books of 2010
3 January 2011 22:06![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kmusserWay behind on these, the early ones a bit fuzzy in my memory, I think I'm missing a few altogether. But anyway . . .
The Blue Girl by Charles DeLint - Young adult fare set in Newford, a couple of teenagers run into trouble with various supernatural elements, not really connected to the other Newford books except for the setting. A fun easy read.
The Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross - The conclusion to the Laundry trilogy, more Lovecraftian spy thrills, whole trilogy is a great read, start at the beginning though.
1634: The Bavarian Crisis by Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce - Another Ring of Fire book, this one has more political intrigue and less action and humor than the others, overall I think a weaker offering.
The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester - Non-fiction book about the Waldseemüller map, it follows two plot lines: the original creation of the map, and then the modern re-discovery of a map that was thought lost. Very well written, it's an easy read about a fascinating subject. As an aside the physical map is at a special exhibit in the Library of Congress, well worth a look.
Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves - Another young adult book about a kid who can walk between dimensions and is recruiting in a war between magic and science. A fun read, more pulp-adventure than Gaiman's usual stuff.
Hannibal Crosses the Alps by John Prevas - Non-fiction book about Hannibal's crossing in the 2nd Punic War. Sadly not a particular good book about a fascinating subject, it's decent where it it's actually describing Hannibal's journey but the author spends way too much time tying to trace the exact route and offering anecdotal evidence for his own theories on which passes Hannibal might have used.
Spirits in the Wires by Charles DeLint - Another Newford book, this one a bit meatier than Blue Girl with interesting interactions between the Internet and the spirit world. Like most DeLint it's good stuff, only loosely connected to the other Newford books.
Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix - Picked these up cheap on a whim while in Hawaii and was pleasantly surprised. A fantasy series, the first book centers on a young necromancer and the 2nd two on a reluctant seer. I think the first is by far the strongest of them, the world as a whole doesn't have much depth, it's mostly interesting for its exploration of death, represented as another world that can be traveled to.
Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey - A stand alone book set in the near future about a group of kids growing up in a no mans land between a U.S. and Mexico at war. Very different from her other books, I thought it quite good, about finding inspiration in a bleak world. Reminded me of Octavia Butler's stuff.
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory - Historical fiction about Katherine of Aragon, I found it interesting but not especially gripping.
The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory - This one about Mary Queen of Scots, who Gregory somehow manages to make into a boring character, her portrayal of her captors, the Talbots, is more interesting, but I think I may be ready to give up on Gregory.
The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez - An semi-historical account of Simón Bolívar's final days, I found it fascinating especially because I didn't know that much about Bolívar and Márquez's writing is a treat - it is a pretty slow pace though so those not interested in the subject might find it boring.
Charisma by Steven Barnes - An excellent read, I need to catch up on my Barnes reading, he's a great author. This is a near future account of an experiment gone wrong, following points of view from a reporter who stumbles on it, those that are trying to cover it up, and the kids that were its subjects.
White Apples by Jonathon Carroll - A novel about a dead guy trying to figure out why he's been brought back to life. Like most Carroll's books it is suitably bizarre, primarily a love story. I found this one missing a lot of the humor of his other books though.
The Blue Girl by Charles DeLint - Young adult fare set in Newford, a couple of teenagers run into trouble with various supernatural elements, not really connected to the other Newford books except for the setting. A fun easy read.
The Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross - The conclusion to the Laundry trilogy, more Lovecraftian spy thrills, whole trilogy is a great read, start at the beginning though.
1634: The Bavarian Crisis by Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce - Another Ring of Fire book, this one has more political intrigue and less action and humor than the others, overall I think a weaker offering.
The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester - Non-fiction book about the Waldseemüller map, it follows two plot lines: the original creation of the map, and then the modern re-discovery of a map that was thought lost. Very well written, it's an easy read about a fascinating subject. As an aside the physical map is at a special exhibit in the Library of Congress, well worth a look.
Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves - Another young adult book about a kid who can walk between dimensions and is recruiting in a war between magic and science. A fun read, more pulp-adventure than Gaiman's usual stuff.
Hannibal Crosses the Alps by John Prevas - Non-fiction book about Hannibal's crossing in the 2nd Punic War. Sadly not a particular good book about a fascinating subject, it's decent where it it's actually describing Hannibal's journey but the author spends way too much time tying to trace the exact route and offering anecdotal evidence for his own theories on which passes Hannibal might have used.
Spirits in the Wires by Charles DeLint - Another Newford book, this one a bit meatier than Blue Girl with interesting interactions between the Internet and the spirit world. Like most DeLint it's good stuff, only loosely connected to the other Newford books.
Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix - Picked these up cheap on a whim while in Hawaii and was pleasantly surprised. A fantasy series, the first book centers on a young necromancer and the 2nd two on a reluctant seer. I think the first is by far the strongest of them, the world as a whole doesn't have much depth, it's mostly interesting for its exploration of death, represented as another world that can be traveled to.
Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey - A stand alone book set in the near future about a group of kids growing up in a no mans land between a U.S. and Mexico at war. Very different from her other books, I thought it quite good, about finding inspiration in a bleak world. Reminded me of Octavia Butler's stuff.
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory - Historical fiction about Katherine of Aragon, I found it interesting but not especially gripping.
The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory - This one about Mary Queen of Scots, who Gregory somehow manages to make into a boring character, her portrayal of her captors, the Talbots, is more interesting, but I think I may be ready to give up on Gregory.
The General in His Labyrinth by Gabriel García Márquez - An semi-historical account of Simón Bolívar's final days, I found it fascinating especially because I didn't know that much about Bolívar and Márquez's writing is a treat - it is a pretty slow pace though so those not interested in the subject might find it boring.
Charisma by Steven Barnes - An excellent read, I need to catch up on my Barnes reading, he's a great author. This is a near future account of an experiment gone wrong, following points of view from a reporter who stumbles on it, those that are trying to cover it up, and the kids that were its subjects.
White Apples by Jonathon Carroll - A novel about a dead guy trying to figure out why he's been brought back to life. Like most Carroll's books it is suitably bizarre, primarily a love story. I found this one missing a lot of the humor of his other books though.
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