The Nightstar Zoo

What is your favorite author? I mean the kind of writer that just their name has you picking up the book to read because you know it will be good or going back and reading the same book again because it was just too good not to.

To start off mine is Patrica McKillip. Her worst is still worthwhile reading. Her best draws you back deeply into the story and you almost feel like you are completely part of the story.

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Why are canines called canines when feline canines are bigger than canine canines?

Robert A. Heinlein (I've only been disappointed once)
Dave Barry
Isaac Asimov on *any* subject

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"Vox populi? Vox humbug!"
- William Tecumseh Sherman

Heinlein. Haven't been disappointed yet.

A few years ago, I'd have said Piers Anthony. But now that the publishers won't buy anything from him except more Xanth, and he's sick and tired of writing Xanth, his latest ten or so Xanth books really suck. Any of the first six or eight Xanth books, and any non-Xanth Anthony, is usually pretty good.

Douglas Adams. I've already read everything he's written, multiple times. Listened to the radio series, many times, watched the TV series, many times, played the video games, many times. Including Bureaucracy. Would Mary Poppins please pick up the White Courtesy Phone?

David Weber is quickly becoming one of my new favorites. I loved the Honor Harrington series, and I'm eagerly devouring the March Upcountry series he co-wrote with John Ringo.


OK, I find myself rambling a bit while I write this, so here goes...

The gent who runs my favorite used bookstore in town recommends anything by Philip K Dick, anything by Harlan Ellison, anything by A.E. Van Vogt... Last time I went in there, I got off easy. Came out with a copy of Heinlein's "Door Into Summer" (Read it, want my own copy), Douglas Adams/Terry Jones "Starship Titanic" (Ditto), HP Lovecraft "The Shadow Over Innsmouth and Other Stories of Horror", the June '03 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, and the January '00 issue of Analog. Usually I end up hauling more paper home. Couple visits ago, I found myself leaving with no fewer than SEVENTEEN books. Bleh. 'Course, it's my favorite bookstore because those seventeen books cost me a whole $8... He sells most of his paperbacks for 5/$1 and most of his hardbacks 3/$1... His priced stuff is usually $0.50 to $1.50 each. Although he's soon going to have a SIGNED COPY of "Stranger in a Strange Land", he's probably going to price it between $300 and $500. He'll be bringing a *FULL SET* of EE Doc Smith (all the books, all the posters, everything) to Fandemonium to sell in the dealer's room, so if you're a Smith fan, you might want to show up.

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Fandemonium 2010 -- No Boundaries.
http://www.fandemonium.org
Friday - Sunday, August 6th - 8th, 2010
Nampa Civic Center - Nampa, Idaho (Only 20 minutes from the airport!)
(Idaho: It ain't just potatoes anymore.)

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Why are canines called canines when feline canines are bigger than canine canines?

Several that have already been mentioned plus Orson Scott Card. Some of his stuff is more re-readable than others, but it is all worth reading at least once.

Ender's Game - probably 20 times or more.
Lost Boys - once, it is just too emotionally draining. I keep thining about picking it up because it is so good, but I'm afraid of the emotion.

Okay, I was waiting for a friend at the grocery store last night, and wandered over to look at the books. I usually find absolutely NOTHING of interest there, but you never know, you know?

Anyway, there on the shelf, was a shiny new copy of "Callahan's Con" by Spider Robinson.

I immediately and without thinking about it grabbed the book and dropped it into my cart.

Everything I've read from Spider has been absolutely wonderful and fun. I own the vast majority of his books, and am always on the lookout for new ones. Spider is as pleasant to read as Heinlein. And Spider's not dead yet, so we'll get more works out of him!

Oh, yeah, and he's turned me on to some truly terrific music.

_________________
Fandemonium 2010 -- No Boundaries.
http://www.fandemonium.org
Friday - Sunday, August 6th - 8th, 2010
Nampa Civic Center - Nampa, Idaho (Only 20 minutes from the airport!)
(Idaho: It ain't just potatoes anymore.)

Terry Pratchett, of course. And not just for the humor - he tells a story wonderfully.

For fiction, Douglas Adams (no surprise there, eh?)

Non-fiction - I love Bill Bryson's travel books. I must have half of In A Sunburned Country memorized. Just got A Short History of Nearly Everything, but haven't had a chance to read it yet, having recently developed something of a social life and started playing golf again.

And for both fiction and non-fiction from the same author, I'll just say one word: Asimov.

_________________
"Vox populi? Vox humbug!"
- William Tecumseh Sherman

I'm Probally going to have to go with Heilein. I've almost managed to wear my copy of Starship Troopers out entirely. On the other hand there is always Neil Gaiman

_________________
"Vox populi? Vox humbug!"
- William Tecumseh Sherman