I promised it eventually, so here we are. I’ve been an avid reader since I learned to read, around age 4 or so, and well… I’m pushing 41 now. Many of my favorite books are ones I chose a long time ago, but that doesn’t mean I have stopped adding to the list. So, this is going to be a somewhat eclectic mix, but I’ll try to cover a variety and give some insight into why I love them. Don't be surprised if there are additional posts like this one in the future, detailing other books I love for various reasons. These are just some of the ones that have either spent a long time in my favor or exploded onto the scene so strongly I can't not love them.
Phantom (Susan Kay) - I found this book when I was in high school and fell in love. It’s a retelling of Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera and goes into much more detail of the characters and creation of the Phantom himself. Those of you who know me know I love prequels and how-does-this-come-to-be stories, and this is very much one. The book is broken into sections from different points of view: the phantom’s mother, the phantom as a young boy, a companion, Christine, and others. I’ll admit that it’s a format I adopted myself for Starsigns, telling the story from different POVs.
Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card) - Yeah, I know this one is problematic. Not the book itself, but the author. As much as it sucks, I fell in love with Card’s writing over 25 years ago, well before the world was alerted to his horrible opinions on humanity outside his narrow view. I am proud to say he hasn’t gotten any money from me since I found out. The books are good, just buy them used so he’s not getting money for them.
Anyway, there is still a lot of this story (and the extended Enderverse) that gripped a young me. First of all, it’s centered around games, but it’s also got a varied cast (heavily male, but that’s explained in the book). The few female characters are very memorable and strong.
But it’s largely the psychology of the whole book that’s its strongest draw. Through conversations, you get a lot more information on what’s going on in the greater world and insight into the minds of many of the younger characters. There’s also a big shock reveal towards the end that in retrospect, couldn’t have happened any other way. I know it’s sort of silly to attempt not to spoil a 40-year-old book that’s already been adapted to film, but I’d simply prefer not to risk it.
The Eyes of the Dragon (Stephen King) - I’m probably more attached to this book for nostalgia reasons than anything else. I’ve read a double handful of King’s books and generally, his stories are great, but I’m not overall a big fan of his writing style, and personally, I have yet to be truly satisfied with the ending of any of his books I’ve read. I love the premises he comes up with.
The Eyes of the Dragon is a fantasy novel he wrote for his daughter when she was young-ish. In many ways, it’s told as if it were a story being passed orally to the next generation, which I love. It reads like a bedtime story in a lot of ways.
I think, at least as far as writing is concerned, I keep this book close because it’s a good reminder of the idea of small details meaning big things. There are a lot of early plot details that become critically important as the book develops to its climax, and the way so much is woven is is pretty great. But I can’t ignore how abruptly and somewhat unsatisfactorily the story ends. It does sort of lead into the greater body of King’s work, involving a villain that spreads across many of his works. Sadly, I lack the temperament to enjoy the other books the character is in, but that’s a me thing.
I still love this book. I have the audio version and listen to it probably once a year or so. It might be familiarity that breeds contempt, but what outgrowing of it I’ve done as a reader and writer is more aimed to dislike the last fifth or so of the book. Maybe even not that much. The climax is so darn good! It’s just the denouement that leaves me unsatisfied.
Which is also something I recognize in my own works. I struggle with endings. Maybe this is part of why I’m so aware of it.
Fuzzy Nation (John Scalzi) - Now we’re getting into books I discovered more recently than my late teens and early 20s. I found Fuzzy Nation when I was in my early 30s, but then again, this one was published in 2011, so it didn’t even exist until more recently than the previous three.
Fuzzy Nation is a reboot of a 1962 novel called Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper. Honestly, I think one of the biggest draws of it for me is that it has the same sort of woven ends effect as The Eyes of the Dragon does. The tiniest details from the beginning come back to build the climax in the most massively satisfying way, I can only hope one day I’ll be as skilled a wordsmith. It centers around a planet being mined for resources at the expense of the its natural flora and fauna, and it’s… it’s just a whole lot of legal corporate bullshit versus environmentalism and ethics and I am here for it.
