As I've mentioned elsewhere: Some people do a top ten list, others do a top eleven, yet others may only do five. My list is 9 books long. Why? Partly to be a little bit different and partly because I want the tenth spot on my list to be reserved for that really great book which I simply did not get the chance to read during 2009. That really great book may also be something I have only heard whispers about and I may not discover for several more years. Whatever that tenth great book is, I’m holding a spot for it on my list.
Unlike my list of the top books published in 2010, this list is for the top books I read in 2010, no matter when the book was published. This post would have been up earlier, but last week I was in the process of reading a book which I knew would make the list, which it ultimately did at #4.
1. Finch, by Jeff VanderMeer: Finch is not simply a noir detective novel, but to attempt to talk more about the core plot and betrayals and rebellion and fear and mysteries of Ambergris would be folly and miss the mark. Finch is not simply anything. It is a mystery that begs for unraveling, though unlike the hypothetical onion, readers are not likely to see all the layers they peel away and they may not recognize the core. That’s okay. There are plenty of different ways to read Finch and all of them are wholly satisfying. There is Finch for the Vander-neophyte, which is semi-straight forward in the detective tale. The ending is less important than the journey.
2. Flood / Ark, by Stephen Baxter: In a very real sense, Flood and Ark are hopeful novels. The promise implicit in Baxter’s story is that humanity will ever strive to survive as a species, and even in the most impossible conditions that have eliminated so much life, a remnant will adapt and survive and find a new way to persevere. Ultimately, it is a beautiful sentiment if one can get past the billions who have perished.
3. Dust / Chill, by Elizabeth Bear: The first two volumes of a trilogy set aboard a derelict generation ship where there are angels and aspects of God and it is all tied together as science fiction. It works. The two novels together are much stronger than the two excellent novels are on their own. There is a richness of characterization that builds across the novels, and as always, Bear's fiction is not to be missed.
4. Slow River, by Nicola Griffith: Lore was a scion of a wealthy family, but is found at the beginning of the novel naked, hurt, and alone. She was kidnapped, escaped, and rescued by a woman named Spanner. The novel traces multiple paths: Lore's childhood, her attempts to live a clean and honest life, and the time from her rescue to when she wants to go clean. Slow River is not an easy novel and it's not always a pleasant one, but Nicola Griffith is one hell of a writer. This is the story of a woman trying to create her own identity, and it is the story of recovery and pain. It's a hell of a novel.
5. Regenesis, by C. J. Cherryh: Regenesis is a novel of conversation about power, about genetics, about family, and about ambition (among other things). The most thrilling passages were long conversations between two characters (often Ari and Yanni) that could come across as massive info dumps but still manage to convey tense political drama and danger. Because Cherryh frequently presents the third person limited perspective of Ari, the reader knows that a wrong answer could lead Ari down a path where she needs to eliminate (in some manner) the other person. Tense.
6. The Dazzle of Day, by Molly Gloss: This isn't a novel so much about the destination as it is about the life of the people who will be the ancestors and first wave of the colonists of a new world. It's about the people and very much not about the journey or the science or the discovery. It's about the people and the more emotional challenges they face as the journey nears its end, not so much the physical challenges. The Dazzle of Day is a beautiful novel about the quiet lives of thoughtful people.
7. Eclipse Three, by Jonathan Strahan: Despite the subtitle of the Eclipse series, the stories of Eclipse Three are generally not heavy on genre elements. Most of the stories are set in a version of the real world, just with elements of magic or impossible technology. The genre elements are seamless parts of these stories about character, about people. The tech and the magic are never the point. The stories here are beautiful, heartbreaking, thrilling, moving, and hopeful - each in their own way.
8. The Unforgiving Minute, by Craig Mullaney: Mullaney is a West Point graduate, a Rhodes Scholar, and an infantry officer. This soldier's memoir is subtitled "A Soldier's Education", and it is exactly that. It is the story of a man learning how to lead, about combat, about life. Inherently, this memoir is about Mullaney, but it also about the men that he led and the overall sacrifices of war. This is an outstanding memoir.
9. Horns, by Joe Hill: Sometimes a novel is just so twistedly dark and funny that you can't help but love it. That's Horns, a novel featuring a protagonist who has, overnight, grown horns that nobody can see but which can lead to people to tell him exactly what they are really thinking - to absurd and heartbreaking result. After Heart-Shaped Box and now Horns, the world needs more novels from Joe Hill.
Previous Best Reads
2006
2007
2008
2009
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Top Nine Books Published in 2010
Some people do a top ten list, others do a top eleven, yet others may only do five. My list is 9 books long. Why? Partly to be a little bit different and partly because I want the tenth spot on my list to be reserved for that really great book which I simply did not get the chance to read during 2010. That really great book may also be something I have only heard whispers about and I may not discover for several more years. Whatever that tenth great book is, I’m holding a spot for it on my list.
This Top Nine List is more or less in order. Ask me tomorrow and some titles may shift around a little bit. Whichever order the list is in, these are the nine novels published in 2010 which I feel were the strongest titles of the year, popularity be damned.
1. Ark, by Stephen Baxter: The companion novel to a disaster story where most of the action happened off the page, yet both Flood and Ark were outstanding stories of humanity striving for species survival. Even though we knew what happens to the Earth, Baxter managed to keep the tension high. My only regret is that there isn’t a second companion novel focusing on the other project going on.
2. Chill, by Elizabeth Bear: Chill is a novel that made an already good book better. What I mean is that as highly as I thought of Dust, Chill surpassed it and strengthened my opinion of the first novel. Because of certain events in the first novel, the protagonists in Chill have changed. This adds richness to the novel (and series) because characters which were previously presented somewhat one dimensionally in the first book because of the viewpoint perspective now have depth are much more fully fleshed out – which is one what expects from one of Bear’s novels. The rich characterization and sense of adventure aboard a failing generation ship prop Chill up as one of the year’s best. The Jacob’s Ladder trilogy is quickly becoming a series of novels I love almost as much as Bear’s Promethean Age books.
3. Horns, by Joe Hill: Sometimes a novel is just so twistedly dark and funny that you can't help but love it. That's Horns, a novel featuring a protagonist who has, overnight, grown horns that nobody can see but which can lead to people to tell him exactly what they are really thinking - to absurd and heartbreaking result. After Heart-Shaped Box and now Horns, the world needs more novels from Joe Hill.
4. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest: Priest's third novel in her Clockwork Century milieu is perhaps the best of the three, and I already thought highly of Boneshaker and Clementine. The tighter focus on Mercy Lynch and her conflicted trek across the country, from the Virginia hospital where she worked as a nurse to Seattle where her father lay dying, is what sells the novel. She is traveling across a nation still in the grips of a Civil War in its third decade and to say the trip is fraught with peril would be to commit a gross understatement. In Dreadnought, the sense of uncomfortable wonder is in full effect and Priest has an excellent grasp of storytelling. More, please.
5. Shadow Tag, by Louise Erdrich: A beautiful, bleak novel focusing on a marriage fallen apart. Broken people breaking further. This is possibly Erdrich's best work since 2001's The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse.
6. Bitter Seeds, by Ian Tregillis: It's an alternate World War II story, but it's not like what Harry Turtledove does. There are supernatural and genetic changes, but Tregillis keeps the story tight on three viewpoint characters. The arc of the story develops through the personal stories being told, and less through the lens of how "everything is different" - it isn't that different. Yet. Regardless, this is an outstanding debut novel.
