Things have been a little slower around Speculative Fiction Junkie this year. Nonetheless, I read a number of excellent books this year. Here are my Top 5 Reads of 2011:
#1 - Beyond the Door (review here)
Jeffrey Thomas
Beyond the Door by Jeffrey Thomas was my favorite book this year. While on the surface it may seem to be little more than a collection of excellent weird vignettes, this book is in fact both an unapologetic celebration of the weird as well as a testament to its potential as a humanizing force in our lives. For some reason, this book remains inexcusably underrated. I'm looking forward to exploring more of the work of Mr. Thomas next year.
#2 - The Boats of the Glen Carrig and Other Nautical Adventures (review here)
William Hope Hodgson
This second volume of his collected fiction contains the novel The Boats of the Glen Carrig as well as a number of other stories that demonstrate the staggering breadth of his abilities. The Boats of the Glen Carrig itself is absolutely terrifying (even if it does falter a bit in the second half) and is in my opinion leaps and bounds better than the much more popular The House on the Borderland.
#3 - The Quantum Thief (review here)
Hannu Rajaniemi
It's been years since a work of science fiction made it onto one of my Top 5 Reads lists. From the moment I finished reading Hannu Rajaniemi's The Quantum Thief, however, I knew it would end up on this year's list.
It has been a long, long time since I enjoyed a work of science fiction as much as I enjoyed this one. The only problem now is that the sequel is not out yet. If you're a hard sci-fi fan and haven't yet read this one, what are you waiting for?
#4 - Last Argument of Kings (no review)
Joe Abercrombie
Yep, I know. Everyone read this one years ago. For some reason, it took me forever to get around to reading this final volume in Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy, which is one of the best set of fantasy books to have been written recently. Since I last read Abercrombie, I'd sampled and recoiled at many of the latest fantasy books touted as this year's Big Thing. Returning to Abercrombie made me feel like I was getting back to the real thing. These books are gritty, violent, and full of political intrigue. I devoured this one and can't wait to read the books that he's published since.
#5 - Nightingale Songs (review here)
Simon Strantzas
You're not surprised that Nightingale Songs made it onto this list, are you? If it isn't obvious by now, I'm a big fan of the work of Simon Strantzas. That is not to say that he gets a pass here at Speculative Fiction Junkie, just that he continues to produce excellent work and I continue to really enjoy it. While this one hasn't been released into the wild yet, it's due to arrive any day now. If you've enjoyed previous works by Mr. Strantzas, do yourself a favor and go ahead and order this one.
Book-Related Disappointments of 2011
There were no earth shattering book-related disappointments this year. The largest annoyance of the year was interacting with the absentee booksellers over at Mythos Books. I ordered a book by Matt Cardin from them almost two months ago. Not only did it never arrive. They never bothered to respond to any of my multiple email inquiries. Oh, they did take my money though. That was no problem for them. My advice to any potential customers: stay away!
Well, that's it. I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays! Happy New Year!
11 comments:
Only read two of those (Hope Hodgson & Rajaniemi) but I have to say Beyond The Door looks interesting... and great cover. May have to part with some Christmas cash for that one.
Beyond the Door is amazing and because the book is sorely underrated, copies can be acquired relatively cheaply. I hope you get it and I hope you like it as much as I did!
Ben, are you a member of the Delirium Book Club? If not, you should at least check out Skullbelly by Ronald Malfi, I think you'd really like it.
(I ask because Beyond the Door is a Book Club title.)
@Donald: I am not a member. I'd like to be but I have to distribute my book funds very widely! I'll try to get my hands on the Malfi book and I appreciate the recommendation!
There's an ebook option now, which I imagine helps tremendously with costs (especially since the price of the mini-hardcovers is going up in 2012).
But then you're probably like me and require overflowing bookshelves.
Haha, yep. I do like overflowing bookshelves, but I also increasingly don't mind reading ebooks either...
I just found your blog. Great blog. Great look, well organized. Yours is a site I will have to frequent. I love the anthologies you've posted. I'm with James and am going to have to part with some of my Kindle cash for them.
Elaine Sangiolo
Book Marketing Manager: Cathedral of Dreams, A Kingdom's Possession
Booktrope Publishing
www.booktrope.com
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@inkdipped
Question for you and your readers: How do you define Speculative Fiction? Do you have perimeters or do agree with the vast definition posed on Wiki and other sites? Just curious.
@Donald: I read Skullbelly on your recommendation. I liked it but didn't love it. I felt like it was too short to really develop the tension that it was capable of. I am intrigued by some of Malfi's "Borealis" though and will probably seek out a copy. Thank you for the recommendation.
Ben, I agree that Skullbelly would have worked better as a full-length novel.
Minor spoiler coming up:
On the other hand, at novella-length Malfi was able to pull off the rare feat of writing an entertaining and effective monster story without ever showing the monster. That's what I loved most about the story, probably because I've read so many failed attempts.
I hear you. I did like the way he writes overall. I'm looking forward to Borealis.
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