Here are the best books ever written and some reviews and links on some of them. And if you agree with me, let's talk. If you disagree....well, you're just wrong!!! (Ah...Perry 2....)
Good Omens by Terry Prattchet and Neil Gaimon
This is my second favorite book. It is a story of the appocalypse and the soon to be war between heaven and hell, centering on two angels on earth, one from each place, who have decided they actually like the human race. I drew inspiration for the url for this page from one of these two angels, Aziraphale. Truely a hillarious look at things...and it makes you think a bit, too.
The Sword of Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
Having become my definite favorite, and definitely the greatest series ever, is the Shannara series. The series consists of the trilogy Sword,
Elfstones, and Wishsong, then the Herigate series (one full story in four books) Scions, Druid, Elf Queen, and Talismans, then the prequal First King, and now a three part series called The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara. The first book is Ilse Witch and the 2nd is Antrax. The third is Morgwar (not out yet). Truely epic sagas, taken separately or together. I'd say that Terry Brooks is my "idol writer". As I found out, there is a new series coming out on Shannara!! I'm so excited. If you'd like more on this or other Shannara stuff, go to this site.
The Word and Void Series by Terry Brooks
Another phenomenal series by Mr. Brooks. This is a trilogy that chronicles the battles between the Word and the Void as dealt with by John Ross, a Knight of the Word, and Nest Freemark. It's amazing how he ties together a lot of common mythos about the traditional good vs. evil battle. The books in the series are Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, and Angel Fire East.
The Discworld Novels by Terry Prattchet
Terry Prattchet is one of the funniest writers I know. His Discworld novels provide a refreshing humor to me and I just love the settings of so many of them. There are some I'm still looking for, and I'll get a list of those up eventually.
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
This is really a five book series that a friend recommended and I ordered from the science fiction book club. It's about the Drew children, Will Stanton, and Bran Davies, and it's another of those great adventures that ties together a lot of old legends very well. I'd reccommend this for children of all ages.
Hobbit and Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein
Truely a classic in many circles of thought. You kind of have to read them in order, too. The Return of the King was a little slow, I thought, being the last book and also seemingly his most very descriptive one, but it was still good none the less and I loved the plot twists in it.
Q-Squared by Peter David
For all you Star Trek fans out there, especially those that love Q and loved Trelane, this book is for you. Trelane, a Q-like entity from TOS, is back and has tapped into a great power to overtake all the Q. Only our beloved Q (who tormets Jean-Luc so often) is free to stop him. It's an adventure through time, space, and the multi-verse like you've never seen.
Q-Continuum Series by Greg Cox
Again, a good trilogy for all you Star Trek fans out there. This series goes into the history of the Q and is amazing at how it ties in so many of those loose ends or open-ended anomalies from the shows and movies.
Anything by H.G. Wells
The father of modern sci-fi. He was my major author my senior year in high school. I read War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, and The Invisible Man. I saw The Island of Dr. Moreau, and want to read his other works as well. Very insightful and amazing how he saw things. He was also an interesting character, very promiscuous, and didn't like the concept of God. Did you know he also penned more words that Shakespear and Charles Dickens combined? Though Dan argues this point....
Ishmael
An inspiring book about why things are the way they are and what the problem is with that. I'm still processing it and I don't know if I agree with everything, but if nothing else it's a new way to look at things that opens up possibilities
Corpus Christi
A controvertial play written shortly after the Matthew Shepard incident which portrays Jesus and his disciples as gay. But more than that it portrays an honest and open sexuality of all forms. Personally I thought it was great and would love to perform it. But some people get so bent out of shape on stupid stuff.
The Young Wizard Series by Diane Duane
Consisting of So You Want to Be a Wizard, Deep Wizardry, High Wizardry (all three in one book now called Support Your Local Wizard), A Wizard Abroad, and The Wizard's Dilemma, this is a great fantasy series geared to young adults, but enjoyable by all. It's a technical edge to the fantasy of wizardry which I found really entertaining.
Harry Potter
This is what will become a seven book set, though only the first four are out. I have read the first three (consisting of Sorceror's Stone (NOTE: This is supposed to be Philosopher's Stone if you read the British version...I would love to get my hands on a copy...), Chamber of Secrets, and Prizoner of Azkaban). I hope to soon read Goblet of Fire. What really gets me about this series is how everyone thinks it's a children's set. IT IS NOT! Grow up people, and read some books before you start to say who it's geared toward. (But read the book anyway, it's WONDERFUL!)
Zen and the Art of...
On the non-fiction end of things, I recently found a book called Zen and the Art of Cooking. There are three others in the set and I just picked up the one on the Art of Well Being. I think Gardening and Traveling are the other two.
Dead in Dixie Series by Charlaine Harris
Yes, it's a little bit in the realm of brain candy, but it's highly entertaining. I mean, Southern vampire novels, a telepath that dates one of them (or did), were-creatures, fairies, and who knows what else? Hot stuff, and highly entertaining!