For science fiction readers, witnessing the clock turn over to the year 2000 was a special feeling indeed. The divide had been crossed, the next century was here, and distant years bandied about solely in sci fi classics would now play out in reality.
Passing into 2011 echoes that feeling, as we now have an entire decade of the future that exists primarily in memory. We’ve done the work, so to speak, and can better appreciate the future in which we live…
In the spirit of appreciation, we now ask Tor.com readers to choose the best science fiction and fantasy novels of the first decade of the 21st century! Any novel published from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010 is eligible* and there’s no limit to how many you can pick.**
We’ll tabulate the novels mentioned in the comments until 11:59 PM EST on Friday, January 14 and the ten with the highest number of votes will be higlighted in a series of appreciation posts here on the site, featuring an array of guest writers!
We’ll be updating the votes regularly here on Tor.com, Facebook, and Twitter until the end of voting, so keep checking back. And rally your friends to vote on your favorite!
*We realize that’s eleven years. We wanted to have the option of including the year 2000, in case this year was skipped in best-of lists of the previous decade.
**Please note that if you individually repeat the name of a book twice we’ll only be counting it for a single vote.
WoT gets my main votes of course. The Way of Kings gets a vote after that. Then I’d have to choose Week’s Night Angel trilogy.
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
The Way of Kings gets my first vote.
After that, Changes by Jim Butcher. I’ve been a big fan of his Dresden books, and that one was fantastic.
And my last vote goes to Covenants by Lorna Freeman. I’ve read it and re-read it. Amazing story.
Dust by Elizabeth Bear
WoT….and The Song of Fire and Ice!
I’ll have to think more about this, but offhand:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s 8th Season (comics)
…I think that’s it for now.
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo
Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
In the Courts of the Sun by Brian D’Amato
Brent Weeks’ Night Angel trilogy
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Does Cryptonomicon count as SF?
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
A Storm of Swords by George Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Mistborn: The Final Empire
by Brandon Sanderson
Definitely American Gods! Also, I would say Kushiel’s Dart is a good choice…
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds (2000)
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson (2000)
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson (2001)
Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Stover (2001)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004)
City of Pearl by Karen Traviss (2004)
The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe (2004/5)
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (2006)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007)
The Terror by Dan Simmons (2007)
Caine Black Knife by Matthew Stover (2008)
Joe Abercrombie’s books get my vote; The First Law and the stand-alone Best Served Cold (not sure what you call that world). It took dark and gritty to a new level.
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Hands Down. Nothing else was even close in garnering the same reaction from me.
My other choices would be:
Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings (Previous favorite before Way of Kings and still my favorite stand-alone)
Elantris – Loved the novel structure
Mistborn – Great world
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
River of Gods, Ian McDonald
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham! Autumn War is my favorite in the series.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained by Peter Hamilton
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Forever by Pete Hamill
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman
Cauldron by Jack McDevitt
Time Traveler’s Never Die by Jack McDevitt
For the Wheel of Time… last decade’s best was Knife of Dreams. For Song of Ice and Fire… Storm of Swords. Guy Gaviel Kay finished his Sarantine Mosaic in 2000 with Lord of Emperors.
Really, really far behind in my reading list but…
The Breach by Patrick Lee
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Changes – Jim Butcher
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
nforget @24: Cryptonomicon was in the last decade? Really?
goes off to wikipedia
Wow, look at that. 1999, certainly close enough. Stephenson’s written so many huge good books, I thought it had to be 20 years ago :)
Votes:
Cryptonomicon, if allowed
Anathem
Mistborn trilogy
A Hymn Before Battle
The Viscount of Adrilankha by Steven Brust (2002/2003/2004)
A Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer (2004?)
The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe (2004/5)
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (2006)
The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross (2007)
Dust by Elizabeth Bear (2007)
The Stratford Man by Elizabeth Bear (2008/2008)
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (2010)
The Bird of the River by Kage Baker (2010)
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Forever by Pete Hammill
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Horns by Joe Hill
Neal Stephenson’s Anathem
Daniel Abraham’s Long Price Quartet
Robert Charles Wilson’s Spin
Susannah Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Susan Palwick’s Shelter
The Book of the Short Sun by Gene Wolfe
(the fist part was published in 1999, but it wasn’t finished until 2001, so it ought to count.)
1. The Final Empire (Mistborn 1) by Brandon Sanderson
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
3. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
4. Wheel of Time books (hard to separate them) by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
5. Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
Deadhouse Gates (2000) by Steven Erikson
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin (was this pre-2000?)
Horns, Joe Hill
The Gathering Storm, Jordan and Sanderson
The Passage, Justin Cronin
Elegy Beach, Steven Boyett
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
The Planetary graphic novels, Warren Ellis*
The Locke & Key graphic novels, Joe Hill*
The Fables graphic novels, Bill Willingham*
*Yeah I know graphic novels probably don’t count. But if you do a best of SFF graphic novels list, don’t forget these!
Light by M. John Harrison
The Scar by China Mieville
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
Neal Stephenson, Anathem
Susannah Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
(Cryptonomicon is certainly fantasy if it isn’t science fiction, but I really don’t see how something published in 1999 can count.)
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Digger by Ursula Vernon
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Old Man’s War – Scalzi
Windup Girl – Bacigalupi
A Game of Thrones – Martin
River of Gods – Ian McDonald (2004)
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson (2001)
Pump Six and Other Stories – Paolo Bacigalupi (2008)
An Autumn War – Daniel Abraham (2008)
The Prefect – Alastair Reynolds (2007)
The Scar – China Mieville (2002)
Under Heaven – Guy Gavriel Kay (2010)
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch (2006)
Black Hills – Dan Simmons (2010)
The Radio Magician and Other Stories – James Van Pelt (2009)
Towers of Midnight – Jordan and Sanderson
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
The Way of Kings – Sanderson
The Long Price Quartet, Daniel Abraham
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
Halting State, Charles Stross
Glasshouse, Charles Stross
The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan
Thirteen (A.K.A. Black Man), Richard K. Morgan
Someone comes to town, someone leaves town, Cory Doctorow
Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
1. The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden & The Cities of Coin and Spice, by Catherynne M. Valente (it’s one work, it should only fill one spot!)
2. Kushiel’s Avatar, by Jacqueline Carey (though I’d put the whole first trilogy here if I could)
3. Farthing, by Jo Walton
4. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
5. The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold
6. Bone and Jewel Creatures, by Elizabeth Bear
7. Powers, by Ursula K. Le Guin
8. The Bird of the River, by Kage Baker
9. Dust, by Elizabeth Bear
10. Alphabet of Thorn, by Patricia A. McKillip
And a bonus one, because I have no idea how translated works count:
11. The Carpet Makers, by Andreas Eschbach (first published in English in 2005, but published in the original German in 1995)(If this one counts and ten is the max # of books I can vote for, it should knock Alphabet of Thorn off my list.)
I’ll retract Cryptonomicon. I think I was looking at the record for the paperback, which of course had a later publication date. Anathem was certainly good (frighteningly ambitious AND pulled it off nicely), but not Stephenson’s best.
I’m also smacking my forehead soundly for having left off Little Brother by Cory Doctorow.
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell By Susannah Clarke
2. The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson (Certainly fantasy or alternate history)
3. The Wizard Knight By Gene Wolfe
4. The Viscount of Adrilankha by Stephen Brust
A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Brave Story, by Miyuki Miyabe
Declare, by Tim Powers
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, by Michael Chabon
Song of Time, Ian R. MacLeod
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
Blindsight, Pete Watts
Evolution Stephen Baxter
Natural History, Justina Robson
Stone, Adam Roberts
River of Gods, IanMcDonald
Chasm City, Alastair Reynolds
The King of Attolia Megan Whalen Turner – 2007
The Queen of Attolia – Megan Whalen Turner – 2006
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss – 2009
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson – 2007
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson – 2010
Cursor’s Fury – Jim Butcher – 2007
1) The Imager Portfolio (Imager, Imager’s Challenge, Imager’s Intrigue) by LE Modesitt, Jr
2) Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series)
3) Hell’s Gate by David Weber
4) Through Wolf’s Eyes by Jane Lindskold (Firekeeper Series)
5) Vorpal Blade by Travis S. Taylor and John Ringo (Looking Glass Series)
6) Dies the Fire by SM Stirling (Emberverse)
Galveston, Sean Stewart
The Etched City, K.J. Bishop
The Scar, China Mieville
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
The Terror, Dan Simmons
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
The Chronoliths, Robert Charles Wilson
The Half Made World, Felix Gilman
Time to throw away my vote on (possibly) underappreciated books! Also sad that story collections are not included. But anyway:
Blood of Ambrose – James Eng
The City & The City – China Miéville
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Farthing – Jo Walton
A Princess of Roumania – Paul Park
Air – Geoff Ryman
The Red Tree – Caitlin Kiernan
The Other Wind – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Alchemy of Stone – Ekaterina Sedia
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
The Scar – China Mieville
lev grossman – magicians
abraham – long price quartet
r. scott bakker – prince of nothing series
stephenson – anathem
erikson – malazan series
martin – song of ice and fire
jordan/sanderson – wheel of time
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Prince of Nothing series – R. Scott Bakker
malazan series -deadhouse gates
Top 5, in chronological order:
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (2000)
Declare by Tim Powers (2o01)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow (2006)
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (2006)
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
the gathering storm-robert jorden end brandon sanderson
deadhouse gates- steaven erikso
The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb
A Game of Thrones – Martin
The Other Wind – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Lions of al-Rassan – guy gavriel kay
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Harry Potter & the Deadly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
so many books I haven’t read (yet) but I did like:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
New Spring by Robert Jordan (other than that I’m oonly up to book 8)
Reflex by Steven Gould (couldn’t put it down)
(did not care for Strange and/or Norrel)
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Winter’s Heart, Crossroads of Twilight, Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Deadhouse Gates, The Bonehunters, Reaper’s Gale, Toll the Hounds, (especially) Dust of Dreams – Steven Erikson
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
Lord of Emperors – Guy Gavriel Kay
Diplomatic Immunity – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents – Terry Pratchet
The Years of Rice and Salt – Kim Stanley Robinson
Some may only be glancingly SF/F, but still.
The Eyre Affair – Jasper Fforde
Thud! – Terry Pratchett (also the Tiffany Aching books)
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
Ysabel – Guy Gavriel Kay
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
Diary – Chuck Palahniuk
World War Z – Max Brooks
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The City and the City by China Mieville
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Farthing by Jo Walton
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow
Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
World War Z by Max Brooks
The Road by Cormac Mccarthy
A few which stood out for me…
A Storm of Swords – George R R Martin
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
…and several Pratchetts, notably:
Thief of Time
Night Watch
Going Postal
(I can’t believe almost no-one up there liked a Pratchett!)
~lakesidey
As much as I love the Wheel of Time books, and those by Brandon Sanderson, Brent Weeks, Peter V. Brett, and a host of others, I have to give my vote to the only book that grabbed ahold of me and would not let go until I had completed it. And for those that have read it, you know that finishing it in one sitting . . . well, that can cause soreness. Anyway, I’ll cast my vote for The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
Matter (2008) – Iain M Banks
Transition (2009) – Iain M Banks
What can I say. I’m a big fan of the man.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen (Series) — Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates — Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice — Steven Erikson
Matter — Ian Banks
In no particular order:
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Mistborn: The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
The Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
Antiphon – Ken Scholes
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Each volume of The Long Price Quartet – Daniel Abraham
A Storm of Swords – George RR Martin
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
Towers of Midnight, The Gathering Storm etc., Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn trilogy, Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
The Scar – China Mieville
Air – Geoff Ryman
Lavinia – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden & The Cities of Coin and Spice, by Catherynne M. Valente
A Civil Campaign – Lois Bujold
Ombria in Shadow – Particia A. McKillip
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Altered Carbon – Richard K. Morgan
The Truth – Terry Pratchett
River of Gods
Chasm City
Revelation Space
Windup Girl
The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden & The Cities of Coin and Spice – Catherynne Valente
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
There seems to be a lot of support for Erikson, Martin, Jordan/Sanderson and Gaiman already, so I’ll throw my vote behind Abercrombie – The First Law. A great series that is dark, tight and really turns some SFF tropes on their heads.
I noticed some entries are from before 2000. I’m sure these are from the last decade though. :)
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Deadhouse Gate – Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Dust of Dreams – Steven Erikson
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign – Lois McMaster Bujold
Conqueror’s Moon – Julian May
A Storm of Swords – George RR Martin
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Thud! – Terry Pratchett
Lord of Emperors – Guy Gavriel Kay
My list is pretty long, still, it represents the best of the more than 500 books I’ve read that were published in the aughts.
The Windup Girl (2009) by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Somnambulist (2008) by Jonathan Barnes
The Etched City (2003) by J. K. Bishop
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (2007) by Michael Chabon
The Lifecycle of Software Objects (2010) by Ted Chiang
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2004) by Susanna Clarke
House of Leaves (2000) by Mark Z. Danielewski
The Beyond (2001) by Jeffrey Ford
Coraline (2002) by Neil Gaiman
Atmospheric Disturbances (2008) by Rivka Galchen
The Book of Ash (2000) by Mary Gentle (published in the USA as a quartet: A Secret History (1999), Carthage Ascendant (2000), The Wild Machines (2000), Lost Burgundy (2000))
The Bigend trilogy by William Gibson (Pattern Recognition (2003), Spook Country (2007), Zero History (2010))
The Magicians (2009) by Lev Grossman
Cybele, With Bluebonnets (2002) by Charles L. Harness
Light (2002) by M. John Harrison
Memoirs of a Master Forger (2008) by Graham Joyce (published in the USA as How to Make Friends with Demons)
Lord of Emperors (2000) by Guy Gavriel Kay
Tender Morsels (2008) by Margo Lanagan
Zeppelins West (2001) by Joe Lansdale
In the Forests of Serre (2003) by Patricia A. McKillip
Od Magic (2005) by Patricia A. McKillip
Solstice Wood (2006) by Patricia A. McKillip
Perdido Street Station (2000) by China Mieville
Cloud Atlas (2004) by David Mitchell
Kafka on the Shore (2005) by Haruki Murakami
Princess of Roumania quartet by Paul Park (A Princess of Roumania (2005), The Tourmaline (2006), The White Tyger (2007), The Hidden World (2008))
Babylon (2000) by Victor Pelevin (published in the USA as Homo Zapiens)
The Sacred Book of the Werewolf (2008) by Victor Pelevin
The Prefect (2008) by Alastair Reynolds
Yellow Blue Tibia (2009) by Adam Roberts
Forty Signs of Rain (2004) by Kim Stanley Robinson
Air (2004) by Geoff Ryman
A Handbook of American Prayer (2004) by Lucius Shepard
Super Sad True Love Story (2010) by Gary Shteyngart
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson (Quicksilver (2003), The Confusion (2004), The System of the World (2004))
Trash Sex Magic (2004) by Jennifer Stevenson
The Orphan’s Tales duo by Catherynne M. Valente (The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden (2006), The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice (2007)
The Small Change trilogy by Jo Walton (Farthing (2006), Ha’penny (2007), Half a Crown (2008)
Lifelode (2009) by Jo Walton
Blackout duo by Connie Willis (Blackout (2010), All Clear (2010))
Return to the Whorl (2001) by Gene Wolfe
The Wizard Knight dou by Gene Wolfe (The Knight (2004), The Wizard (2004))
If collections were allowed, I’d pick Stranger Things Happen (2001) by Kelly Link; for anthologies, Conjunctions: 39, The New Wave Fabulists (2002)
In no particular order:
Deadhouse Gates, Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice,Steven Erikson
Tawny Man Trilogy, Robin Hobb
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K.Rowling
Knife of Dreams, Robert Jordan
A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin
The Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton
The Culture novels by Iain M. Banks
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom – Cory Doctorow
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Infoquake by David Louis Edelman
The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell
Jupiter by Ben Bova
The Briar King by Greg Keyes
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (I’d be willing to add my vote to any book from this series)
Dark Moon Defender by Sharon Shinn
His Majestys Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Gathering Storm – By Jordan/Sanderson
A Storm of Swords – By George Martin
The Name of the Wind – By Patrick Rothfuss
Knife of Dreams – By Robert Jordan
Night Watch – By Terry Pratchett
Mistborn: The Final Empire – By Brandon Sanderson
Deadhouse Gates – By Steven Erikson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
His Majestys Dragon by Naomi Novik
Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
Off Armageddon Reef, David Weber
Pandora’s Star, Peter F. Hamilton
Judas Unchained, Peter F. Hamilton
The Truth, Terry Pratchett
Wee Free Men, Terry Pratchett
Crossroads of Twilight, Robert Jordan
The Magicians, Lev Grossman
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke
World War Z, Max Brooks
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Terror, Dan Simmons
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz
The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Children of Hope by David Feintuch
HMMMMMMMMMMMM, TOO MANY TO NAME, LOVE PARANORMAL!
I’m rather partial to The Separation by Christopher Priest. Enough so I spent quite a bit of money on it…
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
The Scar by China Mieville
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Halting State by Charles Stross
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The City & The City by China Mieville
Julian Comstock by Robert Charles Wilson
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
The Name of the Wind – Partrick Rothfuss
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Can’t wait for the list to be published, I’ll have a host of new books to read. :)
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson (really, the whole trilogy)
Empire, Orson Scott Card
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susannah Clarke
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Gathering Storm, Jordan/Sanderson
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
The 13th Tale, Diane Setterfield
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Bright of the Sky by Kay Kenyon
Natural History by Justina Robson
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Etched City by J. K. Bishop
In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente
Air by Geoff Ryman
Brasyl by Ian MacDonald
Daemon by Daniel Suarez
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Time Traveler’s Never Dieby by Jack McDevitt
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo
Kraken by China Mieville
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Very Bad Deaths by Spider Robinson
Mammoth by John Varley
Cosmonaut Keep by Ken MacLeod
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The First Law sequence, Joe Abercrombie
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Undertow, Elizabeth Bear
Night Watch and Thud!
The Wheel of Time books this decade
The Way of Kings
The Name of the Wind
Blackout/All Clear
Mistborn
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Almost all the Guy Gavriel Kay’s novels: Lord of Emperors, The Last Light of the Sun, Ysabel. I’m reading Under Heaven so it isn’t in my list.
