Maffu's Lists No#413

Some books I've read that you should....
Tonight - Sci-fi corner.
Neal Stephenson - Snow Crash
Mental sci-fi with characters with names like Hiro Protagonist, Yours Truly and Vitaly Chernobyl. The plot revolves around The Metaverse - a future version of the internet - ancient Sumerian language and religion and mass media. Oh, and an Eskimo with a nuclear bomb. Read it.
Philip Pullman - His Dark Materials Trilogy
Comprising The Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass this trilogy shows more than anything else why the Harry Potter books should be left on the shelves. Writing for children (or "teens") this book, rather than being a rehash of all that has come before it or a reeking affirmation of middle-class triteness, asks questions about religion, blind faith, the existence of the soul, love, duty and sacrifice. And all of it in a truly page-turning story that never once gets sanctimonious. Exciting, beautiful and surprising.
J R R Tolkien - Unfinished Tales (of Numenor and Middle Earth)
Tolkien wasn't just about fluffy footed farmers having high jinx with other people's jewelry - the Lord of The Rings sits on the shoulders of an entire creation myth and history created by the mad South-African Brummie Oxfordian. Much of this history is based on and follows the style of ancient Norse and Old-English mythology. Hence this collection of 'historically' linked stories (along with the Book of Lost Tales parts 1 & 2) contains some of the darkest and saddest tales you'll ever read. Betrayal, incest, misfortune, murder, revenge, mistrust and genocide are the order of the day here. In fact, if you look in the dictionary for the word tragedy, it will probably say read the Narn i Hin Hurin, one of the tales in this book.

That'll do you for now. Come back to me when you've read them and submit your report...