Favourite reads this year [so far]

I hope you enjoy it. I should have mentioned 2 things yesterday. There is a comedic vein that runs through the book, mostly having to do with Henry disappearing and re-appearing stark naked in odd places.

Also in case it didn't come through - it really isn't SF. It is a modern day fiction book that uses a SF device to tell the story. It isn't concerned with whether it gets time travel right, or if it is SF. Its just a good read that has a bit of SF in it.
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Yep , I sorta picked up on that . Sounds exactly what I was hoping for . Thanks again !

Brad
 
The Etched City by KJ Bishop. Vivid, startlingly original, sensual and cerebral in equal parts. A poison garden of faded blossoms.

Conjure Wife and Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber. As much horror they are a dark, urban fantasy of the sort Tim Powers or Jonathan Carroll fans would love. Mr Leiber got there first.

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. Ostensibly a realistic novel about a small-town Canadian man who serves in World War 1 and goes on to be a history professor and expert on hagiographic lore, the novel shows how the fantastic, or just plain weird, is never more than a step away from our seemingly mundane lives.
 
Ficusfan,
A Hunger like Fire by Greg Stolze.

And I am loving The Shadow of the Wind.
 
my favorates so far this year have been the tawny man books, although i was a little annoyed with myself for not researching hobb more thoroughly. i didn't even know about the farseer trilogy until i picked up fool's errand. i believe there is another series set in that world before the tawny man too, but i can't recall its name. anyway, reading them was not necessary, and i still enjoyed the books. i also read the first two books in the malazan and shadowmarch.
 
This year I've loved much of what I've read.
I discovered Cory Doctorow with Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, and
Robert Charles Wilson's Spin, both authors I'll seek out more from.

I especially discovered and enjoyed my first foray into my "fluff-read pile":
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong and
Black Jewels Trilogy (1&2) by Anne Bishop and
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, by Christopher Moore.
 
Apathy said:
Ficusfan,
A Hunger like Fire by Greg Stolze.

And I am loving The Shadow of the Wind.
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I am glad you are enjoying The Shadow of the Wind , was there something else ? Did you want to say something or ask me something about the Greg Stolze book, or are you listing it too ? Sorry to be so confused. :)
 
Well I could not find any such book called A Hunger For Life by Greg Stolze. The nearest was A Hunger Like Fire.

Also, I am now done with Shadow of the Wind. One of the best books I have read this year. I would easily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good books.
 
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Thanks. I totally missed that I had the wrong title. Color me embarrassed. :)

You are right it is : A Hunger Like Fire by Greg Stolze.
 
Okay those that are specifically fantasy and stand out right now in my sleep-deprieved brain are Fiona MacIntosh's Myreen's Gift, Gary Wassner's The Twins, Anne Bishop's Dreams made Flesh, Mattew Woodring Stover's Blade of Tyshalle and Greg Keyes' The Briar King and The Charnel Prince!
 
What have i liked this year? Hmm . . :rolleyes:

The Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolfe. I discovered him late last year, and I read this entire series (including Urth of the New Sun) in a matter of weeks. I'll definately need to go back to it in about six months or so. Now that I kind of know the end ( ;) ), I think I'll pick up much more on the extra little details.

Shadowmarch - Tad Williams. No matter how you parse it, Tad's one of my favorites. Absolutely great stuff, especially the second time around.

Pawn of Prophecy - David Eddings. I picked this one up because it was short, and I thought it was funny. The second book in the series lost my attention, but this was a fun little read.

Gardens of the Moon - Steven Erikson. I accidentally stumbled across GotM in the college bookstore for 20% off. I couldn't resist, and I'm not regretting it. It's complex stuff, but his world building is worth it.

I'm positive there were more that I enjoyed, but my brain is fried.

 
The best of this year -
1/ George Martin - excellent stuff.
2/ Steven Erikson - heavy but good.
3/ Robin Hobb's Farseer - still reading it but enjoying it.
The worst -
Terry Goodkind. Will never go there again!
 
Goodkind and Jordan are on my Don't Bother lists. Too damn long....

Good stuff.
Guy Gavrial Kay - Tigana - Fantastic novel (Had read Fionnovar before, but this is a stand out individual story)
Stephen Donaldson - Mordant's Need - 2 book series. Better than the TC Chronicles.
 
Hey Sean,
I'm a Jordan fan myself. I have also read Fionivar & Tigana & enjoyed them. The new series is supposed to be good also.
Was in Dublin for the 1st time last September - I'm a Sweeney & it was good to get to Eire where the family came from (Mayo to be exact). Only had 3 days, but covered Dublin to Blarney (via Tipperary for the wifes family roots) then up to Mayo and back to Dublin.
Loved Ireland - the friendliest people on the planet who hate a drink...
 
Drinking bad..... :cool:
Good to hear you enjoyed.. Lot of stuff in 3 days...

Jordan though? Can't get it I'm afraid. We may have to fight :p
Ah no, seriously. I though the first few books were great, but I just don't have the patience for the long series I guess...
Martin is fantastic, but I hope he doesn't do a Jordan...
Hobb's Farseer trilogy is also excellent, though I didn't like the follow up series nearly as much, still stuck half way through Tawny Man, and no enthusiasm to go back to it.
Haven't tried Erikson, but maybe I will :D
 
A word of warning on Erikson - he's heavy duty. I like him but he's not light reading! On Jordan, I am applying for a heritage listing as a protected species as there aren't many Joran fans left it seems...And being an Aussie, I'm afraid I tend more towards lagers than traditional Guinness, but the Carlsberg on tap was like mothers milk. They say that God invented alcohol so the Irish wouldn't rule the world!
 
I'm still getting through it (note I am not mentioning other books I have read, but just speaking of books that have come out this year), but Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro thus far is the best I have read this year. It's brilliant. I have high hopes for some novels I'm about to read however, Holly Phillip's In the Palace of Repose and Tamar Yellin's The Genizah At The House Of Shepher
 
I enojoyed all 4 books of The Runelords. I would also recommend the DragonCrown War Cycle, as long as book 3 (which I am currently reading) doesn't mess things up somehow.

I read the 1st book of the Death Gate Cycle, and although I am a fan of Weiss and Hickman...I didnt enjoy it very much. I will probably give book 2 a try at some point, though..
 
Deathgate

I felt the same way about deathgate book 1. By book 5, you're into it. It grows on you.
 
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