For my sins, I've been trying to read Tolstoys [http://www.amazon.com/Leo-Tolstoy/e/B000APWJOK] War and Peace. [http://www.amazon.com/War-Peace-Vintage-Classics-Tolstoy/dp/1400079985/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237585757&sr=8-1]
After a chapter or two, I put it down and read another novel of the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. [http://www.amazon.com/David-Weber/e/B000APBAFE] Currently in that regard I've been working on Crown of Slaves [http://www.amazon.com/Crown-Slaves-Honor-Harrington-David/dp/0743498992/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237585944&sr=8-1] which was co-written with Eric Flint. [http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Flint/e/B001ITXFV8]
Also, I just recently picked up the core rulebook for the newest version of Traveller [http://www.amazon.com/Traveller-Core-Rulebook-Gareth-Hanrahan/dp/190610333X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237586148&sr=1-1]. I've played in a fair number of RPG's but I've never actually ran one, and reading this book is making me want to try it.