Bill's Scientifically Calculated Top 100 Books of All-Time Part 10

I've been spending my morning watching footie, reading and dozing. Now that Brighton are losing 2-0 with 13 minutes left to go, I'm going to switch to the Burnley - West Ham game and get going on my final group of books; #1 - 10. When I started this idea, I posted my Top Ten lists, as developed a few years back. This is the link to that post if you want to compare my updated list to those lists.

So without further ado, drum roll please... here is my Top Ten list as of March 2018.

#10 - 1

10. Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford (War / Classic). At university I took The Good Soldier by Ford. I was very lazy at university and when it came to the Classics, it took quite a bit for me to actually finish them. A few years back, while I was still working, I noticed Jo listening to a radio dramatization of Parade's End. It piqued my interest so when I saw a copy of this book in Kingston, I thought it might be worth a try. Since then we've also enjoyed a BBC dramatization of the book. It's quite excellent.





"This was a challenging, but ultimately, an enjoyable, interesting read. The book is made of four separate books, Some Do Not, No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up and, The Last Post. It is set in England and France, before, during and after WWI. It deals with Christopher Tietjens, his wife Sylvia and Valentine Wannop, a young woman who has captured Christopher's heart. Around these people are family members, Christopher's brother, Mark; friends, associates and many others. Christopher's relationship with his wife is bitter and harsh, she goes out of her way to destroy his life, even though she won't grant him a divorce. At the same time, Christopher has fallen in love with the young woman, Valentine, who he met as a result of his father's friendship with her mother. Amidst these personal issues is the war, life in the trenches, all these matters. The story is detailed, it takes time to get used to the flow of the story, but when you do, it is most enthralling. The second and third books, which deal more with the War itself, I personally found the most interesting. Critics have said that there needn't have been a fourth book, that Christopher, himself, isn't really even present, but ultimately, I found that it wrapped up so many of the unresolved issues very nicely. Definitely worth reading, if you want to try a classic."

9. Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy (Classic). I read this in 2015 as part of my continuing efforts to try the classics. It was my first story by Thomas Hardy.









"I loved this classic. It's not normally my thing, but it was so well-written and there were such excellent characters, especially Gabriel Oake and Bathsheba Everdene. I was fully drawn into this story, basically the gist being that Bathsheba is an eligible single woman who has inherited her uncle's farm and now decides to run it herself (which must have been unique in those times). She is loved by Gabriel, who becomes her shepherd. Through an accident on her part, because of a small joke she plays, the rich farmer next door, a bachelor, Boldwood also falls in love with her and plights his suit to gain her hand in marriage. Unfortunately, Bathsheba doesn't really love him and this suit is rather one-sided. She falls for a cad (don't they all), Sgt Troy, who wants her only really for her money; he has already played a hand with serving girl, Fanny. So there you have it. The story describes their relationships and also life in Wessex; the running of a large farm, incidents that affect their lives. I had to find out how the story went and could not wait for the ending to see if it would end up the way I hoped. I don't often get this involved with the characters of a book, but this was a fascinating, totally engrossing story. Read it!!!"

8.  The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham (Fiction). I found this edition of The Razor's Edge when Jo and I were visiting Kingston on our way to the World Figure Skating championship's in London Ontario back in 2013. It was in a neat little antiquey store that was closing down. I read it during the weekend we spent in London. It was my first of many Maugham books.






"I'd never read any Somerset Maugham before and really had no desire to read anything by him either. However recently I saw The Razor's Edge in a antique/ collectibles shop and I liked the look of it. Since one of my Reading groups was reading Modern English Classics as that month's genre, I decided to read it. I must say that I was most pleasantly surprised. Maugham has a way about him of telling a story. His writing style is very fluid and eminently readable. The story was interesting, the dialogue flowed nicely and I found myself waiting anxiously to get back to the book when I put it down. Did a lot happen? It was a tale of people, specifically friends of Maugham's, as he is the narrator and a character as well, who he spends time with and observes. I liked the characters and I liked Maugham as well. He's an observer of humanity and expresses his observations so very well. Anyway, I loved the story, it's one of my favorites of this year. Will I read any more of his books? Well I purchased The Moon and Sixpence yesterday, so I hope so."

7. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute (Fiction). I apologize now if you don't like Shute's story-telling as this might not be the only book by Shute in the Top Ten. :0)






"As Joe says and most Queenslanders say throughout this book, 'Oh my word!'. What a great book A Town Like Alice by English author Nevil Shute is. Shute is one of my favourite authors. I've enjoyed so many of his books and I will keep searching for others of his stories.
A Town Like Alice (which I've always wanted to name A Town Called Alice; I know now why the title is as it is) is the story of Jean Paget, a young English woman, whose journey carries her from Malaysia in WWII, back to England and on to Australia. She is a normal girl, who finds herself in unique situations and finds a strength of character common to the heroes and heroines who people Shute's novels. Shute has said this story is based on a true story of a Dutch woman who kept many women prisoners of the Japanese alive with her efforts. In Shute's story, the Japanese invade Malaysia and capture a group of English women and their children. Not wanting to have anything to do with them, the women begin a march around Malaysia, from Japanese camp to camp, suffering terrible privations. Jean, unmarried, becomes a rational, smart leader of the group.
They are helped by an Australian prisoner, Joe, who risks his life to provide food and medicine to the women. After the war, Jean returns to England and discovers she has inherited a fair bit of money. The story teller, her solicitor Noel, helps her sort out this inheritance, which Jean wants to use to help the Malaysian village that kept the women safe.
She also decides to go to Australia to find out more about Joe, where he was from and when she arrives decides to use her money once again to help the town he was from, to make it 'a town like Alice'.
I don't want to discuss the plot much more as it is a book that needs to be enjoyed and savoured. I love the characters, I love the spirit of nation building, the positiveness of the people. There are outstanding events that take place in this story, but they are told in such a gentle, matter of fact way that it makes them even more impressive. There are many highlights for me. I especially enjoyed discovering how the Australian outback radio communication system worked and how much of a key it was to saving a lost man. The story reminds me of The Far Country, another story that features Australia. Shute is a great author that should be explored."

6. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (Fiction). I've been slowly delving in to du Maurier's works. I have mentioned The House on the Strand previously, #21 on my list. I've also enjoyed a couple of collections of her unique short stories, including The Birds (used for Alfred Hitchcock's famous movie). Rebecca was so excellent.







"Wow! I cannot believe it's taken this long for me to pick up this book and read it. I had read The House on the Strand a few times and enjoyed, but for some reason, I've never read anything else by du Maurier, maybe some misguided feeling that it was 'chick-lit'. I'm glad that I've started exploring more and more classic and modern classic fiction. This was a fascinating story, well-crafted, intelligently written and a page turner. At first I was irritated by the new Mrs. de Winter, her naivety and innocence, but as I read more, her character made more sense; a young woman with little life experience and low self-esteem. Marrying the older Maxim de Winter, an experienced but damaged and withdrawn individual didn't help her attitude, especially with how much she loved him. Being placed in a strange, almost other worldly situation as the new mistress of de Winter's estate of Manderley, which had been run masterfully by his first wife, Rebecca, added to her discomfort. Throw into the mix, the house keeper, the creepy Mrs. Danvers, who seems to resent the new lady of the manor and you've got a tense, fascinating situation. The story builds and builds (I won't spoiler this for anyone who hasn't read before... even though I think I'm probably one of the few who hasn't) and draws you in. Such an excellent story. I've discussed with the missus as I've progressed and now will have to sit down with her and watch the movie version."

5. Pied Piper by Nevil Shute (War). I've read this Shute story 3 or 4 times. It always impresses me and I always find out something new to enjoy when I read it. It always chokes me up.









"It is the spring of 1940 and John Sidney Howard wants nothing more than to enjoy his fishing holiday in southern France in peace and quiet. However, the Nazi conquest of the Low Countries puts an end to that, and he is asked by friends to take their two children back to England. Crossing France with his young charges seems simple enough at first - until the Germans invade, rendering them fugitives. As Howard struggles to sneak across France, he picks up several more helpless children of various nationalities. They walk for miles in an endless river of refugees, strafed by German planes and hiding in barns at night. By the time Howard and his flock of little ones reach the Channel, his plan of escaping on a fishing boat has become utterly impossible, and in their final confrontation with the invaders, all their lives are at stake."

4. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers (Fiction). Excellent book, excellent movie which Jo won't watch any more because it makes her (and me too) cry every single time. One of the best roles Alan Arkin has ever portrayed.