7. Servant of the Underworld, by Aliette de Bodard: Historical fantasy set in Aztec times, and something of a mystery novel, though I’m not sure it works specifically as a mystery. Besides the fact that de Bodard’s debut novel is just really good, the refreshing thing about it is that the setting of Servant of the Underworld is just so different than most of what I come across. Maybe there is this whole subculture of fantasy set in the middle of the Aztec empire, but I don’t really think so. I think de Bodard is giving readers something quite different that is entirely its own thing. That’s something to celebrate. Oh, and it’s a really good book.
8. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal: The elevator pitch is “Jane Austen with magic”. This would normally cause me recoil in horror (because of the Jane Austen, not the magic), but Kowal is able tell a story that is thematically and stylistically related to that of Austen while engaging a modern reader. The aspect of magic Kowal employs is woven delicately into the fabric of “cultured” society, and again, feels authentic to the sort of story Miss Austen might have told, if she only she thought to include magic. The fantasy reader wonders, however, if this is the only aspect of magic in play in the world and what further applications might be in a less civilized setting. Regardless, Shades of Milk and Honey is a delightful novel.
9. Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins: This concluding volume to The Hunger Games Trilogy closes things out in brutal fashion. While the story is told fairly tightly from the perspective of Katniss Everdeen, which allows the reader to only see what Katniss sees, Collins doesn’t pull very many punches. She’s not afraid to have a broken heroine, which is exactly what Katniss is. So often Katniss will do something awful and horrible, because it is either what she needs to do to survive, or it is what she feels she needs to do to protect her family. There are consequences and scarring on the inside. Mockingjay isn’t a pretty novel, but it is an honest one.
Previous Best Ofs
2007
2008
2009
This Top Nine List is more or less in order. Ask me tomorrow and some titles may shift around a little bit. Whichever order the list is in, these are the nine novels published in 2010 which I feel were the strongest titles of the year, popularity be damned.
1. Ark, by Stephen Baxter: The companion novel to a disaster story where most of the action happened off the page, yet both Flood and Ark were outstanding stories of humanity striving for species survival. Even though we knew what happens to the Earth, Baxter managed to keep the tension high. My only regret is that there isn’t a second companion novel focusing on the other project going on.
2. Chill, by Elizabeth Bear: Chill is a novel that made an already good book better. What I mean is that as highly as I thought of Dust, Chill surpassed it and strengthened my opinion of the first novel. Because of certain events in the first novel, the protagonists in Chill have changed. This adds richness to the novel (and series) because characters which were previously presented somewhat one dimensionally in the first book because of the viewpoint perspective now have depth are much more fully fleshed out – which is one what expects from one of Bear’s novels. The rich characterization and sense of adventure aboard a failing generation ship prop Chill up as one of the year’s best. The Jacob’s Ladder trilogy is quickly becoming a series of novels I love almost as much as Bear’s Promethean Age books.
3. Horns, by Joe Hill: Sometimes a novel is just so twistedly dark and funny that you can't help but love it. That's Horns, a novel featuring a protagonist who has, overnight, grown horns that nobody can see but which can lead to people to tell him exactly what they are really thinking - to absurd and heartbreaking result. After Heart-Shaped Box and now Horns, the world needs more novels from Joe Hill.
4. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest: Priest's third novel in her Clockwork Century milieu is perhaps the best of the three, and I already thought highly of Boneshaker and Clementine. The tighter focus on Mercy Lynch and her conflicted trek across the country, from the Virginia hospital where she worked as a nurse to Seattle where her father lay dying, is what sells the novel. She is traveling across a nation still in the grips of a Civil War in its third decade and to say the trip is fraught with peril would be to commit a gross understatement. In Dreadnought, the sense of uncomfortable wonder is in full effect and Priest has an excellent grasp of storytelling. More, please.
5. Shadow Tag, by Louise Erdrich: A beautiful, bleak novel focusing on a marriage fallen apart. Broken people breaking further. This is possibly Erdrich's best work since 2001's The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse.
6. Bitter Seeds, by Ian Tregillis: It's an alternate World War II story, but it's not like what Harry Turtledove does. There are supernatural and genetic changes, but Tregillis keeps the story tight on three viewpoint characters. The arc of the story develops through the personal stories being told, and less through the lens of how "everything is different" - it isn't that different. Yet. Regardless, this is an outstanding debut novel.
7. Servant of the Underworld, by Aliette de Bodard: Historical fantasy set in Aztec times, and something of a mystery novel, though I’m not sure it works specifically as a mystery. Besides the fact that de Bodard’s debut novel is just really good, the refreshing thing about it is that the setting of Servant of the Underworld is just so different than most of what I come across. Maybe there is this whole subculture of fantasy set in the middle of the Aztec empire, but I don’t really think so. I think de Bodard is giving readers something quite different that is entirely its own thing. That’s something to celebrate. Oh, and it’s a really good book.
8. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal: The elevator pitch is “Jane Austen with magic”. This would normally cause me recoil in horror (because of the Jane Austen, not the magic), but Kowal is able tell a story that is thematically and stylistically related to that of Austen while engaging a modern reader. The aspect of magic Kowal employs is woven delicately into the fabric of “cultured” society, and again, feels authentic to the sort of story Miss Austen might have told, if she only she thought to include magic. The fantasy reader wonders, however, if this is the only aspect of magic in play in the world and what further applications might be in a less civilized setting. Regardless, Shades of Milk and Honey is a delightful novel.
9. Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins: This concluding volume to The Hunger Games Trilogy closes things out in brutal fashion. While the story is told fairly tightly from the perspective of Katniss Everdeen, which allows the reader to only see what Katniss sees, Collins doesn’t pull very many punches. She’s not afraid to have a broken heroine, which is exactly what Katniss is. So often Katniss will do something awful and horrible, because it is either what she needs to do to survive, or it is what she feels she needs to do to protect her family. There are consequences and scarring on the inside. Mockingjay isn’t a pretty novel, but it is an honest one.
Previous Best Ofs
2007
2008
2009
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Missing: 2010
I posted a similar list last year, and I think it is worth posting some of the books I didn't read in 2010. Now, the actual list is absurdly long, but this is a decent representation of books I would have liked to have read and, for various reasons, never did.
For the sake of keeping this list manageable, I limited it to genre books. If I browsed through listings of LitFic and Nonfiction, well, the list would be absurd.
Iorich, by Steven Brust
Galileo's Dream, by Kim Stanley Robinson
Black Hills, by Dan Simmons
The Sorcerer's House, by Gene Wolfe
Under Heaven, by Guy Gavriel Kay
Kraken, by China Mieville
Leviathan Wept, by Daniel Abraham
Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
The Third Bear, by Jeff VanderMeer
Gaslight Dogs, by Karin Lowachee
The Loving Dead, by Amelia Beamer
Swords and Dark Magic, by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders
The Waters Rising, by Sheri S Tepper
Passion Play, by Beth Bernobich
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N. K. Jemisin
The Habitation of the Blessed, by Catherynne M. Valente
I would imagine that had I sampled through these books, my two Best Of lists which I'll post in the coming days would look a lot different.
For the sake of keeping this list manageable, I limited it to genre books. If I browsed through listings of LitFic and Nonfiction, well, the list would be absurd.
Iorich, by Steven Brust
Galileo's Dream, by Kim Stanley Robinson
Black Hills, by Dan Simmons
The Sorcerer's House, by Gene Wolfe
Under Heaven, by Guy Gavriel Kay
Kraken, by China Mieville
Leviathan Wept, by Daniel Abraham
Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
The Third Bear, by Jeff VanderMeer
Gaslight Dogs, by Karin Lowachee
The Loving Dead, by Amelia Beamer
Swords and Dark Magic, by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders
The Waters Rising, by Sheri S Tepper
Passion Play, by Beth Bernobich
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N. K. Jemisin
The Habitation of the Blessed, by Catherynne M. Valente
I would imagine that had I sampled through these books, my two Best Of lists which I'll post in the coming days would look a lot different.
