While not as valuable as the
Booker Prize in purely monetary terms, this, The Blackburn Prize, is the
latest and most prestigious prize in the World of Literature.
All the Best Books in the World
are to be found in our new Downstairs Toilet and they will gradually be
displayed here. The toilet itself is already famous within the World of Arts as
the source and inspiration of the renowned
Blackburn - Mondrian Posit.
Where a book is still in print,
click on the cover to find it at amazon.co.uk. A lot of these books are out of
print, but used copies should be available.
I will come
back later and fill in the details, but this is one of the finest books ever
written
Tom
Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction
Formative
Novel - Runners Up 2. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein
3. Lord of the Rings, J R R Tolkein
4. After Many a Summer, Aldous Huxley
Best
Science Fiction Novel
And while
Heinlein and Asimov are the stars of the Science Fiction Firmament, this is
perhaps the best read in the genre, only equalled decades later by Ender's
Game
Norman
Spinrad, The Solarians
not available at
amazon.co.uk at the time of writing, April 2002
Science Fiction - Runners Up 2. Ender's Game, Orson
Scott Card
3. The Door into Summer, Robert Heinlein (one of many)
4. Nine Tomorrows, Isaac Asimov (one of many)
Best
Crime Novel
Next up will
be Crime Fiction, where there is no finer exponent than Lawrence Block.
His best fictional character
is Bernie Rhodenbarr, and Bernie's finest adventure is
The
Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian
but every book in the set
is in the Blackburn Collection
Crime - Runners Up 2. Widow's Walk, Robert
B. Parker - the latest Spencer novel; read them all
3. Without Fail, Lee Child - the latest Jack Reacher novel, again, read them
all
4. Son of Fletch, Gregory McDonald - we're trying to get hold of all the
Fletch novels
Best
Philosophical Writing
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig
The could
have gone just as easily into the formative section
the jury is still considering the runners-up, but I expect
Dice Man will be in there.
Best
Humorous Fiction
Catch-22, Joseph Heller
Humour - Runners Up 2. Except You're a Bird, Peter Tinniswood
(or any of the books featuring Uncle Mort and Carter Brandon - this was the
first to hand).
3. HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
4. tba
Best
Journalism
An Indian Summer, James
Cameron
Journalism - Runners Up 2. Memories of the
Great and the Good, Alistair Cook (see also the Letters collections)
3. The Great Shark Hunt, Hunter S. Thompson
4. tba
Best
Short Stories
Barcelona Plates, Alexei Sayle
The first
story in the book, Barcelona Plates, is the cleverest story I have ever
read. His distinctive (i.e. witty, surrealistic, vulgar, base and incisive)
style and outlook permeate the stories.
He has
another great book, The Dog Catcher, and tapes of both are available with Mr Sayle reading them.
Short Stories - Runners Up 2. Nine Tomorrows,
Isaac Asimov (for Let There be Light)
3. tba
4. tba
