Desert Island Authors Draft

#62
Darn you, NoBonus!!! Poe was next on my list. I really can't think of anybody to replace him with, in that genre, that I would enjoy as much.
 
#65
Stan Lee was a consideration, but I think Capt. Factorial is going to be my biggest competition in this draft...Vonnegut was going to be my #3 (if he lasted). Nice choices all!
 
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#66
Stan Lee was a consideration, but I think Capt. Factorial is going to be my biggest competition in this darft...Vonnegut was going to be my #3 (if he lasted). Nice choices all!
So far you are my biggest competition. Twain and Shakespeare. Oh my!

There is a decidedly SciFi bent to the picks, so far. Not really my usual type of reading, although I've read some. So SciFi fans, you probably don't have to worry about my picks. :)
 
#67


Alexandre Dumas

Another one of my all-time favorites in The Three Musketeers. I've spent hours re-reading it and it never gets old. My island would simply not be complete without it. Don't need any of the movies, just give me the book! :)

Of course, along with that I'm also drafting Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, which is another classic that I'm quite fond of. Dumas has alot of depth to his stories and adventures which is important to me.

Others I'm glad to include are The Black Tulip and The Companions of Jehu.

More..
 
#68
Hmmmm....this is tough. I think some of my authors are safer than others for a later pick-up. So I'm going to go with Stephen King here. I've read almost 20 of his books. Some are definitely better than others, but all are fun to read. Of those I've read, my two favorites are It and The Stand. I also like his novella, The Body, which was made into the movie, Stand By Me.

His bibliography would take up too much room. Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King_bibliography

A couple of reasons why I like him: he writes great female characters and I love the children in his books, because they are written as full characters, not as superfluous. His imagination seems overflowing, as his production is prolific. I don't think I'd want to have his dreams/nightmares. ;)



EDIT: Children are quite often the main characters. I think its because he sees them as good, pure and therefore able to defeat evil. He's written so much, that his books should fill up loads of my abundant free time on this island. :)

EDIT 2: Something weird happened with the picture I posted. So hopefully this one doesn't mysteriously turn into a red X again. And I forgot to say how much I liked The Green Mile.
 
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Capt. Factorial

ceterum censeo delendum esse Argentum
Staff member
#69
Didn't think Dumas would go quite so high, but I can see it. Monte Cristo is a page turner, especially considering how long it is. Haven't read Musketeers, but I assume it's of similar quality.

I was waiting for Stephen King to go since the first round - thought he had a chance to be in the top 5.
 
#70
Didn't think Dumas would go quite so high, but I can see it. Monte Cristo is a page turner, especially considering how long it is. Haven't read Musketeers, but I assume it's of similar quality.

I was waiting for Stephen King to go since the first round - thought he had a chance to be in the top 5.
Yeah I thought he might go later too. Wasn't ready to take that chance though :p
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#72
Hmmmm....this is tough. I think some of my authors are safer than others for a later pick-up. So I'm going to go with Stephen King here. I've read almost 20 of his books. Some are definitely better than others, but all are fun to read. Of those I've read, my two favorites are It and The Stand. I also like his novella, The Body, which was made into the movie, Stand By Me.

His bibliography would take up too much room. Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King_bibliography

A couple of reasons why I like him: he writes great female characters and I love the children in his books, because they are written as full characters, not as superfluous. His imagination seems overflowing, as his production is prolific. I don't think I'd want to have his dreams/nightmares. ;)



EDIT: Children are quite often the main characters. I think its because he sees them as good, pure and therefore able to defeat evil. He's written so much, that his books should fill up loads of my abundant free time on this island. :)

EDIT 2: Something weird happened with the picture I posted. So hopefully this one doesn't mysteriously turn into a red X again. And I forgot to say how much I liked The Green Mile.
Another author I was waiting to see appear. His books have the delicious quality of being able to scare the crap out of you without forcing you to actually walk away. You keep reading, even though your skin is crawling and any sudden noise behind you just might give you a heart attack. Very nice pick, kennadog.
 
