Finding good books to read It wasnt until I was in 3 rd grade that my school district built a library at my elementary school The library was housed in a portable so you can image just how crowded the room was with bookcases and books ID: 808120
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Slide1
Mr. mohn’s book picks
Glacier Peak High School
Slide2Finding good books to read
It wasn’t until I was in 3
rd
grade that my school district built a library at my elementary school. The library was housed in a portable, so you can image just how crowded the room was with bookcases and books.
I enjoyed history, so the first books I checked out were non-fiction books about the American Civil War. I particularly liked the civil war books published by American Heritage. These books had wonderful color illustrations of civil war battles.
Eventually, the school librarian directed me towards fiction books. The year before, I had purchased a science fiction book by Andre Norton through the Scholastic Book Club that I really enjoyed so I started reading other science fiction books by Andre Norton as well as books by H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. To this day I still enjoy reading science fiction books. You will notice many of my book picks are in this genre’.
Slide3Airman
by Eoin Colfer
Though you will find this book under adventure it is also a steampunk science fiction book set in the 1890s in a fictious island country off the Irish coast. After failing to stop a palace coup our hero, Conor, is falsely imprisoned on the country’s prison island. There is no way off this island except by air. Since the airplane has yet to be invented, Conor will have to build his own flying machine to escape this prison.
Genre’: Adventure
Airman by Eoin Colfer. reddit.com
Slide4Incarnations of Immortality series
by Piers Anthony
This seven book series by Piers Anthony follows the seven immortal offices and the people who inhabit these offices. The first book,
On a Pale Horse, starts when Zane accidently kills Death. By killing Death, Zane must assume Death’s office. Zane decides he will no longer take people’s souls, so people around the world are no longer dying. Will Zane accept his fate, or will people live forever?
This book series is not evenly written as books 1, 3, 5 and 7 are better written than the other three, but overall it is a satisfying series.Genre’: Fantasy
Book cover. amazon.com
Slide5The Dresden Files and Codex Alera series
by Jim Butcher
These two fantasy series by Mr. Butcher are completely different from one another. Harry Dresden is a wizard who runs a detective agency in modern day Chicago. While the Codex Alera series is set in a fantasy world filled with magic where Alera is similar to Ancient Rome. The one thing these two series have in common are great writing with fantastic fight and battle scenes.
Genre’: Fantasy
Harry Dresden, Pinterest.com
Slide6Graceling
by Kristin Cashore
I love books where the author develops the story around a unique idea.
Graceling is such a story. In this fictious world some people has special abilities called Graces. Some Graces are simple like the ability to cook, or the ability to find lost items. Katsa’s grace is killing. Katsa is her uncle’s assassin. She longs to break free from her uncle and spend her life redeeming her life for all the pain she has caused in this world.
Genre’: Fantasy
Katsa. gallery.Wacom.com
Slide7The Bone Witch
by Rin Chupeco
The unique idea in this trilogy is some people have the rare gift of raising the dead. Tea finds out the hard way that she is a bone witch when she accidently raises her dead brother. Bone witches are feared and shunned by society for their skill, but their skills as trained Ashas are needed to protect society and fight deadly magical creatures. When a new deadly threat to society arises Tea must forge her own path, even if this means losing her life.
Genre’: Fantasy
The Bone Witch. books.sourcebooks.com
Slide8The Yiddish Policemen’s Union
by Michael Chabon
This Pulitzer Prize winning book is an alternate history fantasy mystery story. At the end of World War II, Jews didn’t get their homeland in the mid-east. Instead, Jewish refugees received temporary sanctuary in Sitka, Alaska for 60 years. Their time living in Alaska is almost up when a murder in the Jewish community leads to national implications.
Genre’: Fantasy
Book cover. hipster.com
Slide9So You Want to be a Wizard
by Diane Duane
Diane Duane, who is most well known for her work in the Star Trek universe, wrote this book series for young adults. Most magical stories have characters learning more magic as they get older. The premise of this series is children begin to lose their magical ability as they become adults until they can no longer cast magic. How can children save the world when adults can’t help?
Genre’: Fantasy
So You Want to Be a Wizard. abebooks.com
Slide10Eon and Eona
by Alison Goodman
This fantasy duology is loosely based on Chinese mythology. Eon (Eona) has been training for years in Dragon magic. Girls aren’t officially allowed to learn Dragon magic, so she has been hiding her gender from her teachers with help of her patron. She can’t hide forever and her relationship with the emperor’s son is complicating matters. When she awakens the Dragoneye for the first time in hundreds of years her magical abilities will either threaten the kingdom, or save it.
