This is the first YA book I can remember reading as a child. I went on to devour the entire series. Instilled in me a temporary obsession with horses that I eventually outgrew.

The one required reading HS book that blew me away. Introduced me to the notion of outrage.

The depth of Farmer's characterization of Richard Burton plus the world building and character development and frank treatment of sex... Unfortunately, the series gets uneven after this. But a milestone for me in seeing what spec fic can do.

The awe and dread I experienced reading about a killer AI and the fantastic unknown shaped my appetite for all subsequent fiction, speculative or otherwise. Most indelible images from this book: Bowman realizing that he'll be alone in space for the rest of his life cycles through all of western music, finding all nearly unbearable except for Bach and Mozart.

I still thrill to the irresistible vitality of Conan as he overcomes all enemies. There is a wonderful electricity to Howard's work that never fails to make me want to run out and buy a sword.

Was my religion in my early 20's. I love how Rand's characters all embody a certain philosophy, and exhibit it at every turn. It keeps her fiction unerringly vital, which is a characteristic sorely lacking in contemporary writing. Admittedly, her style is ridiculously overheated, but there are still a lot of things about this book that I will always enjoy.

I never knew Science Fiction could exist in this way until reading this. Gibson's style and ideas mesh perfectly and one is simply swept away in his hip/cool universe of art-making AI's and cyberspace.

This book gives me courage to continue attempting to create art, no matter what age I may be. Maugham's utterly human portrayal of Strickland is always an inspiration and a joy to read.

Maugham truly captures the emotional growth of the main character as he loves and fails and loves. And also how his main character utterly discards the accepted notions of modern life as he grows older and sheds his 'normalcy' for a more impassioned existence. Inspirational.

This book resonated and clarified so many instincts that I had: it was like finding a long lost but never met lover.

Winterson's scathing invective against modern society vs. artmaking. Clarified many things about how I felt as a young man.

Conrad's ode to the approach of adulthood, and the loss of one's youthful illusions.

This is only here for three stories: The Star, The Cold Equations and The Light of Other Days. The Star is SF storytelling at its metaphysica best, and Light Of Other Days might be the best SF story ever written.

Was summarily blown away by the idea of power co-opting any form of opposition by culturally 'acquiring' it. Profound when one sees Bush & Gore on SNL.

The story 'The Red One' belongs on any SF fan's top 10 list. But London's scathing view of humanity makes it vital literature.

Changed my view of reality and every thought and emotion that I have. Makes you truly abandon all that is "known." A true users manual for the human mind; should be required reading by any conscious entity.