Edgar Rice Burroughs - A Princess of Mars The first of Burroughs seemingly neverending Mars sequence. A great, easily to read, traditional escapist novel. With all coincidences and last minute rescues intact, and a nice pulpy cliff hanger to tide you over to the second book. Most of the Mars books are worth reading if a little repetative, though the first few probably the best. [in print - UK / US]
Edgar Rice Burroughs - Gods of Mars The second of the Mars books, and more of the same as John Carter finds himself in even more tricky situations, eventually resolving the cliff hanger from book one, but leaving you with another which probably means you have to read the third (Warlord of Mars) as well. The first three are pretty much the contination of one narrative, the others are all self-contained. [in print - UK / US]
Tanith Lee - Night's Master
From the start this book is a classic, a lush fantasy that is build from a series of tightly woven short pieces, tales connected by their relationship to the Night's Master; the demon lord who rules over the underearth and creates chaos and confusion in the human worlds above. He sows the seeds of many tragedy's, including one that threatens the existence of the human race itself, one so serious that even he cannot ignore the consequences. This is a brilliant collection of fables, wonderfully written and enthralling from beginning to end.
[in print - UK]