Books are great. Stories are great too. But not all. So weeding some of them out and shining on others is a good helping hand to all you out there that are looking for a good book. Chronologically, the dates and such will follow my years in school. It controlled (NOW PAST TENSE) my life with such an iron fist there seems no point in fighting it. Also, I included the names of the authors just to be nice.

My Shelf :

Dinotopia by James Gurney

More of a picture-book then a novel. Somewhere around 2nd grade I really loved dinosaurs, so this was a GREAT book. Looks nice. The plot of the book is pretty much summarized in the title -> "oh, how sweet would it be if there was a seceret utopia of dinosaurs?" Still, it's a decent book to read to your kids. Although probably not one that they'll read on their own for a while. Ha, I actually remember thinking to myself that the pictures were too detailed to be fake, so it must be real. Me, the little cynic who never believed in Santa Clause. I also remember telling my brother so much, and him being too nice of a guy to dash my hopes.

Trouble for Trumpets by someoneorother...

Another fun picture-book. Not really as heavy as Dinotopia, but I liked the extreamly detailed scenes. Wow, this is the book that got all the hits! Well, this calls for a plot summary: There are nice Trumpets who like the warm summers and the mean Grumpets who thrive in the winter. You follow a Trumpet spy as he helps to foil an invasion of Grumpets. Soccer-moms would probably fu-fu the book because the Grumpets use actual weapons. (The Trumpets use hot-water-bottles, there's a message somewhere in there...)

Jermey Thatcher Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville

A nice story. A typical "even-you-can-do-something-great" kind of book where a normal kid is thrown into a situation. As I remember I might of actually got this book from a school catalog type of thing.

The Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien

I kid you not. I read this book in grade 4. and 5. It defiantly took a while. I didn't follow a lot of it, and probably reread half the book just to remember where I had previously left off, but I got through the entire thing. But they never toasted the RING! (the entire "trilogy" concept was new to me back then.)

The Two Towers

um, I was probably out of kidhood by the time I finished this one, but I might of started it then. This book got to the shelf, almost in one piece. It took a long time to get to the third book however, oye.

Redwall by Brian Jacquin

Lille furry woodland creatures duke it out with an evil horde, medieval style. It was a nice series to read. I'd like to call it more of a "classical" style of writing, not that I really know what "classical" would be, but it's not alternative. I read quite a few of the series: (in chronological order by the date in-story) Martin the Warrior, Mossflower, Redwall, the Bellmaker, Mattimeo, and somewhere in that order is Outcast of Redwall, which is a bigger book then the rest and I can't fit it on the shelf to put it in order. Yeah, I'm that kinda guy.

Watership down by Richard Adams

Another story about cute furry things, but it's a good book. More "realworldish" then the redwall stuff (see above). I like it particulartly because it does a nice job putting the reader into the mindset of a rabbit, without making the story unreadable. I really don't like it when an author puts in a concept that wouldn't be known to the character. There are a few things like that in there, but not many.

The Tripod Trilogy by Christopher

Four books actually, as there’s also a prequel. The books are: the White Mountains, City of Gold and Lead, Pool of Fire, and When the Tripods came. They're classic sci-fi books for kids. Easy concepts worked in neatly, and they don't expect the kid to be a moron either. ( a story about that sub is just begging to be written )

Sword of Spirits by Christopher

Same style as the tripod series. There are more books than this and I've probably read them, but I only found this one. It's a post-apocalypse book with everything back in the medieval age.

Dragon song/singer/drums by Anne McAfferey

Pern. A nice fantasy series. Written for those who want to get out. Now that I look at it, it's a very communistic world. It's probably just that she and Marx were romantics. All These books follow the even-you-can-be-great type. Probably inspired lots of run-aways.

Masterharper of Pern by her again

I got this book because of the other 3. It's written for the fans that have already read all the books. Lots of foreshadowing that means absolutely nothing to one who doesn't know it yet. oye.

Dragon Flight still by her

I actually read this one after the rest. It's a good book. Not exactly an "even-you" type of book, but that element is there. It seems like there is a lot that isn't shown to you as you read it. I can understand all the sequels. The world IS a bit much to cover in just one book.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin Mckinley

A more standard adventure story. It's still an "even-you-can-do-it" story, but this time it's female royalty. Good book. I also read the sequel, or prequel whatever, but I don't know where it is...

