In past years I’ve ended the year with a recap of what I thought were the best books of the year and possibly a summary of any key events.
This past year family and work responsibilities prevented me from reading as much as I usually do. On top of that, much of what I did read was older stuff. There wasn’t a lot of new work that appealed to me. A good portion of what did is still in my TBR pile.
So this year, I’m going to reverse things. I’ll let you tell me what I should have read. Please list any works, short or long, in the comments that you think stood out or were required reading.
A Happy New Year to you and your family. I wish you all an awesomely rich year filled with love and joy and many books.
2018 was a dark year for me for various reasons. I hardly read anything despite the piles of books next to my bed and I wrote nothing, I have set myself ambitious goals for 2019, some of which involve long-dormant projects.
Thank goodness for blogs like yours. Apart from informing it also kindle the flames and when life gets busy and messy, that is always a good thing.
And a Happy New Year to you and your family as well. I reciprocate the wish to you in spades.
I hope 2019 is a much better year for you and you surpass all your goals.
I’m glad my blog is having a positive effect somewhere. That’s good to know.
I’m falling short of my Goodreads 2018 challenge. As of tonight, I’ve read 59 of the 70 books goal. I set that number (70) with graphic novels in mind, as last year they inflated my total. I read a lot of enjoyable stuff this year, and fewer graphic novels than I expected.
There are some stragglers – books not listed on Goodreads, like HIGH ADVENTURE ‘zine (long enough to consider a book) and individual comics or comic ‘zines (CREEPY.) Plus read-throughs on two of my own novels. (Hey, it takes time.)
Highlights from the list;
THE LAST SACRIFICE by James A. Moore
EMPEROR MOLLUSK VERSUS THE SINISTER BRAIN by A. Lee Martinez
MARROW DUST by Steve Van Samson
GIL’S ALL FRIGHT DINER by A. Lee Martinez
TARZAN AND THE JEWELS OF OPAR by Edgar Rice Burroughs
RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL by Brian Keene
ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE by Ian Fleming
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Arthur Conan Doyle
DARKER THAN YOU THINK by Jack Williamson
A HELL WITHIN by James A. Moore & Charles R. Rutledge
TARZAN AND THE VALLEY OF GOLD by Fritz Leiber
CEMETERY WORLD by Clifford D. Simak
AT THE MERCY OF BEASTS by Ed Kurtz
MEMO FROM TURNER by Tim Willocks
PULP ERA WRITING TIPS (edited by Bryce Beattie)
THE BEASTS OF VALHALLA by George C. Chesbro
BLACK PULP (edited by Tommy Hancock)
THE GREAT DISASTER (DC Comics SHOWCASE)
DOC SAVAGE: THE SPIDER’S WEB (Dynamite Entertainment comic)
Best wishes for 2019!
That’s a solid list. I’ve read a few of the older titles (Williamson, Simak), but not in this century. Several others are on my radar or TBR list.
Here’s hoping your reading and writing continue to progress in 2019.
Out of what I read in 2018, I’d say John Gwynne’s Malice quadrilogy was the best surprise. Like a miniature Wheel of Time – its high quest fantasy but damn good.
I also enjoyed Poul Anderson and Jack Vance – there is a fair bit of Anderson left to cover but only a little Vance now – and the new Signature Series means I can at last own a hardcopy of Vandals of the Void.
Gwynne is in my TBR pile.
What’s this about a signature series?