Books, the Runners Up

Before we get to the number one book on my list, I'm going to tease you a little bit. As is the case with any "top ten" list, there were some really good books that didn't make it onto the list, but are still worthy of mention, and definitely worth your time to read . . .


Here then, are the "Honorable Mention" books. In no particular order . . .


The God Game by Andrew Greeley



A Catholic priest is playing an "interactive fiction" computer game when lightning strikes and suddenly his "game" is real and he's controlling the lives of people in a parallel world. It's not quite as silly as it sounds. Great examination of modern religious themes while still being a really fun read.











Wicked by Gregory Maguire

The story of the Wicked Witch of the West prior to Dorothy's arrival. This book, the basis for the hit Broadway musical and the upcoming film, is a fantastic examination of what is viewed as "good" and "bad" in our society. The pretty yet vain and selfish girl is lauded because she conforms, while the unusual looking girl who champions the cause of the underdog is labeled "wicked" because she is different, and refuses to to be quiet. Brilliant book (if a bit slow in the beginning) with wonderful characters and enough twists on the familiar plot to make it interesting.






The Spellsinger Series by Alan Dean Foster



Jon Thomas is high one night when he accidentally answers the summons of a turtle wizard from an alternate dimension. In a world predominantly populated by talking animals "JonTom" discovers that he can make magic by playing music. At home he'd be called a "slacker", but now he's a hero. Fun series of books following JonTom's adventures with his sidekick, Mudge the otter. Kind of a "fluff" read, but lots of laughs, and a few tugs at the heartstrings along the way.






The Incarnations of Immortality Series by Piers Anthony

Another great series of books that I started reading while in college. Essentially, the immortal incarnations of Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Good, and Evil are not godlike beings, but humans who have taken office for a period of time. With each post comes unique tools and responsibilities. What appears early on to be a set of stand-alone stories about individual "office holders" turns out to be one big story tying them all together. It's beautifully done, and the ending is as satisfying as the rest of the series is thought provoking.

The Charm School by Nelson DeMille

One of the last great "Cold War" novels. This is a very intense, action packed story about a couple of Americans who discover that the KGB has kept American P.O.W.s captive for years and is using them to train Soviet spies to infiltrate the United States. The "Charm School" in the title refers to the mock Midwestern town that the soviets have built as the location for this training. So many unexpected twists and turns in this story kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.















Okay, that does it for the "also rans". I'll be back tomorrow to tell you about my favorite book.