At the end of every year we get a deluge of Top 10 posts.
It is inevitable.
Personally, I love it. The human mind has been built to categorize and organize items, to lend importance or lack of importance to those items, and to share those biased feelings for said items with others.
Top 10 lists are usually always subjective, of course.
I am not going to look at sales numbers. I am not going to base it on whether I like the cover or not. Or by publishing house. I am purely basing this post on those books that I really loved, those books that kept me up at night, those books that stopped me from writing a Suvudu post in the morning because I just had to finish the book by the afternoon.
Here are my Top 10 Fantasy/Sci-fi Books of 2009:
#10. Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson
Eventually, one day, I will rank this book higher than what it is on this list. I know I will. Why is it at #10 when most people have it ranked much higher? I have not read it yet. This is the only book on the list that I have not read and yet it is the beginning of the end for the initial Malazan of the Fallen series by Steve Erikson. Dust of Dreams is the first part of a two-part climax that will conclude with 2010’s The Crippled God. It will wrap up the Malazan series, a huge part of epic fantasy finished—at least for the moment.
#9. The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
Every once in a while a publishing house will discover several new writers in the same year. Del Rey Books did it a few times in 2009. Beginning with The Warded Man, Peter V. Brett was given his chance to entertain high fantasy fans and he didn’t disappoint. He has a unique magical system, a very cool setup, and his characters are top notch. The Warded Man received great praise among bloggers. The Desert Spear, the next book, has already been edited and is ready to hit shelves in early 2010, so that means Mr. Brett gets high praise for delivering books on time.
#8. The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V.S. Redick
Robert V.S. Redick is another Del Rey Books debut writer who wrote a great book and has a sequel already finished and ready to come out in early 2010. The Red Wolf Conspiracy is simply great. The premise of having a city-sized sailing ship is unique to the genre and he has numerous memorable characters. It received praise from numerous authors who read it and enjoyed it as much as I did. The Ruling Sea will be released in a few months, so definitely get a jump ahead and read the first book in the series!
#7. Lamentation by Ken Scholes
I really enjoyed this debut book by Ken Scholes. It was different from what I read most of the year, was a quick read, and had intriguing characters I could feel for. Scholes is another writer who seems able to produce books in a timely fashion, and that always makes me happy as well; Canticle, the second book in the series, has already been published and the third book is right around the corner. Want to start a great new writer? Well, this list has three of them and no one will be able to say I didn’t tell ya so!
#6. The Temporal Void by Peter F. Hamilton
I do not read much science fiction. I have a biochemistry background and it takes an author who truly pushes the science envelope for me to be intrigued in what they are attempting to do. Greg Bear and Stephen Baxter are favorites, but Peter F. Hamilton is right up there too. The Temporal Void is the second book in the series and it ramps up the action from the first book, The Dreaming Void. These are mammoth science fiction novels and what I like most about Hamilton is his ability to include the hard science my mind craves with action. It is a wonderful blend. The Evolutionary Void, the last book in the series, has been completed and will published in Fall 2010.
#5. The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
It had been several years since the last Wheel of Time novel. With the sad and unfortunate death of Robert Jordan, the incomplete series left a huge hole in the epic fantasy genre. Thankfully Jordan was given enough time to put his affairs in order and Brandon Sanderson was brought on board to finish what Jordan had started. The Gathering Storm is the first book of a planned concluding trilogy that will finish the Wheel of Time. My thoughts on the book echo most Wheel of Time fans; the book is a solid entry into the series and Brandon did a great job of moving the storyline along. Towers of Midnight can’t come soon enough next year!
#4. Drood by Dan Simmons
Solid writing can keep me intrigued no matter the subject. Dan Simmons is a great writer. He has proved it time and time again. What I like most about Simmons is his ability to capture the mood and feel for a particular time period. Sure, everyone loves Hyperion, but I happen to think his best work has been the last few years with The Terror and Drood. Like The Terror, Simmons had to do a great deal of historical research for Drood and it paid off. It is the story of the last five years of Charles Dickens’ life, when a train accident forever altered the writer and sent him hurtling toward an early grave. But what happened during those five years? Why did Dickens become fascinated by death? Who is Drood and what part does he play in that destruction? Drood answers those questions as only Simmons can bring it and it was a very satisfying read.
#3. The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
Too many people, I feel, wanted to be blown away by something they hadn’t seen before when it came to The Steel Remains and instead they got a book that they had seen before. But that’s not what sets The Steel Remains apart from much of the genre. Sure, some of the fantasy tropes in the book we’ve seen already in other series. But Morgan has an ability to be dark, gritty, and edgy—to create characters who breathe reality and actually take a piss—and he did it in The Steel Remains. I greatly enjoyed The Steel Remains and I am really looking forward to The Dark Commands!
#2. The City & the City by China Mieville
Here is a book that I almost placed #1. Almost. China Mieville is easily the most underrated writer working today. At least in my book. He is a master wordsmith. He creates great sentences and great paragraphs that lead to better chapters and a great book. He is also one of the smarter people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting—and yet he does not flaunt it. The City & the City was a departure for Mieville, who wrote the thriller/police procedural for his recently passed mother who loved such novels. Still, Mieville weaves enough of his “New Weird” fantasy into the book to make it satisfying for all fantasy fans. I challenge anyone to read the first chapter and not be intrigued to continue reading. Bravo, Mr. Mieville!