"When she was only twenty-three, Carson McCullers’s first novel created a literary sensation. She was very special, one of America’s superlative writers who conjures up a vision of existence as terrible as it is real, who takes us on shattering voyages into the depths of the spiritual isolation that underlies the human condition. This novel is the work of a supreme artist, Carson McCullers’s enduring masterpiece. The heroine is the strange young girl, Mick Kelly. The setting is a small Southern town, the cosmos universal and eternal. The characters are the damned, the voiceless, the rejected. Some fight their loneliness with violence and depravity, some with sex or drink, and some -  like Mick -  with a quiet, intensely personal search for beauty."

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Fiction). This has long been a favorite book of mine, touching, enduring, excellent. I've read so many times and always enjoy, always get emotionally involved with Scout and her family and her community. The movie starring Gregory Peck reflects these values just as well. I have since read the newly discovered Go Set a Watchman which I enjoyed but it does put a different perspective on Mockingbird....  





"Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South - and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred.
One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, served as the basis of an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country.
A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father - a crusading local lawyer - risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime"

2. On the Beach by Nevil Shute (Dystopia). This is one of those books that the President's of US and North Korea should read as they wave about their nuclear missile threats. Think before you act. I have read many times and also enjoyed the movie many times. Understated but terrifying.








"After the war is over, a radioactive cloud begins to sweep southwards on the winds, gradually poisoning everything in its path. An American submarine captain is among the survivors left sheltering in Australia, preparing with the locals for the inevitable. Despite his memories of his wife, he becomes close to a young woman struggling to accept the harsh realities of their situation. Then a faint Morse code signal is picked up, transmitting from the United States and the submarine must set sail through the bleak ocean to search for signs of life."

1. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (Classics). I read this after listening to a radio dramatization that Jo had been enjoying on BBC radio. I have to give my lovely wife lots of credit for some of my books choices. I listen with her and then start exploring the books they are based on. This was the first of a few of Eliot's books that I've enjoyed so very much.







"Not my normal story at all; I do tend to more light reading, thriller, adventure, but at times I do try to explore more challenging stories. This was definitely one of those. It's a true classic, well-written and intelligent. The story focuses on two main characters, Gwendolen Harleth, a selfish, young lady who thinks the world revolves around her and Daniel Deronda, a gentlemen, searching for himself. This search has many aspects, the simple one being trying to ascertain who his parents are as he has grown up under the protection/ guidance of Sir Hugo Mallinger from childhood. This also involves more internal searching, who is he, why does he think as he does. He is a caring individual, selflessly helping friends and strangers; his flighty school friend Hugo Meyrick, the lovely Jewess Mira and even Gwendolen.. There is so much in this book, unspoken love, a brief study of what it is like to be Jewish in those times, death, romance, etc. I was very surprised how much I enjoyed the story and as I worked my way through the initial pages to get accustomed to the style of writing of the time, it was published in 1876, I found myself enjoying it more and more. As much as Gwendolen irritated me to no end with her selfishness, at the same time, there was an inkling of sympathy for the plight she finds herself in (even if much of it is due to her own actions) and ultimately.. well, I won't go there. It's a heavy tome, but well worth reading. I'm very glad I did."

So there you go, the Top Ten. I hope you've enjoyed my journey through my Top 100. I'm thinking that my next journey will be through my A - Z authors. Enjoy your weekend!

Bill's Scientifically Calculated Top 100 Books of All-Time Part 8

The puppies survived their trip to the groomers yesterday. They once again look like dogs rather than little sheep. They were definitely exhausted after their day away from us. Of course now that they have their spring hair cuts, today it's raining... Typical, eh?

Anyway now to move on to my All-Time Top 100 Books list. Today I'll be listing those in the Top 20.

#30 - 21

30. Kittyhawk Down by Garry Disher (Mystery). This is the 2nd book in the Inspector Hal Challis Aussie mystery series. I enjoyed the first book, The Dragon Man, very much. In fact I had it listed at 94 in my Top 100. This second book was even more enjoyable. Great series so far. Next book in line is Snapshot, currently sitting on my bookshelf.







