Books, Music, and Movies Scott recommends:

Things mad Scott raves about:

Favourite Books:
"A People's History of the United States: 1492 - Present" by Howard Zinn; reminds Americans to be more humble, as they do not live in a benevalent democracy as they often think they do. A much needed reminder that our freedoms must be fought for all the time.
Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K LeGuin; this is my favourite book of the fabulous Earthsea trilogy. This one is all about freedom, what it is and what it can cost. It is also about growing up and taking responsibility for one's actions, and becoming whole.
Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K LeGuin; good and evil, heaven and hell, sorrow and joy; they are all within each of us at all times. It is also about what it means to be whole and to fully understand youself. This book also uses the first principle of the Tao Te Ching, which is the theory of inactivity which means that people should only act when necessary.
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K LeGuin; another of the fabulous Earthsea trilogy. This one is about love and acceptance, and about how love conquers all. It is also a growing up tale for Arren, and an acceptance that death is part of life, that the two cannot be separated.
Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity, by Bruce Bawer; opens a lot of questions about how passively mainstream liberal Americans should ignore the fundamentalist Christian movement. Mr Bawer suggests that we can no longer afford to ignore fundamentalists, and that they are not even Christian as they claim to be. I am inclined to agree - pending further research.
A Thousand Summers by Garsin Kanin; one of the most touching life stories I've ever read. Details the life-spanning romance of a New England pharmacist. Brilliantly written; it does inspire tears.
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephanson; fascinating view of one possible future - the concept of mediatronic advertisements on chopsticks is so real that it is painfully funny.
Lifeline by Robert Heinlein; a short story that really makes you think about what religion is all about.
Tokaido Road by Lucia St. Clair Robson; is richly detailed historical fiction set in Edo era Japan. She paints a picture so profoundly complete that you can smell the cherry blossoms and feel the wind on you face while reading about Hakone Pass. A must read for any student of Japanese culture.
A Prince Among Men by Robert Charrette;
A King Beneath the Mountain by Robert Charrette;
A Knight Among Knaves by Robert Charrette;
Snow Crash by Neal Stephanson;
Mary's Land by Lucia St. Clair Robson; more historic fiction with stunning detail in language and human nature. Really helps one understand the motivation behind the colonial era.
Sandkings by George RR Martin; one of the most frightening short stories in science fiction.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein; the classic definition of what it means to be a human being. A decent attempt at defining both love and laughter. A tongue in cheek poke at the blindly faithful of all religions.
Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K LeGuin; imagine if your dreams came true, and your nightmares too...
Interface by Stephan Bury; fascinating cynical view of American politics
The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien; this is an epoch story like no other epoch story. So much depth, so much detail, such a vast setting; really keeps the imagination busy for a long time.
Deepness in the Sky by Verner Vinge; technology has this was of sneaking up on you from behind
Fire in the Deep by Verner Vinge; because Pham Nuwen was too much fun to forget after only one book
Watership Down by Richard Adams;
Maia by Richard Adams;
Friday by Robert Heinlein;
Zodiac by Neal Stephenson;
In the Beginning was the Command Line by Neal Stephenson
Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer;
Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz; political intrigue, detail, mystery and magic - this is the authors first and best work.
Camber of Culdi by Katherine Kurtz; a description of the renaissance in another world, very rich.
Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein;
To Sail Beyond the Sunset by Robert Heinlein;
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley;
The Past Through Tomorrow by Robert Heinlein;
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien; The story that got me interested in fantasy and science fiction - still a fabulous read.
Buffalo Girls by Kristen Brennan (an ebook for PalmPilot, buffalo_feedback@jitterbug.com - waiting for "The Myth of Celery")

Uberchix Sof.tware, "Nihil arduum motalibus est; caelum ipsum stultitia petimus."


