There are books that have changed the trajectory of my life.
Today I’ll start with science fiction and fantasy.
Granted, my reading tastes are on the eclectic side, but there are certain books that made a profound impression on me. They opened my eyes, expanded my mind and my horizons and pushed me along paths I never anticipated, altering both the way I live my life, the way I view my life and the way I write my books.
Dune, by Frank Herbert, is one such book. If my life is a pyramid, then Dune is the base. I read it when I was fourteen years old and it forever altered my view of science fiction, religious fanaticism, human evolution and the uses and abuses of power. Don’t bother with any of the sequels,, just read Dune. Oh, and skip the movie version.
Stranger In a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein -close to a science fiction bible. If you’d like to grok the meaning of the word grok, read this book, then you can skip Malcolm Gladwell’s derivative albeit very entertaining book, Blink.
Ringworld, by Larry Niven. I consider this book to be one of the most, if not the most, dynamic examples of world building in the entire science fiction realm.
A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeleine L’Engle - YA at its best. I like C.S. Lewis, but Madeleine L’Engle has him beat by a mile. Read the series and weep.
The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula LeGuin, a brilliant futuristic science fiction work involving issues of gender identity and feminism - a book you should not walk by without a second look.
A Canticle for Leibowitz, written by Walter A. Miller. OMG…a unique take on our post-apocalyptic world - In my humble opinion, A Canticle for Leibowitz was/is the prototype for the post-apocalyptic novels we see today.
I have to toss in here Mary Stewart’s heartbreaking version of the Arthurian legend with her books, The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. Another brilliant and violent retelling of the story, released as a trilogy by Bernard Cornwall, includes The Winter King, Enemy of God, and Excalibur.
Then there are the usual suspects like The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Children of Men - all of which I love, none of which changed my life - aside from watching Aragorn and Legolas in Peter Jackson’s film version. Ahhhhh, Legolas….swoon….
Tomorrow…philosophy, followed by mythology and the classics! Yee-hah!
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Hi Julia,
Great list!
I love Dune, The whole Mary Steward Merlin series, the whole Wizard of Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin, and Stranger in a Strange Land’!
I’m going to look for A Canticle for Leibowitz - sounds like my kind of book!
Have you read Herbert’s ‘Whipping Star’? I loved that novel.
Look forward to your other lists!
Yes, I loved the Wizard of Earthsea series and I’m quite fond of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books. Definitely look for A Canticle for Leibowitz - one of the most unusual books you will encounter. I’ll have to check out Whipping Star.
Dune is like my guiding star - plans within plans within plans!
I totally gronk your list! lol This is a beloved list of mine also! A Canticle for Libowitz was the first adult book my father and I shared. We checked it out at the library and took turns reading it. We actually talked about it not long ago. Stranger in a Strange Land was a total eye opener for me! I loved it. Let’s add Slaughter House 5 to this list…
XXOO Kat
I loved Dune. I can’t find my copy now, but I reread it a couple of times while I had it.
Kat - that is so cool that you and your dad shared A Canticle for Leibowitz! Isn’t it amazing? You know, you are right - Kurt Vonnegut’s books are incredible - and I totally missed Ray Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man - which just blew me away! I liked Dandelion Wine too.
Go look for your copy, Fran, or I’ll be sending you one - oh yeah, you’re on vacation!
Really good list. Definitely Stranger in a Strange Land - I grok that, I do.
Number one on my list would be Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delaney. Here’s my review: “This book was formative for me. I read it in elementary school, and the powerful message it conveyed about how the language you know shapes the way you are able to think affects me to this day. It’s science fiction, won a Nebula Award, reads more like poetry than prose at various points, and isn’t for everyone - but if it’s for you, it’s powerful.”
I’m buying Babel-17 today! Thanks, Chris!
For me A Wrinkle in Time was a brain growing experience. I read it and suddenly realized I LIKED to read if books were like this. I also had a whole new idea about how space and time might possibly work. I mean, what IF there are these little wrinkles that change EVERYTHING? I remember thinking deep thoughts about that book for a long time. I still refer back to it and it’s one of those concepts that fascinated me about the possibility of time travel. It makes it seem possible in a way that has never changed for me.
Yes, Mia, I agree. Reading A Wrinkle in Time was like stopping time for me - all of a sudden the world seemed to do a 180!
You have two of my favorite Dune and Stranger in A Strange Land. The movie Dune was the worst movie.
loretta
lbcanton@verizon.net
Loretta - ICAM. The movie version was gag-worthy.