Robert's Favorite Books of 2009:

"Twelve" by Jasper Kent. Release Date (UK Only): January 1, 2009. Pubished by Bantam Press UK. Brilliantly blending together historical fiction with vampire horror, "Twelve" is one of the best debuts of the year, and quite possibly my favorite book of 2009.

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"Canticle" by Ken Scholes. Release Date: October 13, 2009. Published by Tor. Superior to its predecessor in almost every way, "Canticle" is what a middle volume should be like: thrilling and rewarding while leaving the reader gasping for more...

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"The Price of Spring" by Daniel Abraham. Release Date: July 21, 2009. Published by Tor. The fourth and final volume in The Long Price Quartet is a triumphant conclusion to one of the most unique and spellbinding fantasy series that I've read in the past decade...

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"The Rats and the Ruling Sea" by Robert V.S. Redick. Release Date (UK Only): October 29, 2009. Published by Gollancz. Possessing all of the same outstanding qualities of the first book, while fixing most of its problems, "The Rats and the Ruling Sea" is a vast improvement over its predecessor and easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year...

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"The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart" by Jesse Bullington. Release Date: November 16, 2009. Published by Orbit Books. Bullington's debut may be vulgar, offensive, and hard to classify, but that's all part of the novel's unique and complex charm...

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"Boneshaker" by Cherie Priest. Release Date: September 29, 2009. Published by Tor. A winning combination of steampunk, zombie horror, pulp fiction and post-apocalyptic retrofuturism, "Boneshaker" is one of the year's most entertaining releases...

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"Mortal Coils" by Eric Nylund. Release Date: February 3, 2009. Published by Tor. A hugely entertaining and ambitious contemporary fantasy that magnificently blends together magic, myth, dysfunctional families, imagination and storytelling for an unforgettable reading experience...

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"The Forest of Hands & Teeth" by Carrie Ryan. Release Date: March 10, 2009. Published by Delacorte. Skillfully written, poignantly narrated, and powerfully haunting, Carrie Ryan's YA post-apocalyptic/zombie novel is simply one of the best debuts of the year…

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"The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death" by Charlie Huston. Release Date: January 13, 2009. Published by Ballantine Books. My favorite novel—which includes 2010's "Sleepless"—by one of my favorite authors. Need I say more?

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"This Is Not A Game" by Walter Jon Williams. Release Date: March 24, 2009. Published by Orbit Books. Expertly written and executed, scarily relevant, and massively entertaining, "This Is Not A Game" should be on everyone's reading list…

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"Afraid" by Jack Kilborn. Release Date: March 31, 2009. Published by Grand Central Publishing. Part horror, part suspense and part techno-thriller, "Afraid" is a non-stop joyride that evokes the very best of Stephen King and Dean Koontz...

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"Thicker Than Water" by Mike Carey. Release Date (UK Only): March 5, 2009. Published by Orbit Books. Featuring the series' most jaw-dropping twists and revelations, "Thicker Than Water" is the best volume in one of the best urban fantasy series currently being published...

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"Patient Zero" by Jonathan Maberry. Release Date: March 3, 2009. Published by St. Martin's Griffin. James Rollins' Sigma Force novels meets 24 meets 28 Days Later and Resident Evil in Maberry's immensely entertaining blockbuster...