Top 10 Favourite Books

TOP 10 FAVOURITE BOOKS/SERIES
Hey, folks, janus-006 standing by with a new top 10 list for you all. For this one, I shall be moving away from the world of electronic entertainment, in order to focus on favourite books and series thereof - mostly series, I’ll admit. I’ve been an avid reader my whole life, and even now I like to have a good book in front of me if I’m not playing various video games. The titles I’ve picked up over the years are many and varied, to the point I couldn’t remember everything if I tried.
It’s worth noting that for this list, I have not included manga series; they’ll be grouped in with anime series for a later list, as I could easily fill this list with manga series. That said, I do have a couple of western comic series, but they are on the list because they’re actually quite important to me. Enough talk, let’s start the countdown.

#10: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO CLARKSON SERIES
One cannot deny Jeremy Clarkson is a divisive and occasionally (maybe often, as he does tend to shoot his mouth off or just say stuff for the sake of annoying the ‘easily offended’) controversial figure, one of those ‘love them or hate them’ celebrities. I must note I do not necessarily share the same opinions as those Jeremy puts forth in his collected columns, but as I am a fan of Top Gear, I tend to enjoy his sense of humour. His attempts to find a simple approach to life also resonate with me, as I often cannot stand modern technology and tend towards the overly logical.
What I enjoy most, though, is Jeremy’s approach to writing about cars; as on Top Gear, he really shines in this field. While you get the usual technological specifications and so forth, you also get the perspective from someone who loves cars, rather than just testing them. His approach mixes the blunt and straightforward with the humorous; reviews of awful cars can bring about a chuckle through his evocative descriptions of their shortcomings, while the passion of cars he enjoys is shared and presented in vivid, enthusiastic fashion. These books aren’t for everyone, but if you like him, or have an interest in cars, they’re going to be thoroughly enjoyable.

#9: DRAWING REFERENCE BOOKS
Okay, so I’m cheating by including an entire category here. So what? I like drawing, but I need to be able to build the talent. That’s why I like these. When I get the motivation, I practice my techniques, brush up on areas which need work and see just what I can cobble together. I use the basic skills provided in these books along with a healthy sprinkling of adaptation and improvisation - I will try and learn from looking at my friends’ artworks too. However, since these books were the core of my hobby, I greatly appreciate the world they opened up to me.

#8: THE JETLAG TRAVEL TRIO
Australian comedians Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Rob Sitch have written three mock travel guides, ‘published’ by the fictional Jetlag Travel company. The three titles satire stereotypes of certain areas across the world: Molvania takes apart the various ex-Soviet republics, presenting the wonders of a nation renowned for its bleak, featureless landscapes, rustic (and rusty) towns and social attitudes roughly on par with Borat; Phaic Tan is a jewel of South-East Asia where you can buy the finest quality knockoffs, catch food poisoning from a wide variety of questionable dishes and visit beautiful temples like Wat Dha Hec; and visitors to Central America’s San Sombrero can experience a mellow and laid-back lifestyle which borders on unconsciousness, tour stunning scenery and historic buildings or get a first-hand look at one of the country’s frequent political coups.
Creatively written and styled just like a proper travel guide, there’s far more to these books than the little samples I’ve mentioned. You’ll find briefings about major cities and each nation’s regions, accommodation and eating guides and even advice from expert travellers - all of which is designed to be funny and entertaining while keeping that informative air. It’s this sense of fun, and skewering of all the cliches around each region by exaggerating them to the point of ridicule, that makes them worthwhile reads.

