tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post7636889416892111309..comments2024-03-20T19:40:58.078-05:00Comments on The OF Blog: Revisiting my Best of 2008 lists and some 2009 early contendersLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-76184867447293789062009-05-16T23:17:00.000-05:002009-05-16T23:17:00.000-05:00I actually forgot Wonderful World by J. Calvo - ha...I actually forgot Wonderful World by J. Calvo - hard to classify, would go to mainstream non-fantastic though could go to fantastic too; forgot Gilman too - I read it as an arc in 08 and for some reason I thought of it as an 08 release<br /><br />I read 73 09 releases so far (8 as arcs in 08 though) but I expect my pace to slow also regarding new releases since I kind of mapped the ones I plan to read so I can beg for arcs :) and they add up to about 60 - of course there are always surprises that I find by browsing in store or by authors writing to me<br /><br />Hell by RO Butler is another upcoming novel that I forgot but could jump there to a top spot based on the quality of the author's writing in the superb collections Severance and Intercourse as well as the earlier Pulitzer winning stories about Vietnameses refugees<br /><br />In terms of pure literary quality, Sebastien Doubinsky (English debut Babylonian Trilogy) and RO Butler are the best writers I discovered this year while in terms of sense of wonder In the Courts of the Sun takes first place so farLiviuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04615405766065227026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-23459026896500662302009-05-16T21:54:00.000-05:002009-05-16T21:54:00.000-05:00Can't believe I left out Corambis, as that too was...Can't believe I left out <I>Corambis</I>, as that too was a very good novel. I'll have to see on some of the others you've mentioned, but I suspect I won't be reading as many 2009 releases this year, due to some shifts in my interests so far this year.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-61283174585958985992009-05-16T21:51:00.000-05:002009-05-16T21:51:00.000-05:00For me the one book that would have been co-#1 wit...For me the one book that would have been co-#1 with Anathem in sf 08 is Omega by C. Evans; PS published, so hard to get until I managed to snag a pdf review copy from them; it's almost a perfect novel - limited scope but does perfectly imho what it wants<br />There is a SH review by Paul Kincaid that made me want badly this novel, made me get all of C. Evans backlist (6 other novels, read 4 and enjoyed all) and the praise there is well deserved and more; have not finished yet Song of Time since that is another potential top 08 book<br /><br />From 09 - The Babylonian Trilogy, Corambis, Nights Villjamur, In the Courts of the Sun, Stone's Fall, The Accord, Julian the novel (RC Wilson), The Stalin Epigram, Vlad the Last Confession, Yellow Blue Tibia, Mortal Coils, Drood, Kindly Ones are books that will have a place on my top lists, with the debut Ice Song there too. But it's early and I expect several books with a shot at #1 - IMB Transition, Gary Gibson Nova War, Alex Bell Jasmyn, A Reynolds Terminal World, P. McAuley Gardens of the Sun; most are sf or mainstream fantastic - in pure fantasy hard to say since no Glotka means I have lower expectations for Joe's book and there is no Caine this year, no Rothfuss, no Brett, no announced Weeks, no KJ Parker and City/City was a mediocre book for me, great first part, let down second part<br /><br />For now Stone's Fall is my #1 novel overall and top mainstream, In the Courts of the Sun top sf, Corambis top f, The Babylonian Trilogy top mainstream fantasticLiviuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04615405766065227026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-74413009039633065812009-05-16T21:17:00.000-05:002009-05-16T21:17:00.000-05:00Yeah, some on this list will be left off once I ge...Yeah, some on this list will be left off once I get to December. This was to remind myself later on what I was considering in mid-May.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-13138560416654864982009-05-16T21:15:00.000-05:002009-05-16T21:15:00.000-05:00I agree with City Without End. I can't imagine th...I agree with <B>City Without End</B>. I can't imagine there will be ten books this year better than it, and I really can't imagine that i'll find all ten. <br /><br /><B>Hand of Isis</B> was good, but I'm not sure it'll crack my top ten at the end of the year unless I'm short on finishing 2009 books.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094675116398769415noreply@blogger.com