The weblog for the Warren Public Library in Warren, Michigan. Here, we provide news about library and city happenings, book reviews and suggestions, and spotlight all of the services the library offers - for free!
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
This weekend marks the 29th Annual Art in the Park festival, held in Warren’s City Square.Next week and weekend will be the famous Ann Arbor Street Art Fairs, a city-wide celebration of artists nationwide.Whether you’re looking to read about art, look at art, or make art, we’ve got the books for you!
The Oxford companion to twentieth-century art – Harold Osborne Sometimes a reference book, this Oxford companion indexes and informs about art styles, artists, and artwork from the turn of the century to approximately the 1990s. 709.04 O WCV REF 709.04 O WMB
Art masterpieces of the Louvre – Ted Smart Of course you know the Louvre has the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory, but this books details much more than just those few famed works. 708.4 S WDB
The art of painting on glass: techniques and designs for stained glass – Albinas Elskus Stained glass is a beautiful addition to many classic churches and other buildings. Here, you can learn how to make and paint your own. 748.5 E WCV
Fine art reproductions of old & modern masters: a comprehensive illustrated catalog of art through the ages – New York Graphic Society The New York Graphic Society is a publishing company that deals very specifically in art books. Here, reproductions, suitable for framing are presented for the collector, aficionado, and the interested amateur. 750.8 F WCV
Design with paper in art and graphic design – Raymond Ballinger Origami is the art of folding paper to make small sculptures. This book will show you how to do papercraft, putting together paper shapes to make larger scale works of art. 702.8 B WAM
Don’t forget the Museum Adventure Pass! You can get two passes to the Detroit Institute of Arts, or four passes to Arts and Scraps, so you can make your own art!
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
When the days are warm and sunny, what better way to spend your time than outside in the sun with a good book? “Beach Reads” are usually light, frothy titles, but we’ve included some serious fare, as well.
Queen of Babble – Meg Cabot Lizzie is a fashion designer wannabe who only wants to graduate and go to England to live with her boyfriend, Andy. Unfortunately, she finds out that her plans aren’t necessarily going to go off without a hitch: Andy is a disaster (in more ways than one), and she has to write a thesis! She tells all of this to a handsome stranger on a train, but what will happen when Lizzie and the stranger both end up at the same summer Chateau? (This is the first book in the Queen of Babble trilogy.) Fic Cabot WDB
Bandit Queen Boogie: A madcap caper of two accidental criminals – Sparkle Hayter Two girls, complete opposites of each other, decide to backpack across Europe the summer they graduate from college. Traveling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, though, as Blackie and Chloe end up taking sleazy married men for all they’re worth, and using their loot to fund a higher style of vacation. Fic SCS Fic Hayter RSV
Summer Sisters – Judy Blume A serious novel from one of the pioneers of literature that challenges readers of all ages. Caitlin and Vix, girls from different class and family backgrounds, spend summers together from their teenage years well into adulthood, but the changes each girl goes through might send the other spiraling out of control. Fic Pbk Blu WDB Fic Blume WAM WMB
Everyone Worth Knowing – Lauren Weisberger The author of “The Devil Wears Prada,” Weisberger visits the New York scene again, this time with another working girl trying to make good. Bette (read here by Buffy, Tru Calling, and Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku) lands a job in the exclusive PR industry. What follows is a whirlwind journey, much in the style of Prada, exposing the underbelly of the shiny, glittering world of celebrity. Fic Weisberger WCV WDB WMB WAM BKD Fic Weisberger WCV WMB CD Fic Weisberger WDB
The Ivy Chronicles – Karen Quinn In New York, everything is competitive, especially private school admissions. Ivy Ames loses her corporate job, her cheating husband, and her Park Avenue pad, and starts from scratch, advising families how to get their kids into the best private schools. While she sometimes toes the moral line, her story is a touching, fun ride. Fic Quinn WMB
The Goddess Rules – Clare Naylor Naylor, best known for her novel “The Second Assistant,” delves into the style of an aging French film star. Mirabelle Moncur advises artist Kate on how best to get what she wants out of life, without letting herself down. Fic Naylor WMB
Today’s Book: The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1
The plot: Perseus Jackson, troubled New York kid who gets kicked out of school regularly, finds out that he’s actually a demigod, and that all the Greek gods and goddesses are real (and lots of them are related to him!) In this first book, he’s accused of stealing Zeus’ original lightning bolt, and sent on a dangerous quest with his best friend Grover (a satyr who’s searching for the god Pan) and Annabeth (a demigod daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom) to retrieve it and prove himself innocent.