#73
Another author I was waiting to see appear. His books have the delicious quality of being able to scare the crap out of you without forcing you to actually walk away. You keep reading, even though your skin is crawling and any sudden noise behind you just might give you a heart attack. Very nice pick, kennadog.
I like to be scared and creeped out and not know what's around the next corner or hiding in the dark. As long as its only in books or movies. LOL. :D I've pretty much always liked the scary rides at an amusement park or carnival, too.
 

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#74
Gonna swerve left here for a second and take an author who is one of the best at what he does, and that is technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thrillers.

Of course, I am talking about Tom Clancy.

Hunt for Red October hooked me, and I started reading everything he wrote after that. I haven't kept up with the paperback stuff co-authored with others, but his solo works are fantastic reads. In fact, after I read much of his stuff as I picked them up here and there in college, I went back and read them all in order all over again.

His seven non-fiction books on the armed forces are fascinating reads as well. If you have any interest at all, pick them up.

pm sent.
 
#75
Gonna swerve left here for a second and take an author who is one of the best at what he does, and that is technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thrillers.

Of course, I am talking about Tom Clancy.

Hunt for Red October hooked me, and I started reading everything he wrote after that. I haven't kept up with the paperback stuff co-authored with others, but his solo works are fantastic reads. In fact, after I read much of his stuff as I picked them up here and there in college, I went back and read them all in order all over again.

His seven non-fiction books on the armed forces are fascinating reads as well. If you have any interest at all, pick them up.

pm sent.
Great pick! Love this.
 
#76
From one Bill to another, it's time to add a timeless childhood favorite to the party. With my 3rd choice, I select:

Bill Watterson
1958-Present



Calvin and Hobbes burst onto the Sunday newspapers in 1985 (when I was very young) and has remained a part of my consciousness ever since. Full of intelligent observation, poignant societal critiques, hilarious satire, and beautiful artwork there is something for everyone to enjoy for hours on end, or for a casual glance of a strip or two. Calvin brings out the child in all of us with his exuberant imagination, misguided rants, and mature points of views through childlike glasses. While I'm sure most are well versed in Mr. Watterson's work, I suggest a re-read immediately. This sounds like a job for Stupendous Man!

Bibliography:
Calvin and Hobbes
Something Under the Bed Is Drooling
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
Yukon Ho!
The Calvin and Hobbes Lazy Sunday Book: A Collection of Sunday Calvin and Hobbes Cartoons
Weirdos from Another Planet!
The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
The Revenge of the Baby-Sat
Scientific Progress Goes "Boink"
Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons
The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
The Days Are Just Packed
Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat
Calvin and Hobbes: The Tenth Anniversary Book
There's Treasure Everywhere
It's a Magical World
Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday Pages, 1985-1995
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
Notable Quotes:
"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?"
"I'm not sure that man needs the help."

Calvin: I'm a genius, but I'm a misunderstood genius.
Hobbes: What's misunderstood about you?
Calvin: Nobody thinks I'm a genius.

"I just read this great science-fiction story. It's about how machines take control of humans and turn them into zombie slaves."
"So instead of us controlling machines, they control us? Pretty scary idea."
"I''ll say...*HEY* What time is it? My TV show is on."

“Who was the first guy that look at a cow and said," I think that I'll drink whatever comes out of those things when I squeeze them?”

(Calvin has a stand that says "a swift kick to the butt $1.00")
Hobbes: Business not doing so well?
Calvin: I don't understand it... Everyone I know needs what I'm selling!
(Some) Favorite Strips:



More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Watterson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes
 
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#78
I choose-Ray Bradbury 200px-Ray_Bradbury_(1975)_-cropped-.jpg
Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), Bradbury was one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers of speculative fiction. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into television shows or films.
Bradbury died in Los Angeles, California, on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91,[44] after a "lengthy illness",[1][45][31][46] coincidentally during a rare transit of Venus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury

I was sad to hear of his passing, his novels are compelling and easily readable over and over.This will give me a chance to read any of his novels I may have missed.

