. In fiction, Go Tell it on the Mountain (novel), or Going to Meet the Man (short stories) are his best known and well worth the read. I have a slight preference for a little novel called Giovanni's Room. In nonfiction, Notes of a Native Son, (essays) is the way to go. I hesitate to say it because it shouldn't make any difference, but one reason I find Baldwin's work fascinating is because he comes from such a different background from me. Baldwin was both African American, and gay.
47. Cultural Literacy, by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.. This book is subtitled: What Every American Needs to Know. Hirsch thinks he knows everything that you should know. In many cases he was right, or so it seemed to me. In other cases he was full of it. It was fun making that determination.
48. Something by William Faulkner. I don't like Faulkner's novel length works, although some of his short stories are pretty good. But there's no denying his influence on American literature and culture. I'd recommend nothing of novel length by Faulkner really, but I forced my way through The Sound and the Fury and perhaps you should too.
49. Something by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'd recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude, but most of Marquez's work illustrates the field of magical realism and it's worth becoming acquainted with.
50. The Prince, by Machiavelli. The single best guide for tyrants and those who would resist them ever written.
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January 16, 2011
Gramlich's 100 Books You Should Read: Part 1
I often have strong disagreements with those 100 books everyone ought to read lists. For one, they're generally very narrow and limiting. There is a huge wealth of literature out there, and an educated individual knows about breadth as well as depth. An educated person doesn't just read literary novels, or just nonfiction. Second, some entries in such lists seem rather extreme. I don't think you necessarily need to read everything Shakespeare wrote, for example. I think there are a lot of authors people need to be familiar with, but a specific book by them might not be required. Third, the world has changed and continues to change. There are books that once were critical for an educated person to know about, but maybe that's no longer true. Forth, there are books that get chosen for such lists because they'e been anointed by some "expert" along the way and no one is willing to really say the truth, which is that they suck. All of this is by way of saying that I've made my own list and annotated it. And now I'm going to blog it. The list is pretty long so it'll take several days to get it all in. I make my start today. Feel free to disagree or argue. That's one thing that makes these lists fun.
1. The Bible. Whether you believe in it or not, there is no arguing with the cultural importance and influence of this book.
2. The Origin of the Species, by Charles Darwin. Probably the most important scientific book ever written. Profoundly influential in every aspect of the modern world.
3. The Koran. Included for the same reasons I included the Bible.
4. The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Twenty years ago I'd not have hesitated to include this. It's importance seems to have faded a bit, but I'm keeping it for now.
5. Moby Dick, by Herman Melville. Considering my love of books, I sort of have to include what is typically recognized as one of the very first modern novels. Sections of it are incredibly boring, but it has also widely influenced modern fiction all the way from Ray Bradbury to Star Trek.
6. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. I'm not sure anyone has ever seen nature more clearly or appreciated it more. I love this work.
7. Dune, by Frank Herbert. Perhaps the most enduring classic the SF world has ever produced, or perhaps ever will. It rocks!
8. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. A major influence on both science fiction and horror, and just a damn good novel with a lot of important themes running through it.
9. At least some Shakespeare. I don't think one needs to read everything Shakespeare ever did, but his plays have been so influential on modern literature, theater and movies that I think everyone ought to have some exposure, particularly to plays like "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Macbeth."
10. The Odyssey, by Homer. Great adventure novel. Highly imaginative. One of the roots of fantasy fiction. I love this one too.
11. Dracula, by Bram Stoker. Not the first vampire novel but certainly the most influential one.
12. A book's worth of Edgar Allan Poe, including his poetry. Many "100 books to read" lists "short" the short story writer. I'm not going to do that. In many genres the short story has been as important or more important than the novel. Poe is the grandfather of the detective story and a huge influence on the horror genre. I especially recommend such stories as "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "Murders in the Rue Morgue." One can hardly go wrong with Poe.
13. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Hugely influential, and fun. Probably the best known ghost story of all time.
