Charlie Gordon is the janitor at a local bakery. He also attends evening classes to improve his reading and writing skills. His motivation to better himself inspires his teacher, Alice Kinnian, to submit his name for an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. Initial results on a lab mouse, named Algernon, have been promising and … Continue reading A Short Story And Novel That Ian Likes: Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
A Novel Ian Likes: Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Isaac dan der Grimnebulin, a freelance scientist with some dubious ties to the underworld, is commissioned to create a means of flight for a Garuda – a race of humanoid bird-like creatures – who has had his wings removed for reasons that are never made entirely clear until the novel’s conclusion. Isaac throws himself into … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
A Reference Book Ian Likes: The Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction (1978)
First things first, this isn’t an actual or proper encyclopaedia. It’s a collection of essays that each detail a particular aspect of the history and make-up of Science Fiction. But it’s lavishly illustrated and features a fairly comprehensive list of magazines and awards relevant to the field as well as a chronology of movies that … Continue reading A Reference Book Ian Likes: The Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction (1978)
A Trilogy Ian Likes: Helliconia by Brian Aldiss
Helliconia is an unremarkable planet. Its primary orbit is around Batalix, with a year equal to about 480 Earth days. But Batalix is in an irregular orbit around Freyr, a larger star. This orbit causes some unusual fluctuations in Helliconia’s climate, with the result that it experiences a second year, which the inhabitants refer to … Continue reading A Trilogy Ian Likes: Helliconia by Brian Aldiss
A Novel Ian Likes: Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
Ash is an orphan girl who has become the leader of a respected mercenary company in late 15th Century Europe. Her company enjoys its success because of the “voices” in her head. These voices advise her on battle tactics and strategy. While other women might be taken as being insane, Ash is seen as touched … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
A Novel Ian Likes: King Of Morning, Queen Of Day by Ian McDonald
Emily is the daughter of a scientist considered… eccentric… by his peers. She also believes that she can communicate with faeries. Jessica is a free spirit confined to a drab world of work and home; she gets caught up with a young man she thinks is a member of the IRA but is in fact … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: King Of Morning, Queen Of Day by Ian McDonald
A Novel Ian Likes: The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy
Grace Melbury was promised to Giles Winterbourne by her father when they were both very young. Giles has held true to this promise, but Grace’s father has realised that in making Grace “worthy” of Giles, she has been educated far beyond the station of a tenant farmer. Giles accepts that Grace does not deserve the … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy
A Novel Ian Likes: Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Ben Mears, a mildly successful writer, has returned to the small town of Salem’s Lot after the death of his wife. He spent a lot of time there as a boy and is hoping to regain some of the calmness of spirit he felt as a child. He begins research on a new book and, … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
A Series Ian Likes: The Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay
Caius Crispus, known as Crispin, is a mosaicist, mourning his family after their deaths in a recent outbreak of plague. His friend and mentor, Martinian, has been summoned to the city of Sarantium to work on a project for Emperor Valerius. He does not want to go and sends Crispin in his place. But Crispin … Continue reading A Series Ian Likes: The Sarantine Mosaic by Guy Gavriel Kay
A Novel Ian likes: Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre
Snake is a healer in a post-apocalyptic landscape. She travels with a small amount of vital equipment but most of her healing is done with the aid of three genetically-engineered snakes; two - a cobra and a rattlesnake – are of earthly origin but the third, Grass, is an alien creature about which little is … Continue reading A Novel Ian likes: Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre
Stuff Ian Likes 