Adding to my collection...

Well, you've probably already read it, but the I think the ultimate Scifi/Theology book is Frank Herbert's Dune.Actually the first four, up to God-Emporer of Dune, are quite good although I didn't enjoy books two and three (Dune Messiah, Children of Dune) until I was older.If you like Stephen King/Clive Barker fantasy-horror, especially if you liked It, I think Peter Straub's Shadowland and Ghost Story are definitely worth a look. Straub's Hellfire Club is a real page turner once it gets going (slow but enjoyable build up to about page 90 then BAM! Off and running).For straight science-heavy sci-fi you might give Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy a try (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars). It's got its flaws, but the scientific process of terraforming mars and the political genesis of a new world is interesting.Lastly, The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle was another great sci-fi first contact book.This message has been edited by custard, 02-24-2005 17:35 AM

Well, if you liked Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, you might give Daughter of God a shot. It has very similar themes (hell the author sued Brown for plagiarism) but has more action and uses more Mickey Spilane type cliches.Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum pre-dated Da Vinci Code and has a great secret-society, pseudo-religious conspiracy but from a skeptics point of view. It's actually an amusing commentary on the gullibility and self-delusion of people who are wrapped up in historical/religious/political conspiracies from the Templars and Masons to the Hollow Earthers packaged in mystery format. It can be a bit dry at times, but it's good.Also Eco's Name of the Rose is a page turning theologically related mystery that sounds like it is right up your alley. If you enjoy that, try Baudolino which is another pseudo farcical look at history and religion at the time of Barbarosa. The allusions in the book will test your knowledge of history, catholoc mysticism, and medieval mythology so some readers might find it esoteric. I did think the book wound down a bit at the end though.This message has been edited by custard, 02-24-2005 17:54 AM

Try a decent used book store first. Just about all the works I listed, especially the Herbert stuff, is almost always available.

I'll give you just a few of my favorites; novels I think are superlative and which I re-read every year or two.Dune (Frank Herbert)
Catch 22 (Joseph Heller)
Grendel (John Gardner)
LOTR (Tolkien)

Haven't heard of this book. Quest ce que c'est?

Sweet, sounds good. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Cool, I'll have to check it out when I... hey wait! Did you actually read this book, or is this yet another of your second hand critiques?