From:http://www.livescience.com/20784-5-great-ray-bradbury-quotes-death.html
3. In his 1953 dystopian novel "Fahrenheit 451":

"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there. [A Gallery of Death in Art]
It doesn't matter what you do, he said, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. The difference between the man who just cuts lawns and a real gardener is in the touching, he said. The lawn-cutter might just as well not have been there at all; the gardener will be there a lifetime."
 
#79
It may cost me more of my other authors but, my next pick is one I simply will not abide going anywhere else: Lewis Carroll 220px-LewisCarrollSelfPhoto.jpg
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson 27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all examples of the genre of literary nonsense. He is noted for his facility at word play, logic, and fantasy, and there are societies in many parts of the world (including the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and New Zealand) dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of his works and the investigation of his life.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Carroll

Some of the earliest reading I did was Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I still have the illustrated copy of Alice my aunt gave me at age 8. While this author may have made it further, I just couldn't risk it. Plus I get to read some of his stuff that I have yet to read and having fresh material is important. :)
 
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#81
Nostalgia is an important component to any library because it keeps you coming back for more. This next author also made up a large portion of my youth, and I often return to his quirky lessons and humor for a quick read. I recommend beginning with the Twits, Matilda, George's Marvelous Medicine, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for those unfamiliar with his work.

With my 4th selection, I choose:

Roald Dahl
1916-1990




Bibliography:
Children's Stories:

The Gremlins (1943)
James and the Giant Peach (1961)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
The Magic Finger (1 June 1966)
Fantastic Mr Fox (9 December 1970)
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (9 January 1972)
Danny, the Champion of the World (30 October 1975)
The Enormous Crocodile (24 August 1978)
The Twits (17 December 1980)
George's Marvellous Medicine (21 May 1981)
The BFG (14 October 1982)
The Witches (27 October 1983)
The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (26 September 1985)
Matilda (21 April 1988)
Esio Trot (19 April 1989)
The Vicar of Nibbleswicke (9 May 1990)
The Minpins (8 August 1991)

Children's Poetry:

Revolting Rhymes (10 June 1982)
Dirty Beasts (25 October 1984)
Rhyme Stew (21 September 1989)

Adult Fiction:

Novels:

Sometime Never: A Fable for Supermen (1948)
My Uncle Oswald (1979)

Short Story Collections:

Over To You: Ten Stories of Flyers and Flying (1946)
Someone Like You (1953)
Lamb to the Slaughter (1953)
Kiss Kiss (1960)
Twenty-Nine Kisses from Roald Dahl (1969)
Switch ***** (1974)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More (1977)
The Best of Roald Dahl (1978)
Tales of the Unexpected (1979)
More Tales of the Unexpected (1980)
Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories (1983).
The Roald Dahl Omnibus (Dorset Press, 1986)
Two Fables (1986). "Princess and the Poacher" and "Princess Mammalia".
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life: The Country Stories of Roald Dahl (1989)
The Collected Short Stories of Dahl (1991)
The Roald Dahl Treasury (1997)
The Great Automatic Grammatizator (1997). (Known in the USA as The Umbrella Man and Other Stories).
Skin And Other Stories (2000)
Roald Dahl: Collected Stories (2006)

Non-Fiction:

The Mildenhall Treasure (1946, 1977, 1999)
Boy – Tales of Childhood (1984) Recollections up to the age of 20, looking particularly at schooling in Britain in the early part of the 20th century.
Going Solo (1986) Continuation of his autobiography, in which he goes to work for Shell and spends some time working in Tanzania before joining the war effort and becoming one of the last Allied pilots to withdraw from Greece during the German invasion.
Measles, a Dangerous Illness (1988)
Memories with Food at Gipsy House (1991)
Roald Dahl's Guide to Railway Safety (1991)
My Year (1993)
Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes by Felicity Dahl, et al. (1994), a collection of recipes based on and inspired by food in Dahl's books, created by Roald & Felicity Dahl and Josie Fison
Roald Dahl's Even More Revolting Recipes by Felicity Dahl, et al. (2001)

Plays:

The Honeys (1955) Produced at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway.

