[Bibliogoth London] Long List: October 2008

[Ruth Chapple]

Usual rules, 5 positive votes and 1 anti-vote per person. Votes either
on this post or by email to me before Sunday.

Next meeting will be next Sunday, 5th October at The Penderel's Oak in
Holborn. Meeting will start at 15.00.

Any more suggestions for the list welcome as ever!


1. Neil Gaiman, "Preludes & Nocturnes"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandman-Preludes-Nocturnes/dp/1852863269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219573413&sr=8-1
Because it's a nice introduction to a series which caused the World
Fantasy awards to rule that no (further) comics could receive their
awards.

2. James Herbert, "The Secret of Crickley Hall"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Crickley-Hall-James-Herbert/dp/0330411683/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197479906&sr=1-2
I thought some "traditional haunted" house stories might be fun to
take a break from the more serious books we do. Although apparently
this one is not one for the squeamish...

3. John Llewellyn Probert, "The Faculty of Terror"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faculty-Terror-John-Llewellyn-Probert/dp/0955092256/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197479839&sr=1-1
Scary short stories, a homage to the horror films made by Amicus.

4. Liz Williams, "Snake Agent"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Snake-Agent-Detective-Inspector-Novels/dp/1597801070/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204125380&sr=8-1

5. Max Brooks, "World War Z" (I think it's finally into standard
paperback rather than trade)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-Z-Max-Brooks/dp/0715637037/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204125405&sr=1-2
Just because it turned out to be a very good book which was a lovely
surprise given that I was expecting a B movie in book form!

6. Iain M. Banks, "Excession"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Excession-Iain-M-Banks/dp/185723457X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204125424&sr=1-1
My favourite Culture novel and well worth a read.

7. Dan Simmons, "Hyperion"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyperion-Gollancz-Dan-Simmons/dp/0575076372/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204126243&sr=1-2
I thoroughly enjoyed some of the stories in this (it's one continuous
story, but told from the viewpoints of several characters including
flashbacks to their past). I suspect it would make for a good
discussion and it also leaves open the possibility of reading the
second book in the series for people who really enjoy it.

8. Asimov, "Caves of Steel"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caves-Steel-Robot-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0586008357/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199386773&sr=1-1
My favorite of Asimov's novels, part cyber-punk detective story years
ahead of it's time, part commentary on humanity. And it's got Robots!

9. Mary Shelley, "Frankenstein"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frankenstein-Modern-Prometheus-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141439475/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199387023&sr=1-2
It took me ages to get around to reading this so I'm not sure if
everyone else has or not. But I was shocked at how good it was and how
much I enjoyed it. I think it has a lot of interesting ideas that
could be discussed about science and monsters.

10. Burroughs "Junky"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Modern-Classics-William-Burroughs/dp/014118700X/ref=pd_sim_b?ie=UTF8&qid=1199387049&sr=1-1
After loving On the Road so much, I thought it'd be good to try some Burroughs.

11. E.T.A. Hoffmann, "The Devil's Elixirs"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Elixirs-E-T-Hoffmann/dp/1906210187/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204126306&sr=1-1
A cursed monk drinks from the forbidden Devil's Elixir and finds
himself inexorably drawn into crime and depravity. I thought some
german romanticism / Sturm & Drang would go well on the list, and this
one seemed appropriately gruesome.

12. Audrey Niffenegger, "The Time Travellers Wife"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/0099464462/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214829292&sr=8-2
I was reminded of this watching Dr Who the other day and think it
would make an interesting discussion. It's a wonderful love story with
a bit of a twist. Very interesting ideas and a lovely writing style.

13. Homer, "The Iliad"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iliad-Penguin-Classics-Homer/dp/0140447946/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211641492&sr=1-1
Another book I've been wanting to read for ages which I thought others
here might enjoy.

14. George MacDonald Fraser, "Flashman"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flashman-Papers-George-MacDonald-Fraser/dp/0006511252/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082595&sr=1-1

15. A. S. Byatt, "Possession"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Possession-Romance-S-Byatt/dp/0099800403/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082678&sr=1-1

16. Michael Marshall Smith, "Only Forward"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Forward-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0006512666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082713&sr=1-1

17. William Gibson, "The Difference Engine"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Difference-Engine-Gollancz-S-F/dp/0575600292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082733&sr=1-1

18. William Morris, "The Wood Beyond the World"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wood-Beyond-World-William-Morris/dp/159818069X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082762&sr=1-1

19. Wilkie Collins, "The Moonstone"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moonstone-Penguin-Popular-Classics/dp/0140620133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082789&sr=1-1

20. Carlos Ruiz Zafon, "The Shadow of the Wind"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Wind-Carlos-Ruiz-Zafon/dp/0753820250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082938&sr=1-1
Found this on a website about Catalan authors (although it was
originally written in Spanish).  Looks interesting, and very well
reviewed by lots of people...

21. George Orwell, "Homage to Catalonia"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Homage-Catalonia-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141187379/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222082856&sr=1-1
I've been quite interested at times in this period of our history when
it seemed that maybe something could actually change in the
governments of any countries. Having seen a film of this particular
book, I've been meaning to read the book for some time and thought it
might be worth nominating.

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