One of the questions we love to ask ourselves is “What if?”, well in fiction we have the luxury of answering that question anyway we like. Here are some of the cleverest answers I’ve come across in the genre of Alternative History. The Plot Against America– Charles Lindbergh defeats FDR in the 1940 presidential election leading to a rise of antisemitism across the country. What’s chilling is how much this fictional work echoes what we see in America today. The Man in the High Castle– The Axis powers win WWII with Japan and Germany dividing up the defeated United States.…
Category: Books
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Spy Novels
Everybody loves a good spy story. They tend to have a little bit of everything mystery, suspense, political intrigue, action; they’re like the Neapolitan ice cream of fiction. Personally, I love the spy craft and the intellectual duels with an unseen enemy. Here are ten great spy novels that you can binge through while lounging on your favorite chair. Patriot Games– This is not the first Jack Ryan book Tom Clancy wrote but it is chronologically first in the main sequence of books (not including spinoffs or prequels from other authors). The story is great. Good action and intrigue while…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Hard-Boiled Detective Fiction
Sometimes you want a brilliant detective with complex mysteries, and sometimes you want a blue collar, grind-it-out, in-over-his-head, stubborn son-of-a-bitch with a revolver in his pocket a weakness for leggy dames. If you’re in the mood for the latter, then today’s list is for you. The Maltese Falcon- A classic from one of the masters of the genre; Dashiell Hammett. Even if you’ve seen the movie adaptation you owe it to yourself to go back and read this novel. The Black Dahlia– The first in James Elroy’s L.A. Quartet series about L.A. in the 40s/50s. Elroy mixes fact and fiction…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Hard Sci-Fi Novels
There are many subgenres of Science Fiction but for some hardcore nerds, they only want to read sci-fi that has been heavily researched and stays close to reality. I’m a bit more expansive in my tastes but I do love and admire authors who take the time to really think the science part of science fiction through. So here are ten novels that do exactly that. The Martian-One of the most thoroughly researched novels ever written. The story is simple yet compelling. But it’s the science that makes this one a must-read for nerds everywhere. Leviathan Wakes- The first in…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s Guide to Binging Through the Apocalypse: Poetry Collections
We’re all spending a lot of time staring out windows longingly these days. Longing for what varies by person but whether its nature, family, or just plain old human intimacy these master poets are sure to have the words that capture those inexpressible feelings deep inside you. I’m forgoing my regular blurbs for this list other than author and year. I want you to go into each of these without preconceptions. Prelude to Bruise– A 2014 collection from Saeed Jones. On Cats- A 2015 collection from Charles Bukowski. Cien Sonetos de Amor- A 1959 collection from Pablo Neruda. The Dream…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Books of Philosophy
Many of the posts in this series have been about helping you escape from reality into an engaging fictional world, but maybe you want to use your time at home to grow yourself and expand the way you think. You know, ponder the big questions. If that’s the case, then here are some engaging reads on philosophy to get you thinking. Meditations– Basically the personal journal of Emperor Marcus Aurelias. It contains a variety of thoughts about ethics and personal responsibility. A great read that is easy to read and understand. Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None-…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s Guide to Binging Through the Apocalypse: Horror Books
What better time to freak yourself out, then when you are stuck at home feeling a little claustrophobic? Okay maybe Horror isn’t the best genre to read when you’re locked up by yourself but hey to each their own and if you’re looking to get your heart racing these ten books can certainly do the job. The Shining: The movie may have become a permanent fixture in pop culture, but you should really do yourself a favor and read Stephen King’s original novel. The two differ enough that you’ll still be caught off guard by certain developments and honestly,…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Thriller Fiction
It’s time for more distractions. Here’s a list of novels that will keep you up all night reading. Some of the best thrillers around and ones you are sure to enjoy. Red Dragon– The most menacing “Tooth Fairy” in literary history, and the first iteration in any medium of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. A tense psychological thriller with a plot that can hook you even if you already know what’s coming. The entry point into an entire franchise worth of mind games and serial killers. Delirious- One of those “ordinary person gets set up, his life falls apart, and now he…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s Guide to Binging Through the Apocalypse: Classic Novels
Classics are classics for two reasons, they are well-written pieces of literature and because their stories still resonate with us today. And while they can often be a bit more work for our brains than more modern works they are still worth the time and energy to read because they have insight to offer us. And with nothing better to do, this is a great time to enjoy a few of them. Sense and Sensibility- My favorite Jane Austen novel. You might have noticed it popping up from time to time on the blog. It’s like Pride and Prejudice except…
The Eclectic Eccentric’s guide to binging through the Apocalypse- Contemporary Literature
On this site I spend a great deal of time on works of genre fiction, partly because those works overlap so closely with my own endeavors. But that doesn’t mean that more “traditional” literary fare isn’t of interest to me. Or to you for that matter. So here are some of my favorite pieces of contemporary literature from the last few decades or so. Travels in the Scriptorium- Paul Auster’s most surrealist work and a personal favorite. This is a book that should be read multiple times. For your first read-through don’t worry so much about trying to figure things…