djay's 999 Challenge

I’ve started this late (not really been hanging around LT much (to my shame)) so I don’t know how far I’ll get with this. There may be a few crossovers by the end and a bit of cheating along the way (ie. Books I’ve read this year but prior to writing this list) so I hope I’ll be forgiven.

Here's the categories:

1. A feast of Feist - Now I’ve picked up Wrath of a Mad God it’s time for a re-read (9/9)
2. Why haven’t I read this yet? (and I profess to be a Sci-Fi/Fantasy fan) (9/9)
3. And now for something completely different – stuff I don’t usually think of but I might enjoy (9/9)
4. Watching the detectives - Mysteries, Thrillers, Crime etc. (9/9)
5. Book watch – had a film or tv series connected to the work (9/9)
6. Frying Tonight - Stephen Fry and related (9/9)
7. New in Sci-Fi & Fantasy - New books in this genre (released within the last couple of years or so) (9/9)
8. Impulse buys and recommends (9/9)
9. Continuations - Next book(s) in a series (9/9)

Please note that categories and titles listed are subject to change without prior notice. I'm evil like that. I'll be populating the sections as I go along but if you feel like recommending something for me then I won't mind one bit.

* will denote that I’ve read it




Well, I've gone and done it now. Changed a category or two that is. Combined New Sci-Fi and Fantasy into one and added Frying tonight.

19/4 - Moved a few books around the categories and changed #9 into Continuations because I've liked a few starter books and want to read more.

12/8 Changed my user name to AHS-Wolfy from djay666

1. A feast of Feist - Now I’ve picked up Wrath of a Mad God it’s time for a re-read

1.1 King of Foxes *
1.2 Exiles Return *
1.3 Flight of the Nighthawks *
1.4 Into a Dark Realm *
1.5 Wrath of a Mad God *
1.6 Faerie Tale *
1.7 Daughter of the Empire (dual author credit with Janny Wurts) *
1.8 Servant of the Empire (dual author credit with Janny Wurts) *
1.9 Mistress of the Empire (dual author credit with Janny Wurts) *

2. Why haven’t I read this yet? (and I profess to be a Sci-Fi/Fantasy fan)

2.1 Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card *
2.2 The Forever War by Joe Haldeman *
2.3 Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut *
2.4 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley *
2.5 Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke *
2.6 The Complete Robot by Isaac Asimov *
2.7 The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury *
2.8 Triplanetary by E. E. 'Doc' Smith *
2.9 The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis *

3. And now for something completely different – stuff I don’t usually read but think I might enjoy.

3.1 Catch-22 by Joseph Heller *
3.2 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson *
3.3 Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami *
3.4 Read All About It: Great Moments in the History of Manchester City *
3.5 Millenium People by J. G. Ballard *
3.6 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho *
3.7 Heart of Darkness & Other Stories by Joseph Conrad *
3.8 Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson *
3.9 Animal Farm by George Orwell *

4. Watching the detectives - Mysteries, Thrillers, Crime etc.

4.1 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson *
4.2 The Best of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle *
4.3 Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg *
4.4 Ratcatcher by James McGee *
4.5 Tokyo Year Zero by David Peace *
4.6 Avenger by Frederick Forsyth *
4.7 Dissolution by C. J. Sansom *
4.8 Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith *
4.9 Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith *

5. Book watch – had a film or tv series connected to the work

5.1 The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko *
5.2 Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay *
5.3 The Princess Bride by William Goldman *
5.4 I Am Legend by Richard Matheson *
5.5 Stardust by Neil Gaiman *
5.6 High Fidelity by Nick Hornby *
5.7 The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper *
5.8 The Beach by Alex Garland *
5.9 Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden *

6. Frying Tonight - Stephen Fry and related

6.1 The Liar by Stephen Fry *
6.2 The Hippopotamus *
6.3 Making History *
6.4 The Stars' Tennis Balls *
6.5 Moab is my Washpot *
6.6 Paperweight *
6.7 The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse *
6.8 Carry on Jeeves *
6.9 Stephen Fry in America *

7. New in Sci-Fi & Fantasy- New books in this genre (released within the last couple of years or so)

7.1 Myth-Fortunes by Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye *
7.2 The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie *
7.3 Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch *
7.4 Memoirs of a Master Forger by William Heaney *
7.5 The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
7.6 The Painted Man by Peter Brett *
7.7 The Vast Spread of the Seas by Fuyumi Ono *
7.8 Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn *
7.9 The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway *

8. Impulse buys and recommends

8.1 Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Rec) *
8.2 The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker (Rec) *
8.3 Storm Front (Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher (Rec) *
8.4 Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson (Rec) *
8.5 The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts (Imp) *
8.6 Generation X by Douglas Coupland (Imp) *
8.7 The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall (Imp) *
8.8 Quite Ugly One Morning by Christopher Brookmyre (Imp) *
8.9 Netherland by Joseph O'Neill (Imp) *

9. Continuations - Next book(s) in a series

9.1 Resurrectionist by James McGee *
9.2 Rapscallion by James McGee *
9.3 Fool Moon by Jim Butcher *
9.4 Grave Peril by Jim Butcher *
9.5 Before They Were Hanged by Joe Abercrombie *
9.6 Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie *
9.7 Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko *
9.8 Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko *
9.9 The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson *

Welcome. And thanks for the reminder, albeit unintentional, that I wanted to read The Forever War soon. I really like the latest cover I saw on it in the store (yup, shallow).

