So the new Holiday Guide presents a special new feature! Best Of. That’s right. I got some folks together and asked them to contribute a list of their top ten movies and top ten books. Along with an intro and some pimping of their stuff when I can, we’ll be doing one a day when I have one. I had nothing to do with these lists except soliciting them. The descriptions are the authors’ as are the picks.

Pete S Allen, aka D Richard Pearce (and vicey versey) is an editor and writer (and vicey versey as well, too). The names are to keep things simple — see how well it works? Pete does some things with Creative Guy Publishing, such as editing and writing cheques to various authors. He also edits reviews for SFReader.com, and will be judging its short fiction contest this year. DRP is just Pete writing – you got that part, right? www.drichardpearce.com because neither the name or domain was taken.

BOOKS

1. The Great Book of Amber, by Roger Zelazny — I’ve owned at least three copies of this book now, because of loaning it out and losing it. For people who know Zelazny, this is a great book because it collects all ten of the Amber novels in one place. For those who don’t know Zelazny, if you like Steven Brust, Neil Gaiman, writers along those lines, Zelazny was influential on them. His works are all brilliant, but Amber is several doses of brilliance.

2. The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester — Bester was influential on Zelazny, among others. This book is brilliant and has been called the best SF novel ever. By other people than me, smart guy.

3. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein — Heinlein’s best, IMHO, but that may be my bias toward revolution and against big government showing. Still, well imagined and maintains its relevance, even now. Oh, Manny…

4. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury — probably the first SF I ever read, and maybe the most influential on me, even now. Bradbury has recently been accepted by the literati, despite his genre connections, because he writes beautifully — just wait til they find out how many other genre writers write beautifully — there’s gonna be hell to pay with the Canon.

5. The Barrytown Trilogy, by Roddy Doyle — ha! Gotcha! You thought this was going to be a SF list, dincha? Well it isn’t. And I’m also cheating by including multi-volume books, such as this one. This book includes “The Commitments,” “The Snapper,” and “The Van.” Three pretty awesome novels by an outstanding Irish author.

6. Gardens of the Moon, by Steven Erikson. I only need to recommend this one, because once you read it, you’ll get the ones that follow on your own. For those who like Robert Jordan and George RR Martin type of fantasy — this is better.

7. The Desert Look, by Bernard Schopen — This one will be tricky to find, I imagine, but it’s one of the best detective novels I’ve ever read — the author wrote this one and one more (The Big Silence) and as far as I know, that’s it, which is a shame.

8. Get Shorty, by Elmore Leonard — do not give me the excuse that you’ve already seen the movie. Leonard may not be the best writer I’ve ever read, but he’s wicked at dialogue.

9. The Holcroft Covenant, by Robert Ludlum — everybody’s got a favourite Ludlum novel, and this is mine. Follows the Indiana Jones rule – “everything’s better with Nazis.”

10. Different Seasons, by Stephen King — my favourite of King’s work, and coincidentally, the works whose translation into film were most successful…

MOVIES

1. Casablanca — it’s not hyperbole; this is an awesome movie, which I watch at least once a year.

2. Silverado — this tribute to the classic Western was so much better than so many Westerns, although…:

3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid — the original Newman and Redford, written by Goldman. you need no other reasons.

4. The Magnificent Seven – ok, I’m done with Westerns now, promise.

5. Charade – Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Very fun mystery, and hey, it’s Paris.

6. Forget Paris – or really, just about anything with Billy Crystal. But this is my favourite.

7. Boondock Saints – well, #6 was without guns, and we obviously needed to get back to movies with guns.

8. Big Night – well, this one is also without guns, but with food. Seriously, if you haven’t seen this, and you like to eat, go. Now. Are you still here?

9. The Usual Suspects – brilliant! and more guns!

10. The Pink Panther – the original of course. Sex and violins!

Most of my writing work is scattered across magazines and anthologies – I have a story in the _In Bad Dreams_ anthology from Eneit Press, a story in the upcoming Spring issue of GUD magazine, and that’s about all I can think of right now. However, you’d be doing me a Great Personal Favour if you were to purchase anything published by Creative Guy Publishing, and some fine, fine titles there are, not to mention the latest Amityville House of Pancakes anthology (#3!) Lucy Snyder’s new book, Installing Linux on a Dead Badger, and many many more — check them out here: www.creativeguypublishing.com. Oh oh oh! And be sure to check out and perhaps even subscribe to our new historical fiction magazine, Tales of Moreauvia – and other flights of historical fancy. (www.moreauvia.com).