I have my own favorite methods of preserving older books from the wear and tear of time.  Keeping them at just the right temperature and humidity is one factor that must be considered, and if you are lucky enough to have a proper library in your home, you are among the rare 10% of the population surveyed.  I myself am not in that elite group, but I do have book shelves in several rooms of the house.  Keeping the books shielded from direct sunlight, no matter where you store them, will also give them a better chance of weathering time.

Here are some fantastic tips on keeping your books in top shape:

Since that time America became the United States and still to this very day, though centuries later, books are criticized and taken off of shelves around the country.  Some groups even get together and call for the burning of these books.  It seems pretty silly to a lot of people that so many would go out of their way to get rid of books, but if it goes against beliefs people tend to get a little angry about it.

The infographic there below shows some of the most targeted books.  The Catcher in the Rye has made this list for many, many years.  Are there any books that you think should be on this list, or are you for the First Amendment?  click the image to enlarge it.

This was a great infographic, and I love these books. I’d hate to see them disappear from shelves. I’d read them all day! In the dark, or by the sunlight of my new windows from www.allglasswindows.com!

What other factors are driving this exodus from print to digital books?  Sure, the wow factor of having a lightweight, high tech toy in tow at all times is appealing.  It’s doubly so when you consider the fact that on that single device, you can carry thousands of books with you no matter where you happen to be, and you can read them anytime you want without having to worry about where to store them or who you might pass them along to later.   Check out this infographic for more information:

NPR (or, National Public Radio for those of us who’ve been living under a rock) is a publicly funded news and talk radio service that can be heard on a vast network of member stations around the United States.  Not only do they specialize in political discussions and global issues, but also the arts and entertainment industries. Many people who have a middle-class background, who typically own their own homes and have ADT, consult NPR on a daily basis.  They are considered a reliable source, and the following infographic can help you find the best of the best in fantasy and science fiction reading.  It is a large graphic, so be sure to open it in a full window.

Part 1 and part 2 showed us some really great authors to check out if you like fantasy books. Part three will show you the remaining 3 authors of the ten. Last but not least the last three are…

Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle - Science Fiction’s Tolkien meets Dante Alighieri.

Jerry is one of those writers that has great books that came out in the wrong time. I’m sure that if “Inferno” or it’s sequel “Escape from Hell” came out with the force that it did in the 70s then he would have his own movies as well. There are many books written about or spun from “Dante’s Inferno” that I enjoy but Jerry and his writing partners did it for me. They recaptured the greatness of Dante while keeping the modern look and change of morals over time. Nothing beats the view of hell that changes as time goes on. Good and Evil. Right and Wrong. None of it really makes a difference anymore when you are already in hell. Right? Read and find out.

Richard Matheson – The original twisted mind.

Just about everyone knows about the “I am Legend” movie that just came out with Will Smith as the star. Well that movie was done twice before by others. Those movies as well as “Night of the Living Dead” and several “Twilight Zone” episodes were all based off of Matheson’s stories. I came into I am Legend years before the movie came out when they did a reprint of the original that included many of his short stories. I was captivated by the suspenseful and horrifically captivating stories. Dracula, eat your heart out. When he took Vampires to a new level and made not a curse or a sparkly wonder creature; but zombie-ish and strictly disease created, I became interested. When he took a military man that taught himself how to use a microscope to find out what he was dealing with, made him rock himself to sleep every night, and delved further into the psyche of a mental beaten man…I loved it. That book is the only reason I like out there kind of, well, anything really. If only they were longer. You can finish his short novel and other short stories in about a week of procrastination or a day of actually reading.

Terry Brooks – Generations of stories.

Terry Brooks has an interesting way of proceeding with his stories. Many people will start a story and then tell you in the story that umpteen thousand years ago there was a war and it changed the way the world was forever but they never write about the war itself. Not Brooks. He starts in the beginning and each book builds on the world of the last. When they reference any event or war you know what it was and how it unfolded. There is an untold back story to get you started in the first one but even that is a story of ourselves. The more you read Brooks the more you see that the world he is writing about is just like us hundreds or even thousands of years in the future. Kind of like civilization resets itself and mutated to fit the scenario. It is a very interesting take on how to write.