Thanks for the welcome and are you sure it was unintentional? ;)

Ha! Pretty sure, unless:

A) All that sf/fantasy reading has given you superpowers beyond the ken of mortal man, or
B) You were in the receiving area of a bookstore in Wisconsin the other day when I mentioned it to fellow employees -- the only place and time I have ever verbalized my desire to read Haldeman!

Thanks for the giggle. Well, snort, really. :-)

Welcome! I envy you reading Ender's Game for the first time. I still remember discovering OSC. Hope you enjoy it.

Last couple of days have seen my categories starting to get a bit more populated to get some kind of idea what I'll be reading over the coming months. With the obvious exception of the first category I will try and avoid duplicating authors. That doesn't mean to say that if I find an author I like I won't buy more from them. Just that they will not be added to this project.

Finished reading Into a Dark Realm so now moving onto Wrath of a Mad God

Managed to get in a solid 4 hours of reading while in work this morning so I've now finished Wrath of a Mad God.

A satisfying conclusion to the Darkwar trilogy. As usual with these instalments we are made to reassess a few 'truths' from earlier episodes in this ongoing series but there are a few loose ends that get tied up nicely in this volume.

Read The Liar by Stephen Fry and loved it. Everything you would expect from the inimitable Mr. Fry. The intelligence of the man shines through in this debut novel and his renowned humour has you giggling and laughing out loud as you become entwined in the story not knowing quite what to believe as it unfolds.

Finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. An easy to read fictional account of a drug fuelled 'trip' to Vegas to supposedly cover a sporting event and subsequently a Police convention on drugs. All this and more set to a search for the American Dream makes this a dark comedy not to be missed.

2 more books read.

First up was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It was a quick and easy story to get through but it didn't do anything for me. Guess I'm not the spiritual type.

The other book was more enjoyable for me. I wanted a change so picked up Ratcatcher by James McGee. I'd bought volume 3 as an impulse buy not realising that it was part of an ongoing series (no mention on either the front or back cover). Decided to hold off on reading that and subsequently ordered this one. Now I shall have to purchase Resurrectionist as well as I quite enjoyed the tale unfolded by Mr. McGee. It was my first foray into historical crime fiction and won't be my last.

Two slim volumes read today. Slaughterhouse 5 was an interesting anti-war themed story that incorporated time travel and alien abduction. Not something I intend to re-read and doubtful it will remain on my bookshelf for too long. The same can probably be said for Animal Farm. The latter is more deserving of a classic status though and this may just save it from the charity shop.

Just finished another fantastic book that I probably wouldn't have read if I wasn't doing this challenge. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson really does deserve the praise it's had since it was released. Such a shame the author didn't live long enough to enjoy it's success.

The story is a mystery/crime thriller based around a cold case of a missing (presumed dead) girl of a wealthy Swedish industrial family. The plot is probably not wholly original (I don't read enough of this genre to be certain) but the characters are engaging and the pacing is perfect. I didn't want to put this one down and was glad I had the time over the last couple of nights in work to devote to it.

Read Storm Front by Jim Butcher and found it quite enjoyable. A pulp noirish tale in an urban fantasy setting. Plenty of magical goings on, mostly aimed at the hero of the story, with vampires and demons making an appearance. The back story and interaction of the main and subsidiary characters are dealt with well bringing it all into a cogent environment for the investigative wizard to inhabit. Will grab the next couple of books in the series to see how this one progresses and may even be tempted to look in on the ill-fated tv series they made from it.

Some classic Sci-Fi in the shape of The Martian Chronicles was my next read. A collection of tales (some of only a few paragraphs in length) which were put together to form an overview of man's attempt to colonise the red planet. Showing its age slightly in some of the issues it addresses but still a good read.

Also read Fool Moon, the 2nd in The Dresden Files series. Lots more hinting at Harry's back-story which I'm sure will be explored further as this unfolds. I will be continuing with at least the next few at some point in time but need to at least wait for Grave Peril to be delivered first.

Finished the first book in a fairly new fantasy series called The First Law by Joe Abercrombie. Considering the size of the book, nothing momentous really happens in The Blade Itself it's more about setting up the characters and the overall scene than anything else.

It's a dark fantasy where most of the main characters are multi-dimensional and have believable motivations for who they are. Whether it's vying for more power in the political arena or just surviving another day.

Will continue with the next book as it definitely has promise (now I just have to order it and await its arrival).

