[Bêthberry]

As luck would have it, I am, as the saying goes, between books and have recently compiled a list of druthers. The Iron Dragon's Daughter looks promising (although what it promises!), so perhaps I will append it here as Book 1 of Next List. We have been allowed but five--a limit which is only fair, else we'll end up with the kind of lists Nick Hornby made famous: Books Bought and Books Read.

1. William Gibson, Pattern Recognition. Neuromancer was a blast out of this galaxy with its incredible feat of imagination so why not sign on for another trip.

2. In case comics don't make the cut as books, here's two: Alan Moore's and David Lloyd's V for Vendetta and Brian K. Vaughan's Y: The Last Man. Alas, poor Yorrick! Recommended.

3. William Morris, The Well at the World's End. Progenitors deserve recognition too. And, yes, some were there before Tolkien.

4. Octavia Butler, Kindred, because I've been meaning to read some of her work and her recent death made me wish I had acted on the intent sooner.

5. The rest of the Thomas Covenant Chronicles by Stephen R. Donaldson. Does a series count as one book? Fascinating exploration of fantasy and mind.