Six of Swords by Carole Douglas

It's a story that knows exactly where it's going from the start. Even if the reader has no idea. Sort of a "gimmicky" novel. A nice read if you have the time though.

The Yngling by John Dalamas

It's set in post-apocalypse time, although that doesn't play in much. A Norse guy goes and beats up an evil emperor. I really like the hero in this one, NOT an "even-you" novel where something completely improbable happens to single out one lonely individual from the herd. It's great to read, except for the end. Dalamas can't write a climax to save his life. I mean the final "dual" is: whack, dodge, thrust, die. Now, I know that's how it probably goes in real life, but even so, he could have written more about it. Or dramatized it a bit.

Homecomming by John Dalams

A sequel to The Yngling, it's written much the same. A bit annoying how easily the people can just accept spacetravel after leading a war on horseback. Definitely a weird people though. It's a nice read, even if the ending is blunt again.

The Ultimate HitchHikers Guide by Douglas Adams

This was my bible. It's about 800 pages and 5 books of great laughs. It's so good, when I got it, I reread the first two books that I read separately before getting to the new stuff. As a (younger) kid, I always looked past the hitchhikers guide assuming it was a lousy guide of some sort, but it's really funny. Douglas Adams died recently of a heart attack. I mourn the loss that the world has suffered.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Adams style humor set in England. Fun book. Time travel. Norse gods. Whoohoo!

The long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams

Another Drik Gently book set in England. This time with the Norse gods as key characters. Dirk doesn't really affect the plot at all, but he tails it.

The Alchemist by Coelho

A heady book, but understandable. Lots of stuff about destiny and fate, choosing, and seeking. I think my brother had to read it. Good book.

Myst the book of Atreus by Rand Miller (I think) and possibly Rob

This is a really enjoyable book to read. Even before it gets into the actual plot, it's a good book. Relaxing. It's one of those books that when you finish, you just have to reflect on it for awhile. Plus the game looks nice. Doesn't try to meld the book and the game. That's hard to do and is usually done very badly.

Myst the book of Ti'ana

Not as great as the first book, but it does clear up some stuff the first didn't cover. A few things are just weird, it's the type of book that REALLY should not break it's own rules, but it seems that some of it is fudged near the end. Another thing that stood out was how some stuff was written in just so the first book seems all the more justified. I guess I just don't like when they use absolutes: "the worst crime of the D'ni, confusing how the books work" oye...

The Light in Exile by Cheryl Franklin

The title makes sense in the end. A plotty book. I love the hero in this one, a genetic screw-up cyborg evil agent. He's not really an anti-hero (I don't think any attempt at making a anti-hero/hero specifically ever works well, he's just on the wrong end.) The universe that's created is rather intriguing. A punk lille empire holds a trump in the face of the snooty supreme peace liking overlords of all. It's not the most sophisticated book there ever was (meaning that normal people could probably read it too) but I really liked reading this book.

Red Dwarf by Grant Naylor

A space comedy. I gave it a shot. Besides, if the TV show is that good, can the book be that bad. And it wasn't, it's a fun book to read. Some of it's gross. It makes fun of stuck up British idiots. And it's totally improbable.

Better Than Life

Sequel. Same stuff.

This Immortal by Roger Zelazny

Post-nuclear-apocalypse book. Very Greek. Radiation can apparently do some really wild stuff. Ok, so plot line: Mr. immortal plays out the final deciding factor in whether or not earth will become a tourist trap for the snooty all powerful alien race, the Vegans. This is one of my few books that was a total shot in the dark. The ones that you've never heard of and just picked randomly off the shelf. Titles are important for these kinds of books. I have to give him credit though, it's an original dilemma. I like the ending too, twisted and funny, yet so right.

Dealing in Futures by John Haldemen

A collection of shorts. He's a good writer, some of his stuff is kinda raunchy (although, ever looked at Shakespeare?) but he's done the different angles, and the different ideas, and got some weird stuff out of it. In other words, he's a versatile writer.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

This is probably the only book that I was forced to read and I actually liked. Even then this is summer reading from a list to choose from. This one even made it to the shelf. It's not science-fiction or fantasy like most of the other books here, but it's good enough to put with the rest. Not a real clear theme, but plenty of sarcasm.

