40) Schismatrix Plus by Bruce Sterling - Another book that's been on my reading list for too long. I would have been more impressed had I read it 20 years ago. But most of it's most fascinating ideas have become more common in fiction. I do like the idea of two groups turning their longevity methods into political parties. I may be interested in a novel that looks at how the Shapers and Mechanists became the groups they are in at the start of the book.

41) Mainspring by Jay Lake - Absolutely great novel. The earth is set in a world based on clockworks and springs, much like a steampunk novel has technology based on steam. But it isn't just human devices. Even earth is a big wind-up toy that's slowly winding down. And the equator is a large cog that's used to spin the earth. It does the typical thing where it incorporates heavy religious tones, but it's wonderfully done cause it's also in a clockwork style. Jesus isn't a carpenter, but a clockmaker.

42) The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy - Pretty good noir novel in the series that includes The Black Dahlia and L.A. Confidential (both better novels than movies). It isn't as good as the other two, but it focuses on a character who is much more minor (and ultimately dies) in the other books. I just need to read White Jazz sometime soon. They're supposedly working on a movie of that book, but they've been doing that for a couple years now.

43) Daywatch by Sergei Lukyanenko - Much more interesting than the first book. Besides the name, there isn't any connection to the movie, so it was all a surprise. It's split into 3 stories again, but they are much more connected and linear than the ones in Nightwatch. You just can't figure out how until the end.

44) Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier - I got this an a whim cause it's the same author as Cold Mountain. The story isn't bad, it just drags a bit. Rather than an adventure covering a short period of time, it's done as an autobiography (which is based on a real person). So it covers several decades, mostly before the civil war. If they were ever to make a movie from this book, there would have to be some serious revision and editing. Heck, he doesn't even end up with his love at the end. I'd say skip this one unless you really like novels of the period which don't really have a central plot.