![[Top Pick]](Blue-Ribbon.gif){kind=small}
marks the title I currently consider my first pick for recommendation.
Click here to jump directly to it.
No, this isn't a list of books I've written. (Well, not for the most part.) It's just a bunch of my favourites - ones that I like well enough to recommend. You can take 'em or leave 'em as suits you, but I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do. Almost all of them are SF (speculative fiction, which includes the traditional science-fiction and fantasy genres). Many of them are in and out of print, but that's a factor of their (and my) age -- this list covers about three decades' worth of reading.
News! (Well, it was news to me.) I recently found out about ABE (pronounced 'Abe'), the Advanced Book Exchange. ABE pulls together the listings from hundreds (if not thousands) of small/part-time/independent/specialty booksellers, and makes it easy to hook up with them and order from them through email. I've been able to find (and buy!) dozens of books through ABE that I've been trying to locate for up to twenty years, including things out of print longer than that.
Titles in a series are listed together and colour-coded similarly. If your browser doesn't support colour, I'm sorry - but the grouping should be sufficient. Some of the books listed here are parts of series, but I only think the one specifically mentioned is worth recommending -- in such cases, there is no colour-coding. Where I can, I've included a thumbnail image of the book cover.
I sure hope your Web client can handle tables because otherwise this page is going to look terrible. The books are roughly in alphabetical order by the author's last name. It's just as well, I suppose, that I'll probably never include anything by The Artist Formerly Known As Prince on this list.
In some cases I've rated the books according to an 'age suitability' system roughly equivalent to that used for motion pictures in the U.S. This reflects pure personal opinion on my part; your opinion may vary.
If you want to look for other books by these authors, or other books period, you can use the keyword search form at the bottom of this page.
marks the title I currently consider my first pick for recommendation.
Click here to jump directly to it.
| Title | Author | Comments/Description |
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Ken Coar |
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I'm not ashamed to admit it: I did write this one, and I think it's pardonable that I list it first. Although the versions of the Apache Web server software that are included on the CD are now a little dated (being from November, 1997), they still work well and can serve as an excellent introductory tool for someone just getting started with the server. As for the book content... well, what can I say? I did my best. I'm always glad to get feedback; feel free to send me email at <Ken.Coar@MeepZor.Com>. Suitable for all age groups. :-) |
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Piers Anthony |
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Book 2 of Incarnations of Immortality This was the first book of this series that I read, and I picked it up primarily because I liked the cover art and was familiar with the author. It seems I like Anthony's work less and less with each new title he writes -- I find his characters' thoughts too dialogue-ish and overbearing -- but I still enjoy this despite a couple of logical inconsistencies. Warning: Though this book contains nothing explicit, some of the themes are definitely adult in nature. I'd give this a 'PG' rating. |
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Piers Anthony |
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Book 1 of The Apprentice Adept I can't really explain why I keep coming back to this book; it really isn't particularly good. Perhaps it's because Anthony manages to mix two distinct technological and magical milieux in a single story, or because one of the principal characters is an unicorn. I'm not sure, but I still like it. Warning: Though this book contains nothing explicit, some of the themes are definitely adult in nature. I'd give this a 'PG' rating. |
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David Brin |
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In Earth, Brin manages to project one possible future based upon the ecological and sociopolitical problems facing us in the 1990s. I think some of his predicted technological advances -- including the one key to the entire book -- are on shaky scientific ground, but it's a good thought-provoking book if you can suspend disbelief. And who knows? Maybe it's not so shaky as I believe. Your forehead should be furrowed when you finish reading it. Warning: I consider this to be a 'PG' rated book. Not because of any sexual situations (what there are of such are handled tastefully and obliquely), but because I think some of the sociopolitical predictions and depictions could be a little disturbing. |
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David Brin |
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This is a classic end-of-the-world novel. The plot develops with rigourous precision and inexorable realism; there's nothing Brin depicts that would be unreasonable should a global A-B-C war actually engulf the world to-morrow. Scary in its plausibility, and heartening because of its hopefulness, this is a wonderful book. Warning: I'd call this a 'PG-13' book, primarily because of some of the violence. |
