The following literary works, references or authors have been mentioned or shown in the series to date. Please see their main articles for details; this page is primarily for listing.

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Books and literature

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer





After All These Years





Alice's Adventures in Wonderland





Animal Farm

Animal Farm By: George Orwell Lost References: Leslie Arzt shouts "The pigs are walking! The pigs are walking!" a line from the book referring to what he sees as Kate and Jack being out of control and power hungry. (" Exposé ")

Wikipedia Link





Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret





Bad Twin





Bluebeard





Book of Laws





Holy Bible, The





A Brief History of Time





The Brothers Karamazov





Caravan of Dreams





Carrie





Catch-22





A Christmas Carol





The Chosen





The Chronicles of Narnia





The Coalwood Way





Dark Horse





The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger

The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger By: Stephen King Lost References: The first book of The Dark Tower series, The Gunslinger, has been said to be found on Ben's bedside desk while he is recovering from spinal surgery in his house (" The Man from Tallahassee ")

Wikipedia Link





The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three





The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands

The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands By: Stephen King Lost References: The key used in this book is very similar to The Constant - an anchor existing in both realities that can cure madness caused by time travel (" The Constant ")

Wikipedia Link





The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah

The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah By: Stephen King Lost References: In this book, some of the characters are randomly sent to 1977 to meet Stephen King, the writer that created their quest in the first place and started them on their journey. This is similar to how the survivors find themselves in 1977 to witness and play a role in The Incident that brought them to the island originally. (" 316 ")

Also in this book, the characters in 1977 consider investing in Microsoft in order to amass a large fortune, just like Sawyer did when he was about to leave the island. (" Follow the Leader ")

Wikipedia Link





Dirty Work





The Epic of Gilgamesh





Everything That Rises Must Converge





Evil Under the Sun





Fahrenheit 451





Fear and Trembling





Flowers For Algernon





The Fountainhead

Fountainhead, The By: Ayn Rand Lost References: Sawyer is seen reading this 1943 novel while noticeably missing Kate. The title is a reference to Rand's statement that "man's ego is the fountainhead of human progress" . A character in the book is a con-man who is in love with a woman called "Katie." (" Par Avion ") As mentioned by Damon Lindelof in the Season 3 DVD, Special Feature "LOST Book Club" , Sawyer is very similar to the novel's main character, Howard Roark. Both are rebels against the general culture of their society and prefer to be by themselves.

. A character in the book is a con-man who is in love with a woman called "Katie." See Also:

Sawyer's Books

Wikipedia Link





Grimm's Fairy Tales





Harry Potter





Haroun and the Sea of Stories





Heart of Darkness





High Hand





Holy Qur'an, The





Hotel





I Ching

I Ching By: written during the Han Dynasty Lost References: Ideograms from the I Ching appear in the DHARMA logos.

Wikipedia Link





The Invention of Morel





Ishmael

Ishmael By: Daniel Quinn Lost References: Mikhail Bakunin said, he "saw an add in the paper to see if he wanted to save the world" . (" Enter 77 ")

. The Ishmael story begins with a newspaper ad: "Teacher seeks pupil, must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person."

Wikipedia Link





Island

Island By: Aldous Huxley Lost References: The Pala Ferry alludes to Pala, the fictional island of this novel's title. (" ? ")

In the beginning of the book, the main character is "lying there like a corpse in the dead leaves, his hair mattered, his face grotesquely smudged and bruised, his clothes in rags and muddy, Will Farnaby awoke with a start.", appearing to be the inspiration for the very beginning of LOST (" Pilot, Part 1 ")

Wikipedia Link





Julius Caesar





Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park By: Michael Crichton Lost References: The Monster's similarities with a dinosaur in relation to Jurassic Park is directly referenced by Nikki when she debunks Paulo's theory on the Monster by telling him "it's not Jurassic Park, Paulo." (" Exposé ")

Wikipedia Link





Kings of Love





Lancelot





Langoliers

Langoliers By: Stephen King Lost References: Damon Lindelof has referenced this book as a source of influence in LOST.

The Langoliers depicts a group of strangers who are on a flight that travels into a time rip, into a new dimension.

Wikipedia Link





Laughter in the Dark





Left Behind





The Little Prince





Lord of the Flies





Memoirs of a Geisha





Moby Dick

Moby Dick By: Herman Melville Lost References: On the raft, Michael suspects that Sawyer is on the raft because he has no reason to live, a form of honorable suicide. In Melville's Moby Dick Ishmael comments on how whaling is his substitute for the "pistol and ball," his suicide.