"Kittyhawk Down is the 2nd book in the Inspector Hal Challis Australian police series by Garry Disher. I've enjoyed both immensely. It's a simple premise really, following the investigation of a variety of crimes by the Australian police of the Mornington Peninsula Police Force. The Criminal Investigation Bureau is led by Homicide Squad Inspector Hal Challis, in which he is assisted by Sgts Ellen Destry and Scobie Sutton. In this story we also follow to uniformed cops, John Tankard and Pam Murphy.
There are various crimes being investigated; the disappearance of a two-year old baby, the discovery of a dead body that washed ashore and over the course of the story, various murders. You follow the cops and also various of the suspects and other characters, including Challis' girlfriend, reporter Tessa Klein. Each cop has their own problems which makes them human and likable. The progression of the case, the various suspects and the community in which the story takes place makes it even more interesting. It's not a perfect story by any means, but then again, neither is life.
I just found everything about this story enjoyable and refreshing and I liked how the crimes were eventually worked out. All in all it was as satisfying as the first book, The Dragon Man."

29. Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh (Science Fiction). Last year in this BLog I did a series of posts where I listed the top songs and top books from various sources, e.g. Pulitzer Prize, Hugo Award, etc, for each year starting with the year of my birth, 1955. (Yup, I'm an oldie but goodie). Anyway, Downbelow Station won the Hugo Award in 1981. I'd never tried anything by her before so thought it might be the time to see if I liked this book, especially as my interest in Science Fiction has been rekindled in the past couple of years. Well, it was worth trying. My review is below.

"My first comment about Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh is Wow! I've never read anything by Cherryh before. I was aware of her books when I'd rooted through the SciFi section of my book stores but I'd not tried anything. Recently, I was running through the years in my BLog and for each year listing various book award titles. Downbelow Station won the Hugo Award for best SciFi novel in 1981. So I thought I should check it out... So with that preamble...
This is such a fantastic book! I readily admit that it took me a few chapters to start understanding the various people, worlds, etc but once I got into the flow, it just got better and better.
How to summarize? Over centuries Earth began to expand into the stars to keep Earth's economy moving. They set up stations floating around various worlds and from there continued their expansion outward to the Fringes. Downbelow Station circles the planet Pell and it is sort of the hub between Earth and the stars. On the planet are the Downers, beings sort of like Ewoks or Fuzzies (from H Beam Piper's Fuzzy books). Earth men work the planet in concert with the Downers, passing supplies up to the station for the stations use and trade.
War is brewing between Earth's old fleet run by a hard leader, Mazian and the fringes, Union and Pell finds itself caught in the middle, trying to be neutral but at great risk. Throw in the Merchanters, those ships that travel between the stars and you've got an interesting mix of great characters.
Pell is run by various families with the Konstantin's one of the main ones and they also provide the major characters. This family must tread carefully and try to keep Pell safe from all. Stations all around are being destroyed and refugees flocking to Pell and overloading the station. There are plots and subplots galore. I found myself being drawn into the characters and the excellent story. It starts a bit slowly but then moves along at breakneck speed until the excellent, satisfying ending. I truly loved this story and world that CJ Cherryh created. I can't recommend the story more."

28. Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert (Mystery). I listed Gilbert's Petrella at Q in the 35 position in yesterday's post. Smallbone Deceased was another gem from author, Michael Gilbert. It's the 4th book in his Inspector Hazelrigg series.








"I've read a couple of other books by Michael Gilbert and have enjoyed them all so far. Smallbone Deceased ranks up there with Petrella at Q as my favorites of his. Smallbone is a perfect little mystery. It's billed as an Inspector Hazelrigg mystery and, indeed, the good Inspector does play a prominent role.
But the supporting cast also adds very much to the story, especially poor Sgt Plumbtree who has to wander around London interviewing possible witnesses. He is an inexhaustible man, a credit to the London Police Force. As well, there is Henry Bohun, the newest member of the offices of Horniman, Birley and Craine, who finds himself helping Inspector Hazelrigg with his investigation to a great extent.
The basic story is that a body, that of Mr. Smallbone, a client of the firm, is found in one of the firm's deed boxes, having resided there for a few weeks. This starts up the investigation, which I enjoyed following very much. There was an interesting steadiness to the investigation; I've mentioned Sgt Plumbtree already, but the rest of the team of investigators are all excellent. I'll highlight Mr. Hoffman who works through the paperwork, checking the firm's finances to try and find reasons for the murder.
The investigation moves at a nice, steady pace, allowing all of the characters time to inculcate themselves into your memory. They all are enjoyable; there is a nice humour at times that keeps the story light. All in all, the book was so very enjoyable, even the ending was satisfying. I will definitely continue to find more books by Gilbert to enjoy."

27. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Dystopian). I took a chance on this story by Canadian author Mandel in 2016 and it ended up being one of my favorites of the year. I've since read one of her earlier books, Last Night in Montreal, quite different but also excellent.








"I loved Station Eleven. It was one of those books that I wanted to finish to see how it ended, but, at the same time, I wanted to continue exploring the lives of the characters. Does that make sense?
It brought out so many emotions; sadness, anger, tears (in both a good and bad way), happiness, encouragement, etc. In some ways it reminded me of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, but it wasn't so consistently dour and scary. Probably part of the reason for that may be that Station Eleven had more characters and it also didn't just situate itself solely in the dystopian (am I spelling this right?) future.
I particularly liked how the story moved along, starting in their present (our future), introducing the Traveling Symphony and highlighting the new way of life of people trying to survive, then wandering to other characters, explaining where they were when the Georgia Flu caused this world-wide destruction and following their adjustments to the post-flu life.
I liked how the main characters are slowly linked up, such as how Kirsten came to be in possession of Miranda's comic, Station Eleven, even how this comic may have impacted The Prophet. The Prophet introduced a very scary element into the whole story. Was he not utilized enough? Maybe, but, personally, I think his appearances were just sufficient enough to provide a negative counterpoint to those trying to live safe lives. More of him might have put a completely different tone to the overall story. How people coped with this new future is what was most interesting.
There were so many nice touches. I liked Kirsten especially but every character was excellent and their personalities developed just to the right amount. I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, it's an excellent story and well worth reading. I think the ending left the story open - ended enough to provide a continuation story to show us how the future continues to unfold, should Emily St. John Mandel so desire. Maybe?? Please.."

26. The League of Frightened Men by Rex Stout (Mystery). Stout is the author of the classic mystery series featuring famous sleuth Nero Wolfe. I started by reading one of his later books, a collection of 3 short stories. This was his 2nd story in the series. I know that I will continue this unique series.








"Rex Stout is another of those authors that I have come to late in my reading life. My first experience was with one of his last books, a short story collection, Death Times Three, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I've been trying to find his first book, Fer de Lance (1934) but so far with no luck. But I did find this book, The League of Frightened Men, his second book, originally published in 1935.
From being someone who enjoyed my first experience of the great detective, Nero Wolfe, I now find my self an unabashed fan. This book was excellent, a fascinating, entertaining, great mystery. Nero Wolfe and his partner, Archie Goodwin are a great team and both interesting in their own rights. Wolfe is an oversize detective, basically housebound, whose life, while he works to solve mysteries, is quite regimented. Each morning and each afternoon, he works upstairs in his home, tending his multitude of orchids. While he can be visited, no business is conducted. He settles the remainder of his day, in his office, tending to business.
Archie is his eyes, ears, arms and legs. Archie conducts the investigations, travels around New York and local environs, interviewing, gathering information. He can be Wolfe's strong arm man if necessary. The stories are told in Archie's voice, from his perspective. (Oddly enough, Wolfe does sometime leave his home, this I discovered in this story. But this seems to be a rarity, not the norm)
So this story; a group of men, Harvard classmates have a secret past. While in university, they hazed another classmate and as a result caused him to have severe injuries. Out of guilt, they have banded together to pay medical bills, etc. Now two have died, or maybe been murdered. They think that Paul Chapin is involved and that he plans to kill them all. Wolfe is hired and so the story begins.
I enjoyed so much how the story is presented; small details like how Wolfe decides how to bill each of the different members of the group, and so many other aspects. The story has a surprising menace throughout and the case is so very interesting (even when Archie and Wolfe seem to be grinding their heels trying to get information.) I love Archie's manner of presenting the case, his thoughts on Wolfe; a combination of affection and anger. Great story and now I will have to read the whole series. An excellent story and mystery. Can you figure out the ending?"

25. Disordered Minds by Minette Walters (Mystery). Walters is one of my favorite mystery writers. Her stories are stand-alone mysteries and each is unique and so interesting.









