Not everyone knows this, but one of the two things I am addicted to is reading (no, the other one is not IRC!). No matter how fast you read, there's always something more, which is why reading's such a great procrastination tool.

Here are some of the books and/or authors I've typed out my opinion on (for those of you too lazy to go out and search for your own books). Most recent additions at the top:

War and Peace, Count Leo Tolstoy
Procrastination potential: exemplary

The most pressing question of all is, "is it worth it?" Yes, the book is over 1,200 pages, and yes, it is totally and completely worth the time I put into it. Intellectually I had been heading this way for some time, and it was such a heady confirmation to see the thoughts I was struggling with also mirrored in the more philosophical parts of War and Peace. Not only that, but I am amazed at Tolstoy's breadth as a writer. From the drawing rooms of St. Petersberg to the bloody battlefields of the Russian frontier, he moves with equal wisdom and impressive detail.
--april99

Foucault's Pendulum, Umberto Eco
Rated: brilliant, but depressing

I'm not sure whether to praise or to vilify my friend Matias for lending me Eco's work, because although I found it to be excellently written, fascinating and profound, it also left me seriously disturbed. I remained disturbed for several weeks after finishing this book, perhaps because it starts off as a misleadingly light-hearted lark, but ends with an abysmally cynical and particularly hopeless summation of human nature. On another level, this book can be considered an exhaustively researched treatise on the Secret Society of all secret societies -- the Knights Templar -- and the many groups that followed after the fateful beheading of Jacques du Molay in 1307, with many references to Rosicrucians, Freemasons, and Francis Bacon.
--feb99

Steven Brust
Rated: witty and fun

If Zelazny says someone moves fast, you better believe it! Brust is one of the best. Unfortunately he doesn't get as much press as he should. He's not into realism, but he always has a great protagonist (although, if you read too much of him they start to feel the same) and a wonderful supporting cast. Brust has a wicked sense of humor which he puts to good use, and also a talent for twisty plots -- keeping his readers in muddled obscurity until close to the end -- so the best way to read his books is to just sit back and admire his style.
The Phoenix Guards is a must read! This is one of the funniest books I've ever read (and you should know that fantasy and comedy usually do _not_ mix well), the sparkling dialogue is both witty and stupid (have you seen anyone else pull that off?), and it's got the most entertaining swashbuckling action I've encountered in a long time. I didn't find out until years after discovering this book, but I have it on good authority that it's a clever poke at the grand pomposity of Alexander Dumas in The Three Musketeers.
More titles by Steven Brust:
Five Hundred Years After
(sequel to Phoenix Guards) Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille
Freedom and Necessity
(co-written with Emma Bull and _highly_ recommended)

Fortress in the Eye of Time, C.J. Cherryh
Rated: excellent

C.J. Cherryh takes a lot of chances and manages to make them all pan out for her (unlike some people noted below). Once you get past the many commas and her unusual writing style, you really get into the characters she's created. The constant maddening hints at an epic plot of grand proportions make the climax rather a letdown, but the superb character development more than makes up for it.
dec98: Having re-read this book after a few years, I wonder if perhaps the main character Tristan isn't modelled on the azi of Cherryh's Merchanter universe.

Zod Wallop, William Browning Spencer
Rated: a crazy ride!

At first glance it may seem like a typical confusingly artsy book that equally confused reviewers will deem as "a brilliant new star in the firmament of blah blah blah." because they don't quite know what to do with it. You know what I mean ... those insufferable books that seem to talk down to their pedantic and unappreciative readers. Am I getting off the point? Anyway, this book is almost like that but is saved by an underlying potent sense of darkness, not to mention that the author has a twinkling sense of fun and humor. The coherent one-line summary is: man finally comes to terms with his daughter's death. But it's really much better than that! A lot of wild and crazy things happen along the way. A curious mixture of fantasy and realism that works. The second main character, the one who escapes from a psychiatric hospital? The half-chivalric language Spencer writes for him is just perfect.

More C.J. Cherryh:
Rated: impressive depth

C.J. Cherryh is one of my favorite sci-fi authors. She is one of the best in the field at creating a believable, realistic world that isn't merely a Tolkien re-write or some other poor imitation. You know how a lot of sci-fi/fantasy books are set in these fake worlds that the author hasn't really thought through very completely? Well, the level of detail in C.J. Cherryh's work is stunning. One gets the feeling that she's written literally volumes of background info that is never used in the manuscripts, except as an anchoring presence. All her books are fast paced, gripping, and (maybe a little too) full of gritty realism, but there is also the occasional wry humor. For some reason, I am reminded of the first Foundation book; but I actually think that some of Cherryh's work is better written and thought out in more detail. Her characters display the full spectrum of human emotion and morality. And, as in real life, it's sometimes difficult to decide who's the hero and who's the villain.
Recommended: Cyteen, Downbelow Station.

The Lions of Al-Rassan, Guy Gavriel Kay
Rated: lavishly sentimental, but beautiful storytelling

George Pang hooked me on Guy Gavriel Kay (does anyone know where he is? )(That's George, not Guy), and this is quite possibly his best work yet. As always, his fantasy novel is filled with fascinating political intrigue and great character interactions. Also, it features Rodrigo Belmonte, one of the most totally awesome fantasy characters in the universe.
The setting, which is one of the best parts of the book, is (deliberately) evocative of ancient Spain, at a time when the Iberian peninsula was torn apart by Christians to the north and Moors to the south. Another thing Guy paints well is the camraderie that builds between his three main characters, any of whom alone would possibly be just a tad unconvincing.

A Song for Arbonne, Guy Gavriel Kay
Rated: cheesy book!

I admit, I bought this one for the cool name. But I was also curious since it was another Guy Gavriel Kay book. Unfortunately his extravagant use of commas was somewhat annoying, and also his subtlety was such that it would bonk you over the head and make you shout "cheesy! Turn it off!" Although the plot is well crafted, I couldn't stand at least three of the major characters, which isn't a good sign.

HTML Sourcebook, Ian S. Graham
Rated: boring!

But there's just no help for it. How fun can a book like this be, anyway?