I love reading. I’ve always got a book nearby, somewhere. I read lots of books that were written for young people, as well as books that were written for adults. Some of my favourites are listed below, books that I think other people might like to read.
I’ll be adding to this list, as I find new favourites and re-discover old ones.

Recommended Reading

Sabriel and Lirael – Garth Nix. Strong, tough fantasies from one of Australia’s best writers and all round nice guys.

Lord Of The Rings – Tolkien. I read it first when I was 12, and loved it ever since. The master.

It – Stephen King. His best book, I think. It’s scary, and this guy knows how grip a reader and not let him/her go.

The Once and Future King – T.H.White. You want to get the best modern version of the King Arthur story, from someone who really knew about arms, falconry and heraldry? Not a kids book, and it’s very, very sad, but a great read.

Farmer in the Sky – Robert Heinlein. Slightly old-fashioned, but very entertaining science fiction told with clarity and assurance.

Neuromancer – William Gibson. Started cyber-punk. Tough, moody, violent, startling. Not a kids book, but smack-you-between-the-eyes thrilling. You liked Blade Runner? Then read this.

Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card. Thought-provoking story of growing up, and war, how we react to different societies, and what society does to people.

The Forever War – Joe Haldeman. War is hell, and this Vietnam veteran knew this, wrote about it, and produced just about a perfect novel. Not a kids book, but one everyone should read sooner or later.

The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Graham. Gentle, loving, funny. Where would we be without Mole, and Ratty, and Badger?

Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak. A great book. It shows that if you’re sent to your room, you too can rule a country of wild beasts!

The Narnia Books – C.S. Lewis. When I was young, this is what fantasy was all about.

Small Gods – Terry Pratchett. Terry Pratchett’s best book. Laugh out loud funny, but saying something important, too, about us and what we are. You’ve gotta love a librarian who’s an orangutan.

'World Enders' - List of recommended reading

The following list contains the Title, Author & How the World Ends.

Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham
Blindness and giant flesh eating plants

Lucifers Hammer - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Comet hits earth

Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M Miller Jnr
Nuclear holocaust

The Stand - Stephen King
Plague

Farnham’s Freehold - Robert A Heinlein
Nuclear holocaust

The Furies - Keith Roberts
Giant wasps

The Death of Grass - John Christopher
Famine after all grass and cereal crops die

The Purple Cloud - M.P. Shiel
Strange, naturally occuring poison gas

The Mother of Storms - John Barnes
Giant hurricane

The Postman - David Brin
Nuclear holocaust

The World in Winter - John Christopher
Ice age

On the Beach - Neville Shute
Nuclear holocaust

Earth Abides - George R Stewart
Nuclear holocaust

Shiva Descending - Greg Benford and William Rotsler
Asteroid hits earth

The Drought - JG Ballard
Drought

After the Rain - John Bowen
Worldwide flood

The Ivy War - David H Keller
Intelligent ivy strangles civilisation

Greener Than You Think - Ward Moore
Mutant grass overruns the world

Stand on Zanzibar - John Brunner
Overpopulation

The Sheep Look Up - John Brunner
Pollution