h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

the first men on the moon jules verne

I think my first attempt got sunk without trace when there was a 'hiccup' on the Internet!
Bit surprised to notice that Anne McCaffrey almost didn't make your list at all - she's got a wicked sense of humour!

Another author worth a 'dip' might be Ellis Peters (creator of Brother Cadfael): she also writes as Edith Pargeter, and is eminently readable under either name!

"The Cosmic Trilogy", or anything else by CS Lewis (inc. the 'Narnia' books)

Any one of the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Don't ask me to choose just one, I'll go even more insane than I am now.

See? /Now/ Anne McCaffrey's on the list.

I loved Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. (Not my all time favorite book, but a very good read all the same.)

Fatherland - Robert Harris

Fatherland is a bloody good book, but it's not my favourite. I'd recommend Catch-22 (Joseph Heller), Riddley Walker (Russell Hoban), Cider with Rosie (Laurie Lee), A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving) or To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee, no relation). You won't be disappointed with any of these.

LA CONFIDENTIAL by James Ellroy.
A stunning patchwork of stories held together by the best modern characters ever put on paper. Ed Exley, the valiant moral warrior, Bud White, the neandethal with a heart, Dudley Smith who is jut beginning to become evil incarnate, Sid Hudgens the sleazeball editor of Hush Hush magazine and the man, Jack Vincennes, Hollywood Jack.
A great read and one of those rare books that when made into a film, didn;t fall flat on its arse.
Superb.

Probably one of the most demanding films I've seen in a while. I made the mistake of drinking a pint of Thumpton's G.B.H. (or whatever is was: it was bloody strong) before the film and found myself struggling to keep up with it. Does the film sacrifice any of the book's detail? I hope not, otherwise I'll never get my head around it.

James Cromwell was brilliant in the film, BTW.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

The Stand - stephen King

I can't say what the best book I've eaver read is without much thought, but I'll give you a couple I've read recently and really liked quite a lot.

"the Burning City", by Larry Niven,a fantasy based on the premise that magic is a non renewable resource, and it is being depleted. (also featuring near mythic fire gods, aggressive vegetation, giants in the earth, and a really big love spell)

"Dandelion Wine", by Ray Bradbury. Ok, a re read, since its such a good book that I keep going back to visit.

"Galveston", by Sean Stewart, another fantasy, and in this one the magic is coming back into a world that was a lot like ours up till a couple years ago. The town is divided into an area where magic is blocked off, and an alternate town caught in an everlasting marti gras ruled by what is probably a god.

"Blue Champagne" by John Varley. Sci-fi (well mostely) Short stories/novellas, and damn good ones.


thats all I can think of at the moment anyhow

`To Your Scattered Bodies Go.` Philip Jose Farmer. Everyone`s in this novel, including you and me. It starts after we die.
`Time Enough for Love` Robert Heinlein. A man who is 23 centuries old is kept alive by his decendants for his advice.
`The Forever War` & `Mindbridge` Joe Haldeman. sci-fi and war combined. Makes starship troopers look like cartoon fun.
`The Sparrow` Mary Doria Russell. First novel, sci-fi -unsettling,powerful, tremendous debut about first contact.

Another great book is American Gothic by Gene Smith. It's the story of the Booth family, as in John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin. The Booths were acting legends. The book is very well researched with many fascinating details. It's a cool book, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Actually, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' was a short story by Philip K Dick. Not a great book, but a GREAT story! There is a difference, but is is rather pedantic! Sorry!!!

Made into the film BLADE RUNNER!! The greatest sci fi film ever. These memories will be lost like tears in the rain. Time to die.

greatest sci fi film ever? hmmm. What about `Alien`? Do you remember the apprehension,tension,horror, the first time you saw that film? Hard to beat!

Alien good film/thriller but not as intelligent or well acted as Blade runner. Classic of the highest quality. I'm well into Leslie Charteris' The Saint books at the moment. Simon Templar must be the coolest man ever in the history of the coolest men ever.

Has to be 'The Guide.'That's why I'm here...
Or (it's not a book, but a story)"Deliverance" by Gav Thorpe. (Have to know Warhammer 40K to know this.)

Glad to see Anne Mccaffrey make it on to the list. On a totally unrelated subject, Terry Pratchett signed another two of my books on Friday. WooHoo!! The coolest of cool blokes in literature award has to go to Anne Rice's Lestat. I would heartily recommend the Vampire Chronicles in the belief that Lestat is far more cool than any other charactor, ever. But now we are into a different discussion, (who is your favourite literary charactor?) Can we start one like that?