The books of 2010

1. Turning On - Damon Knight

In my quest to dissect the short form, I decided to examine the works of a renown master of the same. This collection of stories was interesting, well written and sharp and witty. But, I can't say I always understood what made them work like they did. Most memorable was probably the story about the King of the World and his cynicism and hate against the dogs. It was like Simak reversed. I also liked the goofy story about the sf writers in NY City. The stories did all illustrate how a short story should contain just what's needed, and nothing more.

2. Punsch - Carl A Andersson

Entertaining, like before. I'm thristy.

3. Father Brown stories - G.K. Chesterton

Some of the first stories were quite well done, as a mystery and puzzle. I could see how those observations made the figures in the story draw the wrong conclusions, and how Father Brown clearly saw how it really worked out. I also liked how the author used the crimes to say some perceptive things about human behavior. Later stories were more bland, and more a intriguing setting than anything else.

4. A Shadow of All Night Falling - Glen Cook

This book reminded me somewhat of the Black Company, as in several characters that seemed in here yet unformed. Not as tight as I had hoped, but a decent read. A tragic ending and quite melancholic.

5. Gustav V - en biografi - Stig Hadenius

Quite interesting "contemporary" history. This is a period in Swedish histroy when the modern era is birthed, and the king was in the midst of it all. I kind of felt pity for the guy.

6. Pierced Heart - Robin D. Laws

Very surreal, quite odd and entertaining. Take a drug and you get to chat with the god of your choice? Sure a way to make you wonder about atheism in Al Amarja. For a novel about obsession and how we contruct images of people which might not match up with the self image of those peoples, it wasn't too shabby. I wasn't too keen on a rpg tie-in novel, but Robin D. Laws usually writes interesting stuff. Even when it's not wholly my cup of tea Robin is usually worth reading. I think I liked it, and it once again made me wonder if Over the Edge actually is a playable rpg.

6. Athyra - Steven Brust

Quite different from the early Taltos books, this one shed new light on Vlad from the viewpoint of somebody else. Very intriguing characters. Some musings on the matter of truth and how to make your own opinions. Not too annoying, even fitting. Some very brutal scenes, and extremely condensed ending. Probably one of the more enjoyable Taltos books I've read, and quite a page-turner.

7. Envis som synden - Marshall Grover

Simple western without much complexity. Enjoyable. Fights among cattle barons, and a trek along the chisholm trail. Iconic western ground with heroes that are a little bit to "white hats" for it to be really good. Straight story.

9. Skördedrottningen - Andreas Marklund

Is the protagonist of this novel paranoid and insane from the start, or is it the things he experience that slowly drives him crazy? Very intriguing. I really liked the parallel storyline developing in a world war two Sweden, slowly unveiling the secrets our protagonist were trying to understand, making it a joint journey of discovery. Having studied together with the author made those parts set in Uppsala extra fun to read.

10. The City & The City - China Mieville

This book was an audio book, and a few parts where damaged but I still kept listening, which I consider good marks. Very much a cold war feeling, making me think of Berlin. It's set in a imaginary Europe, where lands are mentioned that are familiar, but the setting is a city divided that are made up. A complex murder mystery, very well plotted and I enjoyed it immensely. China is very good with mood, and setting. It's not fantastic fiction at all, except it's set in a Europe that never was.

11. Pasquale's Angel - Paul J. McAuley

I think I imagined something more about the renaisance, but it became more like Dickens London after Leonardo's inventions started the industrial revolution. Some interesting ideas sprinkled within on the character of art, industry and religion. The mystery and the conspiracies were so complex I lost track of them, which made the resolution fall a bit flat. Most fun was the roles of some famous men of history like Machiavelli, in this novel a spoof of Sherlock Holmes. Enjoyable, but the side story of the New World and the peyote induced visions never felt like it fitted.

12. My Work Is Not Yet Done - Thomas Ligotti

These three works, thematically linked, is not as strong as some of his older work. The title story is the best one, and a study of the twisted and deluded dark mind. The supernatural element is subdued, and it works fine as a conspirational take of corporate existence. The two other stories, much shorter, are less subtle and more straight our weird, and I'm not that convinced. The first is well written and the way the text expresses a feeling while at the same time induce it into the reader is excellent. The last one I just didn't feel much about.

13. Bruce Dickinson - Joe Shooman

Not the most engaging, and it's kind of lacking a clear narrative. But, it's a nice collection of stories, and gives a nice overview of Bruce's career. It would be fun to read Mr.Dickinson's novels.

14. Swords & Dark Magic - Jonathan Strahan & Lou Anders

A nice collection, but very uneven. I really didn't like the Cudgel story. It had neither the lierary style, nor the wit of the original. Gene Wolfe was also represented, but his story was anything but S&S. Steven Erikson, Glen Cook, Scott Lynch, James Enge and Joe Abercombie was really good. I wonder why Erikson manage to be good in the short form, but so daunting in the long?

15. Hunter of Worlds - C.J. Cherryh

A classic Cherryh, with complex aliens and weird societies. Very messy read with lot of made up words. strangely enough it was just puzzling in a good way, and I'm almost considering re-reading it now when I know how it turns out, just to find out why.

16. Weaveworld - Clive Barker

Re-reading I find this book richer than before, with more subtle and quirky myths and traditions interwoven in a modern tale about faery. This really a very clever tale about where the little people of old disappeared to. I also very much appreciated how it developed the theme of how dreams shape our lives and how they can come true in the telling, and by living our dreams. I'll re-read it again.