Why You’ll Love It: As epic as Harry Potter, but with a little more real world, and a lot more attitude. Riordan creates a world alongside ours that makes a lot of sense (the entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles, and the entrance to Mount Olympus is at the top of the Empire State Building), all the while including chunks of Greek myth; Percy meets Medusa, who sells garden statuary out of the people she turns to stone. And Percy, while a hero very much like the wizard Potter, is a little less tragic, and little more sarcastic. Part of the fun is reading his reactions to all of the new things his new world has to offer.
Who Will/Should Read It: While the Percy books are classified as juvenile/children's, readers of all ages can find delight in his stories. Chapters are short (only about ten pages each), so it makes for a great read-before-bed book. Read if you loved Harry or Charlie Bone, and especially if you have an interest in Greek mythology.
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YA Fic Riordan WAM Also available as an e-audio book!
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Summer’s here, and the time is right for a family vacation! Whether you journey to a theme park, out of the country, or simply out of the city for a few days, here are some travel books we suggest.
FamilyFun Vacation Guide: The Great Lakes FamilyFun magazine, published by Disney, aims to show kids and parents alike how to create memorable vacations and great family activities. There are several FamilyFun Vacation Guides; this one focuses on the Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. 917.7 N WCV
Walt Disney World & Orlando 2009 – Frommer’s Frommer’s is one of the best known and respected travel guide publishers. They have been producing travel guides since 1957. If you’re headed to Florida for Walt Disney World, or just to get some sun, check out this newest arrival. 917.592 F 2009 WCV
Lake Michigan Backroads: Your guide to wild and scenic adventures in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana – Robert W. Domm Listed here are 19 backroads driving tours around the Lake Michigan area. Take these tours and see nature and the state like you never have before! 917.704 D WCV
Frommer’s Family Vacations in the National Parks – Charles Wohlforth Once again, Frommer’s makes the list, this time with suggestions for the best places in national parks to camp and see the sights. 917.304 W WMB WAM
100 Best Cruise Vacations – Theodore Scull Another option still is to take a cruise. This book will suggest some of the best trips, how much they cost, and how to get the most out of them. 910.45 S WDB
Art in Detroit Public Places – Dennis Nawrocki If you’re staying in Detroit this summer, why not check out some of the great art on display everywhere in the city? 709.774 A WCV
And don’t forget – the Warren Public Libraries offer theMuseum Adventure Pass, sponsored by Macy’s! Check out two and four FREE admissions to some of the great museums and sights in the state! Stop by for a booklet with all the information, and stay tuned to this blog for more details on how the program works!
Did you know you can “check out” a museum in the Detroit area?You can, with the Museum Adventure Pass, sponsored by Macy’s!
Come into any Warren library branch, and take a look at the selection, then check out your free pass to many of Detroit’s attractions.
Here’s how it works:
Come into a Warren library.
Browse the available tickets on the display.
Choose a ticket and take it to the Circulation Desk, just like you were checking out a book.
The librarian will give you a paper ticket to your museum of choice.
You may check out one pass per library card, per week.
Each pass is good for one week from the date you check out.
Each museum only has five passes available at any one time. If they are all checked out, choose a different museum, or wait for the pass to be checked in again.
We cannot place holds on museum passes.
The Museum Adventure Pass includes tickets to the Detroit Institute of Arts, MOCAD, The Henry Ford Fairlane Estate, and Arts and Scraps, as well as many more!
The Detroit Institute of Arts is a two-person pass this year, and it is one of the most popular museums available.You’re welcome to call ahead to find out if a pass is checked in. All libraries have a free paper booklet with the pass restrictions, museum addresses and hours available for the taking, and there's a website (linked above) with all the information you need, as well.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
While Mother’s Day was last month, and Father’s Day is in a few weeks, we’ve decided to present a couple of selections both about, featuring, and for your Moms and Dads.
