Sure the title makes no sense, but it’s my website so I can do what I like!
I figured it was high time for another list, it’s been entirely too long. Bampf keeps stealing all the good ideas too. Still, in browsing the entries from times past I found one where I mentioned a list of books so I reckon I’ll try to put that together. The companion list would be, I suppose, books I’ve always wanted to read but haven’t. Maybe we’ll do that sometimes. On to the list:
13. The Vampire Lestat – Anne Rice
Read this in college and, at the time, it made a deep impression on me with its theme of alienation. I doubt I’d care for it much at all these days but it really struck me back then.
12. Terra
My God. The internet’s let me down. I can’t find the author of this book. Anyway, I discovered it by accident in High School and found it a damned funny sci-fi romp. Since I love damned funny sci-fi romps it has always stuck in my mind, I know I’ve got it on my shelves somewhere, I’ll have to give it another read.
11. Drummer Hoff – Barbara Emberley
Military precision, rhymes and a hellacious looking cannon – what’s not to like?
10. The Jungle – Upton Sinclair
The first of the ‘classics’ I ever read and thoroughly enjoyed. I still pull it out from time to time, it’s rough but it’s high-quality.
9. D-Day – Stephen Ambrose
A hell of a book about a hell of a day.
8. The Great War: American Front – Harry Turtledove
Had to include one Turtledove book and at least one from the Great War/American Empire series. Great plausible alternative history and one of the best covers I’ve ever seen.
7. Prince Caspian – C.S. Lewis
Another excellent series – the only fantasy series I ever enjoyed – and since I’ve committed to only picking one representative book I picked the one that moves the fastest, has the most magic and the best battles.
6. The Regimental History of the 27th Indiana Volunteers in the Civil War – E.R. Brown
My ancestor and his mates’ adventures in the Woah. Nuff said.
5. Swiss Family Robinson – Johan Wyss
The Disney movie doesn’t even begin to do it justice. Pity they were Swiss, it reads so much like the story of an American pioneer. I’d love to see someone do this story right in a flick.
4. Theodore Rex – Edmund Morris
Innumerable parallels to today’s situation, I pull it out anytime I need a refresher on the possibilities of American power. Best-President-Ever!
3. The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted – Harry Harrison
Another series of which I’m bound to choose one representative tome. Funny story filled with tons of putdowns of the military (Harrison really hates the military) and chock full of that smiling brand of James DiGriz brigandage we’ve all come to love.
2. The Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were – Robert Ingpen
Found this in the library once upon a time and made the librarian order me a copy. It covers every mythology and every story from everywhere in the world. El Nino exists side by side with pookahs, nagas, succubi, Atlantis, Lilith, &c.
1. The Prince – Niccolo Machiavelli
It formed my political philosophy and may be one of only two assigned texts I actually read in College. His motto may well be Oderint Deum Metant.
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