In reply to Phantom Disliker:
Just read Steve Earle (yes, that one ") Ill never get out of this world alive", very good novel about sixties US Texas, not a big book, very enjoyable.
For sheer beauty and thought provoking try Georges Perec "A man asleep" or his masterpiece Life, a users guide.
"Consider Phlebas" by Ian M Banks, one of my all time fave books and IMHO the best sci fi book.
Pre James Bond knockabout fun -the Chandos books by Dornford Yates, when men were men, gooides good and baddies evil.
HTH