The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them – Amy Dickinson
Dickinson tells the audience in this quaint autobiography, that she never meant to become an advice columnist.When she took over for the late Ann Landers, she never expected her column, “Ask Amy,” to take off like it did, and she found herself, years later, revisiting the town and life that led to her success.
Bio Dickinson WCV
BKD Bio Dickinson WCV
Certain Girls – Jennifer Weiner
A continuation of 2001’s “Good in Bed,” “Certain Girls” revisits Candace ‘Cannie’ Shapiro, who, after making the mistake of sleeping with an ex at his father’s funeral, found herself pregnant with a baby girl.In “Certain Girls,” Jewish Candace’s daughter Joy is about to turn 13 and take her bat mitzvah, and there’s certain rebellion brewing between mother and daughter.Read the predecessor before starting this one.
Fic Weiner WCV WDB WAM
Chocolat [DVD]
Based on the book by prolific author Joanne Harris, Chocolat visits a small village in the French countryside in 1960.Mother Vianne and her daughter Anouk travel whenever the wind blows cold, and this time, it’s landed them in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, France, a very religious town.Vianne creates a stir with her ‘magical’ chocolate shop, which is scandalously open on Sundays, and begins to make positive changes in some of the townspeople.Anouk’s story continues in 2008’s “The Girl With No Shadow.”
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A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce – Alec Baldwin
While few people thought of Alec Baldwin as little more than a decent actor from a troubled celebrity family, a voice mail released to the public in April 2007 changed public perception of him as a father forever.Here, he writes about his custody battles for daughter Ireland, and suggests ways of making divorce proceedings less drawn-out and painful for all parties involved, especially non-custodial parents.
Bio Baldwin WCV WDB WMB WAM
The Given Day – Dennis Lehane
Two families in 1918 Boston, one black, one white, are shown through the filter of post-World-War-I strife.Here there are unions, strikes, illness, and throughout all, family.Lehane’s eighth standalone book is lauded and reviewed as one of his best, most richly illustrated, and epic.
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The Pursuit of Happyness [DVD]
The true tale of Chris Gardner, a promising scientific researcher who had once wanted to be a doctor, is told here with heartwarming, heartbreaking acting by star Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith.The original book explained that Gardner had accepted an unpaid position on Wall Street in order to move up the ranks and become a good father for his son, early on abandoned by his mother; and the movie does not stray from this.A good read or movie to watch with the family.
In honor of these high-speed and classic car events, we’ve put together a list of great books, movies, and resources all about cars!
One Helluva Ride: How NASCAR swept the nation – Liz Clarke
While NASCAR is often parodied for being all brawn and no brains, sportswriter Clarke’s book has taken on the task of showing the world the history of the sport – from dirt tracks to national speedways.She interviews some iconic figures, as well as some new up and coming drivers, too.
796.72 C WCV
Metro Girl/ Motor Mouth (The Alex Barnaby Series) – Janet Evanovich
While Janet Evanovich’s Plum books are widely anticipated (Finger Lickin’ Fifteen is due out June 15), these two books featuring a brash mechanic’s daughter are comic misadventures very much like the Stephanie Plum novels.Here, in Metro Girl, Alex’s brother, a NASCAR driver, has disappeared, and she has to team up with another driver to find him.In the sequel, Motor Mouth, Alex and her on-again off-again boyfriend, driver Sam Hooker, have to discover why there’s a dead sponsor in another driver’s hauler.
Fic Pbk Eva WCV
Mys Pbk Eva WAM
Tradin’ Paint: Raceway Rookies and Royalty – Terry Bisson
This kids’ book will introduce young readers to the brightly-colored world of NASCAR, with information about the drivers and cars you’ll find at the track. (The title refers to slang about what happens when two cars crash on the track – they ‘trade paint.’)
Juv 796.7902 B WCV WDB
Cars [DVD]
Cars features Pixar animation, comedy, and a host of famous actors and actresses lending their voices to the cartoon cars (main character Lightning McQueen is Owen Wilson, and tow-truck Tow Mater is voiced by country comedian Larry the Cable Guy.)Great fun for adults and kids alike, like all Pixar films to date.