All of the Wheel of Time’s novels: Winter’s Hearth, Crossroads of Twlight, New Spring, Knife of Dreams, The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight.
All of the Song of Ice and Fire’s novels: A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows.
Brandon Sanderson, Misborn the Finale Empire and Mistborn the Well of Ascension. I’m italian, the other Sanderson’s books aren’t yet translated, and I read only a little in english. I love Sanderson’s books.
Jonathan Stroud, The Amulet of Samarkand.
Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind.
Harry Turtledove, In the Presence of Mine Enemies.
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson (thousands of pages and was still sad when it ended)
Another vote for American Gods – Gaiman
Rainbow’s End- Vernor Vinge
These were probably my top 3 of the decade, though I’m sure I’ll come up with more.
Flood – Stephen Baxter was also very good.
The Gathering Storm (WoT 12)
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Last Argument of Kings, Joe Abercrombie
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Ilium, Dan Simmons
A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin
Look To Windward, Iain M. Banks
Small Favor, Jim Butcher
Issola, Steven Brust
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
SF: Anathem
Fantasy: Changes (the entire Dresden Files really, but if I have to pick one)
Palimpsest, Cat Valente
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N K Jemisin
Heart’s Blood, Juliet Marillier
The Etched City, KJ Bishop
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J K Rowling
Lavinia, Ursula K LeGuin
Blood Tide, Pamela Freeman
Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan
:)
Blindsight, The Way of Kings, any WoT books from this decade, and Off Armageddon Reef.
Wow, 10 years, there’s so much!
The King of Attolia – Megan Whalen Turner – 2007
The Queen of Attolia – Megan Whalen Turner – 2006
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss – 2009
Mistborn trilogy – Brandon Sanderson – 2006-2008
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians – Brandon Sanderson – 2007
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson – 2005
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson – 2009
(Once I read Way of Kings I’m sure it’ll make this list.)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J K Rowling – 2000
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J K Rowling – 2003
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J K Rowling – 2005
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J K Rowling – 2009
Dreamhunter – Elizabeth Knox – 2005
Dreamquake – Elizabeth Knox – 2007
Hunger Games trilogy – Suzanne Collins – 2010
Sorcery & Cecelia – Patricia C Wrede – 2004
A Business of Ferrets – Beth Hilgartner – 2000
Transformation – Carol Berg – 2000
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold – 2003
Poison Study – Maria V Snyder – 2006
Lady in Gil – Rebecca J Bradley – 2000
The Sword – Deborah Chester – 2000
Trickster’s Choice – Tamora Pierce – 2004
Green Rider – Kristen Britain – 2000
The Merlin Conspiracy – Diana Wynne Jones – 2003
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
The Night Angel Trilogy (though particularly Shadow’s Edge) – Brent Weeks
The Black Magician Trilogy (particularly The High Lord) – Trudi Canavan
Mistborn Trilogy (particularly The Well of Ascension) – Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Thanks to everyone for more reading ideas!
Last decade’s WOT books.
Wow. I went in a totally different direction!!
“Gabriel’s Ghost” by Linnea Sinclair (and its’ sequel) “Shades of Dark” by Linnea Sinclair
“Alien Overnight” by Robin Rotham
“No Quarter” by Christine D’Abo
“In Ice” a novella by Crystal Jordan
“Slave To Sensation” by Nalini Singh
“Hunters Of Dune” by Anderson/Herbert
The Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins
Mostly in this order:
1) American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
2) Blackout, by Connie Willis
3) The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
4) Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
5) The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, by Michael Chabon
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Clarke
The Gone-Away World – Harkaway
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
American Gods – Gaiman
The Terror – Simmons
The Dark Tower – King
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows-by J. K. Rowling
Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan
The City & the City – China Mieville
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Wizard Knight – Gene Wolfe
The Book of the Short Sun – Gene Wolfe
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
Lord of Emperors – Guy Gavriel Kay
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Cold Magic – Kate Elliott
The Commonwealth Saga – Peter F. Hamilton
Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse – Robert Rankin
Godspeaker – Karen Miller
The Silver Wyrm – Katharine Kerr
The Pinhoe Egg – Diana Wynn Jones
Kiln People – David Brin
Ash – Mary Gentle
Sun Sword – Michelle Sagara ( as Michelle West)
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
The Thursday Next Books by Jasper Fforde
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Watch Books by Sergey Lukyanenko (Not sure how translations are handled. The first two books were published before 2000 in Russian, but the translations only came out after, if I’m not mistaken)
Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket [though the first two books were published in 1999 and they all barely qualify as SFF, I wanted to get this out there ;)]
I have a few:
Brust: Dragon
Bujold: A Civil Campaign
Butcher: Furies of Calderon
Sanderson: Way of Kings
Jordon/Sanderson: Towers of Midnight
Weber: anything!
I’m sure I missed a lot. However, one I saw a lot recommended I totally hated. That was American Gods..everyone said how good it was but I thought it was stupid and pointless.
Knew I would forgot one.
Also The Prestige, Christopher Priest
The City & The City by China Mieville
The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway
The Thirteen and a Half Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
R. Scott Bakker – The Prince of Nothing Series
Steven Brust – The Vlad Taltos Series (post-2000 books, of course)
Brent Weeks – The Night Angel Trilogy
David Weber – Safehold Series
Ed Greenwood (and other authors) – The Waterdeep books
R.A. Salvatore (and other authors) – War of the Spider Queen Series
George R.R. Martin – Song of Ice and Fire Series/post-2000 Wild Cards books
The Amber Spyglass (2000) by Philip Pullman (conclusion to His Dark Materials trilogy)
A Storm of Swords (2000) by George R.R. Martin
Knife of Dreams (2005) by Robert Jordan
The Blade Itself (2006) by Joe Abercrombie
The Name of the Wind (2007) by Patrick Rothfuss
The Black Prism (2010) by Brent Weeks
I expect to think of more….
Anathem by Neal Stephenson. It isn’t even close.
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Commonwealth Saga – Peter F. Hamilton
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
The January Dancer – Michael Flynn
Eragon, 2003 – Christopher Paolini
Confessor, 2007
Phantom, 2005
Chainfire, 2005 – Terry Goodkind
Riders First Call, 2003 – Kristen Britain
Off Armageddon Reef, 2007 – David Weber
and EVERY Xanth novel ever written – Piers Anthony
Another one for
Perdido Street Station – By China Mieville
great read!
I’ll limit myself to ten. (Cheating, in that some of these are series, atcually.)
1) American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2) The Stratford Man by Elizabeth Bear
3) The Doctrine of Labyrinths by Sarah Monette
4) The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe
5) Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis
6) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
7) The Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan
8) The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
9) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
10) Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Darwin’s Radio by Greg Bear
Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
The Scar by China Mieville
In no particular order:
A Hymn Before Battle – John Ringo
Ghost – John Ringo
WoT – Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Magi’i of Cyador and the rest of the Recluse Saga – L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Wow–so many titles to add to my library queue! I am psyched. Great idea, this!
My favorites of the decade (can I remember back that far, hmm. . . babies in diapers, no sleep, ah, yes, I remember it well):
Spellwright by Blake Charlton
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Graceling by Kristen Cashore
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Warded Man by Peter J Brett
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Darwin’s Radio WAS a good one, thanks Luis for the reminder
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
I know there are more. . .
The Wheel of Time series
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords
Guy Gavriel Kay, Lord of Emperors
Guy Gavriel Kay, Under Heaven
Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
Mary Gentle, 1610: A Sundial in a Grave
Iain M. Banks, Look to Windward
Iain M. Banks, Matter
Daniel Abraham, the Long Price Quartet (A Shadow in Summer, A Betrayal in Winter, An Autumn War, the Price of Spring)
Catherynne Valente, The Orphan’s Tales (In the Night Garden, In the Cities of Coin and Spice)
Richard Morgan, Altered Carbon
Sarah Monette, the Doctrine of Labyrinths (Mélusine, The Virtu, The Mirador, Corambis)
Stories of your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Pump Six and Others by Paolo Bacigalupi
Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Schild’s Ladder by Greg Egan
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Leviathan Wept and Other Stories by Daniel Abraham
Calculating God by Robert J Sawyer
Ares Express, by Ian McDonald (2001)
The Sky So Big and Black, by John Barnes (2002)
River of Gods, by Ian McDonald (2004)
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell (2004)
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke (2004)
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson (2005)
Blindsight, by Peter Watts (2006)
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, by Michael Chabon (2007)
Lavinia, by Ursula K. Le Guin (2008)
The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway
The Imager Portfolio (Imager, Imager’s Challenge, Imager’s Intrigue) by LE Modesitt, Jr
The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold – anything by her
Cursor’s Fury – and all that series and others by him – Jim Butcher
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch
Deadhouse Gates, by Steven Erikson
Harry Potter Series, by J K Rowling
The Way of Kings definitely gets a vote. Also, Towers of Midnight and The Gathering Storm. Warbreaker deserves a vote. The Mistborn trilogy as well. Elantris too. And the Alcatraz books because they are so funny.
I’d say all of these were the best books of the decade. I know they are all written by the same author. What can I say? I’m a huge fan.
I forgot to add the Temeraire novels, by Naomi Novik. Of which I’d pick the first, His Majesty’s Dragon, as my favourite.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin
Lavinia, Ursula K. Le Guin
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
The Long Price Quartet, Daniel Abraham
1. Perdito Street Station (China Mieville)
2. Seeker (Jack McDevitt)
3. The Last Light of the Sun (Guy Kay)
4. The Moon and the Sun (Vonda N. McIntyre)
5. The Amazing Adventures of Kavelier and Clay (Michael Chabon)
6. The Shadow Year (Jeffrey Ford)
7. Cauldron (Jack McDevitt)
8. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (Michael Chabon)
9. The Etched City (K.J. Parker)
10. Look to Windward (Iain M. Banks)
My ten best (that I have read) in alphabetical order:
Paolo Bacigalupi ‘The Windup Girl’
Kathleen Ann Goonan ‘In War Times’
Kazuo Ishiguro ‘Never Let Me Go’
Cormac McCarthy ‘The Road’
Ian McDonald ‘River of Gods’
Richard Morgan ‘Thirteen (aka ‘Black Man’)
Alastair Reynolds ‘Pushing Ice’
Geoff Ryman ‘Air’
Charles Stross ‘Accelerando’
Robert Charles Wilson ‘Spin’
illium- dan simmons
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Rainbows End
The Baroque Cycle
I wonder if I can nominate Shaun Tan’s The Arrival? But being a book-length work of fiction doesn’t make it a novel, I suppose.
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Toll the Hounds – Steven Erikson
Put me down for Dan Simmons’ Ilium, too. It’s a shame Olympos had to squander a lot of its predecessor’s potential.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Never Let Me Go by Ken Ishiguro
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
Changes by Jim Butcher
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
The Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
If there’s no limit, I’ll add a few more!
The whole Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
Any of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett
The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett
A Secret Atlas by Michael Stackpole
The Unhandsome Prince by John Moore
Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The whole Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The whole Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher
The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
All of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Not sure if this counts, but I really liked it!
Flatterland by Ian Stewart “like flatland, only more so”
@welovetea: The Skies of Pern was published in 2001
The Scar by China Mieville
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carrey
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Century Rain – Alastair Reynolds
Redemption Ark – Alastair Reynolds
Shadowrise – Tad Williams
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway
Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
Johannes Cabal, the Detective by Jonathan Howard
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell By Susannah Clarke
2. A Storm of Swords By George R R Martin
3. Yellow Blue Tibia By Adam Roberts
4. The City and The City By China Mieville
5. Stardust By Neil Gaiman
6. Genesis By Bernard Beckett
7. Ilium By Dan Simmons
8. The Habitation of the Blessed By Catherynne M Valente
The Gathering Storm, Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett
Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett
Legend of Luke, Brian Jacques
Shadowmarch, Tad Williams
Otherland: Sea of Silver Light, Tad Williams
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
In no particular order:
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Inda by Sherwood Smith
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Desert Spear by Peter Brett
Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
A Storm of Swords by GRRM
9. Sputnik Sweetheart By Haruki Murakami
10. Choke By Chuck Palahniuk
otherland : sea of silver light -tad williams
_Farthing_ by Jo Walton
_World War Z_ by Max Brooks
_A Brother’s Price_ by Wen Spencer
_The Curse of Chalion_ by Lois McMaster Bujold
_Paladin of Souls_ by Lois McMaster Bujold
_The Viscount of Adrilankha_ by Steven Brust
In terms of series, I thought _Empire of Ivory_ and _Victory of Eagles_ were the best Temeraire books, but looks like I should just nominate _His Majesty’s Dragon_, or the series as a whole, by Naomi Novik
The Vlad Taltos books of the oughts, by Steven Brust: I really liked _Jhegaala_
The Dresden Files, damn, that whole series has been in the oughts? It has had an out-size impact. The first few were ok, but starting from about _Death Masks_ on, I’ll second any vote for best book, or for the series as a whole… Oh, to be polite, typing out _Blood Rites_ _Dead Beat_ _Proven Guilty_ _White Night_ _Small Favor_ _Changes_ I feel like I missed a couple. By Jim Butcher.
“The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss, for sure.
“Night Angel Trilogy” by Brent Weeks.
“His Majesty’s Dragon” by Naomi Novik.
“Cold Magic” by Kate Elliott.
=)
“The Name of the Wind” – Patrick Rothfuss, of course – great book.
“Prador Moon” – Neal Asher, anything by this guy, what a writer.
Couldn’t get into Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files books but loved his “Furies of Calderon” series of six books.
“The Way of Kings” – Brandon Sanderson – something to look forward to and he is fairly young!
“Old Mans War” – John Scalzi.
“Altered Carbon” – Richard Morgan.
“Towers of Midnight” – Jordan and Sanderson – couldn’t miss putting in one WoT book.
Loving this! My to-read list now has a lot of books.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JKR
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
A Storm of Swords G R R Martin
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
A Storm Of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings
Ship Of Destiny by Robin Hobb
The Ghost King by R.A.Salvatore
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Here are my top ten, ok its eleven, but you guys did it to.
A Storm Of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
His Majestys Dragon by Naomi Novik
Changes by Jim Butcher
Stephenson, Anathem
Rothfuss, Name of the Wind
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke,
Goning Postal, Night Watch and Thud by Terry Pratchett,
The Tawny Man by Robin Hobb
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jordan – Knife of Dreams
Martin – Storm of Swords
Wilson – Spin
Hobbs – Tawny Man series
Willis – Blackout/All Clear
Bujold – A Civil Campaign and Cryoburn
Bujold – Curse of Chalion
Erickson – Deathhouse Gates
Old Man’s War
by John Scalzi published in 2005
This book rekindled my interest in science fition and started me reading again.
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Lies of Loch Lymora – Scott Lynch
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
A game of Thrones – George RR Martin
Fragment – Fehy
Patient Zero – Mayberry
Her Majesty’s Dragon – Novik
Dark Glory War – Stackpole
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde
The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
The Hunger Games by Susan Collins
Humans by Robert J. Sawyer
The Family Trade by Charles Stross
The Empress of Mars by Kage Baker
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
D.M. Cornish – The Monster Blood Tattoo series: Book 1, The Foundling; Book 2, The Lamplighter; Book 3, Factotum.
Mel Odom – THE ROVER series: The Rover (2001)Destruction of the Books (2004)Lord of the Libraries (2005)The Quest for the Trilogy (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince (and also books 4, 5 and 7) – J.K.Rowling
Under Heaven and Ysobel – Guy Gavriel Kay
Sir Apropos of Nothing – Peter David
the Discworld books – Terry Pratchett
Fallen and Torment – Lauren Kate
the Hunger Games trilogy – Susan Collins
for graphic novels:
the Rising Stars and Midnight Nation series – J.M. Straczynski
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Gathering Storm by Jordan/Sanderson
Towers of Midnight by Jordan/Sanderson
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
His Magesty’s Dragon by Novik
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
Changes by Jim Butcher
The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings
Artemis Fowl by Colfer
The Lightning Theif (and the rest of the Percy Jackson Series) by Rick Riordan
The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Valente
Three Days to Never by Tim Powers
Way of kings by Brandon sanderson
WoT
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Calculating God (Robert Sawyer)
Speed of Dark (Elizabeth Moon)
A Brother’s Price (Wen Spencer)
Balance of Trade (Lee and Miller)
Cryoburn (Lois McMaster Bujold)
Dies the Fire (S. M. Stirling)
The Telling (Ursula K. Le Guin)
Old Man’s War (John Scalzi)
Conquistador (S. M. Stirling)
Red Thunder (John Varley)
For sheer originality, for not being variations on a theme, for their stellar, brilliant writing and structure
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
Cloud Atlas
In the Night Garden
for being not quite the same variation on a theme and excellent writing
The Long Price Quartet
The Road
Perdido Street Station
The City and the City
The Brief History of the Dead
The Graveyard Book
The Risen Empire
Lost in a Good Book (writing less strong)
For being the best in those variations on a theme
The Malazan series
The Amulet of Samarkand
Mistborn
Blackout/All Clear
The Year of the Flood
Altered Carbon/Woken Furies
The Passage
Gifts/Voices/Powers
Best YA
The Hunger Games
Graceling
Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series
Inkspell
No. 1 without a doubt is “The Terror” by Dan Simmons, which is more pure, brilliant literature.
“Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
“Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” by Michael Chabon
“Under the Dome” by Stephen King
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
My pick:
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson (2005)
Runners up:
Rainbow’s End, Vernor Vinge (2006)
Singularity Sky, Charles Stross (2003)
Accelerando, Charles Stross (2005)
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi (2004)
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow (2008)
Eifelheim, Michael Flynn (2006)
Anathem, Neal Stephenson (2008)
Also rans:
Blindsight, Peter Watts (2006)
Mars Crossing, Geoffrey Landis (2001)
Pattern Recognition, William Gibson (2003)
Light, M. John Harrison (2002)
Hammerfall, C. J. Cherryh (2001)
Just outside the decade cutoff:
Perdido Street Station, China Miéville (2000)
Revelation Space, Alastair Reynolds (2000)
Good fun but try to pick just one?:
Academy series (Deepsix, Chindi, Omega, Odyssey, Cauldron), Jack McDevitt
Alex Benedict series (Polaris, Seeker, The Devil’s Eye), Jack McDevitt
My favorites
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (I have to put this as #1. I have to)
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (Unique, well written, fascinating story, ready for the sequel!)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Where was this all my life?)