"Excellent 'mystery' by Minette Walters. I think she is one of the unique mystery writers I've ever read. Each story I've read is unique in its own right and covers different aspects of human behavior. In this story, two investigators, one a university professor and the other a town councilor, Jonathan and George, delve into the past to try and prove that a convicted murderer, a young man with mental difficulties, who committed suicide in prison, was, in fact, innocent of the murder. The trail of their investigation is an interesting one, involving many twists and turns, potential suspects, deceit, etc. As well, they both must deal with their own issues, that may or may not colour their investigation. Walters has a unique style of writing, this story is partly written in emails, case transcripts, etc. I liked both Jonathan and George and their book editor, Andrew Spicer and the other characters are interesting and full of mystery. Excellent story and highly recommended."

24. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (Mystery). I first became aware of this series when Jo and I watched the British TV series based on the books, with Jason Isaacs starring as Scottish PI, Jackson Brodie. I tried this first book and loved it as much as the TV series.








"It's a toss-up as to whether I gave this story 4 or 5 stars. Such an excellent book and definitely my favourite of 2013. I had seen the BBC TV series starring Jason Isaacs as Jackson Brodie, which I'd enjoyed immensely. So I approached this with both trepidation and excitement. I did find it somewhat odd that the book is set in Cambridge, whereas the TV series was set in Scotland, but once I'd accepted the difference, I enjoyed the book so very much. Kate Atkinson draws you in immediately, introducing the various Case Histories, then Jackson Brodie, then meanders through each, tying them together when felt necessary. Every character is interesting and well-presented, Jackson Brodie is super, witty but with his own issues. The story isn't really tense, even though there are awful crimes involved, but it's more of a character study. The writing is subtle, intelligent, funny at times. Loved it so very much. I look forward to reading more of Kate Atkinson's work. Thanks to the BBC to introducing me to her and making me search out her books."

23. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (Mystery). I saw these excellent copies of Chandler's mystery series featuring PI Philip Marlowe and thought that it was time to try this classic series. Marlowe is like Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade and Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer, those classic noir gumshoes. The Big Sleep was the first book in the series. I'm glad I finally tried it.

"The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is my first exposure to this excellent writer of the noir genre. Chandler created Private Investigator Philip Marlowe, who worked the streets of San Francisco. There was a movie made of this story starring Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe. I think I've seen it but will now have to watch it again.
Marlowe is hired by a wealthy San Francisco family to try to sort out a black-mailing situation. The wealthy senior of the family has two wild daughters, especially Carmen, who is the subject of 'personal' photos. The investigation moves Marlowe into the criminal underworld and into close contact with various criminals and also murders. It's a nicely confusing plot, with many twists and turns and enough action to keep you very interested in the story.
Chandler has a way with telling his story. His characters are so well-described that you can picture them clearly. They have unique personalities and you do find yourself drawn to some and repulsed or afraid of others. His story telling is straight-forward, with a touch of humour and also a nice flair for the written word. I love this line, "I went back to the office and sat in my swivel chair and tried to catch up on my foot-dangling." I know it's just one small sample but it's so perfect and the story is filled with such perfection.
You don't necessarily get to know a great deal of Marlowe's past but you definitely get a feel for the type of character he is. Even though a private eye, he's got friends in the police force who respect him. He's similar to Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer, John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee, a loner private eye with standards. I don't know that I see Humphrey Bogart as Marlowe but I'll have to think more on that subject. I do know I am looking forward to reading the other books in this short series. Excellent and for lovers of great mystery, must-reads."

22. The Chequer Board by Nevil Shute (Fiction). For the longest time the only books by Nevil Shute that I read were On the Beach and Pied Piper, two of my favorites of all-time. In the past few years, I've begun to explore his other works. What a fantastic story teller. This story is no exception. (by the way, you may see a few others in the upcoming lists).







"The more books by Nevil Shute that I read, the more I come to recognize that he is one of the best story-tellers ever. I've enjoyed so many of his books so far; The Far Country, On the Beach, Pied Piper, etc and as I've been slowly exploring his other works, I'm enjoying him more than ever.
The Chequer Board, published originally in 1947 was no exception. It is set after WWII and tells the story of Capt (Ret'd) Turner. Turner was injured during the war, while on a flight from Africa to England to be tried for black marketeering. On the flight were other personnel, including a Negro American soldier (on his way to be tried for attempted rape), a young English Commando (on his way to be court martialed for murder) and the English co-pilot. These four survive an attack by German fighters.
After the war, Turner is now being treated for the effects caused by his injuries (pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his brain). He is told that nothing can be done due to the location of the shrapnel and he has maybe a year to live. This starts Turner on a journey to find the other three men, all of whom kept him company while he recovered from his surgeries, and all of whom have moved on.
It's a simple story but the journey to find out what happened to these men and the internal journey of Turner, his past, his relationship with his wife, etc, makes for a fascinating and at times very emotional story.
There are other issues that are touched on; the treatment of African - Americans in the US military, how the English impacted those countries that they ruled over, etc, but it is the stories of each man that is so interesting and the emotional stories as well. Shute has such a knack for addressing these emotional touches, that you probably don't realize how much you have found yourself becoming involved in the sub-stories, until the end. I do find that this story, like so many others Shute stories I've read, always strike my heart and soul, lovely to read and to think about."