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Top Nine Author Discoveries of 2010
The year is coming to an end and it’s time to reflect on all of the good stuff I’ve read in the last twelve months. This is going to come up again when I talk about the Best Books Published in 2010 (that I’ve read), but 2010 has been something of an off year in regards to the number of books that I’ve read and also with the number of new books and authors I have encountered for the first time. There are reasons for that, none of which I’m going to get into right now, but the pool of newness isn’t as deep this year. Happily, the quality is just as strong.
Here then, are my top nine author discoveries of 2010. In the spirit of acknowledging that there is always something or someone I’ve missed, either by a slip of memory or just lack of opportunity, the traditional tenth spot on my list remains blank.
1. Jeff VanderMeer: I’ve read VanderMeer before, the occasional short story (including his excellent novella The Situation last year), but Finch was a revelation that just blew me away. I felt like I wanted to be John Cusack in Say Anything, standing in the world’s driveway holding Finch above my head. I never did work out how the copy of Finch would play “In Your Eyes”, especially since it’s more a Murder By Death book, but there you go. Since Finch, I’ve picked up copies of some of VanderMeer’s other work. I think that counts as "discovery".
2. Molly Gloss: One theme of this year’s list is that most of the authors will be here on the strength of just one novel. For Molly Gloss, that novel is The Dazzle of Day, a fantastic novel focusing on the quiet lives aboard a generation ship traveling to a new world. While I haven’t yet picked up another one of her books, I will. The Dazzle of Day was simply beautiful.
3. Kristine Kathryn Rusch: One novel can be enough to make you want to read everything else the writer has done. With Rusch, that novel is Diving Into the Wreck. There’s a sequel coming, but I’ve also picked up the first book in her Retrieval Artist series. Rusch has been around for a while, has won a host of awards, been involved in both ends of publishing, and is all around a recognizable name. Turns out she’s a heck of a writer, too. I only wish I read her sooner.
4. James Barclay: The only writer on the list where I’ve read more than one book. In Barclay’s case, I’ve read four. Barclay writes the sort of secondary world quest fantasy so chock full of action and ass kicking that I would have absolutely LOVED as a teenager / twenty something, and which I still quite rather enjoy today. In my review (of sorts) of The Chronicles of the Raven I wrote about how Barclay was something of a bridge between the more standard fantasies of the 80’s / early 90’s and the nastier / in your face stuff like Joe Abercrombie is writing today. This is good stuff.
5. Aliette de Bodard: Do you know anyone else writing historical fantasy set in Aztec times with the High Priest of the Dead investigating crimes that may involve the very real gods? Neither do I. Also, Servant of the Underworld was an excellent novel. Want. More.
6. Ian Tregillis: I knew the name from the Wild Cards series, but the first volume of the Milkweed Triptych, an alternate WWII tale with very broken super soldiers and secret histories, is one heck of a debut novel. Bitter Seeds isn’t nearly as lurid as all that, but it is a well told story with genetic manipulation and a breeding program by the Nazis. This is a writer you want to watch (I suppose, by virtue of being on this list, I think these are all writers you want to watch)
7. George Mann: Mann is probably best known for his highly praised debut novel The Affinity Bridge, but my experience is with Ghosts of Manhattan, which harks back to the radio pulp heroes (think, The Shadow). It's a lot of fun and sold me on George Mann as a storyteller I wanted more from.
8. Wen Spencer: A Brother's Price is a Regency Romance with the gender roles flipped and there is a serious gender imbalance in the world. Spencer's novel is good enough that I might be willing to read a standard Regency novel, and I wish she wrote more stories (Regency or not) set in this world. There is so much more to explore here. I'm overdue to read more of Spencer's work.
9. Bernard Beckett: Beckett is the author of Genesis, a slim post apocalyptic dystopian novel where we are given so much social and personal history in info-dumping explanations (the protagonist is facing his entrance examinations to the “Academy”. Genesis should stagger under the weight of exposition, but instead it shines. Genesis is smart fiction. It's enough to recommend seeking out more of Beckett's work.
Previous discoveries can be found for 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Here then, are my top nine author discoveries of 2010. In the spirit of acknowledging that there is always something or someone I’ve missed, either by a slip of memory or just lack of opportunity, the traditional tenth spot on my list remains blank.
1. Jeff VanderMeer: I’ve read VanderMeer before, the occasional short story (including his excellent novella The Situation last year), but Finch was a revelation that just blew me away. I felt like I wanted to be John Cusack in Say Anything, standing in the world’s driveway holding Finch above my head. I never did work out how the copy of Finch would play “In Your Eyes”, especially since it’s more a Murder By Death book, but there you go. Since Finch, I’ve picked up copies of some of VanderMeer’s other work. I think that counts as "discovery".
2. Molly Gloss: One theme of this year’s list is that most of the authors will be here on the strength of just one novel. For Molly Gloss, that novel is The Dazzle of Day, a fantastic novel focusing on the quiet lives aboard a generation ship traveling to a new world. While I haven’t yet picked up another one of her books, I will. The Dazzle of Day was simply beautiful.
3. Kristine Kathryn Rusch: One novel can be enough to make you want to read everything else the writer has done. With Rusch, that novel is Diving Into the Wreck. There’s a sequel coming, but I’ve also picked up the first book in her Retrieval Artist series. Rusch has been around for a while, has won a host of awards, been involved in both ends of publishing, and is all around a recognizable name. Turns out she’s a heck of a writer, too. I only wish I read her sooner.
4. James Barclay: The only writer on the list where I’ve read more than one book. In Barclay’s case, I’ve read four. Barclay writes the sort of secondary world quest fantasy so chock full of action and ass kicking that I would have absolutely LOVED as a teenager / twenty something, and which I still quite rather enjoy today. In my review (of sorts) of The Chronicles of the Raven I wrote about how Barclay was something of a bridge between the more standard fantasies of the 80’s / early 90’s and the nastier / in your face stuff like Joe Abercrombie is writing today. This is good stuff.
5. Aliette de Bodard: Do you know anyone else writing historical fantasy set in Aztec times with the High Priest of the Dead investigating crimes that may involve the very real gods? Neither do I. Also, Servant of the Underworld was an excellent novel. Want. More.
6. Ian Tregillis: I knew the name from the Wild Cards series, but the first volume of the Milkweed Triptych, an alternate WWII tale with very broken super soldiers and secret histories, is one heck of a debut novel. Bitter Seeds isn’t nearly as lurid as all that, but it is a well told story with genetic manipulation and a breeding program by the Nazis. This is a writer you want to watch (I suppose, by virtue of being on this list, I think these are all writers you want to watch)
7. George Mann: Mann is probably best known for his highly praised debut novel The Affinity Bridge, but my experience is with Ghosts of Manhattan, which harks back to the radio pulp heroes (think, The Shadow). It's a lot of fun and sold me on George Mann as a storyteller I wanted more from.
8. Wen Spencer: A Brother's Price is a Regency Romance with the gender roles flipped and there is a serious gender imbalance in the world. Spencer's novel is good enough that I might be willing to read a standard Regency novel, and I wish she wrote more stories (Regency or not) set in this world. There is so much more to explore here. I'm overdue to read more of Spencer's work.