The Book of Frank Herbert by, you guessed it, Frank Herbert

Most of his short stories were really horrid.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Great Book! Even with a 4 hour movie and a 6 hour movie, there is STILL stuff that neither of them cover. A great book through and through. Its such a huge story and plot line that I find it hard to describe it. Key points though: war-ing/plotting houses, a cult of witches trying to breed a special person, a planet that is key to space travel, and Paul who conquers it all. To all of those who have read this book already, ask yourself this: Why didn't the Guild take over Arakkis? While the fremen might of been a problem, they should have enough influence to get either the houses or the emperor to kill them off. (ok, I reread part of it and it said that the navigators always saw a "nexus" if they were to take over Arakkis. A nexus being a situation where little things can change the outcome. Which means they can't use thier precinct future-vision to see past it. hmmm, forced plot element.) Hmm. This deserves it's own page...

Dune Messiah

A bit less action considering the hero knows exactly what's going to happen with his seeing through time and all. A bit more of the vuage stuff that is rather hard to really understand.

Children of Dune

Some more action then the 2nd. Some of the ideas and problems here just kind of popped up. Stuff that just wasn't part of the original Dune. It turns out that the witches were right about the kid. And the Baron comes back!!! weee! There are a few odd things here too, like the sandtrout. So no one ever thought to do this before? The Fremen hidden city was written in nicely though.

God Emperor of Dune

A lot like the 2nd, the hero from the book before rules all, knows all, and talks a lot. The ending really sneaks up on you, you're nearing the end of the book and realize that it going to have to end fairly soon, but not much has really changed since the beginning. The main players for the next book are fairly well laid out though.

Heratics of Dune

Actually, this is the dune book that I started with. I started reading this one and found it was really good, so I backtracked and bought "Dune" I havn't read even 1/3 of it, but after THIS much background research, you're damn straight that I'm going to finish it.
Ok, so I went and bought heretics. I forgot about one of the beginning chapters, the friggin teilaxu change every other bloody word. And not normal gibberish words, no, these words you need to cut your tongue into different pieces to pronounce.
Here shall start PhIL's dictionary to Teilaxu! (and other dune words)

Chapterhouse: Dune

Ok, it follows the previous book instead of jumping thousands of years. This one is centered almost entirely on the witches. Only a few chapters off the planet. Its better at avoiding the "Really out of it" stuff that the 2nd book had, but I just didn't like the way some of thing fit in. Duncan's [cough] ability is never explained or put into effect. Teg's weird stuff at the end of heretics is mentioned but barely used. The Jews are written in for the hell of it. Along with the last Teilaxu. Although they needed him for the tanks, which in turn are only mentioned in passing, twice. And the ending was frankly terrible. grrrr. Ok, I was expecting more for his LAST dune book. It's set up so well for a nice clinching ending, but he explodes it in the last 15 pages. I guess that's just his style though.

Return of the King by Tolkein

Yup I finally finished Lord of the Rings. Actually I also re-read the Two Towers because I was a stupid kid when I read it and didn't understand what the hell was going on. A lot of going on in the third book, very busy. This too is cut into two timelines, although they merge back for the last 3 or 4 chapters. I'm really surprised at all the doings AFTER they toast the ring.

Similarion or somthingorother also by Tolkein

Sort of the myth and history of the world. It reads like a Greek history textbook and is more useful as a reference book then anything else. Of course I never got too deep into it. eh oh well.

The Color of Magic by Terry Prachet

The first book of the Discworld series. Prachet is trying to fill the shoes of Adams, but those are really big shoes to fill. It's a wonderful world he's made, but he lacks on the creativness, repeating his jokes time and time again. He's probably gotten better by his 30th book on the subject. The first book has no end, and looks as if it's made for tv, being cut up into smaller chunks and reviewing the story as it goes. The opening is nice, but the last half of the book is just kinda, pushed along. Tackle hitch-hicker's guide, then fall back to these if you're looking for something to fill the void. It IS better then "so long and thanks for all the fish" however.

