Active Users:433 Time:17/06/2025 05:05:06 AM
Here goes. John Send a noteboard - 24/04/2010 07:47:33 AM
1) LoTR by Tolkein
2) Siddhartha by Hesse
3) Mists of Avalon by Bradley
4) Last Light of the Sun by Kay
5) Wraeththu by Constantine
6) Hyperion by Simmons
7) Silmarillion by Tolkein
The Years of Rice and Salt by Robinson *
9) Deadhouse Gates by Ericson
10) The Lions of Al-Rassan by Kay

*I understand why Red Mars go so much love in this thread. It is an amazing book. But the story didn't flow well enough for me to count it in my favorites.

Of course different books got on this list for different reasons. LoTR is like a really good friend that I can always count on, and is the book (series) that I have read more than any other. A couple on this list have actually significantly changed the way I think about things: The Mists of Avalon and Siddhartha. I think I can say that Siddhartha has more meaning crammed into a short story than anything else I've ever read. Skinny Legs and All by Robbins almost made my list for that reason.

Some of these are here just because of the beautiful storytelling. Last Light of the Sun, Lions of Al-Rassan, and Wraeththu would fall into this catagory. I'm most likely in the minority when I say the The Last Light of the Sun is Kay's best work (although I haven't read the Fionvar Tapestry). The bravery and sacrifice themes along with the father/son interractions in this book really appealled to me. And as always, Kay's writing is fantastic.

