The greatest books I've ever read
That's right, I'm not one of those total computer geekazoids who sit in their room all day playing computer games. I don't sit in front of the almighty "Cathode" waiting for my brain to rot. I occasionally pick up a book and read. Below is a list of some of my favorite books. From this list you might glean a bit of my personal tastes. You'll note that there is not a single book written by "Stephen King". In addition I'd like to say that I felt betrayed and suckered after reading "Op Center". Which by the way was not written by "Tom Clancy", but did have his name on the cover. "Op center" Sucked! Both the book, and the made for T.V. Movie. I will never again read an "Op-Center" novel. I would also like to point out that the novel "Congo" was a hundred times better than the movie.
Praise for FRANK HERBERT, his son BRIAN HERBERT (and co-author Kevin J. Anderson), and the DUNE series: Not too long ago, I read the original six book series of 'Dune' novels by Frank Herbert. I had always wanted to read them, but never had the courage to read a six book sci-fi series. Well, someone (Thanks Brian) loaned me the entire series. I knew that it would be a good experience, based on the one Herbert novel that I had read earlier (White Plague). Little did I know that it would become a fantastic journey. Those six books constitute an experience like no other. An adventure beyond compare. Characters so rich, and so unique, that you find yourself examining their motives and desires, experiencing their fears and triumphs, believing their truths and lies. Settings so crisp, that you can feel the sting of sand against your face, as a storm moves in over the deserts of 'Rakis; and smell the salt air of Duke Leto's homeworld. A tapestry of cultures and technologies; woven so deeply that you begin to hate Harkonnen's, and think like a Fremen. A magnificent and epic saga, unlike anything else in the world of literature. I sure am glad I read the books. I'll definitely have to read them again some day. My selection in the 'Stranded on an island' book club.
On the stand - The
book I'm reading now
(aside from D&D® rule books - Of which there seems to
be a never ending supply).
Frontlines ~ World War II ~ Personal accounts of Wisconsin Veterans
An (Author signed) gift from my in-laws. I served 20 years in the military (U.S. Air Force), and I am interested in historical accounts of World War II . Written by a local (to Wisconsin) radio/television personality. After reading the first accounting (By Firman Balza), I've already encountered a tale which included a personal relative. One John (aka Jack) Vaessen (Not sure exactly sure how he's related, but I've no doubt that he's most likely related) was trapped in the capsized USS Utah when it capsized after the Japanese attack on Perl Harbor, Hawaii. Firman's accounting of that day includes some recollection on the capsized ships, and the search for survivors in those ships.
An (Author signed) gift from my in-laws. I served 20 years in the military (U.S. Air Force), and I am interested in historical accounts of World War II . Written by a local (to Wisconsin) radio/television personality. After reading the first accounting (By Firman Balza), I've already encountered a tale which included a personal relative. One John (aka Jack) Vaessen (Not sure exactly sure how he's related, but I've no doubt that he's most likely related) was trapped in the capsized USS Utah when it capsized after the Japanese attack on Perl Harbor, Hawaii. Firman's accounting of that day includes some recollection on the capsized ships, and the search for survivors in those ships.
Terry Brooks
The scions of shannara
The druid of shannara
The elf queen of shannara
The talismans of shannara (This was a really good series.)
First King of Shannara (Not quite as good as the others. It never felt like the characters were truly in danger.)
Running with the demon by Terry Brooks (Breaking out of the fantasy genre? Was actually a very well written book. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the non-fantasy setting/back-drop. I don't think I'll be reading the rest of this series.)
Yes; I read the Sword of Shannara series as well.
Robert Anton Wilson
Schrödinger's Cat Trilogy (More Metaphysics. Is the cat in the box or not?)
Illuminatus! Trilogy
Reality is what you can get away with
Michael Crichton
Congo (The movie was absolutely horrid. The book was much better.)
Sphere
Jurassic park (Book and movie on par.)
Lost world (The book was much better than the movie.)
