Just a few books that have doubtless shaped my overall development as a writer and SF fan, and in particular will colour the story of Jameson and Jones.
Obvious :
The Dark Wheel Robert Holdstock, 1984
This book was of course — and still is — inspirational. Video game displays used to suck, even when they were as advanced as Elite in 1984. With this book, Robert Holdstock provided the missing 89% of the experience.
Less obvious :
Logan’s Run William F Nolan & George C Johnston, 1967
A man hunted, and a man in deadly pursuit, set against a cavalcade of exotic SF settings and dramatic action sequences. Go ride them Devilsticks over the grand canyon! Hard to get these days, yet a copy of Eat Pray Love can be found anywhere. What gives?! =p
Ready Player One Ernest Cline, 2011
A hymn to many things: mortality, 80s pop, 8-bit video games… oh, and determination.
Ash: A Secret History Mary Gentle, 2000
Probably the SF book I’ve most enjoyed reading, ever. Aching detail and punch-yer-lights-out character development, all wrapped in a chewy postmodern outer coating. Yum! Somehow gets away with being SF, fantasy and a military historical all rolled into one. An amazing bravura bit of work, if way too clever for its own good.
Snow Crash Neal Stevenson, 1992
Seminal virtual reality meets game culture work. Wobbles a bit in the middle, but the overall effect is richly textured and lasting.
King Lear William Shakespeare, 1623
Age will kill most of us if not all, but just before the end we face off in mortal combat with our foes the young. Are they for us or against us, and are we in any shape to know? Pass me my slippers.
The Stainless Steel Rat Harry Harrison, 1961
Harrison puts the fun back into SF with this entertaining action romp. Adapted and serialised in the pages of 2000AD with art by Judge Dredd creator Carlos Ezquerra. Never seen that reprinted, which is a shame — it rocked.
Lucky Starr and the
Pirates of the Asteroids Isaac Asimov, 1953
The Grand Master presages one of Elite’s favourite tropes in this, one of his juvenile series writing under the pseudonym Paul French. I remember it for its colour and non-stop action. And force-knives. =)
Han Solo at Star’s End Brian Daley, 1979
Ah, good times. Jessa the arc-weldin’ engineer geek girl in this book was probably my first crush, and not only because of the way she was rendered in the adaptation of this story in Archie Goodwin’s memorable Star Wars daily comic strip. ;) This was an exciting story well told by the late great Brian Daley (who would go on to write the Star Wars radio drama adaptations) and dare I say more entertaining than most if not all of the official Star Wars film sequels which followed it.