The
21 Most Entertaining Books
I Have Read In the Past Half Century These
are not just good entertainment, they are the very best. Of course, that's one
person's opinion, but if you find any here that you have enjoyed, you will likely
enjoy many of the others. Books listed in this color are
out-of-print, so a journey to the library or a used-book store/site may be necessary. {
In Alphabetical Order } Beyond
Recognition by
Ridley Pearson — The best police/detective novel yet. The
Chinese Bandit by
Stephen Becker — Tops my list of adventure novels. Earthy and exciting, not
to mention being a superb source of oriental curses.
Cryptonomicon
by Neal Stephenson — Codebreaking, data havens,
and high finance mix with love, war, and intrigue across three generations.
Absolutely fascinating stuff.
The
Eight by
Katherine Neville — A mystery/thriller par excellence, especially
loved by those who like to think and those who enjoy chess.
Ender's
Game
by Orson Scott Card — The story of a young boy who is tricked into changing
the universe forever. Deep, thoughtful, and fun with one of the most surprising
endings every written. Genesis
by William Harbinson — A most ingenious and
engrossing exposé of the forces at work behind many of the anomalies of
the twentieth century. Of course, it's fiction, but … who knows? The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams — Insanely funny and memorably imaginative. The
Lord of the Rings by
J.R.R. Tolkein — Many have emulated this trilogy but none have done it better.
A truly wondrous tale, wonderfully written. Read The Hobbit
first. Lucifer's
Hammer by
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle — How mankind may survive a comet strike.
The best-written and most engrossxing post-catastrophe novel ever. The
Mote in God's Eye by
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle — When Larry and Jerry get together, wonderful
books happen and this is their masterpiece. The best treatment of alien cultures
in all of science fiction. The
Pillars of the Earth
by Ken Follett — The author's best work is
not a spy novel, but a historical epic of the building of a cathedral in 12th-century
England. Carefully wrought and truly captivating. The
Secret Ways by Alistair MacLean — Best known
for The Guns of Navarone, the master thriller writer is at his prime here. Something
Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury —
Two youths encounter high strangeness when Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow
Show rolls into their Midwestern town. Read it as Halloween approaches. Shibumi
by Trevanian — Superbly written tale of a westerner raised
in Japan to become an expert assassin. Not really the thriller such a plot line
would suggest, but a damn good read, nevertheless. The
Silence Of The Lambs
by Thomas Harris — Even if you've seen the
movie, the book is well worth your time. The
Stand by Stephen King — The world's
most popular horror writer at his very best. His characters (several of whom did
not make it to the TV mini-series) are especially well developed. A long, dark
tale you will never forget. Stranger
In a Strange Land
by Robert Heinlein — Morality, love, culture, and religion are examined through
the eyes of an outsider, Valentine Michael Smith, the first, and only, human to
be raised by Martians. A classic of the 1960s, this marvelous book remains relevant,
thought-provoking, and entertaining today. One of the few books I've read several
times. Time
Enough for Love by
Robert Heinlein — A reviewer on the amazon.com website claims that this is
"the greatest book ever written"– a claim I do not challenge. You
don't have to like "science fiction" to love this book! To
Your Scattered Bodies Go
by Philip Jose Farmer — This is the first volume of the Riverworld sci-fi
saga, which has what may be the most inventive plot ever devised. All of the humans
who ever lived on earth are brought back to life simultaneously on an artifical
planet, thus allowing for the (otherwise impossible) interplay of historical characters
such as Mark Twain, Tom Mix, and Sir Richard Burton as they search for the planet's
architects. Vertical
Run by Joseph R. Garber — I can't recall reading a
more intense and exciting book. Why is everybody (even his family and friends)
trying to kill David Elliot? Watership
Down by Richard Adams — A tale of tragedy and triumph;
so enthralling you will quickly forget that its protaganists are rabbits.
Honorable
Mentions (Other very enjoyable books) The
Bourne Identity
by Robert Ludlum The
Boys From Brazil by Ira Levin Brotherhood
of the Rose by
David Morrell The
Diamond Age
by Neal Stephenson Dune
by Frank Herbert Fear
Is the Key
by Alistair MacLean Foucault's
Pendulum by Umberto Ecco Grandmaster
by Warren Murphy The
Hunt for Red October
by Tom Clancy The
List of Seven by Mark Frost Lightning
by Dean Koontz Also
Midnight The
Medussa Stone
by Jack Dubrul Raise
the Titanic by
Clive Cussler The
Shadow of the Torturer
by Gene Wolfe The
Soul Rider Series
by Jack Chalker The
Years of Rice and Salt
by Kim Stanley Robinson | 
TM