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Padoga
Sci-Fi's Recommended Reading List [some must
read books]
 The
Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
by J. R. R. Tolkien - John Ronald Reuel Tolkien had little inkling
when he published The Hobbit; Or, There and Back Again in 1937
that, once hobbits were unleashed upon the world, there would
be no turning back. Hobbits are, of course, small, furry creatures
who love nothing better than a leisurely life quite free from
adventure. But in that first novel and the Lord of the Rings trilogy,
the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo and their elfish friends get swept
up into a mighty conflict with the dragon Smaug, the dark lord
Sauron, the monstrous Gollum, the Cracks of Doom, and the awful
power of the magical Ring. The four books' characters--good and
evil--are recognizably human, and the realism is deepened by the
magnificent detail of the vast parallel world Tolkien devised
 1984
by George Orwell - In a grim city and a terrifying country, where
Big Brother is always Watching You and the Thought Police can
practically read your mind, Winston is a man in grave danger for
the simple reason that his memory still functions. He knows the
Party's official image of the world is a fluid fiction. He knows
the Party controls the people by feeding them lies and narrowing
their imaginations through a process of bewilderment and brutalization
that alienates each individual from his fellows and deprives him
of every liberating human pursuit from reasoned inquiry to sexual
passion. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the
courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called The
Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together
with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match
against the powers that be.
 Dune
by Frank Herbert - The troubles begin when stewardship of Arrakis
is transferred by the Emperor from the Harkonnen Noble House to
House Atreides. The Harkonnens don't want to give up their privilege,
though, and through sabotage and treachery they cast young Duke
Paul Atreides out into the planet's harsh environment to die.
There he falls in with the Fremen, a tribe of desert dwellers
who become the basis of the army with which he will reclaim what's
rightfully his. Paul Atreides, though, is far more than just a
usurped duke. He might be the end product of a very long-term
genetic experiment designed to breed a super human; he might be
a messiah. His struggle is at the center of a nexus of powerful
people and events, and the repercussions will be felt throughout
the Imperium. Dune is one of the most famous science fiction novels
ever written.
 Fahrenheit
451 by Ray Bradbury - In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's
classic, frightening vision of the future, firemen don't put out
fires--they start them in order to burn books. Bradbury's vividly
painted society holds up the appearance of happiness as the highest
goal--a place where trivial information is good, and knowledge
and ideas are bad.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Here everyone consumes
daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories,
and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie
that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though
there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx
feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a
young women has the potential to be much more than the confines
of their existence allow. Huxley foreshadowed many of the practices
and gadgets we take for granted today--let's hope the sterility
and absence of individuality he predicted aren't yet to come.
 The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - Join
Douglas Adams's hapless hero Arthur Dent as he travels the galaxy
with his intrepid pal Ford Prefect, getting into horrible messes
and generally wreaking hilarious havoc. Dent is grabbed from Earth
moments before a cosmic construction team obliterates the planet
to build a freeway. You'll never read funnier science fiction;
Adams is a master of intelligent satire, barbed wit, and comedic
dialogue. The Hitchhiker's Guide is rich in comedic detail and
thought-provoking situations and stands up to multiple reads.
Required reading for science fiction fans.
 Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick -
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was published in 1968. Grim
and foreboding, even today it is a masterpiece ahead of its time.
By 2021, the World War had killed millions, driving entire species
into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained
coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn't afford
one, companies built incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses,
birds, cats, sheep. . . They even built humans. Emigrees to Mars
received androids so sophisticated it was impossible to tell them
from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial
humans could wreak, the government banned them from Earth. But
when androids didn't want to be identified, they just blended
in. Rick Deckard was an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose
job was to find rogue androids, and to retire them. But cornered,
androids tended to fight back, with deadly results.
 I,
Robot by Isaac Asimov - In this collection, one of the
great classics of science fiction, Asimov set out the principles
of robot behavior that we know as the Three Laws of Robotics.
Here are stories of robots gone mad, mind-reading robots, robots
with a sense of humor, robot politicians, and robots who secretly
run the world, all told with Asimov's trademark dramatic blend
of science fact and science fiction.