Ishmael comments on how whaling is his substitute for the "pistol and ball," his suicide. Sawyer chases a boar like Captain Ahab chases Moby Dick, both blaming the animals for the disgraces of their lives. (" Outlaws ")

Wikipedia Link





The Moon Pool





Mysteries of the Ancient Americas: The New World before Columbus

Mysteries of the Ancient Americas: The New World before Columbus By: Robert Dolezal Lost References: This Reader's Digest book is seen resting on the coffee table between young Juliet and Rachel and their parents during a flashback. (" The Incident, Part 1 ")





The Mysterious Island





Notes from Underground





Oath, The

Oath, The By: John Lescroart Lost References: Seen in Ben's tent in The Brig, when talking to Locke about how he's isn't ready to see all of the mysteries of the island until he kills his father.





Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge





The Odyssey





Of Mice and Men





On the Road

On the Road By: Jack Kerouac Lost References: When Ben checks into the hotel in The Shape of Things to Come, he uses Dean Moriarty as a pseudonym. Moriarty is a principal character in Kerouac's famous work.

Wikipedia Link





On Writing

On Writing By: Stephen King Lost References: The bunny theme in lost is an obvious reference to On Writing. In the nonfiction book, a writing exercise asks the reader to analyze an albino rabbit in a cage with the number 8 written on its back. A bunny with a number 8 on its back is seen in many episodes of Lost, along with other bunnies with either different or no numbers.

Wikipedia Link





Our Mutual Friend





O Pioneers!

O Pioneers! By: Willa Cather Lost References: The two main characters in this novel are Alexandra, a strong, independent, and resourceful girl, and her eventual husband Karl, spelled "Carl" in the book.

Wikipedia Link





The Outsiders

Outsiders, The By: Susan E. Hinton Lost References: In the flashback scene in the van, Hurley's friend Johnny says to him, "Stay gold, Ponyboy." This is a quote from the Outsiders, which is itself a reference to the Robert Frost poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay". In the novel, Johnny Cade's last words are "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." (" Everybody Hates Hugo ")

Wikipedia Link





Pearl, The





Rainbow Six





Rick Romer's Vision Of Astrology





Roots





A Separate Reality





The Shape of Things to Come





The Sheltering Sky





The Shining

The Shining By: Stephen King Lost References: Minkowski mentions to Michael who was bouncing a tennis ball against a wall, about the scene in the film where the main charcter Jack bounced the balls against a wall before attempting to murder his family. The film was based on Stephen King's novel of the same title.

Wikipedia Link





Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five See main article: Slaughterhouse-Five By: Kurt Vonnegut Lost References: Desmond's experiences of becoming "unstuck in time" are similar to those experienced throughout the book by the protagonist Billy Pilgrim.

Both Desmond and Billy Pilgrim experience these in a military setting, and become shunned by their squadmates. One of Desmond's squadmates is called Billy in reference to the novel's protagonist.

During a gameshow heard in the background in Meet Kevin Johnson, the novel and its author are named in one of the questions.

Wikipedia Link





Stand, The

The Stand See main article: The Stand By: Stephen King Lost References: Producers say this is an influential book in Lost.

Wikipedia Link





Stone Leopard, The





Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land By: Robert Heinlein Lost References: This is the title of the ninth episode of Season Three, " Stranger in a Strange Land ".

". The title of the book is taken in turn from the Bible passage Exodus 2:22: "And she [Zippo'rah] bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land."

The science fiction novel tells the story of a human, Valentine Michael Smith, who is raised by Martians on Mars until his young adulthood, at which time he returns back to Earth. The plot revolves around Valentine's interaction with Earth culture.

Wikipedia Link





The Survivors of the Chancellor

The Survivors of the Chancellor See main article: The Survivors of the Chancellor By: Jules Verne Lost References: The book that Regina read, (upside down) before committing suicide.

Much like the freighter, crewman on the Chancellor die and commit suicide; there is also a threat of the boat exploding.

