True Blood - radically redefining the term "shower sex scene" since 8/14/2011
True Blood 4.08 - "Spellbound"
One of my favorite things about this season is the way everyone is shown having the potential to do good or bad, and making active choices about doing evil. Now, everyone has chosen their side, and it is wonderful that it’s so explicit.
But first, let’s add a new term to the Alan Ball glossary that I just invented. “Shower sex” = “getting high on each others’ blood and doing it in Viking Narnia.” OKAY THEN. The blood exchange was definitely hot, and the rest of it was... sure something. I do like that it echoed Jason’s shared trip with Amy, and Lafayette’s with Jesus. V is a drug; some people use it to heal what’s broken, in one way or another, but there are also the doors of perception. The snow, the woods, the bed with the furs--that was clearly from Eric, and showed that it was an even exchange. I also like that we now have scientific proof that Sookie Stackhouse’s epically ridiculous love live is a feature, not a bug. With Bill, you could kind of assume that it was the two of them together, since Bill is such a dork. But no, it’s all Sookie.
I do feel like this episode finally gave us a solid connection between the two Erics; Sookie knows Eric is a fighter, as shocking as it is to see; and in their conversation about running or staying, Eric was pragmatic, looking out for number one, and generally being Eric.
I was telling
molly_may in a comment to her post about last week’s episode that I think it was deliberate and significant that, disregarding red-shirt vampire Beulah, Jessica was the vampire who faced the most immediate danger from Antonia. It’s all of a piece with how in some ways, the witches are right about vampires. Bill murdered Jessica, but she thanks him for opening her world. (Man, I am a total sucker for their relationship. It is so lovely.) Jessica is a post-revelation vampire; as Bill pointed out to Sookie, Jessica has never had to hide who she was. And because of that, she tries really hard to make the right choices, and we’ve only seen her kill one person, the trucker, who was a lapse in judgment first and a mistake second, and whose death freaked her out. Now she feels like she has killed Bucky, someone she knew, someone whose family she knew. Of all the vampires on the show, she has the cleanest hands, but Antonia’s spell doesn’t make any distinctions. Bill tells her that Antonia killed Bucky, and he’s not entirely wrong. Vampires are a loaded gun (TM Jacob at TWoP), as Sookie realized when she learned Bill killed Uncle Bartlett, and learns again in the graveyard when Eric launches into battle. Who are the good guys here?
In my opinion, the biggest problem with the show this season is Tara’s arc; she’s always two steps behind, reacting to the horrible shit that’s been done to her, lurching from one crisis to the next. So it’s nice to see her get all of the information and make a conscious choice. She’s suffered more at the hands of vampires than any of the other main characters; but at the same time, Jessica’s never done anything to her more drastic than not take her order, and now Bill saves her life. I have felt it was incredibly problematic for the show to make her such a vocal voice for anti-vampire bigotry, but if it ends with her finally learning and growing, it will be worth it.
I loved the pairing of Jessica’s dream breakup with Hoyt with the reality; she could imagine how hurt Hoyt would be, but not how hard he’d lash out. The mess didn’t start because she’s a vampire--her curiosity about biting other people works as a metaphor for first relationships and problems with monogamy, and Jason’s attraction to her could have happened without the blood. But she suffers so much more because she’s a vampire--because Hoyt can kick her out of the house with all finality and Jason can magically bar her from his house too. And all of Hoyt’s accusations were specifically related to her vampirism--the regenerating hymen, the way he reduces her to a thing because of what she is. Aw. Poor Jessica!
I also feel like the werewolf subplot is starting to pick up. Marcus is actually a pretty darn good packmaster; he’s also a horrible partner and father. And Alcide has outright lied to Debbie and chosen sides; however Debbie reacts, he owns some of those consequences. Nobody is all evil or all good.
It’s nice to see Sookie embracing her power; she chooses sides too, though there was never any doubt about that. And oh my goodness, the expression on Bill’s face when she, sitting in his living room and clasping hands with Eric, told him they were there to fight. It was the look of a man who thought for a moment that his worst couple of days ever were about to get infinitely crappier. It was a lovely way of showing Bill’s vulnerability, a counterpoint to his smooth, manipulative handling of the vampire “suicide” and his command of an army.
