A Game of Make-Believe

Before I move off the writing topic (actually, I may never move off -- it's my future), I've been thinking about what makes the "Best Fiction." A book that Mo and I looked at this weekend is called Novel 100. It ranks the "greatest Novels of all time." The fact they are novels rules out shorter works and other types of fiction. And, by the author's so-called rules, fantasy was not included. ha! So, I made my own list of what I consider the Best Fiction. My criteria is memorableness, impact (aka, transcendental power) and immersive quality. What's that? Not so much the famed "willing suspension of disbelief" as how "drawn in" I am. Total Immersion would be a 5-star for me. Here's what quickly came to mind, without exhaustive analysis or thought, for my Top Ten;

1. Don Quixote - Cervantes
2. A Christmas Carol - Dickens
3. Foucault's Pendulum - Umberto Eco
4. "the Raven" - Edgar Allan Poe *
5. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (aka Charles Dodgson)
6. the "Divine Comedy" - Dante
7. the Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (aka Blade Runner) - Philip k Dick
9. the Teachings of Don Juan - Carlos Castaneda
10. Frankestein - Mary Shelley
    * example of Poe's own Principle of Composition

Honorable mentions go to Anne Rice for "Interview with a Vampire"; Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series; HG Well's "Time Machine"; CyberPunk daddy William Gibson's "Neuromancer" and punkish protege Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" and last but definitely not least, Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray" (long time personal fav on immortality and I hear a movie is coming in 2009!) Kafka and Kerouac must be mentioned! And, I only "suggested" that make-believe was essential.

I'm shocked that my list is so heavily male dominated. Therefore, I pledge to spend time with the 100 Best Works by Women Writers in retirement! Please add your own list or favs below (by comment.) After all, what's a blog for if not to share thoughts!)