The snow whips back and forth in the wind outside, but it's not so much snow as gently wafting flakes of white puffy stuff. It's December, and so winter is officially upon us here in Iowa, but the weather is still reminiscent of extremely late fall. So that means you can walk outside without gloves, but you'll want your hood and a scarf, or, if you're like me, you reject the scarf, throw on your trusty over-the-ear headphones that amplify the bass in lieu of earmuffs, and maybe wear arm warmers on those days when you still need to use your fingertips. I like winter a lot. Snow and ice I can take or leave, but winter as a season is probably my favorite, because as I said a few weeks ago, warm fireplaces in coffee shops and restaurants, or curling up under a warm electric blanket with a book are my favorite things to do.
It's also holiday season. Hanukkah began last night, and Christmas has three full weeks to go before it arrives. That means shopping, shopping, shopping, and people are always popping in and out with lists of books they need, or asking for good recommendations. We're running through our Harry Potter and Steig Larsson as fast as we can get them in, and some of us have taken a fancy to certain books so much that we're having trouble keeping those in stock, too (I confess to being among the guilty parties in this matter).
So, kindly allow me to suggest a few titles that I think will appeal to your gift-giving needs.
** For the Fantasy fan in your life...
If they like Robert Jordan or George R.R. Martin, then Steven Erikson will be right up their alley (also, Erikson is a graduate of the Writer's Workshop Program here at the University of Iowa, so there's an Iowa connection).
For the Tolkien fan who might not quite be ready for the heavier fantasy works, Terry Goodkind and Terry Brooks both have complete series set in their respective worlds of the Sword of Truth and Shannara.
Speaking of JRR Tolkien, if there's someone who loved the 'Lord of the Rings' movies in your house, and they haven't yet experienced the books, it's never too late to introduce them to Middle Earth all over again.
For the Harry Potter fan who needs a new series of magic and adventure, look no further than Diane Duane's Young Wizards series.
** For the Mystery reader...
Dennis Lehane's Mystic River and Shutter Island are both excellent novels turned into films, and they're a treat for any mystery lover.
For the Steig Larsson fan, there are plenty of European authors to choose from, including Jo Nesbø (Norway), Arnaldur Indriðason (Iceland), and Henning Mankell (Sweden). Northern Europe has been producing great crime fiction for years, but these three are great additions for Larsson fans to check out.
Denise Mina and Val McDermid are two excellent Scottish crime writers, both of whom have consistently put out great material. Mina's Garnethill is the first in her trilogy of the same name, while McDermid's Killing the Shadows and A Place of Execution are highly recommended.
For more traditional detective fiction fans, you can't go wrong with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's always popular Sherlock Holmes. For other excellent mystery series, I suggest Elizabeth George for those looking for a British detective, while Lee Child's Jack Reacher series follows an American ex-MP who travels the United States perpetually getting into some form of trouble or other.
** For the Science Fiction lover...
For those who love hard science fiction in the vein of Simon R Green's Deathstalker novels, Peter F Hamilton is the author to check out. His trilogy of novels, The Reality Disfunction, combine elements of science fiction, horror, and adventure, sure to please any science fiction fan. Yes, zombies are among the bad guys in Hamilton's universe, so zombie fans will enjoy them too.
William Gibson is the father of cyberpunk, and Neuromancer remains a classic of the genre. He practically invented the concept of the internet in his stories, though I will say that I'm glad my nervous system isn't how I surf the net.
Classic science fiction abounds, and sometimes the old classics, Jules Verne and HG Wells, are the go-to guys. If you are seeking great imaginative worlds and grand tales of high adventure, there's nothing that a little classic storytelling can't do to satisfy that craving.
Until next week, fellow bibliophiles.
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