Genre’: Fantasy
Book covers. amazon.com
Slide11Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series
Ms. Lackey has written dozen of books in the realm of fantasy. She has written series on Native American magic, elves and historical fantasy novels based on various fairy tales. But her best known works are in the world Valdemar. Like Robert Heinlein, she created a timeline within a world she built. Using the timeline, she writes various series about the kingdom of Valdemar and the herald mages who protect the kingdom. A reader can start with any Valdemar series since each series is a stand alone story line.
Genre’: Fantasy
Heralds of Valdemar.
worthpoint.com
Slide12Grave Mercy
by Robin La Fevers
Grave Mercy
is the first book of the
His Fair Assassin series, which follows three female heroes. The story is placed in Brittany during the 15
th century when England and France threatened the independence of this duchy and when Christianity was replacing the worshiping of Celtic gods in this duchy. Ismae, escaping the brutality of an arranged marriage, finds sanctuary in the convent of St. Mortain where she is trained as an assassin for Mortain, the god of death. Her first assignment leads her headlong into the political intrigue of the country.Genre’: Fantasy and Historical Fiction
Grave Mercy. flickr.com
Slide13Earthsea series
by Ursula Le Quin
Northwest author, Ursula Le Guin, wrote books in both the fantasy and science fiction genres. I highly recommend almost every book she wrote during her life. Her Earthsea series is one of the best adventure fantasy series written for young adults. The first book,
A Wizard of Earthsea
, is one of my all time favorite books.
Genre’: Fantasy
Ged by Rebecca Guay
Slide14Eragon
by Christopher Paolini
Mr. Paolini wrote
Eragon
when he was fifteen and it was published when he was nineteen. An adventure fantasy hero quest story with dragons. What’s not to like.
Mr. Paolini was going to write a trilogy but he realized halfway through writing the 3rd book he wasn’t going to finish the story, so he continued the story for one more book. Enjoy reading this series.Genre’: Fantasy
Book covers. amazon.com
Slide15Tamora Pierce’s Tortall Universe
Ms. Pierce created the fantasy world of Tortall. Within this universe she has written several book series with strong female characters living in a medieval like society. I really enjoyed her Lioness, Beka Cooper and Trickster book series.
Genre’: Fantasy
Tamora Pierce’s Tortall Universe. themarysue.com
Slide16Terry Pratchett’s Discworld
Mr. Pratchett was a British author who wrote 41 humorous fantasy books in the Discworld universe. His social commentary and wacky British humor created stories are a joy to read. If you enjoyed Douglas Adams’
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe
books you will enjoy reading Terry Pratchett’s books.
Genre’: Fantasy
Artwork. Discworld.com
Slide17The Parasol Protectorate series
by Gail Carriger
What if vampires and werewolves existed in London during the 19
th century, and Queen Victoria had her own supernatural privy council to keep the peace. Meet Alexia Tarabotti, who has the rare ability to temporarily turn vampires and werewolves back into humans when she is touching them. The church calls her “soulless” because of her power, but how can she find a husband so her sisters can marry when people don’t consider her a proper Victorian woman. This wickedly funny series will keep you laughing as Alexia meets deadly danger while being courted by a werewolf and maintaining her Victorian graces.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
Book cover. Amazon.com
Slide18The Mortal Instruments series
by Cassandra Clare
This urban fantasy series pits Shadowhunters against supernatural creatures. Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club for a night out in the city when she witnesses a strange murder by three teenagers with odd markings. Within 24 hours Clary is attacked not only by a demon, but a demon she can see. She finds herself thrust into a world where warriors are dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Now they want to know how she can see Shadowhunters and demons.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
Mortal Instruments Series Poster.
