Looks at Books, 2010
What could draw me back to LiveJournal after an absence of two months? Why, it's my traditional end-o'-the-year book report!
The number of titles read this year dipped to 39, due in large part to having rejoined the ranks of the full-time employed. Of these, nine were Star Trek titles, two were media tie-ins to other properties (Burn Notice and Supernatural), and 13 were part of non-media-tie-in, multi-part book series and/or sequels. (This does not count the first books of such series, nor does it include Star Island by Carl Hiaasen, despite his inclusion of a couple recurring characters in supporting roles). There was one non-fiction book, three short story anthologies, and three titles that fall in the category of "short novels".
My most read author of the year, for the fifth year running, was Ed McBain, with four novels read. (I am now up to 1962 in my read through his 87th Precinct series.) I also read three works by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison, and two each by Keith R.A. DeCandido and Laura Anne Gilman. 2010 was a big year for new (to me) authors: I read works by Philip Baruth, Tod Goldberg, Erika Larson, James D. MacDonald, Cheri Priest, Tere Rios, Charles Stross, and Carrie Vaughn.
And, for my favorite book of the year, I'm going to pick two: Flesh and Fire and Weight of Stone, the first two books of Laura Anne Gilman's The Vineart War series. These books create a remarkably rich world where the men who work the vineyards and turn grapes into wine are powerful magicians, and how that power is controlled and/or manipulated. Book Three will have a high spot on my To-Be-Read pile just as soon as it's released later this year.
How about you? Read any good books lately?
The number of titles read this year dipped to 39, due in large part to having rejoined the ranks of the full-time employed. Of these, nine were Star Trek titles, two were media tie-ins to other properties (Burn Notice and Supernatural), and 13 were part of non-media-tie-in, multi-part book series and/or sequels. (This does not count the first books of such series, nor does it include Star Island by Carl Hiaasen, despite his inclusion of a couple recurring characters in supporting roles). There was one non-fiction book, three short story anthologies, and three titles that fall in the category of "short novels".
My most read author of the year, for the fifth year running, was Ed McBain, with four novels read. (I am now up to 1962 in my read through his 87th Precinct series.) I also read three works by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison, and two each by Keith R.A. DeCandido and Laura Anne Gilman. 2010 was a big year for new (to me) authors: I read works by Philip Baruth, Tod Goldberg, Erika Larson, James D. MacDonald, Cheri Priest, Tere Rios, Charles Stross, and Carrie Vaughn.
And, for my favorite book of the year, I'm going to pick two: Flesh and Fire and Weight of Stone, the first two books of Laura Anne Gilman's The Vineart War series. These books create a remarkably rich world where the men who work the vineyards and turn grapes into wine are powerful magicians, and how that power is controlled and/or manipulated. Book Three will have a high spot on my To-Be-Read pile just as soon as it's released later this year.
How about you? Read any good books lately?