Patrick O'Brian- Mr. O'Brian has written an excellent series of books that deal with sailing during Napoleonic times. Cptn. Aubrey and Maturin lived the adventure we miss and are sure glad of it. Captain and Commander

Barbara Tuchman-history as it should always be told. All of her research was done first hand. You will get the feeling you have met all the famous personages she describes.

The Guns of August, The March of Folly,

Ray Bradbury - the SciFi with a soul. Bradbury always made me wonder if I were reading a piece of science fiction or a subtle suggestions on how we humans foul our world up. You can never go wrong with a Bradbury short story.

Stories of Ray Bradbury , Martian Chronicles

Frank Herbert - writer of maybe the greatist SciFi book of all time, DUNE. Don't miss The Black Plague

"You cannot back into the future."

--Muad'Dib

Robert Heinlein - very interesting writing, on the edge of what most people might believe. Is this book SciFi religion and/or philosophy? Stranger in a Strange Land

Sleep whenever you can; you may have to stay awake a long time.

Lazarus Long in Time Enough for Love.

Manchester, William - brilliant historian who illuminates the dark ages in A World Lit Only be Fire.

Boorstein, Daniel - the great writer of the history of science and culture. How did we get hours, days, months. Read chapter one of The Discovers to find out. The Creators is the equivalent book, of course, about the history of creation, from Gods to artistic creation.

Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus - Orson Scott Card

This is historical science fiction. A big what if? book. Who were the true Christians in the new world?

This is an excellent book that explores the western hemisphere before Cortez and Montezuma fouled it all up. Great historical fiction. Mr. Jennings did his homework. .Aztec - Gary Jennings