#7: THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY
Fond memories of university classes are brought back by these books. While university eventually got the better of me, through my studies I had several excellent lecturers who helped further my interest in philosophy and mythology. These two books were key parts of the syllabus during the earlier years of my Bachelor of Arts course, and I greatly enjoyed the stories they told. Reading the actual stories, rather than taking in the Hollywood version, is worthwhile as doing so provides a look into ancient Greek culture on top of providing a long but compelling read.
The Iliad focuses primarily on the anger of Achilleus, and his refusal to fight until he receives what he feels is his due from Menelaos, leader of the Greek forces (note: I am trying to use the Greek versions of the name rather than the Romanised ones, and probably failing). Many other stories play out during this time,including - in what seems to be a rather peculiar angle by today’s standards - the simple and petty pleasures of the Greek gods, who were seen as mighty, yet still very much fallible. They were, in essence, not too different from the humans they oversaw when you got down to it.
The Odyssey is a story of loyalty and hubris. Fresh from his exploits in the Trojan War, Odysseus strives to reach his home in Ithaca, but encounters a great many dangers upon the way. He is set off course and condemned to his ten years of wandering across the seas after he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemos, son of Poseidon. In his arrogance, Odysseus gave his name as he boasted of besting the giant, and thus Poseidon’s wrath was invoked. Much of the story is Odysseus relating his tales to the people of an island upon which he washed ashore; though his wanderings continue after he departs again, he finally makes his peace with Poseidon and returns home to his faithful wife and family.
Both these books are wonderful tales of heroic deeds and grand adventure, but they are also stories of people who, when you boil it down, are very much like you or me. This is what I feel helps these stories connect, after all this time; we can relate to the many stories. We can see our own trials and tribulations in these pages; in grander scales, perhaps, but nonetheless they are there. That’s why these are important to me.

#6: THE RAILWAY SERIES
You might not recognise that title, but if I said ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’, you’d know what I mean. These are the books upon which that franchise is based. This was a favourite series of mine when I was really young. I watched the TV show avidly - Ringo Starr’s voice is a firm foundation of my childhood, perhaps that’s a reason why I like The Beatles so much - and shortly afterwards, I was able to pick up the books. The prize among these was a huge omnibus containing many of the series’ volumes.
The stories are relatively simple, and usually have a little lesson to impart along the way. Usually, there’ll be something one of the engines does which causes an issue, but they’ll learn from it and better themselves. As the series went on, a number of story elements which one would expect engines to handle arose; the concept of scrapping was brought up now and then, while the transition to diesel engines on most railways also provided the series with minor villains of sorts. No matter what, in Thomas’ world the Age of Steam was always at its peak, and the many engines working for The Fat Controller and across other railways were forever eager to prove they were really useful.
I have to be honest, I share a name with a couple of the engines in the series, so I was pretty much bound to be a fan of these stories. There is the nostalgia factor for me - and for many others, since there is a grandeur about steam engines one simply does not get with modern diesel-electric engines - and the simple joys these stories invoke. I’ll probably pass these down to my children, if I’m ever lucky enough to have some.

#5: THE DARWIN AWARDS
Okay, this one might be a bit controversial since, in the end, these are stories about people who have died. And let’s be honest, death is tragic and many would say one should not make light of it. But human stupidity fascinates me as much as it frustrates me. When you succeed, that’s it; you’ve done what you needed to do. On reflection, it’s a little mundane. There are so many ways to fail, however, that you can generally be assured of doing something memorable. That’s why I like the Darwin Awards.
We do not laugh at the individual’s demise; rather, the sheer stupidity of their actions is the source of humour. The series’ author, Wendy Northcutt, does address these concerns quite well and always conveys a sense of respect, but at the same time, the laughter we get from the actions helps numb the sadness of the untimely ends. The books would not have succeeded without this delicate balance and carefully crafted approach, and the many FAQs published in each book help allay readers’ concerns. With doubts assuaged, readers can then enjoy many fantastic stories which really make you glad you’re not these people. I love the many stories of idiocy, poor judgement and misguided machismo - it’s probably not surprising many Darwin winners are men.
It takes a special kind of genius to try and open a hand grenade with a chainsaw, steal padding from a safety barrier to use as a makeshift sled and then fatally crash into the very barrier from which the padding was stolen, or test to see if a new jacket is ‘stab-proof’ - and die of wounds due to wearing said jacket while testing/stabbing it. You get a great laugh, a good lesson and a surprisingly good amount of science content alongside the stories, so these definitely make the list.

