NPR's top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

NPR has published their list of the top 100 scifi and fantasy books.  I have read or attempted the top 10.  Actually out of the top 30, I had read or attempted 27.  I finished with a total of 52 complete.  I disagreed with some (Neverwhere was good, but how is it there and not Good Omens and why is Gaiman on here four times).  I think Hitchhiker is top ten book but I don’t think it is A. #2 on the list, nor B. the best science fiction entry.  I had at least heard of most of the science fiction entries, but can’t say the same for the fantasy entries especially #18 The Kingslayer Chronicles.  I mean on a list where I have read 27 of the top 30 and have seen movie versions of two more, I have never even heard of #18. 

I think a lot of authors got a bump due to being very hot right now.  Brandon Sanderson, for instance, had three things on here and I just don’t think he is going to be that relevant in 20-30 years.  It is worth noting that this list isn’t really a best of list, but more of a popularity contest.  A lot of people have commented on the fact that the list should have been split or that an author should only be allowed on the list once.  These are great ideas. 

Pleasant surprise-  Mary Stewart’s The Crystal Cave

Glaring omission-  John Steakley’s Armor.

  

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Mirror Mask (2005)- Movies with the girls

My girls are huge Coraline fans.  My oldest has read the graphic novel, novel, watched the movie, and beat the Wii game.  My youngest has yet to read the books, but liked the movie and liked the game.  When we saw Mirror Mask at the library, I told them it was the same talented Neil Gaiman.  My oldest vaguely remembers seeing it from when she was around 5. 

I had seen this movie before and while it left a visual impression on me, I didn't quite remember the story all that much.  It looks like a live action version of Sandman.  It is truly beautiful.  Which isn't surprising given Dave McKean was involved.  I forgot that the movie is actually very slow.  It isn't bad, but it is slow. 

My 6 year old watched and was interested for about half and then she was up and running and watching only when she happened to run by the TV or I threatened to turn it off.  My oldest only woke up when the movie was ending and then wanted to watch the whole thing.  It kept her interest pretty well. 

It is a children's fantasy story with very interesting visuals and a music score that drives the movie.  The acting was good.  It is fine for young kids.  I wouldn't worry about my 6 year old not sitting through it, she generally has a hard time doing so.  It might be targeted at 9-13 year old though.    

Book Review: “Stories”, Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio, eds.

Like many people, my commute can be pretty variable. With little traffic, and favorable traffic-light timing, I can make it to work in less than 20 minutes. Add something innocuous as a car on the side of the road, and it can almost double. In the early part of the summer, I started to get pretty annoyed at grinding through traffic and the same old iPod playlists and my patience were wearing a bit thin.

So, in an effort to stave off crankiness, I decided that I might try listening to audiobooks during my commute. I have to say, that it’s really helped the crawl to the point that I almost don’t really mind if things are a little slow. Almost.

For the latest book, I tried an anthology of short stories succinctly named “Stories”, edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio, which includes a number of very well-known authors as contributors.


Reading a bunch of short stories consecutively can get a little tough (which I tend to read a few between other books, sort of like a literary intermezzo), but I thought that here they serve as good “commute-sized” fare, and I wasn’t disappointed. The aural format really fits the short story very well, feeling like someone is “telling you a story” rather than “reading this novel outloud”.

As with any anthology, there were hits and misses, but overall this was a very strong selection – varied in scope and tone, which I think kept it fresh. Some standouts:

"Blood" by Roddy Doyle: interesting take on a vampire story and wonderful lead-off to the collection. Great off-beat wry-writing. Irish accent of reader was perfect for the story – definitely rethinks the whole “bloodsucker” cliché.

"Fossil-Figures" by Joyce Carol Oates: An evil twin story. Incredibly creepy and dark. Told slowly and dreamily – there were conventions in the writing that really worked aloud – but I’d be curious if they worked in text.

"The Stars Are Falling" by Joe R. Lansdale: Wonderfully dark tale about a WWI veteran returning home to a wife that isn’t necessarily happy to see him. Gripping. Sad.

"Loser" by Chuck Palahniuk: Dirtball frat kid on LSD goes on a game show that is never referred to by name but is clearly “The Price Is Right”. Not really dramatic, but pretty funny and a nice counterpoint to the standard "fantasy" short story.

"Unwell" by Carolyn Parkhurst: Nasty tale of an old woman that manipulates her sister – as she had her entire life. Pretty mean-spirited but pretty good.

"Parallel Lines" by Tim Powers: Strangely enough, another story about an old lady’s overbearing sister. Here, her twin dies and seeks to return from the grave. Taut story, good turns. Very well-executed.

"Human Intelligence" by Kurt Anderson: Clever story of a young scientist that discovers an alien base in the Arctic and of the alien “spy” who’s been marooned here for more than a millennium. Odd, abrupt, comic twist on the ending that I’m not sure will work for everyone, but did for me.

I have to say that I'd be very curious to see how this list would change if I'd read these stories rather than heard them. That aside, all in all, this is a very good collection that I’d recommend to even the most casual “fantasy” fan.