Fantasy Book Critic: Fantasy Book Critic’s 2008 Review/2009 Preview

2008 FAVORITES:

“Memoirs of a Master Forger” by William Heaney. An elegant and touching novel that wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but all the better for it. A wonderful combination of literary sensibilities and an understanding of genre fiction that had the humanity and warmth I find lacking in what’s considered ‘proper’ literary fiction. A real gem of a book.

“Anathem” by Neal Stephenson. A book I’ve not yet finished but is fascinating me thus far and I think it’s only going to get better. Having recently read Dissolution, Anathem is one hell of a work; more realized and convincing a setting than the (very good) comparable historical novel. It’s a big book and the first 150 pages are largely scene setting so you have to persevere, but it’s a remarkable achievement that I’m really enjoying.

“Halting State” by Charles Stross. Sort of halfway between a Christopher Brookmeyer novel and a SF, it’s near future, thought-provoking at times and highly entertaining if you can get over the reasonably high level of geekery!

“Quite Ugly One Morning” by Christopher Brookmeyer. I’ve never read a Brookmeyer that wasn’t excellent—well-written, pacey, funny and filled with some of the best ranting tangents I’ve come across in a long time. Every single one is a treat.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2009:

The books I’m most looking forward to reading are “The Painted Man” by Peter V. Brett and “Matter” by Iain M. Banks. Beyond that, I don’t know when Mark Chadbourn’s Elizabethan book is coming but that’s really going to be one to look out for.

ON THE HORIZON FOR TOM LLOYD:

“The Grave Thief”, book 3 in the Twilight Reign is published in the UK (Gollancz) at the very start of the year, while, confusingly, book 2—“The Twilight Herald”—is published in America (Pyr) in March, with “The Grave Thief” following towards the end of the year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After a degree in International Relations at Southampton University, Tom Lloyd went straight into publishing where he still works. The British novelist is currently writing the Twilight Reign fantasy series. For more information, please visit the author’s Official Website.

NOTE: For more author responses, please visit Fantasy Book Critic's 2008 Review/2009 Preview index HERE.