I haven't read Neuromancer but it is supposedly similar to Snow Crash and are both hailed as masterpieces of the "cyber-punk" genre. If it's anything like Snow Crash it has to be an amazing read.

I haven't read Snow Crash, but Neuromancer defines top-notch cyberpunk for me (and so, so many others I'm sure). There was just nothing else like it at the time, and arguably there still isn't. The only thing I can think of that comes close is maybe Mona Lisa Overdrive, and that's part of the same loose 'series' so... yeah. I know mr. Gibson is probably dead sick of people saying it but I just don't think anything comes close to Neuromancer in terms of pure style, atmosphere, fantastic pacing and ridiculously memorable scenes. (I visualize scenes from it with vividness that I've rarely experienced with other novels) It's one of the few books I think I could read all the way through in one sitting given a day or so.

...Okay, sorry, enough gushing praise. I just think it's an absolutely amazing piece of literature.

BlueRaja: I haven't stopped my Myst obsession since I first played it with my brother and ex-stepdad years and years ago. In fact most of the time I have to stop myself from playing or thinking of the original game or else I will descend into a horrible spiral of withdrawal and dissatisfaction with reality. No, I'm serious.

~Josiah

Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake. It's a trilogy, but I only really recommend the first two books. The third strays away from what made the books so quirky and Beautiful. Based around a family and their staff who live in a castle, and they're all fairly messed up in the head. But I describe it badly.

Abarat by Clive Barker. I love this book, and intend to pick up the sequels. There are moments that will make you laugh, and some that will make you go "Whut?" A young lady bored of her life gets taken to this Magical Land, and all sorts of weird shit gets real. Targeted towards "Young adults", so maybe not your style, I dunno.

I know it has already been mentioned, but the Discworld series is superb. The Rincewind Series and Vimes series are, in my opinion, impossible to put down.

The Keys of the Kingdom series. Mostly good stuff, some moments of cheese, but what ever. Seven book series (with the seventh to come out later this year). Once again, magic occurs.

I think I see a theme in what I read... xD

Non-fiction/Metaphysical; The Keys of Enoch J.J.Hurtak
The Emerald Tablets Thoth The Atlantean/Doreal
SETH BOOKS Jane Roberts

Philip K Dick - A Scanner Darkly

wow i didnt know that was a book . great movie. He wrote Blade Runner too didnt he?

so i havent read a book in at least 6 months and i really dont know what to read next. The last book i read was The Executioners (AKA Cape Feare) and the book was acctually very crap compared to both the Cape Feare films. Ive heard that i should read 1984 by George Orwell too but id like a selection of books i can think about anyway. im open to ANY suggestions on what books to read too. so any suggestions?

Good God yes read 1984...It should keep you busy for maybe a week or so, depending on how much you read at a time...

Another novel I've read relatively recently that sticks out as particularly excellent is Myst: The Book of Atrus. Even if you haven't played the game it's a fantastic, solidly-constructed story in itself with wonderfully unique characters and settings.

~Josiah

Oh wow! I read all 3 of the Myst novels. I was quite obsessed with everything-Myst for a few years.

I'll recommend my usual selection:
It & Insomnia - Stephen King
Weaveworld - Clive Barker (his short story books are also goodly bizarre)
Into Thin Air & Into The Wild - Jon Krakauer (first helps feed my everything-Mt Everest obsession)

There's also this thread: http://www.hevydevyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4753

I actually have one of the Myst novels laying around somewhere, read about half of it...from what I read I liked it!(I got it back when I was in 8th grade so I wasnt much into reading then...lol) I dont remember which one it was though.

[djskrimp]

Anything by Neil Gaiman.

The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen Hawkins (A more modern version of Brief History of Time with pretty pictures. )

Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku (talks about the technologies which will be possible in the future including quantum computers, interstellar travel etc. Discusses the philosophies and moralities of future human potential)

Cosmos by Carl Sagan (just a really amazing mind with a gift for teaching)

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S. Thompson (A somewhat depressing but intensely amazing document on how American Politics allowed Nixon a second shot)

Tatum Brown by Mick Foley (I know, fiction as written by a Wrestler but it really is an amazing, amazing story)

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis (Forget the movie, this is what it's all about. Just a complete psychotic freak out. Any book that goes from a chapter discussing the merits of Huey Lewis' musical career then veers immediately into nail gunning your ex girlfriend to some 2x4 must get a mention. This book shows you what certain realities can do to a civilised mind)

I'm not so much recommending these, but I've read and loved them all. Especially the first two. So many times I had to stop at a certain passage and re read it just to make sure what I've read was actually what was written. A real case of fact being stranger than fiction.

Jeremy Clarkson - The World According To Clarkson

Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku (talks about the technologies which will be possible in the future including quantum computers, interstellar travel etc. Discusses the philosophies and moralities of future human potential)

Cosmos by Carl Sagan (just a really amazing mind with a gift for teaching)

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis (Forget the movie, this is what it's all about. Just a complete psychotic freak out. Any book that goes from a chapter discussing the merits of Huey Lewis' musical career then veers immediately into nail gunning your ex girlfriend to some 2x4 must get a mention. This book shows you what certain realities can do to a civilised mind)

Ooh Michio Kaku! His show on the Science channel is really really interesting, isn't it?

Oh... Carl Sagan: what a brilliant man. I actually haven't read Cosmos yet, but that and Contact are on my "to read" list for this summer. I don't doubt that they'll both be really great books. Have you ever seen the TV series (aptly named) "Cosmos" that Carl Sagan hosted? I believe it aired in the late 70's-80's on channel 9... but the Science channel airs it in entirety ever so often. Anyways, I've got massive respect for Carl, so I'm glad to see there's someone else here who thinks highly of his as well

I've only seen a few bits of Cosmos on YouTube and the likes. His explaination of the 4th Dimension was the first time I'd seen or heard of him directly. Found it on You Tube one day while I was searching for something or anything. From what it says on the back of the book it's basically the series itself expanded to include some ideas that they hadn't time to explore on the show.

But Sagan is my guy alright. Watching him in action makes me want to revisit all my old teachers and kick the shit out of them for being the miserable fucking embarassments they were. He always seemed to have a real sense of joy and wonder about the things he was speaking about and his ability to impart knowledge was incredible. Plus he was the first Physicist (FIZZZT!) that I knew of to endorse smoking Weed. Which made me feel a little less of a loser.

Read the Eden Express by Mark Vonnegut. It's by the son of Kurt Vonnegut and it's about Mark's schizophrenia and manic depression. I found it really interesting because I have mild manic depression too and I can sort of relate. Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five is also an amazing read. Anything by Michael Crichton is REALLY good too like jurassic park, prey, and the Terminal Man.

Well thanks to all of you guys for the reccomendations. ive bought 3 books so far. all sci fi acctually i got off ebay:

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? - Philip K Dick
The Man Who Fell To Earth - Walter Tevis
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

i hope this thread wont die out coz i have no idea where to turn to when it comes to books. keep suggestions coming for the future

Brave New World is a good choice, Sab.

Compare and contrast that one with 1984 once you've read both.

Also endorsing Slaughterhouse Five...Vonnegut had quite a mind.
Here's one: Joseph Heller - Catch 22. Read THAT, and the world begins to make more sense.