Timeline: By Michael Crichton. An adventurous romp fusing sci-fi, quantum physics, and fantasy. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Already destined for the big screen. p.s. The movie sucked!
Tom Clancy
(Actual novels by Tom Clancy. Not those pseudo Clancy 'op-center/net-center' type books with his name on the cover.)
The hunt for red october
Red storm rising
Patriot games
The cardinal of the kremlin
Clear and present danger
The sum of all fears
Without remorse
Debt of honor
Executive orders (This is one thick book!)
Rainbow six (Not as good as Executive orders. Too much action and not enough political intrigue.)
Into the storm. My first Clancy non-fiction. (Took forever to finish the first half of the book was rather dry. All and all it was a good book, but not my cup of tea. I won't be reading anymore of Clancy's non-fiction books.)
The Bear and the Dragon: by Tom Clancy. O.k. The story
was great. The characters were good. The problem with this book... Tom
Clancy. He very obviously imbued the characters with highly chauvinistic,
and somewhat racist overtones (his values?). Lot's of stereotyping going
on. It detracted from the story to such an extent that I found myself
groaning audibly, and forcing myself to read past the offensive parts.
Red Rabbit: Tom Clancy. Much better than the last novel.
This plot to assassinate the pope makes for gripping reading. The female
characters are still stereotyped
and patronized, but not quite as bad as the previous book. I'm glad I read
the book. Maybe I'll read his next one. Jack Ryan and the Foley's together
in the same book. Well done!
Richard Marcinko
Rogue warrior
Rogue warrior II (Red cell)
Green team
Task force blue (Not as good as the previous books.)
Designation gold (What's going on? This book was mediocre as well.)
Seal force alpha (That's more like it! A real page burner.)
Douglas Adams
The long dark tea time of the soul
Dirk gently's holistic detective agency
Robert A. Heinlein
Sixth column (Read it four times. Lost it during a move. Such
an awesome book, I had to buy a new copy.)
Starship troopers (Read it three times. Was the movie actually based on this book?)
Glory road (Not as good as the two above. Excellent reference for FRP games.)
Frank Herbert / Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson
Dune (Book one in the series). I must admit, the movie (in my opinion) was actually very good. While not absolutely true to the book. It definitely conveyed the 'look' and 'feel' of the book. After having read the entire series, I can safely say that this is by far the best series of novels I've ever read
Dune Messiah (Book two of the series. Picks up after Paul Atreides (Muad'dib) has defeated his enemies, and become emperor.
Children of Dune (Book three of the series. The development and ascendancy of Muad'dib's children (Ghanima and Leto II)).
God Emperor of Dune (Book four of the series. Leto II becomes a god through transformation/symbiosis with the sandtrout).
Heretics of Dune (The fifth book of the series. The life and times of Leto II/The Worm. The Ghola Idaho, and the demise of a god).
Chapterhouse Dune (The sixth and final book of the original series. The Bene Gesserit, and the future of humanity).
House Atreides by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. That's right it's a new Dune Novel. Frank Herbert's son has brought back the series with this first of three planned novels. This book is a prequel to Dune, the first book of the original series. Splendid read. Does his father proud. As rich and intriguing as the original series.
House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. That's right, another new Dune novel. Frank Herbert's son has brought back the series. This is the second of three planned novels. This book is a prequel to Dune, the first book of the original series. It's been a pleasure absorbing this resurrected majesty of Dune. I'm looking forward to the third book.
House Corino by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The triumphant conclusion to the blockbuster trilogy that made science fiction history. I certainly hope it's not the last Dune novel I read. This new series has been every bit as good as the original.
The Butlerian Jihad: A Dune novel. Another book by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Keeping the Dune saga alive and kicking. Here's the story we've all wondered about. Humanity's struggle to overthrow the intelligent machine. This book contains all the catalysts for the Dune series. The origins of the series, and the culmination of a legacy in literature.