DVD C5 WCV
DVD Children’s C114 WAM
And don’t forget that if you’re a handyman looking to fix your own car, the Warren Public Libraries offer access to the Chilton Library database, and limited access to AllData database.Ask your reference librarian how to look up the parts and info you need to make your ride good as new.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Hooray, our 50th column!Since we started Outside of a Dog in January 2008, we’ve done 50 columns of all shapes, sizes, and recommendations – in total, we’ve suggested over 250 books to our patrons.Today’s list contains new books from each of the four Warren libraries.If you’re not sure what to read now, why not take a chance on a new-to-you book?
Arthur Miller Branch
Bright Futures: A Lew Fonseca Mystery – Stuart M. Kaminsky
Lew Fonseca, late of 2006’s “Always Say Goodbye” is a private detective who up and left his life in Illinois after his wife died.He ended up in Sarasota, Florida, finding lost people and often being tailed by scarier ones.In this tale, he thinks he has his work cut out for him, but he’s about to find more twists and turns than he expects!
LT Mys Kaminsky
Mrs. Astor Regrets: The hidden betrayals of a family beyond reproach – Meryl Garden
Life amongst millionaires and celebrities is always something we look at with anticipation.However, in this year’s biography about the misuse of money and mistreatment of mothers, we find that the lifestyles of the rich and the famous aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.
Bio Astor
Civic Center Branch
Angels of Destruction – Keith Donohue
Margaret Quinn, a widow, seeks lost connections with an orphan in this novel set in 1985.Her daughter, Erica, ran away before the book begins to join the titular revolutionary group.Since then, Margaret’s life has been a lonely one.When 9-year-old Norah happens by her doorstep, looking for help and a home, Margaret creates a backstory for the young girl, shaping her into the granddaughter she never got to have.
Fic Donohue
Negotiating With the Dead: A Writer on Writing – Margaret Atwood
Author of over twenty-five books, novels, and anthologies, Margaret Atwood is a Canadian legend.Her dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” made a splash when it premiered in 1985, and her 2000 work “The Blind Assassin” won the Booker Prize for fiction.Here, she discusses what it means to be a writer, both from her perspective and that of other famous and not-so-famous writers.
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Dorothy Busch Branch
Illegal – Paul J. Levine
Edgar-nominated author Levine’s work has spanned almost two decades and a variety of mediums; he has written novels and episodes of the television series JAG.Here, in one of his few standalone novels, we meet shyster lawyer Jimmy “Royal” Paine, who’s on the run because of his latest lawbreaking adventure.He is almost robbed, then begged for help by 12-year-old illegal alien boy Timo.Paine is then sent on a thrilling journey to find Timo’s mother, which will take him across state, country, and moral lines.
Fic Levine
The Wikipedia Revolution: How a bunch of nobodies created the world’s greatest encyclopedia – Andrew Lih
As the saying goes, veni vidi wiki (Mental Floss).One of the top ten most visited sites, and trusted for quick, mostly reliable information, Wikipedia is almost always one of the first sites to come up on a search engine.This is the inside story of how it began, and how it still continues on today.
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Maybelle Burnette Branch
Natural Elements – Richard Mason
A third novel of epic proportions, Natural Elements is a historical work that mixes together rich widows, the French Resistance, the Boer War, and metallurgy.If you’re curious as to how that works, come and check this book out!
Fic Mason
What Was I Thinking?: 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories – Barbara Davilman
A collection of humorous essays about real life bad boyfriends and the actresses, authors, and everyday women who had to deal with them.Included here are stories by Carrie Fisher, Francesca Lia Block, and Cindy Chupack (of Sex and the City/"He’s Just Not That Into You" fame.)
Did you know there are three different ways to place a hold at the Warren Public Libraries?
1: Placing a hold at aSuburban Library CooperativeLibrary (all libraries in Macomb County, City of Troy, and City of Harper Woods).
·Look up the item you’d like to hold (or ask your reference librarian to help you do this).
·Place a hold through our catalog with your library card number and PIN.
·The hold will be sent to your home library in 3-5 business days, free of charge.A computerized system will call your phone number and notify you that it has arrived.Ask your librarian where to find it, and check out!
2: Placing a MeLCat Hold. (Michigan-wide, including some university libraries.)
·Look up the item you’d like to hold at http://elibrary.mel.org/search.(Please be sure to check the library cooperative FIRST to make sure we don’t have what you’re looking for!)