Film Scripts:

The Gremlins (1943)
36 Hours (1965)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
The Night Digger (1971)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Television:

Tales of the Unexpected (1979–1988), episodes written and introduced by Dahl
Notable Quotes:
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”

“If the Good Lord intended for us to walk, he wouldn't have invented roller skates.”
More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl
 
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#82
From one Bill to another, it's time to add a timeless childhood favorite to the party. With my 3rd choice, I select:

Bill Watterson
CURSES!!! that's worse than the Adams pick! and to think I thought him safe. excellent pick, sir, excellent pick.

edit: you've just pretty much assured yourself of a top2 ranking in my list, btw. Bill Watterson is sooooo amazing. some of my favourites:

"In the short term, it would make me happy to go play outside. In the long term it would make me happier to do well at school and become successful. But in the *very* long term, I know which will make better memories."

"Today for show and tell I've brought a tiny marvel of nature: a single snowflake. I thought we might learn a lesson from how this unique and exquisite chrystal...turns into a boring molecule of water, just like every other one, when you bring it to the classroom. And now, while the analogy sinks in, I'll be leaving you drips and going outside."

"Do you have an idea for your story yet?" "No, I'm waiting for inspiration. You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood." "What mood is that?" "Last-minute panic."

and a homage, via xkcd:
 
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Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#83
Given the direction a few of the more recent picks have gone, I am moving this one up my list to get him now.

Scott Adams

Ever read Dilbert? Enough said. Being an engineer myself, I appreciate his work even more for the truth I see in it.

pm sent
 
#84
CURSES!!! that's worse than the Adams pick! and to think I thought him safe. excellent pick, sir, excellent pick.

edit: you've just pretty much assured yourself of a top2 ranking in my list, btw. Bill Watterson is sooooo amazing. some of my favourites:

"In the short term, it would make me happy to go play outside. In the long term it would make me happier to do well at school and become successful. But in the *very* long term, I know which will make better memories."

"Today for show and tell I've brought a tiny marvel of nature: a single snowflake. I thought we might learn a lesson from how this unique and exquisite chrystal...turns into a boring molecule of water, just like every other one, when you bring it to the classroom. And now, while the analogy sinks in, I'll be leaving you drips and going outside."

"Do you have an idea for your story yet?" "No, I'm waiting for inspiration. You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood." "What mood is that?" "Last-minute panic."

and a homage, via xkcd:
Thanks jalfa. I love the duplicator and transmogrifier pics...Sorry to steal another one off your list, but I just couldn't go without them. Nice pick-up with Phillip K. Dick! I love Bladerunner (AKA Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep), excellent choice.

Warhawk, nice grab on the Dilbert...Absolutely hilarious with biting satire.
 
#85
I love spy/intrigue novels. Since some of my picks don't have a large number of works, I want to be sure to have enough to read and would likely want to re-read.

With that in mind I choose the Welsh author Ken Follett. Please note that he has works under pseudonyms and has been a co-author on some works. This is another prodigious writer.

Most recently I read Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. These are not spy novels, though. He became interested in architecture and ended up creating a mid-12th century town, called Kingsbridge. The first centers on the designer/builder of a cathedral in Kingsbridge. The second returns to Kinsgbridge at a later time. I loved both.

I have also read Eye of the Needle, a wonderful spy novel of WWII, which was his first book. And I have read Jackdaws. Also during WWII. It focuses on an all-female team dropped behind enemy lines to destroy a vital German telephone exchange.

But there are a ton of books I haven't read, which should keep me reading happily for some time. :)
Bibliography under "spoiler."

