Bill's Scientifically Calculated Top 100 Books of All-Time Part 7

Bonnie & Clyde might look a bit more like this after their day at the spa... not like sheep...

The puppies are currently at the 'cleaners' getting their spring do's. They were very excited when they got there and then not so, as usual. After saying hello, they headed for the exit as if to say, 'well, that's that, let's go home now'. It didn't work of course.. :0)

So, with that out of the way, now it's time for Part 7 of my list of my all-time favorite books. We move to the '30s.

#40 - 31

40. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (Mystery). This is the first book in the Dr. Siri Paiboun mystery series set in Laos. This is another of those books whose cover attracted me. Dr. Paiboun is brought out of retirement to be the country's coroner. He's a witty, fun old fella and very smart. His co-workers and friends are all interesting. It's a great series so far anyway. In some ways it's like the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series; gentle and rich. I've enjoyed both books I've read in this series so far and I've started Cotterill's new series featuring reporter Jimm Juree.




"A new author for me and I'm glad I discovered him. The Coroner is Dr Siri Paiboun, the only coroner in Laos. He's a 72 year old doctor who was appointed the Coroner. He works under poor conditions, has a wonderful staff of two, Nurse Dtui and Mr Geung. Their relationship is affectionate and humorous. The cast of characters are wonderful and Dr Siri is a wonderfully drawn personality, smart, individualistic, curmudgeonly and with a lovely sense of humour. The story is well-crafted, many twists and turns as Siri tries to solve the cases he has been given. There is political intrigue and even a very spiritual aspect. It's a story that draws you in from the very first page and there will be many surprises. In some ways it reminds me of the first Number One Ladies' Detective Agency book, different, fascinating and with humour and love and mystery all mixed together. I highly recommend and know that I'll be reading more of the series. Loved it!"

39. Matter by Iain M. Banks (Science Fiction). This was the first book by Banks that I read and it's the 8th book in the Culture series. The good thing about the series is that it doesn't really matter if you read them in order as each story does stand on its own merit. There is the ongoing discussion on what the Culture is that might make more sense, I guess if they are read in order but I haven't really noticed any issues with the order in which I've read them. Djan Seriy Anaplian is a wonderful character making the book worth reading just to be introduced to her.





"In a world renowned within a galaxy full of wonders, a crime within a war. For one brother it means a desperate flight, and a search for the one - maybe two - people who could clear his name. For his brother it means a life lived under constant threat of treachery and murder. And for their sister, it means returning to a place she'd thought abandoned forever.
Only the sister is not what she once was; Djan Seriy Anaplian has become an agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances section, charged with high-level interference in civilization throughout the greater galaxy.
Concealing her new identity - and her particular set of abilities - might be a dangerous strategy. In the world to which Anaplian returns, nothing is quite as it seems; and determining the appropriate level of interference in someone else’s war is never a simple matter."

38. Cop Hater by Ed McBain (Cop / Mystery). The 87th Precinct books didn't really interest me or let's say I wasn't really that aware of them. When one of my acquaintances in my Mystery book group highlighted the series, I began to search for the first couple of books to see if I might enjoy it. I found a copy of Cop Hater during one of our trips to Victoria at Russell Books. It was excellent. Matter-of-fact investigation, a feel for how the police work and a satisfactory level of tension. I've since read the second book and enjoyed just as much.
"Cop Hater is the first 87th Precinct mystery by Ed McBain. I'd only really started to get interested in McBain's stories (this one was initially published 1956) and I finally found a copy of the 1st book, this past month. It was with anticipation that I started to read it a week ago.
What a great, entertaining story! It's a simple story that reminds me of the best cop TV shows; Law and Order, Dragnet. A police detective is murdered by being shot in the back. It starts a major investigation by the detectives of his precinct, the 87th Precinct. The story is methodical, there are nice explanations of forensic techniques and other police procedures and you get into the lives of the police detectives taking a major role in the particular investigation.
For a relatively simple, short story, a great deal happens and lots of excellent, interesting detail is provided.
I enjoyed everything about this initial 87th Precinct story and I have #2, The Mugger, teed up for my follow-on read. Even though it might not be profound or offer deep philosophical ideas, it presents an excellent look at how the police act in an investigation and is told in a tidy, entertaining way and was totally enjoyable."

37. Beast in View by Margaret Millar (Mystery). I can't remember exactly when I heard of Margaret Millar but I'm glad that I did. She is a Canadian mystery writer, married to another well-known mystery writer, Ross MacDonald. Her stories are standalones, for the most part psychological mysteries. I've been searching for her stories, have so far read 5 of them. She ranks right up there with Minette Walters as some of my favorite mystery writers. Beast in View was one of my favorites.