The Truth by Terry Pratchett (I love *all* his books, but I thought this one was perhaps the best of the decade)
The Magicians by Lev Grossman (Random book I picked up at the library one day, turned out to be a fantastic read and one of my favorites)
Sharon Lee – Scout’s Progress
Sharon Lee – I Dare
Sharon Lee – Balance of Trade
Infected, by Scott Sigler
Contagious, by Scott Sigler
The Rookie, by Scott Sigler
The Starter, by Scott Sigler
Just recalled a few years ago I really enjoyed the rather impresive debut: Fitzpatrick’s War by Theodore Judson
This is great- now I have some things to look forward to AFTER finishing Erikson’s Malazan series.
In no special order-
The Road- Cormac McCarthy – BEST BOOK of the decade, no genre needed
Storm of Swords and Feast of Crows- GRRMartin
Deadhouse Gates, Memories of Ice, House of Chains, The Bonehunters- Steven Erikson
Harry Potter – any post 1999 book- JK Rowling
I tried to mix it up a little, going for the usual favs and some of my other favorites by authors that are being mentioned for other books.
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
Speed of Dark, Elizabeth Moon
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
The City & The City, China Mieville
Glasshouse, Charles Stross
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Chasm City, Alastair Reynolds
The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl, Tim Pratt
The Chronoliths, Robert Charles Wilson
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdon, Cory Doctorow
Matter, Iain Banks
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, Charles Yu
Old Man’s War- Scalzi
Anathem, Stephenson
Emissaries from the Dead, Adam-Troy Castro
Magicians, Lev Grossman
Transformation – Carol Berg
Revelation – Carol Berg
Restoration – Carol Berg
Polaris – Jack McDevitt
Seeker – Jack McDevitt
Marseguro by Edward Willett
Wake by Robert J Sawyer
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
The Black Chalice by Marie Jakober
Ooh, tough.
My faves?
A Small and Remarkable Life, byNick DiChario
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Something Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
Finch by Jeff Vandermeer
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff Vandermeer
Spaceman Blues by Brian Francis Slattery
The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott
The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem
The Wall of America by Thomas M. Disch
Anathem by Neal Stephenson (I loved the world enough to forgive the ending)
Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde (Fforde does another great job of creating a quirky, imaginative, and delightful world.)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Brilliant)
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (This has to be here, if only because of the nostalgia attached…so much happened in this book that meant so much.)
Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb (Hobb’s characters are incredibly sympathetic, I’d pick the whole trilogy.)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (Again, the culmination of something huge. Wonderfully well done.)
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Left me anxiously waiting for more)
Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson (Did not see the conclusion to the very excellent Mistborn trilogy coming. The whole thing was fabulous.)
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Wake by Robert Sawyer
Freefall and Search by Judy and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
the various Harrys Potter by JK Rowling
Inkheart (and the sequels) by Cornelia Funke
(I love all of the above, but the one “if you haven’t read it you really have to” book in that list is Search.)
I Dare by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Crystal Soldier by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Saltation by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Local Custom by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Sword of Orion by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold
TOP 5
1. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
2. The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
3. Red Seas Under Red Skies, Scott Lynch
4. The War of the Flowers, Tad Williams
5. Lord of Emperors, Guy Kay
In no particular order….
Under Heaven, by Guy Kay
A Storm of Swords, George Martin
A Feast for Crows, George Martin
The Last Light of the Sun, Guy Kay
Rainbows End,Vernor Vinge
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Towers of Midnight, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Baroque Cycle, Neal Stephenson
The Red Wolf Conspiracy, Robert Redick
The Ruling Sea, Robert Redick
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
WWW:Wake, Robert Sawyer
Lamentation / Canticle / Antiphon, Ken Scholes
Daemon / Freedom ™,Daniel Suarez
Little Brother, Corey Doctorow
Mistborn 1, Elantris & The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
Red Wolf Conspiracy – Yea! forgot that one
Way of Kings
Towers of Midnight
Orphans of Chaos
The Gathering Storm
WOT needs to be in the top 10 – Can I say just WOT? or are you looking for specific titles? – RObert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Other mentions are
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson (I haven’t read Way of Kings yet)
Runelords – David Farland
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – JK Rowling
(Well, those are the ones off the top of my head)
American Gods
Name of the Wind
Night Watch
Lamentation by Ken Scholes
Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
A Game Of Thrones by George RR Martin
American Gods and Anansi Boys both get a shout from me.
So does Harry Potter 7 for obvious reasons.
But…
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell all the way, though. I love that book in ways I cannot express.
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Air – Geoff Ryman
The Mount – Carol Emshwiller
Stories of Your Life and Others – Ted Chiang
Light – M. John Harrison
The Algebraist – Iain M. Banks
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Mistborn (trilogy) – Sanderson
Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Way of Kings – Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Jordan & Sanderson
Harry Potter (books 6 and 7 combined) – Rowling
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Wow, there are a lot of books posted above I really want to read! (I really, really can’t wait to read the Long Price Quartet and How to Live Safely in Science Fiction Universe now…)
Here are some of my favorites from the last decade:
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susana Clarke
Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
The Scar, by China Mieville
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
Chasm City, by Alastair Reynolds
Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K. Jemisin
All in the Liaden Universe; Lee & Miller;
WoT;
Dresden Files;
Furies of Calderon;
Honor Harrington;
The Way of Kings – Sanderson
Mistborn – Sanderson
The Wheel of Time – Jordan
The Scar-China Mieville
Hungry City Chronicles:
Mortal Engines-Philip Reeve
Predator’s Gold-Philip Reeve
Infernal Devices-Philip Reeve
A Darkling Plain-Philip Reeve
The Amber Spyglass-Philip Pullman
Y The Last Man (The Complete Series)-Brian K. Vaughan
…if Graphic Novels count.
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
That book is an excellent start to what I believe will be an epic series.
Second place:
Wheel of Time
Stubby said:
In the spirit of appreciation, we now ask Tor.com readers to choose the best science fiction and fantasy novels of the first decade of the 21st century! Any novel published from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010 is eligible.
Underlining was by me. ;)
It said ‘novels’. Not ‘Series’ or ‘Everything written by Author X’.
If you think a book is really worth it being listed, you should at least take the effort of actually listing the title of the book in a post; because if you cannot do that, the book probably wasn’t that special to you.
It’s not a contest about best writers or series. It’s about single books. :)
So I dare Stubby (if that’s a person instead of TOR’s automatic thread posting bot) to keep the series suggestions out of the list, to keep it pure.
Because I am interested in books that are good and I may have missed. :)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell by Susanna Clarke (2004)
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson (2001)
Sunshine by Robin McKinley (2003)
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (2001)
I’m voting for Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The name of the wind. By pat rothfuss
Best served cold by Joe abercrombie
The sad tale of the brothers grossbart by Jesse bullington
Sent from my phone so apologies for the typos.
Towers of Midnight – Jordan & Sanderson
Ilium 2003 Dan Simmons
Olympos 2005 Dan Simmons
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Goning Postal Terry Pratchett
Night Watch Terry Pratchett
Thud by Terry Pratchett,
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Fuller Memorandum – Charles Stross
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Quiet War/Gardens of the Sun by Paul McAuley
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Shades of Grey – Jasper Fforde
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Passage – Connie Willis
A Hat Full of Sky – Terry Pratchett
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Sorcery and Cecelia – Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Lirael– Garth Nix
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood – Meredith Ann Pierce
The Safe-Keeper’s Secret – Sharon Shinn
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin.
The Separation by Christopher Priest.
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds.
Black Man/Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Suzanna Clarke.
Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle.
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
The Scar – China Mieville
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – JK Rowling
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
House of Chains by Steven Erikson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson/Robert Jordan
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
Imager, LE Modesitt, Jr
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
A Song of Ice and Fire – George RR Martin
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Windup Girls – Paolo Bacigalupi
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
The Years of Rice and Salt – KS Robinson
Time Traveller’s Wife
Anathem
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
And The Warded Man and The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett.
I can see you point. But it would suck for peoples votes to be tossed out just for using a shortcut, especially on these here inter tubes, seeing as we use short cuts for everything online. They are just taking a shortcut to typing each name individually. Although I do see your point, its not hard to type in the name of each one, and they did ask for that format in the initial post. So I guess its a judgement call by whoever is in charge of this whole thing. It would be a shame if no WOT book made this list, a tavesty really.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Thud by Terry Pratchett
Gil’s All Fright Diner by A. E. Martinez
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Farthing by Jo Walton
Blindsight by Peter Watts
the Termeraire series by Naomi Novik
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Attolia books by Megan Whalen Turner
OK, this is fun. :-)
1) The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
2) Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
3) Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
4) Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
5) The Gone-away World – Nick Harkaway
6) Quicksilver – Neal Stephenson
7) The Stranger (Labyrinths of Echo) – Max Frei
8) Sixty-one Nails – Mike Shevdon
Tough to choose these! Limited myself to one book each from the Malazan, Discworld, and Baroque Cycle – after all, this is supposed to be for the best book, not just good books.
Not sure if The Stranger is strictly speaking eligible as the Russian version was out in 1995, but as it appears the first English translation was in 2009, that’s OK, surely? I recommend it very much – it is strange and marvellous.
Given I love the WOT so much, I agonised about adding a WOT book as the list did seem incomplete without one… But although the latest installments from Jordan/Sanderson are excellent, the WOT is to me such a coherent series that it felt wrong to list any one book. If we were talking the 90s, some of the early books may have sneaked in, but now? Doesn’t work for me, although of course YMMV. :-)
@trench:
Then lazyness by posters would get punished, I guess. ;-)
Come on, everything in WoT being published after 1999? I love WoT myself, but I didn’t find any of the after 1999 installments in par with the list I posted, so there was none of that in my list. In my case I could have said ‘The whole Malazan series by Erikson’. Instead I picked the 3 books I liked best, and actually posted the titles of them..
So somebody saying ‘every WoT book being published after 1999’ should get every WoT book a point in this listing?
Compare that to all the posters who did make an effort to list their books by name, and year of publishing too. (I admit I didn’t go for the years myself, because I was sure they were after 1999)
It might suck for those listing series in one line. But them having read the initial post could have prevented that. ;)
Note: I used WoT as an example. It reflects my thoughts on every series mentioned here in one line. One point per reference, I guess ;)
Note2: They could add a separate series list.
Guy Gavriel Kay Last Light of the Sun (2004), or _Lord of Emperors_
Clarke’s Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrel
The Name of the Wind
A Storm of Swords
Memories of Ice
American Gods
American Gods – fantasy
War of Honor – SF
@@@@@ Fiddler
I cant really make a strong argument against you. Especilly when your point out that those votes go to Crossroads of Twilight, eek! I like your second note though.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Thief of Time – Terry Pratchett
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
7th Son Descent – J.C. Hutchins
Ancestor – Scott Sigler
Crescent – Phil Rossi
The Etched City, by K.J. Bishop
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden & The Cities of Coin and Spice, by Catherynne M. Valente
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
In no particular order:
“City of Saints and Madmen” – Jeff VanderMeer
“Perdido Street Station” – China Miéville
“Spin” – Robert Charles Wilson
“Oryx and Crake” – Margaret Atwood (yes, it is science fiction)
“Incandescence” – Greg Egan
“Blindsight” – Peter Watts
“Quicksilver” – Neal Stephenson (I think of it as science fiction but understand others may diverge)
“Revelation Space” – Alastair Reynolds
“Accelerando” – Charles Stross
“Light” – M. John Harrison
“The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” – Micahel Chabon
“Forty Signs of Rain”, “The Year of Rice and Salt” and Galileo’s Dream – Kim Stanley Robinson (yeah, all three of them are great, couldn’t choose just one.)
“Flood” – Stephen Baxter
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A Clash of Kings – G.R.R. Martin
A Storm of Swords – G.R.R. Martin
Shadowmarch / Shadowplay / Shadowrise – Tad Williams
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson
Sea of Silver Light – Tad Williams
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher:
Storm Front
Fool Moon
Grave Peril
Summer Knight
Death Masks
Blood Rites
Dead Beat
Proven Guilty
White Knight
Small Favor
Turn Coat
Changes
magicians by lev grossman
name of the wind by pat rothfuss
graveyard book by neil gaiman
hundred thousand kingdoms and broken kingdoms by nk jemisin
boneshaker by cherie priest
In roughly chronological order:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Terror, Dan Simmons
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
The Chronoliths, Robert Charles Wilson
The Scar, China Milville
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
The Seperation, Christopher Priest
Half Made World, Felix Gilman
Yiddish Policemans Union, Michael Chabon
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Fledgling by Octavia Butler
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JKR
Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and someone else
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
two books by George R.R. Martin
A Storm of Swords
Feast for crows
Off the top of my head
I Dare by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
The Sharing Knife, Volume 1 Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Curse of Challion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Issola by Steven Brust
Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Old Man’s War by John Salzi
Hum, so many to choose from.
The Silver Mage by Katharine Kerr,
Pandora’s Star, by Peter F Hamilton
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Ship of Destiny: Robin Hobb
Kushiel’s Avatar: Jacqueline Carey
The Magicians and Mrs Quent: Galen Becket
The Briar King: Greg Keyes
Spindle’s End: Robin McKinley
Spirit Gate: Kate Elliott
The Scarab Path: Adrian Tchaikovsky (Uk edition)
Oh dear, this means I have to remember what books I’ve read in the past decade, AND when they were written!
Well, the list would definitely have to include:
– Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
– Nation, by Terry Pratchett
– Ascending, by James Alan Gardner
– Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen, by Tamora Pierce
– The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
– Sorcery And Cecelia, by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
– Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
– Through Wolf’s Eyes, by Jane Lindskold
– Empire Of Ivory, by Naomi Novik
– The Demon’s Covenant, by Sarah Rees Brennan
I have likely forgotten plenty of fantastic books, but those are the ones that come to me as I stare at my bookshelf.
In no particular order:
Old Man’s War, by Scalzi
Learning the World, by Ken MacLeod
Redemption Ark, by Reynolds
Declare, by Powers
Magicians, by Grossman
Look To Windward, by Banks
the ones that have really stuck with me are…
“feed” by m.t. anderson
“the hunger games” by suzanne collins
“world war z” by max brooks
“never let me go” by kazuo ishiguro
“unwind” by neal schusterman
“soulless” by gail carrigier (and the sequels “changeless” and “blameless”)
“sunshine” by robin mckinley
“the lightning theif” by rick riordan
They’re not in order (except for Perdido, that’s first on purpose)
Perdido Street Station- China Miéville
The Scar- China Miéville
The Steel Remains- Richard Morgan
The Gathering Storm- Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
The Windup Girl- Paolo Bacigalupi
American Gods- Neil Gaiman
Shadows Fall- Simon R. Green
Havemercy- Jaida Jones/ Danielle Bennett
1632 – Eric Flint, 2000
I Dare – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2002
Balance of Trade – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2004
Local Custom – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2001
Scout’s Progress – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2001
Mouse and Dragon – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2010
Crystal Soldier – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2005
Crystal Dragon – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2006
Fledgling – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2009
Saltation – Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, 2010
Covenants, A Borderlands Novel – Lorna Freeman, 2004
Wind Rider’s Oath – David Weber, 2004
March Upcountry – David Weber & John Ringo, 2001
March to the Sea – David Weber & John Ringo, 2001
March to the Stars – David Weber & John Ringo, 2003
We Few – David Weber & John Ringo, 2005
Monster Hunter International – Larry Correia, 2009
Moon Called – Patricia Briggs, 2006
Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold, 2001
Tinker – Wen Spencer, 2003
Into the Looking Glass – John Ringo, 2005
Stronghold Rising, A Sholan Alliance Novel – Lisanne Norman, 2000
Between Darkness and Light, A Sholan Alliance Novel – Lisanne Norman, 2003
Shades of Gray, A Sholan Alliance Novel – Lisanne Norman, 2010
The Way of Kings – Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire – Sanderson
Well of Ascension – Sanderson
Hero of Ages – Sanderson
Elantris – Sanderson
New Spring – Jordan
Knife of Dreams – Jordan
The Gathering Storm – Jordan, Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Jordan, Sanderson
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Old Man’s War – Scalzi
Spin – Wilson
The Name of the Wind- Patrick Rothfuss
Hero of Ages- Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- JK Rowling
The Graveryard Book- Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Anathem, by Neil Stephenson
Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson
Name of the Wind, Way of Kings, World War Z, Old Man’s War, Changes (by Jim Butcher), Towers of Midnight, The Unincorporated Man, Counting Heads, The Warded Man, and too many others to count. It was a good decade.
A Storm of Swords
The Name of the Wind
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
And my favourite of 2010, although I don’t know if counts as SFF even it does have a monk that can kill small things with gestures
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell
A Storm of Swords
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Accelrando – Charles Stross
Rainbows End – Vernor Vinge
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A STORM OF SWORDS by George R. R. Martin
THE WINDUP GIRL by Paolo Bacigalupi
In The Night Garden/The Orphan’s Tales by Catherynne Valente
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
The Prefect – Alastair Reynolds
Pushing Ice – Alastair Reynolds
Galactic North – Alastair Reynolds
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
Redemption Ark – Alastair Reynolds
Seeker – Jack McDevitt
World War Z – Max Brooks
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins
The Emerald of samarkand – Jonathan Stroud
The Golem’s Eye – Jonathan Stroud
Ptolemy’s Gate – Jonathan Stroud
Harry Potter and the goblet of fire – JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix – JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the half-blood price – JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows – JK Rowling
Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer
I didn’t limit myself to just 1 book in a series. I named all books in a series I liked the most. Sometimes, this means all of them (or at least all that were published during the decade)…
Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie
Fool’s Errand, by Robin Hobb
The Night Angel Trilogy, by Brent Weeks
Shadowmarch, by Tad Williams
Empress, by Karen Miller
Wolfblade, by Jennifer Fallon
Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman
Devices & Desires, by K. J. Parker
Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
Baltimore, or the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire, by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola
Haven’t finished Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell yet. It seems to begin very slowly, but all the votes here are encouraging.
