App-DocKnot
view release on metacpan or search on metacpan
t/data/spin/output/journal/debian.rss view on Meta::CPAN
worth reading.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-441-47812-3.html">The Left Hand Of
Darkness</a>, by Ursula K. LeGuin</u></strong>:
A deserved classic of anthropological SF with profound things to say
about how culture and friendship are constructed.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien</u></strong>:
I love this book, but the first section is hard going if you don't
like reading mythology. Skip ahead if you're struggling; the gems are
later.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Once And Future King, by T.H. White</u>: Definitely on the list to read.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman</u></strong>:
I'm not sure I'd put it on this list, as there are better Gaiman (and
Gaiman is already overrepresented), but it's a solid "urban" fantasy
in the old sense of that term. Inventive, with a feel similar to some
of the <cite>Sandman</cite> stories.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke</u></strong>:
I read this eons ago and can barely remember it. I definitely need to
re-read it.</li>
<li class="packed">Contact, by Carl Sagan:
Liked the movie, have never had any particular urge to read the book.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-28368-5.html">The Hyperion Cantos</a>, by
Dan Simmons</u></strong>:
Some of my favorite SF novels ever. The third book is the weakest,
and the fourth book has problems, but I adore it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-56389-470-X.html">Stardust</a>, by Neil
Gaiman</u></strong>:
Really far too much Gaiman on this list. But also a good book.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-380-78862-4.html">Cryptonomicon</a>, by Neal
Stephenson</u></strong>:
Fantastic stuff. Not SF in any traditional sense. It's a combination
of secret history and contemporary thriller. But it's written in the
Stephenson massive entertaining infodumping style, so it feels like SF
and makes it onto lists like this. It's very long, but I've read it
twice and don't regret it.</li>
<li class="packed">World War Z, by Max Brooks:
Have a hard time believing this really belongs here, but I haven't
read it so I couldn't say for sure.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-345-27505-5.html">The Last Unicorn</a>, by
Peter S. Beagle</u></strong>:
Eh, it's not a bad book, but I'm not sure it really belongs on this
list. But it does have an aesthetic that's hard to find in any other
book.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-380-70821-3.html">The Forever War</a>, by Joe
Haldeman</u></strong>:
A very important response to the whole sub-genre of military SF, and
very influential.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett</u>: Getting to it.</li>
<li class="packed"><em><u>The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen
R. Donaldson</u></em>:
Read the first book, wasn't much of a fan. I might get back to it at
some point, but I'm not particularly eager.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-671-87749-6a.html">The Vorkosigan Saga</a>, by
Lois McMaster Bujold</strong>:
I don't like the early books as much as some, but I love some of the
later books. The last few have been disappointing, but overall very
much worth reading, and belongs around here on the list.</li>
<li class="packed">Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett: Getting to it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong>The Mote In God's Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle</strong>:
Read many years ago and barely remember it. I need to re-read it,
particularly since there's a new sequal by Pournelle's daughter that
looks well worth reading.</li>
<li class="packed"><em>The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind</em>:
I read way too many books in this series. Others should not repeat my
mistake. Generic fantasy about incredibly stupid people that turns
into libertarian political ravings.</li>
<li class="packed">The Road, by Cormac McCarthy: Not my thing.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-58234-416-7.html">Jonathan Strange & Mr
Norrell</a>, by Susanna Clarke</strong>:
A nearly unique reading experience, and the best footnoted fantasy
that I've ever read (and that includes Pratchett). Great stuff if you
don't mind the slow pace. I'm eagerly hoping for an actual sequel.</li>
<li class="packed">I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson:
Having a hard time getting interested enough in a book about zombies.
But I've been wrong about that
<a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-316-12246-7.html">before</a>.</li>
<li class="packed">The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist:
Heard of it, but not enough to get it onto my want list.</li>
<li class="packed">The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks:
Heard enough about it to not put it on my want list.</li>
<li class="packed">The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard:
Something that I feel like I "should" read, but usually I'm not a big
fan of pulp.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb</u>:
Own the first, which has been on my to-read list for a very long time.
Someday I'll get to it. I should probably buy all of the trilogy
before starting it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-931561-64-8.html">The Time Traveler's
Wife</a>, by Audrey Niffenegger</strong>:
Surprisingly good for a literary fantasy, with some fantastic moments
of description.</li>
<li class="packed">The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson: Want to read at some point.</li>
<li class="packed">A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne:
As above, uninspired to read Verne.</li>
<li class="packed"><em><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-88038-905-2.html">The Legend Of Drizzt
Series</a>, by R.A. Salvatore</em>:
Read the first one, and unless they get substantially better, I have
no interest in reading more. Very stock power fantasy with
one-dimensional characters.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-765-31524-6.html">Old Man's War</a>, by John
Scalzi</u></strong>:
The later books in the series are better than the first one. An
interesting take on military SF, but I'm not sure it really rises to
the level of this sort of list.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-57331-4.html">The Diamond Age</a>, by
Neil Stephenson</u></strong>:
One too many Stephenson for this list, plus <cite>Anathem</cite> is probably
more deserving of this place, but there are some neat bits about
computation theory.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-28789-3.html">Rendezvous With Rama</a>,
by Arthur C. Clarke</u></strong>:
Completely overrated. A bad book that just happens to be foundational
in a particular sub-genre of SF. Done much better by other people.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-765-34298-7.html">The Kushiel's Legacy
Series</a>, by Jacqueline Carey</u></strong>:
By far my favorite epic fantasy series. Lush, involved, very
creative, and with a truly unusual heroine. Wonderful stuff.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-06-105488-7.html">The Dispossessed</a>, by
Ursula K. LeGuin</u></strong>:
Great, thoughtful SF. Probably the best in the utopia genre, even
though it isn't a utopia.</li>
<li class="packed">Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury: Horror. Eh.</li>
( run in 1.133 second using v1.01-cache-2.11-cpan-39bf76dae61 )