#4: SPIKE MILLIGAN’S WAR MEMOIRS
I could just as easily put the collections of Goon Show scripts here, really. I am a huge fan of British comedy, and Spike Milligan’s zany, irreverent writing style really appeals to me. I love listening to The Goon Show, a master-class of absurdity and satire which introduced many an iconic comedy character, as well as being the precursor for shows like Monty Python, and Spike’s other works blend entertaining nonsense with seriousness and gravitas.
Spike conveyed his memories of World War 2 in the best possible way - infused with a healthy dose of humour, mocking the absurdity of it all while still delivering the appropriate respect and severity where necessary. The seven volumes of the memoirs cover his service with the Royal Artillery, from basic training in England to service in Africa and Italy - the latter was where Spike was hit by shrapnel and suffered his first major nervous breakdown. Later volumes cover his gradual recovery, or what passed for it, and demob at the end of the war. From there, it moves to his time with Combined Services Entertainment, playing with the Bill Hall Trio and meeting that noted Welsh singer and lunatic, Harry Secombe - aka the future Ned Seagoon of The Goon Show.
It’s a window into a far different time, a mix of events we cannot comprehend and hope to never experience, good times with loyal friends, and the sort of crazy anarchy which was a hallmark of Spike’s output. Like many a Milligan work, it’s a favourite.

#3: ASTERIX AND TINTIN
These two comic series earn a spot on the list as a double act, because really, I can’t have one without the other. Like the Railway Series, these two were important parts of my childhood. Many was the time I would finish my work in primary school well before anyone else - I know it sounds boastful, but I was a fair way ahead of the curve - and the teachers would send me to read in the library. It was a much simpler time when I was a young’un, that’s for sure!
Anyway, my favourite books in the primary school library were the Asterix and Tintin comic series. The humour and craziness of the Asterix series was nicely balanced by the serious adventures of Tintin, and in a way that would eventually prove to be an important dichotomy in my life; I’m just as comfortable with a serious work as I am quirky humour. The Asterix series also ties in with my habit of wordplay; many of the names are puns, and a lot of effort was made to provide as many pun-based names in various languages.  The antics of each story are well supported by a number of classic running jokes, and I always have a smile on my face reading the stories.
Tintin’s stories play out like an old-style Boys’ Own Adventure. There’s often a scheme afoot, or some other suspicious event, and Tintin’s investigative reporter skills always provide him with the tricks and techniques he needs to get the job done. With his faithful canine sidekick Snowy constantly at his side, and, from The Crab with the Golden Claws onwards, support from the rough, blustering Captain Haddock, Tintin is able to handle just about any major plot he stumbles upon. Just like the Asterix books, re-reading these and enjoying the adventure will bring a smile to my face. So many years on, I still love these.

#2: THE X-WING SERIES
To avoid having so many ties, I basically flipped a coin to see which of my top two would be first and second. You can consider them equal first, but for the sake of this list, the X-Wing novels are the holders of the number two spot.
I greatly enjoy the works of the old Star Wars Expanded Universe - the Legends works, as they are now known. Elements of these are making their way into the new Expanded Universe, and it’s fun to spot them. At the moment, I’m waiting for both Shadows of the Empire - which could be in this spot, since it is a major favourite - and the X-Wing series to be used. The latter is the subject of choice for this.
Wedge Antilles is one of my favourite Star Wars characters. He has absolutely no plot armour whatsoever, yet he makes it through all three movies and even directly assists in the destruction of the second Death Star. He’s pretty clearly the sort of guy you want at your back, and the novels reinforce this. Though Wedge is not always the focal character, he remains one of the two constants of the ten-book series. He will do his utmost to keep his pilots alive, and once you have his trust, you pretty much have a friend for life.
The overall saga follows Rogue Squadron in the first four books, covering the mission to capture Coruscant in the first two, the fallout from Imperial traps in the third, and the Rogues’ unsanctioned mission to finally defeat their nemesis, Imperial Intelligence director Ysanne Isard, in the fourth. Books five through seven follow Wedge as he creates Wraith Squadron, a group of misfits and washouts on one last chance, and shapes them into a fighter/commando unit. Their main mission is bringing down Imperial admiral turned warlord Zsinj, whose vast field of operations poses a considerable threat.
Books eight through ten are stand-alone stories; eight focuses on the liberation of the Ciutric Hegemony from Imperial forces, and the shocking twists the mission uncovers; nine is Wedge’s day in the limelight, sent on a diplomatic mission to a world which idolises fighter pilots; and ten is set after the Yuuzhan Vong war, as Wraith Squadron is reactivated with a mostly new crew and sent to hunt down a traitor to the Republic.
The novels have an excellent mix of action and intrigue, and the stories tie in well with the broader scope of the expanded universe. They give you a much greater sense of life as an X-Wing pilot, and along with the X-Wing comics, cemented Wedge’s place as one of the Legends saga’s most popular characters. They’re great stories from a favourite franchise, and I’ll always enjoy them.

