Some of this stuff doesn't qualify as classics by any means but that childhood stuff just sticks with you.

I'm putting series as one selection. Some things need to be together...

In no specific order:

1. The Hyperion saga by Dan Simmons (Okay, so it's really four books)

2. Neromancer by William Gibson (Cheesy at points, but it brought cynerpunk to the forefront.)

3. The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson

4. Lord of the Rings by what's-his-face

5. Good Omens by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman (too funny)

6. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (creepy and my first exposure to Gaiman)

7. Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson (it's close to my geek heart

8. the Chthulu cycle by H.P. Lovecraft (some of my first horror)

9. the Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser series by Fritz Leiber

10. The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison

At first I thought it would be hard to come up with 10, but now I find myself wishing for more...curious.

Jim

Very nice... a lot of crossover with my choices.

On my list are:

Hyperion

Lord of the Rings

Cryptonomicon

Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser

Gotta think a bit more for the others... I'm cheating by looking at other people's lists :)

Nice list JimH and thanks for popping the cherry on this discussion .You mentioned some of my favorite authors but I think only one book on my list , Neuromancer. The cheesiesness is compensated not only by the originality of the work but also the poetry of the prose . These novels read fast and tasty . I see you list several series , did you mean to include the Neuromancer trilogy or just the first book?

John , This is the most challenging of the three topics .We've kind of gone over our favorite authors already .I'll remind myself and the rest of the group that there are no wrong answers and promise to loosen up and give you a list soon. Only ten ?

Dis,

I didn't even think to include the rest of the series, but now that you mention it, I should have. It's a great modern mythology taken as a whole. It's great to see him progress as a writer through the series too. He develops subtlety at some point and it elevates his art.

Hey All ! I love this discussion already!!! My to 10 novels would be hhmmm lets see...so many to pick from....

Top and fore most for is is anything by R.A. SALVATORE!

The Dark Elf Series .. RA SALVATORE (3)

Eragon ....

The Eldest

Swords of Shannara (spelling ?)

Dragonriders of Pern.... McCaffey

Wizard For Sale .. Terry Brooks

10,000 Orcs (spelling agian!) RA Salvatore

I'm doing two lists . First one favorite fantasy novels

Small Gods by Terry Pratchett (a list of recent favorites would be 70% TPrachett )

Elric of Melnibone by Michael Moorcock

Elfquest by Richard and Wendi Pini (The first graphic novel, issues 1-22 of the comic .)

The Fallible Fiend by L. Sprague de Camp

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft

Cerebus, High Society by Dave Sim

Conan by Robert E Howard and others

American Gods by Niel Gaiman

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone

OK this is impossible . These are some of the fantasy books that I've enjoyed .Some are childhood favorites . I'm gonna need a different tactic to make the science fiction list .

Good stuff all of it. I still have a few dark elfs I have to catch up on now that you mention it. That and the sorta pre-history to Shannara series.

Jim