Well if you had ever told me last year what 2020 would have in store for us I would never have expected this. It’s been scary, draining, confining and yet sometimes a reminder a lot of people care. I don’t think we are through this yet I suspect we won’t even be through this by December but we will punch though this eventually (my Who gifs always are deliberate).

SF has been stranger than usual. My publishing slots moved like the release date of a George R R Martin novel. The usual chances for me to see other fans and friends are cancelled. My reading mojo was up and down like a yo yo. But I still got to read some fun stuff and why not remind you of something as you may be thinking of a week off doing nothing with a good book or five?

So far I’ve read 94 books this year here are some standouts

Fantasy

• We Ride The Storm by Devin Madson
  Smart character focused epic fantasy with a unique setting. Don’t lose your head but if you enjoy epics.

• Dragon Physician by Joyce Chng

  Some very wrong authors don’t think trans rights matter here a tale of dragons and rebellions does that front and centre.

• Threading The Labyrinth by Tiffani Angus
  A wonderfully magical and mysterious trip through time and magic via a single garden. If you enjoy your fantasy doing something different give this a try.

• Saving Lucia by Anna Vaught
  Probably one of the best books I’ve read this year. Combining tea lives, the history of how mental health therapy and women is much darker than we think. Brilliant and thought provoking

• Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward
  This was a initially traditionally looking fantasy tale that then threw in gods, demons and huge magical fighting statues. Worth a full immersion into this world.

• Forgotten Sidekicks edited by Steven Poore and Peter Sutton
  A smart collection looking at the joys and dangers of being the stalwart companion to the hero or even the villain.

• The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper by A J Fitzwater

  A simple tale of animals as pirates? Nope it adds queer relationships, joy and a reminder fantasy is for everyone

• Cursed - An anthology of Dark Fairy Tales edited by Marie O'Regan and Paul Kane
  A fantastic collection of the dangers of a curse. Well worth a browse

• Triggernometry by Stark Holborn
  A weird western with Mathematicians as the gunslingers and a very topical agenda on how we reject experts

• Beneath the Rising by Premee Mohamed
  a tale of dark powers, science, the end of the world and the end of a friendship. A debut I was really impressed by.

• The Unspoken Name by A K Larkwood
  This is truly epic fantasy and yet hugely inventive with myriad worlds and cultures to explore. A fantastic orc lead and I am so interested where it goes next.

• The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry
  the idea of literary characters in our world is not new but this take is thoughtful and fascinating.

• Not So Stories edited by David Thomas Moore
  A brilliant set of stories taking legends back from skipping and taking down colonialism to boot

• Sky Light Rain by Judy Darley
  A wonderful assortment of tales with some magical elements which I was very impressed by

• Ness by Robert Macfarlane & Stanley Donwood
  This novella takes a real weird place and turns it in a beautiful epic tale in novella form and the language was unforgettable.

• The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
  A super refreshing take on urban fantasy that actually explores privilege too

Science Fiction

• Sparks by Kit Mallory

  an absolutely fantastic piece of U.K. dystopia concluding a great duology. For those who enjoy revolutions.

• Goldilocks by Laura Lam

  An author I always want to now make time for and this was a thoughtful piece of SF that talks about now just as much as it does about where humanity is going. Wonderful.

• Stormblood by Jeremy Szal

  Sometimes good just to also press the pedal to the metal and this bit of space opera mixes action with ancient secrets. One to watch where this series is going.

• The Book of Koli by M R Carey
  A future world destroyed by technology; where plants and humans are wholly dangerous. A series I am looking forward to future instalments of all through the year.

• Paris Adrift by E J Swift
  one of the most interesting time travel stories that I love for its exploring of learning to grow up.

• The Silver Wind by Nina Allan
  A smart take of time travel and parallel worlds that stands on its own two feet and asks you to work it out.

Horror

• The Watcher in The Woods by Charlotte Bond

  A nature based set of strange chilling tales mixing folk and traditional horror stories

• Green Fingers by Dan Coxon
  Also a wonderful collection of tales based around our fears of nature

• The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
  a tale of vampires in the nineties that also talks about racism and the perils of wanting more and more. Smart horror.

• American Monsters Part 2 edited by Margret Helgadottir
  I love this ongoing series exploring monster myths around the world written by people from the areas. Another fantastic instalment

• Shadows & Tall Trees 8 edited by Michael Kelly

A powerful bit of smart horror with some great names adding tales to the collection.

Crime

• Making Wolf by Tade Thompson
  great new noir tale set in a fictional African countries that I hope becomes a series

• Keep Him Close by Emily Koch a wonderful crime novel that actually explores the impact of violence on families. A call to understanding people

• Conviction by Denise Mina
  An inventive thriller using true crime podcast to draw fantastic mystery with super delicious reveals.

So lets hope the next six motnhs getsa little easier; that tyrants can be defeated and we all get to hug our friends in the future. For me July is the end of Subjective Chaos, Hugos and commencing readalongs. There WILL be book tempting. If you have any suggestions add them to the comments