give me books

Okay, it's time for my annual call for my friends to recommend some books to me.

I like some non fiction and books of various types, but my one true love has always been science fiction. I've looked at my bookshelf and I realized that everything I really love is 2-3 years old. That's not good, I don't want to get locked into liking books from a certain era and not reading anything new.

But the problem is, it feels like really good sci fi is in a bit of a lull. Maybe it's not, and you guys can give me some good books you've read, but everything lately is of the Bruce Sterling/Cory Doctorow/Max Barry style. You know, one clever idea, and a book wrapped around it. A lot of winking and cleverness and post-modern "Web 2.0" ideas, but no depth. You put it down when you're done and never go back.

What I yearn for is GOOD sci fi. I'm talking Neuromancer, Fire Upon the Deep, Snow Crash, A Signal Shattered, Vurt, Synners, Cryptonomicon, Ender's Game... I want a whole world, and lots of good ideas, and something I really can't put down and sticks with me for a long time. The only modern writer that has come close has been Broken Angels by Richard Morgan, but I didn't like his newest book at all.

I think you all know what I'm talking about, and hopefully you've read something good recently. Tell me in comments, tell me in email, but feed my brain.

Another thing I've been wanting to pick up is manga, but I'm not sure if anyone who reads my blog is a manga nerd. If you are, and can recommend any manga series that has really knocked your socks off, that would be sweet too.

I used to read every single night before I went to sleep, and I haven't done that for months. I refuse to become a non-reader who does all his reading on blogs and news sites.