Books Books Books
I have a collection of over 500 hard back science fiction and fantasy books, as well as numerous other books; history, mythology, and role-playing. Most of the Sci-Fi were originally my grandfathers. I am inputing them all here as I read them stating in 1999. There are many books in the collection I have read before 1999 and a lot of books here that I read that I don't own. The rating system only goes back to 2004. Oh and there are plenty of mistakes in here, spelling, categories and such.

Statistics on the books I've read since 1999
Categorys
Alternate Fantasy67
Alternate History73
Alternate History: Civil War2
Alternate History: Steampunk7
Alternate History: WWII12
Astronomy2
Beekeeping21
Computer1
Fantasy161
Fantasy: Contemporary77
Fantasy: Lost World2
Fantasy: Lovecraftian12
Fantasy: Post-Apocalyptic19
Fiction9
Fiction: Military3
Gardening0
History117
Humor2
Linguistics2
Mythology32
Non-Fiction1
Political4
Pulp Adventure11
Roleplaying3
Sci-fi405
Sci-Fi: Cyberpunk0
Sci-Fi: Dystopian3
Sci-Fi: Military76
Sci-Fi: Post-Apocalyptic17
Sci-Fi: Space Opera47
Sci-Fi: Time Travel9
Science15
Covers
hardback688
oversized hardback1
paperback299
softcover227
Collections
Borrowed104
Granddads170
Moms4
Shawns938
Anthologys
Anthology74
Not an Anthology1078
Multi-Author Anthology64
Books per year
2024: 58
2023: 62
2022: 48
2021: 47
2020: 58
2019: 58
2018: 33
2017: 36
2016: 56
2015: 41
2014: 47
2013: 28
2012: 50
2011: 54
2010: 65
2009: 62
2008: 57
2007: 50
2006: 43
2005: 35
2004: 54
2003: 92
2002: 53
2001: 41
2000: 64
1999: 40
Total books read: (includes rereads) 1374Total unique books: 1216


The rating system I'm using is:
  1. I'll be getting rid of this one
  2. Really bad
  3. Bad
  4. Average
  5. A good book
  6. I'll probably read it again
  7. I recommend reading this
  8. Read it twice in the first sitting

Categories
I am using 3 main categories, Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Alternate History. The great decider in whether a book is Sci-Fi or Fantasy is the use of the supernatural. That makes it Fantasy. So The Dragon Riders of Pern series is Sci-Fi there are not gods, magic, or supernatural, its all science based. Star Wars on the other hand (at least before Lucus retconned it with midicholians) is Fantasy because the Force is supernatural. Alternate History falls in a separate category. These are books purposefully set in the past where history changes and goes down an alternate timeline. The change can be due to science or the supernatural.
  • Alternate History: A story that takes place in the past in our world which was the same until a certain point. This Point of Departure is the instance where the timeline between our world and the one in the story diverge. The PoD can be caused but time travel or supernatural means but the cause is not generally relevant to the story.
    • Alternate History: Steampunk: The Point of Departure causes the world to develop super science in the Victorian Age. Usually developing steam powered devices and computing machines early. The story is generally set in the Victorian Age or immediately after.
    • Alternate History: WWII: An Alternative WWII takes place. Hitler dies, Hitler lives, America never enters the war etc.
    • Alternate History: Civil War An Alternative American Civil War takes place
  • Alternate Fantasy: A story set on a parallel world in a semi-historical time where the supernatural exists. This differs from an Alternate History in that the world was always different from ours but developed along similar lines.
  • Sci-Fi
    • Sci-Fi: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic: The world ends, or nearly does drastically changing things.
    • Sci-Fi: Cyberpunk: near future, dystopian, ai and prostecics are common
    • Sci-Fi: Time Travel: Time Travel can cause an Alternate History or enter a Parallel World but the focus of a Sci-Fi Time Travel story is going back and forth in time not the world created.
    • Sci-Fi: Space Opera: A story that occurs in space with the focus on action rather than science tend have larger than life heroes.
    • Sci-Fi: Military: Involves future weapons and warfare with the focus being on the super technology. Often crosses over with Space Opera but the characters tend to be more normal and the emphasis is on warfare and weapons rather than action.
  • Fantasy: Requires the existence of the supernatural. Stories that seem Sci-Fi can be Fantasy because a large portion of the story is explained as supernatural (ie the Force in Star Wars before Lucus retconned it).
    • Fantasy: Contemporary: A story set in the modern world but where the supernatural exists. This is the same as a Alternate Fantasy, but is not a historical story.
    • Fantasy: Post-Apocalyptic: The Apocalypse caused magic to reenter the world, so its in the future but the supernatrual exisits also making it more Fantasy than Sci-Fi.
  • Lovecraftian Fiction: Involves Chthulu, the Great Old ones, and people fighting unspeakable evil which is trying to enter and take over the world. The original genre was Horror but more contemporary literature tends to be campy.
  • Pulp Adventure: Typically 1920s and 1930s the heroes don't have supernatural powers but are the top end of what humanity has to offer. Typically Tarzan and Doc Savage.