Slide19The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
Mr. Gaiman writes some of the most interesting stories and I highly recommend this author’s books. In this story, a toddler wanders out of his home while his family is being assassinated by hired killer. The child wanders into a nearby graveyard where the ghosts in the graveyard are asked to protect the boy by the ghost of his dead mother. So the ghosts protect the boy whom they name, Nobody, so the killer can’t find the child. However, children grow up and want to explore their world. Nobody is no different than any other child, so when he leaves the graveyard the killer finds his prey alive and starts the hunt to finish his contract.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
Book cover. amazon.com
Slide20Beautiful Creatures
by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
This southern gothic, romantic, supernatural creatures, historical fiction, urban fantasy novel has it all. What’s not to like about a Civil War family curse, young love threatened to be torn apart by past events, and parents who want to keep them safe from harm by forbidding them to see each other. A grand romance faced with supernatural forces trying to tear them apart.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
Watch Beautiful Creatures. Amazon.co.uk
Slide21Doppelganger
by David Stahler
Doppelgangers are born killers. Raised in an isolated cabin a doppelganger finally leaves home to make its first kill and assume the identity of its first victim. When he takes the life of a small-town teenager he learns that his existence may not be the only cruel life. In fact, there are monsters who are worse than him.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
Doppelganger. goodreads.com
Slide22The Bartimaeus Trilogy
by Jonathan Stroud, Jr.
This storyline has an interesting premise. What if demons are actually good and wizards who call them to serve are evil? Bartimaeus is a demon who hates it when humans capture him with magic and pull him into the human world. But when a 10 year-old boy calls him for help, Bartimaeus can’t help but try to help the young wizard without being killed by others of his kind. Bartimaeus isn’t the largest demon, so he has to use his wit to stay alive, and keep the boy from being killed by stronger, more evil wizards all the while trying to teach the boy to do what’s right.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Pieceofgray.blogspot.com
Slide23Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy
by Laini Taylor
Karou, is a 17 year-old art student with blue hair that grows in blue, who draws the most fantastic monsters in her sketch pad while running errands for her uncle. She finds herself caught between the endless war of humans, chimaera and seraphim. Between loyalties of family and love of a seraphim can Karou find a path towards peace before the world is destroyed by hatred.
Genre’: Supernatural Fiction
Book covers. amazon.com
Slide24Agatha Christie
The grand dame of mystery writers. Only the Bible and Shakespeare’s plays have sold more books than Agatha Christie. Whether you read detective novels starring Hercule Poirot, her Belgium detective, solving murders in far away places, or Miss Marple mysteries you will enjoy her work.
Genre’: Mystery
Made up Stories to Develop Miss Marple. variety.com
Slide25Kay Scarpetta mysteries
by Patricia Cornwell
Ms. Cornwell’s written at least 25 mystery books starring Kay Scarpetta as her female lead. I found her first four books to be well written and enjoyable to read. Later on her storylines get bogged down with Kay being pitted against a serial killer and his sadistic family. I stopped reading her books after awhile. However, her first four books are worth the read.
Genre’: Mystery
Best of Patricia Cornwell. varagesale.com
Slide26Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable fictional detectives in literature. Most of Sherlock Holmes’ mysteries are short stories, so it doesn’t take much time to enjoy reading a Sherlock Holmes case. And, if one short story doesn’t appeal to you you can move on to the next story.
Genre’: Mystery
Sherlock Holmes. educreon.com
Slide27Tony Hillerman
Having being exposed to Navajo stories growing up I found Mr. Hillerman’s mystery books especially appealing to read. Murder mysteries on Navajo lands mixed with Navajo customs make for a unique style of detective stories. If you want to immerse yourself in a new culture while solving crimes these are the books for you.
Genre’: Mystery
Book cover. amazon.com
Slide28Laurie R. King
Sherlock Holmes has retired from the detective business and spends his time as a beekeeper when Mary Russell enters his life. Mary has a mind like Sherlock in solving mysteries and begins her own investigating services with Sherlock’s help. Ms. King has extended Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories by creating a new detective taking over the mystery narrative where Doyle’s books ends.
Genre’: Mystery
Laurie R. King’s books. Amazon.com
Slide29Acceleration
by Graham McNamee
Duncan is stuck in a dead end summer job working for the lost and found department of the New York City subway system when he runs across a lost diary. Bored with his work he starts reading the diary when he realizes it is the diary of a serial killer who follows young women on the subway system and kills after extensive planning. Reading the last few pages of the diary Duncan realizes the killer is hunting a new young woman. With only a description of the next victim can Duncan find the girl before the killer strikes again?
Genre’: Mystery
Acceleration. goodreads.com
Slide30Murder …
by Margaret Truman
Ms. Truman is not the best mystery writer, but she is the daughter of President Truman who spent a good deal of her life in Washington D.C. Her knowledge of Washington D.C. and how politics work in Washington are this writers strong points. This knowledge of Washington D.C. gives her books a very realistic feeling even though the mystery book is a work of fiction.
