I've been tagged

Stuart has tagged me on this book questionnaire that has been doing the rounds.

How many books do I own?

It’s difficult to say. Many of my books are languishing in the loft. I would say about 154.

What’s the last book I bought?

The Runes Of The Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson.

What’s the last book I read?

A Brief History of Crime by Peter Hitchens.

What are the five books that mean the most to me?

What kind of damn lefty touchy feely question is that to ask a grown man? Sheesh, might as well ask me about my inner feelings or inquire into which films make me cry (Starship Troopers).

1. My cheque book.

2. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The best science fiction book I have ever read. All this nonsense about Neuromancer is peddled by people who either didn’t read Ender’s Game or who didn’t understand it.

3. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen Donaldson. No other book has left such a memory of flavour than this one. If you don’t know what I mean by that then you shouldn’t go round asking people touchy feely questions. Buy the Guardian instead, though if you really want to know how to go about self-hatred the Guardian comes a poor second to The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.

4. I read a book called Little, Big by John Crowley once. I can’t remember much about it other than how amazing it was. It too had a flavour that lingers. I’ve just noticed that it’s back in print at long last so I’m going to buy it. My previous efforts to track down a copy a few years ago failed. Thanks for tagging me Stuart. If nothing else it has turned up this gem.

5. Another class SF novel was The Real Story by Stephen Donaldson. Swashbuckling is one word that describes it well. Utterly enjoyable, easy to read and the best leap from fantasy to Sci-Fi ever in the world of fantasy to Sci-Fi leaps. It leads on to the rest of the “Gap” series of novels which is some of the best made up political stuff I have read. More entertaining than “Yes minister”, more accurate than the Guardian.

6. (Because 1 was a little unfair) Ringworld by Larry Niven. Yes, I like science fiction. If you think that makes me a bad person then you haven’t read the books I have read. Stop reading those books about Churchill and the welfare state. They’ll teach you nothing.