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman
The Other Wind by Ursula K. LeGuin
Gifts by Ursula K. LeGuin
Voices by Ursula K. LeGuin
Powers by Ursula K. LeGuin
The Black Company by Glen Cook
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The Tower of Fear by Glen Cook
Mass Effect: Retribution by Drew Karpyshyn
Wheel of Time definitely has my vote, especially Towers of Midnight. Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop rocks (the entire series, but the first two books were released in the ’90s). The Harry Potter series also has my vote.
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
Anything Malazan by Erikson
A Song of Swords (GRR Martin)
The Last Light of the Sun (Guy Gavriel Kay)
The Curse of Chalion, A Paladin of Souls (McMaster Bujold)
The Children of Hurin (Tolkien – it came out in 2007 so it counts)
Troy trilogy (David Gemmell)
The Lion of Cairo (Scott Oden)
The Ten Thousand, Corvus (Paul Kearney)
Prince of Nothing trilogy (R. Scott Bakker)
re-releases:
The Del Rey editions of RE Howard
The University of Nebraska Press editons of Harold Lamb
Monarchies of God (Paul Kearney; by Solaris)
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clark
The Name of The Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Mistborn Trilogy – Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling
A Storm of Swords, by George R. R. Martin (Aug 2000)
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
I think I’m going to cry if, come the 14th, no else has put Stover’s name down…
Name of the Wind by Rothfuss
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Passage by Justin Cronin
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
I’ve only just started The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson but I can already tell that it’s going to be awesome, so my vote there. But the best SFF book for me in the last 10/11 years has to be American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Blew me away in a way that no SFF book has. Brainbendingly astounding. Third runner up would be Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Made of WIN, that one is.Was that published within the timeline? The Charles Vess version I mean? I think so…
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Flora’s Dare by Ysabeau Wilce
Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Anathem by Neal Stevenson
Wizard Hunters by Martha Wells
I noticed several people nominating them, but unfortunately, Sorcery and Cecelia (1988) and Civil Campaign (1999) are both ineligible.
With one exception, I shall restrict myself to one work per author, but I’m afraid this is a long list. What a great decade-and-a-bit it was.
The Baroque Cycle and Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Accelerando by Charles Stross
The Sharing Knife series by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Learning the World by Ken MacLeod
Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Passage by Connie Willis
The Collapsium by Wil McCarthy
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Declare by Tim Powers
Chindi by Jack McDevitt
The Other Wind by Ursula K Le Guin
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
The Separation by Christopher Priest
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
The Graveyard Game by Kage Baker
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Long Price quartet by Daniel Abraham
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Farthing by Jo Walton
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Issola by Steven Brust
Schild’s Ladder by Greg Egan
Explorer by C J Cherryh
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Curse of Chalion, and Paladin of Souls — Lois M. Bujold (and Diplomatic Immunity)
His Majesty’s Dragon — Naomi Novik
Farthing — Jo Walton (really should include Ha’Penny and Half a Crown as well)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — JK Rowling (and the rest of the series, frankly)
Everything by Terry Pratchett
The Honor of the Queen — David Weber
Rats, Bats, and Vats/Rats, Bats and the Ugly — Dave Freer
Bold as Love – Gwyneth Jones
The Salt Roads – Nalo Hopkinson
City of Pearl – Karen Traviss
Farthing/ Ha’Penny/Half a Crown – Jo Walton
Stratford Man – Elizabeth Bear
Lavinia – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N. K. Jemisin
Who Fears Death – Nnedi Okorafor
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
American Gods/Ananzi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Black Man (aka Thirteen) – Richard K. Morgan
The Book of Ash – Mary Gentle
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
Curse of Chalion/Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
The Carhullan Army – Sarah Hall
Fire Logic – Laurie J. Marks
Going over the Locus polls for the last decade, I found that I’d read more current sf and fantasy than I thought. (drplotka makes me look like a dilettante, though!) Here’s a top 20 list, ranked by personal enjoyment and including no more than one book per author.
1. Passage, Connie Willis
2. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke
3. Anathem, Neal Stephenson
4. Halting State, Charles Stross
5. Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
6. Rainbows End, Vernor Vinge
7. A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
8. Nation, Terry Pratchett
9. The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
10. Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
11. Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
12. Farthing, Jo Walton
13. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon
14. Blindsight, Peter Watts
15. The City & the City, China Miéville
16. Coraline, Neil Gaiman
17. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
18. Forty Signs of Rain, Kim Stanley Robinson
19. The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
20. Liar, Justine Larbalestier
Looking forward to the results!
A Storm of Swords By George R R Martin
In no particular order:
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
Peril’s Gate by Janny Wurts
To Ride Hell’s Chasm by Janny Wurts
Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
Julian Comstock, by Robert Charles Wilson
The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
The City and the City by China Mieville
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
And even though it says best novels, here’s 2 short story collections:
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
The Best of Gene Wolfe, by Gene Wolfe
Those are all the books published 2000-2010 that I rated 5 stars.
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Farthing – Jo Walton
Android’s Dream – John Scalzi
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Dead Beat – Jim Butcher
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Steel Remains – Richard K. Morgan
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Altered Carbon – Charles Stross
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
The First Law series – Joe Abercrombie
Mainspring trilogy – Jay Lake
Vellum – Hal Duncan
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Small Change Trilogy (Farthing, Ha’Penny, Half a Crown) – Jo Walton
Doctrine of Labyrinths series – Sarah Monette
Bas-Lag series – China Mieville
– Cursor’s Fury, Jim Butcher
– An Artificial Night, Seanan McGuire
– Feed, Mira Grant
– Sunshine, Robin McKinley
– The Ruby Dice, Catharine Asaro
– Specials, Scott Westerfield
– Snake Agent, Liz Williams
Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
The City and the City by China Mieville
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Last Hot Time: John Ford
Feast of Souls: C. Friedman
Cast in Shadow: Michelle Sagara
The Hidden City by Michelle West
American Gods: Neil Gaiman
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia Mckillip
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
Scardown : Elizabeth Bear
Wizard Hunters: Martha Wells
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Dies the Fire by SM Stirling
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Crossroads of Twillight – Robert Jordan
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Night Watch – Terry Pratchet
Going Postal – Terry Pratchet
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
A Feast for Crows – George R.R. Martin
Ordermaster – L.E. Modesitt Jr.
I would have to say The Way Of Kings, even though I’m a complete WoT fan. Brandon Sanderson wrote some amazing things this year! all of his stuff deserves recongition.
Also, Glenda Larke in her Storm Lord sieries is AMAZING.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Probability Moon/Sun/Space by Nancy Kress
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
Coyote Series by Allen Steele
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
Eleven years and lots of people manage to narrow their lists to one or three titles? I am not capable to do that… and as we don’t have a limit I don’t really feel obliged. I thought three per year I could probably do, but now it is slightly more.
Kathleen Ann Goonan / Crescent City Rhapsody (2000)
Nancy Kress / Probability Moon (2000)
China Mieville / Perdido Street Station (2000)
Philipp Reeve / Mortal Engines (2001)
Jon Courtenay Grimwood / Pashazade (2001)
Jasper Fforde / The Eyre Affair (2001)
Kristine Kathryn Rusch / The Disappeared (2002)
Richard Morgan / Altered Carbon (2002)
Neal Stephenson / Quicksilver (2003)
John Varley / Red Thunder (2003)
Cory Doctorow / Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)
Justina Robson / Natural History (2003)
Trician Sullivan / Maul (2003)
Audrey Niffenegger / The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003)
Jonathan Stroud / The Amulet of Samarkand (2003)
Paul di Filippo / Fuzzy Dice (2003)
(2003 was a great year, I notice now…)
Charles Stross / Atrocity Archives (2004)
Karen Traviss / City of Pearl (2004)
Kim Stanley Robinson / Forty Signs of Rain (2004)
Scott Westerfeld / Uglies (2005)
Charles Stross / Accelerando (2005)
Ken MacLeod / Learning the World (2005)
Jack McDevitt / Seeker (2005)
John Scalzi / Old Man’s War (2005)
Elizabeth Bear / Hammered, Scardown, Worldwired (2005)
Liz Williams / Snake Agent (2005)
Paul J. McAuley / Mind’s Eye (2005)
(ok, 2005 was pretty nice, too!!)
Vernor Vinge / Rainbow’s End (2006)
Gordon Dahlquist / The Glass Book of the Dream Eaters (2006)
Jo Walton / Farthing (2006)
Tobias Buckell / Crystal Rain (2006)
Rudy Rucker / Mathematicians in Love (2006)
Charles Stross / Halting State (2007)
Ken MacLeod / Execution Channel (2007)
T.A. Pratt / Blood Engines (2007)
David Louis Edelman / Infoquake (2008)
Lauren Beukes / Moxyland (2008)
China Mieville / The City and the City (2009)
Marianne de Pierres / Dark Space (2009)
Jedediah Berry / Manual of Detection (2009)
Yes, I am missing out on quite a lot, like American Gods, Anathem, Rothfuss, Grossman, Lynch, Jonathan Strange – all still on the TBR shelves…
Also, can we pleeeeeaaase also have a poll on the short stories of the decade, too. I would really love to see this.
And, please publish the whole results, not only the top ten. A downloadable csv or xls file would be nice.
Mine in alphabetical order:
The windup girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Graveyard Game by Kage Baker
The Sons of Heaven by Kage Baker
Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks
Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Ash by Mary Gentle
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Kraken by China Miéville
The speed of dark Elizabeth Moon
Declare by Tim Powers
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Thief of time by Terry Pratchett
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds
Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds
The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
Accelerando by Charles Stross
The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
The Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross
Halting State by Charles Stross
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Passage by Connie Willis
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
To Light a Candle by Mercedes Lackey
Take a Thief by Mercedes Lackey
The Magicians, by Lev Grossman
Blade of Tyshalle – Matt Stover
Name of the Wind – Pat Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords – GRRM
Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The City and The City – Mieville
Those are the ones that have really stuck with me. In that order. Actually, Stover’s other stuff (Star Wars Ep 3 novelization, Caine Black Knife) was all very powerful and resonant, but Blade really takes the cake.
there’s so many good ones out there…
towers of midnight – robert jordan/brandon sanderson
harry potter and the deathly hallows – jk rowling
eragon – christopher paolini
the long man – steve englehart
mistborn – brandon sanderson
(the rest of the wheel of time series)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Way of Kings – Sanderson
(in descending order)
I’d love to add others that I enjoyed (Modesitt’s recent Imager series was good as were the various short SciFi novels)… Sci-Fi seems less present in the last few years (lots of short and fun but not much else and of these, I don’t remember more than McDevitt’s recent work–title? not sure).
With that said, Hamilton’s Pandora’s Star was significant (not sure I’d say it was a favorite but it definitely worth being on the list).
LOVE Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy…his ideas are original
then Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamora (which is the kind of thing you read with a grin on your face), and
The Passage by Justin Cronin, which was disturbing, but I can’t forget any of it
Jac. Carey’s Kushiel books
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Otherland: Sea of Silver Light by Tad Williams
Blade of Tyshalle – Matt Stover
Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Olympos – Dan Simmons
Oops, forgot!
The Terror – Simmons
2000-2010: 11 years, 11 books, but not necessarily one book from each year…
Finch – Jeff VanderMeer
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
American Gods – Gaiman
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
The Darkness That Comes Before – R. Scott Bakker
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Spook Country – William Gibson
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel – Susanne Clark
Accelerando – Charles Stross
Building Harlequin’s Moon – Larry Niven and Brenda Cooper
A Storm of Swords by George Martin
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Tyranny of the Night by Glen Cook
Issola by Steven Brust
Although it’s not his best, I’d vote for Larry Niven’s Burning City.
Also, liked City of Pearl by Karen Traviss.
Haven’t finished it yet, but so far am having fun reading The Legacy of the Force series.
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman.
Although it’s stretching the bounds of the genre a little (I think that’s okay as I see others have), I would like to mention The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak as that was my most favourite book written this century.
Ehh, a quick list and in no order
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
Pegasus, Robin McKinley
The Curse of the Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Sharing Knife – Beguilement, Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Fool’s Fate, Robin Hobb
Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
The Road, Cormac McCarthy (though I would never re-read it)
Blood Bound, Patricia Briggs
Stubby,
my favorite fantasy/science fiction novels of the past decade:
harry potter and the goblet of fire
harry potter and the order of the phoenix
harry potter and the half blood prince
harry potter and the deathly hallows
jonathan strange and mr. norrel
that is all
i couldn’t vote for any wheel of time book after number five. they just kept getting worse, one of the greatest tragedies of my life.
dr
http://entropy2.com
Night Watch by Pratchett get my vote
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson gets mine.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – S Clarke
Nation – T Pratchett
Amazing Maurice & his Educated Rodents – T Pratchett
Sunshine – R McKinley
All the Windwracked Stars – E Bear
Declare – T Powers
Implied Spaces – WJ Williams
Long Price Quartet – D Abraham
Not sure if eligible?
Cryptonomicon – N Stephenson
Prospero’s Children – J Siegel
Spin by Robert Wilson
Seeker by Jack McDevitt
Pandora’s Star by Peter Hamilton
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham starting with A Shadow in Summer
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Dread Empire’s Fall by Walter Jon Williams
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series starting with The Lightning Thief
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
I forgot The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfield
Paolo Bacigalupi: The Windup Girl
Iain M. Banks: Matter
Stephen Baxter: Evolution
David Brin: Kiln People
Octavia E. Butler: Fledgling
Nancy Kress: Steal Across the Sky
David Marusek: Counting Heads
Paul McAuley: The Quiet War
Ian McDonald: River of Gods
Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon
Alastair Reynolds: Revelation Space
Adam Roberts: On
Kim Stanley Robinson: Galileo’s Dream
Karl Schroeder: Ventus
Neal Stephenson: Anathem
Walter Jon Williams: This Is Not a Game
Robert Charles Wilson: Spin
well my vote not in any order are
1.Furies of cauldron series
2.Hunger games series
3.The name of the wind
4.The way of the kings
5.Mistborn
6.A storm of swords
7.Wot #10,11,12
8.The lies of lock lemora
9.Theif series by megan whaler turner ( sorry forgot complete name )
I may be adding more later as I think about it, but right now: The Broken Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin.
Robert Jodan – entire Wheel of Time series
Brandon Sanderson – Mistborn series
Brandon Sanderson – Warbreaker
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords by George Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
@320:
Re: people naming series rather than individual titles:
We’ll take a closer look when we close the comments (Friday) but I suspect we may count series as a subset. So, if Harry Potter gets as many mentions as individual titles — enough so to get them in the top ten — then we may have a two lists. One for 10 specific titles and another for however many series as a whole would have fit in that voting range.
“Kiln People” by David Brin was good enough for me to purchase it AFTER I had read it from the library.
Series are tough to rank alongside individual books. Fer example, i view “The Baroque Cycle” by Stephenson as more of a single story split up for marketing purposes, like “Lord of the Rings.” I supposed the Harry Potter books could be viewed the same way.
Then there are the neverending ones, like Wheel of Time and the Jim Butcher books.
Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson – Towers of Midnight
George Martin – A Storm of Swords
1. Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott lynch
2. Red Seas under Red Skies, Scott lynch
3. American Gods, Neil Gaiman
4. Boneshaker, Cherie Priest
5. Dreadnought, Cherie Priest
6. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Tapping the Dream Tree by Charles De Lint
Muse and Reverie by Charles De Lint
Kiln People by David Brin
This is not a game by Walter Jon Williams
For the Win by Cory Doctorow
www: watch by Robert J. Sawyer
www: wake by Robert J. Sawyer
The speed of dark by Elizabeth Moon
Singularity Sky by Charles Stross
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Glasshouse by Charles Stross
Halting State by Charles Stross
Limit of Vision by Linda Nagata
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger
Counting Heads by David Marusek
Mind Over Ship by David Marusek
The Silver Ship and the Sea by Brenda Cooper
1. A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
2. Last Argument of Kings – Joe Ambercombie
3. The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Should probably stop there…
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce
Shatterglass by Tamora Pierce
The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
This Is Not a Game by Walter Williams
Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
A Storm of Swords-George RR Martin
The Long Price Quartet-Daniel Abraham
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grosbart-Jesse Bullington
The Scavenger series-KJ Parker
1. The Truth (Terry Pratchett)
2. Graceling (Kristin Cashore)
3. Wolfblade (Jennifer Fallon)
4. Warrier (Jennifer Fallon)
5. Warlord (Jennifer Fallon)
6. The Last Stormlord (Glenda Larke)
7. The Innocent Mage (Karen Miller)
8. The Awakened Mage (Karen Miller)
9. Kushiel’s Dart (Jacqueline Carey)
10. Kushiel’s Chosen (Jacqueline Carey)
11. Kushiel’s Avatar (Jacqueline Carey)
12. Kushiel’s Scion (Jacqueline Carey)
13. Kushiel’s Justice (Jacqueline Carey)
14. Kushiel’s Mercy (Jacqueline Carey)
15. The Left Hand of God (Paul Hoffman)
16. Imager (L.E. Modesitt Jr)
17. Imager’s Challenge (L.E. Modesitt Jr)
18. Imager’s Intrigue (L.E. Modesitt Jr)
19. Trickster’s Choice (Tamora Pierce)
20. Trickster’s Queen (Tamora Pierce)
Oops I can’t believe I forgot:
21. The Painted Man (Peter V. Brett)
22. The Desert Spear (Peter V. Brett)
Although having just skim read the previous 341 comments, I cannot believe how few of these amazing books have been mentioned. The Left hand of God I first came across as an audiobook and I listened to the whole book in one sitting (thankfully it was the summer holidays), it was so good I bought a hard copy too. Everything Jennifer Fallon writes blows me away, reminding me of first picking up the Belgariad as an 11 year old and discovering the escape that epic fantasy brings. Jacqueline Carey’s novels are a treasure, such great scope and so very well written. Tamora Pierce is there as homage to my childhood, her books are the ones I go back to when I’m ill, a true teenagers novel where young women grow up strong and independent to fix all the world’s wrongs.
The Mistborn novels are mentioned a lot; I failed to get into the first book last time I picked it up. I think I’ll try again and persevere with it a bit longer.
Spin by RCW
Old Man’s War by Scalzi
The Last Colony by Scalzi (My favorite of the series where things come together, but the debut novel seems more likely to pick up the votes.)