Again, I mostly consume it via audio format. Wil Wheaton does the narration and does a fantastic job, honestly.
This book is witty and heartfelt on so many levels. The characters feel very fleshed out, layered just like actual people are. That’s something I can very much say Scalzi does well. I’ve read a few of his books, but Fuzzy Nation is one that brings me to laughter and tears (both joyous and sad) every time I read or listen to it.
Dungeon Crawler Carl (Matt Dinniman) - Okay, I’m counting the whole series in this one, or at least what’s come out so far (up to book 7, This Inevitable Ruin). This is very much a new addition to my favorite book lists, as I’ve only been a fan for about two or maybe 3 years now (I honestly forget). But I've already talked about it on this blog, too. It's that good.
DCC is irreverent, gory, violent, absurd, and has made me cry more than I would have thought a series described that way could. Its premise is that Earth’s apocalypse is going to be televised; aliens have laid claim to Earth’s natural resources, but there is a slim chance humanity can regain its claim over our planet. If someone completes the 18-floor dungeon, they have a right to claim Earth. The dungeon is essentially one of the most popular reality shows in the greater universe, with quadrillions (or more) aliens of all types tuning in. Popularity and profitability are major draws, and the protagonist Carl (who get stuck with his ex-girlfriend’s show cat) has to navigate a universe much bigger than him while simply trying to stay alive in a video-game-like dungeon.
The characters, settings, and style Dinniman have cultivated for this series are absolutely enthralling. I eat these books up, but they’re ones I’m more than happy to wait for with each new installment. If you’re not sensitive to foul language and a hell of a lot of violence, blood, and gore, read these. The audio versions are brilliant (voice actor/narrator Jeff Hays is phenomenal). I also know there is a full audio immersion version that I haven’t listened to yet. I need to.
This is the kind of book I wish I could write. The fan base Dinniman has cultivated is incredible. His writing is lean, descriptive, and… okay look, I don’t know how he did it, but the man managed to write an entire book where the actual setting cannot be fathomed… and it makes sense… somehow.
I’m just flat out in awe of Dinniman and this series. I need to read his other words, but based on what I’ve heard of Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon, I need to be very VERY mentally prepared for it.
Phantom (Susan Kay) - I found this book when I was in high school and fell in love. It’s a retelling of Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera and goes into much more detail of the characters and creation of the Phantom himself. Those of you who know me know I love prequels and how-does-this-come-to-be stories, and this is very much one. The book is broken into sections from different points of view: the phantom’s mother, the phantom as a young boy, a companion, Christine, and others. I’ll admit that it’s a format I adopted myself for Starsigns, telling the story from different POVs.
Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card) - Yeah, I know this one is problematic. Not the book itself, but the author. As much as it sucks, I fell in love with Card’s writing over 25 years ago, well before the world was alerted to his horrible opinions on humanity outside his narrow view. I am proud to say he hasn’t gotten any money from me since I found out. The books are good, just buy them used so he’s not getting money for them.
Anyway, there is still a lot of this story (and the extended Enderverse) that gripped a young me. First of all, it’s centered around games, but it’s also got a varied cast (heavily male, but that’s explained in the book). The few female characters are very memorable and strong.
But it’s largely the psychology of the whole book that’s its strongest draw. Through conversations, you get a lot more information on what’s going on in the greater world and insight into the minds of many of the younger characters. There’s also a big shock reveal towards the end that in retrospect, couldn’t have happened any other way. I know it’s sort of silly to attempt not to spoil a 40-year-old book that’s already been adapted to film, but I’d simply prefer not to risk it.
The Eyes of the Dragon (Stephen King) - I’m probably more attached to this book for nostalgia reasons than anything else. I’ve read a double handful of King’s books and generally, his stories are great, but I’m not overall a big fan of his writing style, and personally, I have yet to be truly satisfied with the ending of any of his books I’ve read. I love the premises he comes up with.
