Microserfs
I’ve re-read this book quite a few times (and I reviewed it for this blog in 2006 and in 2003).
It’s a book with a lot of worthwhile things to say about creativity, family, friendship and love.
I still get a lot of enjoyment from it – no matter how dated the tech references get – the emotional core still resonates.
The thinking behind this list is to simply pick my top twenty favourite albums released in 2012. I make no claims of special critical insight.
It was relatively easy to pick a top ten but pulling a further ten records from the sheer number I’ve listened to over the last twelve months was not easy and changes were made even in the final seconds before posting this!
Spotify playlist of all these albums
Maraqopa went from being in the top ten to the top three after seeing Jurado perform in Glasgow. It guaranteed the album of the year spot with the release of the deluxe edition at the end of the year that includes a song called Let Us All In (a particular highlight of the live show) and a cover of Christmas Time Is Here from the ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ soundtrack that earwormed me for the whole of December. Sadly these extra tracks are missing from the Spotify playlist
This is an addendum to the books read in 2012 list as I don’t feel that books in these formats strictly belong on that list.
Phonogram 1 & 2 by Kieron Gillen and and Jamie McKelvie – Gillen & McKelvie play with the ghosts of Britpop and the magic of pop music to marvellous effect
Scott Pilgrim 1 & 2 by Bryan Lee O’Malley – The first book is OK, the second is good with promise to get even better
Hellblazer vol 1 by Jamie Delano, Rick Veitch, John Ridgway and Alfredo Alcala – Apart from the weird Swamp Thing section this whole collection is really good.
Gotham Central vol 1 by Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark – Batman from the perspective of the ordinary cop. Highly praised for a reason
Transmetropolitan vol 1 by Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson – The insane, profane and wonderful introduction to Spider Jerusalem.
Thor: Siege by Jeff Parker, Kieron Gillen, Christos Gage and Miguel Sepulvida – Blah collection of Thor as Asgard comes under attack due to the machinations of Loki. Again.
Gotham Central vol 3 by Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, Stefano Gaudiano, Michael Lark, Jason Alexander, Kano
Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi and read by Wil Wheaton – Wheaton does a great job with Scalzi’s ‘practice’ novel. It’s a lot of fun to listen to. Reviews of this book from 2011 and 2010.
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi and read by Wil Wheaton – This is a funny book and the audiobook is it’s equal in every respect. Reviews of this one from 2009 and 2008.
Redshirts by John Scalzi and read by Wil Wheaton – The first time I’ve listened to book before reading it (It was substantially cheaper to buy the audiobook than import the hardback). This affectionate parody of Star Trek is also a deeply meta piece about being a writer. Very funny with unexpectedly moving ‘codas’.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks and read by Peter Kenny – Wow this is a mental book. There is so much happening that you could fill a trilogy of space adventure movies from the content. Superbly read by Kenny.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and read by Neil Gaiman – An exceptional book. The author reads it himself and does a fine job.
Jingo by Terry Pratchett and read by Nigel Planer – The weakest of the Guards books is done no favours by Nigel Planer (Glad this is the one I borrowed from the library rather than buying). Reviewed in 2005.
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and read by David Pittu – I listened to a substantial part of this but I hated the characters so much I stopped listening.
Complete chronological list of books I read in 2012, with links to the original reviews
Pattern Recognition
This is one of my favourite books. I’ve reviewed it before on this blog (2007 and 2005).
This re-read was prompted by coming across a couple of chapters of the BBC adaptation of the story. While very well done it was, sadly, abridged. It really made me want to read the complete story again.
Talking about this book online I’ve discovered that some people don’t think it’s Science Fiction. While I’ve always read it as being a very subtle piece of alternative history I do recognize that it could be viewed as an entirely contemporary piece. However I would still argue that, if contemporary, it’s still Science Fiction about now.
Discount Armageddon
This daft, delicious piece of urban fantasy stars the ballroom dancing cryptozoologist Verity Price.
The plot is kind of mental but it’s a lot of fun.
McGuire writes compulsively readable books and heroines are always ridiculously compelling.
I prefer the Toby Daye books but I’d still recommend this one without hesitation particularly if you love urban fantasy with a twist of absurdity.
Pride and Prejudice
Despite being regarded as one of the greatest writers of english literature I’ve never had the slightest interest in reading any of Austen’s works. I find 19th Century prose hard work.
So what on earth motivated me enough to put in the effort to read this novel?
A modern day adaptation of the story told through the medium of videoblogs called The Lizzie Bennet Diaries started earlier this year on Youtube and I’ve been watching and becoming ever more invested in the story since the beginning. It got to the stage where I needed to know where the story was headed. I turned to the famous BBC adaptation from the 90s, which somehow only served to deepen my interest until eventually I cracked and started to read the novel proper.
It’s a book of subtle and sly wit with a tremendously appealing rather flawed protagonist. I still struggle with the language (which is why it’s an A- rather than an A+) but the power of the tale is undeniable. Once you hit the proposal in Hunsford you’re firmly gripped and the story isn’t going to let you go until it’s finished.
I have to admit I still find myself preferring The Lizzie Bennet Diaries as a piece of entertainment but I would definitely recommend the book. Get yourself a free copy from the internet and stick with it and you will find real rewards.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
The first of four Gilmore Girls tie-in novels. I caved in to my admitted obsession with the show and picked them up dirt cheap second hand from Amazon.
This particular volume recounts events in several early first season episodes solely from the perspective of Rory (including my favourite ever scene).
It’s an adequate read but to be honest if you’ve watched the episodes involved as many times as I have then the dialogue is burned into your brain already.
The writing is good but it’s nowhere near as compelling without the actors’ performances and, let’s be honest, this long after the show ended the book is only going to be for people who are hardcore fans.
The Last Dragonslayer
This is a young adult comic fantasy by the author of the Thursday Next books.
Jennifer Strange, a 15 year old foundling, runs an employment agency for magical practitioners. It’s all going relatively smoothly until a premonition of the death of the last living dragon causes chaos.
The comic approach in this book is so distinctively Fforde that even if you hadn’t noticed the author’s name on the cover you could tell this who the author is within a couple of pages.
I enjoyed it a fair bit – enough that I’m going to read the sequel – but it is a very slight tale.
Give it a go if you’ve liked Fforde’s other stuff.
Ashes of Honor
The latest Toby Daye book finds her using her investigative talents to find another missing teenager.
This girl is a changeling teleporter whose powers threaten to damage the physical realms of the Fay.
Another enjoyable read, with a much happier ending than the last book in the series.
Recommended for fans of the series – start at the beginning if you’re tempted.