Tolkien's masterpieces weren't written in a day. Please bear with me while I populate these lists...
You won't find everything I've ever read or seen below - just the stuff I recommend to people with interests similar to my own. Have I missed your favorites? Or, wonder why I've listed something you think is crap? Please comment in my current post, on Twitter (@Emanuel_Cachia) or Facebook (Emanuel Cachia).
Titles I'm currently reading:
The Best Australian Short Stories: A Ten-year Collection published by Black Inc
Ice Station by Matthew Reilly
An untitled novel in progress by emerging writer Craig Henderson - the first draft is finished!
A Touch of Grace a novel in progress by emerging writer Julee Stillman - the fist few chapters have been great!
Various poems and short stories by Merlene Fawdry
A series of short stories by Frank Ince
My back list:
Bird Lay Bird by Anne Lamott - non-fiction on writing
On Writing by Stephen King - non-fiction... on writing... What I'm reading, and constantly reviewing, to improve my writing:
Writing Fiction by Garry Disher
Australian Handbook for Writers and Editors by Margaret McKenzie - grammar and punctuation made easy, kind of...Editing Made Easy by Bruce Kaplan
The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero by David Adams Leeming
Various articles and essays on http://www.writing-world.com/, http://www.writingclasses.com/, http://www.sff.net/, http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/, and others.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Mythology: The Voyage of the Hero by David Adams Leeming
Various articles and essays on http://www.writing-world.com/, http://www.writingclasses.com/, http://www.sff.net/, http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/, and others.
This sci-fi enthusiast's essential reading list:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - the best of the best, of the best!
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson - Great first-person narrative
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 1st person, present tense, quite dark, being made into a movie
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 1st person, present tense, quite dark, being made into a movie
Terminator 2: Rising Storm, Infiltrator and The Future War by S.M. Stirling - based on the world in James Cameron's Terminator films. Quite dark themes. Extremely good voice and action
The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov - a little dated, but the best parts are great
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - sci-fi/YA/comedyThe Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov - a little dated, but the best parts are great
1984 by George Orwell
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke
The War of the Worlds by H G Wells
The Sky People by S.M. Stirling - alternate history/sci-fi/dinosaurs
Conquestador by S.M. Stirling - alternate history/detective story
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The Time Machine by HG Wells
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Contact by Carl Sagan
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Monkey Planet by Pierre Boulle - the original Planet of the Apes
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Sphere by Michael Crichton
Red Mars, Blue Mars, and Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Novels set in a galaxy far, far away (the best Star Wars novels exploring the Star Wars Expanded Universe):
Old Republic Era (approximately 1,000 years before the events in Episode IV: A New Hope)
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn - told in Bane's POV as he becomes the Sith Lord to decide there should only ever be two sith at any one time; a master and an apprentice
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn - told in Bane's POV as he becomes the Sith Lord to decide there should only ever be two sith at any one time; a master and an apprentice
Rise of the Empire Era (35 years before Ep IV)
Cloak of Deception by James Luceno - Explores the events immediately prior to Ep I, focusing on Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves - Ditto, but focusing on Darth Maul studying under Sideous.
Episode I: The Phantom Meanace by Terry Brooks - (32 years before Ep IV) better and with more information than the movie!
Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn - (5 years after Ep I, 27 years before Ep IV) - Explores a failed mission frequently mentioned in the very first novels in the expanded Star Wars universe. Much hyped. Lives up to expectations
Episode II: Attack of the Clones by R. A. Salvitore - (22 years before Ep IV) includes a few plot points not in the film
The Clone Wars by Karen Traviss - (21 years before Ep IV) covers the events seen in the Clone Wars animated movie
Jedi Trial by David Sherman & Dan Cragg - (19.5 years before Ep IV) barely mentionable for the first introduction of Dooku's apprentice, Ventress, and Anakin's Jedi trial
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart - (19.5 years before Ep IV) explores the events just before Ep III in Yoda and Count Dooku's POVs. Mostly good because we spend a lot of time with Yoda and Dooku and learn more about their relationship
Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno - (immediately before Ep III, 19 years before Ep IV) first mention of General Grievous and how he became what he is in Ep III. Explores Corosaunt's underworld
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno - (19 years before Ep IV) begins just before Order 66 is ordered in Ep III and follows Anakin's transformation into Vader, including the operation to keep him alive and his recovery after his battle with Obi-Wan on Mustafar
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover - (19 years before Ep IV) much darker then the film, which I liked
I have much, MUCH more to add, including:
Era of the Rebellion (Episode IV and 5 years after the Luke destroys the first deathstar)
I have much, MUCH more to add, including:
Era of the Rebellion (Episode IV and 5 years after the Luke destroys the first deathstar)
Era of the New Republic (from 5 to 25 years after Episode IV)
I, Jedi by Michael A. Stackpole
Heir to the Empire by ____ - one of the first to explore the Expanded Universe, and still one of the best
Rogue Squadron I, II and III by Michael A. Stackpole
I, Jedi by Michael A. Stackpole
Heir to the Empire by ____ - one of the first to explore the Expanded Universe, and still one of the best
Rogue Squadron I, II and III by Michael A. Stackpole
Era of the New Jedi Order (from 26 to 39 years after Episode IV)
Legacy Era (more then 40 years after Episode IV)
One fantasy reading list to rule them all:
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien - where my fascination with reading started!
