The 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of All Time. John harris The 100 Greatest SFF Novels of All Time by ALEX CARNEVALE What to read?
It is a question asked mostly by women, who comprise the majority of America's reading public. Males make up some teensy other part. Either sex is challenged by a lack of a path through difficult material. At the nexus of the two genres is where the human imagination begins to reveal frightful and hopeful things about our own society. 100. An extraordinary powerful novel inspired by Vietnam in LeGuin's Hainish series, where one planet gives the gift of interstellar travel to the universe. 99. An original fantasy with the crucial grasp of how to make magic entertaining and plausible, not silly and random. 98. Kress is in true command in her short fiction, but this was her memorable attempt to capture how our society might change and still endure. 97. One of his more well-thought out plots with interesting commentary on religion and sacrifice. 96. 95. An out-of-nowhere smash with rich detail. 94.
Lone Star Statements by Matthew Baldwin. The following are excerpts from actual one-star Amazon.com reviews of books from Time’s list of the 100 best novels from 1923 to the present.
Some entries have been edited. Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987) “Morrison’s obviously a good writer, but truly, her subject matter leaves a LOT to be desired in this book. It’s raunchy beyond belief. People do things with farm animals that they shouldn’t. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (1927) “Basically all that happens is five people die on a small bridge and then the author goes on to discuss these people’s lives. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961) “Obviously, a lot people were smoking a lot of weed in the ’60s to think this thing is worth reading.” The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.
“So many other good books…don’t waste your time on this one. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1963) The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (1967) “My great-great-grandfather is not gay! Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin (1953) Is it possible for someone to become Batman? The Case of the Vanishing Blonde. “I’m telling you, Ken, this ain’t the guy,” he said.
“No, man, he’s definitely the fucking guy,” said Brennan, who flew up to Frederick himself, traveling with his son, and spent time over a three-day period talking to Jones, who continued to deny everything. Months after he returned, the DNA results came back. Brennan got a call from Foote. “You ain’t gonna believe this,” said Foote. “What?” “You were right.” Jones’s DNA was a match. Brennan flew up to Frederick in October to meet Foote, who arrested the big man. “I did not hurt that girl,” Jones said, pushing the photos away, his voice rising to a whine. Brennan asked him why a man would roll his suitcase out to the parking lot and stash it in his car at five in the morning, two days before he checked out of the hotel. “I couldn’t remember if we were leaving that day or the next day.
Brennan was able to trip Jones up with only one small thing. When Brennan asked him to name some of the books he had read, Jones could not. Three More Hits.