30. Total Recall by Piers Anthony

Anthony, Piers. Total Recall. New York, Carolco Pictures: 1989.

I feel dirty. I am unclean. I have sinned against the literary gods and must go beat my head against an annotated edition of Moby Dick. What was this crime you may ask. What could be so horrible?

I'll tell you.

I read a movie novelization. *gasp* I know, I know. How could I? My only defense is that I didn't know. It's a Piers Anthony book, it seemed reasonable.

Oh well, I'm going to have to forgive myself some time. I might as well start now.

It was pretty readable, in truth. Might as well have watched the movie though...or read the Philip K. Dick story it was actually based on, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale." *rolls eyes*

29. Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle

L'Engle, Madeleine. Many Waters. New York, Square Fish: 1986.

Many Waters is the last of the L'Engle books that I read as a kid and the only one that I remembered any of the plot for. Even though this was written after A Swiftly Tilting Planet the events in the book take place between A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet.

Many Waters retells the Noah story from the point of view of the twins who blunder into the middle of their dad's experiment and end up shunted through time. L'Engle's antediluvian setting is complete with angles and unicorns. Truly, a great deal of fun and one of the few times I've found an author's depiction of an angle convincing.

28. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Swiftly Tilting Planet. New York, Square Fish: 1978.

Structurally speaking, this is perhaps the most interesting of the four L'Engle novels that I've read. Meg is an adult, married to Calvin, and carrying her first child. The twins are in college and Charles Wallace is in high school. Nuclear disaster looms on the horizon and only Charles Wallace with the aide of a unicorn can avert it by manipulating time lines.

It's an interesting narrative sliding back and forth through time. Sometimes Charles is a visitor in the minds of various historical characters, and sometimes he is flying on the back of a unicorn. Sometimes the story picks up with Meg in the present following the crisis. The whole effect is disconnected and episodic but surprisingly cohesive.

27. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wind in the Door. New York, Square Fish: 1973.

Much like A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door is a book I know that I read as a 7 year old, but couldn't for the life of me remember the plot of. Also, much like the previous book it focuses the plot around certain scientific concepts and uses them to explore possible implications of the theories.

A Wind in the Door picks up about a year after A Wrinkle in Time. Charles Wallace has started school and Meg, his older sister, is worried about how much he's being bullied. Additionally, Charles Wallace has picked up a mysterious infection. Where A Wrinkle in Time was primarily concerned with quantum physics and dimensionality, A Wind in the Door, focuses on the bizarre properties of mitochondria and farandolae. Specifically how mitochondria appear to be genetically independent from their host humans.

L'Engle also introduces a Cherubim into the host of characters and thereby begins to develop some religious themes in the setting. It's a very pleasant blending of science, fantasy, and religion. I also like L'Engle's presentation of interconnectivity of the universe.

Over all, a good read and more fluid than its predecessor.

26. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle In Time. New York: Crosswicks, 1962.

I have very fond memories of reading this when I was about 7. I even remember where I was when I was reading it. I remember perching in the jungle gym and burying my nose in it. I remember this kid John throwing wood chips at me to try and get me to stop reading. I even remember the teacher confiscating it during recess to 'improve my socialization skills.' What I didn't remember was the plot. Not even a little bit.

The story follows a bright, but awkward, girl named Meg as she struggles to find her father after he disastrously 'tessers' himself to a world which has fallen under the power of Shadow. Meg, her abnormally brilliant younger brother Charles Wallace, and her new love connection Calvin follow the direction of three enigmatic extra-terrestrial entities to save Meg's father.

It is a surprisingly abstract and intelligent story line that is still understandable and appropriate for young readers. The thing I love about it is that it introduces concepts of quantum physics in a way that is approachable and fun. I'm not saying that the book is necessarily accurate in every aspect but it does, do a good job of exploring the implications.

While the end is a touch predictable, it is also satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed this reread.