#1: THE JAMES BOND SERIES
And here’s the number one spot! Some of you might be surprised to learn there were books featuring James Bond; I’d wager a great many people know only of the movies. James Bond was introduced to the world in 1953, in the novel Casino Royale. An exciting tale of espionage and high-stakes gambling, Bond’s first adventure proved popular and was followed by eleven more novels and two collections of short stories. Bond himself was the spy Ian Fleming, who worked in Naval Intelligence during World War 2, wanted to be, and more; travelling to exotic locations, undertaking dangerous assignments, meeting - and bedding - beautiful women, and living a pretty good life while he was at it.
The James Bond of the novels is generally different to the Bond of the films; he is somewhat cynical, and overall colder. He can be rather cruel when he has to, and his attitudes are very much a product of his time. He has liaisons with many beautiful women, but is not as extreme a womaniser. He does not enjoy killing, but knows it is part of his job. He does it as well as he can and forgets about it; regret is unprofessional and leads to failure.
Despite the differences, he is still an intriguing character. The lack of information about Fleming’s Bond makes us want to find out more, to discover who Bond really is behind the 007 status. Fleming would eventually develop Bond as a person, while still maintaining his strengths; the dangerous assignments are the only ones Bond enjoys, and he hates the ‘soft life’. He becomes more fleshed out than the Bond of the movies would be for some time; Fleming ultimately never let us forget that, even when Bond was a mystery, he was still human.
The books also gave us many key traits which would be used in the films: exotic locales usually hid some sort of villainous scheme; beautiful women, their looks exquisitely described, caught our attention and lured us into fantasies; and the villains themselves may have had often outlandish airs, but their schemes were ruthless and serious. It can be quite fascinating to see the books’ takes on the various villains of the Bond series; there is considerable contrast between the Blofeld of the books and the films, for example.
The books are definitely well worth reading to see all the general contrasts, as well as the inspirations for each film. After Ian Fleming died in 1964, the novel Colonel Sun was written by Kingsley Amis (writing as Robert Markham) and published in 1968. The Bond novels then went into hiatus, before being revived in 1981 by John Gardner. There have been several since, but one can argue that while they may stand up reasonably well, the essence which permeated Ian Fleming’s writing cannot be replaced.
I’ve been a long-time Bond fan, and reading the books has been a great pleasure. The Fleming novels sweep you up and bring you racing along as the adventure builds, keeping pace with the dangerous and cut-throat world of James Bond. Books by other authors, while never quite capturing the same style, still hold up well enough to show the world that, whether in print or on film, nobody does it better than James Bond.

That concludes this literary list! I hope you can find some extra reading material from this, or maybe share a few books you like. I’m always looking for new titles, so who knows? Maybe more books you like might turn up in a future edition of this list. Regardless of what you like, getting out there and reading is well and truly worth it. Reclaim your powers of imagination and open up a brand new world. Make yourself a wizard in training, an adventurer in a fantasy realm, or even a globe-trotting super-spy. Until the next list, this is janus-006, signing off.