The Mayas The Splendor of a Great Culture
[25-Dec-2024] by Mario Perez Campa
History: 221 pages

Better than the last Maya history. Covered the major events like the rise and fall of the major cities as well as better and longer sections on culture.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Swords of the Legions
[23-Dec-2024]

Swords of the Legions by Harry Turtledove.
Alternate Fantasy: 394 pages.
Volume 4 in the series Videssos Cycle.

The main characters get back together. Kind of disappointed in the ending, fee like Marcus was on his way to being Emperor and the story just stopped early.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Silmarillion
[22-Dec-2024] by J.R.R. Tolkien
Fantasy: 458 pages

From the creation of the world to the end of the second age. I need to write a creation story like this for the Dnd world

Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Blood of Tyrants
[15-Dec-2024]

Blood of Tyrants by Naomi Novik.
Alternate Fantasy: 431 pages.
Volume 8 in the series Temeraire.

Not enthused with the loss of memory and Japan. Then the ridiculousness of crossing Russia with an army of Chinese dragons to beat Napoleon.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Legions of Videssos
[08-Dec-2024]

The Legions of Videssos by Harry Turtledove.
Alternate Fantasy: 413 pages.
Volume 3 in the series Videssos Cycle.

With the main characters split up a lot of the story seems like fluff and filler. The Dragon on the cover is a lie. Its also disappointing that the Legion itself isnt in most the story.

Rating: 4 (out of 8)

An Emperor for the Legion
[01-Dec-2024]

An Emperor for the Legion by Harry Turtledove.
Alternate Fantasy: 322 pages.
Volume 2 in the series Videssos Cycle.

The Legion escapes from a lost battle, and wins a civil war for the new Emperor.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Misplaced Legion
[29-Nov-2024]

The Misplaced Legion by Harry Turtledove.
Fantasy: 323 pages.
Volume 1 in the series Videssos Cycle.

Part of a Roman legion is transported to an alternate Byzantium and become mercenaries.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Coba Histroy, Art and Monuments
[28-Nov-2024] by Maria Jose Con
History: 47 pages

Should have grabbed these for the other places, and read them before visiting. A short guide on the major structures and stele of the site.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Misenchanted Sword
[27-Nov-2024] by lawrence Watt-Evans
Fantasy: 226 pages

Another Ethshar story. This is gives a lot of back story on why the later world is like it is.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Unwiling Warlod
[25-Nov-2024] by lawrence Watt-Evans
Fantasy: 309 pages

Warlord is a hereditary title and sometimes the inheritor is unwiling and doesnt know what he is in for, then ends up destroying the kingdom. Another excellent story in the world of Ethshar.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Graveyard of Demons
[18-Nov-2024]

Graveyard of Demons by Larry Correia.
Fantasy: 406 pages.
Volume 5 in the series Saga of the Forgotten Warrior.

The story is coming to a close. Demons are about to overrun everything unless people straighten out their mess.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Beyond the Gap
[10-Nov-2024] by Harry Turtledove
Alternate History: 332 pages

An empire at the end of an ice Age sends an expedition through the newly retreated ice to find out what is on the other side. And find somethings they do not want.

Rating: 5 (out of 8)

With a Single Spell
[01-Nov-2024] by lawrence Watt-Evans
Fantasy: 263 pages

Still a great book. A wizard with one spell a a lot of problems signs up as a dragon slayer.

Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Steppe
[31-Oct-2024] by Piers Anthony
Alternate Fantasy: 252 pages

A Uigur is transported into a live action game in the future and turns out to be the perfect steppe warrior.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Empire of The East
[28-Oct-2024] by Fred Saberhagen
Fantasy: Post-Apocalyptic: 558 pages

Far in the future magic has replaced science after a WWIII doomsday weapon stopped the destruction. Now its time for the weapon to set the world back but destroy the demons created in the change at the same time.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Golden Sunlands
[13-Oct-2024] by Christopher Rowley
Sci-fi: 340 pages

Still one of the best standalone books with no apparent sequels or other books in the world I know of. An entire colony is carried off by high tech aliens who are fighting a war with fighting machines. But part of the colony ends up in a decadent society that has no idea how to use it technology.

Rating: 7 (out of 8)

By Tooth and Claw
[06-Oct-2024]

By Tooth and Claw by S. M. Stirling.
Alternate Fantasy: 309 pages.
Volume 2 in the series Clan of the Claw.

More stories about the Mrem vs the Liskash all dealing with the filling of the Med. A wonderful world where new magic is introduced beyond that in the first book.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Crucible of Gold
[02-Oct-2024]

Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik.
Alternate Fantasy: 323 pages.
Volume 7 in the series Temeraire.

Laurence is reinstated and sent to stop Napoleon from working with the Inca. The ship sinks. Napoleon marries the Inca Queen.

Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Monster Hunter Files
[26-Sep-2024]

The Monster Hunter Files by Larry Correia.
Fantasy: Contemporary: 319 pages.
Volume 10 in the series Monster Hunter.

Not sure why I bought a second copy. Really should check before ordering. A lot of good short stories in the Monster Hunter world.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Exiled: Clan of the Claw
[24-Sep-2024] by Fawcett Bill ed.
Alternate Fantasy: 294 pages

A world where dinosaurs didnt die off, cat became sentient and the Mediterranean recently flooded. Both cats and dinos have some limited magic of very different types.

Rating: 6 (out of 8)