Wikipedia Link





A Tale of Two Cities





The Third Policeman





Through the Looking-Glass





To Kill a Mockingbird





The Turn of the Screw





Ulysses

Ulysses By: James Joyce Lost References: Ben was seen reading this, while talking to Jack aboard Ajira Airways Flight 316. Ben sarcastically answered Jack's question of his ability to read by noting that it beats what Jack is doing, i.e. waiting for something to happen. (" 316 ")

The 18th (and last) episode of the book is named Penelope, who's Desmond's wife in the show.

"... or Julius Caesar not been knifed to death? They are not to be thought away. Time has branded {and} lodged (them) in the room of the infinite possibilities they have ousted. But can those have been possible seeing that they never were? Or was that only possible which came to pass? Weave, weaver of the wind" p. 25 {This passage speaks of the idea of what might have been (how minor events could have drastically altered history). Also, is Jacob this 'weaver' Joyce speaks of, as we see him weaving in the base of the statue.} "The Incident, Parts 1 and 2"

Wikipedia Link





Uncle Tom's Cabin





Valhalla Rising





VALIS





Watership Down





What Katy Did

What Katy Did By: Susan Coolidge Lost References: A Victorian tale of a headstrong girl who has to raise her brothers and sisters and dreams of doing great things, including "leading a crusade on a white horse" (sequels are What Katy Did at School and What Katy Did Next). Referenced in the title of Season 2, episode 9, "What Kate Did," in which the reason for Kate's arrest is finally revealed and she sees a black horse on the island. Also referenced in in the title of Season 6, episode 3, "What Kate Does."

Wikipedia Link





The Wizard of Oz





A Wrinkle in Time





Referenced authors

Locke and Ben both mention him in comparison to Dostoevsky (who wrote The Brothers Karamazov, see above).

There are no real life references to Hemingway being jealous of Dostoevsky's work or feeling in his shadow. This may have been made up for the show for dramatic effect.

An early Tang Dynasty (618-907) poem by Chinese poet Li Bai, "Mt.Tianmu Ascended in Dreams" is seen as calligraphy in flashbacks of Jin and Sun's home.

See link for a complete English translation.

The content itself is surreal, being about a man who journeys far in a dream as though in a vivid parallel dimension, only to be abruptly awoken to the mundaneness and bitterness of reality. This is a paradox uncovering that dreams can be better at revealing the truth than reality.

Locke attempts to recreate his brief sighting of the blast door map on a page from a 1939 book of poems by Alfred de Musset, called Sur les Débuts de Mlles Rachel et Pauline (On the Beginnings of Miss Rachel and Miss Pauline).

In Chapter I of his book, Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud discusses a letter he recieved from his friend, the French novelist and mystic Romain Rolland. In this letter, Rolland describes what he calls the "Oceanic" feeling - that is, a feeling of eternity, a deep and innate connection with all things, a "oneness" with the world. Rolland, a "man of faith," sees this "Oceanic" feeling as being the primal source of all religion, but itself independent of any particular religion. Freud, an atheist and avowed "man of science" disagrees. While he admits that many people may experience this "Oceanic" feeling, he locates its source not in some mystical feeling of connection, but in an infantile helplessness experienced when confronted with a hostile world and the subsequent longing for the protection and guidance of the father. For Freud, this "Oceanic" feeling is "sustained by fear of the superior power of Fate."

Similar Stories Not Specifically Mentioned in Lost

The Keep

The Keep By: F. Paul Wilson Lost References: The Keep describes an ancient evil entity called Molasar. Molasar is trapped in a castle keep in the Transylvanian alps- but it is oddly built "backwards", as if to keep something in , not to keep invaders out.

called Molasar. Molasar is trapped in a castle keep in the Transylvanian alps- but it is oddly built "backwards", as if , not to keep invaders out. Molasar turns out to be a powerful ancient sorcerer from the "First Age" of humans and has been trapped there for centuries. Molasar is awakened, or loosened, by Nazi soldiers looting some magical silver cross-like seals that are embedded in the stone walls, which keep him trapped inside. But he can't completely escape yet without some help, and can only run around the keep as a black smoky mist (!) killing Nazi soldiers. The SS comes in to investigate, finds some ancient language written in blood on a wall, and calls in a linguistics professor "Cuza" to help figure it out. Molasar manipulates Professor Cuza- by restoring his crippled legs - into being his agent to facilitate his escape. Molasar has an adversary from ancient times , Glaeken, whose job is to keep Molasar in this eternal(?) prison.