The pages of this book burn brighter than a SuperNova. Packed with a thousand beginnings, "anything is possible" between these pages. It's not the first Dune novel, but it is the beginning of the Epic that is Dune. Intense and rich, dripping with Melange. Vibrant characters, dramatic involved plots, and a backdrop as rich as any in the Sci-Fi universe. If you've read any of the Dune novels, you'll want to read this one. This book is filled with Dune origins; unlike any other novel in the series, this one book explains much of the rich history which defines the Dune mythos.
The worst thing about this book, is one of the best things; it's 'to be continued!'
Dune: The machine crusade - by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson. Another novel in the continuation of the saga. This is the second book of the Legends of Dune series. The previous one; The Butlerian Jihad, was unforgettable. Unfortunately, this one didn't thrill the way the Butlerian Jihad did. In an effort to tie up all the loose ends, this book had a few too many characters and themes to follow. The ending is a bit of a let down, as we're not treated to a 'final battle', or Machine vs Man final solution.
Joseph Finder
Extraordinary powers
The zero hour
High Crimes (It'll make a good movie, but I wasn't all that impressed with the book.)
Keith Laumer
Plague of demons (Terrific yarn. Read it twice.)
Greg Bear
Darwin's Radio: A rEvolutionary novel. Astonishing subject. Who would dare to make such a prediction. Science fiction mixed with evolution. The characters were very rich, the action was thrilling and the pages filled with remarkable predictions. Nebula award winning best seller. Recommended by a good friend.
Leo A. Frankowski
Copernick's rebellion (Great book. Read it at least three times.)
Robert Bloch
Mysteries of the worm
Frederick Pohl
Black star rising
Gateway (Book one of The Heechee Saga series). Pretty good read. Won the Hugo and Nebula awards. Seemed just a little bit juvenile to me.
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon (Book two of The Heechee Saga series). Although this novel didn't win any awards, it seemed (to me) to be a better story than book one.
Heechee Rendezvous (Book three of The Heechee Saga series). The third book of this award winning series. Testing my resolution. Not the greatest read. Only here because of it's inclusion in the series. I'm really tired of the writers explanations on top of explanations. If the reader didn't start with this book he'd be severely put off (like I was) by the incessant bouts of referential explanation in regards to previous material. Just leave it unexplained and get on with the story.
The annals of the Heechee. A hugo and Nebula award winning series. (Book Four of The Heechee Saga series). This one was better than the third. Unfortunately, the book was slowed down considerably by the authors incessant insistence on referential explanations. We get it already, the main characters aren't alive in a physical sense. They're all machine stored intelligence's. They can't 'really' see, smell, taste, hear, or touch.
Bill Bryson
A walk in the woods (Rediscovering America on the Appalachian trail.)
James Clavell
The Art of War (By Sun Tzu: Editing/Forward by James Clavell)
Joe Haldeman
The Forever War (The author's preferred edition) This was a recommendation from someone who visited this page. Fairly good book. Covers many quintessential Sci-Fi themes.
James Rollins
Excavation by James Rollins. This was a shot in the dark. I had never heard of the author before, but the jacket sounded intriguing. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a 'Congo' type setting, and a South American jungle hiding ancient secrets is just the right bait. The writing was crisp and to the point. It kept me turning the pages. This is a good author with plenty of room for growth.
Neal Stephenson
Cryptonomicon (Hard cover, ragged cut). A fictional novel about Codes and Codebreakers, which leaps back and forth between a World War II past, and the World Wide Web of today. Absolutely fantastic; a must read!
Snow Crash. Another splendid novel by Neal Stephenson. Presenting a highly plausible view of our dark future. Rich characters, and a believable plot which reaches right into today's headlines to rip out a gripping yarn.
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson (Author of the Cryptonomicon) A spectacular spellbinder. Social engineering on a grand scale.
Zodiac: An eco-thriller. By Neal Stephenson; author of Cryptonomicon and Snow Crash. Could make a good movie if it were pared down some.
