I love a good classic. If you've read any of my other blogs, you've probably guessed that already. Here's another great series by the Grand Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Andre Norton. As a matter of fact, I just started readingf Lords of Thunder, the second book in the Beast Master Series. If you'd like to read the series, start with Beast Master's Planet, which contains both Beast Master & Lord of Thunder. The third story is Beast Master's Ark followed by Beast Master Circus, and lastely Beast Master's Quest.

Mr. Thundermug is the "inventive and poignant story of a baboon who acquires the ability to eloquently speak human language".

As squatters in a condemned apartment building in a fictional city (think London), Mr. Thundermug and his family face eviction. His trouble escalates when he is arrested for, of all things - cruelty to animals! "The amusing and frustrating transactions between baboon and society attain urban-legend status".

This little fable-like tale is enchanced by moody, sepia-toned photographs throughout. A noteworthy debut for British Cornelius Medvei.

Nancy Pearl

"I don't consider myself at all a science fiction/fantasy fanatic, I must say that selecting the books for this topic was harder than any of the others that I've done. There is simply so much excellent stuff out there — both new and old — that I know people would enjoy, that the list could have been at least four times as long.

Did she pick any of your favorites?

There was the Dragons of Autumn Twilight. It's hard to believe the entire Dragonlance series started over 20 years ago. Written by Margaret_Weis and Tracey_Hickman to support Advance Dungeons and Dragons, the Dragonlance series has grown to include over 90 novels and 16 adventures for the game. I remember as a teenage rpg junkie when I first read the book. I just had to get the corresponding modules, which I never did play. So, if you love the Dragonlance series or fantasy in general, be sure to read the first book and see where it all started.

Neil Gaiman already does pretty well for himself with popular works like the Sandman, American Gods, and Stardust which is now a major motion picture (and a really good one at that, if you missed it in the theatre, you definitely need to see it on DVD.) But I predict that in another year he'll be getting more recognition for his children's books, particularly Coraline, which is slated to be a stop-motion film in 2009 by Henry Selick who did The Nightmare Before Christmas (I know Tim Burton's famous for that but Selick directed it).

I love a good fantasy series. One of my favorites is The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelanzny. The first book, Nine Princes of Amber tells the story of Carl Corey. With the help of his brother Random, Carl learns his true identity, Prince Corwin, one of the nine princes of Amber. Corwin then travels from Earth to Amber, the only true world, to battle Eric his brother for the kingship of Amber.

Best known for his Wheel of time series Robert Jordan passed away on Sunday at the age of 58.

Since early 2006 friends and fans have followed his battle with cardiac amyloidosis on his fan blog.

Robert had the first book of the wheel of time “The Eye of the World” published in 1990 and fans have been following the adventures of Rand al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara.

For over 15 years. Although knowing that his time was short Robert was confident that “A Memory of Light” the final book (12) in the wheel of time series would be finished. The status of “A Memory of Light” is at present unknown.

The question is, "What is The Colour of Magic that only wizards and cats can see?" Octarine is unique to the Discworld, a circular world supported four elephants, sitting on the back of Great A'Tuin, the star turtle, who swims its way through space. Terry Prachett has written a number of stories based on the Discworld. This story is primarily about three travellers, Rincewind the Wizard, Twoflower the tourist and Hrun the Barbarian, along with a magical travelling trunk. They run away for a variety of dangers including Bel-Shamharoth a H. P. Lovecraft inspired evil entity. The book has parodies of a variety of classic fantasy characters/themes and is a real hoot to read.

Lovers of fairies, and romance - mixed with some wickedness and ancient magical battles will eat up the new book, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Seventeen year old Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see faeries, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle between the Summer King and Winter Queen, and the survival of her life, her love, and summer all hang in the balance. Check out all of the other great books on Fairies that AADL owns.

My love of fantasy stories started at an early age. One series that really captured my imagination was Xanth by Piers Anthony. The first story is A Spell for Chameleon about a young man named Bink, a woman named Chameleon, and the evil Magician Trent.

In the land of Xanth, each person must hae a magical power or become exiled to Mundania. Unfortunately, Bink doesn't know what his power is so he must travel to visit Good Magician Humfrey to discover what it is. Thus begins one of the best fantasy series ever written.