I started this blog post in the form of a journal nearly 30 years ago. Later it became a web page, and then in 2015 I added it to this blog. I come back to edit this list from time to time (and update the publish date each time).
This is my list of recommended fiction, sorted by author’s last name.
I want to be clear about a few things. First, some may roll their eyes that I’ve neglected the classics in this list. Where are The Three Musketeers or Grapes of Wrath? Those and others are important books to read, but they are not the escapist books I am looking for. Also, yes, there are some truly incredible non-fiction books out there too — but this is a list of my recommended fiction.
There are a few books here that I would no longer put on the list if I were creating it today, but I loved them so much back in another time that I decided I should leave them on the list. And finally, there are a great many more fiction books that I really enjoy, but this is a list of the books that go beyond mere enjoyment: these are the books that delighted me, that I am drawn to read multiple times, or books that I found to be profound in one way or another. I loved Dune, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and hundreds of other books too — but this is my list of the books that I recommend.
[And for more on books, here’s the list of classics that everyone should read, compiled by my family. I don’t 100% agree with this list, but it was a group effort.]
Watership Down, by Richard Adams
This book appealed to me as a youngster. I loved the thought of Rabbit society and intelligence, and was drawn to the way this book’s main characters are rabbits yet it was written as a very serious and epic novel. Adams has written a lot of other books where he gives voice to animals — even to General Lee’s horse. But nothing matches the greatness of Watership. (The 2018 Netflix animated series based on the books is pretty good, unlike the 1978 film.)
Bastard out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison
I never loved this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it because it is written in such a strong voice that it is a gripping read. Read it for the sheer joy of experiencing excellent writing. And along the way, it will teach you that no matter how bad your personal story may be, it is after all only your story and doesn’t have to in any way affect, let alone shape, your future: you can write your own ending.
The Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
This is an incredible book and an incredible trilogy (which is part of a much longer, incredible series). I recently re-read the main trilogy after about 15 years, and after just the first page I was grinning from the wonderful writing and the sheer craft of this book. It’s an epic tale that spans over 1,000 years in galactic history, but it is told through a multitude of short, related stories. A classic. [They made this into a TV series which I gave up on after watching the first 3 episodes: don’t bother.]
The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
This is an incredibly unnerving story about a Christian theocracy in the American future. When Pat Buchanan spoke at the GOP convention in 1992, chilling the air all over the country with his homophobia and religious fervor, I begged everyone I knew to read this book before they cast their vote. Now in the 2020s with the book banning, sharp reduction in abortion rights, and attacks on trans rights and trans people, it is again a book that everyone should read. Frankly, every time someone tries to legislate their religious beliefs, I think of this book.
Expanse series, by James A. Corey
This series, starting with the book Leviathan Wakes, is science fiction with a bit of horror thrown in for good measure. (It was made into a 6-season TV series which, other than a few annoyances, was overall quite good.) There is much to like in this series, but I think what I am drawn to the most is the cobbled-together family that made up the crew, which reminds me a little of Firefly (the best television show ever.)
This book was recommended to me by my friend Don — here are more of his excellent recommendations.
Microserfs, by Douglas Coupland
A very fun book that partly takes place on the Microsoft campus and in which Legos and geek-eccentricity figure prominently. This short book was my introduction to Coupland, who has other works very much worth reading, including another Lego-infused nerd-fest called JPod.
The Nun, by Denis Diderot
Published at the very end of the 1700s, this is the story of a young woman who was forced into a convent and then badly abused. This is the book that first convinced me as a young writer that I wanted to someday adapt a novel to a screenplay: one of those “somedays” that I will never get around to.
Nor Crystal Tears, by Alan Dean Foster
This hard-to-find book is a great first-contact SF story. The first part of the book is told from the human’s point of view, and the second part is from the alien’s. Foster does a great job of first making you horrified at these bug-like aliens, and then flipping it around and making you feel like one.
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George
I loved this book when I was a kid, and I think it has a lot to do with the strength and independence I enjoy now. I want all 10-year-olds to read this book (and everyone else too). I have not re-read this as an adult because I’d hate to find it lacking and then break the spell — do you know what I mean? [It’s like the Disney film Mary Poppins: I loved it as a child, but when I saw it again as an adult, I realized that Mary’s really just a huge bitch!]
Replay, by Ken Grimwood
This is a mildly-written time-travel-ish tale. In my regretful 20s it played to my old habit to while away my hours of insomnia with thoughts of “what if I could go back to my teens with the knowledge I have now?” Read this for the story, not the craft of the writing. (This was also one of my father’s favorite books.)
Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
It’s almost trite to include this book in the list, but I did so love it. Re-reading any Heinlein now, though, reveals what a misogynist he was, but if you can overlook that, then this is a good book. And the word “grok” has been part of my vocabulary for more than 30 years because of it. (Also check out Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.)
Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse
I loved this amazing book. It is an example of a book that can be deeply religious for those so inclined, or just beautifully introspective for those who are not religious: read into it whatever works for you. I’ve probably bought at least five copies of this book through the years just so I could give them away and share its wonder with my friends.
Last Temptation of Christ, by Nikos Kazantzakis
This is a powerful book, and the film was remarkable too (and astoundingly controversial). This book taught me a way to see Christianity without feeling negative about it — which was an important lesson I needed to learn: It is Christ-affirming without being Christianity-affirming. There is a book published in 2005 about the Last Temptation book and film called Scandalizing Jesus which I own but have not yet read.)
Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
I always liked Kingsolver, but Poisonwood is her masterpiece and will be a tough act for her to follow. It is the story, told from a young girl’s viewpoint, of a family’s ruinous adventures following their misguided patriarch into the jungle as Christian missionaries. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Kingsolver is another of those authors who is simply remarkable: you cannot go wrong picking up one of her books. My first Kingsolver book was The Bean Trees, which is also fantastic.
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis
Just in case you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know, the Chronicles is a set of seven stories centered on the land of Narnia. When I was a kid I would hike out into the hills behind my house and pretend I was in Narnia. I’ve read the full set probably nine or ten times in the past 40+ years. These books gave me my first glimpse as a youngster into the possibility of interpreting religion differently than the way my parents’ church dictated. If I had to point to one of the most “life shaping” books of my life, this set would be among the top on the list.
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, by Gregory Maguire
This wasn’t what I would call fine literature, but it was a very, very fun read. It’s the story of Cinderella told from a different point of view, but it’s told as a real story whence the fairy tale came. I strongly recommend this book to women, but I know a few men who would tolerate it. This author also wrote Wicked — the story of the Wizard of Oz told from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West (which was later adapted for the stage) — which is not nearly as good as Confessions.
The Integral Trees, by Larry Niven
Niven is another one of those great SF writers. What captured me in this book (and the sequel, The Smoke Ring) was the utterly unique world and existence he created and made believable. Almost anything by Niven is excellent, so some may raise an eyebrow that I call out Integral Trees for my list of favorites rather than, perhaps, Ringworld. I like the way I am enveloped in a different world and pulled along on an adventure in this book, whereas Ringworld is a bit more of an intellectual journey. Of course one should also check out the amazing books that Niven wrote along with Jerry Pournelle, especially the Mote in God’s Eye series.
Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts
Purported (not uncontroversially) to be largely autobiographical, this rambling story is about an escaped convict from Australia who is an adventurer, doctor, gangster, drug dealer, prisoner, and drug addict in India as well as a mercenary in Afghanistan. Large swaths of this big book are lushly written, to the point that you might find yourself re-reading passages just to enjoy again a perfect turn of phrase. But then other parts seem almost too narcissistic, and one must wonder where the lines between truth and fiction (and self-aggrandizement) lie. Nevertheless, this is a powerful book and well worth reading (and recommending). This has also been made into a television show, but I’ve not watched it.
Another Roadside Attraction, by Tom Robbins
Robbins’ writing style is manic and wild, just poetic enough to be beautiful, and laced with radicalism (and, as he is from the Pacific Northwest, lots of blackberries and rain). I also adore Still Life With Woodpecker and Jitterbug Perfume… and of course Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (the book is infinitely superior to the film). I absolutely agree with Mr. Robbins on his view of redheads and religion! Ah, the art of irreverence. Yikes. [In one of his books, Robbins says that almost everything can be expressed as either Yum, Yuck, or Yikes.]
Kingkiller Chronicles series, by Patrick Rothfuss
This is what will be a three book series, of which only the first two are out (and frankly we might never get book number three). The first book in this series is The Name of the Wind. This is fantasy, but it defies the fantasy genre in that it doesn’t depend on magic and supernatural. Well, it does, but in an “it’s all physics after all” kind of way. This is often called the next best book since the Song of Ice and Fire series (better known as Game of Thrones), but I think it is so vastly superior to anything George R. R. Martin has ever even dreamed of writing that calling it this is an insult to Rothfuss. The writing in this series is among the best contemporary writing out there, and my “awesome quotes” file is packed with great turns of phrase from these books. Finally, my nephew points out that book 2 is merely a bridge to book 3… so feel free to stop with just reading book 1.
