Time for another round up of books from my TBR to go through! Each week I’ll be going over a selection from my physical unread books and deciding what to keep and what to purge. There will be a third option–undecided–which I might ask for your input on why you think I should keep or purge that title from my list. You can also check out my full TBR pile here.

Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clark

The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city–intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began. But at what cost? With the advent of peace, man ceases to strive for creative greatness, and a malaise settles over the human race. To those who resist, it becomes evident that the Overlords have an agenda of their own. As civilization approaches the crossroads, will the Overlords spell the end for humankind . . . or the beginning?

This is one of those classics that I picked up because it’s a classic. Or should I say Classic. Well, I’m not sure if I want to hang on to this one or not because honestly I’m not super interested in reading the classics? But they are classics so…maybe? UNDECIDED

Dreams of Distant Shores by Patricia A. McKillip

Featuring three brand-new stories and an original introduction by Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn. Bestselling author Patricia A. McKillip (The Riddle-Master of Hed) is one of the most lyrical writers gracing the fantasy genre. With the debut of her newest work, Dreams of Distant Shores is a true ode to her many talents. Within these pages you will find a youthful artist possessed by both his painting and his muse and seductive travelers from the sea enrapturing distant lovers. The statue of a mermaid comes suddenly to life, and two friends are transfixed by a haunted estate.

Ah, more McKillip! Of course this one is three stories and not a novel but of course since it’s McKillip it’s a keeper. One of these days I’ll get to all of these, I swear. KEEP

The Last Defender of Camelot by Roger Zelazny

Here are 16 strange, beautiful stories spanning the full spectrum of Roger Zelazny’s remarkable career. One of the most acclaimed writers in the field, Zelazny’s rare ability to mix fantastical dream imagery with the real-life hardware of science fiction has won him more than a score of Hugo and Nebula nominations. He creates characters who live to haunt the reader beyond the page and who inhabit worlds both enchanting and disturbing–dazzling and memorable.

This is a story collection from Zelazny. On the one hand I do like having short story collections, but on the other hand I’m not sure if I’m going to get around to reading this one. UNDECIDED

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

I don’t know why I keep this one. I did start it at some point and I was enjoying it but I don’t know if I just got bored by the thickness of the tome or what LOL. But I do want to hang on to it, maybe I’ll pick it up again some day. I have this several sequels as well as an unrelated GRRM novella (which is signed). KEEP

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

Alif is a 23-year-old Arab/Indian hacker working in the Arab Emirates. His job is to provide security to enemies of the Arab states, ranging from pornographers to militant Islamists. Alif has fallen in love with the beguiling Intisar, an aristocratic woman he meets online. But their budding love affair is cruelly ended when her father arranges a marriage for her with a man of her class… a man who turns out to be the state’s leading censor, a shadowy and powerful figure known only as ‘the Hand’. As a goodbye, Intisar sends the heartbroken Alif a mysterious old book. Bound in what looks like human skin, and titled The Thousand and One Days, Alif soon realizes that this token of affection is actually a dangerous source of old world magic. And as the keeper of this amulet — the secret book of the jinn — Alif is about to become a wanted fugitive from both the corporeal and the celestial worlds..

Oh, I definitely still want to read this one! I actually got a really pretty copy from the used book store at one point. I really enjoyed her book The Bird King, not sure why I haven’t read this one yet. KEEP

That’s all for now! This brings my total count to:

Keep	Purge	Undecided
311	109	58

Some good movement in the undecided section this week. What do you think about my choices here? Anything you’d do differently? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to chat!