To keep it simple, try to keep your response to three items. And don't worry about repeating what others said. Multiple votes indicate the power of a work.

Here are my three, in no particular order:

Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited. A stunning novel about an aristocratic English Catholic family between the two World Wars. If you into deep characterization and religious themes--especially the theme of conversion--this one's for you.

J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings. I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I'm 28-years old and have just read this novel. I absolutely loved it. It's perhaps my favorite piece of literature. At times, I had to get up and walk around the house just to catch my breath. I think what I like most about it is the deep faith and hope the characters have amid great and seemingly hopeless darkness. A very important piece of literature, considering the post-modern nihilism of our age.

Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird. The inimitable novel of childhood. The ending--when Scout Finch is standing on Boo Radley's porch and sees her hometown from a different perspective--is my favorite part. It's a beautiful scene symbolizing the meaning of the story: that truth is found in trying to see things from another's point of view.

(If you haven't noticed, I like stories that have a didactic level.)

[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited August 30, 2002).]
 

How about your 5 favorite authors?

Chuck
 

My point was to keep it simple. I'd have a harder time coming up with ten novels than three becasue I haven't even read a fourth novel that I'd put on my all-time favorite list. (I'm very selective.)

But I'd like to keep it that you list your favorite novels or stories, not merely the author. What if the author is Stephen King? Salem's Lot was great, but from all I've heard, The Dreamcatcher was awful.

So list as many or as little as you'd like, but please list your favorite works of fiction, not just your favorite authors.

[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited August 30, 2002).]
 

WITHOUT REMORSE, Tom Clancy

STARSHIP TROOPERS, Robert Heinlein
 

Follow the River-James Alexander Thom
Historical fiction based on the captivity of Mary Ingles by Shawnee Indians in 1755. What that woman endured, especially during her escape, put any problems I have to shame. The death of the horse scene still gives me chills...and the ice and snow without proper clothes and shoes...and the buzzard scene.... Great book.

Waikiki Beachnik--H. Allen Smith
Maybe this isn't fiction, since Smith is telling about his trip to the islands, but it reads like fiction. Some light-hearted name-dropping and lots of fun.

Atlas Shrugged--Ayn Rand
1100 plus pages and I devoured it in 3 or 4 days. As the introduction states, "What happens to the world when the Prime Movers go on strike."

1984--George Orwell
This book will forever be the iron voice saying, "You are the dead."

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland--Lewis Carroll
Children can never appreciate this one. It's brilliant.

Pippi Longstocking--Astrid Lindgren
Another one for adults to appreciate the nonsensical.

Bill Bergson (3-book series)--Astrid Lindgren
They don't write kids' fiction like this anymore.

The Borrowers (4-book series)--Mary Norton
Ditto

Alaska--James Michener
The freezing of the river scene just memorable.

Hawaii--James Michener

The Screwtape Letters--C.S. Lewis
Brilliant.

Snoopy and "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night"--Charles Schultz
Always a writing pick-me-up.

Those are just on first thought.

 

Enchantment by OSC: No, I'm not kissing ass. This book is incredible. Card brings an uncanny sense of subtlety to a love-at-first-sight relationship. The hopeless romantic (/weepy-eyed school girl ) in me can’t resist this book. The only Card book that can come close to touching this one is Hart’s Hope---if you haven’t read them, do so. You’ll be a better person for it.

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Ok, it’s a short story, but you can put all of Hawthorne’s short stories up there, but this is the best. It’s really messed up and totally bleak. The allegory is so blatant you might miss it, (the main character may or may not have caught his wife, Faith, at a satanic ritual and he exclaims. “My Faith; My Faith is gone.”) but you have to respect it.

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger: Yeah, I know someone else was probably planning on posting this, but the book is awesome, and I’m not even a serial killer. (Paraphrasing: “Even if you had all the time in the world, you couldn't wipe out half the ‘f—k you’ signs.” You said it, brother)

I’m sure there’s countless others, but those are the one’s I can think of right now.

JOHN!

[This message has been edited by JOHN (edited September 01, 2002).]
 

The Wild Cards series by George R R Martin: Cool, alternate universe saga. Some stories are better than other (each "chapter" is written by a different author), but overall fun and cool take on the origin of superheroes/villains.

Swan Song by Robert McCammon: Though similar in theme to The Stand, I thought this book moved faster, had more interesting characters, and was an overall more involving story.

The Winds of War and War and Rememberance (oops, blanking on author!): Really long books that I read nonstop from cover to cover inside of a week. Great epics set during World War II. Don't let the pathetic-by-comparison miniseries put you off.

Different Seasons by Stephen King: Wow! When King turns it on, he's truly amazing. This contains The Body, the story on which Stand By Me was based, as well as Apt Pupil, one of the most insightful investigations into the nature of evil.

That's all that comes to mind off the top of my head. There are so many more goodies out there, but I'm sure you all will come up with them.
 

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein: Anyone that read Starship Troopers (another great book) and think Heinlein is a facist should read this book and you opinion will be immediatley changed. The book is simply put is awesome.

JOHN!
 

1984 - George Orwell

Classics.

 

Sentinels from Space by Eric Frank Russell

Foundation Isaac Asimov

Ringworld Larry Niven

Time Traders Andre Norton

Riverworld series Philip Jose Farmer

almost all novels by Jack L. Chalker

Dominion Fred Saberhagen

all early novels by Charles Sheffield

Blackcollar Timothy Zahn

Beyond The Blue Event Horizon Frederick Pohl

Greg Bear (FORGE OF GOD, ANVIL OF STARS) and Geoff Landis (MARS CROSSING) are both destined for Heinlien-esque status... amongst others.
 

My goal in this was to assemble a reading list. That's it. The limit to three books wasn't for me, but for others.