#16. "The Island of Dr. Moreau" by H.G. Wells

There are few authors as integral to sci-fi as H.G. Wells. Over the course of his career, he wrote several page-turning masterpieces such as "The Invisible Man" and the iconic "The Time Machine." What's more impressive is that he managed to establish every gimmick possible into a riveting page-turner. With his story "The Island of Dr. Moreau," he reaches for loftier heights by exploring themes of man playing God, and what happens when his creation fights back. It's a sloppy premise, but one that helps to expand on themes of such books as Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" by turning it into a fun island adventure that is as recognizable as it is disturbing. It may be a little clunky from a prose perspective, but it's still Wells doing what he does best.

#15. "The Dark Tower III: The Wastelands" by Stephen King

The work of Stephen King is so vast that it's impossible to pick a favorite. To most, there will be titles that have been made into good movies, such as "The Shining," "Misery," "Carrie," or "It." However, it one were to ask King what he felt was his greatest work was, odds are that he'll mention "The Dark Tower" saga somewhere. Until the upcoming movie, it's likely the most obscure title in his oeuvre to also have a rabid fan base. Still, its mix of genres with western, sci-fi, fantasy, and history is a fascinating journey into a world that is literally unlike any other. With "The Waste Lands," he pushes further into that vision with some of his most striking visuals yet, and it all works for better or worse in forwarding the story to its exciting conclusion.

#14. "The Unfinished Journey: America Since World War II" by William H. Chafe

It is both a compliment and an issue that American History has so much to offer. With the majority of History classes stopping somewhere around the 1960's, it's difficult for the average learner to understand what's happened in the 50 years since. In his book "The Unfinished Journey," historian William H. Chafe does an excellent job of creating a survey of key events between World War II and President Barack Obama's first term in office. While some events are more generalized, it's an impressive feat to turn close to 80 years of history into an accessible text that will inform as well as give a deeper appreciation to information that the reader already likely knew. It may not be the definitive text on any of the issues, but it's still pretty thorough.