My Top Ten Books

Here are my top ten fiction books or book series (4-10 not necessarily in that order, and subject to change):

1. The Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
2. Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
3. Ender  - Orson Scott Card
4. The Great Train Robbery – Michael Crighton
5. Kingkiller Chronicles – Patrick Rothfuss
6. Lord of the Rings (and other Tolkien) – J.R.R. Tolkien
7. The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
8. Harry Potter  - J.K. Rowling
9. Redwall – Brian Jacques
10. My Father’s Dragon  - Ruth Stiles Gannett

1. The Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan
In my opinion, the Wheel of Time is the greatest epic of them all, often considered to be a modern-day Lord of the Rings. Throughout 13 books (and one short prequel novel), Robert Jordan tells a masterful tale centered around the Dragon Reborn, a complex hero destined to face the Dark One in an attempt to save not just the world, but time itself. Set in a medieval world, Jordan’s epic is defined both by the nature of the “wheel” (time is a continuous wheel– each of the five ages mostly repeats itself), and by Channelling (a cleverly complex magic system, perhaps most-easily described as a sort of medieval version of the Force in Star Wars, but much more interesting). While Jordan does tend to take too long in some of his writing, the intricate sub-plots make this a masterpiece, good for countless re-reads. The last three books are co-written by Brandon Sanderson due to the untimely death of Robert Jordan prior to completing the series.

2. Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
While the Wheel of Time is my favorite story, the Mistborn series is my favorite read. If not for the epic nature of the Wheel of Time, this would definitely be my all-time favorite. Sanderson does an exquisite job at developing instant character attachment, and his magic system is simply fantastic, using a very original concept that leaves the reader wanting more– because of its good quality, not because of a lack of content. Mistborn is divided into three independent trilogies, with one short novel between the first and second trilogies (right now, the second and third trilogies are yet unwritten, but all three take place in a different era of technology, from medieval to futuristic). The series takes place on a mythical planet and in the first trilogy, is full of unexpected twists and turns as the protagonist struggles to master Allomancy (the magic system) in order to defeat an oppressive tyrant.

3. Ender – Orson Scott Card
The Ender series is really two separate series with one book in common: Ender’s Game. Originally developed for a magazine, and later expanded into the novel, Ender’s Game takes place in the future as mankind prepares for a second invasion of the “Buggers,” an alien insectoid race that previously ravaged Earth. A child named Ender is sent to a military school where he is groomed to be mankind’s savior. Following Ender’s Game, the franchise breaks into two series. Ender’s Shadow is a parallel book to Ender’s Game, but follows the story form another character’s perspective, with subsequent books following that character. The true sequels to Ender’s Game focus on Ender after the events of the first book. While Ender’s Shadow is full of action, suspense, and political intrigue, this first series, while also including some action and suspense, primarily intrigues through ethical dilemmas, such as how the Catholic church might deal with how to interact with alien life. Both series are excellent, though Ender’s Shadow, through its action-packed nature, and its similar writing style and plot with Ender’s Game, garners a much wider audience.

4. The Great Train Robbery – Michael Crighton
This is, in my opinion, the best of Crighton’s books, but this might simply be because I am a sucker for a great heist story. The Great Train Robbery is a genius novel based on true events of the 1800s concerning a group of high-class thieves attempting to pull off one of the greatest heists in England’s history.

5. Kingkiller Chronicles – Patrick Rothfuss
A newer series, a unique feature of this series is its use of a dual-time period. At first, it seems like many other fantasy books, with the main story being told by a character introduced in the first chapter, but Rothfuss adds a twist in that the storyteller is not only delivering a gripping story, but is involved in his own interesting plot line as well. The series contains two main story arcs, although I would not be surprised if the two connect in the end. The only downside to the Kingkiller Chronicles is that there are only two books published so far, and Rothfuss puts them out at a painfully slow pace, with only two published between 2007 and 2013.

6. Lord of the Rings (and other Tolkien) – J.R.R. Tolkien
Does much really need to be said about Tolkien? I love the Lord of the Rings, although I firmly believe that the Hobbit is necessary for a complete and fulfilling enjoyment to the series. While not refined, Tolkien’s other works such as the Silmarillion and even the appendix to Return of the King also added unique depth to the story and appreciation for many of the smaller details, especially concerning the mysterious past of Sauron and his antitheses, the wizards.

7. The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
My love of Narnia is perhaps enhanced by my childhood memories of reading the series, but nonetheless, the story remains one of my favorites. Lewis brings an almost grandfatherly tone to the series, making it fun and enjoyable as the 1940s children are thrust into a magical world of witches, giants, sea monsters, and mythological creatures popularized in part by this series. I am also particularly fond of the intentional symbolism, an unsurprising feature given the author’s even longer list of theological publications.

8. Harry Potter  - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter is great because both beginning and experienced readers alike can share an enthusiasm for the series. Set in our modern-day world, it turns out witches and wizards have been hiding under our very noses for centuries! The series has it all: magic, dark villains, betrayal, redemption, and brave heroism, wrapped up in a delightful storytelling tone. Rowling’s writing style captivates the reader in the story of Harry Potter’s seven years at Hogwarts, his school of wizardry.

9. Redwall – Brian Jacques
The talking medieval mice, otters, badgers, and other creatures in Redwall were some of my early inspiration to fall in love with reading. This young-adult fiction focuses around the almost mythological legend of Martin the Warrior, whether through his guiding warrior spirit, or in his backstory. Equally a theme of the series, the story and origins of Redwall Abbey, home to peaceful mice, otters, badgers, voles, moles, and the like, captivates the reader as it frequently finds itself in danger from vermin. Each book in the Redwall series is defined by a series of poetic riddles, through which the protagonist must find the salvation of the innocent creatures under attack by the vermin. While the series may have jumped the shark around book 13 or 14, and despite starting it while in 2nd grade, I still love to read the series today.

10. My Father’s Dragon  - Ruth Stiles Gannett
A trilogy of children’s books, Gannett’s story follows a young boy named Elmer as he talks with animals and interacts with dragons. Written in the 1940s, the main character is supposed to be the father of the author. This trilogy is what first got me interested in reading (bridging the gap between See Spot Run and Redwall). I especially loved the 1940s terminology, such as “knapsack,” rather than “backpack.” While I do not remember very many details, it remains one of my favorites, and is currently on my Amazon wishlist.

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