Other stuff:
* A huge shout-out to Dale Raoul’s take on Tommy pretending to be Maxine. That was a beautiful thing.
* I’m having a hard time dredging up much interest for the haunted doll storyline, but am hoping that Lafayette’s possession intersects with Marnie’s in some way. There’s that whole thing about identity again, and choice--Marnie’s active choice, Lafayette’s total lack of it.
* I think this is the third conversation we’ve ever seen between Jason and Bill, but I love the way they size each other up and come to an understanding each time.
* Who thinks they’re going to kill Sookie off? Yeah, I join your total lack of show of hands.
* On the other hand, it is incredibly concerning that Antonia has control over Eric, because if vampires are loaded guns, Eric is a freaking bazooka. And just about the best possible outcome is that the spell is broken and so is Sookie’s heart, so clearly this is going to a very bad place.
And now, the NPR greatest SF/F book list that’s going around:
Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you intend to read, underline the ones you’ve read part of, and strike through the ones you never intend to read.
1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
3. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card--I never read it when I was younger, and now, knowing what I do about Card’s politics, I am in avoidance mode.
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan--I have it on good authority from two different people I trust that it’s a bloated piece of something. Not interested.
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson --”The sky over Chiba City was the color of television tuned to a dead channel.” Best. Opening. Line. Ever.
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore--There’s a borrowed copy on my nightstand as I type.
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov--I doubt I’ll get around to this, but you never know.
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein--ditto.
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss--I read the first page of the first book and didn’t like the prose, so.
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley--Meh.
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
22. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King--I’m actually about halfway through this, and having very mixed feelings.
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke--Again, don’t think I’ll get around to it, though I loved the movie and one of my favorite memories of Burning Man was the year someone set up an obelisk and at sunset every day a bunch of people would gather in front of it and imitate the apes. It was right across the plaza from the giant Connect Four with playing pieces made of painted bucket lids. Good times, good times.
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson--oh my god the language!
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess--Another one with really great language.
31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey--I was a teenaged girl growing up in America in the 80s. OF COURSE I read the Pern books.
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys--probably won’t ever get around to it.
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - I read the Troy Cassandra one and that was quite enough of MZB for me, thank you very much.
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson--I’m not a huge fan of traditional boy fantasy unless it’s really well done.
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven--I have no idea what this is?
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien--A Tolkein book with none of the action and all of the genealogy and linguistics? Pass.
47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan--Maybe?
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons--Never heard of it.
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson--I have it and it’s on the list.
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett--I have a lot of Pratchett on my list, but so far haven’t gotten to him.
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson--I picked the first one up in my high school library and vaguely remember some stuff about rape and leprosy (???) but didn’t get very far.
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold--I’ve read the first book; didn’t hate it but wasn’t terribly enthused.
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God's Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle--Never heard of it.
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind--My shame, let me show you it.
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks--Teenaged girl! 80s!
68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard--Oh hell no.
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb--Never heard of it.
70. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger--in the pile.
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
74. Old Man's War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson --Do not get me started on the ending!
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
77. The Kushiel's Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey--I plan to at least check it out.
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin--LOVE.
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson--the what?
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks--I started the first book but really disliked the prose.
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson--Really? I thought this was an incredibly weak book.
86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher--I’ve read all of the Dresden books, but this kind of boy fantasy just doesn’t interest me...
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe … unless it’s backed by incredible prose like Gene Wolfe’s.
88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan--Blecccchhhhh.
90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer's Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville--LOVE.
99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis
Most of the classic sci fi books I haven’t read are in the “never read” pile just because their time and topicality has mostly passed, I think. Most of the classic fantasy is the kind of classic fantasy that has never really appealed to me. There are only a few cases where I don’t plan to read something because I have actively heard it sucks. I wish C.J. Cherryh had made this list--she definitely deserves a spot.
