I've read 9 on the Amazon list, or 7 if you discount the ones where they dumbed down the title for the US market (Northern Lights, Philosopher's stone). 17 on the goodreads list.
It does seem heavily US-biased. As well as the lack of Douglas Adams there's no John Wyndham, No Arthur C. Clarke, No Terry Pratchett.
As a Brit a trio of notable US omissions are Tom Clancy, H.P. Lovecraft and the lack of any US fantasy (Chronicles of Amber, something by Michael Moorcock).
What really puzzles me is Charlotte's web. I vaguely remember reading it here in the UK but as far as children's books go it would be fairly far down the list, behind stuff like Stig of the Dump and Treasure Island. Is it really that big in the US or is it mainly on the Goodreads list because it's on the Amazon list?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tubemonkey
 ...Dune is the all-time sci-fi classic; and probably my favorite book ever. |
Dune? I'm not sure about that, it's a good story but compared to the mind blowing books like Rendezvous with Rama, The Complete Robot and Ringworld I certainly wouldn't call it the peak of sci-fi achievement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kumabjorn
No Virgil, Homer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Verne or Melville?
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I'm not sure I'd call any of them essential books. Admittedly I haven't read much from those authors but the Dickens and Verne I've read were little more than average (and often inferior to adaptations/readings) and I'm far from alone in giving up on the unabridged Moby Dick half way through.
Shakespeare is admittedly brilliant but better experienced as a group reading or performance.
The only classical author I've read is Vitruvis so I won't judge Virgil and Homer from that (he's interesting, but not for his writing ability).