, Glaeken, whose job is to keep Molasar in this eternal(?) prison. There is a reward of mortality involved, which may or may not end up being in Lost. Incidentally, "The Keep" is the first novel in a series, and in book 4, "Reborn", Molasar returns with the use of a loophole, reincarnating himself by entering the body of a clone fetus in a US super-soldier fetal experimental program .

of a clone fetus in a US super-soldier . Then in book 6, "Nightworld", the results of him escaping are the release of all sort of flesh-eating demon-like monsters on the Earth, and ever-lengthening nighttime. All hell breaks loose, HP Lovecraft-style. Glaeken has to recruit a candidate/hero/champion for battle against Molasar.

Wikipedia Link





Character Books

Books on Ben's shelf

The following books have been identified on Ben's bookshelf. ("Not in Portland") ("The Man from Tallahassee") ("The Economist") ("Eggtown") ("The Other Woman") ("Dead Is Dead")





The Holy Qur'ān: Text, Translation & Commentary by Abdullah Yusaf Ali ISBN of 1987 ed: 0940368323 This fully indexed edition contains the full Arabic text of the Qur'ān, with an English translation and commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1872-1953). Ali's English translation of the Qur'ān is one of the two most widely read ones.

Kings of Love: The Poetry and History of the Ni'Matullahi Sufi Order by Nasrollah Pourjavady & Peter Lamborn Wilson (translators) published by: Great Eastern Book Co, 1985 ISBN: 0877737339

VALIS by Philip K. Dick published by: Vintage, July 2, 1991 (240 pages) ISBN: 978-0679734468

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles published by: Vintage, March 17, 1991 (335 pages) ISBN: 0679729798

Caravan of Dreams by Idries Shah published by: Octagon Press, June, 1988 (207 pages) ISBN: 0900860146

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury published by: HarperVoyager, August 2, 2004 (192 pages) ISBN: 0007181701 (originally published 1953)

Books on Jack's shelf



These are the books seen on Jack's book shelves. ("A Tale of Two Cities")

West’s Business Law

Compton's Encyclopedia Vol. 23

Glencoe Clinical Procedures for Medical Assisting

Harrison's Platinum Edition

Information Systems Management in Practice--Barbara C. McNurlin, Ralph H. Sprague

Fire in the Mind: Faith and the Search for Order--George Johnson

Dark Horse --Tami Hoag

--Tami Hoag Parker's Astrology--Julia and Derek Parker

Pale Horse Coming--Stephen Hunter

Nighttime is My Time--Mary Higgins Clark

The Greatest Generation--Tom Brokaw

Coping with Job Loss: How Individuals, Organizations, and Communities Respond to Layoffs (Issues in Organization and Management Series)--Carrie R. Leana and Daniel C. Feldman

Skinny Dip--Carl Hiaasen

Redemption--Leon Uris

Two Dollar Bill--Stuart Woods

Domes of Fire--David Eddings

The Power of Beauty--Nancy Friday

Valhalla Rising --Clive Cussler

--Clive Cussler No Place Like Home--Mary Higgins Clark

Hearts in Atlantis--Stephen King

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban --J.K. Rowling

--J.K. Rowling Fraser and Pare's Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest (Vol.I, II, III, IV)

Eleventh Hour--Catherine Coulter

Easy Prey -- John Sandford

The Spirit of Christmas

The 12-Minute Total Body Workout--Joyce L. Vedral

McNally's Folly--Vincent Lardo

Astrological Patterns

Reader's Digest Condensed Book (titles illegible)

Holy Bible

Dirty Work --Stuart Woods

--Stuart Woods Chains of Command--William J. Caunitz (?)

Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders--Alfred P. Fishman

The Scottish Bride--Catherine Coulter

Scientific Genius--Dean Kenneth Simonton

A History of World Societies--John P. McKay, John Buckler, Bennett D. Hill, Patricia Buckley Ebrey

Encyclopedia Americana (Vol. ? I, II, 12, 13)

America: Land of Beauty and Splendor

The Bailey Chronicles--Catherine Cookson

Last Rights: Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical Establishment--Stephen Kiernan

Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia Vol. 1, 2, 14, 15,



NOTE: Many of the books on Jack's shelves are not LOST related. Bolded books are on Literary works list.

Sawyer's books



Lancelot one of Sawyer's many books.

Despite his "redneck" personality, Sawyer is an avid reader. His books are read, referenced or seen in several episodes:





The Swan Bookshelf

The Swan's bookshelves contained a number of titles, including:





See also