My continuations category has taken a double hit with Resurrectionist and Grave Peril.

Resurrectionist finds our hero, Matthew Hawkwood, on the trail of a group of body snatchers and a mad surgeon. Didn't think this one was quite up to the same level as the first in the series, Ratcatcher but it wasn't a bad story by any means. It just didn't seem to advance the interaction of the main protagonist with the subsidiary characters much at all.

Grave Peril on the other hand sees The Dresden Files progressing quite nicely. Not only is Harry getting (quite literally) spooked by angry ghosts but has to deal with his none too kindly fairy godmother and a vampire boss lady looking to get revenge for previous interferences by the intrepid wizard. Harry has to stay alive and protect his friends as best as he can while trying to unearth exactly what is going on. Overall, quite a good story and sets up book 4 very well.

Edited because I really should read what I typed before I submit it.

I read Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and enjoyed it thouroughly. A very quick and easy read with excellent insight into character traits. Contains some LOL moments and remains humourous throughout.

The 2nd book of The First Law series, Before They Were Hanged by Joe Abercrombie was the next one off my TBR pile. A fantasy tale where even the heroes have their darker side. Two wars being fought at the same time as a band of disparate folk quest for lost magic. Add to that the grasping hands of politicians trying to grab hold of more power and conspiracies galore to thicken the plot. Looking forward to completing the trilogy although I might slip something a little lighter inbetween times.

Two more to the completed pile. Paperweight by Stephen Fry and Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie.

If you like Stephen Fry (and I do) then you will enjoy reading the majority of the contents of this collection of his work. It's mostly made up of his journalistic endeavours for radio and periodicals with a short Sherlock Holmes story and a two-act play thrown in to boot. Not something you can devour in big chunks but take in piecemeal. I found myself reading an article while waiting for the kettle to boil for example.

Secondly saw the conclusion of The First Law trilogy. An excellent end to a pretty good series. All the loose ends are tied up pretty well while leaving the very end open for further adventures if desired. Rather than taking the simple good vs. evil theme of many like-minded fantasy series this one has characters which contain elements of both so the good guys don't always wear their white hats. Motivations become clear for what has been built over the previous two books with a few surprises being thrown into the mix for this final instalment.

Two equally strange but completely different books added to the read pile.

The Raw Shark Texts uses the familiar to go to somewhere new. Starts off like Memento and ends up like Jaws. A man wakes up not knowing who or where he is. He finds his driving license and a note that he's apparently left for himself telling him who he is and to call a specific Doctor. I was a little put off at first with little things nagging about the actions of the main character. He'd forgotten everything but still knew how to cook and drive a car, things like that. But as the mystery deepened I didn't care about that anymore and just wanted to know what happened next. A great book which deserves wider acclaim.

Kafka on the Shore is the first Murakami book I've read but it will certainly not be the last. A fantastical, magical mystery of a story woven around a 15 year old boy running away from home and an aged man who, due to an 'accident' when he was younger, is not very bright. As with a lot of Japanese media the ending is left somewhat open to interpretation but I've seen a fair few anime shows to be used to that so I was not disappointed with how it finished.

Really enjoyed The Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. Like the first book in the series this one is also split into 3 tales but this one differs in that they follow a different primary character for each story. They do lead nicely from one to the next though. In this instalment you get to learn more of how the other side lives and why the Dark Others do what they do. If you have a liking for the darker fantasy worlds then I would recommend this series heartily (though you should read The Night Watch first.

Seeing as I don't yet have the third book of that series I picked out something a little lighter and read The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. I'd only read one of the 7 stories way back when so when I saw this edition being sold off cheap (just £2) I couldn't resist adding it to my library. Brings out the child in every one.

I've also finished off Stephen Fry in America. A companion piece to the TV series (which I haven't yet seen) follows the wonderful Mr. Fry as he travels to each and every one of the fifty states of the US. Because he could have been born an American (read the intro), Stephen wants to discover what it's all about. The people he meets, the places he sees and the things he does are described with the usual mix of intelligence and humour associated with this lovable man that you would just love to have gone along for the ride in the back of his London cab.

Rapscallion, the third in the Matthew Hawkwood series by James McGee, is an historical fiction novel woven from actual happenings at the time. Set against the Napoleonic wars this particular story deals with an investigation into escaping prisoners of war and on to a huge smuggling operation. Hawkwood is sent in undercover to the hulks (converted Royal Navy ships which are used to hold an over abundance of the aforementioned prisoners) to try and find out what's been going on from the inside. Another enjoyable tale on the further exploits of this particular Bow Street Runner.

I've also read a couple more for my book watch category and must say I think I enjoyed the films more than the books. Not that either of the books were bad just that the movies had been adapted exceedingly well.

