Books
Here’s a bit of the old reading list, as I’ve been able to indulge my wormtooth or whatever you want to call it.
Spiral
Koji Suzuki’s second in the Ring trilogy. Very well done, and I can’t wait for loop.
The Hopeful Traveller
My first Fiona Farrell book, and a chance to see Harry Head through her eyes. Great read, two books really readable from either end.
Neverwhere
Always liked Neil Gaiman in theory and in practice. Great romp through London and a beautiful, sometimes terrifying fantasy world.
Return to Paradise
James A. Michener’s book probably influenced me more than any other on the trip. A look at the various islands in Polynesia and the seed from which my forthcoming Polynesian adventure story was sprouted.
Dead Side of the Mike
Rather trashy and speed-read mystery novel set in the BBC. Nothing else to read I’m afraid.
Diary of a Nobody
Very funny classic which can actually be read for free online.
Vampire Hunter D
Much better than the anime, great illustrations and just a cool future-retro-goth romp through bad-assery and interesting vampire retellings.
Beak of the Moon
Phillip Temple’s astoundingly well-written adventure story about a young kea and his friends. Absolutely wonderful and helped fuel my kea-kraziness.
Dark of the Moon
Not really a sequel, but another kea adventure. Didn’t enjoy it as much as the first with the exception of it’s creation myth and references to the past. Still well worth a read.
Four Past Midnight
Four great short stories by the master, Stephen King. I had read a few of them before, and had seen translated to screen versions of the rest, but still well worth revisiting - especially in a ghost town!
Children of Cambodia’s Killing Fields
Eye-opening and heart-breaking short stories from the Khmer Rouge’s despicable installation told by survivors. A really hard, but important read.
The Enchanter
A short story by Nabokov which served as a sort of progenitor to Lolita, although not nearly as polished it still had a lot of the character which made Lolita so enjoyable.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
One of John Le Carre’s earlier works, and an amazing read. 1960s spy novel at its absolute best, as far from the world of James Bond as Dante is from Ozzy Osbourne’s lyric sheet. A highly recommended read, a book I grew up surrounded by and knew I’d end up picking up eventually.
MTV Uncensored
Eyecandy, mostly. That and a ridiculously great Billy Corgan quote to finish it all off.
A Small Town in Germany
Another Le Carre great, this one was equally impossible to put down. Hard to believe it was all being written in the late 60s.
Small Houses: Contemporary Residential Architecture
I’m probably one of the few people who would admit to getting an erection reading this book. I want a small house, and I want it to be half as sexy as any of the ones in this book, except a little more sustainable and eco-friendly.
One World
Peter Singer’s accessible and relatively impartial examination of the ethics of globalization. A bit dry, but considering its based on a series of lectures, its a pretty damned good read.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
More Le Carre madness, as is evident I can’t really stop. I think I like his 60s stuff better, but this is a fantastic book.
Legion
The sequel to the Exorcist, Blatty is at his best here only when crafting the dialogue of the main character, the lovably verbose and introspective detective from the first book. His theosophical ideas and concepts make this book, the weak plot and lacking attempts at scaring the reader do not.
Red Dragon
I really loved this book, mostly because I admittedly was envisioning Ed Norton in the lead and as always I get goosebumps of joy when I read about Lector. I was planning on watching the movie after reading the book, as it was on hand, but the book was good enough and satisfied whatever desires I had that I didn’t need to.
The Silmarillion
Some british guy’s third rate fantasy tripe. Obviously ripped off the best of the current crop of serious fantasy writers, old sod. And other bullshit. Seriously, this collection of writing should be considered sacred, and is in essence the Bible on which all Middle-Earth relies.