Way of Kings
Towers of midnight
Storm of swords
Dead house gates : Steven Erikson
memories of Ice: Steven Erikson
A Storm of Swords: George RR Martin
a Feast For Crows: George RR Martin
A few more:
Brain Plague by Joan Slonczewski
Lamentation by Ken Scholes
The Onion Girl by Charles De Lint
Widdershins by Charles De Lint
INFECTED : Scott Sigler
CONTAGIOUS: Scott Sigler
A totally original jaw-dropping meld of sci-fi and horror.
HelmHammerhand @333 said:
That’s how I feel about Anathem by Neal Stephenson. I checked it out from the library twice, then bought a copy.
But because it almost gave my wife a concussion when she was reading in bed, I waited until I could buy the mass market paperback version. Much safer that way. ;-)
My reading has been really spotty for the last ten years (no coincidence that my oldest son will be 10 in a couple of weeks!) but
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
really stands out to me as perfect example of what science fiction can do.
Invasive Procedures Orson Scott Card and Arron Johnston
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Michael Scott (and the rest of the series)
May have more, but here are some that come to mind:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Seeker, by Jack McDevitt
The Devil’s Eye, McDevitt
Dies the Fire, by S M Stirling
Rainbows End, by Vernor Vinge
American Gods, by Gaiman
A Civil Campaign, Bujold
Diplomatic Immunity, Bujold
Infected by Scott Sigler
Contagious by Scott Sigler
The Rookie by Scott Sigler
The Starter by Scott Sigler
Ancestor by Scott Sigler
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway
Deadhouse Gate by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson
Reapers Gale by Steven Erikson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Shadow’s Edge by Brent Weeks
Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
A few more…:
Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling
The Protector’s War by S.M. Stirling
The Host by Stephanie Meyer
Skinned by Robin Wasserman
Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles de Lint
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
I’ve also wondered whether The Book Thief by Markus Zusak would fall into fantasy. It isn’t marketed as such, but having death as a character seems pretty fantasy.
1. Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson’s Towers of Midnight
2. Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson’s The Gathering Storm
3. Robert Jordan’s Knife of Dreams
4. Robert Jordan’sNew Spring
5. Robert Jordan’sCrossroads of Twilight
6. Robert Jordan’sWinter’s Heart
7. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files (Turncoat was especially good)
8. Cassandra Clare’s City of Glass
9. Cassandra Clare’s City of Ashes
10. Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones
11. JK Rowling’s Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
12. Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
13. Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce
14. Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce
Way of Kings. Sanderson.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Quiet War by Paul McAuley
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station by Miéville
Obvious choices, yes, but those are the only ones I’ve re-read almost every year since I got them.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Also:
Liveship Traders series by Robin Hobb
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
A few more I came across moving boxes out of my parents’ house:
“Memory” – Linda Nagata
“The Magicians” – Lev Grossman
“The Quiet War” – Paul McCauley
“The Speed of Dark” – Elizabeth Moon
“The Empress of Mars” – Kage Baker
“Infoquake” – David Louis Edelman
“Horizons” – Mary Rosenblum
“Illium” – Dan Simmons
“This is Not a Game” – Walter Jon Williams
“Lavinia” – Ursula K. Leguin (in my opnion, not just one of the best sff novels of the decade but one of the best novels ever period)
“Daughter of Hounds” – Caitlin R. Kiernan
“Banner of Souls” – Liz Williams (Her inspector Chen novels are pretty good too)
“Kushiel’s Dart” – Jacqueline Carey
“Cloud Atlas” – David Mitchell
This time there’s girls in the list! Unfortunately though one of my favorite writers of all time, Kelly Link, doesn’t write novels, but her “Magic for Beginners” definitely deserves to be on some best of the decade list.
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Other Wind by Ursula K Le Guin
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
Sea of Silver Light – Tad Williams
Ilium 2003 Dan Simmons
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
way of kings by brandon sanderson
the name of the wind by patrick rothfuss
WOT by robert jordan…all of the books
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
1. A Storm of Swords; and
2. The Lies of Locke Lamora
1) A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
2) American Gods – Neil Gaiman
3) The Way of Shadows – Brent Weeks
4) Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
5) Anathem – Neal Stephenson
6) Altered Carbon – Richard K. Morgan
7) Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
8) Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
9) Anathem – Neal Stephenson
10) The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
1.Towers of Midnight – Jordan and Sanderson ( and of course all other WoT books after 2000 )
2.Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
3.HP and the Deathly Hallows – Rowling
30 references so far for Old Man’s War, that makes me happy.
Here is my list I am sure I have forgotten some but hey, and they are in no particular order
The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
A Storm of Swords and A feast With Dragons – George R.R. Martin
The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged,Last Argument of King, Best Served Cold –Joe Abercrombie
Mistborn series – Brandon Sanderson
Wheel of Time particularly The Gathering Storm and The Towers of Midnight
Paladin of Souls, . The Curse of Chalion, A Civil Campaign (but I think it was out in 1999) and Cryoburn, – Lois McMaster Bujold
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman
The Commonwealth Saga – Peter F. Hamilton
Monstrous Regiment, Night watch, The truth, Going postal – Terry Pratchett’s
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
The Dark Tower – Stephen King
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn Trilogy – Brandon sanderson
WOT
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
American Gods — Neil Gaiman (2001)
Curse of Chalion — Lois McMaster Bujold (2001)
Kushiel’s Mercy — Jacqueline Carey (2008)
The Truth — Terry Pratchett (2000)
Blindsight by Peter Watts.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Off the top of my head I would have to nominate
A Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier. I am sure I can offer more after I think about it a bit.
Without thinking I have to say American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Perdido Street Station by China Miéville. Other than that, I dont really keep track of how old are the books I read and when they were published so I will have to think a bit more about it.
My vote is for SHADOWS IN THE CAVE by Caleb Fox.
The Gathering Storm — Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight — Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — J.K. Rowling
Black Magic Sanction — Kim Harrison
Mistborn — Brandon Sanderson
Casting my vote:
Jonathan Strange is an absolutely breathtakingly perfect book. It’s just so well thought out, every bit of it.
American Gods is a close second, and one of my three personal favorite books ever.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
WOT (both the new ones)
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke, I could get lost in that book forever.
Sunshine, Robin McKinley, a pre-Twilight vampire novel that’s well-written and complex and left me begging for more.
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger, made me cry for hours.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling, although it’s hard to pick just one Harry Potter book.
And thank you to every one else who commented and supplied me with fresh additions for my to-read list!
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Surface Detaill by Iain M Banks
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Hominids – Robert J. Sawyer
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Transformation by Carol Berg
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
The Devil You Know by Mike Carey
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Changes by Jim Butcher
In order of years–as far as I know them:
China Mieville’s “Perdido Street Station” (2000)
Steven Erikson’s “Deadhouse Gates” (2000)
Max Brooks’ “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War” (2006)
Naomi Novik’s “His Majesty’s Dragon” / “Temeraire” (UK)
Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” (2008)
Neil Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book” (2008)
Paolo Bacigalupi’s ‘The Windup Girl” (2009)
Helen Lowe’s “The Heir of Night” (2010)
Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett
Most definitely, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger tops the list. The best story is one that makes an emotional impact on you and crosses genres; and this one does both in a big way.
I would also nominate the Harry Potter series as a whole. Though not all volumes were published in the specified time period, picking one seems like nominating a chapter from any other book. Much like the LOTR films were recognized as an entire oeuvre with a Best Picture award for the final film, I suggest recognition for the HP series.
Local Custom By Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Hominids – Robert J. Sawyer
Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling
A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer
The Child Goddess by Louise Marley
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
I may think of more before the deadline!
My votes:
Blindsight by Peter Watts. An extremely well-told story, but its thematic material made me go read about 4 more scientific books on the nature of the mind.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. A ground-breaking combination of the themes of alien invasion, aging, warfare, and personal identity.
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. I had thought that the days of grand sci-fi-writ-large were over. But this book reopens the age of looking at humanity’s place in a giant universe, updated with the science and technology of the 21st century.
Glasshouse, Charles Stross. My introduction to this newer author brings an eminently readable look into surveillance and personal identity.
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge. Anything by Vinge is good, but this was amazing. The huge canvas that he paints philosophical questions of ethics and humanity, together with scientific ones of evolution, space travel, etc., is breathtaking. I’m shocked it’s not been mentioned, since it seems to be (just) within the dates.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. While this isn’t necessarily ground-breaking, it’s a big step in making sophisticated and socially-relevant SF accessible to younger audiences.
I share the frustration of some others, with people saying, e.g., “The whole WoT series”. It seems to me like the author got you involved enough in his world that you read the whole thing, and have so much invested in the whole series that you’re counting the whole world and story arc, rather than the merits of any one book. I don’t think that’s what this is about. Certainly in this series, there was at least one clunker book that served no purpose but to transport characters into the right locales for the next book, and I don’t see how such a novel can count as “best”.
Indeed, judging by some of what others listed, votes are being made for “favorite books” rather than for “best books”, which is a similar but different criteria. It’s perfectly possible to greatly enjoy a book while accepting that it’s pure fun without any “greatness”. Conversely, one can acknowledge greatness in a book that one doesn’t personally enjoy (although that’s more of a stretch).
Sorry for the rant. Getting off my soapbox now.
Old Mans War by John Scalzi.
The best book for me is the one that I enjoy the most, and is therefore my favourite. Same criteria.
I voted for Wheel of Time and Mistborn as a series, and since it seems those aren’t getting counted, I’m going to separate them.
Mistborn: The Final Empire – Sanderson
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension – Sanderson
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages – Sanderson
The Eye of the World – Jordan
Knife of Dreams – Jordan
The Gathering Storm – Jordan and Sanderson
Name of the Wind, by Rothfuss
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Scar by China Mieville
I’ll put a good word in for the following:
-Anathem, Neal Stephenson. the book of the decade IMO
-Blindsight, say want you want about Peter Watts, he makes you think.
-The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach is simply brilliant.
-Psychohistorical Crisis, by Don Kingsbury. A book well worth the read riffing off Asimov’s Foundation and adding significantly to it.
Here’s my list in no particular order.
– The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
– The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
– The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
– The God Engines, John Scalzi (technically a novella, I guess, but I’ll vote for it anyway)
– Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Hammerfall, C. J. Cherryh
The Curse of Chalion, Bujold, Lois McMaster
Singularity Sky, Charles Stross
Elantris, Brandon Sanderson
Revelation Space, Alastair Reynolds
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Orphan’s Tales by Catherynne Valente
Dust by Elizabeth Bear
A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb
Horns by Joe Hill
Lavinia by Ursula K. LeGuin
The Doctrine of Labyrinths series by Sarah Monette
I forgot one, when I posted earlier.
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell.
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Queendom of Sol series (The Collapsium, Lost in Transmission, To Crush the Moon) – Wil McCarthy
Name of the Wind- Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords- GRRM
Knife of Dreams- Robert Jordan
In Green’s Jungles – Gene Wolfe
Return to the Whorl – Gene Wolfe
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Suzanna Clarke
Shriek: An Afterword – Jeff VanderMeer
Spaceman Blues – Brian Francis Slattery
Ysabel, Guy Gavriel Kay
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Cursor’s Fury, Jim Butcher
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
by Brandon Sanderson – The Way of Kings; Mistborn: The Hero of Ages; Mistborn: The Final Empire ; Mistborn: The Well of Ascencion
by Anne McCaffery – Pegasus in Space
by Elizabeth Haydon – Prophecy; Destiny; The Assassin King
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest
American Gods- Neil Gaimen
Perdido Street Station- China Mieville
Jonathen Strange & Mr. Norrel- Susannah Clarke
Declair- Tim Powers
Spook Country- William Gibson
Melusine- Sarah Monette
Indigo Springs- A.M. Dellamonica
The Truth- Terry Prachett
Zeitgeist- Bruce Sterling
Sub Rosa- Amber Dawn
A Nameless Witch- A. Lee Martinez
Adventures of Kavalier and Clay- Michael Chabon
Storm of Swords- George R.R. Martin
A Fistfull of Sky- Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Magic for Begginers- Kelly Link
The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad- Minister Faust
Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Stover
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, by Susannah Clarke
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo
The Darkness That Comes Before, by R. Scott Bakker
Deadhouse Gates, by Steven Erikson
Light, by M. John Harrison
…That’s just off the top of my head. I may have to return later.
This was a dangerous thing to do.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Boneshaker – Cherie Priest
Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
My favorites, in no particular order:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J. K. Rowling
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Lamplighter – D.M. Cornish
Ananthem – Neal Stephenson
Storm of Swords – G.R.R. Martin
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
Canticle – Ken Scholes
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon
First by a big margin: American Gods
Second: Old Man’s War
The Name of the Wind
Third: Sandman Slim
My most recommended of the decade in no particular order:
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Medicine Road by Charles De Lint
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Dragon and Thief series by Timothy Zahn
Alien Taste by Wen Spencer (and the rest of the Ukiah Oregon series)
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
anything by A. Lee Martinez
Old Man’s War
by John Scalzi
American Gods
by Neil Gaiman
Ian McDonald – River of Gods
Charles Stross – Accelerando
Karl Schroeder – Venus
Karl Schroeder – Lady of Mazes
Alastair Reynolds – Chasm City
Justina Robson – Natural History
Kim Stanley Robinson – The Years of Rice and Salt
Cory Doctorow – Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Kathleen Ann Goonan – Crescent City Rhapsody
Damien Broderick – Godplayers / K-Machines
I might have to come back and post more later :)
The Wreck of the River of Stars – Michael Flynn
1. Perdido Street Station
2. Old Man’s War
3. Boneshaker
4. The Alchemyst
5. The City and the City
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Little Brother — Cory Doctorow
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire — J.K. Rowling
Changes — Jim Butcher
Steven Erikson – Deadhouse Gates
Steven Erikson – Reaper’s Gale
Scott Lynch – The Lies of Locke Lamora
Lois McMaster Bujold – The Curse of Chalion
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Passage by Connie Willis
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
The Scar – China Mieville
Blindsight – Peter Watt
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susannah Clarke
The Atrocity Archives – Charles Stross
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Psychohistorical Crisis, by Don Kingsbury
Golden Age trilogy (2002-2003), by John C. Wright
Move Under Ground by Nick Mamatas
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Night Sessions by Ken MacLeod
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
In order of preference:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Matter by Iain M Banks
Changes by Jim Butcher
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
(with a side vote for the whole bloody series)
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
More later as I review the back shelves of my bookcase – this is just what’s up front, re-read in the last few months.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Psychohistorical Crisis, by Don Kingsbury
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
[i]Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
[/i]The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The English translation of The Carpet Makers was published in 2005. I loved all these books, and Harry Potter and Tuesday Next and Old Man’s War. The decade has been good to readers, that’s for sure.
All the Windwracked Stars, Elizabeth Bear
Knife of Dreams, Robert Jordan
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe
Pushing Ice, Alastair Reynolds
There are so many I loved, but I’m just gonna list a few that come to mind (or I’ll be here all night)!
American Gods, and The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, and Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – NK Jamison
Boneshaker – Cherie Priest
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Hammered, and Scardown, and Worldwired, and Dust – Elizabeth Bear
The Curse of Chalion, and Diplomatic Immunity – Lois McMaster Bujold
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Hammered by Elizabeth Bear
in no order:
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
The Truth – Terry Pratchett
Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
Revelation Space – Alistair Reynolds
Soulless – Gail Carriger
City of Pearl – Karen Traviss (whole series really)
Windup Girl – Bacigalupi
River of Gods – Ian McDonald
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
Un Lun Dun – China Miéville
Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Nation by Terry Pratchett
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Old Man’s War by J. Scalzi gets my vote!
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron – Jasper Fforde
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Blade of Tyshalle, Matthew Stover
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
The Darkness That Comes Before, R. Scott Bakker
#1 is Old Man’s War! Every time I think of that book it puts a smile on my face and it’s my top recommendation to people.
After that I would say:
World War Z – Max Brooks
Soon, I will be invincible – Austin Grossman
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Ilium by Dan Simmons
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Look to Windward by Iain M Banks
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Blondsight by Peter Watts
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Blackout/All Clear, Connie Willis
Matter, Iain M. Banks (surely a best-of-decade list must have one Culture novel in it, even if we fight about which one)
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
No Present Like Time, Steph Swainston
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susannah Clarke
Kiln People, David Brin
The Thursday Next series, Jasper Fforde
In no particular order:
Baker Kage The Graveyard Game
Baker Kage Anvil of the World
Tiedmann Mark Peace and Memory
Schroeder Karl Lady of Mazes
Bujold Lois M. Paladin of Souls
Lindskold Jane The Buried Pyramid
Lindskold Jane Child of a Rainless Year
Tiedemann Mark Metal of Night
Gardner James Alan Radiant
Teidemann Mark Metal of Night
Kirstein Rosemary The Language of Power
Stewart Sean Galveston
Kirstein Rosemary The Lost Steersman
McDevitt Jack Omega
Baker Kage The Life of the World to Come
Klages, Ellen, “Portable Childhoods”
Sedgwick, Marcus, “The Foreshadowing”
Westerfeld, Scott, “Uglies”, “Pretties”, “Specials”, “Extras”
Baker, Kage, “The House of the Stag”
Roberson, Chris, “End of the Century”
Graham, Jo, ”The Black Ships”
Anderson, C.L., “Bitter Angels”
Baker, Kage, “The Hotel Under the Sand”
McKinley, Robin, “Chalice”
Baker, Kage, “The Empress of Mars”
Westerfeld, Scott, “Leviathan”
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Shriek: An Afterward by Jeff VanderMeer
Look to Windward by Iain M Banks
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Eyre Affair – Jasper Fforde
Forever – Pete Hamill
The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova
Horns – Joe Hill
Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Susannah Clarke
Kraken – China Mieville
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
A Deepness on the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Blindsight by Peter Watts
In alphabetical order, and covering a wide range of SFF:
Look to Windward – Iain M Banks
Issola – Steven Brust
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
The Red Tree – Caitlin Kiernan
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Jennifer Morgue – Charles Stross
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Last Colony by John Scalzi
And thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone!