The rest; well Hyperion had very imaginative concepts and memorable characters. The Silmarilion is awkward to read, but the general theme of a steady decline interrupted by moments of glory, along with fantastic world-building make this a great read. Deadhouse Gates: I was so freaking mad about the end of this book. Two or three days after I finished it I still had a nagging feeling that something was bothering me. Erikson is a bastard, but he must also be a good author to get into my head like that.
Reply to message
Top 10 favorite books ever. - 22/04/2010 04:12:31 AM 1895 Views
This was hard to do - 22/04/2010 06:05:53 AM 1401 Views
Re: This was hard to do - 22/04/2010 02:17:19 PM 1065 Views
Re: This was hard to do - 25/04/2010 10:22:20 AM 1355 Views
I just went and bought "I am Legend" and "I, Claudius" - 23/04/2010 02:21:43 PM 1071 Views
Re: I just went and bought "I am Legend" and "I, Claudius" - 25/04/2010 10:57:32 AM 1458 Views
1-6 was easy....7-10 not so much - 22/04/2010 07:36:25 AM 1173 Views
Whoa. - 23/04/2010 02:39:05 AM 1005 Views
I didn't really expect to see it on anyone else's list... - 23/04/2010 03:38:10 AM 1285 Views
I don't know about that, with all that Heinlein... *NM* - 23/04/2010 11:09:28 AM 599 Views
I'll admit that much of his work hasn't aged well - 23/04/2010 05:19:08 PM 1289 Views
- 24/04/2010 04:33:29 AM 1007 Views
It's hardish to explain - 25/04/2010 08:49:01 AM 1343 Views
Interesting. - 27/04/2010 12:37:49 AM 1106 Views
<3 Yossarian *NM* - 25/04/2010 01:36:10 AM 625 Views
OK. - 22/04/2010 08:37:54 AM 1190 Views
Crap crap crap. - 22/04/2010 12:40:16 PM 1080 Views
Re: Crap crap crap. - 22/04/2010 02:18:42 PM 1035 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 22/04/2010 01:54:00 PM 1215 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 23/04/2010 01:05:39 AM 1045 Views
I have not. What is it called? *NM* - 23/04/2010 02:04:43 AM 516 Views
Re: I have not. What is it called? - 23/04/2010 03:16:41 AM 1257 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 25/04/2010 11:35:03 AM 1083 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 26/04/2010 10:41:40 PM 1103 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 26/04/2010 10:43:55 PM 1178 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 26/04/2010 11:27:45 PM 1088 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 27/04/2010 09:14:36 AM 1061 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 30/04/2010 11:29:26 AM 1165 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. (in no particular order) - 30/04/2010 07:59:31 PM 971 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. - 22/04/2010 03:26:42 PM 1123 Views
My real list. - 22/04/2010 03:36:11 PM 1049 Views
Crossroads? Really? - 22/04/2010 11:16:58 PM 1166 Views
Re: Crossroads? Really? - 23/04/2010 01:03:44 AM 960 Views
I actually have the first Mistborn in my top 10 haha - 23/04/2010 09:22:29 PM 1161 Views
Books I love to reread... In no perticular order - 22/04/2010 03:37:30 PM 1202 Views
authors? *NM* - 23/04/2010 02:14:01 AM 526 Views
This is quite difficult. - 22/04/2010 03:59:18 PM 1307 Views
Re: This is quite difficult. - 23/04/2010 01:07:10 AM 1088 Views
It is very impressive. - 23/04/2010 01:36:24 AM 1079 Views
Re: It is very impressive. - 23/04/2010 01:44:53 AM 1041 Views
I would. Some people would not. - 23/04/2010 02:47:38 AM 1103 Views
represent for Dune and Ender's Game..yo. *NM* - 25/04/2010 01:37:55 AM 595 Views
I'll try. - 22/04/2010 04:20:53 PM 1139 Views
you can list individual books from series - 22/04/2010 06:13:07 PM 1123 Views
Nah... - 22/04/2010 07:55:03 PM 1117 Views
Re: I'll try. - 25/04/2010 11:30:46 AM 1072 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. - 22/04/2010 04:21:10 PM 1182 Views
This is difficult. - 22/04/2010 06:51:00 PM 1136 Views
Red Mars - 23/04/2010 01:03:46 PM 993 Views
Hm. - 23/04/2010 01:24:41 PM 1102 Views
on ode to engineering and world-building - the literal kind - 23/04/2010 02:34:56 PM 1132 Views
Wow cool, thank you *NM* - 23/04/2010 03:29:49 PM 562 Views
Off the top of my head, I'd say these: - 22/04/2010 08:20:07 PM 1063 Views
Re: Off the top of my head, I'd say these: - 23/04/2010 01:10:10 AM 1021 Views
A bit late... - 30/04/2010 01:33:13 AM 1081 Views
I never thought this would be so hard! - 22/04/2010 09:10:03 PM 1210 Views
Two lists, all fiction and scifi/fantasy - 22/04/2010 11:13:17 PM 1066 Views
Ah crap, I forgot the Silmarillion... *NM* - 22/04/2010 11:19:09 PM 501 Views
I thought I would see a little more Malazan, more SoIaF......... *NM* - 23/04/2010 01:11:46 AM 525 Views
For the moment... - 23/04/2010 01:39:29 AM 1276 Views
Re: For the moment... - 23/04/2010 01:59:34 AM 1013 Views
I'm about to start Anathem - 23/04/2010 02:35:15 AM 1258 Views
Wow, Red Mars? - 23/04/2010 02:35:09 AM 1084 Views
Re: Wow, Red Mars? - 23/04/2010 03:22:29 AM 1115 Views
That's typical, I'm afraid. - 24/04/2010 04:35:39 AM 1038 Views
It's really awesome if you love hard science fiction. *NM* - 24/04/2010 03:26:30 PM 550 Views
I could see that, yeah. - 27/04/2010 12:42:21 AM 1012 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. - 23/04/2010 12:55:20 PM 1084 Views
Re: Top 10 favorite books ever. - 25/04/2010 11:33:04 AM 1083 Views
Re: Neverending story - 26/04/2010 10:10:29 AM 1032 Views
Re: Neverending story - 26/04/2010 10:12:50 AM 1004 Views
I can't do 10 so I will do 15...that's right, deal with it. - 23/04/2010 02:43:10 PM 1169 Views
Alright I'll do the cutting for you. - 23/04/2010 02:58:43 PM 1207 Views
Nice try. - 23/04/2010 03:08:58 PM 1166 Views
Some awesome books on this list. *NM* - 24/04/2010 04:37:40 AM 506 Views
My Top Eleven* - 23/04/2010 03:58:49 PM 1230 Views
It's going to be hard for me - 23/04/2010 10:36:02 PM 1209 Views
You can include all books - 23/04/2010 11:08:06 PM 1059 Views
That first one is subject to opinion, I must say. - 24/04/2010 04:39:55 AM 1004 Views
Hmmm... - 24/04/2010 09:10:41 AM 1185 Views
Here goes. - 24/04/2010 07:47:33 AM 1207 Views
It feels like choosing among children must be, but... - 24/04/2010 05:49:01 PM 1172 Views
Here is a list... - 30/04/2010 08:36:32 PM 1013 Views

Reply to Message