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Jack L Chalker |
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Book 1 of the Well World series This story could be set in the far future -- or a parallel one. I think Chalker wrote this as a stand-alone story, but it has grown several sequels (like warts) that might be viewed as detracting from this one. Taken on its own merits, though, Midnight at the Well of Souls is a fun tale with a novel explanation for the existence of Existence. Warning: Though this book contains nothing explicit, some of the themes are definitely adult in nature. I'd give this a 'PG' rating. |
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Brian Daley |
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Book 1 of the chronicles of Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh Absolutely hilarious. Daley describes a fairly distant future in which I wouldn't mind living, complete with aliens, ray-guns, Galactic gypsies, flying bicycles, starships, automatic taxidermy machines, villains, heroes, and True Love. The main characters are a mousy little bureaucrat from isolationist Earth and a chaotic and flamboyant ABS (Able-Bodied Starman). Just good fun; very hard to put down. One of my absolute favourites when I want a laugh. Rated 'G'; I consider the content of this book to be suitable reading for all ages. |
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Brian Daley |
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Book 2 of the chronicles of Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh While you could read this book by itself, it really needs the background of Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds (see above) in order to shine its brightest. The companions in misfortune that were introduced in Requiem continue their adventures through dens of techno-cannibals, lairs of scum and villainy, abject poverty, fabulous wealth, battles with clone librarians, negociations with juvenile gangs, and intoxicated funerals for varnished aliens. Every bit as good as Requiem. Like the previous book in the series, I rate this one 'G.' I consider the content of this book to be suitable reading for all ages. |
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Brian Daley |
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Book 3 of the chronicles of Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh The third and final novel in the Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh series. It continues the chronicle of the madcap adventures of this odd couple, in the same fast-paced, free-wheeling, and thoroughly enjoyable style as the first two. It, too, can stand on its own -- but is more enjoyable if one is steeped in the wonder and hilarious hysteria of the preceding titles. I consider it a significant tragedy that Brian Daley died of cancer in 1996 before he could continue the stories (if such was indeed his intention). Requiescat en pace, mon ami. 'G'-rated according to me. I consider the content of this book to be suitable reading for all ages. |
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L Sprague de Camp |
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A collection of chronologically-ordered stories from the life of a single de Camp character, Willie Newbury, banker and unwilling focus of occult forces. This reads like a cross between Ripley's Believe It or Not and O Henry, as perhaps edited by Rube Goldberg. Quite a lot of fun. Rated 'G.' Suitable for all ages. Some of the humour is a little sophisticated, but that doesn't detract from the fun, IMHO. |
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Gordon R Dickson |
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What if you were a top athlete and volleyball player.. What if your girlfriend was being experimented upon by a nerdy psychology student.. hey, hang on! No, she's been kidnaped by other dragons! Other dragons? Yes, suddenly you're a dragon: big, strong, able to fly, with a craving for gold and a reputation for being.. well, slow. The Dark Powers are closing in, and you'll need all the help you can get, especially from Carolinus of the Tinkling Water, to get out of this one.. Excellent fun, setting the stage for a number of books which followed Dragon's success. 'G' rating; good reading for all ages. |
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David Duncan |
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Book 1 of The Seventh Sword While the formula is now become traditional (man from our world transported to a different universe), this story is an absolute delight to read. The prose is very descriptive and evocative without being flowery or tedious (a very difficult tightrope to walk), the characters quickly develop depth and personalities, and it is very, very easy to suspend disbelief and immerse yourself in the story. The ending prepares you for the next book without really being a cliff-hanger. Sword and sorcery, sort of -- with a twist. Does Clarke's Law explain everything? You decide.. I'd rate this 'G.' |
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David Duncan |