·Place a hold through MeL by clicking “Get this for me!” and entering your name and library card number.
·The hold will be sent to your home library, usually in about a week to 10 days.A librarian will call you and notify you that it has arrived.Ask your librarian where to find it and check out!
3: Placing an ILL/WorldCat request. (Outside of Michigan.)
·The hold will be sent to your home library, sometimes in a week, sometimes in much longer (depending on where the item is being shipped from!)A librarian will call you and notify you that it has arrived.Ask your librarian where to find it and check out!(There is a $1 charge for each item shipped in.)
A few notes on holds:
** If you call a Warren Public Library and ask for a book that is currently checked in to be held, we will put your name on the book and hold it behind the Circulation Desk.You have 24 hours to come and pick it up before it is reshelved.Keep in mind we cannot do this if the book is not checked in at the library you are calling, or if it is not at a Warren library.
** Renewals work differently for all three systems.
-For an SLC book, you can renew an item once for three weeks, as long as no one else has a hold on that book.If they do, you must return it and reorder it at a later date.
-For a MeLCatbook, you need to call or visit your library and ask them to renew the book.It MUST be renewed both through the SLC Catalog AND by logging into MeLCat.There is no guarantee that these can be renewed.
-For an ILL/WorldCat book, we need to be contacted *at least* one week before the book is due so that we can contact the owning library for permission to renew.There is also no guarantee that these can be renewed; the more notice we have, the better.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Hey, Hey, Hockeytown! With the current Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings well on their way to crush the Blackhawks and any other comers, here are a few books about the history of hockey, and the state of Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Stanley Cup 2007-2008 Champions: The Detroit Red Wings [DVD] Last year’s win against the Pittsburgh Penguins was exciting and impressive, and we may even face them again this year. This DVD collection has highlights and interviews with the players and commentators, in case you missed it the first time, or want to relive the moment. DVD 796.962 STANLEY WCV
Forever Hockeytown! : how the 2008 Red Wings reclaimed the Stanley Cup - Francescutti, Mark. The inside story, from local newspaper, The Detroit Free Press, on how the Wings triumphed for Stanley Cup victory in 2008. This book includes tons of great photos and commentaries from local greats like Mitch Albom. 796.962 F WCV
Hockey: How to play like the pros – Sean Rossiter Hockey the NHL way! This book teaches and encourages kids of all ages to work on the drive and skill needed to be a great hockey player. JUV 796.962 R WDB
Of Ice and Men: Steve Yzerman, Chris Chelios, Glen Sather, Dominik Hasek: the craft of hockey – Bruce Dowbiggin Canadian author Dowbiggin is hailed by the Toronto Globe and Mail for excellence in sports broadcasting. In this book, he examines what makes the best the best. 796.962 D WMB
The Stanley Cup: The story of the men and the teams who for half a century have fought for hockey’s most prized trophy – Brian MacFarlane First out in 1970, then updated in 1971, this classic book tells the story of the Cup and the teams who have held it over the years. 796.962 M SCS
Writing since the early 1980s, Canadian author Tanya Huff experienced a new burst of popularity when Lifetime (the television channel) turned her "Blood Books" into a series for two seasons. She writes for a living, mostly science fiction and urban fantasy, as well as short stories that sometimes aren’t connected to any of her major works. If you like Jim Butcher, who we profiled last month, give Tanya Huff a try!