14. A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The prototypical Sword & Planet novel, a big influence on fantasy fiction and on the field known as Space Opera. One of the best sheer adventure novels ever.
15. The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's best tale, although some of his short stories are outstanding as well. Pretty much any Hemingway would be good, except for The Torrents of Spring, which is horrible and not Hemingwayesque at all.
16. At least something by John Steinbeck. I recommend, The Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row, or Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck is sometimes a bit pretentious but he really understood the human condition and the world of the rural poor.
17. Something by Dr. Seuss. Seuss is an icon, the most important children's author ever, I would argue. I'd recommend The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Oh the Places You'll Go, although I also have a fondness for Green Eggs and Ham and The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.
18. A book's worth of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm not a huge fan but Holmes is iconic and these stories have been hugely influential. My favorite is probably "The Hound of the Baskervilles."
19. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Almost all Bradbury is worthwhile but this one is probably the most politically and culturally relevant.
20. The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen. Best book I've ever read. Luminescent prose. No book has ever affected me more.
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1. The Bible. Whether you believe in it or not, there is no arguing with the cultural importance and influence of this book.
2. The Origin of the Species, by Charles Darwin. Probably the most important scientific book ever written. Profoundly influential in every aspect of the modern world.
3. The Koran. Included for the same reasons I included the Bible.
4. The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Twenty years ago I'd not have hesitated to include this. It's importance seems to have faded a bit, but I'm keeping it for now.
5. Moby Dick, by Herman Melville. Considering my love of books, I sort of have to include what is typically recognized as one of the very first modern novels. Sections of it are incredibly boring, but it has also widely influenced modern fiction all the way from Ray Bradbury to Star Trek.
6. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. I'm not sure anyone has ever seen nature more clearly or appreciated it more. I love this work.
7. Dune, by Frank Herbert. Perhaps the most enduring classic the SF world has ever produced, or perhaps ever will. It rocks!
8. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. A major influence on both science fiction and horror, and just a damn good novel with a lot of important themes running through it.
9. At least some Shakespeare. I don't think one needs to read everything Shakespeare ever did, but his plays have been so influential on modern literature, theater and movies that I think everyone ought to have some exposure, particularly to plays like "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Macbeth."
10. The Odyssey, by Homer. Great adventure novel. Highly imaginative. One of the roots of fantasy fiction. I love this one too.
11. Dracula, by Bram Stoker. Not the first vampire novel but certainly the most influential one.
12. A book's worth of Edgar Allan Poe, including his poetry. Many "100 books to read" lists "short" the short story writer. I'm not going to do that. In many genres the short story has been as important or more important than the novel. Poe is the grandfather of the detective story and a huge influence on the horror genre. I especially recommend such stories as "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "Murders in the Rue Morgue." One can hardly go wrong with Poe.
13. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Hugely influential, and fun. Probably the best known ghost story of all time.
14. A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The prototypical Sword & Planet novel, a big influence on fantasy fiction and on the field known as Space Opera. One of the best sheer adventure novels ever.
15. The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's best tale, although some of his short stories are outstanding as well. Pretty much any Hemingway would be good, except for The Torrents of Spring, which is horrible and not Hemingwayesque at all.
16. At least something by John Steinbeck. I recommend, The Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row, or Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck is sometimes a bit pretentious but he really understood the human condition and the world of the rural poor.
17. Something by Dr. Seuss. Seuss is an icon, the most important children's author ever, I would argue. I'd recommend The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Oh the Places You'll Go, although I also have a fondness for Green Eggs and Ham and The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.
18. A book's worth of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm not a huge fan but Holmes is iconic and these stories have been hugely influential. My favorite is probably "The Hound of the Baskervilles."
19. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Almost all Bradbury is worthwhile but this one is probably the most politically and culturally relevant.
20. The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen. Best book I've ever read. Luminescent prose. No book has ever affected me more.
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