Today is 7 March 2019 - World Book Day. It happens every year on the first Thursday in March. I’ve always been an avid reader, but I must admit that traditional books are very much “so-last-Tuesday”.

When I got to the point that there simply wasn’t any more room in the house for more books I got a Kindle and many bibliophiles would say I turned to the dark side. But e-books are so much easier. You can carry a library round in your pocket. E-books don’t gather dust and fall apart. And when I dropped my Kindle and poggered the screen I realised I could read e-books on my phone. I didn’t need to carry anything extra round with me. And they are cheaper.

I still read as much as I ever did, and so rather than regaling the world with whatever mundane trivia has most recently boiled my piss, today I shall do a countdown of my top ten favourite books.

It's an exercise I do every so often (I had a list on Facebook once), and it's a list which changes periodically. But as of today the best ten books in the universe are (and I'm still not sure about the order):

#10 The Foundation Trilogy (and it's extensions) - Issac Asimov

Planning for a better future? Do it scientifically. Asimov's future history is a classic. It's one of theose series that is more heard of and spoken about that actually read. Which is a shame.

#9 Jem - Fred Pohl

Aliens, politics and environmental disaster. I once picked up a copy of this book whilst bored in a college library (whilst a friend copied my homework) and it's remained a firm favourite for years.

#8 Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K Jerome

Written over a hundred years ago; it's still hilarious. Everyone's heard of it; no one's read it.

#7 Earth Abides - George R Stewart

This is one I bet most people have never heard of. I got my copy from a second hand book store for ten pence (I took a chance). Post apocalyptic fiction at its best.

#6 The Songs of Distant Earth - Arthur C Clark

An interstellar love story - I blubbed (a bit) when I first read this one.

#5 The Kraken Wakes - John Wyndham

An invasion from outer space that went un-noticed for a while

#4 Torn - Drew Wagar

OK - so I have a vested interest in this book (read the acknowledgements section...).

#3 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

Every time I read this I relate so much with Charles Ryder

#2 The Saga of the Exiles - Julian May

Jumping from the frying pan into the fire...

#1 The Mote in God's Eye - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

I just love it

So there you are, loyal readers. It's World Book Day; here's some recommendations. Let me know what you think of my favourites. Interestingly this list is unchanged since 2014.