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
If I could only pick one? Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
Richard Kadrey, Sandman Slim
China Mieville, Kraken
Neal Stephenson, Anathem
John Scalzi, Old Man’s War
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
The Scar by China Mieville
The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist
Lamb: The Gospel According to Christ’s Childhood Friend Biff by Christopher Moore
The Blue Girl by Charles DeLint
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Already Dead by Charlie Huston
No Dominion by Charlie Huston
My Dead Body by Charlie Huston
Passage by Connie Willis
Passing Strange by Daniel Waters
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Singularity Sky – Charlie Stross
Rainbow’s End – Vernor Vinge
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (Dead Beat and Changes are my favorites but i love every book in the series)
Codex Alera by Jim Butcher (Cursors Fury)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Android’s Dream – John Scalzi
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Spin- Robert Charles Wilson
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Susannah Clarke
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – JK Rowling
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – NK Jemisin
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Hmmm… looking over the lists above, I’d like to add:
Traviss, Karen, “City of Pearl”
Watts, Peter, “Blindsight”
I’d also suggest finding a statistics geek and having him test for list-to-list correlation and distribution by year. It looks like there is a severe underreporting of early years in the decade, and some novels are going to be weighted way out of proportion due to correlated tastes.
But that’s just my opinion.
Regards,
Jack Tingle
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Temeraire by Naomi Novik
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
And in regards to the poll update post, Neil Gaiman was born in Hampshire. o.O
Peridio Street Station – Meiville
Windup Girl – Bacigalupi
The Telling – Ursula K Le Guin
Lavinia – Ursula K Le Guin
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
The Scar – China Mieville
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter’s Heart, Towers of Midnight, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolf
Wizards at War, Diane Duane (yeah, its YA, but I’ve been reading it since I was ten…I have a thing about finishing)
The Prince of Nothing, R. Scott Bakker
Mistborn Trilogy – Sanderson
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Song of Ice and Fire – Martin (hurry up and finish you lout!)
Old Man’s War – Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Codex Alera by Jim Butcher
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Melusine – Sarah Monette
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gailman
The Steel Remains – Richard K. Morgan
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J. K. Rowling
Old Man’s War — John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Changes by Jim Butcher
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Megan Whalen Turner’s The King of Attolia
The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Mans War By John Scalzi
1) Hunger Games Trilogy (Collins)
2) Haryr Potter – Goblet and Order but not the others. (Rowling)
3) Old Man’s War (Scalzi)
4) Zoe’s Tale (Scalzi)
5) Revelation Space (Reynolds)
6) Spin (Wilson)
7) Android’s Dream (Scalzi)
So many great books. Here are mine in no particular order.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Anathema by Neal Stephenson
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Life of the World to Come by Kage Baker
In alphabetical order:
Brooks – World War Z
Clarke/Baxter – Light Of Other Days
McDevitt – Deep Six
Reynolds – Pushing Ice
Sawyer – Wake
Simmons – Ilium
Simmons – The Terror
Stephenson – Anathem
If I had to pick just one it would be Anathem.
The God Engines – John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Guy Gavriel Kay’s Under Heaven
Charles de Lint’s Widdershins
Robert J Sawyer’s Hominids
Mira Grant’s Feed
I’ll throw a vote in for The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
1. Old Man’s War – Scalzi
2. Android’s Dream – Scalzi
3. The Hunger Games – Collins
4. World War Z – Brooks
5. The Night Watch – Lukyanenko
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff Vandermeer
Spaceman Blues by Brian Francis Slattery
Raven’s Shadow by Patrcia Briggs
The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Also, The King of Attolia and The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (can’t believe these slipped my mind…)
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
Issola, Steven Brust
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Moon Called, Patricia Briggs
Plus there are a few on the list I’d love to say “and NOT this…”
1. The Unincorporated Man – Dani & Eytan Kollin
2. Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Two of the most imaginative books I’ve read — ever, not only in the last decade. Marvelous stuff.
The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Beautifully written, with the classic unreliable narrator, scary, Lovecraftian almost (except much better written), just altogether a very fine novel, one I’d give even to people who don’t read SF/F/H.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Epic fantasy at its finest.
Tokyo Cancelled by Rana Dasgupta
Thunderer by Felix Gilman
The Resurrectionist by Jack O’Connell
The Year of Our War by Steph Swainston
Ah, New Weird! Yes, I cling to that categorization. Wonderful books, every one, and all lingering in the memory long after I read them.
And how could I forget? Cyberabad Days by Ian McDonald.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
In no particular order…
Mistborn: Brandon Sanderson
Name of the Wind: Patrick Rothfus
Old Man’s War: John Scalzi
The Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins
Summers at Castle Auburn: Sharon Shinn
Thirteenth Child: Patricia Wrede
Heir to Sevenwaters: Juliet Marillier
Rosemary and Rue: Seanan McGuire
The King of Attolia: Megan Whalen Turner
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
Bujold, The Curse of Chalion. Brilliant work.
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
This is Not a Game by Walter Jon Williams
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
Issola by Steven Brust
Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer by Neil Stephenson
The Warslayer by Rosemary Edghill
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A great list of books I look forward to reading….
…and the best of what I’ve read:
The Scar by China Mieville
The City & The City by China Mieville
Chasm City by Alistair Reynolds
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
Curse of Chalion by Elizabeth Bujold
The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (though the 3rd volume , The Last Colony, is the payoff, so I’ll nominate it also)
The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker
Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud
Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett (3 volume omnibus)
Cryptonomicon would lead the list but a glance at the copyright date shows 1999.
*Elizabeth* Bujold, I typed?! Shows I never think of or refer to her by her first name.
Heir of Night by Helen Lowe
Void Series by Peter F hamilton
Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
World War Z by Mr Brooks
Glen Cook:
The Tyranny of the Night (2005)
Lord of the Silent Kingdom (2007)
Surrender to the Will of the Night (2010)
Lorna Freeman
Covenants (2004)
Carol Berg
Transformation (2000)
Song of the Beast (2003)
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Pattern Recognition – william gibson
Quicksilver – Neal Stephenson
Pashazade – Jon courtenay grimwood
Halting State – Charles Stross
I get a feeling Cryptonomicon would top this list if it was published a little later
LeighRoy
Old Man’s War (John Scalzi)
The Atrocity Archives (Charles Stross)
Halting State (Charles Stross)
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clarke)
American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
Anathem (Neil Stephenson)
I would nominate Stardust (Neil Gaiman), but it too just barely misses the time period.
Of course I forgot one:
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Schild’s Ladder by Greg Egan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
Under Heavan by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Wheel of Time (any & all) by R Jordan & B Sanderson
Elantris by B Sanderson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Promises to Keep by Charles de Lint
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 (graphic novel)
Ooku by Yoshinaga Fumi (manga)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
A Companion to Wolves, Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
Scout’s Progress, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Old Man’s War by Scalzi
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Name of the wind
Old man’s War
Boneshaker
The Windup Girl by Bacigalupi
Farthing by Walton
Cryptonomicon by Stephenson
The Hunger Games by Collins
The Quiet War by McAuley
the Wind-up girl
Old man’s war
Hunger games
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
The Other Wind by Ursula K Le Guin
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Old Man’s War — John Scalzi
Android’s Dream — John Scalzi
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince — J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — J.K. Rowling
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell — Suzanna Clarke
Curse of Chalion — Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign — Lois McMaster Bujold
The Sharing Knife – Beguilement — Lois McMaster Bujold
Red Thunder — John Varley
The Amber Spyglass — Philip Pullman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Altered Carbon -Richard K. Morgan
Machinery of Light – David J Williams
Heart-Shaped Box – Joe Hill
Something From The Nightside – Simon R Green
Changes – Jim Butcher
Some of my favorites:
Perdido Street Station (China Melville)
Old Man’s War (John Scalzi)
Anathem (Neal Stephenson)
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Last Colony – John Scalzi
Off Armageddon Reef – David Weber
A Hymn Before Battle – John Ringo
Gust Front – John Ringo
Steven Erikson – Memories of Ice, Deadhouse Gates
Peter Watts – Bilndsight
Peter F. Hamilton – Pandora’s Star/Judas Unchained
China Miéville – Perdido Street Station
Sergey Lukyanenko – The Night Watch
Terry Pratchett – Going Postal, Night Watch
Ken MacLeod – Newton’s Wake
Ted Chiang – Stories of Your Life and Others
Iain M. Banks – Surface Detail
Here there be Dragons
The Search for the Red Dragon
The Indigo King
The Shadow Dragons
The Dragon’s Apprentice
All by James A. Owen
Old Man’s War
Agent To The Stars
Halo Ghosts Of Onyx
The Way of Shadows–Brent Weeks
The Hunger Games–Suzanne Collins
Terrier and Bloodhound–Tamora Pierce
Song of Ice and Fire–George RR Martin
Reckless and Inkheart–Cornelia Funke
the Ranger’s Apprentice series–John Flanagan
the Farsala Trilogy–Hilari Bell
And perhaps, most importantly, the books that leapt out, touched me, and made me theirs:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–JK Rowling
the Name of the Wind–Patrick Rothfuss
the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica (esp. 1-Here There Be Dragons, and 4-the Shadow Dragons)–James A Owen
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Ilium by Dan Simmons
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
Matter by Iain Banks
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Glasshouse by Charles Stross
#1. Old Man’s War (Scalzi)
#2. The Golden Globe (Varley)
Hunger Games by Collins
Name of the Wind by Rothfuss
Elantris by Sanderson
Mistborn by Sanderson
Warbreaker by Sanderson
Old Man’s War by Scalzi
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson
Broken Angels by Richard K. Morgan
Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Summerland – Michael Chabon
Here, There Be Dragons – James A. Owen
The Search for the Red Dragon – James A. Owen
The Indigo King – James A. Owen
The Shadow Dragons – James A. Owen
The Dragon’s Apprentice – James A. Owen
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Making Money by Terry Pratchett
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Individual Novels:
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Empress by Karen Miller
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross
Feast of Souls by C. S. Friedman
Firethorn by Sarah Micklem
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (yes, same title)
The Midnight Mayor by Kate Griffin
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Series:
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb
The Godspeaker Trilogy by Karen Miller
The Diskworld Novels by Terry Pratchett
The Alexia Tarabotti/Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
1. The Dark Tower VII Stephen King
2. The Baroque Cycle Neil Stephenson
3. The Golden Age John C. Wright
4. Rainbow’s End Vernor Vinge
5. Manifold: Space Stephen Baxter
6. Saturn’s Children Charles Stross
7. American Gods Neil Gaiman
8. Old Man’s War John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Ilium by Dan Simmons
Pandora’s Star & Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
The City and the City- China Mieville.
Yiddish Policeman’s Union- Michael Chabon
The Name of the Wind- Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell- Sussanah Clarke
The Etched City- KJ Bishop
City of Saints and Madmen- which was
published as a collection in 2001 even though some parts were published separately earlier.- Jeff Vandermeer
Shriek- An Afterword- Jeff Vandermeer.
The Mount- Carol Ermshwiller
Never Let Me Go- Ishiguro
Accelerando- Charles Stross.
Cyroburn- Lois Mcmasters Bujold. (I admit A Civil Campaign would be in, but technically published late
1999 according to various internet sites).
Kafka on the Shore- Haruki Murakami- though I don’t know where exactly the line is in urban fantasy.
Speed of Dark – Elizabeth Moon- Yes I know people disagree with many of her recent statements but this book is great.
Declare- Tim Powers
The Privilege of the Sword- Ellen Kushner
Old Man’s War- John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale – also Scalzi- like others we each have favorites. For me he showed an understanding of people far beyond what Heinlein with the same golden age scifi feel.
I find it hard with a lot of the series, frequently it is hard to find the great stand alone work that an individual novel can manage- in a series so much is in reading the entire form. It is, to me, like picking a perfect chapter and calling it a whole. But still…
Obviously JRR Martin’s Fire and Ice
WOT by Jordan with Sanderson’s incredible take over. Sanderson probably deserves an award for that work all on its own. ( Best Service to the SFF community anyone?)
The Mistborn Trilogy does show what masterful work Sanderson can do on his own.
Arabesk Trilogy- Jon Courtney Grimwood.
The Liaden books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Sharing Knife- Bujold- for the river.
I am sure I am leaving out much of the
best- and I don’t know if I could ever choose one above all others.Good decade though. Still tons I have to read and all the posts make the best reading list imaginable!
Anathem Neal Stephenson
The Name Of The Wind Patrick Rothfuss
Feed Mira Grant
Old Man’s War John Scalzi
Surface Detail Iain M. Banks (who finally figured out how to write a satisfying ending to a Culture novel!)
Accelerando Charles Stross
Altered Carbon Richard K. Morgan
Series:
Night Angel Trilogy Brent Weeks
Tales Of The Otori Lian Hearn
Gridlinked, Neal Asher
Surface Detail, Iain M. Banks
Candle, John Barnes
The Line Between, Peter S. Beagle
Cryoburn, Lois McMaster Bujold
Someone Comes To Town, Someone Leaves Town, Cory Doctorow
Up Jim River, Michael Flynn
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Zero History, William Gibson
Old Twentieth, Joe Haldeman
Pandora’s Star, Peter F. Hamilton
Going Postal, Terry Pratchett
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Coyote Rising, Allen Steele
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Zenith Angle, Bruce Sterling
Glasshouse, Charles Stross
Red Thunder, John Varley
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Old Man’s War
The Windup Girl – Bacigalupi
There have been books like might have technically been better, but none that were more immediate and reflective of the decade, as well as simply being well-written and really pretty dang awesome.
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds;
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan;
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds;
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson; and
Dreamcatcher by Stephen King.
Well, here’s mine…
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale, John Scalzi
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Accelerando, Charles Stross
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
The Chronoliths, Robert Charles Wilson
I Dare, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
Three Days to Never, Tim Powers
Peeps, Scott Westerfeld
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Followed by Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Powers by Ursula Le Guin
In The Night Garden by Catherynne Valente
My nominees are:
Anathem/Spin – Tie first place in the hard SF column
The name of the wind / american gods -Tie first at the fantasy column
Robin hobb & Neil Stephenson wins at the writer of the decade column. for their work during the past ~10 years
Chasm City – Alistair Reynolds
Feast for Crows – G RR Martin
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
Accelerondo – Charlie Stross
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
The Skinner – Neal Asher
Old Mans War – John Scalzi
American Gods
Revelation Space
Old Man’s War
Look to Windward: Iain M. Banks
Feed: Mira Grant
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Black Man by Richard Morgan
Ilium by Dan Simmons
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David and Sam Stall
Kil’n People by David Brin
Warring States by Susan R Matthews
Storm of Swords (and any other of this series published during the period)
Old Man’s War
Altered Carbon
The Name of the Wind
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Any of the Harry Potter books published during the period
In prioritized order:
1. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
3. Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
4. Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
5. Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
6. The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
7. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Lois McMaster Bujold – The Curse of Chalion
Lois McMaster Bujold – The Sharing Knife series
Lois McMaster Bujold – Cryoburn (although A Civil Campaign is really my favourite this decade, but copyright ’99)
Neil Gaiman – American Gods
Neil Gaiman – Coraline
Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
Elizabeth Moon – Against the Odds
Elizabeth Moon – Vatta’s War series
Elizabeth Moon – The Speed of Dark
Philip Pullman – The Amber Spyglass
Lev Grossman – The Magicians
Light / Nova Swing – M John Harrison
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Revelation Space – Alystair Reynolds
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Altered Carbon – Richard K Morgan
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Look to Winward by Iain Banks
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.
1. Anathem by Neal Stephenson
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
3. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King
4. Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan
5. Kiln People by David Brin
6. The Coming by Joe Haldeman
A few that spring to mind…
Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Matter by Iain M. Banks
The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Algebraist by Iain M Banks
Un Lun Dun by China Meville
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
Oooh, a poll!
1. Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
2. The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
3. The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
4. Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
5. Gridlinked – Neal Asher
6. Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
The Scar – China Mieville
Kraken – China Mieville
Look To Windward – Iain M Banks
Matter – Iain M Banks
Surface Detail – Iain M Banks
Midnight Tides – Steven Erikson
The Darkness That Comes Before – R.Scott Bakker
The Warrior Prophet – R.Scott Bakker
The Thousandfold Thought – R.Scott Bakker
The Other Wind – Ursula Le Guin
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
Dzur – Steven Brust
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Atrocity Archives – Charles Stross
Accelerando – Charles Stross
Finch – Jeff Vandermeer
A Shadow in Summer – Daniel Abraham
Ventus – Karl Schroeder
Bad Monkeys – Matt Ruff
Painted Man – Peter V Brett
Name of The wind- Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Cardinal’s Blade- Pierre Pevel
Song of Ice and Fire-George RR Martin
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Deadhouse Gates
Altered Carbon
The Darkness that Comes Before
Knife of Dreams
Towers of Midnight
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
The Algebraist – Iain M Banks
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
Market Forces – Richard Morgan
Black Man – Richard Morgan
The Scar – China Miéville
The Execution Channel – Ken MacLeod
The Darkness That Comes Before – R.Scott Bakker
The order does not mean anything. These are some of my favored books of the last few years.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn – the Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
The Graveyard book by Neil Gaiman
Devices and Desires by K.J. Parker
Nation and Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Air by Geoff Ryman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Blade Itself/Before They Are Hanged/Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
The Briar King/The Charnel Prince/The Blood Knight/The Born Queen by Greg Keyes
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffeger
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi
and if non-English magical realism counts,
Virágzabálók (The Flower-eaters) by László Darvasi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Except for No.1 , not in particular order
1. Accelerando …Charles Stross
2. The Prefect …Alastair Reynolds
3. River of Gods … Ian McDonald
4. Transition …Iain M. Banks
5. Infoquake … David Louis Edelman
6. The Skinner …Neil Asher
7. Blindsight …Peter Watts
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
In no particular order:
Jennifer Morge: Charles Stross
Old Man’s War: John Scalzi
Altered Carbon: Richard Morgan
Peshawar Lancers: S.M. Stirling
Quiet War: Paul McAuley
His Majesty’s Dragon: Naomi Novik
Nightlife: Rob Thurman
Demon & the City: Liz Williams
Gate of Gods: Martha Wells
Storm Front: Jim Butcher
Way of Kings: Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind: Patrick Rothfuss
The Gathering Storm: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn – the Final Empire: Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Shadows: Brent Weeks
Daughter of the Forest: Juliet Marillier
Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
First for me, two quite similar books, both incredibly good. Definitely my favourite reads of the decade. I’d walk barefoot over hot coals to get to the sequels (yes, Lynch is on #3). Get on with getting them sequels out the door lads!