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Book 2 of The Seventh Sword This book picks up where The Reluctant Swordsman leaves off. It can stand on its own for fun reading, because the style remains the same, but the series really should be read in sequence to get the full effect -- it's an epic, not a collection of semi-related vignettes. Whatever.. If you read Reluctant first, you won't need an invitation to read Wisdom. I'd give this a 'G' rating. |
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David Duncan |
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Book 3 of The Seventh Sword [conclusion] The final book in this series, Destiny isn't as easily read on its own as the middle book. However, this is that rare thing: a trilogy conclusion that really concludes the story. It's an happy ending, no fear -- and it leaves you feeling good and fulfilled, so there's no need for Duncan to write more. (It could be done, of course, as McCaffrey did with Nerilka's Story, but it isn't a foregone conclusion that it will be -- or even should be.) Excellent reading; a real page-turner. This one's rated 'G' by me, as well. |
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Leo Frankowski |
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Book 1 of The Adventures of Conrad Stargard Another displacement story, and the first of a moderately long series, The Cross-Time Engineer is very plausible and is told first-person by the protagonist. Frankowski has done a very good job (IMHO) of depicting the attitudes and prejudices of an educated young man from the end of the XXth century. More, his work instilled in me a lot of respect for the Polish people, and a tiny yearning to learn Polish. Once you accept the basic premise of someone being cast back in time, your suspension of disbelief won't be disturbed by the hero pulling fantastical solutions out of his hat. He suffers discomfort (and comfort!) and gets confused and makes mistakes like everyone else. Each book in this series can stand on its own, though it becomes more and more difficult toward the end. I'd give this a 'G' rating despite the frequent (but non-explicit) sexual references. They're treated tastefully enough for younger readers, I think, although the book wouldn't suffer if there were fewer of them. (MHO.) |
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David Gerrold & Larry Niven |
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I picked this up (or it was loaned to me) because I was tickled by the title. It's a very entertaining story about a technologically advanced traveller's visit to a fairly primitive world, narrated by one of the primitives. It's an hilarious treatment of Clarke's Law in action, and a colossal pun near the end will delight long-time SF readers enormously. This is definitely a 'G'-rated title in my book. |
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William Gibson |
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Gibson has been hailed as a major force in the cyberpunk movement, and to some extent I must agree. This story is set in what could be our future -- and not so far off, at that -- and the picture painted is really quite bleak. If you've seen the motion picture Bladerunner, you'll find familiar the dark mood and casual acceptance of advanced technology used for mundane things. Like most of his other works, I find Neuromancer to be gripping but a little disturbing and depressing. This is serious reading, not something I'd recommend for filling a sunny idle afternoon. Warning: I'd give this book a 'PG' rating because of the disturbing themes, language, and some sexual situations. |
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Robert A Heinlein |
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Standins and doubles for politicians and celebrities are nothing new. Usually, though, their duties are pretty simple and short-lived, and it's what they do for a living. This is an interesting story told first-person about a situation in which nothing is normal and none of the usual conditions apply. Heinlein takes the opportunity to insert some sly governmental criticism. Nothing about the story is really inevitable, but it appears that way when looking back on it. Definitely a 'G' rating for this. |
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Robert A Heinlein |
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Another sword-and-sorcery transference novel. Our hero, fresh out of a non-war in Southeast Asia, gets co-opted into an otherworld quest for the most fabulous object in the universe -- which has been stolen by the nogoodniks, of course. When he wrote this, Heinlein merged some of the aspects of his juvenile books (in which the goals are clear-cut and there are few grey areas), with those of some of his later works, which feature more moral dilemmas and a lot of attention paid to the Barnyard Dance. Warning: I think Heinlein was just beginning to head down his 'free-love' path when he wrote this book, so I'd give this a 'PG' rating. |
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Robert A Heinlein |
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One of Heinlein's better juvenile novels, Space Suit holds no thematic surprises: Right-thinking, clean-living, and hard-working intelligent young man is in the Right Place at the Right Time to save the world. 'G'-rated without a doubt. |
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L Ron Hubbard |
