Jayant

It's rare to come across a story that takes itself so seriously that it might as well have been a documentary. HG Wells' War of the Worlds is one of those rare stories. There is no heroism in this story of humanity facing martian invasion - could an ant be heroic against a man? It's one of those stories that makes you feel humble about the superiority you take for granted over those weaker than you - don't you want the same humility from the strong when you are weak?

The story is also wonderfully picturesque beyond excellence. Colours, lights, sounds, props, angles and perspective are used often and with great thoughtfulness.

The language might be difficult for the modern reader - the sentences are long, complicated and dense. And it makes you realise that although the story spans only roughly 200 pages, that not all pages are written equal, and that it's dense writing makes it feel much longer than it is. Still, that is no reason to stop yourself from experiencing this wonderful story.

There are very few books out there like this.

There are writers, and then there is Ursula K Le Guin. Blows any competition out of the park.

Take Albert Camus' The Stranger, mix it with Jack Kerouac's On The Road, make it about teens, then somehow make it even worse.

He just keeps yapping. Nothing happens. There is no arc, and not in a "It's life" sort of way. There is just nothing going at all.

It's not easy to do cosmic horror properly, but Kealen Burke seems to have done one that was dreadful.

The Mule is one of the most interesting villians of all time - I will not elaborate.