This entry was originally posted at http://danceswithwords.dreamwidth.org/152869.html (
comments). Comment at either site.
One of my favorite things about this season is the way everyone is shown having the potential to do good or bad, and making active choices about doing evil. Now, everyone has chosen their side, and it is wonderful that it’s so explicit.
But first, let’s add a new term to the Alan Ball glossary that I just invented. “Shower sex” = “getting high on each others’ blood and doing it in Viking Narnia.” OKAY THEN. The blood exchange was definitely hot, and the rest of it was... sure something. I do like that it echoed Jason’s shared trip with Amy, and Lafayette’s with Jesus. V is a drug; some people use it to heal what’s broken, in one way or another, but there are also the doors of perception. The snow, the woods, the bed with the furs--that was clearly from Eric, and showed that it was an even exchange. I also like that we now have scientific proof that Sookie Stackhouse’s epically ridiculous love live is a feature, not a bug. With Bill, you could kind of assume that it was the two of them together, since Bill is such a dork. But no, it’s all Sookie.
I do feel like this episode finally gave us a solid connection between the two Erics; Sookie knows Eric is a fighter, as shocking as it is to see; and in their conversation about running or staying, Eric was pragmatic, looking out for number one, and generally being Eric.
I was telling
molly_may in a comment to her post about last week’s episode that I think it was deliberate and significant that, disregarding red-shirt vampire Beulah, Jessica was the vampire who faced the most immediate danger from Antonia. It’s all of a piece with how in some ways, the witches are right about vampires. Bill murdered Jessica, but she thanks him for opening her world. (Man, I am a total sucker for their relationship. It is so lovely.) Jessica is a post-revelation vampire; as Bill pointed out to Sookie, Jessica has never had to hide who she was. And because of that, she tries really hard to make the right choices, and we’ve only seen her kill one person, the trucker, who was a lapse in judgment first and a mistake second, and whose death freaked her out. Now she feels like she has killed Bucky, someone she knew, someone whose family she knew. Of all the vampires on the show, she has the cleanest hands, but Antonia’s spell doesn’t make any distinctions. Bill tells her that Antonia killed Bucky, and he’s not entirely wrong. Vampires are a loaded gun (TM Jacob at TWoP), as Sookie realized when she learned Bill killed Uncle Bartlett, and learns again in the graveyard when Eric launches into battle. Who are the good guys here?
In my opinion, the biggest problem with the show this season is Tara’s arc; she’s always two steps behind, reacting to the horrible shit that’s been done to her, lurching from one crisis to the next. So it’s nice to see her get all of the information and make a conscious choice. She’s suffered more at the hands of vampires than any of the other main characters; but at the same time, Jessica’s never done anything to her more drastic than not take her order, and now Bill saves her life. I have felt it was incredibly problematic for the show to make her such a vocal voice for anti-vampire bigotry, but if it ends with her finally learning and growing, it will be worth it.
I loved the pairing of Jessica’s dream breakup with Hoyt with the reality; she could imagine how hurt Hoyt would be, but not how hard he’d lash out. The mess didn’t start because she’s a vampire--her curiosity about biting other people works as a metaphor for first relationships and problems with monogamy, and Jason’s attraction to her could have happened without the blood. But she suffers so much more because she’s a vampire--because Hoyt can kick her out of the house with all finality and Jason can magically bar her from his house too. And all of Hoyt’s accusations were specifically related to her vampirism--the regenerating hymen, the way he reduces her to a thing because of what she is. Aw. Poor Jessica!
I also feel like the werewolf subplot is starting to pick up. Marcus is actually a pretty darn good packmaster; he’s also a horrible partner and father. And Alcide has outright lied to Debbie and chosen sides; however Debbie reacts, he owns some of those consequences. Nobody is all evil or all good.
It’s nice to see Sookie embracing her power; she chooses sides too, though there was never any doubt about that. And oh my goodness, the expression on Bill’s face when she, sitting in his living room and clasping hands with Eric, told him they were there to fight. It was the look of a man who thought for a moment that his worst couple of days ever were about to get infinitely crappier. It was a lovely way of showing Bill’s vulnerability, a counterpoint to his smooth, manipulative handling of the vampire “suicide” and his command of an army.
