I feel like I've read "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas". The title sounds incredibly familiar.

I have heard good things about "The Left Hand of Darkness", so I might give that one a try someday.

Actually I don't think The Dispossed IS wish fulfillment

Well, I do in the sense that it's wish fulfillment to think you could even get an anarchy working. And yeah, it's a hard life they have, but it's clear that it does work, in many ways. Not in all ways, no.

I am glad to see Bujold made the list, but disappointed at how far down she is. And I'm pretty disturbed to see that Cherryh didn't make it at all. She's been a mainstay of my bookshelves for thirty years.

I've played too much D&D to really appreciate the Grey Mouser stories properly. I keep thinking about how they screwed up their rolls and how I've seen the various elements played out by Dungeon Masters.

I suspect one reason Cherryh wouldn't do well in a poll like that is that she's got too many series for her fans to get behind one in enough numbers.

What would you suggest for a Tanith Lee in the fantasy category? (distinct from horror)

The Secret Books of Paradys. (Which are close to my favorite works by her, but the Blood Opera Sequence still tops them.)

I would definitely have plumped for Something Wicked This Way Comes though I think Bradbury's greater influence is from his short stories.

While I love Something Wicked This Way Comes with something near obsession, I still think his best work ever is the short story "Homecoming". Of course, my opinion is colored because in my heart of hearts, I believe I belong to that family. (And come to think of it, my Dad wouldn't argue that point.)

I don't remember reading "Homecoming," which means I need to read it again. Obviously, I was short on memory cells the last time, and it is something I should remember reading, barring brain damage or pollen.

I have mixed feelings about the list in general, but I'm glad they did it in the "it's a start" sort of way. Mostly I've been boggled that they didn't split fantasy and science fiction into two different lists.

(And come to think of it, my Dad wouldn't argue that point.)

How do we know your Dad isn't Uncle Einar?

How do we know your Dad isn't Uncle Einar?

Good question! I mean, I'd like to think that if Dad had giant bat wings and flew around at night, he would have told me by now, but I can't discount the possibility.

Please don't dismiss all of David's list.

Yeah! What? Were they?

I can go wrangle up Neil Gaiman's endorsement of Lud-in-the-Mist if that would help. I know some other Buffistas have read it - maybe Anne?

The Dying Earth has the best wizard stories I've read, with a really interesting angle on how magic works in that world.

Oh, I love Lud-in-the-Mist.