21. The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier (Fiction). I originally read this while I was at university. It was my first book by du Maurier. I've since read  2 or 3 more times and it's still an excellent fantasy.









"Richard Young, tired of his life as a publisher, bored with his wife Vita and his two stepsons, is staying in his scientist friend Magnus' house in Cornwall. Magnus has developed a new hallucinogenic drug which Richard tries. His trips on this drug take him back 600 years as invisible witness to lives more exciting than his own, whose fascination begins to have repercussions in the "real" world.
Daphne du Maurier skillfully intertwines the lives of Richard in the present and Roger Kylmerth, his alter ego, in the past, so that two stories unfold simultaneously, both leading to separate, but related, deaths and disasters. Her description of the Parish of Tywardreath in Cornwall in the present and in the past possess an unforgettable vividness."

Honorable Mention

Graham Greene is one of my favorite writers. Many years ago I went through a phase of reading his books. I'm sure I took at least one in my many English courses at university. I remember reading Our Man in Havana and The Tenth Man. In the past few years I've been exploring his books more and more and have enjoyed trying his earliest books and some of his non-fiction works. I've been trying to find his earliest works and have a fair collection now. Below are some of those I've enjoyed in the past few years.

1. Our Man in Havana (Spy) -  "First published in 1959, Our Man in Havana is an espionage thriller, a penetrating character study, and a political satire that still resonates today. Conceived as one of Graham Greene's "entertainments," it tells of MI6's man in Havana, Wormold, a former vacuum-cleaner salesman turned reluctant secret agent out of economic necessity. To keep his job, he files bogus reports based on Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare and dreams up military installations from vacuum-cleaner designs. Then his stories start coming disturbingly true."

2. The Lawless Roads (Travel) - "I've been exploring more of Graham Greene's work the past few years and I enjoy his writing very much. This book is the second of his non-fiction works that I've read. Written originally in 1939, the story follows Greene as he explores Mexico, especially the Chiapas and Tabasco regions, in the wake of the destruction of the Catholic churches and teachings by the Mexican rulers. At the time of this visit, the Mexican government is also in the process of nationalizing the petroleum industry, making life uncomfortable for gringos. Greene travels through a primitive, backward region by plane and donkey. I enjoy his observations of the people and life and admire his spirit. I found the memoir kind of lost its way as he came to the end and headed back to England, but overall found the story quite interesting."

3. Journey without Maps (Travel). "I've read a few of Graham Greene's works and have enjoyed them. I like his style of writing. This is the first book of non-fiction I've read. Journey without Maps was a memoir of Greene's first trip away from England and was written in 1936. His journey is through the wilderness of Liberia on the coast of Africa. He is accompanied by his cousin, Barbara Greene, although he never mentions her by name or gender, rather refers to her only as 'my cousin'. I would have found it interesting if we'd learned more about her as he often in his travels left her alone with her porters. I found it interesting learning a bit about a portion of Africa that I really knew nothing about and also from a time frame when basically not much was known about it in the Western world. But ultimately, even though I enjoyed the story overall, it didn't necessarily wow me. If you aren't familiar with Greene's writings, it's worthwhile to take a gander at this earlier work and still an interesting story."

4. Getting to Know the General (Travel). "I've been reading quite a few books by Graham Greene over the past few years. Getting to Know the General: The Story of an Involvement was one of his later books and the 3rd book of non-fiction of his that I've read. It is about General Omar Torrijos Herrera, the leader of Panama in the '70s, who was killed in a plane crash in 1981. Greene was invited to Panama to meet him, in 1976 and the two became friends over the next years. As well, it is also a book about Torrijos, friend and confidante, Chucho, who is the go-between and constant companion of Greene on his visits to Panama. Greene has a wonderful way of telling stories, whether fiction or non-fiction. You can feel the genuine affection he feels for the country and Torrijos and Chucho. He travels considerably during his brief visits to Panama, often accompanying Torrijos to other countries or representing him; to Nicaragua, Cuba, even the US. I'm constantly amazed at the access that he gains in this book and the places he has visited over the course of his life. Most interesting book."