Blood Price (The Blood Books) This is the first in the Victory Nelson/Blood Books series (five books total, now released in three two-book omnibus format), which also includes a number of short stories. Vicki “Victory” Nelson is a private detective who used to be a cop; she had to quit the force because of her deteriorating eyesight, and now makes a living trying not to step on the force (or her former partner, Mike Celluci)’s toes. The first time we meet Victory, she’s stumbling upon what appears to be a mass murder case – but she later finds, with the help of 500-year-old vampire Henry Fitzroy, that it’s not just any murderer who’s come calling. SF Huff TPL Fic Huff RSV Blood Books v. 1 Fic Huff MPL ROG
Smoke and Ashes (The Smoke Trilogy) If after the Blood Books, you want more Henry Fitzroy, try The Smoke Trilogy. Here, Henry has left Toronto for Vancouver, taking with him Victory Nelson’s one-time informant Tony. Tony, who is discovering he’s more than a vampire’s sometimes-boyfriend, works for the most popular television show in North America, Darkest Night, and happens across all manner of supernatural bad guys while looking like any other lowly production assistant. (This is the second book in the trilogy. Smoke and Shadows is the first.) Sci Huff WCV
Summon the Keeper (The Keeper’s Chronicles) All of Huff’s modern books take place in various places across her home country of Canada, and although many of them are ten and twenty years old, none of the stories seem dated. Here, in the Keeper’s Chronicles, we meet Claire the Keeper, destined to protect the Earth when necessary. In this, the first book, Claire must seal a portal to Hell (which happens to be in the basement of a bed and breakfast) with the help of a talking cat, a very dead ghost, and a cook. YA Fic Huff CHE SF Huff TPL
Heart of Valor (The Confederation) After Valor’s Choice, and The Better Part of Valor, this third book revisits heroine Torin Kerr, who’s been promoted to Marine Gunnery Sergeant. The Confederation novels explore how many species might live together out on the rims of space, and on space stations. Sci Huff WDB Sci PBK Huff WCV
Finding Magic (Short Stories) From a few stories set in the Confederation world (like the really hilarious “I Knew a Guy Once”) to a thrashing retelling of the classic faerie tale “Tam Lin” – here called “He Said, Sidhe Said,” Huff visits new worlds, and tells stories from old favorites. A latest story about Tony is found here, too. There are three other short story collections by Tanya Huff, as well, all with ‘Magic’ somewhere in the title. SF Huff TPL
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Sir Thomas More, once Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII, coined the word “utopia” to describe a perfect world he wrote about in his book of the same name.While there are few other authors who have written about ideal societies, the library is not at all short on the opposite books.Called “dystopian,” meaning the opposite of a perfect world, here are a few, new and old:
Feed – M.T. Anderson
In a future where you can vacation on the moon, over 70% of Americans, young and old, have a constant, instant feed of the Internet (including banner ads!) implanted into their brains.What happens when a teenage girl decides to fight the feed?
YA Fic Anderson WCV WDB
The Time Machine – H.G. Wells
A classic from the prolific author, in which the unnamed Time Traveller builds a time machine and visits the end of the world while only being gone for three hours.He discovers the Eloi and Morlocks, and their distinct dystopian, and frightening, society.
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Sci Wells WAM
Playaway YA Fic Wells WCV
Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand
Considered both classic and anachronistic, Rand’s novel is about a dystopian future when the people don’t ask questions because they know there are no answers to be had.The government controls all commerce, and Rand’s theory of Objectivism is explained.
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Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
One of the most popular and well-known of all dystopian novels is this classic from scifi author Bradbury.In a world where books are banned – and even burned – what happens when a “firefighter,” one of the men employed to burn books and houses containing them, tries to rebel and question why?
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Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
From the author of “The Remains of the Day,” this novel views a future, differentBritain, where clones are raised only for their organs, then must be convinced to give up their lives and die.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Hard science fiction is a subgenre in science fiction where the author places emphasis on the science part of the genre.Details are given as to how the science and physics of the story works, and the story falls into place amongst the details of the futuristic computer systems, robots, and technology.
World War Z – Max Brooks
Zombies as science?Believe it or not, in this journalistic account of how zombies are made – through a disease spread through saliva (which accounts for the reason why zombies are often portrayed as biting other people) – tells a compelling story of how the world would react were this really the case.
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Flowers for Algernon – Daniel Keyes
A science fiction classic wherein Charlie Gordon, a mentally retarded man, volunteers for an experiment that turns him into a genius – but only temporarily.This novel, when it was released, brought about a lot of questions about what makes a person, and has been retold in many ways, including a Futurama episode (“Parasites Lost”).
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Snow Crash – Neal Stephenson
Ninjas, the mafia, and pizza delivery guys don’t exactly scream “Science Fiction,” but in Stephenson’s remarkable first novel, he (and the hero, called Hiro) will make you believe that man and machine can work together to stop civilization from being taken over.Stephenson is regarded as a cyberpunk master, and has continued with great novels of hard science fiction, such as 2008’s “Anathem.”