The Princess Bride by William Golden would probably rate higher if I had not seen and loved the movie so much prior to reading the book. The movie follows the book exactly so if you've seen or read one you know what happens next throughout. The only thing the book has that the movie doesn't are embedded notes from the author. The book itself is written as though the author is adapting an earlier (and much more cumbersome) tome to make it more accessible experience and these notes explain what's been missed out from the non-existent original work.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson takes a different approach in that the only thing the movie takes from the book is the basic premise of the main protagonist (Robert Neville) being the last man alive. The movie deals more with the external threats to his continued survival whereas the book details the internal struggle over the death of everyone he has known and loved and his utter loneliness that takes him to the depths of despair. It's a very good story so why do I prefer the film? Probably because I saw it prior to reading the book and expected something similar in plot line. I have a feeling that I may come to appreciate this book more with a future re-read.

*edited for Touchstones

Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist is totally different from his other works residing more than a little in the horror genre than just straight up fantasy. Excellent use of Celtic mythology within a modern day setting. Extremely well written and my admiriation for Mr. Feist has risen a notch after reading this one. Though it does make me wonder why he keeps returning to the safe environs of Midkemia/Kelewan when this solo effort is so accomplished. More variety please Mr.F.!

Also read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. Well worthy of the praise it's been receiving since its release. As soon as I read the prologue I ordered the second volume of The Gentleman Bastard series which goes to show how much I enjoyed the author's style. Considering that this is Mr. Lynch's debut novel I am very impressed indeed. Locke Lamora may even surpass Jimmy the Hand as my all-time greatest literary thief. *Goes off to check the mailbox to see if the sequel has arrived yet*

Next up was Dissolution by C.J. Sansom. It's the first in a series of historical mystery novels with Matthew Shardlake as the main character. The London lawyer is sent by Cromwell to a monastery to investigate the murder of a commissioner who had previously been set the task of closing the monastery down. Plenty of suspects and an increasing body count make this an enjoyable tale.

The Complete Robot by Isaac Asimov brings together a collection of short stories featuring robots at their core. They are grouped into like-minded sections with each being prefaced with an introduction from Asimov himself. Because the book traverses quite a timeline some of these tales are now quite dated and because they are short there isn't much room for character development. Nevertheless, I found the majority of these stories enjoyable with their themes quite evident and in some cases poignant. The novella that closes the book (The Bicentennial Man) even brought a lump into my throat (and please do your best to expunge that dreadful Hollow Wood production from your mind).

I also managed to complete Heart of Darkness & Other Stories by Joseph Conrad. I very nearly gave up on this after reading Youth and Heart of Darkness itself but I'm glad I persevered and read the final instalment of the three: The End of the Tether. I really didn't like the style of the writing of the first two but I enjoyed the latter so much more. Whether the third was longer and so more of the characters came through or if it was less symbolic than the others and thus had more feeling I'm not quite sure.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman is a fairy tale for adults. I'd already seen the movie so knew what to expect from the book. Of course there were going to be differences arranged to suit the medium of storytelling employed but these were handled deftly in both. Neil Gaiman is an excellent storyteller and this book is not the exception to that rule as he brings the world of Faerie to life in his own unique way. Adding enough depth to the stock in trade characters of many another tale to give them a new lease of life in this story of love and adventure.

Scott Lynch does it again with the continuation of The Gentleman Bastard series, Red Seas Under Red Skies. Another enthralling tale that gets hard to follow over just who's screwing who. There's a lot going on in this book but I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora. The interaction between Locke and Jean is staggeringly good and contains many laughs and poignant touches to keep the pages turning. Please Mr. Lynch, don't keep us waiting too long for the next instalment after giving us that particular ending.

The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse is a collection of short stories concerning the trials and tribulations of Bertie Wooster and friends and the advice and guidance from Jeeves to get them out of the various scrapes in which they find themselves. A running theme of romantic entaglements provides the majority of the troubles. Reading along you can't help but see Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in the title roles, the TV series was so well cast.

Read All About It: Great Moments in the History of Manchester City is another collection, this time of sports reports taken from newspapers covering the high points of Manchester City's history from 1904 - 2008. My favourite is the 1956 FA Cup final in which goalkeeper Bert Trautman played the last 15 minutes with a broken neck another player played the full game with a displaced bone in his leg and two others had to have shots of Novacaine before the game. Can you imagine any of today's prima donna's doing something like that?

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper is a classic adventure set in the time of the North American Wars of the mid 18th century. I found the first couple of chapters really hard going but I'm glad I persevered with this one. Whether it was that I got used to the style of writing or that this is where the story picks up and continues at a fairly unrelenting pace I'm not sure. I wonder if I should try out the rest of this series.

For the next in-between times reading I selected the next Jeeves collection, Carry On, Jeeves. Each of the stories generally follow the same pattern but are written well enough not to seem too repetitive. This volume contains a twist at the end with the final story being narrated by Jeeves himself and gives an alternative viewpoint for the reader to consider.

