Do you remember the first science fiction book you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I discovered an old copy of "The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet" when I was eight. I wanted to build my own spaceship, just like the boys in the story. The idea of traveling to another planet and meeting aliens intrigued me to the point I went looking for more stories like it.
That led to "A Wrinkle in Time" and Andre Norton's space adventure stories which led to a magical section of the library known as science fiction/fantasy. I've never looked back.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
That's like asking me to name my favorite children. The answer would be the same - ALL of them! I have shelves and shelves of science fiction and fantasy books and I love them all. They invoke a sense of wonder, sometimes fear and trepidation, sometimes hope, but always something new.
A better question would be to name my five favorite authors. I can list the ones I currently read and enjoy - Terry Pratchett, Andre Norton, Julie Czerneda, Frances Pauli, and Patricia McKillip. There are others, like Elizabeth Moon and Patricia C. Wrede and Robin McKinley and Jack L. Chalker and Isaac Asimove and... I could go on all day. Which book and which author are my favorite depend on my mood, the phase of the moon, whether it's raining or not, and which cover looked most appealing. I'm always open to new favorites, too.
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