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This is the only one of Hubbard's works that I've read in its entirety. Some of the phrasing is a little odd, I get a sense that Hubbard was fumbling a bit as he tried to tell the story, and a few of the scientific issues I find somewhat suspect, but it's still a good read though quite long. In some ways it's like a moderately good mystery: you can see as each major crux is reached that you had the necessary information to deduce it. I think this is best read in installments; you're likely to get severe mental indigestion if you try to read it without any breaks. Definitely a 'G' rating. Not only are there no sexual situations, but even the violence inherent in genocide is treated distantly and with no gory particulars. |
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R A MacAvoy |
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This is another one of those books that stands well alone, but suffers when considered as part of the series that grew from it. My recommendation is that you ignore the sequel, Twisting the Rope, and just stick with this. An enjoyable romp through San Francisco with unconventional personalities, with a bit of danger, greed, and love thrown in. Is Mayland Long who -- and what -- he claims to be? Even at the end of the book the answer isn't clear, which is one of the reasons I keep coming back to read it again. No question; 'G'-rated. |
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Anne McCaffrey |
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Warning: I rate this book 'PG-13' due to some mild sexual situations. McCaffrey is good enough a writer to include these in such a way that they'll probably go right over the heads of younger readers. However, since the book deals with a young man's passage through adolescence, they really are necessary to the story. |
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Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle |
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This is absolutely the best end-of-the-world novel I've ever read, and one of the best overall. It is truly an epic, exquisitely crafted by two master writers. With all the attention being paid in the late 1990s to the potential of Earth's collision with random asteroids and what-not, it's fun to be able to see that Hammer depicted all the issues accurately and effectively more than two decades ago. Warning: I'd rate this 'PG' for language, disturbing themes, and sexual situations. |
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André Norton |
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A typical Norton space-adventure story, but the one I consider to be her best. Thrown on his own resources and hunted by the killers of the master gemologist to whom he's apprenticed, our hero finds himself the unwitting possessor of something the whole Galaxy seems to want -- and be willing to take from him regardless of cost. Intrigue, aliens, organised crime, betrayal, trust, blasters, and Norton's hallmark ESP themes -- this book has them all. Generally intended for younger audience, I think, it's still enjoyable for adults. The milieu is a little simplistic, though, so don't expect too much realism. I give this a 'G' rating; good for all ages. |
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Jody Lynn Nye |
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There's really no other way to put it: This book is just plain fun. I should have been so lucky as to have had such experiences when I was at University. Elves, magic, librarians, bullies, and an irrepressiblly good-natured college student make for an highly enjoyable romp through might-have-been. (Or perhaps "might-be" if there's any justice in the world.) There's at least one sequel, Mythology Abroad, which is also very good, and I've heard there's a third (Higher Mythology) that I'd very much like to read. I highly recommend this title for light reading when you need something cheery and humourous. Definitely rated 'G.' |
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Alexei Panshin |
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The third Anthony Villiers adventure, aiding and abetting the fascinating and light-hearted chronicles of Torve the Trog. The book reveals a little more of Lord Charteris' mysterious background, and exposes the Xochitl Sodality for all to see. (Try searching the Internet for "xochitl" sometime.) Other books in theis series include Star Well, The Thurb Revolution, and The Universal Pantograph. Unfortunately, Pantograph was never formally printed due to disputes between Panshin and his publisher. Supposedly, unofficial copies command fabulous prices. All of these books are sheer joy and larkishness. Panshin's conspiratorial narration style draws you in to share his droll view of the world. Though I consider the books very good, I can see that they might not be everyone's fare. 'G' by me. Visit Alexei and Cory Panshin's Web site, the Abyss of Wonder! |
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Thomas J Ryan |
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One of the archetypal computer hacker stories, amazingly durable considering the advances in the industry in the years since it was written. Also one of the earliest books of which I know dealing with artificial intelligence and social responsibility. A good, fun read for adults, but not one I'd suggest trying to "whip off" in an afternoon. Read it slowly and carefully. Warning: I think I have to rate this 'PG' due to mild sexual situations, language, and thematic content. |