Netherland by Joseph O'Neill is a plot-less narrative that has you caring about the central character and the events that transpire over the course of the book. It's probably the most reflective story I've ever read and makes use of flashback sequences to let you know how the narrator got to a certain point in his life and why he feels the way he does. This one certainly won't be for everyone. The mere mention of cricket will put a lot of people off from reading this which is a shame as the sporting aspect is only a background item used to bring certain characters together rather than infuse the story.

The Painted Man by Peter Brett is not too bad an opening for a series as it sets up the back story of the main characters in some depth. While this book doesn't contain anything startlingly original it does a good job of world building and has enough dramatic encounters to keep you wanting to read more. The obligatory big battle ends this chapter of the story but there is enough to bring me back when the second volume is released.

The Hippopotamus by Stephen Fry is the second of his novels I've read so far. Didn't enjoy this one as much as I did The Liar though the ending is superior to his debut effort. It's not that I didn't like this one, as I did, it's just that the story didn't grab me as much this time around. Much of the 'goings on' are detailed through letters written by the characters and this works well in setting the scene and with the mind-set of the people involved. Not one I'd recommend to the faint of heart as the sex is gratuitous and shocking but the tale is written with much intelligence and humour as you would expect from this author.

Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke is a well described story of Mankind's first alien encounter. Although this book is over 35 years old it didn't feel dated in either its writing style or ideas generated and rightly deserves its classic SF rating.

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is a crime thriller set in Stalinist Russia where you have to have a guilty party to hand before you can admit that a crime has been committed. So what happens when a serial killer is uncovered and the authorities refuses to acknowledge he exists. Leo Demidov believed totally in the State but teh State didn't believe in him. Shunted off to the sticks for refusing to denounce his wife, the life he knew falls apart. Having hit rock bottom he decides that the only way to save himself and those he loves is to find the killer and stop him from committing any more murders. A great debut novel and will be looking out for the sequel.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a classic satire on the madness of war and those involved in it. You have to be crazy to keep flying missions so how do you get out of it? You ask not to fly anymore. The problem is that this proves you're not crazy so you have to keep flying. Thus the original Catch 22 situation. Hilarious in parts whilst also tugging on the heart strings.

The Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko is the third in The Night Watch series and follows the same formula as the previous two. Containing three stories that are linked together to provide a coherent whole and giving further insight into the activities of both Watches and the Inquisition. Part fantasy, part horror and part detective story that I would recommend to anyone interested in any of these genres (though you really need to start at the beginning of the series to appreciate it fully).

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson is another excellent continuation of a series and one which has been hyped up (and deservedly so imo) quite a lot. It carries on from shortly after its predecessor with Lisbeth Salander enjoying her new found freedom and independence and Millennium magazine and Mikael Blomqvist taking on another huge exposé centring around the sex trafficking trade. Things become complicated when the main protagonists paths cross again with Lisbeth being implicated in three murders. This sets off a chain of four separate investigations: Lisbeth's own, Blomqvist/Millennium's, the police and Armansky's so the pace never lets up. The only bad thing about reading this book is that I now have a while to wait for the third instalment to be released. It's going to seem like an eternity.

This now means I've finished my first category. Yay!!!

Congrats on finishing your first category!

Thanks. I'm actually quite surprised how well this challenge is going for me. I've never previously tracked my reading so wasn't even sure that I'd be able to complete this at all. I still have a few chunky ones to get through though so I'm not counting my chickens just yet.

Finished off a short story collection with The Best of Sherlock Holmes which contains 20 tales from the legendary detective. 12 of these were chosen by Conan Doyle himself as being his own best collection. In reading this collection I've realised that I'm not really fond of detective stories in the short form, preferring much more detailed novels instead. Having the clues almost rammed down your throat leaves little suspense in how things are going to turn out.

Much more to my liking was Making History by Stephen Fry. Presenting an alternate history where Hitler was never born allowing a much worse protagonist to rise to power instead. The first half of the book takes us through some history of young Adolf as well as describing the present day of the main character (a grad student at Cambridge). The second part shows us his attempts at dealing with the change and trying to rectify what he'd done. An intelligent and humorous novel as one would expect from this author.

Neither Here Nor There has been my first encounter with the wit of Mr. Bryson and I hope it won't be my last. This book deals with his travels around Europe retracing a journey he had made some 20 years earlier. His witty observations and often hilariously made-up conversations between people he sees but rarely interacts with (on account of him not speaking a language other than English) are a joy to read. Not really a travel book more of a fun time detailed by a traveller.

When reading a book like Brave New World I think it's important to remember when it was written. In this case pre-dating WWII. Huxley creates a world where everyone is conditioned to be happy with their lot in life allowing minimal change to occur in their daily routine. Into this system he then brings the savage with all the resultant chaos his interaction with the ordered civilisation brings. I'm glad I've read it but I'm not sure that I'll read it again.

