Dan Simmons, The Hyperion Omnibus
The Fall of Hyperion (1990) ****
The more straightforward but mandatory second half (of the first half), it falls far short of its predecessor's classic status, but makes up for the loss of the variety show with satisfying closure.
Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / James and the Giant Peach / Fantastic Mr Fox
The most glaring oversight from my childhood, which can only be down to school and library shelves not having a copy when I thought to look, but even today I was captivated by its psychedelic-industrial aesthetic and comestible body horror. Maybe his best, but I've still got gaps.
Fantastic Mr Fox (1970) ***
Lessons in pragmatism and subjective morality as a subterranean siege turns into a blow-out piss-up. This 'cider' sounds scrumptious!