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
====
Had to include some Pratchett, the guy is A Legend.
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
The Truth – Terry Pratchett
====
The Gathering Storm – Sanderson/Jordan
I found this better than Jordan’s later WOTs on his own (his earlier stuff, book 4-7 were brilliant, didn’t like 8-10 as much). Much to do with pacing.
====
Great series from Pullman, groundbreaking in some ways:
His Dark Materials series – Philip Pullman
Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) – Philip Pullman
The Subtle Knife – Philip Pullman
The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman
====
Some SF. Had a good think about SF but nothing really stood head and shoulders. I did really enjoy these though, and he’s on his way to great things. In my order of preference:
Singularity Sky – Charlie Stross
Iron Sunrise – Charlie Stross
Glasshouse – Charlie Stross
But my single favourite sf author of the decade is Mr. PFH, if you ain’t read him, go read him. In my order of preference:
Fallen Dragon – Peter F. Hamilton
Pandora’s Star – Peter F. Hamilton
Judas Unchained – Peter F. Hamilton
The Dreaming Void – Peter F. Hamilton
The Temporal Void – Peter F. Hamilton
The Evolutionary Void – Peter F. Hamilton
====
Worth a mention, thought this was very interesting:
Daemon – Daniel Suarez
====
I liked a lot of Reynolds, but it can be quite hard-sf at times, I prefer the space-opera style of PFH. Still, worthy mentions:
Chasm City – Alastair Reynolds
Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days – Alastair Reynolds
I’d include Banks, but his best stuff was all in the 90s, I like his 00s books, but not enough to vote “best of the decade”. There wasn’t a whole load of other sf I’d consider, maybe I’ve been reading the wrong authors, or not reading the right ones, but the quality of fantasy has seemed far superior to SF in recent years.
I would have included Robin Hobb but Farseer in the 90s, later work doesn’t appeal half as much. I liked Brent Weeks stuff, but not enough to vote in Best of the Decade (sorry Brent). Love to see more from him.
Some great suggestions above, look forward to seeing the final list and discovering some great new authors.
– amd
I’m probably biased towards more recent stuff here, but…
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Iron Council, China Mieville
Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Jhegaala, Steven Brust
The Family Trade, Charles Stross
The Hidden Family, Charles Stross
Storm of Swords, George RR Martin
(And Christ, it won’t let me choose any of my usual aliases, or my full name! Why do aliases have to be unique in the history of the site? They’re not accounts!)
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale – John Scalzi
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
FTW – Cory Doctorow
Oryx and Crake – Margaret Atwood
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale – John Scalzi
The Half-Made World- Felix Gilman
The Tiffany Aching trilogy- Terry Pratchett
The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman
American Gods- Neil Gaiman
Blackout/All-Clear- Connie Willis
Old Man’s War: John Scalzi
The Name of the Wind: Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Thief – Megan Whalen Turner
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Android’s Dream – John Scalzi
Covenants – Lorna Freeman
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Nation – Terry Pratchett
Zendengi or Schild’s Ladder by Greg Egan
Dread Empire’s Fall series
-The Praxis
-The Sundering
-The Conventions of War
by Walter Jon Williams
Merchant Princes
-The Family Trade
-The Hidden Family
-The Clan Corporate
-The Merchant’s War
-The Revolution Business
-The Trade of Queens
by Charlie Stross
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Pandora’s Star – Peter Hamilton
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
Chasm City – Alastair Reynolds
Absolution Gap – Alastair Reynolds
The Prefect – Alastair Reynolds
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Hull Zero Three – Greg Bear
Storm of Swords – G.R.R. Martin
Steven Erikson – The bonehunters
Steven Erikson – House of chains
Terry Pratchett – Nightwatch
China Mieville – Perdido street station
Brandon Sanderson – The final empire (mistborn trilogy)
Night wacht – Terry Pratchett
The bonehunters – Steven Erikson
The house of chains – Steven Erikson
Perdido street station – China Mieville
The hero of ages – Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Jordan/Sanderson
the Gathering Storm – Jordan/Sanderson
Kife of Dreams – Jordan
Night Watch Prachett well everything by Prachett
Lies of Locke Lamora- Lynch
the Way of Kings – Sanderson
Mistborns the final empire – Sanderson
Hero of ages – Sanderson
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Schild’s Ladder – Greg Egan (desperately underappreciated author in general)
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah – Stephen King
The Algebraist – Iain M. Banks
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town – Cory Doctorow
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
The King of the Crags by Stephen Deas
The Hundred-Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Mistborn – Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.
Hero Of Ages – Brandon Sanderson
A Feast for Ravens – GRRM
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Warded Man by Peter Brett
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
A superb decade for SFF, some of the best writing in the past 70 years (best by each author italicized):
Top 10
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (also Elantris, Mistborn)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (also Ghost Brigades, Last Colony)
Pandora’s Star / Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton (also Dreaming Void, Temporal Void)
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Just Missed
Imager by LE Modesitt, Jr.
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
Live Free or Die by John Ringo
The Gathering Storm by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Time’s Eye by Arthur C Clarke w/ Stephen Baxter
Coalescent by Stephen Baxter
Exultant by Stephen Baxter
Transcendent by Stephen Baxter
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A whole decade of good books:
Terry Pratchett, Night Watch
Iain M Banks, Surface Detail
Iain M Banks, The Algebraist
China Mieville, Kraken
R Scott Bakker, Prince of Nothing series
Joe Abercrombie, The First Law series
Air, Geoff Ryman
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
Deadhouse Gates, Steven Ericsson
Halting State, Charles Stross
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
Lady of Mazes, Karl Schroeder
Lord of Emperors, Guy Gavriel Kay
The Telling, Ursula K. Le Guin
Zoe’s Tale, John Scalzi
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
The Gone-Away World, Nick Harkaway
Halfway Human, Carolyn Ives Gilman
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Perdido Street Station by China Meiville
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Tower of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson/Robert Jordan
Storm of Swords by GRR Martin
Old Man’s War
A Storm of Swords
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Glasshouse – Charles Stross
Iron Sunrise – Charles Stross
Century Rain – Alastair Reynolds
Dies the Fire – S. M. Stirling
Impossible Odds – Dave Duncan
The Traveller – John Twelve Hawks (for those who like their Kafka with milk and sugar…)
I’ve wandered back through the almost 600 prior entries, added a few books to my Wishlist at Amazon based on unread titles that keep appearing alongside books I’ve loved..
In no order.
(I’m certain I’m missing books but this list is long enough already)
The Steel Remains Richard Morgan
The Magicians Lev Grossman
Cosmonaut Keep Ken MacLeod
Night Watch Terry Pratchett
Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch
Yiddish Policeman’s Union Michael Chabon
Pattern Recognition William Gibson
Spin Robert Charles Wilson
American Gods Neil Gaiman
The City and The City China Mieville
First Law Series Joe Abercrombie
Revelation Space Alastair Reynolds
The Laundry Series Charles Stross
Halting State Charles Stross
The Android’s Dream John Scalzi
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman
Maul Tricia Sullivan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
The Name of the wind BY Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords BY Martin
Knife of Dreams BY Jordan
The Gathering Storm BY Jordan/Sanderson
Towers of Midnight BY Jordan/Sanderson
NIght Watch, Going Postal, Wee Free Men BY Pratchett
Deadhouse Gates BY Erikson
old man’s war by John Scalzi
Dies the Fire – Stirling
American Gods – Gaiman
Old man’s War – Scalzi
Horns – Hill
Spin – Wilson
The Road – MaCarthy
Shadow of the Hegemon – Card
Butlerian Jihad – Herbert & Anderson
Knife of Never Letting Go – Ness
Lamb – Moore (if it qualifies)
Cryptonomicon – Neal Stephenson
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Accelerando – Charles Stross
Chasm City – Alistair Reynolds
The Dreaming Void – Peter F. Hamilton
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Long Price Quartet/Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham
Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Banquet for the Damned by Adam L. G. Nevill (albeit perhaps more horror than SFF)
Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
All the links go through to reviews, all of which are relatively nonspoilery (excepting the review of the Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
The Gone-Away World, Nick Harkaway
The President’s Vampire by Chris Farnsworth
John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War
My top 10, in no particular order:
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Thousandfold Thought by R. Scott Bakker
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Pandora’s Star/Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Gone-Away World by Nick Hardaway
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Brief History of the Dead, Kevin Brockmeier
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood
Terror, Dan Simmons
The Amber Spyglass, Phillip Pullman
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff
Cryoburn (or the Miles Vorkosigan series) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Diamond Age by Niel Stephenson
Dies the Fire by SM Stirling
A Feast For Crows by GRR Martin
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Company by KJ Parker
World War Z by Max Brooks
Old Mans War by Jon Scalzi
Issola by Steven Brust
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
I’m only going to put in five, but one of them is a series.
Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica
by James Owen
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Onion Girl by Charles DeLint
Changes by Jim Butcher (I want to be Harry Dresden in my next life)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi and American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Ooh, too many books to choose from…well, let’s see, in no particular order:
The Mistborn Trilogy, Elantris, Warbreaker, The Way of Kings-Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams-Robert Jordan
The Gathering Storm/ The Towers of Midnight-Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Kushiel’s Legacy Series (especially Kushiel’s Avatar)-Jacqueline Carey
A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows-George R.R. Martin
Going Postal-Terry Pratchett
The Dresden Files, The Codex Alera-Jim Butcher (love them all)
The Name of the Wind-Patrick Rothfuss
The Kingdom of Thorn and Bone series-Greg Keyes (aka The Briar King, The Charnel Prince, The Blood Knight and The Born Queen)
Temeraire-Naomi Novik (IIRC, it’s from the 2000’s)
American Gods-Neil Gaiman (shout out to his short story collection Fragile Things-loved it immensely)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire/ Order of the Phoenix/ Half-Blood Prince/ Deathly Hallows-J.K. Rowling
In the Presence of Mine Enemies-Harry Turtledove
If we can include manga here, I’d definitely pick Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromou Arakawa, with Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata as a distant second (still very, very good, I just like Fullmetal a lot.)
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Red Thunder by John Varley
I guess I’m in the minority in thinking there wasn’t much really good SFF published in the last decade. Maybe that’s a function of my age. Maybe my tastes have changed. Most of the best SFF I read over the last 10 years has been old stuff. Diamond Age. Neuromancer. Dune. Ringworld. I don’t think anything recent can touch those. Yeah, I guess I’m getting old.
I’m going to have to go with the books that I either immediately reread, or shifted how and what I read, or that I couldn’t wait to read. For those there were really only a few:
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Soldiers Live – Glen Cook
There were several more short story anthologies and reprints, but that’s not the question now.
Perdido Street Station
Altered Carbon
Old Man’s War
World War Z
Old Man’s War – Scalzi
Dead Beat – Butcher
Feed – Grant
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Towers of Midnight – Jordan/Sanderson
HP and the Half Blood Prince – Rowling
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Speed of Dark, Elizabeth Moon
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, Confusion, System of the World), Neal Stephenson
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Transition, Iain Banks
Pandora’s Star, Peter Hamilton
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Lions of Al-Rassan, Guy Gavriel Kay
Altered Carbon, Richard Morgan
Daemon, Daniel Suarez
Passage, Connie Willis
Kiln People, David Brin
Declare, Tim Powers
The Scar, China Meiville
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Off Armageddon Reef – David Weber
The Android’s Dream – John Scalzi
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
American Gods -Neil Gaiman
Abhorsen – Garth Nix
Way of Kings – Sanderson
Old Man’s War trilogy – Scalzi
Mistborn trilogy – Sanderson
Jon & Lobo series – van Name (can’t believe there’s not more votes for this fun series!!!)
The Android’s Dream – Scalzi
Harry Potter series – Rowling
Spin – Rbt Chs Wilson
Iron Council, by China Mieville
Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow
I would like to make a negative vote against “American Gods”. I can do that, right?
Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
I almost forgot! In addition to the two Lois McMaster Bujold:
The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool and Fool’s Fate)
Viewing the results page, I find that votes for “series” don’t count [how about adding that info to the top of this page, Tor?], so I need to add these as individual titles:
Old Man’s War – Scalzi
Mistborn – Sanderson
One Jump Ahead- van Name
Harry Potter /Deathly Hallows – Rowling
Here there be Dragons by James A. Owen
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Coiffer
Silkslinger by Liani Taylor
Here’s my short list:
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Towers of Midnight by Sanderson and Jordan
Mistborn by Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince by Rowlings
Too many to pick from, but here are my personal faves from the last decade:
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan.
The Dark Tower: Book VII by Stephen King.
The Praxis by Walter Jon Williams.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson.
River of Gods by Ian McDonald.
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon.
Accelerando by Charles Stross.
Ragamuffin by Tobias S. Buckell.
Acacia by David Anthony Durham.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi.
Daniel Abraham’s Long Price Quartet — specifically An Autumn War and A Betrayal in Winter
Mistborn:The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Androids Dream by John Scalzi
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Infected by Scott Sigler
Paladins by Joel Rosenberg
Paladins II: Knight Moves by Joel Rosenberg
Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold
Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold
Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Shadow of the Lion by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer
This Rough Magic by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer
Wind Rider’s Oath by David Weber
Freehold by Michael Z. Williamson
The Weapon by Michael Z. Williamson
A Mankind Witch by Dave Freer
Draw One in the Dark by Sarah Hoyt
In Fury Born by David Weber
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
Gentleman Takes a Chance by Sarah Hoyt
Seeker’s Bane by P. C. Hodgell
The Language of Power by Rosemary Kirstein
The Lost Steersman by Rosemary Kirstein
Exile’s Honor by Mercedes Lackey
Exile’s Valor by Mercedes Lackey
Take a Thief by Mercedes Lackey
Foundation by Mercedes Lackey
Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey
Brightly Burning by Mercedes Lackey
Much Fall of Blood by Mercedes Lackey with Dave Freer & Eric Flint
Darkship Thieves by Sarah Hoyt
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Bound in Blood by P. C. Hodgell
Issola (2001)
Dzur (2006)
Jhegaala (2008)
Iorich (2010)
The Paths of the Dead (2002)
The Lord of Castle Black (2003)
Sethra Lavode (2004)
All by Steven Brust
Dragon Bones (2002)
Dragon Blood (2003)
Raven’s Shadow (2004)
Raven’s Strike (2005)
Moon Called (2006)
Blood Bound (2007)
Iron Kissed (2008)
Bone Crossed (2009)
Silver Borne (2010)
The Hob’s Bargain (2001)
All by Patricia Briggs
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
I Dare (2002)
Local Custom (2002)
Scout’s Progress (2002)
Crystal Soldier (2005)
Crystal Dragon (2006)
Balance of Trade (2004)
Fledgling (2009)
Saltation (2010)
Mouse and Dragon (2010)
The Tomorrow Log (2003)
Sword of Orion (2005)
All by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Regenesis by C.J. Cherryh
The Peshawar Lancers (2001)
“Shikari in Galveston” (2003) (short story)
Conquistador (2003)
Dies the Fire (2004-07-01)
The Protector’s War (2005-09-06)
A Meeting at Corvallis (2006-09-05)
The Sunrise Lands (2007-09-04)
The Scourge of God (2008-09-02)
The Sword of the Lady (2009)
The High King of Montival (2010)
The Sky People (November 2006)
In the Courts of the Crimson Kings (March 2008)
All by S.M. Stirling
The Skies of Pern (2001) by Anne McCaffrey
Magi’i of Cyador (2001)
Scion of Cyador (2001)
Wellspring of Chaos (2004)
Ordermaster (2005)
Natural Ordermage (2007)
Mage-Guard of Hamor (2008)
Arms-Commander (January 2010)
The Ethos Effect (2003)
The Shadow Sorceress (2001)
Shadowsinger (2002)
Legacies (2002)
Darknesses (2003)
Scepters (2004)
Alector’s Choice (2005)
Cadmian’s Choice (2006)
Soarer’s Choice (2006)
The Lord-Protector’s Daughter (2008)
Imager (2009)
Imager’s Challenge (2009)
Imager’s Intrigue (July 2010)
Gravity Dreams (2000)
All by L.E. Modesitt
March Upcountry (May 2001)
March to the Sea (May 2001)
March to the Stars (January 2003)
We Few (April 2005)
All by David Weber and John Ringo
The Truth 2000
Thief of Time 2001
The Last Hero 2001
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents 2001
Night Watch 2002
The Wee Free Men 2003
Monstrous Regiment 2003
A Hat Full of Sky 2004
Going Postal
Thud! 2005
Wintersmith 2006
Making Money 2007
Unseen Academicals 2009
I Shall Wear Midnight
All by Terry Pratchett
Lt. Leary, Commanding (2000)
The Far Side of The Stars (2003)
The Way to Glory (2005)
Some Golden Harbor (2006)
When the Tide Rises (2008)
In the Stormy Red Sky (2009)
What Distant Deeps (2010)
All by David Drake
The Curse of Chalion (2001)
Paladin of Souls (2003)
The Hallowed Hunt (2005)
Beguilement (2006)
Legacy (2007)
Passage (2008)
Horizon (2009)
All by Lois McMaster Bujold
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Cryoburn By Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Rowling
A Civil Campaign – Bujold
The Curse of Chalion (2001) — Bujold
Deadhouse Gates – Erikson
Old Mans War – Scalzi
Last Colony – Also Scalzi
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Changes – Jim Butcher
A Song of Ice and Fire – GRRM (loved them all)
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Androids Dream by John Scalzi
The City and the City by China Miéville
Old man’s War by John Scalzi
Int othe Looking Glass by John Ringo/Travis Taylor
Androids Dream by John Scalzi
The Rookie by Scot Sigler
Infected by Scot Sigler
Gathering Stom by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfeld
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Empire by Orson Scott Card
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Wheel of Time (all that apply)
by Robert Jordan (& Sanderson)
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Anathema by Neal Stephenson
Night’s Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
The WOT by Jordan, Sanderson
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff
Thresholds, Past The Size of Dreaming, A Stir of Bones, A Fistful of Sky and A Fall of Light by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Time Travelers, Ghosts and Other Stories by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, if anthos count
Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Mark of the Demon and Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland
The City and The City and UnLunDun by China Miéville
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Among Others by Jo Walton
Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
Incandescence, by Greg Egan
Evolution, by Stephen Baxter
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson
Quicksilver, by Neal Stephenson
Mars Crossing, by Geoffrey Landis
Suprematie, by Laurent McAllister
Incandescence, by Greg Egan
Evolution, by Stephen Baxter
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson
Quicksilver, by Neal Stephenson
Mars Crossing, by Geoffrey Landis
Suprematie, by Laurent McAllister
Not sure quite how this works… People are voting for lots… So, I’m assuming that one can vote for as many different books as one wishes.