Memoirs of a Geisha tells the life-story of a young girl sold to a geisha house and her subsequent trials and tribulations on her way to becoming successful in what she does. Saw the film a while ago and have been wanting to read the book ever since so I finally got round to it. I'm certainly glad I did as, like in most cases, the book delves deeper into the motivations and feelings than the film ever could.

Read the prequel to the Otori series, Heaven's Net is Wide by Lian Hearn and while it's good to go back to a story you enjoy it dampens the enthusiasm when you know the ending. That's how I felt when I picked up this book and it's taken me a year to actually get round to reading it. Having said that I did enjoy this book for what it was. It fleshes out characters, events and motivations for the rest of the novels as well as being a good story in its own right. There really isn't much of a fantasy element in this book as dealings with the tribe are fairly minimal but it does describe how Shigeru (the main character) became interested in them and how he learnt so much about them. Recommended to those who've enjoyed the rest of the series or to those looking to add a fantasy element into some historical fiction.

Sticking with fantasy, I've started on the Empire trilogy with Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. I've read all the other books from the series is based upon but for some unknown reason I've never picked up this one before now. I guess you could say it was worth the wait as it was certainly an enjoyable read. Set entirely on Kelewan this book details what it means to become embroiled in the Game of the Council and the consequences for those who serve its players. I don't know how the writing duties were split but it was not what I would call a regular Feist riftwar book and so far I've not had the pleasure of reading any of Janny Wurts' solo efforts so can't compare on that score. But after reading this book I intend to rectify this oversight in the not too distant future. Will just have to finish this series first though.

Another first in a series book was my next read. Triplanetary by E.E. 'Doc' Smith kicks off the Lensman series which I've wanted to check out ever since reading Heinlein's Number of the Beast. I very nearly chose a category for next year's challenge based on the worlds featured in this book. Perhaps this wasn't the best to start off with as it's more of a #0 being published after many of the others and is used to describe how things came to be in the universes in which this story is set. Not great but not wholly un-enjoyable either so will at some point continue with the series.

Falling Angel by William Hjortsberg has been the first book I've read that is classed as Noir. My experiences in this sub-genre have previously been limited to the visual media. I thought this would be a good place to start due to the supernatural/fantasy element of the story. I didn't realise there had been a film adaptation but it certainly doesn't surprise me (Not giving the film title in case it spoils the book for those who haven't read it yet - if you want to know then go look at reviews on Amazon). The tale starts off as an ordinary missing person case for the private detective but soon develops into something much more sinister as the hero encounters voodoo and other black magic practitioners during his investigation. This novel is very atmospheric and the plot rushes along to its ultimate conclusion with the turning of each page. Excellent stuff.

Back to the Empire trilogy with Servant of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. Took me a while to get into this book but once it got going then it's equally as good as the first volume. This one deals with Mara's exposure to Kelewan values when she has bought some Kingdom slaves, one of which becomes very close to her personally. New ideas are brought to bear in confrontations with her enemies and in the Game of the Council. Huge scope and developing characters make this series a worthwhile investment.

Moab is My Washpot is the first autobigraphy I've ever read. Stephen Fry is probably best known as an actor (Jeeves) and TV Presenter (QI) and this book details in intimate detail the first 20 years of his life. Its a great read being both tragic and comedic often at the same time. The only disappointment is that it doesn't go on to cover his time at Cambridge. Hopefully there will, at some time, be a continuance with a second volume.

Found another author I definitely want to read more of in the future in J.G. Ballard. Finished Millennium People and am really surprised by mostly negative reviews for this work. I found it a very enjoyable read. A revolution from the Chelsea middle-class society is used as a backdrop for a look at how the world can be shaken by random acts of violence. From a bomb in an airport to the murder of a TV celebrity. Motiveless crimes that need to be analysed so we can reassure ourselves that it won't happen to us. While there is a mystery element to the plot, it's not too difficult to guess who was responsible but that's not the point of this book.

The first book on this challenge that I haven't liked at all is Tokyo Year Zero by David Peace. I thought the setting would prove interesting and the author seems to be generally well regarded so thought I'd give him a go with this one. Unfortunately I'll have to say this will be my only experience of his work. It's all just too grim and the style of writing did nothing to alleviate my distaste for this novel. It really was a struggle to pick this up and read a bit more and I could only stomach this in small doses. Reading, to me at least, is supposed to be an enjoyable way to relax and get lost in a story. The only reason I think I finished this book was to make sure I never go back to it.

Finished off the Empire trilogy by reading Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurts. I wonder why it's taken me so long to actually read these? I loved Magician (the forerunner to this series) and still count it as one of my favourite books and have read pretty much all the other books from this setting so why not these remains a mystery. Anyway, that oversight has now been rectified and means I really want to read some of Janny's solo books as well. This volume provides an excellent conclusion to a terrific series that certainly helps your understanding of the brief glimpses of Tsurani culture gleaned from the other books.