Genre’: Mystery
Murder in the White House. barnesandnoble.com
Slide3113 Little Blue Envelopes
by Maureen Johnson
Ginny’s favorite aunt disappeared several years ago without giving her a reason for leaving which left an emotional hole in her life. When her aunt dies, Ginny receives 13 numbered blue envelopes. The 1
st
envelope contains $1,000 telling her to fly to London before opening the 2
nd envelope. Ginny decides to follow these bread crumbs to see if she can find out why and what happened to her aunt.Genre’: Realistic Fiction
Book cover. Amazon.com
Slide32Son of the Mob and Born to Rock
by Gordon Korman
Gordon Korman usually writes very funny books for younger readers. However,
Son of the Mob
and Born to Rock
are two great humorous stories. Vince is the son of a mobster who wants nothing to do with his father’s business. When Vince starts dating a new girl at school he finds out she is the daughter of the FBI agent trying to jail his father. Can Vince follow his dreams without being dragged into his father’s world? Leo finds out his father might be a rock star making a comeback. While a DNA test is being processed Leo works as a roady for the show. Being the possible son of a rock star isn’t glamorous as Leo thinks, and his possible dad can be a jerk at times.Genre’: Realistic Fiction
Son of the Mob. penquinrandomhouse.com
Slide33Hitchhiker’s Guide series
by Douglas Adams
If you love British humor, you will love Douglas Adams’ books. The books follow earthling Arthur Dent, who is transported off earth just before it is destroyed to make room for a galactic highway. Along the way, Arthur meets some of the most frustrating humorous creatures and visits bizarre places, and learns the answer to the universe and everything is 42.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Typographical tribute to Douglas Adams. pinterest.com
Slide34Isaac Asimov
Mr. Asimov had a photographic memory which allowed him to write 400 non-fiction and fiction books during his life. His Foundation trilogy was voted the best science fiction serial of the first half of the 20
th
century. At a time when most book publishers didn’t think science fiction books would sell this highly popular trilogy opened the door for other science fiction writers to have their works published in the 1950s.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Foundation Trilogy. reddit.com
Slide35Greg Bear
Greg Bear is known as a hard science fiction writer. In other words, his stories are based on real science. Therefore, there is a chance some of these explored scientific principals may come true in the future.
Darwin’s Children
explores the possibility evolution sometimes moves very quickly instead of slowly over time.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Darwin’s Children. amazon.com
Slide36Ray Bradbury
Mr. Bradbury was known for writing short science fiction stories and scripts for television. However, many of his short stories were compiled into popular books like
The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Fahrenheit 451, and Something Wicked This Way Comes
. Classic books that continue to be read over the decades since they were published.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Ray Bradbury oil painting. natesanders.com
Slide37Vorkosigan Saga
by Lois McMaster Bujold
Ms. Bujold has won four Hugo Awards for her science fiction writing. My favorite books of her work at the Vorkosigan series starring Miles Vorkosigan. Miles is despised by people on his home planet due to his physical disabilities. However, unknown to his society Miles is a master spy who keeps his planet safe from other civilizations who want to enslave his people. Despite his superior intellect and success in the spy game Miles has a hard time understanding women which makes for some hilarious situations.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Vorkosigan cover art. imgur.com
Slide38Arthur C. Clarke
Most people first heard of Mr. Clarke’s work when he wrote the screenplay for
2001: a Space Odyssey
. However, to science fiction readers he was one of the three great science fiction writers of the times (along with Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury). A British scientist during World War II he branched out from writing non-fiction science books to writing science fiction books. He is a hard science fiction writer whose work has inspired the development of today’s technology and the direction of future space travel.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Odyssey art Stanley Kubrick. hdwallsbox.com
Slide39Chess with a Dragon
by David Gerrold
Mr. Gerrold is mainly known for his writing of television science fiction scripts. He won his first writing award for penning
The Trouble with Tribbles episode
for the original Star Trek series. His book Chess with a Dragon
uses an interesting premise: most life forms in the galaxy are either reptiles or insects. Humans join the civilized galaxy using the federation’s galactic library on borrowed money to figure out what products they can use to trade with this federation only to find out this is a con game meant to enslave humans. Earth can’t avoid enslavement, but can they learn to play this deadly game to their advantage and get their revenge?Genre’: Science Fiction
Chess with a Dragon. comicartfans.com
Slide40Dune series
by Frank Herbert
When I first read
Dune
I found an epic hero adventure set thousands of years in the future. When I read the second book, Dune Messiah
