Best of 2017 – Part 1
It’s that time of year when, as we have done for the last decade or so, we have dragged ourselves from the revelries here at SFFWorld to try and put some sort of order to our favourite (and not so favourite!) stuff from 2017.
The second part, on Science Fiction books is HERE and the third part on Genre Film & TV is HERE.
And so, in the finest traditions of trying to reduce our lists to five in each category, here’s the first part of our attempt to show what we liked (or didn’t) this year. Taking part are Rob Bedford (Rob), Mark Chitty (MarkC) and Mark Yon (MarkY).
Part 1: Fantasy / Horror
In no order, Mark Y’s top 5 Fantasy/Horror books for 2017:
Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
I’m starting with one of my surprises this year. It’s been a grim year in many ways, but this book cheered me up enormously when I read it. It’s a feel-good, heart-warming tale of a doctor and her unusual patients, written with energy and intelligence. I thought it was great fun, with characters to care about, even the ones that you might not expect. Just what’s needed if you need a pick-me-up. My favourite Fantasy read of the year.
Darien: Empire of Salt by C F Iggulden
This was another surprise for me that punched above its expected weight. I’ve really struggled with a lot of epic Fantasy this year, but out of the ones I’ve managed to finish, Darien is one of the best. Whilst not exactly original, Darien is full of great characters, impressive world-building, multiple perspectives and grand schemes. I would have expected nothing less from this well known, best-selling author. I’m pleased it didn’t let me down.
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Fantasy of a different colour, here. This was unusual in that it is a deliberately funny Epic Fantasy, which worked for me most of the time. (Not something I say very often about books intended to be funny!) Part band tale, part knowing Fantasy, it is a story written with a knowing wink and a bit of a grin and yet manages to be surprisingly emotional at times. Seems to have been Nick’s breakout novel here in the UK. I am looking forward to the sequel due early next year.
I really felt that I’d had my fill of Grimdark this year, but Ed’s book restored my interest. It is violent, and dark, admittedly, but to counterbalance that there’s some subtly nuanced characterisation and original world-building. The fact that I was still remembering it at the end of the year, having read it more than six months ago, made this Fantasy novel worthy of the list. Whilst I’m still not sure about reading more Grimdark, Ed deserves kudos for making it interesting to me again.
The Boy on the Bridge by M. R. Carey
This one shouldn’t be a surprise – I loved The Girl With All the Gifts when I read it last year, and this one just as much. It starts slowly but by haIf-way through I was hooked. Mike’s portrayal of Michael, an autistic savant, is as memorable as his creation of Melanie in GWATG, and the ending of Boy is an unexpectedly jaw-dropping knockout. I think the next book will complete a terrific trilogy. A Horror novel with heart, even in surprising places.
Rob’s top 5 Fantasy/Horror books of 2017 (alphabetical by author)
This is Brassey’s first original novel after publishing with and in Neal Stephenson/Greg Bear’s Mongoliad series. There was such a fun, energetic vibe to the novel. The world Brassey introduced reminded me a lot of the genre-blending 1980s fantasy entertainments like the movie Krull, the DC Comic book Warlord, or the cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe where air-vessels and lasers coexist with wizards and prophecy. This is a story that is less concerned with genre boundaries, but more concerned on the fun cool elements in the sibling genres of fantasy and science fiction working together to tell a completely engrossing story. Brassey is clearly having fun with this story, these characters, and the world. That emanates from the pages quite powerfully and infected me as the reader.
Another familiar name for SFFWorld’s end of the year lists, especially my contributions. Strange Weather is a collection of four short novels of horror (Snapshot), fear/terror (Loaded), wonder and heartache (Aloft), and an apocalyptic event (Rain). These are four stellar stories once again demonstrating, that despite length or medium, Joe Hill is one of the 21st Centuries pre-eminent writers, not just of the dark fantastic, but of American Literature. Strange Weather is a must read.
Considering that any year that Robin Hobb publishes a novel (especially set in this world), she generally makes an appearance on this list, longtime readers/followers of SFFWorld shouldn’t be surprised. Assassin’s Fate may be one of the most apt and wonderfully crafted series finales I can remember reading. I was so absorbed in the novel, I read the last half of it (nearly 500 pages) over the course of two days, basically picking up the book in the morning unable to do anything aside from walk my dog until I finished the book. Like the finale to Stephen King’s Dark Tower saga, I found myself fighting back tears reading through the end of the novel.
Brimstone, is a standalone post-World War I ghost/witchcraft novel, a clairvoyant, Alice Dartle and Tomás Cordero a man with PTSD (or shell shock as it was known then) find themselves drawn together across the State of Florida. Priest spins a lovely and haunting tale here in Brimstone, told in the voice of both Alice and Tomás through first person narration. Brimstone was a charming, heart-wracking, haunting and beautiful tale. Priest wonderfully introduced her characters, expertly brought them together and built a fantastic climax.
The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams
Set three decades after To Green Angel Tower (the final novel of Memory, Sorrow and Thorn), Osten Ard is once again on the brink of upheaval. Simon and Miriamele are King and Queen who rule jointly over the land over which they successfully won a war thirty years prior. Although their rule has been relatively uneventful, their lives haven’t exactly been sunshine and roses, although they had a son, he died leaving behind a wife, son, and daughter. The Witchwood Crown is a weighty, emotional, and engrossing launch to The Last King of Osten Ard. It is a novel that requires patience, but rewards that patience greatly. It touches on a range of emotions from loss to friendship to fear to anger. It is nearly everything I hoped it would be in a return to a beloved world and characters, the launch of a trilogy, and a novel written by Tad Williams. I was overjoyed to return to this world, the characters, and the type of story Tad Williams tells with the most skill and gusto.
Honorable Mentions: The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst, The Dragon Lords: False Idols by Jon Hollins, City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett, Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan, and Halls of Law by V.M. Escalada
In no order, Mark C’s top Fantasy/Horror books for 2017:
The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey
Much like Mark Y, I loved The Girl with All the Gifts, and this was always going to feature on my year-end list. It’s a great novel, and given it’s a prequel I was pleasantly surprised with not only the story, but the way it manages to stay unique despite what we learnt in The Girl with All the Gifts. I do hope we see more of this world, especially after that ending…
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
This is the kind of fantasy I like to read – smart, funny, easy-going. But it’s so much more than that, and the band of characters carry the story along at such a pace. I enjoyed the knowing nods to the genre and the fact that it knows what it is and embraces it fully. Very much looking forward to the sequel.
The Island Deception by Dan Koboldt
The sequel to The Rogue Retrieval, this portal fantasy manages to address the issues I had with that first book while still building nicely towards the final novel. With a fast paced narrative delivered through short chapters, some very interesting characters to go along with a fascinating setting, and witty dialogue to round it all off, and I’m completely sold. Bring on the finale!
Thank you for this, I enjoy this list each and every year!
Thank you, Ryan: very pleased you enjoy it!
Thank you Mark and Rob for your pics. Especially the Fantasy type reads. Keep at it.
I can’t exactly recall when I got this ritual started, but for a few years now I always make some time in the last/first week of the year to check these articles and add some of those picks to my “new books to read in next year”. So far, not one I gave it a go disappointed me.
May the “SFF World Best of…” remain strong for many years to come!
That’s some reputation we’ve developed there! Thank you for the kind words, Alan: we hope to keep going too!