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Neuromancer – William Gibson
Another pioneer in the field of cyberpunk, Gibson’s 1984 novel explores artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and genetic engineering, as seen through the eyes of a damaged hacker.This novel was groundbreaking at the time, giving rise the phrase “cyberspace” and eventually leading to the creation of the roleplaying game “Shadowrun.”
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The Minority Report – Philip K. Dick
One of the best known and best loved authors of science fiction, Philip K. Dick is responsible for making generations of readers rethink the concept of free will.This is a collection of his short stories, including the title story, which was made into a movie in 2002.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Among publishers, readers, and libraries, fantasy is hitting a big popularity spike – especially urban fantasy, like the adult faerie books we listed last week.Another category that has been around for a long time is called “High Fantasy” – usually the types of stories and books that have wizards, dragons, unicorns, and epic quests.Here are some of our favorites:
Chronicles of Prydain – Lloyd Alexander
Best known for the book (and 80’s cartoon movie), The Black Cauldron, The Chronicles of Prydain follow Taran, a young boy who wants to become a great hero. The Chronicles feature five books, plus a prequel, and both a Newbery Honor and Newbery Medal.
The Book of Three (1964) WMB
The Black Cauldron (1965) WMB WAM
The Castle of Llyr (1966) WMB
Taran Wanderer (1967) WMB WAM
The High King (1968) WCV WMB
A Song Of Ice And Fire – George R.R. Martin
These novels take place in the Seven Kingdoms of the fictional land of Westeros.While trying to decide who gets the Iron Throne after the king dies, the citizens and royalty of the kingdoms must beware of an icy threat to the north, and a girl who can possess dragons.There are four books released, with another three upcoming.
A Game of Thrones (1996) CHE RSV
A Clash of Kings (1998) WCV WAM
A Storm of Swords (2000) WCV
A Feast for Crows (2005) WMB
A Dance with Dragons (forthcoming 2009)
Song of the Lioness – Tamora Pierce
A rare high fantasy in which the protagonist is not only a girl, but a girl who wants very much to be a full-fledged knight in the realm of Tortall, the Alanna series is a great place to start if you’re new to this genre. Pierce has written several other trilogies and quartets set in Tortall over the years.
Alanna: The First Adventure (1983) WCV WMB WAM
In the Hand of the Goddess (1984) WCV WMB WAM
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (1986) WCV WMB
Lioness Rampant (1988) WMB WAM
Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan
Although Jordan passed in 2007, he revealed to his wife and family the remaining plot for the final books, ensuring that the series could continue after he died.The Wheel of Time is truly epic in scope, spanning 15 books, including a prequel.These are the first five:
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.
Faeries aren’t just for kids these days.Thanks to paranormal romance authors like Laurell K. Hamilton and Sherrilyn Kenyon, there are a number of novels with the mysterious men (and women!) of Faerie.[Be aware – some of these books tend towards the steamy side of romance!]
The Legend of Drizzt (Series) – R.A. Salvatore
Drizzt Do’Urden is a dark elf who turns his back on the evil matriarchal society he was born into, called the Underdark.Since he left, he’s become a champion and hero of the Forgotten Realms world, appearing in nearly twenty books since his first appearance in Homeland, in 1990.
Homeland
Fic Salvatore CHE
SF Salvatore TPL
A Kiss of Shadows – Laurell K. Hamilton
The first in the Merry Gentry series, this book introduces an alternate history of the world (much like Hamilton’s best-selling Anita Blake series; where vampires are legal citizens) – Merry is the daughter of a king, and therefore, a princess.However, she must return to the faerie mounds underground to face her aunt, who wants Merry to give her an heir to the Unseelie Court.
BKC Fic Hamilton WMB
Fic Hamilton LWM ROG RSV
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Another alternate-history novel – this one about the return of magic to England, courtesy of the two title gentlemen.They deal with magic, fairies, and enchantments, and famed members of fairy stories and courts.
Fic Clarke WCV WDB WMB
Faefever – Karen Marie Moning
Third in the series that started with Darkfever, Faefever picks up with the protagonist MacKayla Lane finding a piece of her murdered sister’s journal.Still seeking answers in the dark world she now inhabits, MacKayla must make alliances, and still accomplish her destiny – the finding of a book that claims to hold the key to power over the worlds of Fae and Man.This is far from her last chance, though – author Moning has two more “Fever” books in the works.
