Let's see -- I'm missing Consider Phlebas, (although I am reading an Ian M. Banks right now), The Man In The High Castle, The Illuminatus! Trilogy, The Trouble With Lichen and possibly The Diamond Age -- I forget when I got tired of Stephenson.

I'm interested in trying all but the Stephenson.

eta:

Most American kids have to read them in junior high school.

Well, except for Kathy. And the Guardian's not American.

Well, except for Kathy.

She's a slacker!

And the Guardian's not American.

Then they need to limit their pronouncement to 20 Geekiest British Books or summat.

Then they need to limit their pronouncement to 20 Geekiest British Books or summat.

Oh yes -- a British newspaper surveying a primarily British readership? How dare they not alert the Americans reading it online to their obvious bias!

How dare they not alert the Americans reading it online to their obvious bias!

See, you understand my point exactly. Outrageous behavior on their part.

Only an American paper would have the right to not indicate what country they were talking about, naturally.

Only an American paper would have the right to not indicate what country they were talking about, naturally.

What? You think there's only White and Male privilege?

I'm from Jamaica. What do you think?

I'm from Jamaica. What do you think?

Phew, that's such a good answer to so many retarded rhetorical questions.

Especially with body language and skeptical expression included.

Randomly, I was searching the library for interesting math-teaching books on Wednesday and ran across a book on how to use a slide-rule (including a mention that computers did exist which could do all kinds of calculations, but that it would be both bulky and very inefficient to use them, like using an axe to swat a fly), written by Isaac Asimov. It was a bit startling.