To Your Scattered Bodies Go, the first book in the RiverWorld series by the late Philip Jose Farmer
PJF passed away recently, so this week’s pick is his Hugo award winning classic, To Your Scattered Bodies Go. The book features literally everyone who lived and died from early Man’s first appearance on Earth to 1985.
Ghost by John Ringo.
Best known for his military themed Science Fiction, John Ringo breaks away from that mold for this modern day military/political thriller with a bit of serious B&D based sex thrown in for good measure. To give you an idea of the level action (i.e. violence against bad guys) is this book, here is what Richard Marcinko, “The Rogue Warrior” himself had to say about it: “John Ringo’s done it again! Ghost is a complete adrenaline rush, filled with nonstop, kick ass action and hair-raising suspense.”
The overt level of sex in this book (which tones down later books but is still present) put some of his fans off, but in my opinion, it’s about as shocking to todays mainstream literature as Ian Flemings sex scenes where in the 1960′s James Bond books.
If you like rough and tumble close quarters military action, especially where terrorists drop like flies, and are not upset by equally rough and tumble sex, you will like Ghost.
In the Courts of the Crimson Kings by S.M. Stirling.
The sequal to The Sky People (the Monday Book Pick from November 7, 2008). This book takes place on Mars, one where John Carter would have felt at home.
Fallen Angels by Larry Niven, Dr. Jerry Pournelle, and Michael Flynn.
The “Climate Change” novel that was out long before “climate change” was cool.
Rogue Warrior by Richard Marcinko
The autobiography of the founder of SEAL Team Six, the Navy’s anti-terrorist unit.
Written in prison to pay off his legal fees. Considering one of his jobs in the Navy was to piss off Admirals, hardly surprising.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.
The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith.
This classic of Libertarian Science Fiction is also available as a graphic novel.
A good adventure story and a cautionary tale as well. The basis for this alterante future history story is current birth rate trend in Europe and the current political policies of many European countries.
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
It takes skill, talent and touch of madness to mix Lovecraftian horror, light comedy and the soul sucking job of IT support. Charles Stross must have all three, since he pulls it off.
Lord Darcy by Randall Garrett
A delightful alternate history set of murder mysteries. Lord Darcy is an investigator in the 1960 for a Plantagenet Empire that never fell. His is joined by Master Sean O’Lochlainn, a Forensic Sorcerer.
