Things I Read This Year

So, I really didn’t read anywhere near as much as I ought to have this year.  I’ve been slow at it.  It’s one reason why I can’t get too upset when a friend tells me they haven’t read Thorn or Murder yet, because there’s so much in my growing To-Be-Read pile, much of it by people I consider friends, that it would be extraordinarily hypocritical of me to hold people to standards that I don’t even remotely live by.

Just a quick glance at my TBR list, just from books from this year:

Gemini Cell by Myke Cole
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Grace of Kings by Ken Liu*
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jose Older
Archangel by Marguerite Reed
Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
Dreams of Shreds and Tatters by Amanda Downum
The End of All Things by John Scalzi

And that doesn’t even include the things that are books three or four of series I hadn’t even read book one of yet.

I should read more and faster, I know.

So what did I read– and I mean actually read and finish, not start and bounce off of– and actually like?

Cold Iron, by Stina Leicht
Ok, I’m cheating a bit on this, because I’m not done, but I’m two-thirds through and enjoying it, and I’m familiar enough with Stina’s work to believe in her ending it well– or as well as a Book One in a planned series of at least three can end.  Stina’s style is brisk and fun, and you can tell she loves her characters just enough to be horrible to them.

Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
This was a fun one.  Steampunk adventure with a mecha sewing machine.  How can you not love it?

Time Salvager by Wesley Chu
I have to admit– Wes left a lot hanging for the second book, but I’m kind of a sucker for narratives about jerks who do the right thing, and his protagonist fits the bill.  James really is an unlikable bastard, but you still enjoy him.

So, there’s my three for this year.  I’m going to try better next year.  But I’ve also got plenty to write.  So I’m off to it.

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*- I started this and had to put it to the side for a bit.  I intend to get back to it.