I normally put one of these articles out at SFFWorld about now. So it was a bit of a shock today to realise that I hadn’t written this already. (Thank you for the reminder, sfinx!) The Summer* seems to have crept up on me this year – anyone guess why?
I must admit that I wasn’t sure about writing this one. With the current Covid-19 outbreak and the ensuing lockdown, holiday reading may be the last thing on people’s minds! But, thinking further, I guess that at the same time suggestions might be useful.
After all, whilst things have changed so much from just four months ago, you may even have some semblance of normality where you are and be lucky enough to be able to travel to a beach and do your reading. It is even possible that even a partial lockdown may actually mean that you have more time to read than normal, or that because of the situation you’re looking for more to read than usual this Summer.
So – I’m persuaded! I’ll mention first the big list of books/series that I’ve already put out there that you also might want to binge on, and move swiftly on.
The point of this article is to suggest books that, in my opinion, you might want to spend time with on your beach, in your holiday home or chalet this year. I’m thinking of books published since last Summer, with (as they’re ‘beach reads’) the emphasis on engaging and immersive fun and entertainment.
For a more detailed description and review, each title below has a link to the SFFWorld review.
Fantasy
Considering my complaints in recent years over the lack of Fantasy I’ve been able to finish, I was surprised to find that there are more Fantasy books in this list than anything else.
City of a Thousand Faces by Dryden Walker
Let’s start with this one – the most engaging Epic Fantasy I’ve read so far this year. A great set up, realistic dialogue, great pacing, this Arabian-esque novel involves armies, treachery and deception – the usual stuff. It ends in a great cliff-hanger that you’ll want to read more of, which in my opinion after nearly 600 pages is the sign of a good book.
Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell
In a similar vein, this Fantasy is more medieval-esque. It takes a little while to get going and there’s the odd minor stumble, but this is an impressive debut novel. Rob read it recently and liked it too.
Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward
I’ve mentioned this one on the website and in the Forums already. It was one of my favourites – perhaps my favourite – Fantasy novel of last year. Lots of characters, epic scale, it’s just out in paperback. The next book is out in November, which means you’ve just got time to read this one before the new book’s published.
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie
And then if you’re a fan of Grimdark, Joe Abercrombie’s latest has just been published in paperback here in the UK. As I said when I reviewed it, there’s no one who does this stuff like Joe, and this is so good that it even impressed grizzled and jaded Grimdark veterans like myself to read it. Rob reviewed the US edition and liked it as well.
Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
Similarly dark, though not quite so Grimdark, is this debut. It takes a little time to settle but it gripped towards the end. A detective story involving a snarky private eye, goblins witches and fae. Has a slight touch of Discworld about it with its setting of Sunder City. Another promising debut that was surprisingly better than I thought it was going to be.
Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill
One for the Stephen King/Bradbury crowd now. This was Rob’s favourite book of last year, and having read and reviewed it this year, I could only agree with him. One for genre fans – this author knows who he is writing to.
Cursed by various authors. Edited by Marie O Regan and Paul Kane
Fairy stories are en vogue at the moment, and this is one of the strongest and varied collections I’ve read in recent years. All based around the idea of a curse and its consequences, even when these talented authors (Neil Gaiman, M L Carey, Maura McHugh, Christina Henry, Karen Joy Fowler and many others) use the same source material (Snow White, for example), the stories can be very different.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Whilst some have said the book is a little too didactic, I enjoyed this detective story set around Yale University. The author uses her own knowledge of the campus and its history to create a Harry Potter-esque world of fraternities and magic. Definitely for adults, though. If you liked Lev Grossman’s The Magicians, I can see you liking this one.
Sanctuary by V V James
This is about as close as I can get to ‘beach read’. It’s a story of witches in a sleepy US seaside town, a tale of accusation and counter-claim, murder and betrayal. In a setting that makes you feel like you’re on holiday, this deceptively clever book drags you in and keeps you reading. As i said in my review, “Sanctuary’s a great page-turner and would be one of my usual suggestions for a great beach read this summer – or, as things are at the moment, a great read to wallow in whilst in lockdown. I blew through this one myself in a couple of days.”
Science Fiction
Less to choose from here, surprisingly, as I think I read more SF than Fantasy at the moment.
World Engines Destroyer by Stephen Baxter
Mixed reception with this one, admittedly. But for those who like Baxter’s style of epic scaled SF this might be for you, a story set on Earth in the far future centred around a revived astronaut from the 21st. The next book is due later in the year (and is one of my reads for the summer.)
Bone Silence by Alastair Reynolds
From the first in a series to the last. Bone Silence is the last in a trilogy that can be summarised as ‘Space Pirates’ but is more than that. If you’ve read the previous two (Revenger and Shadow Captain), you’ll want to know how the series finishes – not in a way might expect! Of course, if you haven’t, you’ll want to start with Revenger.
Doing Time by Jodi Taylor
This one is a lot of fun. Time travel seems to be the author’s forte, and although this is a spin-off series from her very popular St. Mary’s series, you can read it without having read the other books. Bureaucratic ineptitude, and inappropriately experienced trainees make this one read like a mix-up of Police Academy and Doctor Who, which sounds strange, but it works. One of the selection not to be taken seriously, but has characters you grow to love and humour that works (most of the time.)
The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez
Lastly for SF, one that’s not out here in the UK until August 1st, when the SFFWorld review will appear. It’s a good space opera book, though, that takes the usual tropes and gives them a contemporary sheen. To quote from my review:
“The plot, structured around time dilation and the tricks it can play with perception, is packed with reveals, surprises, and unexpected twists.
But most of all it is about the characters. Simon writes a Space Opera with heart that will make you want to know more about them. Even the bad guys are interesting and more nuanced than the typical caricature. Even if we are horrified by what they do, we understand their motives for doing so.
The Vanished Birds is Space Opera but written for a new contemporary audience. Whilst it uses elements that long-time readers may recognise, there’s enough of an original spin on this to keep this fresh and those pages turning. It’s an interesting debut, and one that readers new to the genre will like, I think.”
Coming Attractions
Lastly, as I often get asked what I’m planning to read over the Summer, at the moment I’m looking at new books from Joe Abercrombie, Steven Baxter, Garth Nix, Naomi Novik and Andrej Sapkowski, which I’m sure I’ll mention more of by the end of the year. I’ll also try and catch up with some of those I haven’t quite got around to reading already this year and no doubt pick up a few classics as well.
Have a great Summer and enjoy your reading. As usual, we’d be very interested to read about what you think in the SFFWorld Forums – even if it is none of my suggestions!
*Apologies to those readers in the Southern hemisphere, as usual. Winter reading?
