Light on the Sound is the first book in Somtow Sucharitkul's acclaimed 'Inquestor' Trilogy (which runs to 4 books. See Douglas Adams for another example of counting series...). The book is, like the entire story arc, epic in scope, poetic in execution and tone, and generally rather a standalone (and standout) amongst all the books I've read so far.
The story plays of on the world of Gallendys, where the boy Kelver lives in the shadow of the Skywall – actually one side of a crater 100k (klomets, in the book) high, and thousands wide. Inside it live, we learn, an ancient, pre-human race of flying beings called 'Delphinoids' by the Inquest who rules the human dispersal. Also inside the skywall exist tribes of engineered humans – deaf and blind, so they don't have to see and hear the lightsongs of the Delphinoids which they call Windbringer.
This book appears, at least at first, much simpler, more linear, and with a much smaller scope than the first book in the series (Shikasta, to give it its short name). It deals, on the surface, with humans, their relationships, and with the society that shapes these relationships and is in turn shaped by them instead of the history of the world from prehistoric times until WWIII, set in a galaxy-spanning setting, as the first book did. There are always little hints that this is just a small part of something, that the larger setting is there, but just not focused on at the moment in the rush of emotions and conflicts.
The story setting is easily told – Al•Ith is the Queen of Zone 3, a self-centred, peaceful and egalitarian country, led by female 'Queens', with a society based on equality and communication. She is ordered, by the 'Providers' (large picture warning! Although they are never specified, explained, or described, we never see more than the actual characters see and know...) to marry the 'King' of Zone 4, Ben Ata. Zone 4 is everything Zone 3 is not – it appears, at least to Al•Ith, to be barbarian, despondent and poor, and solely based on hierarchy, war, and the army which every single male in the Zone belongs to. You can imagine that neither of these exponents of their respective Zones are happy with this arrangement (but rebellion against the Providers is unthinkable, it appears), so they are thrown together, thrown into a personal and collective crisis, and their Zones, of which they are but an expression, are shaken up together with theri prime exponents.
Scratch Monkey is the early Charles Stross novel which never was, or, at least, hasn't been so far. It was written 1988-93, and nearly saw the light of day in 94, but things didn't go to plan, as Charlie outlines under the title "How not to sell a Novel" on his Fiction Index page... As a result this is available as a download from his website (book link at the bottom), under a Creative Commons License. When reading this it is worth remembering that this is most likely an edit/review/final edit cycle (or something similar) away from a publishable form - you're looking at an unpolished stone so to say, the final produce would (will?) be different. Scratch Monkey is a post-Singularity novel, with free-roaming, superior-to-human AIs (Superbrights) and their progenitors, the Ultrabrights, also on the loose. We follow the story of Oshi Adjani, who works for Distant Intervention, who maintain and defend the Dreamtime, usually under the direction of a Superbright. A lot of this seems to be hands-on, bloody intervention on the ground, reminiscent of Bank's Special Circumstances in the Culture universe.
Tales of Ordinary Madnessis a collection, one of many, of Charles Bukowski's short stories. This is classic Bukowski, consisting of a range of stories spanning the basic factotum style of some of his books, through embellished and re-worked episodes to completely fictional efforts which, at most, were inspired by something which happened to him.
The majority of the stories here are clearly autobiographical in outlook (and mostly in content, too, I guess). Sometimes he uses his real name, sometimes his alter ego Hank Chinaski, which he used in his novel 'Post Office', besides a number of other publications. Nearly everything is written in 1st person, although in a variety of styles and approaches.
Last Chance to See was published 20 years ago, which is reason for despair. Not for the 20 years, but for what has happened since, and for how little such a book, with associated radio series, can actually change, despite all the publicity for the cause championed. You see, Last Chance to See is Douglas' record of a BBC founded trip round the world by himself and Mark, where they went to document species threatened by extinction (their approach was for Douglas to stick pins in a map where he fancied going, and Mark sticking pins where there were endangered species; and where the two co-incided they went...).
It covers a number of species (animals, but also officials, conservationists and personnel, and an SF writer) , some of which I wasn't aware of prior to reading the book (animals only, ok?) – the expeditions took in the Aye-aye in Madagascar, the Komodo 'Dragons', the Northern White Rhino, the Kakapo in New Zealand, the Baiji (Yangtze River Dolphin) in China, and the Rodrigues Fruitbat on Mauritius. The radio series covered slightly more, but apparently Douglas didn't hand in the manuscript on time to include this (and how very Douglas Adams this is – read 'Don't Panic' by Neil Gaiman if you want to hear how Douglas used to deal with deadlines...).
The Voyage of the Sable Keech is the 2nd book in a loosely connected series (Spatterjay) byNeal Asher. It can be read on its own, but, given that it shows a progression from the events in the first story arch, as provided in 'The Skinner', I would strongly suggest you read that one first, and then read all the spoilers below. Trust me, it's a fun book, too.
Ok, for everyone still here – you have read The Skinner, you know how Asher writes, you know the fauna of Spatterjay (rarely has a place been named more aptly!). What we get here is the same, but bigger better and MUCH MORE! The Reifs (Reifications, ie resurrected dead) are organizing a pilgrimage to the Little Flint, where Sable Keech, 'The Arisen One', managed to re-build his human body and become alive again. To this end they have build a huge ship, the Sable Keech, to sail the Spatterjay sea. Adding to the mix: Sniper in a new, better, faster, better armed & armoured drone body, Prador infected with the Spatterjay virus, a Hooder on the rampage, and a Giant Whelk. You know by now if you want to read the book. And, if you enjoyed The Skinner, then yes, you do want to read this. Like, NOW!
Light on the Sound
The Marriages between Zones Three, Four, and Five
Tales of Ordinary Madness 
Last Chance to See
The Voyage of the Sable Keech