The Big Needle (1974) (as Simon Myles) (apa The Big Apple - U.S.)[7]
The Big Black (1974) (as Simon Myles)[7]
The Big Hit (1975) (as Simon Myles)[7]
The Shakeout (1975)[8]
The Bear Raid (1976)[8]
Amok: King of Legend (1976) (as Bernard L. Ross)
The Modigliani Scandal (1976) (as Zachary Stone)
The Mystery Hideout (1976) (as Martin Martinsen) (apa The Secret of Kellerman's Studio)
The Power Twins (1976) (as Martin Martinsen)
Paper Money (1977) (as Zachary Stone)
Capricorn One (1978) (as Bernard L. Ross) (based on screenplay by Peter Hyams)
Eye of the Needle (1978) (apa Storm Island) (Edgar Award, 1979, Best Novel)
Heist of the Century (1978) (with Rene Louis Maurice, others) (apa The Gentleman of 16 July - U.S.) (apa Under the Streets of Nice) (apa Robbery Under the Streets of Nice)[9][10]
Triple (1979)
The Key to Rebecca (1980)
The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)
On Wings of Eagles (1983)
Lie Down with Lions (1986)
The Pillars of the Earth (1989)
Night Over Water (1991)
A Dangerous Fortune (1993)
A Place Called Freedom (1995)
The Third Twin (1996)
The Hammer of Eden (1998)
Code to Zero (2000)
Jackdaws (2001)
Hornet Flight (2002)
Whiteout (2004)
World Without End (2007)
Fall of Giants (2010)
Winter of the World (2012)[11]


PM sent to kingsnation
 
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#86
Well, I'm going to take a sidestep in a different direction and join a recent trend...

Gary Larson

The creator of The Far Side comic, which was one of my favorites growing up. The humor in his single-panel comics still have the same impact on me. Larson showed perfect execution in delivering one-liners for years. One panel, one chance for a laugh - and he nailed it every time.

And he has 23 books at my disposal for my island!

Spoilers for multiple images.




 

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#87
Well, I'm going to take a sidestep in a different direction and join a recent trend...

Gary Larson

The creator of The Far Side comic, which was one of my favorites growing up. The humor in his single-panel comics still have the same impact on me. Larson showed perfect execution in delivering one-liners for years. One panel, one chance for a laugh - and he nailed it every time.

And he has 23 books at my disposal for my island!
Another excellent pick.
 
#88
I love Calvin & Hobbs, Dilbert and The Far Side. Good picks. So hilarious and also wonderful commentary on the absurd about society. :D
 

Capt. Factorial

ceterum censeo delendum esse Argentum
Staff member
#90
Victor Hugo



Victor Hugo earned himself being picked in this draft by writing two novels - the relatively short Notre-Dame de Paris (usually titled in English for its famous hunchback) and the extremely long and all-encompassing Les Miserables. As a bonus, he was incredibly prolific, writing 9 novels, 13 plays, and a large amount of poetry (he is regarded as one of France's greatest poets). He had a gift for the long and intricate novel, but was also able to deliver a coup-de-grace in minimal words (e.g. "Phoebus de Chateaupers also came to a tragic end; he was married.")

Lived: 1802-1885
Major Works: Les Miserables; The Hunchback of Notre Dame; A total of 9 novels, 13 plays, a large volume of poetry, various non-fiction
Quote: (From Les Miserables, after the gendarmes have caught Jean Valjean stealing the bishop’s silver)
Spoiler for length...
"My friend," said the bishop, "before you go away, here are your candlesticks; take them."

He went to the mantelpiece, took the two candlesticks, and brought them to Jean Valjean. The two women beheld the action without a word, or gesture, or look, that might disturb the bishop.

Jean Valjean was trembling in every limb. He took the two candlesticks mechanically, and with a wild appearance.

"Now," said the bishop, "go in peace. By the way, my friend, when you come again, you need not come through the garden. You can always come in and go out by the front door. It is closed only with a latch, day or night."

Then turning to the gendarmes, he said: "Messieurs, you can retire." The gendarmes withdrew.

Jean Valjean felt like a man who is just about to faint.

The bishop approached him, and said, in a low voice: "Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man."

Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of this promise, stood confounded. The bishop had laid much stress upon these words as he uttered them. He continued, solemnly: "Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!"