Another collaborative effort just read was Myth-Fortunes by Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye. It's a continuation of the Myth Inc. storyline and features pretty much the whole gang at some point in the story although the focus is mainly on Skeeve and Aahz. This time around Aahz gets the company involved in a pyramid scheme so naturally there is an Egyptian setting to this book. While this addition to the series didn't make me laugh out loud there was enough humour in the story and dialogue to make this a quick and easy read and the quotes that head each chapter never fail to bring a smile. Now that Bob is no longer with us, we'll have to wait and see how the series progresses under the care of JLN.

Swapped in Avenger by Frederick Forsyth because it fitted in with another challenge as well. Bought this book as part of a box-set called Thrill Seekers, unfortunately, this one isn't really all that thrilling. Don't get me wrong, it's not that bad a story but just seems very formulaic. The pace is fast and the lead character is a decent enough guy to hang your hat on. Overall, an ok read but I expected better from someone of Frederick Forsyth's stature.

The Beach on the other hand is an excellent read and, imo, thouroughly deserves the usual praise associated with it. A compelling tale of the breakdown of a utopian society in a paradise environment. Told from the POV of a seasoned traveller we get to witness his descent into madness and it's very easy to get engrossed in this book. I think the short chapters help in that respect as well.

The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts. Have wanted to read one of her works for a while now and reading the collaborative Empire trilogy (with Raymond E. Feist) only cemented that wish. While this was not an easy read it was certainly a worthwhile one. Two half-brothers brought up on opposite sides of a family at war are forced together when they find themselves banished to a world that needs both of their gifts to overcome the resident evil of their world (The Mistwraith of the title). Grudging respect and then admiration blossoms between the pair before the curse is laid upon them and old hatreds are intensified in heading to the climactic battle at the end. Battles between the dark and the light are given a new twist in this epic fantasy tale with detailed characters and the landscape is brought vividly to life. An excellent opening to a series that I want to read more of though I will let this one settle for a while before I do.

Dexter is one of the few tv shows that I've been following so I've now got round to buying the first 3 books in an omnibus edition. Darkly Dreaming Dexter is the first in the series and the basic plot is pretty much the same as the show. I think it's difficult for me to be objective about the book but I'll say it's not too bad overall. The dark humour is still there and that's what saves it from being just another anti-hero novel. The supporting characters are all totally different (his sister Debs as a Playboy model looks-wise just doesn't fit and the only real interaction in the department is between the siblings and LeGuerta whose charater has changed considerably). I'll carry on with the other books and see how it goes but if I ever want to return to this part of the series then it will be to the TV show that I go and not the book.

Glad to see your opinion on Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Wolfy. I've also been rather darkly fascinated by the TV show, and have wondered whether I should read the books, though I've felt little inclination to do so.

I've finished off the 2nd and 3rd books in the series as I'd bought the omnibus edition so thought I might as well and I have to say that the story does pick up quite well. Though it takes a different tack to the TV show (I should say that the other way round really) the overall dark humour is still prevalent throughout and that's what really makes this series worth sticking with in both incarnations. I still prefer the TV show but I will at some point also pick up book 4.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card has been another excellent addition to my reading list from this year. A classic tale of war in space and the young boy who has been selected to command Earth's forces in a battle to the death. This is a fast paced story that deals with the forced maturation of a genius child that is tested to his limits and beyond by use of battle games and simulations. Not only is he forced to learn the technologies and strategies he will need but also endure the loneliness brought on by the envy, jealousy and awe of his peers. Added to all this is the realisation that everyone believes he is the last hope of victory in the war against the buggers.

Just wish that I'd first read this 20 or even 30 years ago (so what if it wasn't even published then).

Do you plan on continuing in the Ender series? I really enjoyed Ender's Shadow.

With a book that good, how could I not? Don't have the next volume handy though so it might be a while before I continue with it. Already have over 130 books on my tbr pile but I still keep finding reasons to add to it. *sigh*

I completely understand!

By the way, you don't have to read Ender's Shadow in series order - it won't ruin or spoil anything for you. It's told in parallel to Ender's Game but from the viewpoint of another boy at battle school. It's the only other Ender book I've read although my husband likes them all.