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Clifford D Simak |
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Simak has written a lot of books and stories about the presence of the supernatural in mundane situations, but I can't recall one that does it so well -- nor so whole-heartedly -- as Reservation. Ghosts, time travel, goblins, færie, dragons, politics, aliens, Neanderthals -- all intermix here on an University campus. This is another one of those books that draws you in and makes you feel welcome and part of the action. While not necessarily faithful to legend and myth, it's still grand tale. Good for all ages; I'd say it's rated 'G.' |
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Norman Spinrad |
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A fun and gripping story about global politics and the 'war between the sexes,' A World Between does an excellent job of showing how fanaticism can warp perception and thus alter reality. When the peaceful world of Pacifica is subjected to 'missions' from the rabid Femocrats of Earth and the male-dominated Transcendental Scientists, both intent upon converting Pacifica to their own viewpoints, it's a real challenge to the citizens and the government. Public opinion is moulded through the media, and Pacifica prides itself on being the most media-savvy and sophisticated world in the human Galaxy. Only now the Pacificans' own 'First Amendment' type laws are being used against them.. Frequently graphic, occasionally disturbing, and always enjoyable. Warning: This book contains some explicit passages that are definitely adult in nature. Despite my immense liking for it, I have to rate this title 'R' because of the language and sexual explicitness. |
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Christopher Stasheff |
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A transference sword-and-sorcery story, told with Stasheff's usual irreverent punnish humour. A daydreaming graduate student finds that translating an arcane document transports him bodily to a world that never was, where he has (you guessed it!) magical powers. Being immediately forced to choose sides in the dispute shaping up in his new location, and trying to come to grips with the change in his situation, much of the story takes place inside the hero's head. But it's good fun and definitely in the tradition of Stasheff's other works (such as The Warlock in Spite of Himself). Rated 'G.' |
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James Thurber |
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This has been one of my favourites ever since my sister gave it to me on my 11th birthday and introduced me to Thurber's delightful sideways view of the world. Like Rocky and Bullwinkle, it's ostensibly intended for younger audiences but a joy full of gentle humour for adults as well. Rated 'G' for 'great fun!' |
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Roger Zelazny |
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Moorcock has the Eternal Champion, and here Zelazny introduces the Eternal Student. With lots of things to climb, and tuition, expenses, and a generous allowance paid by the estate of an eccentric uncle -- as long as he remains in school -- Fred has everything he wants. He's managed to avoid graduation for years, but a determined advisor, an irrational professor, a talking kangaroo, and a variety of thugs seem to really have it in for him. This is one that you may well want to re-read once you've finished it, because a lot of the story only comes clear after you know more. Rated 'G' by me. No sex, no bad language, and less violence than seen on the network news. |
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For a Breath I Tarry |
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Roger Zelazny |
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This is a short story, not a book, and most of the collections or anthologies in which it appears are now out of print. This is really too bad, because it's a terrific story about what might follow Man as primary inhabitants of the planet Earth. I lost my copy of this in 1990, and I've been trying to replace it ever since. (Hah! I found a copy of Last Defender through ABE!) If you want to read this, look for a copy of The Last Defender of Camelot (a collection of some of Zelazny's short stories), or the anthologies Alpha 1, Modern Science Fiction, The Best SF Stories from New Worlds #2, or The World's Best Science Fiction: 1967. You might be able to find these in a public library, or through ABE, as I did. Rated 'G.' |
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Roger Zelazny |
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Definitely science-fiction rather than fantasy, Isle tells of a fabulously wealthy and powerful individual -- one of the richest in the Galaxy -- who suddenly finds his long-dead past catching up with him. This is not a fast-paced adventure novel, nor an epic; rather, it's just straightforward science-fiction. I give this a 'G' rating. |
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Roger Zelazny |
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Although the title has New Testament overtones, the more conventional definition of the adjective 'legion' is meant here. As a computer nerd, I really enjoy this story set in a future about one technocrat's success at beating The System. This one is rated 'G' by my lights. |