These books are so good that fans are drooling as they wait for the third installment. On a Facebook group for said fans, many exchange lists of books and authors to read while enduring the long wait. Here are some selections from that list.
This book was recommended to me by my friend Don — here are more of his recommendations.
Harry Potter Series by JK Rowlings
My kids were already grown when these books came out, so I can’t claim to have bought them to read to them. These books were a delightful read (and the movies were good — although not as good as the books). They revolve around a world of magic, magicians, and a school of wizardry, but you’re wrong if you think these are about those things. At their core, these books are about morality, integrity, honesty, and ethics. I am dismayed when I hear about some religious parents forbidding their children to read them, as the lessons and inspiration they contain are things I’d want all kids to learn regardless of what gods they pray to (or don’t).
Old Man’s War series, by John Scalzi
This is a six-book series that is wonderful: on my list of favorites, although not at the very top. It starts with a “what if” fantasy situation and spins into solid SciFi from there. This is a science fiction series with a military bent. There are very few eye-rolling moments and those are much later in the series. It has many alien encounters and this author somehow makes every one seem authentic. Another fantastic series by the same author is the Interdependency series. (In fact, maybe I like Interdependency even more than Old Man’s War…)
The Greenlanders, by Jane Smiley
This author has a remarkable gift of voice. This tells a compelling story of the history of Greenland, based on the historical research at the time, which has since been updated to be slightly less severe. It was written in a way that reflects the writing style of the time, which means if you are a “read to the end of the chapter” person, you’ll need to come with an alternative method. As this is a very long book with many tongue-twister-named characters, I’ve developed this cheat-sheet book mark. Print it, fold it in half, and relax as you read this great book. I also recommend Smiley’s The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton.
Bobiverse series, by Dennis E. Taylor
I often say that when my life nears its end I’d like to become a brain in a jar so I can see how this story of earth and our precarious society continues: what will the world be like 50 years from now? 100? 1000? This book is about a guy who felt the same way. You have to suspend reality as the author sets that up, and frankly he knows it’s a bit much so artfully just rolls over it. In this book, a guy named Bob signs up to save his brain for a potential someday reawakening, he dies, he wakes up many years later to an entirely new world, and a fantastic new reality unfolds. Yes, it’s silly. But don’t let any eye rolling get in the way of one of the most enjoyable series ever.
Kristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset
This trilogy of novels published in the 1920s tells the life story of the titular character, a young woman in 14th-century Norway. (I wish I’d already read it when I stayed in the Undset room at the Sylvia Beach Hotel.) The story is a wonderful anthropological time-travel into a medieval Scandinavia. Here’s a blurb from the Wikipedia article about this book: “Undset’s characterizations of the ethnology, geography, and history of 14th-century Norway have held up as archaeological and literary evidence has emerged since its writing.”
Murderbot Diaries series, by Martha Wells
This series of 7 books (some of which are novellas) is a delightful romp through the universe inside the head of a rogue security unit robot (SecUnit) who has modified the tech that prevents him from having free will. This is not necessarily deep or inspiring, but for any of us out there who would rather hide in a closet with a good book instead of socializing, MurderBot’s inner dialog will feel very familiar. [More here on the Murderbot’s expression of Autistic or Social Anxiety Disorder tendencies.]
And don’t miss another series by Becky Chambers with the bot angle, this one in a post-apocalyptic setting: Monk & Robot.
Recommendations from my friend, Don
Don and I have so much in common that it is endlessly amusing. As we tend to have the same tastes in books and more, I thought I should add in some of his recommendations here, complete with his own descriptions. He is the person who I thank for recommending some of the books that I have in my general recommendations list above, including the Expanse series, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and Old Man’s War.
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
Moving and inspirational. Some great life-lessons from an interesting guy facing his own mortality. If you don’t both laugh and cry while reading this book, you may not be hooked up right. Everyone should probably be given a copy of this book when they turn 18.
Uprooted – Naomi Novik
Fantasy that manages to avoid some of the cliches quite nicely. Interesting characters and an interesting world.
Storm Front – Jim Butcher
Amazing urban fantasy with a fully-realized world which is rarely black-and-white. This is a great long-running series with characters that actually grow and change in significant ways as the series progresses. First book in the Dresden Files series.
The Eyre Affair – Jasper Fforde
A witty and fun book about books. I struggle to find the corrects words. Zany is too far, madcap is closer but still not on the mark. Wildly imaginative. Endlessly clever.This is set in an alternate-reality more-or-less modern-day England. First book of the Thursday Next series.
