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I couldn’t help but noticing when I was compiling the list of past award winners (Nebula, Hugo, BFS, World Fantasy, Locus, Clarke, etc) for FBS how many time Ramsey Campbell’s name came up, and then I interviewed Matthew Rossi, who recommended him and made the comment he was at times better than Lovecraft, which spurned me to have to look into Campbell. I started with this collection of 39 stories, which is IMHO equaled to Ligotti’s work, as the best horror being written today (including the ever popular King). |
Second Banks novel mentioned, and Bank’s debut novel, and narrated through a first person POV of a juvenile psychopath with no conscious whatsoever takes out his disdain on whatever he pleases at extreme measures, while he protects his island home. A somewhat controversial book when it was written, if you are squeamish about mutilations (particularly of animals) stay away, from this thought provoking sadistic, yet at times comical look into a mind of a psychopath from a family of psychopaths. |
A lot of people I guess have heard of the game Dynasty Warriors and the game of the same title of the book, it’s actually a book noted as one of the 4 classics of Chinese Literature. It’s semi-historical and written in the 14th century, depicting third century China. A Story mired with tremendous depth in a huge cast of characters with applicable side stories, about a time of rebellion in China stock full of supernatural characters and soldiers alike. |
If you are a fan of SF you have to buy John Clute’s novel even only if out of curiosity spawned by reading his reviews. He is perhaps the SF’s most notable critic/reviewer. I’m a big fan of his reviews myself and think on occasion there more worthy of being read than the subject of the review. Any fan will notice elusions to other works and our own culture, following the adventures of a freight ship captain Nathaniel Freer who finds himself drawing the attention of hostile aliens. As one would expect Clute’s narrative is utterly unique and rather entrancing. |
Dark satire, classic of fiction that employs in one of its two part the devil as a character called Woland aided by a motley cast of characters including a vampires, a talking cat, a dwarf etc, switching it setting form the real and unreal, from Moscow to Jerusalem. A delightfully dark, humorous satirical commentary on the Soviet Union during Stalin’s reign. Should be read by everyone. I mean there is a 6-foot bi pedal talking cat, who wields a pistol…what else do you need? |
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Fourth appearance by M. John Harrison on my list, this a collection of 24 absolutely weird stories. |
A novel in Lint’s Newford setting, a engaging story about two abused sibling sisters, one is a familiar character to fans of Newford Jilly Coppercorn, a necessary novel to read about the lynch pin character of the entire wonderful urban Newford series. I chose De Lint’s collection in my last list which are short stories in the Newford setting. |
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I have become a huge fan Vera Nazarian after reading this book. Incredible fantasy in her Tronaelend-Lis setting a city divided in power by the assassins who inhabit the largely literally colorless world and the Light Guild creators of light producing orbs, in this world considered links to the pantheon of gods. Incredible descriptive writing, huge cast of wonderfully realized characters, makes this novel although difficult to initially absorb, a fantastic read. Looking forward to ream ‘Dreams of the Compass Rose’ her prior work. |
One would almost feel I should be compelled to stop making fun of StarWars novels as 3 writers who have written novels in Lucas’s universe have made this list, Matt Stover, Greg Keyes, and now Sean Stewart. Stewart’s critically acclaimed story about DK who battles ghosts, both as a in possessing a sixth sense and his own personal ghosts involving his deceased ex-wife. One of the most aptly named novels in some time as it takes you on a roller coaster of different emotions to bring things into focus. I have yet to read his equally received novels ‘Galveston’ and ‘Mockingbird’ but I do own them and there high on my “2 read list” |
A lot of people get kind of jump when someone mentions a Moorcock critique on fantasy, however a second look tell you it’s those who know there guilty of the charges Moorcock so truthfully levies Anyone who read and loved his extremely humorous and at the same time enlightening “Epic Pooh” essay will thoroughly enjoy this insightful look into fantasy. Don’t think there is such a thing as good fantasy and bad fantasy, and that it’s all a matter of opinion? Wrong, ask Moorcock he will tell you what good fantasy is, and it’s hard to argue with a man that in essence embodies speculative fiction to such a degree. |
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