Greetings all. Having been without a major source of finances for quite some time, I am quite behind on my reading and playing. As such, I request a master list of must read books and must play games, no limitations on the age of games(shouldn't matter with books). Thanks in advance.

Some of my favourite games:
Double Dragon 2 (NES)
Mega Man 1/2/3 (NES)
Contra 3 (SNES)
Mario Kart (SNES)
Sub Terrania (Genesis)
Steel Empire (Genesis)
Syndicate (PC)
Max Payne (PC)

I'm also heavily into PC adventure games; some notable titles I like:
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
King's Quest 6
Full Throttle
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

As to books; here's some nice fiction:
Snow Crash
Neuromancer
Tales of the Otori
Raymond E. Feists's Empire Trilogy
Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy
Jame Clavell's Asian Trilogy

If "quite some time" means a couple of years, here's a list of must have games to bring you up to speed (a mix of genres since you didn't specify):

Crysis and Crysis Warhead
Mass Effect 1 and 2
Bioshock 1 and 2
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Dragon Age: Origins
Far Cry 2
Grand Theft Auto IV
Anno 1404 (I think this was called Dawn of Discovery in the US?)
Civilization IV & Colonization remake
C&C3 and C&C Red Alert 3 (don't bother with C&C4)
Demigod
Braid
Left 4 Dead 1 and 2
Fallout 3
Burnout Paradise
Assassins Creed 1 and 2
Kings Bounty and KB: Armored Princess
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Don't forget to buy a nice new gfx card for all these games :)

Open TTD (transport tycoon deluxe clone with online multiplayer)

I am saddened by the lack of recommendations for Planescape: Torment. It's like reading a book and playing a game at the same time. Double the fun!

No, really, it's beyond awesome.

Quote: Original post by Fiddler
I am saddened by the lack of recommendations for Planescape: Torment. It's like reading a book and playing a game at the same time. Double the fun!

No, really, it's beyond awesome.

+1. I seldom play RPGs but this one, along with Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale, is full of win.

Quote: Original post by pithlit

Quote: Original post by Fiddler
I am saddened by the lack of recommendations for Planescape: Torment. It's like reading a book and playing a game at the same time. Double the fun!

No, really, it's beyond awesome.

+1. I seldom play RPGs but this one, along with Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale, is full of win.

hrmm.. I've heard PS:T mentioned quite afew times on this forum, but have never played it... I think that's my weekend planned!