#1. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This is a book many of you probably have not heard about. Mostly because it is not classified as a fantasy novel. The Angel’s Game is the sequel/prequel to the mega-successful The Shadow of the Wind, one of my favorite novels ever. Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a Spanish writer whose work is translated by Lucia Graves, but the two of them produce a book that is utterly gorgeous to read. Sometimes I put The Angel’s Game down and just thought to myself, “I should just stop writing because I’ll never be as good as even that last sentence.” What makes Zafon’s two books so worthy of this placement on the list is the fact they feel like fantasy even though they are set in historical Barcelona. The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is a genius invention, and the mystery, intrigue, coming of age, and love of books permeates both tales. I can’t recommend The Angel’s Game enough, but if you haven’t read The Shadow of the Wind, do so. You will thank me for it.
Well, there you have it. My list. I’m sure it differs from your own. I’d love to hear what you all liked in 2009!
Cheers! And here is to a great year of reading in 2010!
I can’t help noticing that your top ten list is comprised of male authors only. Do you have a list of books you loved written by female authors?
I normally like Dan Simmons’ books very much, but I hated Drood. It was dark and ugly, and messed with my mental conceptions of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens.
I only finished reading it because I was hoping it would get better. It didn’t. Yes, it’s well written and meticulously researched. But those qualities sure didn’t help me enjoy it.
But I loved The Warded Man and The Steel Remains. I’m sure I’ll like the Peter Hamilton, because I’ve liked most of his other books.
Oh wait, I said that about Simmons, didn’t I???
No Girls Allowed?
It’s a simple reason: Most women right now are writing urban fantasy, a sub-genre that I just don’t enjoy. Pick out any of those books with a woman on the cover in tight black leather — chances are I haven’t read it. Sadly, most of them are written by women.
I do have Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey to read still. I also have Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb to read still. I will read Kiss when Curse has been published; I will read Keeper when Haven is published. I tend not to read series that are not at least halfway finished. Less re-reading that way.
Janice in GA
Sorry you didn’t like Drood. I loved it because it is dark and ugly, like Dickens was in those last years of his life. I am actually reading The Woman In White right now to get up to speed with Collins. Fun so fun.
There are plenty of female authors writing non urban fantasy genre work. Catherynne valente, nancy kress, cherie priest, justine larbalestier, margo lanagan… methinks you are harboring some prejudices you don’t know about.
Let’s see, King Rat. I’m not harboring prejudices against female writers if I am reading them. Which I am. I mentioned two of them.
I am harboring prejudices against urban fantasy writers. That includes the few male writers in that sub-genre too. And you have to admit that the vast majority of female writers right now are writing in that sub-genre. There is just no way getting around it. You named five. I can name triple that writing urban fantasy.
I’m sure the writers you mentioned are all great. I have not read them. Why? Because I have limited time to read. Plain and simple. Hence the reason why I say — in my article — that all Top 10 lists are subjective to the person creating them. What I like might not be necessarily what you like — or can read.
So please refrain from saying I am prejudiced. It just simply isn’t true.
To add some more female non-urban fantasy authors:
Jennifer Fallon, Trudi Canavan, Glenda Larke, Karen Miller/K.E. Mills, Naomi Novik…
Less fantasy and more SF:
Kage Baker, Connie Willis, Marianne de Pierres…
I read very little urban fantasy yet most of the fantasy I read is by female authors (admittedly the same is not true of science fiction).
So it’s not that women writers aren’t any good, it’s just that you’re not interested in reading them. Oh. I get it now.
Sheesh people!
It’s a list of his favorite books from this year. Personal taste is not something that’s subject to political correctness. We like what we like, plain and simple. Shawn said nothing about the quality of female fantasy authors, only that the vast majority of them are writing in a sub-genre that he doesn’t care for.
Stop looking for an argument and post a comment about which book by a female author made it into your top 10 books of 2009. And then tell us why you liked it. Maybe I’ll even check it out.
I’m so glad the Politically Correct Thought Police is attending the show. Bristling they announce once more that every list made must contain it’s share of female writers or else the author of said list is basically an unworthy biased misogynist. They don’t care what you’ve actually read or what you tend to like; they simply want to see women.
I really dislike people with such attitudes. They live by quota and not by individual experience. They are divorced from reality.
I read Shawn’s list and was not slightly bothered by the absence of females. Similarly, there are blogs out there (often written by women I might add) that list their top reads of 2009 and and have 8 or 9 women in their top 10. Oddly, you never see them attacked for it. Why is that, I wonder?
Positive discrimination and political correctness can easily go a step too far. It is in evidence here.
And for what it’s worthy, I find many of the non-Urban Fantasy writers Tsana has listed to be midlist at best. I can see Hobb in there, but she had no US release in 2010. JV Jones is strong, but her book releases have slowed to a crawl.
But really, Jennifer Fallon, Trudi Canavan or Karen Miller? With all due respect, that is bottom of the barrel in epic Fantasy, for those of us who read widely.
“I do not read much science fiction”
We could have guessed. Why didn’t you make it just a Best of Fantasy list?
Patrick, I would think that quite obvious if you looked at the list.
Because I do read science fiction. Without the word “science fiction” in the title, I couldn’t put Temporal Void on the list, one of the best books I read last year.
And if I had written the post with the list just called “Best of Fantasy,” undoubtedly you would have come on here and said, “Why did you call it Best of Fantasy? You have a science fiction title on there.”
Catch 22-much?
I’m glad you included The Angel’s Game! I have not read it yet, but I’ve read The Shadow of the Wind which I can say is my favorite novel. It is a beautiful story which deserves to be recommended.
I didn’t notice the gender of any of the authors until people decided to whine about it. All I care about are finding more good books to read by people of any gender- and Shawn put up a list of things he would seemingly recommend to others.
There is nothing wrong with his list. It is his opinion.
Oh- and thanks for the list, Shawn!