9. Bernard Beckett: Beckett is the author of Genesis, a slim post apocalyptic dystopian novel where we are given so much social and personal history in info-dumping explanations (the protagonist is facing his entrance examinations to the “Academy”. Genesis should stagger under the weight of exposition, but instead it shines. Genesis is smart fiction. It's enough to recommend seeking out more of Beckett's work.
Previous discoveries can be found for 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Monday, December 13, 2010
one last catch up post
Back in August I posted a catch-up with how I was doing on my anticipated reading list for 2010. Since I'm working on the 2011 list, it's time to check in on this one last time.
1. Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
2. A Dance With Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (2011?)
3. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (2011)
4. Shadow Unit: Season One, by Emma Bull and Elizabeth Bear (editors)
5. Prince of Storms, by Kay Kenyon
6. Swords and Dark Magic, by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan (editors)
7. Fort Freak, by George R. R. Martin (editor) (2011)
8. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest
9. The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
10. The Sea Thy Mistress, by Elizabeth Bear (Q1 2011)
11. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal
12. Horns, by Joe Hill
13. Eclipse Four, by Jonathan Strahan (editor) (2011)
14. Gardens of the Sun, by Paul McAuley
15. The Best of Joe R. Lansdale
16. Lesser Demons, by Norman Partridge
17. The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor)
18. Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
19. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld
With a number of titled slated for next year, I'm only slack on seven titles. I own the McAuley and the Strahan anthology. Interestingly, I have an ARC of Elizabeth Bear's novel and expect to finish that by the end of the year.
Most of them will get read, if not in the next two weeks.
2. A Dance With Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (2011?)
3. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (2011)
6. Swords and Dark Magic, by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan (editors)
7. Fort Freak, by George R. R. Martin (editor) (2011)
10. The Sea Thy Mistress, by Elizabeth Bear (Q1 2011)
13. Eclipse Four, by Jonathan Strahan (editor) (2011)
14. Gardens of the Sun, by Paul McAuley
15. The Best of Joe R. Lansdale
16. Lesser Demons, by Norman Partridge
17. The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor)
18. Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
19. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld
With a number of titled slated for next year, I'm only slack on seven titles. I own the McAuley and the Strahan anthology. Interestingly, I have an ARC of Elizabeth Bear's novel and expect to finish that by the end of the year.
Most of them will get read, if not in the next two weeks.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Forthcoming 2010: Q4
This is a couple of months late, but, welcome to the latest installment of "Stuff I'm Looking Forward To This Year". As always, I take my information from the Locus Forthcoming list, plus a little bit of extra research when I'm aware of things that should be on the Locus list and are not.
October
Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest: Book of the month, right here. Dreadnought is Priest’s follow up to the quite excellent Boneshaker (review) (and also to Clementine) and I honestly don’t care what it is about – it’s a new novel from Cherie Priest. That it is a new Clockwork Century novel only sweetens the deal.
Ventriloquism, by Catherynne M. Valente: This is a collection from PS Publishing and I think the Locus list isn’t accurate and that it may be published in December. Cat Valente is good, and even though this may be a touch difficult to get on my side of the pond, it’s worth looking into. PS does good work.
Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld: The sequel to Leviathan (review), the 2009 offering from Scott Westerfeld. It’s new Westerfeld, what more do you need?
November
The Way of the Wizard, by John Joseph Adams: I’ll admit to being slack on reading JJA’s last couple of anthologies (the vampire one and the Sherlock Holmes one), but I tend to like his editorial eye for the anthologies of his I have read. I expect good things.
Gilded Latten Bones, by Glen Cook: The new Garrett PI novel. I’m waaaaay behind on this series, only having recently read Red Iron Nights, but this is just encouragement to keep going.
Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson: Book of the Month. New Wheel of Time. Sanderson was very much on his game with The Gathering Storm (review) and I expect the penultimate book of the series to exceed my high expectations.
Full Dark, No Stars, by Stephen King: A novella anthology from King. I prefer him in the short form as his recent novels haven’t been all that (haven’t read Under the Dome, though)
Flaming Zeppelins: The Adventures of Ned the Seal, by Joe R. Lansdale: While I wait for a third Ned the Seal novella, here is a collection of the two previous novellas. Review and Review. Love this stuff.
Holiday, by M. Rickert: Story collection. Been waiting on this one for a couple of years.
The Habitation of the Blessed, by Catherynne M. Valente: The first in a new series from Valente.
December
Deadman’s Road, by Joe R. Lansdale: After a very stacked November, there’s not much in December I’m itching for. But this collection of stories (including the short novel Dead in the West - review) featuring the zombie killing preacher is just too good to pass up.
October
Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest: Book of the month, right here. Dreadnought is Priest’s follow up to the quite excellent Boneshaker (review) (and also to Clementine) and I honestly don’t care what it is about – it’s a new novel from Cherie Priest. That it is a new Clockwork Century novel only sweetens the deal.
Ventriloquism, by Catherynne M. Valente: This is a collection from PS Publishing and I think the Locus list isn’t accurate and that it may be published in December. Cat Valente is good, and even though this may be a touch difficult to get on my side of the pond, it’s worth looking into. PS does good work.
Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld: The sequel to Leviathan (review), the 2009 offering from Scott Westerfeld. It’s new Westerfeld, what more do you need?
November
The Way of the Wizard, by John Joseph Adams: I’ll admit to being slack on reading JJA’s last couple of anthologies (the vampire one and the Sherlock Holmes one), but I tend to like his editorial eye for the anthologies of his I have read. I expect good things.
Gilded Latten Bones, by Glen Cook: The new Garrett PI novel. I’m waaaaay behind on this series, only having recently read Red Iron Nights, but this is just encouragement to keep going.
Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson: Book of the Month. New Wheel of Time. Sanderson was very much on his game with The Gathering Storm (review) and I expect the penultimate book of the series to exceed my high expectations.
Full Dark, No Stars, by Stephen King: A novella anthology from King. I prefer him in the short form as his recent novels haven’t been all that (haven’t read Under the Dome, though)
Flaming Zeppelins: The Adventures of Ned the Seal, by Joe R. Lansdale: While I wait for a third Ned the Seal novella, here is a collection of the two previous novellas. Review and Review. Love this stuff.
Holiday, by M. Rickert: Story collection. Been waiting on this one for a couple of years.
The Habitation of the Blessed, by Catherynne M. Valente: The first in a new series from Valente.
December
Deadman’s Road, by Joe R. Lansdale: After a very stacked November, there’s not much in December I’m itching for. But this collection of stories (including the short novel Dead in the West - review) featuring the zombie killing preacher is just too good to pass up.
Monday, August 23, 2010
catching up with my anticipated reading list
Back in December I posted a list of the 19 books I was most looking forward to in 2010. It's time to take a look to see how I've done in actually reading them. I can be sketchy like that, and not read stuff I want to.
1. Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (fall 2010)
2. A Dance With Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (2011?)
3. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (2011)
4. Shadow Unit: Season One, by Emma Bull and Elizabeth Bear (editors)
5. Prince of Storms, by Kay Kenyon
6. Swords and Dark Magic, by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan (editors)
7. Fort Freak, by George R. R. Martin (editor) (2011)
8. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest (fall 2010)
9. The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
10. The Sea Thy Mistress, by Elizabeth Bear (fall / winter 2010)
11. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal
12. Horns, by Joe Hill
13. Eclipse Four, by Jonathan Strahan (editor) (2011)
14. Gardens of the Sun, by Paul McAuley
15. The Best of Joe R. Lansdale
16. Lesser Demons, by Norman Partridge
17. The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor)
18. Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
19. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (fall 2010)
The GRRM and the Lynch were my "oh, wouldn't that be nice" spots on the list. The Lynch is almost definitely coming out next year. We'll see about GRRM. Fort Freak is set for next year, as is Eclipse Four.