Other stuff:
* A huge shout-out to Dale Raoul’s take on Tommy pretending to be Maxine. That was a beautiful thing.
* I’m having a hard time dredging up much interest for the haunted doll storyline, but am hoping that Lafayette’s possession intersects with Marnie’s in some way. There’s that whole thing about identity again, and choice--Marnie’s active choice, Lafayette’s total lack of it.
* I think this is the third conversation we’ve ever seen between Jason and Bill, but I love the way they size each other up and come to an understanding each time.
* Who thinks they’re going to kill Sookie off? Yeah, I join your total lack of show of hands.
* On the other hand, it is incredibly concerning that Antonia has control over Eric, because if vampires are loaded guns, Eric is a freaking bazooka. And just about the best possible outcome is that the spell is broken and so is Sookie’s heart, so clearly this is going to a very bad place.
And now, the NPR greatest SF/F book list that’s going around:
Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you intend to read, underline the ones you’ve read part of, and strike through the ones you never intend to read.
1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
3. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card--I never read it when I was younger, and now, knowing what I do about Card’s politics, I am in avoidance mode.
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan--I have it on good authority from two different people I trust that it’s a bloated piece of something. Not interested.
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson --”The sky over Chiba City was the color of television tuned to a dead channel.” Best. Opening. Line. Ever.
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore--There’s a borrowed copy on my nightstand as I type.
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov--I doubt I’ll get around to this, but you never know.
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein--ditto.
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss--I read the first page of the first book and didn’t like the prose, so.
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley--Meh.
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
22. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King--I’m actually about halfway through this, and having very mixed feelings.
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke--Again, don’t think I’ll get around to it, though I loved the movie and one of my favorite memories of Burning Man was the year someone set up an obelisk and at sunset every day a bunch of people would gather in front of it and imitate the apes. It was right across the plaza from the giant Connect Four with playing pieces made of painted bucket lids. Good times, good times.
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson--oh my god the language!
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess--Another one with really great language.
31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey--I was a teenaged girl growing up in America in the 80s. OF COURSE I read the Pern books.
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys--probably won’t ever get around to it.
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - I read the Troy Cassandra one and that was quite enough of MZB for me, thank you very much.
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson--I’m not a huge fan of traditional boy fantasy unless it’s really well done.
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven--I have no idea what this is?
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien--A Tolkein book with none of the action and all of the genealogy and linguistics? Pass.
47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan--Maybe?
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons--Never heard of it.
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson--I have it and it’s on the list.
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett--I have a lot of Pratchett on my list, but so far haven’t gotten to him.
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson--I picked the first one up in my high school library and vaguely remember some stuff about rape and leprosy (???) but didn’t get very far.
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold--I’ve read the first book; didn’t hate it but wasn’t terribly enthused.
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God's Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle--Never heard of it.
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind--My shame, let me show you it.
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks--Teenaged girl! 80s!
68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard--Oh hell no.
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb--Never heard of it.
70. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger--in the pile.
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
74. Old Man's War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson --Do not get me started on the ending!
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
77. The Kushiel's Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey--I plan to at least check it out.
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin--LOVE.
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson--the what?
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks--I started the first book but really disliked the prose.
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson--Really? I thought this was an incredibly weak book.
86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher--I’ve read all of the Dresden books, but this kind of boy fantasy just doesn’t interest me...
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe … unless it’s backed by incredible prose like Gene Wolfe’s.
88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan--Blecccchhhhh.
90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer's Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville--LOVE.
99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis
Most of the classic sci fi books I haven’t read are in the “never read” pile just because their time and topicality has mostly passed, I think. Most of the classic fantasy is the kind of classic fantasy that has never really appealed to me. There are only a few cases where I don’t plan to read something because I have actively heard it sucks. I wish C.J. Cherryh had made this list--she definitely deserves a spot.
This entry was originally posted at http://danceswithwords.dreamwidth.org/152869.html (
comments). Comment at either site.