5. A Gun for Sale (Fiction). "A Gun for Sale was Graham Greene's 7th novel, published originally in 1936. I've been slowly going through his books, especially his earlier works and he's become a favourite of mine. I can see inspirations for books like Brighton Rock in this book. In fact, it was his next published work.
The story is about Raven, a gun for hire, is sent to kill a foreign war minister. He is paid with stolen money, which makes him the subject of a police investigation by Scotland Yard (who don't know about his assassination). The officer in charge, Inspector Mather, is engaged to Anne, an aspiring actress about to go to Nottwich for a job in a panto show. Coincidentally, the man, Davis / Cholomondeley (he does go by various names) who paid Raven is on the train and being followed by Raven who wants to exact revenge for how he was tricked.
An undercurrent throughout the story is the ominous threat of war, partly due to the assassination, which is causing stress and mistrust within Europe.
The story is a string of coincidences; Anne is kidnapped by Raven as he tries to avoid the police; Anne goes to dinner with Davis and has her life threatened; Mather is assigned the case of trying to track down Raven; etc. It sounds convoluted but the story is presented in a straight-forward manner, tying up many aspects of the coincidences and making for an entertaining, interesting, tense story. The characters are well-crafted and you do get a good sense of who they are and why they are. All in all, a most enjoyable story." 

6. Brighton Rock (Fiction). "Pinkie, a boy gangster in the pre-war Brighton underworld, is a Catholic dedicated to evil and damnation. In a dark setting of double-crossing and razor slashes, his ambitions and hatreds are horribly fulfilled ... until Ida determines to convict him of murder. But Pinkie, on the run from her pursuing fury, becomes even more dangerous ..."

7. The Man Within (Fiction). "The Man Within was Graham Greene's first published work, published in 1929 when he was 25 years old. Over the past couple of years, I've begun to explore his writing more and more; both his fiction and non-fiction. It was interesting to finally get a copy of his first book and see how it all started.
The story revolves around an English smuggler, who wanting to get out of the 'business', turns in his crew mates with an anonymous letter to the police. In the struggle to arrest the smugglers, one of the police is killed. Andrews, who was the person who turned in the smugglers, goes on the run to escape from the others. He is a self-professed coward, who in his escape, comes across a hut on the Sussex moors and meets a woman who will change his life. He is encouraged to give evidence against his comrades, an act that might have disastrous consequences.
I quite liked this story. It took a few pages to get into the flow, but it became a story I couldn't put down. Unlike Greene's later work, which acquired a finesse in his writing style, this story was very raw, emotional. Andrews is an introspective person, filled with self-loathing for his life style, his cowardice, but who falls in love deeply with Elizabeth, and who wants to change for her. The story moves quickly, building in tension; it's definitely difficult to put down as you get into the flow. Excellent first story. I've got a number of Greene's other books still on my bookshelves and look forward to continuing my exploration with his writing."

8. Stamboul Train: An Entertainment (Spy). "As the Orient Express hurtles across Europe on its three-day journey from Ostend to Constantinople, the driven lives of several of its passengers become bound together in a fateful interlock. The menagerie of characters include Coral Musker, a beautiful chorus girl; Carleton Myatt, a rich Jewish businessman; Richard John, a mysterious and kind doctor returning to his native Belgrade; the spiteful journalist Mabel Warren; and Josef Grunlich, a cunning, murderous burglar.
What happens to these strangers as they put on and take off their masks of identity and passion, all the while confessing, prevaricating, and reaching out to one another in the "veracious air" of the onrushing train, makes for one of Graham Greene's most exciting and suspenseful stories. Originally published in 1933, Orient Express was Greene's first major success. This Graham Greene Centennial Edition features a new introductory essay by Christopher Hitchens."

There you go. I've still got another nine of his books on my bookshelf awaiting my attention so I'll be enjoying his stories for a while in the future.

So there you go, the 20s finished. Tomorrow I'll be listing 11 - 20 of my favorites. I hope you've been enjoying. 

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!