Libriomancer – Jim Hines
This series is also about books, but a very different take on them versus the Thursday Next series. Set in our modern-day world, it is about using books to make magic. First book of the Magic Ex-Libris series.
To Say Nothing of the Dog – Connie Willis
Thoroughly enjoyable romp through England during WWII. One of those books that makes you sad when it ends because you hate to say goodbye to the characters and the setting. Set in the Oxford Time-travel universe.
(Note that although set in the same universe this is the polar opposite in seriousness from Willis’ “The Doomsday Book”, which is one of the bleakest books I have ever read.) “Blackout” and “All Clear” are also in this universe and serious but not bleak.
The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox – Barry Hughart
A fantasy trip through old China. This is a collection of three unique books, which are the only thing the author ever wrote, for reasons utterly unrelated to the astounding quality of these books. Contains the novels “Bridge of Birds”, “The Story of the Stone”, and “Eight Skilled Gentlemen”.
Gridlinked – Neal Asher
Fast-paced, thoroughly realized far-future SF set in a civilization that spans a huge chunk of space. Great technology and interesting characters.This is part of a large series of books that are set both before and after this one in time, and have various main characters and settings. But this is the first one he wrote and the best place to start IMHO.
What to read while waiting for Patrick Rothfuss to publish the third Kingkiller book
This is a compilation of the recommendations on a Facebook group of Patric Rothfuss fans who are biding their time as they wait for the third book in the Kingkiller series. Here’s more about that. This list is grouped into three chunks. In the first chunk, it is sorted by the frequency of recommendations, with Robin Hobb and Brandon Sanderson neck-and-neck for the top spot. The other two chunks are in order of author last name.
Recommended many, many times
- Robin Hobb > The Farseer trilogy (starts with Assassin’s Apprentice)
- Brandon Sanderson > Mistborn series (starts with The Final Empire); Stormlight Archive series (start: Way of Kings); The Reckoners series (start: Steelheart); Elantris series (start: Elantris)
- Joe Abercrombie > The First Law trilogy (start: The Blade Itself)
Recommended st least 2 or 3 times
- Peter V Brett > Demon Cycle
- Jim Butcher > The Codex Alera series (start: Furies of Calderon); Dresden Files series (start: Storm Front)
- David Eddings > The Redemption of Althalus; The Belgariad series (start: Pawn of Prophecy); The Mallorean series (start: Guardian of the West)
- Jennifer Fallon > The Hythrun Chronicles (start: Medalon); Wolfblade trilogy (start: Wolfblade); Second Sons trilogy (starts with The Lion of Senet)
- Guy Gavriel Kay > Sailing to Sarantium
- Ursula LeGuin > Earthsea series (start: A Wizard of Earthsea); The Left Hand of Darkness
- Terry Pratchett > Men at Arms; Discworld series (start: The Colour of Magic)
- Brent Weeks > Night Angel trilogy (start: The way of Shadows);
- Scott Lynch > Gentleman Bastards series (start: The Lies of Locke Lamora)
Recommended at least once
- Margaret Atwood > Madd Adam
- Carol Berg > Song of the Beast; Flesh and Spirit
- Hans Bemmann > The Stone and the Flute
- Lois McMaster Bujold > The Curse of Chalion
- Pierce Brown > Red Rising
- Trudi Canavan > The Black Magician trilogy
- James Clavell > Shogun
- Rymond Feist
- David Gemmell
- Neil Gaiman > Graveyard; Neverwhere; American Gods
- Terry Goodkind > Sword of Truth saga
- Robert Jordon > The Wheel of Time
- Stephen King > Dark Tower
- RF Kuang > The Poppy War
- Mercedes Lackey
- Richard K Morgan
- Patricia McKillip > Riddle Master series
- Terry Mancour > Spellmonger series (start: Spellmonger)
- China Mieville > Embassytown; The City And The City
- Richard Morgan > A Land Fit For Heroes trilogy (start: The Steel Remains)
- Naomi Novik > Temeraire series
- Jonathan Renshaw > Dawn of Wonder
- Sean Russell > Swan’s War
- Michael J. Sullivan
- Maggie Stiefvater > All the Crooked Saints; Raven Cycle
- Will Shetterly (ed) > Liavek series (short stories)
- Laura VanArendonk Baugh > Shard and Shield
- Tad Williams > Memory, Sorrow and Thorn
- Carlos Ruiz Zafon > Cemetery of Forgotten series (start: The Shadow of the Wind)