, I read a book about political intrigue. When I read the third book, Children of Dune, I found elements of high fantasy within this science fiction world. All these writing elements fit perfectly together to complete this science fiction trilogy. Mr. Herbert went on to write three more books in the Dune series, but I didn’t enjoy them as much as the first three books. His son, Brian Herbert, has been writing books in the universe since his father’s death filling in the gaps of Frank’s fictional universe.Genre’: Science Fiction
Jack Gaughan - Dune. comicartfans.com
Slide41The Lunar Chronicles series
by Melissa Meyer
Ms. Meyer’s based each book off fairy tale characters. However, in this science fiction future the colony on the moon wants to bring down the governments of the earth and our female fairy tale heroes are trying to stop a wicked lunar queen from executing her evil plans.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Scarlet and Wolf. deviantart.com
Slide42Dragonriders of Pern series
by Anne McCaffrey
When you first start reading this series set in a medieval society with dragons you think you are reading high fantasy stories. It isn’t until much later you find out this is a science fiction series. The first book was written back in 1967 when there were almost no science fiction books with strong female characters. One of my all time favorite book series.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Anne McCaffrey. michaelwhelan.com
Slide43The Legacy of Heorot
by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have written several novels together and occasionally Steven Barnes will join to produce high quality science fiction stories. I love this book as it tells a story of what could happen when humans settle an alien planet. Decisions can be made by colonists that threaten the entire colony when they don’t understand how their actions impact life on another planet.
Genre’: Science Fiction
The Legacy of Heorot. chrismooreillustrations.co.uk
Slide44Witch World
by Andre Norton
In the beginning, almost all science fiction books were written by men. Stories filled with strong adventurous men exploring the universe. One of the earliest female science fiction writers was Andre Alice Norton. She dropped her middle name so publishers would think she was male. The first science fiction book I ever read was written by her. Though most of her science fiction books don’t read well today her Witch World series is still popular. These books combine science fiction with high fantasy where women exclusively perform magic.
Genre’: Science Fiction and Fantasy
Andre Norton. etsy.com
Slide45Airborn series
by Kenneth Oppel
Mr. Oppel has written many books for young readers, but he did write a young adult steampunk science fiction series. During the 19
th
century airships circle the globe. Matt Cruse, a cabin boy on the Aurora, a luxury liner, is living the life he always dreamed until he meets Kate. This high British society woman turns Matt’s life upside down. The books are filled with adventure, air pirates, creatures of the upper atmosphere and space. A fun read.
Genre’: Science Fiction
Starclimber. kobo.com
Slide46H. G. Wells
Mr. Wells along with Jules Verne are considered the two writers who started the science fiction genre back in the 19
th
century. In elementary school I read all his works and occasionally I go back and reread his books. His stories have been made into movies several times over the years. In 1938, Orson Wells adapted radio play of
The War of the Worlds
scared most of the east coast as many listeners thought the events were real. In addition, you will enjoy The Time Machine and The Invisible Man.Genre’: Science Fiction
H.G. Wells 6 book box. lowplex.com
Slide47Scott Westerfeld
Mr. Westerfeld is a fairly new science fiction writer for young adults. He has written several book series.
Uglies
, his dystopian world where when you turn 16 you under go surgery to become a Pretty which for most people changes their personalities. His
Behemoth
steampunk trilogy follows the outbreak of World War I where England’s military might is built on the evolutionary development of large creatures, while the Axis powers use mechanical devices to power their military. It’s the clash between genetically altered creatures vs. mechanical land walkers.Genre’: Science Fiction
The Uglies Trilogy. heartfullofbooks.com
Slide48Roger Zelazny
Mr. Zelazny’s writing appeals very much toward young males. His plot device in many of his books was for the hero to break the fourth plane and speak directly to the reader. Corwin, in
The Chronicles of Amber
, is a perfect example of this writing. He is also well known as the first science fiction writer to use a non-Christian religious theme in a science fiction story. His plot in
Lord of Light
uses the Hindu pantheon as way to control colonists who don’t have supernatural powers. Our hero, Sam, uses the Buddhist religion to counter this enslavement.Genre’: Science Fiction
The Chronicles of Amber. Rosegildenstern.com
Slide49Matched series
by Ally Condie
This dystopian future story is where the Society controls the daily lives and decisions of children and adults, including jobs you are assigned to. They monitor everything children do from their schooling, their physical activities, and mental state. When a teenager reaches maturity they are then matched with their perfect mate. When it is Cassia’s turn to be matched she is pleased she is paired with her childhood neighbor and friend, but when a second face flashes on the screen she is confused. Can the Society make mistakes?