The Dragonlance Chronicles series by Margaret Wies and Tracey Hickman - (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, et all, including Dragons of Summer Flame). These books got me hooked on Dungeons and Dragons. Yes, I once played AD & D. My main character was an evil mage named Griokl. It was a loooong time ago...
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursela Le Guin - about a boy and a school for wizards, pre-Harry Potter, amazing detail
The Dragonlance Legends series by Margaret Wies and Tracey Hickman - (War of the Twins, et all)
The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan - a very long read, but well worth it
The Wishing Chair and Magic Faraway Tree series' by Enid Blight - escapism for kids at its best
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau - great movie too
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks - I preferred this to Discworld
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey - After the first book, I got distracted on something else and never went back...
The Wind In the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - where Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past first appeared!
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley - I've read that Shelly started writing this in 1816 when she was just eighteen and had it published in 1818.
The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L Frank Baum
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief series. I haven't read past this one
The Dragonlance Chronicles series by Margaret Wies and Tracey Hickman - (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, et all, including Dragons of Summer Flame). These books got me hooked on Dungeons and Dragons. Yes, I once played AD & D. My main character was an evil mage named Griokl. It was a loooong time ago...
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursela Le Guin - about a boy and a school for wizards, pre-Harry Potter, amazing detail
The Dragonlance Legends series by Margaret Wies and Tracey Hickman - (War of the Twins, et all)
The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan - a very long read, but well worth it
The Wishing Chair and Magic Faraway Tree series' by Enid Blight - escapism for kids at its best
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau - great movie too
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks - I preferred this to Discworld
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey - After the first book, I got distracted on something else and never went back...
The Wind In the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - where Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past first appeared!
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley - I've read that Shelly started writing this in 1816 when she was just eighteen and had it published in 1818.
The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L Frank Baum
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief series. I haven't read past this one
Young adult-ish:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - so good it gets two mentions!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 1st person, present tense, quite dark, being made into a movie
Gamerunner by B.R. Collins - dystopian, YA
Sektion 20 by Paul Dowswell - alternate history set during the time of the Cold War
Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver - 3rd person, past tense, strong voice, detailed and unique world
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling - I like the latter, darker books more than the first few
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C S Lewis
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Literary novels:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Speak by Laurie Hase Anderson - the movie is great too
Sunset Limited by James Lee BurkeEnder's Game by Orson Scott Card - so good it gets two mentions!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 1st person, present tense, quite dark, being made into a movie
Gamerunner by B.R. Collins - dystopian, YA
Sektion 20 by Paul Dowswell - alternate history set during the time of the Cold War
Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver - 3rd person, past tense, strong voice, detailed and unique world
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling - I like the latter, darker books more than the first few
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C S Lewis
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Literary novels:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Speak by Laurie Hase Anderson - the movie is great too
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare - first published in 1600! Quite wordy compared to modern fantasy, but worth the read
Graphic novels (as in comics, not sex):
Weapon X - how Wolverine (of X-men fame) got his adamantium
Watchmen - made a great movie too
Batman - The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
The pile of shame (novels recommended by others that I couldn't finish due to personal taste):
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson - The story was good, but voice too passive for me. I think it looses a lot in translation.
Dune by Frank Herbert - the epic world building was lost in the narrative voice and structure
Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson - fantastic plot and detailed world building, but the voice was way too passive for me.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - I gave this book a fair go, but couldn't get past the narrative voice and info dumps. I might try again. Mostly because it has sold extremely well. And it can't all be because of good marketing. Can it...
Six star short stories (out of six):
A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Dark Roots by Cate Kennedy
Dark Roots by Cate Kennedy
Neighbours by Tim Winton
Serious Swimmers by Michel Faber
Candyfloss Time by Amy Treadwell
Flame Bugs on theSixth Island
by Patrick HollandCandyfloss Time by Amy Treadwell
Flame Bugs on the
Mac Attack by Sally Breen
A Parachute Landing in Siberia by Stephen McGrath
Commission by Tim Winton
Things We Didn't See Coming by Steven Amsterda
Butterflies by Patricia Grace
Twenty Pink Questions by Fabienne Bayet-Charlton
Boys by Rick Moody
Poems and collections of poems I adore:
Australian literary magazines of lateral reading value, literally:
Major Australian publishers of great Australian, and sometimes international, writing:
The movie reel:
The Martix Trilogy
The Star Wars Sextupology(is that even a word?)
The Aliens Quadrillogy
The Fifth Element directed by Luc Besson
Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott
2001: A Space Odyssey directed by Stanley Kubrick
Gattaca directed by Andrew Niccol
Close Encounters of the Third Kind directed by Steven Spielberg
Twelve Monkeys directed by Terry Gilliam
Dark City directed by Alex Proyas
Jurassic Park directed by Steven Spielberg
A Clockwork Orange directed by Stanley Kubrick
The Day the Earth Stood Still(original) directed by Robert Wise
The Terminator series (especially the last three films) directed by James Cameron
Games of note:
Starcraft 2 - PC Real-Time Strategy. I play this as often as I can
Robo Defence - Android app. Neat mix of RTS and turn based
Into the Martix - PC third person shooter
Warcraft III - PC RTS
Microsoft Flight Simulator X(10) - PC. Realistic flight physics
My bucket list (what I want to do before I kick the bucket):
Continue writing short stories and have many published or commended in literary competitions.
Finish my first sci-fi novel for young adults and see it published.
Author an unspecified number of subsequent novels. The more the merrier :)