A handful are still slated for later this year, which means I'm only being slack of six presumably excellent books. For me, that's not bad. I own Strahan's Best Of and the McAuley.
1. Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (fall 2010)
2. A Dance With Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (2011?)
3. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (2011)
6. Swords and Dark Magic, by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan (editors)
7. Fort Freak, by George R. R. Martin (editor) (2011)
8. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest (fall 2010)
10. The Sea Thy Mistress, by Elizabeth Bear (fall / winter 2010)
13. Eclipse Four, by Jonathan Strahan (editor) (2011)
14. Gardens of the Sun, by Paul McAuley
15. The Best of Joe R. Lansdale
16. Lesser Demons, by Norman Partridge
17. The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor)
18. Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
19. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (fall 2010)
The GRRM and the Lynch were my "oh, wouldn't that be nice" spots on the list. The Lynch is almost definitely coming out next year. We'll see about GRRM. Fort Freak is set for next year, as is Eclipse Four.
A handful are still slated for later this year, which means I'm only being slack of six presumably excellent books. For me, that's not bad. I own Strahan's Best Of and the McAuley.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Forthcoming 2010: Q3
This is a couple of months late, but, welcome to the latest installment of "Stuff I'm Looking Forward To This Year". As always, I take my information from the Locus Forthcoming list, plus a little bit of extra research when I'm aware of things that should be on the Locus list and are not.
July
Kraken, by China Mieville: I have been slack in my Mieville reading, but a new Mieville novel is always a notable book.
Swords and Dark Magic, by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders (editors): A swords and sorcery anthology from two master anthologists and filled (presumably) with absolute goodness. This can't miss. It can't.
The Fuller Memorandum, by Charles Stross: This is the third "Laundry" novel, following The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue. I very much enjoy following the adventures of Bob Howard and am curious which writer of espionage novels Stross will pastiche this time (after Len Deighton and Ian Fleming). I have a review copy.
August
Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins: Both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were excellent and I can't wait to see how Collins closes out the trilogy.
Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal: An absolutely delightful book from a wonderful author. See my review.
The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson: I'm reading this right now. 200 pages in and it is big and sprawling and fixing to be Sanderson's opus. It's good stuff and very big, broad fantasy.
September
The Living Dead 2, by John Joseph Adams (editor): Who doesn't want more zombies? JJA puts out excellent anthologies and I expect more of the same from this one. The first Living Dead was a reprint anthology, but this time around he blends reprints with original fiction from the likes of Cherie Priest, Robert Kirkman, and Max Brooks.
Bearers of the Black Staff, by Terry Brooks: While Terry Brooks hasn't written a truly "good" Shanarra novel in years, almost decades (Armageddon's Children is really a Word / Void novel), I still read them to see how Brooks pieces things together and in the hopes that he still has one more really good one left in him. The author who wrote Elfstones is still in there, I know he is.
Servant of the Underworld, by Aliette de Bodard: I think this is still making to the US in September. It's de Bodard's debut novel, a historical mystery set in Aztec times. It's a good chance to see what de Bodard is all about and what she can do at novel-length.
Antiphon, by Ken Scholes: Am about to start reading this third novel in the Psalms of Isaak. Scholes is a writer with a load of potential and is one of the hot new voices in secondary world fantasy. While I'm not a fan of the change in cover art (why, Tor, why?), Antiphon is a much anticipated novel. See my reviews of Lamentation and Canticle.
July
Kraken, by China Mieville: I have been slack in my Mieville reading, but a new Mieville novel is always a notable book.
Swords and Dark Magic, by Jonathan Strahan and Lou Anders (editors): A swords and sorcery anthology from two master anthologists and filled (presumably) with absolute goodness. This can't miss. It can't.
The Fuller Memorandum, by Charles Stross: This is the third "Laundry" novel, following The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue. I very much enjoy following the adventures of Bob Howard and am curious which writer of espionage novels Stross will pastiche this time (after Len Deighton and Ian Fleming). I have a review copy.
August
Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins: Both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were excellent and I can't wait to see how Collins closes out the trilogy.
Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal: An absolutely delightful book from a wonderful author. See my review.
The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson: I'm reading this right now. 200 pages in and it is big and sprawling and fixing to be Sanderson's opus. It's good stuff and very big, broad fantasy.
September
The Living Dead 2, by John Joseph Adams (editor): Who doesn't want more zombies? JJA puts out excellent anthologies and I expect more of the same from this one. The first Living Dead was a reprint anthology, but this time around he blends reprints with original fiction from the likes of Cherie Priest, Robert Kirkman, and Max Brooks.
Bearers of the Black Staff, by Terry Brooks: While Terry Brooks hasn't written a truly "good" Shanarra novel in years, almost decades (Armageddon's Children is really a Word / Void novel), I still read them to see how Brooks pieces things together and in the hopes that he still has one more really good one left in him. The author who wrote Elfstones is still in there, I know he is.
Servant of the Underworld, by Aliette de Bodard: I think this is still making to the US in September. It's de Bodard's debut novel, a historical mystery set in Aztec times. It's a good chance to see what de Bodard is all about and what she can do at novel-length.
Antiphon, by Ken Scholes: Am about to start reading this third novel in the Psalms of Isaak. Scholes is a writer with a load of potential and is one of the hot new voices in secondary world fantasy. While I'm not a fan of the change in cover art (why, Tor, why?), Antiphon is a much anticipated novel. See my reviews of Lamentation and Canticle.
Monday, April 19, 2010
March 2010 Reading
Okay. I'm way late in getting this post up.
Here's my monthly wrap-up of what I read the previous month. Links, as always, go to the reviews.
Books
24. Teckla, by Steven Brust
25. Starship: Flagship, by Mike Resnick
26. Once a Runner, by John L. Parker, Jr.
27. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami
28. The Pluto Files, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
29. The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi
30. The Shadow Pavilion, by Liz Williams
31. The Runner’s Rule Book, by Mark Remy
32. Misery, by Stephen King
33. Personal Record, by Rachel Toor
34. Judas Unchained, by Peter F. Hamilton
35. Horns, by Joe Hill
36. The Warded Man, by Peter V. Brett
Graphic Novels
30. The Umbrella Academy: Dallas, by Gerard Way
31. The Walking Dead: The Calm Before, by Robert Kirkman
32. Criminal: The Dead and the Dying, by Ed Brubaker
33. Star Wars Legacy: Storms, by John Ostrander
34. 100 Bullets: The Hard Way, by Brian Azzarello
35. Echo: Atomic Dreams, by Terry Moore
36. The Walking Dead: Made to Suffer, by Robert Kirkman
37. 100 Bullets: Strychnine Lives, by Brian Azzarello
38. Criminal: Bad Night, by Ed Brubaker
Previous Reading
January
February
Here's my monthly wrap-up of what I read the previous month. Links, as always, go to the reviews.
