hmmm... books that are important to me... difficult one...

Probably those by Terry Pratchett and Bernard Werber's ANTS trilogy. I like that whirling storytelling you can also find in Guy Ritchie's movies like Snatch or Lock, Stock... I just can't stop watching those movies, or reading those books. I always come back to them, like old friends...

There is also a graphic series (I just can't resolve myself to use the words 'comic books' since it is essentially dramatic) the Third Testament. I like the way the reader is drawn to side with the main character until the penultimate page, where you learn that he is the antechrist, and the secondary character has to kill him. I like stories that do NOT end well. Maybe Braveheart or Gladiator, to some extent. But I'd rather have the main character be a loner trying desperately to regain his place in society, rather than seeking revenge, and ultimately accept to loose everything so that society remains...

Ender's strategy, and shadow strategy are two examples of what I also like, in terms of political intrigue, and second guessing.

I also like Cryptonomicon's precision and involvement. The writer tries desperately to make the reader follow the mental process of some mathematical and cryptographic geniuses, but at the same time, makes his characters completely touching and loveable, even though there are completely uncommon. I also liked his Zodiac.

I wish this were more profound, but most of my writing is influenced by Saturday morning cartoons. Episodic storytelling with absurd but predictably placed plot twists. I probably should have spent less time loafing in front of the TV when I was a little kid.

It may sound trite, but the Roadrunner cartoons have always been an inspiration of mine. This doesn't mean that my driveway is a sequence of traps, or that I have shares in Acme. Rather, even though Coyote keeps losing, he still gets up and tries again. I think that's a rather important lesson to remember.

Hmm, The Golden Compass (and the rest of the trilogy, I suppose)... I'm not sure why, but I think it's the only book where I *really* fell in love with the universe.
I mean, LoTR was dull dull dull. Harry Potter is ok'ish, but like sunandshadow said, it doesn't really resonate with me either. It has some fun parts, and the writing style isn't annoying, so I don't mind reading it, but that's all.

But in The Golden Compass, the world just seemed so much more vivid and real (And fun, weird and interesting as well) than any other book I can think of.

I really like character driven stories moreso than plot/action driven stories.

I like stories where two (or more) completely different characters are forced together into a situation beyond their control, ultimately clash, and eventually find a way past their differences. For instance, Enemy Mine, Rain Man, Changing Lanes, etc.

I also like stories where a character is put into an extremely dire situation where through sheer power of their character they ultimately flourish. For instance, Shawshank Redemption.

Also, I like stories with one person against the system. eg., Rob Roy, Gladiator, Equilibrium, Gattaca.

finished: slam dunk, hikaru no go, yuu yuu hakusho, monster, one litre of tears, all detective/mystery novels (ellery queen, agatha christie,...)

unfinished: 20th century boys, hunter x hunter

Quote: Original post by Anonymous Poster

Quote:
Why do we want fiction instead of fact

I dont know if I agree with that statement. Ive seen my share of WWII games on the shelves that seem to never die off. Although fictional in play, the draw is factural.

That's true. I certainly loved this Ghost Recon game I had, Island Thunder or something, and I love castles too, as well as ancient cities and pyrimids. Fact isn't boring, but some people seem to love fiction more. Heh, I'd rather visit modern Rome for a day, then play a medieval MMO or RPG for a week.

Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. Great series before it becomes too bloated, I like how the author is able to create a whole world with just plain text on a paper, not many people is able to do that.

George R.R. Martin's, Song of Ice and Fire Series, same reasons as above.

Robert A. Heinlein's books are nice too for example Starship Troopers.

Legends of the Fall (the novella), by Jim Harrison. IMHO, one of the strongest stories written by an American.

The short stories of Roger Zelazny. He once said that his short stories are the last chapters of all the novels he never wrote. Brilliant stuff.

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. Simultaneously one of the most beautiful and one of the most horrifying books I have ever read.

Mostly I like stories which show the vastness of the world/universe/story-scape, and what a small, fragile, impermanent place we hold in it. Then invert the story so this tiny microcosm contains within it all that is fundamental about the rest of creation.

See also:
the works of H.P. Lovecraft
the Hyperion cantos (Hyperion and Endymion series) by Dan Simmons
the Night's Dawn trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton
the Tao Te Ching

I'm fascinated when reading certain parts of stories that hits home so well. It's often when I feel the author captured something very true and human. I also like when a story has a certain feel or theme that it manages to mediate. I'm inspired by stories such as The Black Cat by Edgar Alan Poe. I like the feeling of mystery. I also like being presented to a vision or unique perspective on something. I'm also fond of other ingredients such as feeling of adventure and freedom. What inspires me to write is wanting to bring together these different themes and ingredients I love into a story. And I don't mean just putting together a puzzle of different themes and ideas (creating a frankensteins monster) - I mean finding a common thread that binds it all together and using techniques I like to mediate the story.