I'd just have to say . . . all. In SciFi/Fantasy, I've read Robert Jordan (Thanks LadyWendy) and R.A. Salvatore (Drizz't background for anyone who wants to know, check out his Dark Elf Trilogy) and many many Star Trek books. I know, not the best written books on the earth. Sad to say that I own about oh 350 of em. Got to be an adventure trying to find them in used bookstores to complete the collection. The Deep Space Nine Series was the best.
Anyways, Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is also fun reading. Anne McCaffery also populates my bookshelves quiet nicely. Anne Rice is also up there. I've also got an interesting Relious Section, with books on Christianity, Hinduism, Muslim, and a very interesting book on Indian Life call Sele, the Corn Mother. Other Favs are The Good Earth, Memoirs of a Geisha, and many others.

BK

You guys are killing my wallet. Borders Bookstore was real happy to see me walk in this afternoon. I dropped $20 there in about 10 minutes. Hobbs also got a little richer too.

Hey Yorick, Have you read "The Iron Lance" by Lawhead. It was the first one by him I read. I always enjoyed reading about the Crusades when I was young. I actually started reading to get out of class when I was in middle school. I use to love Andre Norton and Robert Heilien. I also enjoyed Biographies.

Hey Idiotrogue, I've read the Killer Angels. It was a great book! I have also read the one his son, Jeff, wrote as a sequel. It was as good as the first. If you would like to read some more obscure books on the Civil war, pick up a book on Nathan Beford Forrest or General John Morgan. They were two colorful charactors. Another one I'd recommend is "Season of Fire" by Joseph Judge. It's about the last Confederate Stike on Washington. I like to read the little known things about the Civil War anymore. Especially if they have a local flavor to them. Well off to read one of my new Hobb books.

BTW, I was trying to remember a series of books the I read in when I was 11 or 12. I can't remember their title or arthor, just what it was about. They dealt with two brothers and a sister that lived in England during the present and they were trying to bring back King Arther. Merlin was in the story and I think he was an Uncle or something and he didn't go by Merlin, but he could do magic. It was also set in Cornwell (I think). I'm trying to remember so I can get them for my daughter. If this rings a bell with anyone let me know.

Night all. Work starts tomorrow!

Has anyone read the Word and the Void books or the Demon wars or even Chronices of Ynis Aielle?

Moiraine, I applaud your quest in learning another language. I have tried to learn French and American Sign Language in high school and College, but am not very proficient at either. The Pern Series by Anne McCaffery is among her best, but what about her newer series? I can't remember what the titles are (I'm at work) but the gist of it is that Earth has been captured by a large cat-like race and the story is about a group of humans and humanoids getting put down on a "colony" along with a high up Cat and the struggle to survive. really good reading. Just wish I could remember the titles. Someone please help! Anyways, the Pern series is very well written. I've read through the first 4 about 5 or times. Good stuff!!

BK

Haven't you noticed that the best fantasy is quite always written by people either Irish, or of Irish origins ? Such a small island, such a great gift. Anyway, the music you write, Yorick, has a definite Irish feeling about it, and I have read that a great number of the first emigrants to Australia were coming from Ireland.

I find English a much more synthetic language than French (often an English word alone carries several meanings that can only be translated in French by a full expression).

I feel that French has a most subtle and rich vocabulary than English (more words with slightly different meanings to express a concept), but it may probably be due to the fact that I am surely more widely read in French. When I have read other kinds of books than Fantasy, especially poetry, I will perhaps have a more supported opinion.

I have yet to read English (not translated) poetry, so I have no opinion at the moment.

As to your last topic, Yorick, I can't wait to buy English-written history books !

Black knight, Anne Mc Caffrey writes in the Fantasy and SciFi domains. I have read only the Fantasy-related stuff (Pern, Crystal Singer, Acorna). My husband, though, has read the SciFi series, so I will maybe be able to give you an answer tomorrow.

I Also have read the entire Vampires Chronicles by Anne Rice, except for the most recent releases. I had to get rid of them though because my wife would not let me keep them when we got married. She doesn't like that sort of thing...(don't know why)...anyway, I read anything that is marked by Forgotten Realms. I am collecting the entire thing! (And keeping them in very good condition.)

I find it interesting the way poetic styles vary from culture to culture and era to era. Of course I've only read translations but Celtic and Hebrew poetic forms are vastly different from modern English poetry.

I have had a few good Poets as friends over the years (I myself write lyrics not poetry) and the statement was made that English was a poets dream and learners nightmare because of the many different words to describe something, from the many influences in English (Latin, Deutsch, Gaelic, Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew etc etc)

Take good for example:
Good, fine, wonderful, excellent, brilliant, marvelous, superb, super, fantastic, positive, unbelievable, stupendous, magnificent, lovely, nice, heavenly, beautiful, amazing, sublime, successful, adroit. And that's just from memory. (I'm sure a thesaurus has more)

Talieson: "That Devil Forrest" by John Allan Wyeth, a bio of Nathan Bedford Forrest; "One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry," the edited diaries/memoirs of John Worsham, a soldier under Stonewall Jackson's command; "Co. Aytch - a Side Show of the Big Show," the memoirs of a Tennessee private during the war; "Bold Dragoon" by Emory M Thomas, about J.E.B. Stuart and "The Passing of the Armies" by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (to name a few).

Speaking of naming a few (more): Raymond Chandler, PG Wodehouse, Tony Hillerman, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Weldy, Gary Larson, Bill Waterson (?-sp) - the fellow who did Calvin & Hobbs {how much space do I have here?}. Methinks this poll was mildly popular... LOL

I wrote my post before seeing your last reply Moiraine.
Yes, I find it astounding that such beauty has come from the Emerald Isle.

My family ultimately originated from Scotland (Fife, Mull and far north), Northern Ireland and Yorkshire (northern England). The similarity between York and Yorick I just noticed and is coincidental I assure you.

The music that stirs my soul the most is from those areas of the world, which probably explains the similarities.

I have to say I've been a bit selective in my reading the last couple of years..... so here's my top 4 authors that I've been reading.
1. Clive Barker (nobody does it better)
2. Tolkien (can't beat him for fantastic worlds)
3. Feist (haven't gotten past the Rift wars, but still)
4. Terry Pratchet (for shits and giggles)

And that's all I have to say about that