Books
24. Teckla, by Steven Brust
25. Starship: Flagship, by Mike Resnick
26. Once a Runner, by John L. Parker, Jr.
27. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, by Haruki Murakami
28. The Pluto Files, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
29. The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi
30. The Shadow Pavilion, by Liz Williams
31. The Runner’s Rule Book, by Mark Remy
32. Misery, by Stephen King
33. Personal Record, by Rachel Toor
34. Judas Unchained, by Peter F. Hamilton
35. Horns, by Joe Hill
36. The Warded Man, by Peter V. Brett
Graphic Novels
30. The Umbrella Academy: Dallas, by Gerard Way
31. The Walking Dead: The Calm Before, by Robert Kirkman
32. Criminal: The Dead and the Dying, by Ed Brubaker
33. Star Wars Legacy: Storms, by John Ostrander
34. 100 Bullets: The Hard Way, by Brian Azzarello
35. Echo: Atomic Dreams, by Terry Moore
36. The Walking Dead: Made to Suffer, by Robert Kirkman
37. 100 Bullets: Strychnine Lives, by Brian Azzarello
38. Criminal: Bad Night, by Ed Brubaker
Previous Reading
January
February
Friday, March 12, 2010
Forthcoming 2010: Q2
Welcome to the latest installment of "Stuff I'm Looking Forward To This Year". As always, I take my information from the Locus Forthcoming list, plus a little bit of extra research when I'm aware of things that should be on the Locus list and are not.
April
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor): The premiere Year's Best collection. Strahan = must buy anthology.
Bitter Seeds, by Ian Tregillis: I have an ARC of this and don't really know anything about it, but Tregillis is one of the Wild Cards writers and I've enjoyed what he's done on that series. Very interested to see what he does on his own.
May
Ark, by Stephen Baxter: This is the release of the quarter for me. This is the sequel to Flood, which I thought was fantastic.
Under Heaven, by Guy Gavriel Kay: I've only read Ysabel from Kay, but that was good enough that I want to check out more.
Recovering Apollo 8 and Other Stories, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: I thought the title novella was the best of the 2008 Hugo nominated novellas, and though I'm not over-familiar with Rusch's work (have a copy of Diving Into the Wreck I need to read soon), I believe this will be a strong collection published by Golden Gryphon.
June
Leviathan Wept and Other Stories, by Daniel Abraham: Haven't read the man's novels, but what short fiction I have read from Abraham has been consistently excellent - with extra high marks to "The Cambist and Lord Iron", the Hugo and World Fantasy Award nominated novelette.
Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor: I need to read more Okorafor. She's excellent.
Clementine, by Cherie Priest: A new Clockwork Century set novel from Cherie Priest (the setting of the outstanding Boneshaker). I've already pre-ordered this from SubPress. It'll help whet my appetite for Dreadnought.
The Third Bear, by Jeff VanderMeer: After Finch, I'm digging on really seeing what else VanderMeer has done. I'll cop to being a little mixed on some of the other stuff I've seen from him, but Finch requires me to take another look.
This quarter isn't quite as stacked (for me) as the first quarter was, but there is some good stuff here.
April
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor): The premiere Year's Best collection. Strahan = must buy anthology.
Bitter Seeds, by Ian Tregillis: I have an ARC of this and don't really know anything about it, but Tregillis is one of the Wild Cards writers and I've enjoyed what he's done on that series. Very interested to see what he does on his own.
May
Ark, by Stephen Baxter: This is the release of the quarter for me. This is the sequel to Flood, which I thought was fantastic.
Under Heaven, by Guy Gavriel Kay: I've only read Ysabel from Kay, but that was good enough that I want to check out more.
Recovering Apollo 8 and Other Stories, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch: I thought the title novella was the best of the 2008 Hugo nominated novellas, and though I'm not over-familiar with Rusch's work (have a copy of Diving Into the Wreck I need to read soon), I believe this will be a strong collection published by Golden Gryphon.
June
Leviathan Wept and Other Stories, by Daniel Abraham: Haven't read the man's novels, but what short fiction I have read from Abraham has been consistently excellent - with extra high marks to "The Cambist and Lord Iron", the Hugo and World Fantasy Award nominated novelette.
Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor: I need to read more Okorafor. She's excellent.
Clementine, by Cherie Priest: A new Clockwork Century set novel from Cherie Priest (the setting of the outstanding Boneshaker). I've already pre-ordered this from SubPress. It'll help whet my appetite for Dreadnought.
The Third Bear, by Jeff VanderMeer: After Finch, I'm digging on really seeing what else VanderMeer has done. I'll cop to being a little mixed on some of the other stuff I've seen from him, but Finch requires me to take another look.
This quarter isn't quite as stacked (for me) as the first quarter was, but there is some good stuff here.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
February 2010 Reading
Here's my monthly wrap-up of what I read the previous month. Links, as always, go to the reviews.
Books
15. A Brother’s Price, by Wen Spencer
16. Noonshade, by James Barclay
17. Kitty’s House of Horrors, by Carrie Vaughn
18. Company of Liars, by Karen Maitland
19. Flood, by Stephen Baxter
20. Victory of Eagles, by Naomi Novik
21. 50/50, by Dean Karnazes
22. Nightchild, by James Barclay
23. The God Engines, by John Scalzi
Graphic Novels
20. 100 Bullets: Samurai, by Brian Azzarello
21. The Walking Dead: The Heart’s Desire, by Robert Kirkman
22. Criminal: Coward, by Ed Brubaker
23. Infinite Crisis, by Geoff Johns
24. Incognito, by Ed Brubaker
25. The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, by Gerard Way
26. The Walking Dead: The Best Defense, by Robert Kirkman
27. Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty, by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka
28. Criminal: Lawless, by Ed Brubaker
29. The Walking Dead: This Sorrowful Life, by Robert Kirkman
Previous Reading
January
Books
15. A Brother’s Price, by Wen Spencer
16. Noonshade, by James Barclay
17. Kitty’s House of Horrors, by Carrie Vaughn
18. Company of Liars, by Karen Maitland
19. Flood, by Stephen Baxter
20. Victory of Eagles, by Naomi Novik
21. 50/50, by Dean Karnazes
22. Nightchild, by James Barclay
23. The God Engines, by John Scalzi
Graphic Novels
20. 100 Bullets: Samurai, by Brian Azzarello
21. The Walking Dead: The Heart’s Desire, by Robert Kirkman
22. Criminal: Coward, by Ed Brubaker
23. Infinite Crisis, by Geoff Johns
24. Incognito, by Ed Brubaker
25. The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, by Gerard Way
26. The Walking Dead: The Best Defense, by Robert Kirkman
27. Gotham Central: In the Line of Duty, by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka
28. Criminal: Lawless, by Ed Brubaker
29. The Walking Dead: This Sorrowful Life, by Robert Kirkman
Previous Reading
January
Sunday, February 21, 2010
January 2010 Reading
Here's my monthly wrap-up of what I read the previous month. Links, as always, go to the reviews.