Genre’: Dystopian Fiction
Ally Condie’s Matched Series. tor.com
Slide50The House of the Scorpion
by Nancy Farmer
Matteo Alacran lives next to the estate of El Patron, the leader of a corrupt criminal empire between the U.S. and Mexico. Matteo doesn’t know who his parents are, nor does he understand why some family members around El Patron treat him like he is a nobody. Matteo is about to find out his life is a lie, and he is in great danger if anything happens to the health of El Patron.
Genre’: Dystopian Fiction
Matteo Alacran. goodreads.com
Slide51Divergent
by Veronica Roth
In a future Chicago, the city’s population is balanced between five groups which work in harmony to keep civilization alive. Beatrice Prior is about to undergo testing to see which group she will be placed in determined by her personality. The person testing Beatrice finds out she is a Divergent, she fits all classes. Divergents are usually killed because they could become a danger to society. Instead, the tester allows Beatrice to select her own group and to hide her true identity. While continuing her training in her new group Beatrice, now called Tris, discovers a plot of one group to overthrow the city’s shared government council. Can Tris hide her true identity while protecting her city from revolution.
Genre’: Dystopian Fiction
Divergent. letterboxd.com
Slide52Neal Schusterman
Mr. Schusterman has written two great dystopian series so far in his career. One of my favorite books is
Unwind
. After a second Civil War over the right to life vs. choice, medical technology is used to heal the country. Abortions are illegal, but teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 can be unwound. Our three heroes are set to be unwound when they get a chance flee their fate. Scythe, his second series, uses the plot device where people live forever. However, to keep the population down Scythes randomly select people for death. How will two new Scythes handle finding out not all deaths are random.
Genre’: Dystopian Fiction
Neal Schusterman. Getty images
Slide53Tom Clancy
I first came across Tom Clancy’s work when I watched
The Hunt for Red October
. Since then, several major actors have played Jack Ryan, one of Mr. Clancy’s characters. After watching a few films based on his stories I decided I would read his books. What I found were his books are very different than the movies. Mr. Clancy will take a minor character in one book and make them the lead character in a new book. When you meet a character in a book for the first time you get the feeling there is more to who they are, and then when they star in a new book you get to read the back story filling in the blanks from previous books. Love this plot device.
Genre’: Suspense
The Hunt for Red October. parade.com
Slide54Robin Cook
Dr. Cook is a medical doctor who happens to write medial suspense and horror books. All his stories deal with medical issues gone bad. Since he is a doctor all the medical procedures are authentic and cutting edge medical science gone wrong are extremely believable. A doctor’s medical oath is to do no harm. This oath is constantly being broken in his books.
Genre’: Suspense and Horror
Robin Cook. abebooks.com
Slide55Ian Fleming
“Bond, James Bond.” Mr. Fleming was in the British secret service during World War II. He served in the Middle East and in India during the war, running operations against the Germans and the Japanese. No, he didn’t have a license to kill. In the 1950s, after leaving the service he started writing spy novels using the knowledge he learned during the war. The plots in his books don’t match the plots in the James Bond movies.
Genre’: Suspense
James Bond Novels. amazon.com
Slide56John Le Carre
John Le Carre is the pen name for David John Cornwell. Like Ian Fleming, Mr. Cornwell worked for British service. He worked in both MI5 and MI6 during the 1950s and the 1960s. Most of his stories are about the Cold War where the British spy service matched wits with the Soviet Union. My favorite book character of his is George Smiley. I really enjoyed
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
where George Smiley is brought out of retirement to find a mole in MI6. A mole who was part of MI6’s inner circle when he was still active in the service.
Genre’: Suspense
John Le Carre – Time. spywrite.com
Slide57Jason Bourne series
by Robert Ludlum
The Jason Bourne movies have been great suspense movies. However, like Tom Clancy, the Jason Bourne books are completely different than the movies. Also, there are six Jason Bourne books, not just the three you know from the movies. One of my favorite stories is when an assassin has stolen Jason’s identity to further his career as an assassin for hire, so Jason has to go undercover to stop this killer without being killed by people who think he’s the assassin.
Genre’: Suspense
The Bourne Trilogy. amazon.com