House Atreides by Brain Herbert

We all have our moment of weakness right? Well, I finally broke down on got the book that Frank's son wrote. It's pretty much what I expected. It is very similar to fan fiction, although I'm only slightly knowledgeable on that subject. But many plot elements are simply written so that it refers to the original series. There are, of course, things that I would not have done if I were adding to the Dune universe, but that has to be taken in stride. Some things are ignored, while others are just a bit twisted. But some things are written in quite well, such as the hostesses on the guild shuttles, or the surface of IX, and the origins of Vladmir's disease isn't too bad. However, the Atredies seem to have forgotten what a shield is for, the Guild doesn't actually use math, and apparently everyone knows what the witches are up to. And why the hell is Kynes even in this book? This book is only the the die-hard dune fans that won't accept that Frank is no more.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Hielien (need_SP_check)

So I happened to stumble across a text file on the net. It had, I dunno, maybe twenty lines in it so I started reading. Ah, but it's not wrapping around the screen. As I dig into chapter 3 I realise that it's a full book, but by then I'm hooked. Also, I seriously thought this book was a bad Russian translation at first. Then it introduced the first guy that wasn't raised on the moon and it's like BAM! Proper english time. Freaky. Anyway, good book. REALLY sucks you in. Tale of the moon staging a revoult against Earth with the help of a kick-butt computer AI. Some bits are dull, you'll get through them.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

A funny book. British humor. Very Douglas-Adams-like. The apocalypse is set in motion but it has a few kinks. A demon and an angel work to twart it. The cast also includes: a witch with a book, 2 witch-hunters, the four riders of the apocalypse, the other four riders of the apocalypse, 2 children, a satanic nun, one depressingly common man, and the anit-Christ. This book follows about 3 stories that intermix a bit and then smash together at the end. If you can believe it, neutrality wins in the end.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Not the movie, the book. Which is quite a bit different, plotwise. It's a good book. Very "standard" vampire moans about life, death, reasons, and such stuff that always gets vampires down. I believe that Anne Rice CREATED the standard vampire mood. Not vampires mind you, but the mood of plays, movies, stories and such that tell about them. I still want to go see Queen of the Damned... (wasn't that good)

Songs of Distant Earth by that space odyessy guy

Ok, so I was bored over a summer. And WOW did I pay for it. I thought maybe that it was the director who make space odyessy:2001 so boring and lifeless. Nope, the movie must have been true to the book cause this guy is STALE! Lifeless, cold, barren wasteland of a writer that he is, his book had some nice sci-fi features of it. This would be a great guy to have co-author a book. Or have as a technical reference guy to consult for a movie. But as a writer, his books are horrid. Not because they're written badly. He's got the knowhow of how to write. And the premise of "2001" and "Songs" are really cool (and for his time REALLY freaking awesome), but his plot is horrible. NOTHING happens. They discover seintient life. They're lobsters. wow. Mr. spaceman is banging a native's wife. The husband leaves. It's all dry. Some things he does well, like the retelling of Earth's demise, because there are no characters there to do anything. If he could write a book with no characters, he'd be set. Other then that he's far too optimistic for humanity, in all ways. I mean, you know, 2001 has allready come and gone.

Book of Swords by some shithead

I think that's what it was called. It's a trilogy. They all suck. I mean SUCK. This is tripe. Dog food. Not worthy of hard cover. It's fantasy, so it drew me in. It then promptly shot me with a 12 guage. It had potential half way through the book. It started out pretty cool. But then, bam, horseshit. It's not that it's depressing, or characters go do something stupid, or, well I guess he does pull some random shit out of his ass, but he does nothing with it. He also alludes to ALL sorts of really big shit that is never explained. Not in the least. It's like he's got this really cool world set up, but he's not going to share. damn, I want my money back.

1984 by George Orwell guy?

Yeah, it's that book. Pretty damn pessimistic guy. Anti-commie. Would have shit a brick if he learned what computers could do. It's really not that entertaining, but now I know how big brother smiles, about memory holes, minutes of hate, and the origin of thought police. Oh yeah and the ministry of love. Shiver.

Xanth Novels by Peir XAnthony

Wait for it.

Vampire Hunter D

Ug. Wait for it.

Rats of NIHM

I had to wait for it, you have to wait for it.

StarShip Troopers by Heilein

Wait for it, maggot.