The Sandman

I'm going to a very different route than my colleagues: Sandman by Neil Gaiman. It's a series of graphic novels which delves deeply into theology, philosophy, and the human condition. Since it's in the form of a graphic novel, it's much more like "reading" a TV miniseries, and makes for a great introduction to Neil Gaiman's writing style (which will take you straight off the deep end into the fantasy genre). They're also easier to pick up and set down as the whim strikes. If you really enjoy the setting, the Lucifer series of graphic novels takes one of the most interesting characters from the setting and expands upon it. It was adapted to a TV show as well, much to the chagrin of anybody who actually enjoyed the graphic novels.

[cont'd] Michael Frayn, Democracy. A compulsively readable play about an episode in the politics of West Germany in the 1970s, a subject I didn't know could be made so interesting to me. Superb. Michael Flynn, Eifelheim. Excellent and profound SF/historical novel about aliens crashing in the Germany of the Middle Ages, and how that would work out. Avoids cheap tricks, very strong on historical research and verisimilitude. Ross Thomas, The Cold War Swap, Cast a Yellow Shadow, Chinaman's Chance. Very well-written thrillers, typically stories about spying or political corruption. I'm usually bored by this genre, couldn't put these down. Will read more by this (hitherto unknown to me) author. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Wizard of Earthsea. (reread) Still as good as I remembered it to be. P.K.Dick, The Man in the High Castle. (reread) Very inventive and weird in a good way, but I wish the characters would be a little different (everyone is the same highly neurotic mouthpiece for the author), and the obsession with I Ching does nothing for me. Still worth reading.…

1.- Sandman 2.- Toxic Sludge is Good For You: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry 3.- The Advertised Mind: Groundbreaking Insights into How Our Brains Respond to Advertising 4.- The Hidden Persuaders - "A brisk, authoritative and frightening report on how manufacturers, fundraisers and politicians are attempting to turn the American mind into a kind of catatonic dough that will buy, give or vote at their command--The New Yorker

On the fiction side, I absolutely loved Shogun by Clavell. I didn't know what to expect, and I found an epic that was captivating in many ways. I also started Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. I realize I'm about 10 years behind everyone else, and I've found it most deserving of all of the hubbub. With respect to nonfiction, I enjoyed Schroeder's recent biography of Warren Buffett, entitled the Snowball. It was much less of a hagiography than much of what you read on him. He's a fascinating, complex man.

If you are not too particular about sci-fi, I would suggest Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Its fantasy, but extremely stimulating. Its a series of 10 graphic novels, but you need not necessarily read it in order. Some are better than others, but every book has a very high level of story-telling.

That is a splendid list. I'll add: "Sandman" by Neil Gaiman. Also a graphic novel, but this series literally reinvented comics to me, and to many other readers. "Lunar Park" by Bret Easton Ellis. Probably the safest introduction to Ellis if you aren't looking for a rampant gore-fest. Spooky, creepy, chilling, but also insightful, confounding and enlightening. "Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger. Mostly recommending as it fits into the above list, but I feel like it was missing. I personally felt it was overhyped, but I'm the odd man out, as everybody I've ever talked to considers it profound.

American Gods is awesome. One of Neil Gaiman's best works, along with the Sandman series.