This is a real toughie. I thought that selecting 5 best books was tough, but that does not come anywhere near this one! Anyway, here goes

Isaac Asimov
The king of Science Fiction, he lifted the art to a new height with his emphasis on both science and fiction. All his books have a scientific basis-they are not Mills and Boon romances set on the Planet Venus or the year 3415.

The three rules of robotics framed by this scientist-author may one day provide the framework for robots or androids with artificial intelligence. His novels, novellas and short stories provide a vast ocean of entertaining literature to lose yourself in. If you enjoy him, also try the autobiographical works and the who-dun-its that he wrote when he wanted to take a break from the work of writing SF

Louis L’Amour
From SF to Westerns, but still staying with the Kings! I own over 50 of his books, and that alone should speak volumes of my admiration for his work. He is pretty well known, and his books are individually reviewed in this site, so I will not waste much time on that. If you want tips to start off with, try theLonesome Gods, The Walking Drum, The Sacketts (or the entire Sackett series), Flint and The Comstock Lode.

Michael Crichton
The movies based on his books have been tremendous hits, but not all the books themselves. The outstanding feature of each of his novels is that it is thoroughly researched. Another feature is that no two novels are about a similar topic.

If Jurassic Park was about the misuse of scientific advances, Disclosure is about sexual harassment and the Sphere is about an UFO found deep in the oceans of earth. Every book is riveting, and every book gives you some new knowledge about the field covered by that book.

James Herriott
My favourite veterinary surgeon. The series of four books he has written (All things wise and wonderful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful and The lord god made them all give you an overview of the life of a veterinary surgeon, the joys, the small victories, the sorrows and the fights that make up the life of a small time practitioner. These books will keep you laughing, and occasionally bring tears to your eyes, but ultimately leave you feeling happy. What more could you ask for?

Dick Francis
I have heard people say, ’’He writes about horse racing’’. Strictly speaking that is not true. All his stories are based on or around horse racing, but they are enjoyable thrillers. The characters are believable, and some of the heroes have very unique occupations such as wine tasting, Olympic shooting or toy making.

They are not who-dun-its, as you are mostly aware of the identity of the perpetrator at least half way through the book, but the wiles used by the hero to bring the villain to book will keep you on tenterhooks.

Erma Bombeck
This newspaper columnist turned agony aunt turned author has spawned a sub-culture of humor on her own. She writes about the most simple things-her daily life with her spouse and children, their idiosyncrasies and tantrums and so on. You are likely to find a mirror image or yourself or someone in your family in her characters. Start off with Family-the ties that bind...and gag

Sue Townsend
Another female author who re-wrote the boundaries of humor with her books on the travails of a teenager. It is written in a narrative style, as the diary of a boy aged 13 and 3/4 in the first book and 15 and 1/4 in the second Its hero, Adrian Mole, ruminates on the love life of his parents, his own aspirations to love, the problems he faces with his new-found sexual knowledge (he cant ask for a decent piece of chicken at the dinner table, as all the words, such as thighs, have sexual connotations!). Try one, and you will be hooked.

Jack London
Essentially an animal-story writer, his works White Fang, Call of the Wild and Sea Wolf are considered classics, and read as curriculum by many universities. While the first novel is about a wild dog which is tamed by love, the second is about a wolf, which is similarly overcome.

Both these are unique, in that they use a narrative style where you are privy to the animals thoughts, and sees the world from its point of view. The third book, is on of a totally different genre, and follows the adventures of a sailship and its occupants, and is an exquisite love story. A different experience all together.

Nevil Shute
An engineer by training, he is the author of such acclaimed works as A town like Alice, Most Secret and Requiem for a Wren. Most of his books are based at the time of world war 2, and his heroes are ordinary men and women who are doing their best to serve their country in times of need.

You will find some racism, some comments regarding the superiority of whites and so on, but his books are nevertheless entertainers, good for a train journey or to while away an odd afternoon. Nothing intellectual, but the words gently pull at your heart-strings.

Richard Gordon
Practically everyone would have heard of the raunchy comedy films of the Doctor series. These films were based on the books written by this man. He takes an amusing look at the world of medicine, and what goes into making a doctor (Doctor in the House deals with the formative years in medical school of a young hopeful). Meet pompous professors, greedy surgeons, ignorant students...all wrapped up very nicely between the covers of his books. Great fun, both for the lay public as well as for the professional (hey, that sounds just like what I did in Med School)