Finished off the Stephen Fry category by reading The Stars' Tennis Balls. It's a re-working of the story of The Count of Monte Cristo so if you know anything of that tale you will know what happens in this one though it has been updated to the modern era. Basically, a young witless fop who just happens to be good at everything he does is betrayed by his friends and fate and ends up sequestered in an asylum for the next ten years of his life. Wherein he is taken under the wing of another of that establishments inmates and given an education into the finer points of life such as chess, languages and philosophy. Upon his escape he seeks revenge on those that put him there and cost him the love of his life. This is a wonderful homage to Alexandre Dumas and though I've enjoyed the other literary work of Mr. Fry this one surpasses the others by a long way.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman is a first person account of an 1100 year war (although due to time dilation it only lasts 10 years for the narrator) between humans and an alien species. Starting out while still in training it moves on to the first encounter pretty quickly. Having survived this he returns to a radically altered socio-political environment on Earth. Unable to re-adjust he returns to active duty supposedly as an instructor but is immediately disabused of this notion and transferred into a combat unit. Wounded in his first action he is sent to a hospital planet to recuperate. Once again he learns of massive changes to the human way of life. At this time, being one of the oldest people alive and one of only a few survivors from the first wave he is sent as commander of a mission to the furthest reaches of space where he has to set up a base and hold off the enemy he will encounter. Shaped by the authors experiences of the Vietnam conflict it not only describes the futility of war but also touches on subjects such as economics, population control through sexual orientation and hypnotic conditioning of recruits. A fast paced corker of an SF classic.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson may necessitate a change to my 1010 Category challenge just so I can fit in the rest of the books in this series. Often in fantasy series you can pretty much predict what was going to happen next and who would survive until the end. With this one I didn't have a clue. From the beginning where you are plonked right into the middle of a continent spanning war to the final conclusion of this first volume of the Malazan series the pace just doesn't let up. You can really get lost in this book as there is very little in the way of exposition and the depth of the world system is truly staggering. I think you can probably tell that I liked this book.

Although Memoirs of a Master Forger is targeted at the Fantasy market I think that this does a great dis-service to this book as it will limit the amount of people that will get to read it and that really is a shame**. The fantasy element is a touch of magical realism as the autobiographical author, William Heaney*, can see demons. Not the slavering, big teeth and claws that'll rip you to shreds type of demon but those that cause all the little moments of suffering you encounter in your life. Flashbacks tell us how this came about and how it's shaped the life of our narrator. Ultimately, this is a warm-hearted, uplifting and moving story of life and how we choose to live it.

*a pseudonym of Graham Joyce

** Just learned that this book is getting re-branded as How to Make Friends with Demons and released under the author's real name so may get more exposure from that (I hope so).

The penultimate book in my challenge was really hard work but was it worthwhile? The Darkness That Comes Before by R.Scott Bakker is the start of a fantasy series that is generally well regarded but takes a long time to really get going. I was tempted to give up on this many times and only the sense that something greater was in the offing kept me at it. I guess that speaks well of the writing although grappling with some of the names really didn't help much in this respect. The world building is good and the darkness mentioned in the title is there in droves so I really should like this book but somehow I just didn't care enough about any of the central characters to enjoy it fully. It's still possible that I may, at some point, pick up the next volume in the series but I'm certainly in no rush to do so.

My challenge has ended on a high note. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss was a hugely enjoyable read. I've read some pretty good fantasy books this year and this is right up there with the best of them. It's another series starter book but unlike the previous book in this challenge I will certainly be continuing with this one when the next book is available. A début novel that is extremely well written with interesting characters and good world building allowing you to immerse yourself in the tale being told. I would feel happy recommending this to fantasy veterans and also to people looking to dip their toe into the genre for the first time.

I will provide a summary for the challenge overall in a short while.

Summary

Most of this list was put together about a month ago when I only had a few books still to read. It hasn't changed too much.

The best bits

1. A feast of Feist: Faerie Tale. An easy choice. I really wish he'd write more books away from his usual fare if they would be as good as this one.
2. Why haven’t I read this yet?: Ender's Game. Another fairly easy choice as Only The Forever War came close.
3. And now for something completely different: Kafka on the Shore. A couple of possibilities in this category but Kafka just edged it.
4. Watching the detectives: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Another stand out work that made this an easy selection even though there were other books I liked here.
5. Book watch: High Fidelity. A close call but the humour of this one just edges it.
6. Frying Tonight: The Stars' Tennis Balls. Only The Liar came even remotely close enough to making this a contest.
7. New in Sci-Fi & Fantasy: The Gone-Away World just edges this one which is a good achievement considering that it's a debut novel.
8. Impulse buys and recommends: The Lies of Locke Lamora. A stand out category which could have gone to any of 3 or 4 books
9. Continuations: The Girl Who Played with Fire. A second entry for Stieg Larsson so I guess that made him my author of the year.

Honourable mentions: Catch-22, The Night Watch, The Beach, The Raw Shark Texts, Gardens of the Moon, Quite Ugly One Morning and The Name of the Wind.

Best book overall: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Least favourite book: Tokyo Year Zero by David Peace

I started this challenge (my first on LT) not knowing if I could complete it or not as I'd never tracked my reading before. I've read some amazing books and very few that I didn't like. In conclusion I would just like to thank everyone who has participated in not just my own thread but all of them as it's been an inspiration for me. Thank you all.

Congratulations on finishing the challenge. Quite a few on your lists are favourites of mine or on my tbr pile. I'm a fan of the Ender series, it does get a little fanciful towards the end but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The goneaway world and The name of the wind are on my fantasy list for next year's 1010 challenge.
I'm currently reading The girl who kicked the hornet's nest and it looks like being a big finale. I only have 4 left to read for my challenge so better get back into it.