Books
1. Abyss, by Troy Denning (January)
2. Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil, by Drew Karpyshyn
3. The Very Best of Fantasy & Science Fiction: Sixtieth Anniversary Anthology, by Gordon Van Gelder (editor)
4. The Great Bazaar and Other Stories, by Peter V. Brett
5. Busted Flush, by George R. R. Martin (editor)
6. The Drawing of the Three, by Stephen King
7. The Dazzle of Day, by Molly Gloss
8. Best American Fantasy 2, by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (editors)
9. Scenting the Dark and Other Stories, by Mary Robinette Kowal
10. Finch, by Jeff VanderMeer
11. Dawnthief, by James Barclay
12. The Taborin Scale, by Lucius Shepard
13. The Book of Dreams, by Nick Gevers (editor)
14. The Fortunate Fall, by Raphael Carter
Graphic Novels
1. Bone: Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border, by Jeff Smith
2. Unknown Soldier: Haunted House, by Joshua Dysart
3. Scalped: The Gravel in Your Guts, by Jason Aaron
4. 100 Bullets: Six Feet Under the Gun, by Brian Azzarello
5. Air: Letters from Lost Countries, by G. Willow Wilson
6. The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye, by Robert Kirkman
7. I Kill Giants, by Joe Kelly
8. Identity Crisis, by Brad Meltzer
9. Air: Flying Machine, by G. Willow Wilson
10. 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, by Steve Niles
11. The Sandman: Brief Lives, by Neil Gaiman
12. The Walking Dead: Miles Behind Us, by Robert Kirkman
13. Bone: Old Man’s Cave, by Jeff Smith
14. Bone: Ghost Circles, by Jeff Smith
15. The Walking Dead: Safety Behind Bars, by Robert Kirkman
16. American Widow, by Alissa Torres
17. Bone: Treasure Hunters, by Jeff Smith
18. Bone: Crown of Horns, by Jeff Smith
19. Ex Machina: Dirty Tricks, by Brian Vaughan
Books
1. Abyss, by Troy Denning (January)
2. Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil, by Drew Karpyshyn
3. The Very Best of Fantasy & Science Fiction: Sixtieth Anniversary Anthology, by Gordon Van Gelder (editor)
4. The Great Bazaar and Other Stories, by Peter V. Brett
5. Busted Flush, by George R. R. Martin (editor)
6. The Drawing of the Three, by Stephen King
7. The Dazzle of Day, by Molly Gloss
8. Best American Fantasy 2, by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer (editors)
9. Scenting the Dark and Other Stories, by Mary Robinette Kowal
10. Finch, by Jeff VanderMeer
11. Dawnthief, by James Barclay
12. The Taborin Scale, by Lucius Shepard
13. The Book of Dreams, by Nick Gevers (editor)
14. The Fortunate Fall, by Raphael Carter
Graphic Novels
1. Bone: Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border, by Jeff Smith
2. Unknown Soldier: Haunted House, by Joshua Dysart
3. Scalped: The Gravel in Your Guts, by Jason Aaron
4. 100 Bullets: Six Feet Under the Gun, by Brian Azzarello
5. Air: Letters from Lost Countries, by G. Willow Wilson
6. The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye, by Robert Kirkman
7. I Kill Giants, by Joe Kelly
8. Identity Crisis, by Brad Meltzer
9. Air: Flying Machine, by G. Willow Wilson
10. 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, by Steve Niles
11. The Sandman: Brief Lives, by Neil Gaiman
12. The Walking Dead: Miles Behind Us, by Robert Kirkman
13. Bone: Old Man’s Cave, by Jeff Smith
14. Bone: Ghost Circles, by Jeff Smith
15. The Walking Dead: Safety Behind Bars, by Robert Kirkman
16. American Widow, by Alissa Torres
17. Bone: Treasure Hunters, by Jeff Smith
18. Bone: Crown of Horns, by Jeff Smith
19. Ex Machina: Dirty Tricks, by Brian Vaughan
Friday, January 01, 2010
Reading Resolutions
Two years ago I made a couple of resolutions for what I wanted to make an effort to read during the year. Looking back at that year, I did okay. Last year I decided against doing the resolution thing and while I have no complaints about the books I did read, I’ve got a few about what I didn’t read.
So, this year I want to adjust my focus just a little bit.
Like two years ago, I am setting as a goal to read 10 short story collections and 10 anthologies. This past year I only managed 5 of each and it’s just not enough short fiction in my diet.
I’ve got this stack of magazines on my floor that’s been growing for the past couple of years. I want to clear this off. So, along with the collections and anthologies, my next goal is to clear off that stack.
The stack is comprised of:
Asimov’s (one issue)
Weird Tales (four issues)
Realms of Fantasy (one issue)
Interzone (five issues)
Electric Velocipede (two issues, plus three chapbooks)
Sybil's Garage (one issue)
The final thing I would like to accomplish in my reading also relates to this blog. I want to expand my award coverage a bit. I’ve done fairly well in the past in getting through most (if not all) of the story nominees, but generally I miss at least half of the novels and the collection / anthology categories.
I want to get through more of the novels. In the past I’ve ignored the Nebula novels and depending on the year made a half-hearted effort on the Hugo and World Fantasy novels. The World Fantasy anthologies have likewise been ignored. I resolve to make an honest attempt to read all of the nominated fiction in 2010 (Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy).
Before I get too ambitious, I think that should cover my reading resolutions for 2010.
What are yours?
So, this year I want to adjust my focus just a little bit.
Like two years ago, I am setting as a goal to read 10 short story collections and 10 anthologies. This past year I only managed 5 of each and it’s just not enough short fiction in my diet.
I’ve got this stack of magazines on my floor that’s been growing for the past couple of years. I want to clear this off. So, along with the collections and anthologies, my next goal is to clear off that stack.
The stack is comprised of:
Asimov’s (one issue)
Weird Tales (four issues)
Realms of Fantasy (one issue)
Interzone (five issues)
Electric Velocipede (two issues, plus three chapbooks)
Sybil's Garage (one issue)
The final thing I would like to accomplish in my reading also relates to this blog. I want to expand my award coverage a bit. I’ve done fairly well in the past in getting through most (if not all) of the story nominees, but generally I miss at least half of the novels and the collection / anthology categories.
I want to get through more of the novels. In the past I’ve ignored the Nebula novels and depending on the year made a half-hearted effort on the Hugo and World Fantasy novels. The World Fantasy anthologies have likewise been ignored. I resolve to make an honest attempt to read all of the nominated fiction in 2010 (Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy).
Before I get too ambitious, I think that should cover my reading resolutions for 2010.
What are yours?
Monday, December 14, 2009
19 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2010
This is the third time I've attempted to put together a list of the books I am most looking forward to in the coming year.
If you take a look at the previous two lists you'll note that there are two particular novels which are frequent inhabitants of these lists. Hopefully 2010 is the year both are completed and published. I feel hopeful.
1. Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (November): After finding out just how good of a job Sanderson did with The Gathering Storm, and given that The Wheel of Time has long been my favorite fantasy series, this second of three concluding volumes to the epic has to be the most anticipated volume of the year for me.
2. A Dance with Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (unknown): Last year I wrote "I believe and hope that 2009 will give us the new George R. R. Martin. If it does then fantasy fans shall rejoice. Or, they should." Well, I believe that 2010 will give us the new George R. R. Martin. If it does, fantasy fans should rejoice. At the very least, I will.
3. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (unknown / July): The first two volumes of The Gentleman Bastards were some of the freshest and flat out fun fantasy I've had the pleasure to read in some time. Recent livejournal posts from Scott Lynch have suggested that the third volume is almost complete and that there is a decent chance we'll see this in 2010.
4. Shadow Unit: Season One, by Emma Bull and Elizabeth Bear (editors) (unknown): Unlike every other book on this list (or previous lists), I've read every published word of Shadow Unit. Follow the link and you'll get to the main site. It's all free for the reading (donations accepted), but it'll be great to have a chance to have a copy on my bookshelf.
5. The Prince of Storms, by Kay Kenyon (January): The Entire and the Rose is a very strong science fiction series and with the bar set very high, I expect that Kenyon is going to deliver an outstanding conclusion.
6. Swords and Dark Magic, by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan (editors): C'mon now, look at the Table of Contents. Can't wait for this one.
7. Fort Freak, by George R. R. Martin (editor) (December): New Wild Cards, now with Cherie Priest and David Anthony Durham.
8. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest (September): "New Cherie Priest" is generally enough to get me in the door, but this is the follow up to Boneshaker. Nuff said.