"Beast In View was a true gem. I've enjoyed a couple of her other books in the past few years, when I've been able to find copies. The Soft Talkers was one of my favorites of last year. Beast in View is another 5-star read. It's such an interesting story. I love how Millar develops her plots. Is it about Helen Clarvoe, who lives alone in her apartment, isolated from the world about her? Is it about Mr. Blackshear, Helen's financial adviser, bored with his work, who she asks to help her find the woman who made the distressing call to Helen and who begins to conduct an investigation on Helen's behalf? Or is it about Evelyn Merrick, the woman who makes the initial call to Helen and who seems to be making many calls to other people that have upset her? I loved how it moved along, from the one character to the other, how the tension builds, how the story surprisingly makes a turn to the left. Excellent, excellent!! She is such a wonderful writer."

36. Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (Science Fiction). Brunner is one of my favorite Science Fiction writers. I've read Stand on Zanzibar a couple of times and enjoyed it each time. The Sheep Look Up and The Shockwave Rider also stand out. There are various ways of reading this book. The first time I read it, I read it as a normal novel, from Chapter to Chapter. The second time I read it I read it using the Chapter sub-headings; Context, The Happening World, Tracking with Close-ups, etc. It made for a different style of story, but both ways worked and it was fascinating either way.




"Norman Niblock House is a rising executive at General Technics, one of a few all-powerful corporations. His work is leading General Technics to the forefront of global domination, both in the marketplace and politically—it's about to take over a country in Africa. Donald Hogan is his roommate, a seemingly sheepish bookworm. But Hogan is a spy, and he's about to discover a breakthrough in genetic engineering that will change the world ... and kill him. These two men's lives weave through one of science fiction's most praised novels. Written in a way that echoes John Dos Passos' U.S.A. Trilogy, Stand on Zanzibar is a cross-section of a world overpopulated by the billions. Where society is squeezed into hive-living madness by god-like mega computers, mass-marketed psychedelic drugs, and mundane uses of genetic engineering. Though written in 1968, it speaks of 2010, and is frighteningly prescient and intensely powerful."

35. Petrella at Q by Michael Gilbert (Mystery). Gilbert was another mystery writer I've discovered over the past few years. He's written some of my favorite mysteries that I've read since then. This is another excellent police procedural.









"This is the 2nd book by Michael Gilbert that I've attempted. It was excellent. The book follows Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Petrella, of London's Patton Street Police Station over the course of a year. It is a collection of short stories, each a different case, but, at the same time, some that follow one on the other. There are some mundane cases but as you get into the stories, some that create a great deal of tension. The last couple of stories, especially, where Petrella and his team are involved with the local heavy - hitter in the underworld, had me on the edge of my seat. I quite enjoyed the investigation process, how Petrella and his inspectors follow leads and sort through issues, reminded me of the process that Law & Order followed as the police investigate the particular crimes. I also liked the personalities of the various team members and the bursts of inspiration that come from Petrella. He knows his area and the people there and uses his smarts in sorting through the chaff to come up with solutions. Excellent, perfect little book. It turns out that Gilbert also wrote 4 other books featuring Petrella. I will have to check them out."

34. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (Science Fiction). Over the years, I've picked up and re-read Wyndham's unique science fiction stories and always enjoyed them The Chrysalids is one of my favorites. It's one of those books I've hoped would be made into a movie. The story would fit right into today's interest in mutants and such. It's a timeless story.







" This was probably the third time I've read this book and it once again proved how much I enjoy John Wyndham's SciFi stories. The Chrysalids is set in a dystopian future, presumably years after some disaster; I think a nuclear war but it isn't clearly stated. The story is set in Labrador, a country desperately trying to recover some sort of normalcy. This is a very religious society, with a focus on destroying any type of mutation; animal or vegetable. The story focuses on David, his cousin/ girlfriend, Rosalind and David's young sister, Petra. They are part of a group of young people who are mutants in their own right, but not with visible mutations. They communicate mentally and must try to keep it hidden from their parents and friends. A number of incidents occur that put them in more and more jeopardy. That's the gist of the story, although it is so much more. Much tension and emotion. It is written very simply but at times very poignantly. Reading it once again brought back the same emotions I felt the other times I read it. Excellent, timeless story, with lovely characters; Rosalind being my favourite. I do wish that Wyndham had been able to write a sequel to this. I desperately want to discover what ultimately happens to David and Rosalind's compatriots, Michael and Rachel."

33. The Ship by C.S. Forester (War). I've read quite a few of Forester's books. I am enjoying the Horatio Hornblower series. I've also enjoyed The African Queen, a crime story - Payment Deferred, a WWI story - The General. All interesting books. The Ship was a very powerful story of WWII, reminding me of another book that's on my Top 100 list, HMS Ulysses by Alistair MacLean. It's a story of understated heroism.