Steve Pressfield
Gates of fire. A historical
novel. A fictionalized account of the battle of Thermopylae, as seen
through the eyes of one Spartan. This was a fantastic book. Absolutely
breathtaking.
Rich with detail, vivid, and believable. Told in a way that makes you
think it's all true. If you look closely, you'll find that this book
is about
many things. The one thing that stuck out to me was Democracy. The strength
of free men over slaves. The power of Democracy in historical context.
Dan Brown
Angels and Demons: This book is the prequel to The Da Vinci code. Since the DaVinci code isn't out in paperback yet, I figured I'd start with the prequel. Ancient secret societies, Suspense thriller, real-time adventure. A plot with a roller-coaster ending. I thought I knew what was going on, I thought the climax was near, but then I noticed that there were way to many pages left. This engrossing read is a splendid example of writing. Rich characters, an engrossing plot with a miraculous ending.
The Da Vinci code: The best seller by Dan Brown. A conspiracy theory thriller that leaves the reader forever affected. What exactly is the 'Holy Grail'? Would you know it if you saw it? The plot here quickly spins out of control, leaving our protagonists running from city to city across Europe, searching for something that might exist only as a concept. A very well written book. Deserving of a motion picture treatment.
Physics/Temporal Physics/Metaphysics/Theoretical
Math/Books about time
The End of Time: The next revolution in physics. By Julian Barbour. Right about now you're probably asking yourself; 'What the?' O.k. let me explain a little. I've long held my own theories regarding time, and it's existence; or rather, the lack thereof. This book takes a serious hard and long look at time, suggesting that time in fact does not exist. It's written by a well known and respected physicist with over 35 years of experience in foundational physics. Barbour's theory is an interesting and provocative idea, which attempts to unify classical and quantum physics by answering some really tough questions.
God & The
New Physics by Paul Davies.Some really interesting insights into the
'I' and 'Why'.
The Matter Myth by Paul Davies and John Gribbin. Dramatic
discoveries that challenge our understanding of physical reality. Some
really good quantum physics stuff.
About Time. Einstein's unfinished revolution. Another
book about time. This one was written by Paul Davies. An excellent book,
with a lot of insightful stuff about time, cosmology, astronomy, and philosophy.
Metamagical Themas: By Douglas R. Hofstatder. Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern (Metaphysically mind twisting.)
Gödel, Escher, Bach: By Douglas R. Hofstatder. An eternal Golden Braid (Heady Metaphysical stuff.)
Schrödinger's Cat Trilogy: By Robert Anton Wilson. More fiction than physics, but I felt like including it in this category because of it's thematic roots. (More Metaphysics. Is the cat in the box or not?)
Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott (The classic speculation on life
in four dimensions. First published 1838)
Sphereland by Dionys Burger (A continuing speculation on an expanding universe. First published 1983)
The Planiverse by A. K. Dewdney (Magnificent twist. Read it three times. Life in two dimensions. Published 1984)
Time and Again: Jack Finney. A fictional book about time travel! Does the past actually exist? Slow at the start, but a real page 'burner' towards the end. Great exploration of the ethics of time travel.
Spy/Intelligence Military Historical/Espionage
The Puzzle Palace by James Bamford
Secret Intelligence by Ernest Volkman and Blaine Bagget
Deep Black by William E. Burrows
Spy Catcher by Peter Wright
The Next World War by James Adams (Astonishingly good! Great subject.)
Information Warfare by Winn Schwartau (2nd Ed). Somewhat eclectic collection of Schwartau's work and others. Poorly edited. Schwartau is not a very good author, but he covers some very important aspects of this increasingly important subject.
Blind Man's Bluff by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Andrew (The untold story of american submarine espionage.)
Body of Secrets: By James Bamford. Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency. From the Cold War through the Dawn of a New Century.
