Infinitely re-readable comfort food for my soul
Top 10 Comfort Reads
I could do without TV or film... but not without books! If I had to choose 10 forever books from my shelves to bugout with in an emergency, which would I take? (Short answer: re-readable, character-driven, competence porn!) (Image generated by openartai prompted by my description of the real me in an ideal setting)
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard is eminently rereadable (it's definitely the book version of comfort food for me). I'm not a huge fan of any of her other books (even the sequel), but this one is *chef's kiss. (Bonus: at 900 pages hardbound, it could also double as a weapon or doorstop)
All Systems Red by Martha Wells stars one of my all-time favorite characters, Murderbot. Hard to choose which in the series to take, especially as I also love ART (Asshole Research Transport) who isn't in this volume. But the first in the series is the most rereadable
Beware of Chicken by Casualfarmer is such a silly title for such a wonderful book. An isekai classic
Mira's Last Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold is midway through Penric and his demon Desdemona's story. Bujold's wry humor is wonderfully rereadable
A Civil Campaign, also by Lois McMaster Bujold, made the list because I just couldn't choose between her fantasy worlds' characters (Penric et al.) or her Science Fiction characters (Miles et al.). This story of Miles' wedding has been deemed a Science Fiction Sense and Sensibility by some reviewers
Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews (a husband and wife writing team) is midway through the Innkeeper Chronicles and veers off the main storyline to tell Maude's story. I would take every word written by Andrews (sight unseen) if I could - I have loved everything they have written. But having to pick for rereadability, I would take something from the Innkeeper series