Here is a well done infographic containing a lot of little known Harry Potter facts that you can use in your next trivia match.  After all, until Pottermore opens up for registrations, there’s little to be done.  At least these fun factoids will help get your mind off of it for a while.  Click to expand.

Last time we realized that we had just too many amazing authors so we split it up into three great groupings of authors. We hope you enjoy!

J. R. R. Tolkien – Timeless classics that started many if not all down the path.

Ok, so that may be a little presumptuous of me but I’m not the only one to have said so. Several authors got their interest in writing from reading Tolkien’s books. As a rule I do not like to do things multiple times because it just bothers me having to repeats tasks but Tolkien’s books are a go to for me and each time I am greeted with new perspectives that I didn’t think about before.

George R. R. Martin – Known for the HBO series and great story concepts.

Everything about this author reminds me of J. R. R. Tolkien even down to the name but that isn’t a bad thing. Since there will never be another Tolkien book I think that someone similar is a great way to get your fix. I must admit out of full disclosure that the reason I started the books is because I absolutely love the show however even though I just started the books I can clearly see why they have been made into a series of their own. I’m looking forward to great things from Martin.

Louis Lowry - A great start for any young reader.

I started getting interested in reading sci-fi back in elementary school. Small books like “Animorphs” and gradually more and more that branched into issues that I didn’t truly appreciate at the time like “The Giver” or “Hatchet”. Looking back at the books now makes me rethink about the utopian societies and how they are built upon the degradation of humanity. Never discount a young reader’s book as the concepts that are formed as a child influence us as adults.

Hal Duncan – A more grown up version of Louis Lowry.

Hal Duncan brought back all those concepts and sci-fi goodness that was started for me back in my younger days. Although his repertoire is much smaller, his ideas are just as big. “Vellum” and “Ink” are both centered around a universe thrown into chaos where all it takes to become more powerful or disappear from the radar is a combination of past lives with your present reincarnation. The main characters are flung into worlds that are as twisted as anything before and underlying context and innuendo makes the books very good reads.

While I use both of those methods for acquiring new books I am more inclined to use major sources. The New York Times best sellers list, the ALL TIME 100 Novels from Time Specials, or Best Books List of user generated favorites–are all a great resource when searching for that new book. I tend to stick to the Best Book list myself as it lets me target my search a little more. These are the Fantasy books and authors that I have found in my searches.

Raymond E. Feist – Author of several Top 100 books throughout the internet and one of my personal favorites.

Raymond has many many books out and is a great addition to any collection. If you are looking for an author to follow that always has another book available then this is your author. The books are entertaining and intriguing and have had me up to 4AM without realizing where the time went on many occasions. The “Magician Apprentice” and “Magician Master” books that he started off are still good after having read many other authors and are sure not to disappoint. Feist takes you on a journey from one saga to another, then returns and makes you fall in love with the books all over again.

Terry Goodkind – The attention is in the details and philosophy with this author.

You may have heard of him through the TV series Sword of Truth which his book series of the same name inspired or you may have seen him in the New York Times Best Sellers list for his great works. I didn’t start his books until well after he finished the larger part of his main 12 book series but from the moment I started the books; I couldn’t stop. Some may find the philosophy behind his series a bit darker than they are willing to see but he takes a world apart from our own and shows just how similar the two really are. Greed, corruption, and overall a since of justice and truth are the constant themes of the books.

Sara Douglass (pen-name) - Depth of character and fantasy like no other.

I must admit that I was drawn to her books initially because they simply looked like they would be really interesting but after the prelude and first chapter of “WayfarerRedemption” (“BattleAxe” everywhere other than the US) I fell in love with the Australian female author. It was sheer joy to read her books because they took all the unimaginable and intangible predilections you harbored as a child and made them obtainable and perfect again. She continued the idea throughout her books and I like that. I say if you are going to write fantasy then you might as well go all the way. Douglass’s books are separated into separate series however they touch in multiple books and if you start at the beginning and work your way through in the order they were written then you will have several parts that you snicker and enjoy the reference. Just about every person I have introduced to her has fallen in love the same way I have.

This was so great of a topic that we literally have way too much for one sitting so we will post two more parts. In the mean time enjoy the great authors posted today.

This is part 1of 3

The infographic focuses on what were reported to be the most challenged books from 2009, and lists the corresponding concerns brought forward by parents. The darts are color coded to represent elements that were found objectionable in each book.