Another top 5

[thendoking]

OK - My all time top 5

LOTR (Tolkien) - Obvious but genius. You just can't escape the Master. I've read it 5 times in my life and as I get older I see the story in a different way.

K-Pax (brewer) - Really cool book - film was OK but didn't do the book justice. I just kind of liked the is it or isn't it feel of the book.

The Magic Islands (Bell) - New release from a british author. It sits between Harry potter and LOTR with a strange mix of treasure island. Worth a read.

Do androids dream... (Dick) - The quintisential blade runner story still rules however many times you read it.

DUNE (Herbert) - oldie but goldie - always worth a re read in my mind

Thoughts

[Stephen Palmer]

Dune certainly is genius, including the 2 sequels... then there was "God Awful Of Dune"... then the next two, which I liked.

Have you read these new prequels? I'm not sure whether to touch 'em, given how they've been written...

STEVE...
http://www.stephenpalmer.co.uk

[thendoking]

No

Haven't read- I was warned off as they were said to be tedious.

Maybe I'll give them a try if I get some time

[Wayne Mook]

I still have to read Dune, its on the to read list.

I love Philip K. Dick. I do like the whole thing about the status symbol of the sheep.

Just picked up Jack Williamson's Darker Than You Think. Does anyone know if he is still alive.

Wayne.

[thendoking]

I'm about to get another book by Dick - from a friend - "Ubik"
Said it's his best work- any comments

[belilah]

I like Wheel of time by Robert Jordan.

[danlo]

Jack Williamson IS still alive at the spry young age of 93 and still lives near Hobbs, New Mexico. I met him last year at Bubonicon (a huge honor), but he was a little too fragile to make the trip this year.

[Wayne Mook]

Cheers Danlo you just cheered me up no end.

I still have a soft spot for Mr. Williamson's books.

Wayne.

[Bryn Llewellyn]

My pentuple list runs as follows:

1. "The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness" by Erich Fromm
2. "Labyrinths" by Jorge Luis Borges
3. "Godel, Escher and Bach" by Douglas Hofstadter
4. "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
5. "The Scar" by China Mieville

Possibly I will have changed my mind by this time next year.

LLEWELLYN

[Lindsay Lloyd]

Bryn,

What are your reasons behind your choices?

[Bryn Llewellyn]

Lindsay, you ask for reasons. I offer the following:

1. "The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness" by Erich Fromm

The greatest analysis of the human condition and its impulse to destruction that I know. This work should be a text book in schools.

2. "Labyrinths" by Jorge Luis Borges

Truly extraordinary convoluted tales suffused in mystery.

3. "Godel, Escher and Bach" by Douglas Hofstadter

A wholly remarkable analysis of the mathematical foundation of consciousness - including concepts of thought. Its difficult and esoteric nature is very much a mark of its quality.

4. "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

The greatest horror work ever.

5. "The Scar" by China Mieville

The best gothic novel I have ever read. Alas, this author's most recent work, 'Iron Council', is something of a disappointment.

I trust these brief paragraphs are OK.

LLEWELLYN