Favourite Artists:
Gabriel Picart

Favourite Wines:
Zinfadel - my favourite red, always good
Merlot - a hit or miss red, sometimes fantastic, sometimes a disappointment, usually very good
Syrah/Sirah - always good, the bulk of my wine drinking is Sirah
Pinot Noir - nice red, especially with a subtle dinner
Gewurztraminer - Alsacian preferred, but Mosel is ok too... spicey white
Viognier - delicious white, usually very good
Santorini - best of the Greek white wines
Mourvedre
Malbec

Ridge, Excellent Santa Cruz Wines: Geyserville,
Horton Vineyards, Fine Virginia Wines: Viognier, Mourvedre, and Malbec
Bonny Doon Vineyard, Excellent Santa Cruz Wines: Le Cigar Volant, Cardinal Zin, Big House Red
Antoniou Winery, Santorini Wines: Barrell
Pahl Meyer, Napa Wine: Merlot
St Francis, Sonoma Wine: Gewurztraminer, Zinfadel


Favourite Films:
Blade Runner
The Razor's Edge (both versions)
Being There (Life is a state of mind)
The Wind and the Lion
Robin and Marion
Stealing Heaven (a glimpse at the love story of Abelard and Heloise)
The Fisher King
The Last of the Mohicans
Brainstorm (Christopher Walken as a good guy?!)
Don Juan DeMarco (it is all too easy to miss the critical departure from illusion)
Highlander (but there really can be only one)
Wallace & Grommit

Favourite Music:
R.E.M.
MOBY
Oscar Lopez
Jesse Cook
Ottmar Liebert
Armik
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Yes
Icehouse
Yello
Armik
Kraftwerk
King Crimson
Peter Gabriel
Jethro Tull

Favourite Authors:
Ursula K. Le Guin (The Lathe of Heaven, the Earthsea Trilogy, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia)
Neal Stephanson (Snowcrash, Diamond Age, Zodiac)
Richard Adams (Watership Down, Maia)
Robert A Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers)
JRR Tolkien (the Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings)
Roald Dahl (Danny the Champion of the World)
Robert Charrette (A Prince Among Men, A King Beneath the Mountain)
Lucia St. Clair Robsen (Tokaido Road, Mary's Land)

Favourite Actors:
Anthony Hopkins
Merril Streep
Natalie Wood
Christopher Walken
James Caan
Harrison Ford
Tommy Lee Jones
Sean Connery
Jenny Agutter
Elizabeth McGovern
Geena Davis
Kevin Spacey
Jeff Goldblum

Favourite Television:
Babylon5 the best SciFi show ever
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, girl power, real wit, a plot, and informative public messages all rolled up in a show that challenges the viewer to think
Angel the Buffy spin-off has some very good drama and excellent plot
Farscape another excellent SciFi show, good plot, excellent characters, real diversity in species
Mad About You (the last decent sitcom)
MASH (the all time best sitcom)
Barney Miller (so fast you couldn't afford to laugh)
Dr Who (effects so bad, you had to use your own imagination)

Favourite Tracks:
Something (Beatles)
And You and I (Yes)
Duvet (BOA)
Tango Flamenco (Armik)
Moondance (Van Morrison)
Spanish Doll (Poe)
At Least We Tried (Moby)
I have the Touch (Peter Gabriel)
Mood for a Day (Yes)
Orchid (Black Sabbath)
Cornflake Girl (Tori Amos)
Great Southern Land (Icehouse)
Azul (Jesse Cook)
1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky)
Great Southern Land (Icehouse)
Over the Hills and Far Away (Led Zeppelin)
Onward (Yes)
Down By The Water (PJ Harvey)
Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky)
Changes (Yes)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Beatles)
Buree (Jethro Tull)
Porcelain (Julia Fordham)
Rain (BOA)
Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull)
See Emily Play (Pink Floyd)
With You I am Born Again (Billy Preston and Syreeta)
Shine On you Crazy Diamond (Pink Floyd)
Wild (Poe)

Desert Island Discs:
One Second (Yello)
Neuveau Flamenco (Ottmar Liebert)
Passion (Peter Gabriel)
War (U2)
ClassicYes (Yes)
Becoming X (Sneaker Pimps)
Heat of the Sun (Strunz and Farah)
Houses of the Holy (Led Zeppelin)
Quadrophenia (the Who)
Animals (Pink Floyd)
Gypsy Flame (Armik)
Play (Moby)
Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
Below the Salt (Steeleye Span)
Parcel of Rogues (Steeleye Span)

Cool Stuff that is Out There...

Music and Entertainment Links

Author: Scott Nolan, (How to send me email)
Last updated: July 20th, 2005