The Eyes of the Dragon is a fantasy novel he wrote for his daughter when she was young-ish. In many ways, it’s told as if it were a story being passed orally to the next generation, which I love. It reads like a bedtime story in a lot of ways.
I think, at least as far as writing is concerned, I keep this book close because it’s a good reminder of the idea of small details meaning big things. There are a lot of early plot details that become critically important as the book develops to its climax, and the way so much is woven is is pretty great. But I can’t ignore how abruptly and somewhat unsatisfactorily the story ends. It does sort of lead into the greater body of King’s work, involving a villain that spreads across many of his works. Sadly, I lack the temperament to enjoy the other books the character is in, but that’s a me thing.
I still love this book. I have the audio version and listen to it probably once a year or so. It might be familiarity that breeds contempt, but what outgrowing of it I’ve done as a reader and writer is more aimed to dislike the last fifth or so of the book. Maybe even not that much. The climax is so darn good! It’s just the denouement that leaves me unsatisfied.
Which is also something I recognize in my own works. I struggle with endings. Maybe this is part of why I’m so aware of it.
Fuzzy Nation (John Scalzi) - Now we’re getting into books I discovered more recently than my late teens and early 20s. I found Fuzzy Nation when I was in my early 30s, but then again, this one was published in 2011, so it didn’t even exist until more recently than the previous three.
Fuzzy Nation is a reboot of a 1962 novel called Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper. Honestly, I think one of the biggest draws of it for me is that it has the same sort of woven ends effect as The Eyes of the Dragon does. The tiniest details from the beginning come back to build the climax in the most massively satisfying way, I can only hope one day I’ll be as skilled a wordsmith. It centers around a planet being mined for resources at the expense of the its natural flora and fauna, and it’s… it’s just a whole lot of legal corporate bullshit versus environmentalism and ethics and I am here for it.
Again, I mostly consume it via audio format. Wil Wheaton does the narration and does a fantastic job, honestly.
This book is witty and heartfelt on so many levels. The characters feel very fleshed out, layered just like actual people are. That’s something I can very much say Scalzi does well. I’ve read a few of his books, but Fuzzy Nation is one that brings me to laughter and tears (both joyous and sad) every time I read or listen to it.
Dungeon Crawler Carl (Matt Dinniman) - Okay, I’m counting the whole series in this one, or at least what’s come out so far (up to book 7, This Inevitable Ruin). This is very much a new addition to my favorite book lists, as I’ve only been a fan for about two or maybe 3 years now (I honestly forget). But I've already talked about it on this blog, too. It's that good.
DCC is irreverent, gory, violent, absurd, and has made me cry more than I would have thought a series described that way could. Its premise is that Earth’s apocalypse is going to be televised; aliens have laid claim to Earth’s natural resources, but there is a slim chance humanity can regain its claim over our planet. If someone completes the 18-floor dungeon, they have a right to claim Earth. The dungeon is essentially one of the most popular reality shows in the greater universe, with quadrillions (or more) aliens of all types tuning in. Popularity and profitability are major draws, and the protagonist Carl (who get stuck with his ex-girlfriend’s show cat) has to navigate a universe much bigger than him while simply trying to stay alive in a video-game-like dungeon.
The characters, settings, and style Dinniman have cultivated for this series are absolutely enthralling. I eat these books up, but they’re ones I’m more than happy to wait for with each new installment. If you’re not sensitive to foul language and a hell of a lot of violence, blood, and gore, read these. The audio versions are brilliant (voice actor/narrator Jeff Hays is phenomenal). I also know there is a full audio immersion version that I haven’t listened to yet. I need to.
This is the kind of book I wish I could write. The fan base Dinniman has cultivated is incredible. His writing is lean, descriptive, and… okay look, I don’t know how he did it, but the man managed to write an entire book where the actual setting cannot be fathomed… and it makes sense… somehow.
I’m just flat out in awe of Dinniman and this series. I need to read his other words, but based on what I’ve heard of Kaiju: Battlefield Surgeon, I need to be very VERY mentally prepared for it.
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