Which would you recommend first, ita? And the Firefly comparison was made knowing only what I could tell from the cover art and back-cover blurb, so I freely admit it could be erroneous.

Outside of his big series (Vlad and Paarfi, which are intertwined), I love The Sun The Moon & The Stars -- it's sort of Microserfs for artsies. And To Reign In Hell may be seen as a whole lot of work for one particular joke (Get thee behind me, Satan!) but I liked it a lot too.

I get a little impatient with the floweriness (florality?) of Paarfi, but adore Vlad to pieces, even though he changes (as does the tone) in the Vladdy books. Those I'd recommend reading in publication order.`

t taking notes

I love the Sun, the Moon and the Stars and To Reign in Hell as well. Probably my two favourites. I actually wrote that I thought Feng's was one of the weaker books, but I pre-edited. I like Agyar and The Gypsy less than Feng's, for sure. But I should give them another try. Freedom and Necessity (with Emma Bull) is excellent too. The Vlad Taltos books are the bomb, but as ita noted, they vary a fair bit in tone, particularly around the middle of the run.

See, I had a lot of trouble getting THROUGH Freedom and Necessity...it seemed like it ought to be interesting, but it just wasn't working for me.

I think I didn't get Freedom & Necessity. The Hegelian Dialectic (and its relevance) still escapes me. I don't remember The Gypsy, but Agyar was good, I recall that.

I love The Sun The Moon & The Stars -- it's sort of Microserfs for artsies.

I am swooning. Two of my favorite books, by authors (Brust & Douglas Coupland) I never hear mentioned at the same time.

Back to Brust - I'd suggest anyone start with the Vlad books, in publication order. I actually like the Paarfi novels better, but I think the Vlad stories are excellent (excellent=fun+smart in my book) and a better intro to that universe. I'm not a big Feng fan, but now I'm going to reread it because it's been ages (well before watching Firefly) since I read it.

Thanks for all the Tanith Lee suggestions. My library list is getting to be a mile long...

I'm not much of a Brust fan, but I remember liking Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille. It was so long ago that I can't remember any details, I'll have to go look it up again.

it's sort of Microserfs for artsies.

Ooh, I love Microserfs. And Generation X. I'll have to keep my eye out for this Brust book.

Which? People keep telling me to read Tanith Lee but I don't know where to start.

Placing my vote for The Birthgrave and my alltime favourite of hers, Kill the Dead. There's something so charming about irony when it's genuinely loving.