Remarkable reads make great additions to any library
By LEE CLARK ZUMPE
Article published on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008  |
Choosing the perfect book as a gift requires a bit of consideration: Romance readers aren’t likely to appreciate Harry Turtledove’s latest alternate history yarn, after all, any more than fans of John Updike would enjoy a collection of gory splatterpunk horror.
With due deliberation, discovering the literary interests of the intended gift recipient should be elementary work. Whether it turns out to be science fiction, mystery, romance, fantasy, nonfiction or graphic novel, there are plenty of possibilities available at area bookstores.
Following is a categorized list of top picks that may prove helpful in narrowing the list:
Biography
“John Lennon: The Life” – Here is a book that works for both those who enjoy delving into the lives of historical figures as well as fans of the Beatles. Author Philip Norman, who previously wrote the internationally bestselling definitive biography of the Beatles “Shout!”, now offers a revealing portrait of John Lennon. Norman takes a penetrating look at every aspect of Lennon’s life. Interviewees include Sir Paul McCartney, Sir George Martin, Sean Lennon and Yoko Ono. Available now from Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins.
“Secret Agent 666” – Author Richard B. Spence uses documents gleaned from British, American, French and Italian archives to reveal that Crowley, best known today as a founding father of modern occultism, played a major role in the sinking of the Lusitania, a plot to overthrow the government of Spain, the thwarting of Irish and Indian nationalist conspiracies, and the 1941 flight of Rudolf Hess. Spence argues that Crowley, in his own unconventional way, was a patriotic Englishman who endured years of public vilification in part to mask his role as a secret agent. Available now from Feral House.
Graphic Novel
“Serenity Vol. 2: Better Days” – The television show “Firefly” may have been canceled in 2003 after only 14 episodes, but there remains a legion of fans hungry for new tales based on the franchise. Creator Joss Whedon reunites with Brett Matthews and Will Conrad, his collaborators on the bestselling 2005 graphic novel series “Those Left Behind.” “Serenity: Better Days” follows everyone’s favorite space cowboys in a thrilling, action-packed adventure, where Mal and his crew take on a heist that promises a big payoff. When one of Serenity’s crew is taken captive and tortured, the gang must put their enduring differences aside and work together to save one of their own, even if it means losing the cash prize of a lifetime. Available now from Dark Horse.
“Jack Kirby’s The Demon” – One of Jack “King” Kirby’s most memorable creations returns in this title collecting the entire, original 16-issue series from the early 1970s in a 384-page hardcover omnibus. Part man, part elemental fury, Etrigan the Demon was bound to Jason Blood by Merlin to defend Camelot, only to become a demonologist in the modern-day DC Universe. Available Nov. 25 from DC Comics.
Horror
“The Living Dead” – Edited by John Joseph Adams, “The Living Dead” collects 34 stories of zombie fiction for a total of 230,000 words. Adams has gathered the best tales from “Book of the Dead,” “Still Dead” and “Mondo Zombie,” along with the best zombie fiction from other sources. The result is the best zombie literature of the last three decades from authors such as Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, George R.R. Martin, Clive Barker, Poppy Z. Brite, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Laurell K. Hamilton and Joe R. Lansdale. Available now from Night Shade Books.
“Just After Sunset” – The fifth collection of short stories by Stephen King, “Just After Sunset” gathers 13 tales that will leave readers feeling a little less secure whenever shadows invade their environment. Stories include “The Gingerbread Girl,” set on a remote key in Florida; “Ayana,” in which a blind girl works a miracle with a kiss and the touch of her hand; and “N.”, in which a psychiatric patient’s irrational thinking might create an apocalyptic threat in the Maine countryside ... or keep the world from falling victim to it. Available now from Scribner.
Fantasy
“The Way of Shadows” – Brent Weeks’ debut novel, the first in the Night Angel trilogy, focuses on Durzo Blint for whom assassination is an art. Blint happens to be the city’s most accomplished artist, his talents required from alleyway to courtly boudoir. Azoth, on the other hand, is a guild rat who’s grown up in the slums and learned the hard way to judge people quickly. Azoth seeks to become Blint’s apprentice, but to be accepted, he must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. Available now from Orbit Books.
“Orcs” – The “Orcs” omnibus collects Stan Nicholl’s trilogy into one edition. Told from the viewpoint of the Orcs, this book will forever change readers’ perception of fantasy’s persistent bad guys. Available now from Orbit Books.
Mystery and Suspense
“Moriarty” – Author John Gardner revisits Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis in his third book centering on Moriarty. It is the turn of the century and, having survived the struggle with Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls, Professor Moriarty is alive and well and about to realize his plans to establish crime syndicates in the major cities of the United States when he is called back to London. His vast criminal society has been overrun by a rival concern led by the shadowy Sir Jordan Jack Idell, a supposed gentleman hoodlum.
Science Fiction
“Use of Weapons” – Iain M. Banks delivers this novel featuring the man known as Cheradenine Zakalwe, one of Special Circumstances’ foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks and military action. A woman called Diziet Sma plucked him from obscurity and pushed him toward his present eminence, but despite all their dealings she did not know him as well as she thought. Available now from Orbit Books.
“Ender in Exile” – After 23 years, Orson Scott Card returns to his acclaimed bestselling series with the first true, direct sequel to the classic “Ender’s Game.” In “Ender’s Game,” the world’s most gifted children were taken from their families and sent to an elite training school. At Battle School, they learned combat, strategy and secret intelligence to fight a dangerous war on behalf of those left on Earth. But they also learned some important and less definable lessons about life. After the life-changing events of those years, these children – now teenagers – must leave the school and readapt to life in the outside world. Available now from Tor Books.
Young Adult
“The Twilight Saga” – Stephenie Meyer authored this popular series of four vampire-based fantasy/romance novels. The story follows Isabella Swan, a teenager who falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. The books are available individually or in a box set which includes all four hardcover novels and four collectible prints. Available now from Little, Brown Young Readers.
“The Tales of Beedle the Bard” – Mentioned in the seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the book was penned by author J.K. Rowling and was originally intended to be limited to seven handmade copies. Fan disappointment led to the decision to make it available in standard and collector’s editions which will feature commentary and footnotes from Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, illustrations reproduced from the handwritten edition auctioned in December 2007, and the introduction by the author. The limited collector’s edition will feature 10 illustrations by J.K. Rowling not included in the standard edition or the original handcrafted edition, as well as an exclusive reproduction of J.K. Rowling’s handwritten introduction, and other miscellaneous objects such as replica gemstones and an emerald ribbon. Available Dec. 4 from Scholastic and Amazon.com.
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Article published on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008
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