Young
Adult / Children's Reading List
 Darok
9 by
H.J. Ralles - In 2120 AD, the barren surface of the moon is
the only home that three generations of earth's survivors have
ever known. Towns, called Daroks, protect inhabitants from the
extreme lunar temperatures. But life is harsh. Hank Havant, a
young scientist is secretly perfecting SH33, a drug that eliminates
the body's need for water. When his First Quadrant laboratory
is attacked, Hank saves his research onto a memory card and runs
from the enemy. Aided by Will, his teenage nephew, and Madde,
Will's computer-wizard classmate, Hank must conceal SH33 from
the dreaded Fourth Quadrant. But suddenly Will's life is in danger.
Who can Hank trust-and is the enemy really closer to home? [review]
 Keeper
of the Kingdom by H.J. Ralles - In 2540 AD, the
Kingdom of Zaul is a terrifying world controlled by Cybergon ‘Protectors'
and ruled by ‘The Keeper.' Humans are ‘Worker' slaves, eliminated
without thought. Thank goodness this is just a computer game–or
is it? For Matt, Zaul suddenly becomes too real when his computer
jams and he is sucked into the game. Now he is trapped, hunted
by the Protectors and hiding among the Workers to survive. Matt
must use his knowledge of computers and technology to free the
people of Zaul and return to his own world. Can Matt elude the
Protectors? Will Matt ever get home? Keeper of the Kingdom is
a gripping tale of technology out of control! [review]
Keeper of the Realm by H.J. Ralles - [review]
Misc.
Books
 The
Unauthorized Handbook and Price Guide to Star Trek Toys by Playmates
by Kelly Hoffman -Playmates Toys produced Star Trek toys--action
figures, accessories, and starships--in great abundance, beginning
in 1992, and this book chronicles them all. Most of the Star Trek
toys Playmates produced are displayed in over 510 photographs
with descriptions and accessories, making identifications easy.
Exclusive toys, limited edition statues, and collectibles dioramas
add depth and interest. Current market values accompany the descriptions
of every Playmates Star Trek toy presented. Every fan of the Star
Trek television series and movies, and all toy and action figure
collectors will want a copy of this fabulous book. [review]
 Sleaze
Creatures: An Illustrated Guide to Obscure Hollywood Horror Movies
From 1956 to 1959 by
D. Earl Worth - Without exaggeration, Sleaze Creatures is
perhaps the most thorough, informative analysis of Hollywood Schlock
cinema 1956-1959! Painstakingly researched and written by D. Earl
Worth, Sleaze Creatures is the very first book to truly capture
the long-passed era of 1950's Hollywood horror and science fiction
movies. Worth covers "classic" films like I Was A Teenage Werewolf,
The Killer Shrews, Blood of Dracula and Attack of The 50 Foot
Woman, War of The Colossal Beast and many others. In addition
to covering the more obvious entries, Worth takes a rather healthy
stab at detailing dozens of obscure, lesser-known horror movies
such as The Wasp Woman, Man Beast, The Unearthly and The Cat Girl,
to name only a few. [review]
 VideoHound's
Sci-fi Experience: Your Quantum Guide to the Video Universe
by Carol Schwartz - Lovers of science fiction movies will
be thrilled with this book, a comprehensive guide to the universe
of available science fiction videos. VideoHound's Sci-Fi Experience
offers commentary and reviews of science fiction films major and
minor, serious and parodic, as well as assessments of the science
fiction television series that can be found on tape. The guide
is dotted with informative sidebars and a generous selection of
photographic stills, and the appendix serves as a guide to stars,
directors, and subgenres, and also provides a listing of science
fiction Web sites, fan clubs, conventions, books, magazines, and
newsletters. The volume lives up to the promise of the subtitle;
it is truly a Quantum Guide to the Video Universe. [review]
If
you have a book or author you think should be featured here let
us know. Also if you have a book review for any of these or
other books send them in and we will post the on our site*.
*Once
reviewed and/or edited not all submissions will be posted, some
may also be used in printed newsletter. Author retains all copyrights.
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