"Excellent naval war story. Forester sets his story in the Mediterranean on HMS Artemis, a British cruiser part of a convoy of ships trying to relieve isolated Malta. Each chapter starts as an excerpt from the Capt's log with the chapter detailing the actions that make up this simple entry. Forester explores the ship and the crew as he tells his story. A simple story, but one of heroism, one battle against an Italian fleet. So well written, smoothly paced to keep the pages turning. Excellent story. I rank it up with Alistair MacLean's HMS Ulysses in great naval war stories." 

32. The Stand by Stephen King (Science Fiction / Horror). This is probably my favorite Stephen King story. I went through a phase many years ago of reading everything he had written. This one was quite different and I think that's why it stood out. I've read two or three times over the years and always enjoy. It's presents a dystopian world where hope is being battered but for a group of people.






"This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death. And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides - or are chosen."

31. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (Science Fiction). This is one of those books that started the Science Fiction genre. I've read many times and continue to enjoy. The world is invaded by the Martians and must try to survive. There have been a couple of movies made about the book but neither has the same feel for the story. I would love for a director to honor the period the book is set in and make a new movie. Maybe Peter Jackson or Christopher Nolan could do it. I wait patiently!!!! I think the best version of the novel is Jeff Wayne's musical. Check it out, it's excellent.





"With H.G. Wells’ other novels, The War of the Worlds was one of the first and greatest works of science fiction ever to be written. Even long before man had learned to fly, H.G. Wells wrote this story of the Martian attack on England. These unearthly creatures arrive in huge cylinders, from which they escape as soon as the metal is cool. The first falls near Woking and is regarded as a curiosity rather than a danger until the Martians climb out of it and kill many of the gaping crowd with a Heat-Ray. These unearthly creatures have heads four feet in diameter and colossal round bodies, and by manipulating two terrifying machines – the Handling Machine and the Fighting Machine – they are as versatile as humans and at the same time insuperable. They cause boundless destruction. The inhabitants of the Earth are powerless against them, and it looks as if the end of the World has come. But there is one factor which the Martians, in spite of their superior intelligence, have not reckoned on. It is this which brings about a miraculous conclusion to this famous work of the imagination." 

So there you go, the Top 30s. If you've been reading this you'll have noticed that there are few stories set in dystopian futures, where the future is dismal and the people world struggling to survive. Here are a few other honorable mentions.

Dystopian Stories

1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy. A powerful story, at times terrifying.











"A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food - and each other." 

2. Alas Babylon by Pat Frank. I read this in public school and was fascinated by it. I've read since and it still strikes a chord. A book that the current resident of the White House should look at when he starts threatening nuclear war. It's simple enough for him to read. 








"'Alas, Babylon.' Those fateful words heralded the end. When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed instantly. But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness."

3. Warday by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka.  Written almost in documentary format, it's the story of two reporters who decide to travel across the US to see how it is surviving the effects of some disaster that has destroyed the country. Fascinating story.








" The unthinkable happened five years ago and now two writers have set out to find what's left of America.
New York, Washington D.C., San Antonio, and parts of the Central and Western states are gone, and famine, epidemics, border wars, and radiation diseases have devastated the countryside in between.
It was a "limited" nuclear war, just a 36-minute exchange of missiles that abruptly ended when the superpowers' communication systems broke down. But Warday destroyed much of civilization.
Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka, old friends and writers, take a dangerous odyssey across the former United States, sometimes hopeful that a new, peaceful world can be built over the old, sometimes despairing over the immense losses and embittered people they meet."

4. Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazny. I read this story just recently. It's about a race across a devastated country to try and stop an epidemic. No classic but still entertaining and thoughtful enough. 





"Damnation Alley: three thousand miles of radioactive wasteland, swept by hurricane winds, blasted by giant firestorms, the domain of mutants and monsters - a lethal wasteland few men dare to cross...
Hell Tanner: last of the biker Angels , a survivor of the Big Raid that destroyed most of America. the only man in California with a chance of getting through Damnation Alley to Boston with the plague serum the ravaged city needs to survive..."

5. Hello America by J.G. Ballard. Ballard has written many books portraying dystopian futures; The Drowned World, The Wind from Nowhere, The Crystal World, etc. I enjoyed this one especially.









"A century after America's financial collapse and the climactic upheavals of the 1990s, Wayne stows away on SS Apollo, bound for the New World on a voyage of rediscovery. He and the crew encounter hazards at every turn and ghosts from the past as they travel West. In Las Vegas, roaming bands of Mexican teenagers welcome them to the citadel of late 20th century glitter. Their charismatic leader - a William Burroughs look-alike addressed reverently as President Charles Manson - invites Wayne into his cybernetic stronghold. But suddenly the erratic president takes fright at Wayne's alien presence and threatens to play deadly war games with an arsenal of leftover Titan warheads. Now it is not just the Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe holograms that are at risk..."

So there you go. Next in line the Top 20's. Almost time to pick up the hounds at the cleaners. Perfect timing. Take care!