Black Hawk Down: A story of modern war by Mark Bowden. This is the true story of what happened in Mogadishu, Somalia. One word best describes this book. Carnage! A breathtaking account of the unexpected intensity of a modern conflict.
Rise to Rebellion - By Jeff Shaara. A novel about the
American Revolution. Fantastic book. I guess that's why it made the New
York Times bestseller list. Learning about the American Revolution
in high-school was down right painful. This book was a joy to read. Even
though I knew the ending, it was the characters that brought this book
alive. Ends at a beginning, and hints of a sequel.
The Glorious Cause: Jeff Shaara. A novel about the American
Revolution. The follow-on to Rise to Rebellion. An unforgettable book.
Should be made into a movie.
Quicksilver: Neal Stephenson. A novel by the author of Cryptonomicon. Volume one of the Baroque cycle. This novel looks like something Dan Brown might have written.
The teeth of the tiger: Tom Clancy. Another novel by Tom Clancy. Is this any better than the last? I sure hope so. Connecting Middle Eastern terrorists to Colombian drug lords.
Armor: John Steakley. A recommendation from a visitor to my web site. Something akin to Heinlein's Starship Troopers.
By the Rivers of Babylon: By Nelson Demille. Suggested by
a coworker, this looks like it should be pretty good. Terrorists, intelligence
and espionage. A suspenseful thriller; so say the comments.
Sandworms of Dune: Another Dune novel. A book by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This novel is based on an outline by Frank Herbert (Author of the original Dune series). Based directly on Frank Herbert's final outline, which lay hidden in safe deposit boxes for a decade. Hunter's of Dune told the first half of the story. Now Sandworms of Dune brings the tale to its conclusion. Here is the chronological grand finale envisioned by Frank Herbert.
The Road to Dune: Yet another Dune novel. A book by Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. This novel is a companion piece to the best selling series created by Frank Herbert. It includes never before published chapters, original stories and a whole new story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
The Next World War by James Adams (Astonishingly good! Great subject.)
Blind Man's Bluff by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Andrew (The untold story of american submarine espionage.) The person I loaned this to (A USN submariner), read it twice before returning it, and plans on buying his own copy. I'm glad you liked it Chief.
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson (Hard cover, ragged cut).
A fictional novel about Codes and Codebreakers, which leaps back and
forth between
a World War II past, and the World Wide Web of today. Absolutely fantastic;
a must
read!
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson (Author of the Cryptonomicon)
A spectacular spellbinder. Social engineering on a grand scale.
The Butlerian Jihad: A Dune novel. Another book by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Keeping the Dune saga alive and kicking. Here's the story we've all wondered about. Humanity's struggle to overthrow the intelligent machine. This book contains all the catalysts for the Dune series. The origins of the series, and the culmination of a legacy in literature.
This is far from a complete list. I have read many other books by the more notable authors listed above. These are simply some of my favorites. A couple of series I read and enjoyed immensely were: Roger Zelazny's Amber series. The fantasy series by Piers Anthony with the whimsical titles like "Centaur Isle", and "Ogre Ogre". The "Stainless steel rat" series by Harry Harrison was another enjoyable read. As was the first Shannara series. One of the first series I read involved a character called 'Casca'. He's a combination of two figures from Christian lore: The wandering Jew; a man who taunted Christ on the way to the crucifixion, and Longinius; the Roman soldier who stuck a spear into Christ while he was on the cross. The series involved Casca as an immortal warrior. Cursed to live on as a soldier until the second coming of Christ. There were numerous books, and I read most of them (up to #14 or so). It was a really good series. Of course I read the first two 'Dragonlance' series but kind of gave up on TSR novels after reading something with 'Bimbo' in the title.
If you'd like to talk about one of these books, or suggest something you think I might like, please feel free to email me.
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Author: Robert L. Vaessen e-mail:
Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008
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times since 23 July 1998.
Author: Robert L. Vaessen e-mail:
Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008
This page has been accessed
times since 23 July 1998.