NPR has published a list of the top 100 science fiction and fantasy books. I've read 65 (many of them for this blog), though I'm counting a series even if I've only read one book (hello, Thomas Covenant).
I can't say I'm thrilled with everything on the list. For one, it seems heavy on Tolkien rip-off fantasy series. But, these things are always fun. It's nice to know there's plenty of material out there for me to work through once I finish with the Hugos, Nebulas, Locuses, etc.
I agree, not a bad list. not my top 100 list by a long shot, but it cemented in my mind some books or authors that I need to read.
ReplyDeleteReading one Thomas Covenant definitely counts as reading the series... I read the first five, got halfway through book 6 before my Elbow Reflex kicked in. Now I feel like Stephen Donaldson owes me a couple of weeks of my life back.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think at the finale of the second trilogy the principle character might've undergone some growth, but no.
Thanks for pointing out the list! I've read 62 of them, so you've beat me :). There's many that I've been meaning to get to... I've heard good things about the Patrick Rothfuss series, and I've never gotten around to reading any Vonnegut. Some of them do look a little generic fantasy, but those can still be fun if they're written well.
ReplyDeleteAllie,
ReplyDeleteI tried to read Eddings when I was in High School, and even then it felt like Tolkien-light. Then again, I did love the Feist books around the same time. Those books have a lot of fans though, so I'm sure they do deserve to be on this list. I'd just prefer Brin's Uplift books. I think that's what made these lists fun.
Yodas,
I read Lord Foul's Bane in early 2010. I think it's the harshest review on this blog...I feel your pain.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteI tried to get into Eddings and George R.R. Martin at the same time in high school, which are both kind of 'traditional' fantasy. I'm still a Martin fan, but Eddings didn't really interest me, either. I've read the first 2 of Brin's Uplift books, and I agree that they should be on the list. That's another series I'd really like to get around to finishing one day.