Why Read

I believe in reading because it still excites the child in me. Because dragons, fairies and elves live in the world of books, because I can touch history, or gaze into the future when I hold a book. Because books are windows on the world because I can meet new friends and listen to their stories or visit an old friend again. Because words have the power to change lives. Because books are butterfly nets for rare and beautiful ideas. Because I can lose -and find -myself  in a book.  Because everyday a writer's dream can be released anew. Because there will always be someone who says, I want to know.                                                                                             Patricia Suter.

Ex-Libris

These are Listed in No Particular Order

the RA indicates I Read Aloud to my former wife. We had done this for over 20 years and I am saddened, for its loss as it is one of the things that I miss the most.

 George R.R. Martin's massive epic:

 A Song of Ice and Fire.  RA

A Game of Thrones, 

A Clash of Kings,

 A Storm of Swords,

 A Feast for Crows, 

A Dance with Dragons.

and more to come...

The Winds of Winter is next.

This massive fantasy series has been labeled as fantasy for people who don't read fantasy, but fantasy lovers will embrace it as well. Rich characters, political intrigue, a kingdom at war and literally a cast of thousands will keep you interested. For me the scope and plot of these books rival Tolkien for best ever.

Jaqueline Carey's

 Kushiel novels. RA

Kushiel's Dart, 

Kushiel's Chosen, 

Kushiel's AVatar, 

Kushiel's Scion 

Kushiel's Justice.

Kushiel"s Mercy

and another story                                

Saint Olivia

Carey is a master wordsmith, somehow making even the worst of her characters refined. These are beautiful works to read, but be prepared, they are not for the faint of heart and full of wondrously wrought erotic scenes and battles so beautifully done that you wonder if a choreographer planned each movement as the images play out in your mind. Carey's prose is almost poetic in it's elegance, combined the  erotic, mythic, romantic, magestic, political and historic elements that make up the set, it's a must read.

Jerry Cleaver's  

Immediate Fiction.

A must have tome for the aspiring author. Cleaver's no nonsense approach to writing is clear and concise. He offers simple insight into the craft, with exercises and advise to practice on your own art. Just the basics of this book are bound to improve the writing of almost any story.

Christopher Vogler's

The Writer's Journey

Written as a guide for screenwriters this work offers exceptional insight into Mythic Structure and the role it plays in all forms of fiction. I have lectured on this subject and recommend this book frequently to all. It is a great piece for anyone who wants to understand the books they read and the movies they watch at a higher level. And the impact it will have on your writing is also incredible regardless of the genre you work in.

Eckart Tolle's

The Power of Now  

A New Earth  RA

I had heard of Eckart Tolle before Oprah started the craze. These are spiritual works, without dogma or evangelism. They includes insights from every major religion in the world, and so are not truly religious works but philosophical pieces offering the best of many great teachings. Both, The Power of Now and A New Earth offer the reader some deep insights into how we view the world, how we exist in the world, and how to learn to live in true peace and harmony with everything around you. These works force you to re-examine your thought processes and if you manage to make even a small  change in your life for the better, isn't that worth it? 

In A New Earth you will find that a small change is the pebble that triggers an avalanche of insight.

I think it is impossible to read either of these books and come out the back cover unaffected. For me, the power here is not spiritual, but of the human mind. Those things we learn to direct our thoughts toward tend to be the things that get the most attention, (obviously)  but also the most effort and for some reason the other powers of the universe seem to conspire to help us achieve. Good or bad you will get more of what you spend the most time thinking about.

E.E Knight's

Vampire Earth Series

The Way of the Wolf

The Choice of the Cat

Tale of the Thunderbolt

Valentines Rising

Valentines Exile

Valentine's Resolve

Fall with Honor

This incredibly complex series isn't even about vampires as you know them. It is about an alien race invading and draining the earth of everything. Although it takes place in an Earth future decimated by invading Kurians and their predatory minions. The story is about a young man fighting in different aspects of resistance against the Kurian lords. It is wonderfully crafted with several complex cultures involved, making it all the more real. 

A subtle sci-fi epic for everyone, that blends technology, oppression,  racism, history and aliens seamlessly. Try the first chapter and you will be hooked. Knight is a writer with remarkable skill. This has a post apocalyptic feel about it and you will root for the human underdogs, which doesn't happen often.

Guy Gavriel Kay , all RA

The Fionavar Tapestry:

The Summer Tree

The Wandering Fire

The Darkest Road

Tiganna

The Lions of al-Rassan

A song for Arbonne

The Last Light of the Sun

The Sarantine Mosaic:

Sailing to Sarantium

Lord of Emperors

Ysandre

River of Stars

Kay is a Canadian author writing in the fantasy realm from France. His characters are vivid and his plots weave in and around each other. At times his villains are so utterly despicable that they are difficult to read about. The stories are wonderfully crafted and a joy to read. I am particularly fond of the Lions of Al Rassan. It was a fabulous read at a wonderful time in my life.  I have had the pleasure to meet Guy at a reading once and own a signed copy of River of Stars

Neil Gaiman

Gaiman is master of fantastic fiction, often blending the modern world and another dark side humanity. He often writes where worlds are parallel and overlap sometime in almost seamless coexistence. He's the one who knows what those things are that you caught just out of the corner of your eye before it disappeared, and how you feel when you are certain someone is watching you, even when you are alone, without being totally creepy about it. His vivid characters have some whimsy about them and a childlike quality that keeps most of them this side of the horror genre.

Neverwhere RA

Probably my favorite fun fantasy piece in a decade. I can only pray this gets made into a movie as good as Stardust was. A little fun and a little darkness make for great stories.

Anansi Boys RA

 Gaiman takes on an ethereal trip Into the realm of myth

Stardust

This Fantastic story (and movie) will make you laugh as it keeps you rooted to your seat or gripping the pages wanting more. The multiple twists and turns propel this along at an incredible pace.

Good Omens

This story has the improbable task of pitting the powers of good and evil into working together to maintain the balance. Not the key players, but high officers join forces to keep their jobs or risk the loss of one of them as the time for the experiment is almost up. This one takes place in England and for those of you who know British motorways it may not surprise you that one of them is constructed in the shape of a glyph that creates chaos. A dark fantasy that is hilariously funny at times.

And many many more including:

Mark Anthony's Rune series, lots of Steven King's work, Baràbara Kingsolver's, The Poisonwood Bible, and the books of David Eddings, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, Stephen R Donaldson, Margaret Atwood, S.I Sterling, Tanya Huff, Mercedes Lackey, Wiess and Hickman, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files and so many others, that I will have to rack my brain to note them all here. I will continue to add to this list periodically.