9. The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson (August): In the middle of finishing Wheel of Time (and just after finishing both Mistborn and Warbreaker), Brandon Sanderson is launching a potential ten volume new series titled The Stormlight Archive. This is the first volume. Years before The Way of Kings was ever seriously announced there was a listing for it on Amazon.com and faux-reviews of the faux-novel began to appear. Now we get the real thing.
10. The Sea Thy Mistress, by Elizabeth Bear (November): The third and concluding volume to Bear's Edda of Burdens trilogy. By the Mountain Bound improved on an already good All the Windwracked Stars. With no idea at all as to how this will end, the end of the year can't come soon enough.
11. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal (June): Most easily described as "Jane Austen with magic", I wouldn't necessarily be drawn to the subject. Except, this one is written by Mary Robinette Kowal and I am more than enamored with her short fiction.
12. Horns, by Joe Hill (February): Joe Hill's first novel was the outstanding Heart-Shaped Box. Doesn't matter what this is about. I'll follow Hill anywhere he wants to go. Literary-wise, that is. Anything more than that would be weird.
13. Eclipse Four, by Jonathan Strahan (editor): Arguably the best original anthology series on the market (not that there are many of them), and I'm happy that Strahan and Night Shade won't be stopping at Three.
14. Gardens of the Sun, by Paul McAuley: I only recently finished reading The Quiet War and my review is forthcoming, but there is no way the sequel wouldn't be on this list. That's some well done science fiction, y'all.
15. The Best of Joe R. Lansdale (February): The short fiction of Joe Lansdale is exciting and it is dangerous. There is an edge to Lansdale which is thrilling for the reader. A Best Of is something to celebrate.
16. Lesser Demons, by Norman Partridge (April): The last time I read a novella from Partridge it was Dark Harvest, so I'm itchin to see what Partridge has for us this time around.
17. The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor) (March): My favorite year's best anthology series.
18. Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor (June): Post-apocalyptic Africa. I've previously reader Okorafor's The Shadow Speaker and was impressed. This should be one of the year's major releases.
19. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (October): Just yesterday I finished Westerfeld's Leviathan. It's all kinds of awesome. Alternate history of World War I. Westerfeld seems to play the war straight, but the technology change is fascinating in its execution. Oh, and did I mention it is awesome?
Now, obviously there are plenty of fantastic novels which will be published in 2010. We can expect new novels from Tobias Buckell, Steven Erikson, Elizabeth Bear (besides the one I mentioned), Kim Stanley Robinson, Connie Willis, Dan Simmons, Liz Williams, Alastair Reynolds, Adam Roberts, Robert Sawyer, Stephen Baxter, Cory Doctorow, China Mieville, and, and, and you get the point. There's plenty of goodness to go around.
These are the 19 pieces of goodness that I most want to read.
If you take a look at the previous two lists you'll note that there are two particular novels which are frequent inhabitants of these lists. Hopefully 2010 is the year both are completed and published. I feel hopeful.
1. Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (November): After finding out just how good of a job Sanderson did with The Gathering Storm, and given that The Wheel of Time has long been my favorite fantasy series, this second of three concluding volumes to the epic has to be the most anticipated volume of the year for me.
2. A Dance with Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (unknown): Last year I wrote "I believe and hope that 2009 will give us the new George R. R. Martin. If it does then fantasy fans shall rejoice. Or, they should." Well, I believe that 2010 will give us the new George R. R. Martin. If it does, fantasy fans should rejoice. At the very least, I will.
3. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (unknown / July): The first two volumes of The Gentleman Bastards were some of the freshest and flat out fun fantasy I've had the pleasure to read in some time. Recent livejournal posts from Scott Lynch have suggested that the third volume is almost complete and that there is a decent chance we'll see this in 2010.
4. Shadow Unit: Season One, by Emma Bull and Elizabeth Bear (editors) (unknown): Unlike every other book on this list (or previous lists), I've read every published word of Shadow Unit. Follow the link and you'll get to the main site. It's all free for the reading (donations accepted), but it'll be great to have a chance to have a copy on my bookshelf.
5. The Prince of Storms, by Kay Kenyon (January): The Entire and the Rose is a very strong science fiction series and with the bar set very high, I expect that Kenyon is going to deliver an outstanding conclusion.
6. Swords and Dark Magic, by Lou Anders and Jonathan Strahan (editors): C'mon now, look at the Table of Contents. Can't wait for this one.
7. Fort Freak, by George R. R. Martin (editor) (December): New Wild Cards, now with Cherie Priest and David Anthony Durham.
8. Dreadnought, by Cherie Priest (September): "New Cherie Priest" is generally enough to get me in the door, but this is the follow up to Boneshaker. Nuff said.
9. The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson (August): In the middle of finishing Wheel of Time (and just after finishing both Mistborn and Warbreaker), Brandon Sanderson is launching a potential ten volume new series titled The Stormlight Archive. This is the first volume. Years before The Way of Kings was ever seriously announced there was a listing for it on Amazon.com and faux-reviews of the faux-novel began to appear. Now we get the real thing.
10. The Sea Thy Mistress, by Elizabeth Bear (November): The third and concluding volume to Bear's Edda of Burdens trilogy. By the Mountain Bound improved on an already good All the Windwracked Stars. With no idea at all as to how this will end, the end of the year can't come soon enough.
11. Shades of Milk and Honey, by Mary Robinette Kowal (June): Most easily described as "Jane Austen with magic", I wouldn't necessarily be drawn to the subject. Except, this one is written by Mary Robinette Kowal and I am more than enamored with her short fiction.
12. Horns, by Joe Hill (February): Joe Hill's first novel was the outstanding Heart-Shaped Box. Doesn't matter what this is about. I'll follow Hill anywhere he wants to go. Literary-wise, that is. Anything more than that would be weird.
13. Eclipse Four, by Jonathan Strahan (editor): Arguably the best original anthology series on the market (not that there are many of them), and I'm happy that Strahan and Night Shade won't be stopping at Three.
14. Gardens of the Sun, by Paul McAuley: I only recently finished reading The Quiet War and my review is forthcoming, but there is no way the sequel wouldn't be on this list. That's some well done science fiction, y'all.
15. The Best of Joe R. Lansdale (February): The short fiction of Joe Lansdale is exciting and it is dangerous. There is an edge to Lansdale which is thrilling for the reader. A Best Of is something to celebrate.
16. Lesser Demons, by Norman Partridge (April): The last time I read a novella from Partridge it was Dark Harvest, so I'm itchin to see what Partridge has for us this time around.
17. The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 4, by Jonathan Strahan (editor) (March): My favorite year's best anthology series.
18. Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor (June): Post-apocalyptic Africa. I've previously reader Okorafor's The Shadow Speaker and was impressed. This should be one of the year's major releases.
19. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (October): Just yesterday I finished Westerfeld's Leviathan. It's all kinds of awesome. Alternate history of World War I. Westerfeld seems to play the war straight, but the technology change is fascinating in its execution. Oh, and did I mention it is awesome?
Now, obviously there are plenty of fantastic novels which will be published in 2010. We can expect new novels from Tobias Buckell, Steven Erikson, Elizabeth Bear (besides the one I mentioned), Kim Stanley Robinson, Connie Willis, Dan Simmons, Liz Williams, Alastair Reynolds, Adam Roberts, Robert Sawyer, Stephen Baxter, Cory Doctorow, China Mieville, and, and, and you get the point. There's plenty of goodness to go around.
These are the 19 pieces of goodness that I most want to read.
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