In conjunction with next week’s trade paperback publication of Gentlemen of the Road, the swashbuckling tale of adventure by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, I asked Michael Chabon to provide a list of his all-time favorite adventure stories. He didn’t confine himself to ten; instead, here is
THE DASHING DOZEN: CHABON’S FAVORITE WORKS OF ADVENTURE FICTION
CAPTAIN BLOOD, Rafael Sabatini
The “Kull” stories, Robert E. Howard
The Fafhrd and Grey Mouser stories, Fritz Leiber
AGAINST THE DAY, Thomas Pynchon
The Brigadier Gerard stories, Arthur Conan Doyle
THE CHINESE BANDIT, Stephen Becker
THE ICE SCHOONER, Michael Moorcock
THE ENGLISH PATIENT, Michael Ondaatje
THE THREE MUSKETEERS, Alexandre Dumas
FLASHMAN AT THE CHARGE, George MacDonald Fraser
KING SOLOMON’S MINES, H. Ryder Haggard
The “Jirel of Joiry” stories, C.L. Moore
Michael’s list got me thinking of my own favorite novels from over the years. It’s my opinion that one can glean insight into another’s personality by knowing their favorite books. See what you can make of these.
Gateway, Frederik Pohl
Land of Laughs, Jonathan Carroll
The Anubis Gates, Tim Powers
The Reality Dysfunction, Peter F. Hamilton
Walk to the End of the World and Motherlines, Suzy McKee Charnas
Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler
Riddley Walker, Russell Hoban
Anything at all by Terry Pratchett
Great post, great lists. Am going to read Against the Day. Skipped it in my first pass through Pynchon. Will definitely revisit. Thanks!
Quick correction: The author King Solomon's Mines is H. Rider Haggard (not Ryder). Also my son's first and middle name (Henry Rider.)
Land of Laughs. Gonna have to read that quickly before Jonathan comes to town next month! Thanks for the suggestions, Betsy.