My number one spot goes to “The Way of Kings” by Brandon Sanderson.
Then in no particular order:
“Winter’s Heart” by Robert Jordan
“Knife of Dreams” by Robert Jordan
“Mistborn” by Brandon Sanderson
Ysabel by Guy Kay (2007)
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (2001)
Declare by Tim Powers (2001)
Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (2005)
The Lies of Locke Lemora by Scott Lynch (2006)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007)
The Atrocity Archive by Charles Stross (2004)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds
The City and the City by China Meiville
Ilium by Dan Simmons
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
My picks:
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Passage – Connie Willis
The Scar – China Mieville
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld
The Empress of Mars – Kage Baker
Zoe’s Tale – John Scalzi
The Gone-Away World – Nick Harkaway
The Book of Joby – Mark J. Ferrari
Death’s Head by David Gunn
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
The Long Price Quartet, Daniel Abraham (_Autumn War_ in particular)
Thief Of Time – Terry Pratchett
Storm Of Swords – George RR Martin
Children Of Hurin – JRR Tolkien
Lord Of Emperors – Guy Gavriel Kay
Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon
Knife Of Dreams – Robert Jordan
The Brightonomicon – Robert Rankin
Fool’s Fate – Robin Hobb
Exile’s Return – Raymond E Feist
1. Old Man’s War – Scalzi
2. Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
3. Bird of the River – Kage Baker
Fantasy:
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Winter’s Heart – Robert Jordan
Well, you said no limit and I am taking you at your word! Here is a probably incomplete list my favorite books published in the last ten years. I read a lot, so it’s long (will read more, there are so many already listed that I’ve not encountered).
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Palimpset by Catherynne M. Valente
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimon
The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia McKillip
In the Forests of Serre by Patricia McKillip
Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip
Od Magic by Patricia McKillip
The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice by Catherynne M. Valente
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson
The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson
Reaper’s Gale by Steven Erikson
Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson
Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson
The City & the City by China Mieville
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Matter by Iain M Banks
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Academ’s Fury by Jim Butcher
Cursor’s Fury by Jim Butcher
Captain’s Fury by Jim Butcher
Princeps’ Fury by Jim Butcher
First Lord’s Fury by Jim Butcher
Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
Changes by Jim Butcher
Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton
The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton
The Temporal Void by Peter F. Hamilton
The Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton
The Briar King by Greg Keyes
The Charnel Prince by Greg Keyes
Kraken by China Mieville
The Sea of Silver Light by Tad Williams
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N K Jemisin
Shadow’s Edge by Brent Weeks
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Spellwright by Blake Charlton
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
Broken Angels – Richard Morgan
Woken Furies – Richard Morgan
Market Force – Richard Morgan
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi
A Storm of Swords – G.R.R Martin
Permutation City – Greg Egan
Quarantine – Greg Egan
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N.K. Jemisin
Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow – David Gemmell
Troy: Shield of Thunder – David Gemmell
Midnight Falcon – David Gemmell
In no particular order:
Bujold – Curse of Chalion
Bujold – Paladin of Souls
Clarke – Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Watts – Blindsight
Pratchett – Night Watch
Thanks for this list! I just bought the top 10 on Amazon…have always wished for a good recommendation of good new SFF and now I have it!
Anathem (2008) by Neal Stephenson
Bad Monkeys (2007) by Matt Ruff
Infoquake (2006) by David Louis Edelman
Horizons (2006) by Mary Rosenblum
Moonstruck (2005) by Edward M. Lerner
Pushing Ice (2005) by Alastair Reynolds
Altered Carbon (2002) by Richard Morgan
Crystal Rain (2006) by Tobias S. Buckell
The Atrocity Archive (2001) by Charles Stross
Old Man’s War (2005) by John Scalzi
Spin (2005) by Robert Charles Wilson
The Speed of Dark (2003) by Elizabeth Moon
The Skinner (2002) by Neal Asher
Gridlinked (2001) by Neal Asher
Revelation Space (2000) by Alastair Reynolds
Chasm City (2001) by Alastair Reynolds
Calculating God (2000) by Robert J. Sawyer
The Starter- Scott Sigler
Crescent- Phil Rossi
“World War Z”, by Max Brooks
“The Time Traveler’s Wife”, by Audrey Niffenegger
“Old Man’s War”, by John Scalzi
“The Last Colony”, by John Scalzi
“Boneshaker”, by Cherie Priest
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Allegiance by Timothy Zahn
Old Man’s War
Wicked
The Android’s Dream
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Criteria: These stuck in my head and I still think about them long after I read them. Several belong to excellent series.
Night watch – Terry Pratchett
Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Changes – Jim Butcher
The Stepsister Scheme – Jim C. Hines
Grimspace – Anne Aguirre
Lamb – Christopher Moore
The Host – Stephenie Meyer
The Truth – Terry Pratchett
Eastern Standard Tribe – Cory Doctorow
Scout’s Progress – Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Nation – Terry Pratchett
Matter – Iain M. Banks
The Android’s Dream – John Scalzi
Lois McMaster Bujold – The Curse of Chalion it is.
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
For a full series:
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin
The Second Sons Trilogy by Jennifer Fallon
The Hythrun Chronicles by Jennifer Fallon
The Windup Girl
Old Man’s War
The Evolutionary Void
Blindsight
Finch
Seabird by Sherry Thompson
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
The Darkness That Comes Before – R. Scott Bakker
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
Pattern Recognition – William Gibson
Light – M. John Harrison
River of Gods – Ian McDonald
The City & The City – China Miéville
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
The Scar – China Miéville
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
City of Saints and Madmen – Jeff VanderMeer
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Snake Agent – Liz Williams
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe – Charles Yu
Old Man’s War
The Ghost Brigades (actually liked this one the best of the series)
American Gods
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Spin
The Time Traveler’s Wife
The Passage
His Majesty’s Dragon (2006) / Temeraire (UK)
Throne of Jade (2006)
Black Powder War (2006)
Empire of Ivory (2007)
Victory of Eagles (2008)
Tongues of Serpents (2010)
Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan (2002)
The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan
Thirteen, Richard K. Morgan
Woken Furies, Richard K. Morgan
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi (2005)
The Android’s Dream, John Scalzi
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J K Rowling (2000)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J K Rowling (2003)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J K Rowling (2005)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J K Rowling (2009)
Song of Ice and Fire Series, George R.R. Martin
A Storm of Swords,George R.R. Martin (2000)
Feast of Crows, George R.R. Martin
The Accidental Time Machine, Joe Haldeman
Perdido Street Station
Revelation Space
Feast of Souls
The Atrocity Archives
The Wreck of The River Of Stars
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Tinker by Wen Spencer
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Old Man’s War
Anathem
Where to begin?
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff
Fledgling & Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Tinker and Wolf Who Rules by Wen Spencer
Small Favors and Changes Jim Butcher (all Dresden books are great!)
Cryoburn, The Sharing Knife quartet and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Chronicles of the Warland byElizabeth Vaughan
Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N K Jemisin
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson;
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi;
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson;
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
Science Fiction
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi (go Scalzi!!)
Fantasy
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay (also gets two IMHO :-)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
A Princess of Roumania, Paul Park
The Obsidian Trilogy, Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Nation by Terry Pratchett
My #1 pick is:
The Atrocity Archives and ff, Charles Stross
These capture perfectly the inchoate sense of doom and the struggle against ‘intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic’; that is inherent in working for any large organization in the early 21st century.
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)
Iron Council by China Mieville (2004)
Look to Windward by Iain M Banks (2000)
Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan (2002)
The Truth by Terry Pratchett (2000)
The reason I love Science Fiction and Fantasy is that the heart of it is an exploration of what it means to be human and what our relationship to the universe can be.
That being said, here is my top 10 list for this first decade of the 21st century (and for those pedants who say that technically, 2000 is the last year of the 20th century, stick a sock in it!):
10. “The Skinner” by Neil Asher (2002)
9. ” Calculating God” by Robert J. Sawyer (2000)
8.” Ventus” by Karl Shroeder (2001)
7.”Knife of Dreams” by Robert Jordan (2005)
6. “Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell” by Susanna Clarke (2004)
5.”Engine City” by Ken Macleod (2002)
4.” Gridlinked” by Neil Asher (2001)
3. “System of the World” by Neal Stephenson (2004)
2. “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman (2001)
1. “Rainbow’s End” by Vernor Vinge (2006)
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Speed of Dark – Elizabeth Moon
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
Curse of Challion – Bujold
Blackout/All Clear – Willis
Night Watch – Pratchett
Changes – Butcher
Diplomatic Immunity – Bujold
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Shades of Milk and Honey – Kowal
Alphabet of Thorn – McKillip
Sunshine – McKinley
Graveyard Book – Gaiman
61 Nails – Shevdon
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – Jemisin
A Dirty Job – Moore
Chalice – Robin McKinley
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin
Light, M John Harrison
Glasshouse, Charles Stross
1-towers of midnight
2-way of kings
Worldwired – Elizabeth Bear
Regenesis – CJ Cherryh
When The Devil Dances – John Ringo
Reflex – Steven Gould
Paladins – Joel Rosenberg
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
A Hymn Before Battle – John Ringo
The Atrocity Archives – Charles Stross
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Stolen Child, Keith Donohue
The Passage, Justin Cronin
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
World War Z, Max Brooks
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon
The Terror, Dan Simmons
Children of Hope by David Feintuch
Gridlinked by Neal Asher
The Skinner by Neal Asher
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett
Shadow’s Edge by Brent Weeks
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Counting Heads, David Marusek
The Warded Man, Peter V. Brett
Knife of Dreams, Robert Jordan
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
J.K.Rowling — Harry Potter – loved them all
James A. Owen — Here There Be Dragons series – every one is wonderful!
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings
WoT by Jordan/Sanderson
Flora Fyrdraaca :Flora Segunda and Flora’s Dare by Ysabeau S. Wilce
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Foreigner Series “First Contact”: Defender, Explorer, Destroyer, Pretender, Deliverer, Conspirator, Deceiver by Cherryh, C. J.
Calculating God, Robert J Sawyer
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Rollback, Robert J Sawyer
Here. There Be Dragons
The Indigo King
– James A. Owen
Lirael
Abhorsen
– Garth Nix
Graveyard Book
– Neil Gaiman
Dragon’s Heart
– Yane Yolen
The Tower at the End of the World
The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost
The House Where Nobody Lived
The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer
– Brad Strickland
Magic Mirrors
– John Bellairs
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi
The Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – JK Rowling
House of Many Ways – Diana Wynne Jones
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Orphans’s Tale, Book 1 – In the Night Garden – Catherynne Valente
The Orphans’s Tale, Book 2 – In the Cities of Coin and Spice – Catherynne Valente
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Farthing – Jo Walton
Palimpsest – Catherynne Valente
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Soulless – Gail Carriger
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
And last…and perhaps least, I am almost unsure of adding
The Somnambulist – Jonathan Barnes
which I quite enjoyed, but wouldn’t recommend to anyone else because it’s just so…specific in it’s tastes.
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
Old Mans War – John Scalzi
Jim Butcher “Changes”
Jim Butcher “White Night”
David Weber “Off Armageddon Reef”
Scalzi “Old Man’s War”
Max Brooks “World War Z”
Jim Butcher “Changes”
Jim Butcher “White Night”
David Weber “Off Armageddon Reef”
Scalzi “Old Man’s War”
Max Brooks “World War Z”
@75 Engelbrecht (who’s tastes are shockingly similar to my own) reminded me of another of the best books from the last 11 years:
House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski
Which was only the second time I can ever remember being scared by a book. Effectively chilling in all the right ways.
Also, the companion album (Haunted) by his sister Poe is remarkably good, and extra creepy to listen to while reading the book.
Mark me down as someone who thinks Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book” is one of the best books of the decade. I also enjoyed it very much.
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Here There Be Dragons series – James A. Owen – brilliant!
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The absolute best book would have to be “Shades of Grey” (Jaspar Fforde). It’s spectacular.
Long Price Quartet – Daniel Abraham
The name of the wind – Rothfuss
Perdido Street Station – Mieville
Mistborn Trilogy – Sanderson
The Castings Trilogy – Pamela Freeman
Kushiels Legacy (esp Kushiel’s Dart) – Carey
Old Man’s War by Scalzi
Ender in Exile by Card
Changes by Butcher
White Knight by Butcher
Small Favor by Butcher
Magicians by Grossman
The Second Summoning (2001)
Long Hot Summoning (2003)
Smoke and Shadows (hardcover 2004 ed.)
Smoke and Mirrors (hardcover 2005 ed.).
Smoke and Ashes (hardcover June 2006 ed.)
Valor’s Choice (2000)
The Better Part of Valor (2002)
The Heart of Valor (2007)
Valor’s Trial (2008)
The Truth of Valor (hardcover August 24, 2010)
The Enchantment Emporium (2009)
All By Tanya Huff
Urban Shaman (2005)
Banshee Cries in the Winter Moon anthology (2009) with Mercedes Lackey and Tanith Lee
Thunderbird Falls (2006)
Coyote Dreams (2007)
Rabbit Tricks (2009, online)
Walking Dead (2009)
Demon Hunts (2010)
All by C. E. Murphy
Dead Witch Walking (April 2004)
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (January 2005)
Every Which Way But Dead (June 28, 2005)
A Fistful of Charms (June 27, 2006)
For a Few Demons More (March 20, 2007)
The Outlaw Demon Wails (February 26, 2008)
White Witch, Black Curse (February 24, 2009)
Black Magic Sanction (February 23, 2010)
All by Kim Harrison
Dead Until Dark (2001)
Living Dead in Dallas (March 2002)
Club Dead (May 2003)
Dead to the World (May 2004)
Dead as a Doornail (May 2005)
Definitely Dead (May 2006)
All Together Dead (May 2007)
From Dead to Worse (May 2008)
Dead and Gone (May 2009)
A Touch of Dead (October 2009)
Dead in the Family (May 4, 2010)
All by Charlaine Harris
Cast in Shadow (August 2005)
Cast in Courtlight (July 2006)
Cast in Secret (August 2007)
Cast in Fury (October 2008)
Cast in Silence (August 2009)
Cast in Chaos (August 2010)
All as Michelle Sagara
also
he Hidden City: A Novel of the House War, Book 1 (March 2008)
City of Night: A Novel of the House War, Book 2 (February 2010)
As Michelle West
The Shadow of Ararat
The Gate of Fire
The Storm of Heaven
The Dark Lord
All by Thomas Harlan
The Gambler’s Fortune (2000)
The Warrior’s Bond (2001)
The Assassin’s Edge (2002)
Southern Fire (2003)
Northern Storm (2004)
Western Shore (2005)
Eastern Tide (2006)
Irons in the Fire (2009)
Blood in the Water (2010)
Banners in the Wind (2010)
All by Juliet E. McKenna
The Musashi Flex (2006) by Steve Perry
Boundary with Eric Flint
Threshold
Grand Central Arena
All by Ryk E. Spoor
The Fall of Neskaya (2001) (with Deborah J. Ross)
Zandru’s Forge (2003) (with Deborah J. Ross)
A Flame in Hali (2004) (with Deborah J. Ross)
The Alton Gift (2007)
Hastur Lord (2010) (written principally by Deborah J. Ross)
All by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Three Hands for Scorpio (2005)
Beast Master’s Ark (2002) with Lyn McConchie
Beast Master’s Circus (2004) with Lyn McConchie
Beast Master’s Quest (2006) with Lyn McConchie
To the King a Daughter: The Book of the Oak (2000) with Sasha Miller
Knight or Knave: The Book of the Yew (2001) with Sasha Miller
A Crown Disowned: The Book of the Ash and the Rowan (2002) with Sasha Miller
Dragon Blade: The Book of the Rowan (2005) with Sasha Miller
Knight of the Red Beard (2008) with Sasha Miller
Leopard in Exile (2001) with Rosemary Edghill
Elvenborn (2002) with Mercedes Lackey
A Taste of Magic (Taste) (2006) with Jean Rabe
Dragon Mage: A Sequel to Dragon Magic (2008) written by/with Jean Rabe
Mark of the Cat, Year of the Rat (2002)
Return to Quag Keep (2005) with – Jean Rabe
Atlantis Endgame (2002) with Sherwood Smith
The Dukes Ballad (2005) with Lyn McConchie
Silver May Tarnish (2005) with Lyn McConchie
All by Andre Norton
Paragon Lost (2002)
Impossible Odds (2003)
The Jaguar Knights (2004)
All by Dave Duncan
Angry Lead Skies (2002)
Whispering Nickel Idols (2005)
Cruel Zinc Melodies (2008)
Gilded Latten Bones (2010)
All by Glen Cook
Fool’s Errand (2002)
Golden Fool (2003)
Fool’s Fate (2003)
Dragon Keeper (2009)
Dragon Haven (2010)
Shaman’s Crossing (2005)
Forest Mage (2006)
Renegade’s Magic (2008)
All by Robin Hobb
Bloodring, November 7, 2006
Seraphs, May 1, 2007
Host, November 6, 2007
Skinwalker, July, 2009
Blood Cross, January, 2010
Mercy Blade
All by Faith Hunter
Feed (April 27, 2010) by Mira Grant
His Majesty’s Dragon (March 2006)
Throne of Jade (April 2006)
Black Powder War (May 2006)
Empire of Ivory (September 2007)
Victory of Eagles (July 2008)
Tongues of Serpents (July 2010)
All by Naomi Novik
Reunion (2001)
Flinx’s Folly (2003)
Sliding Scales (2004)
Running from the Deity (2005)
Trouble Magnet (2006)
Patrimony (2007)
Flinx Transcendent (2009)
Dirge (2000)
Diuturnity’s Dawn (2002)
The Mocking Program (2002)
All by Alan Dean Foster
“Tracking – part 1”. Analog 128 (7&8). July/August 2008.
“Tracking – part 2”. Analog 128 (9): 90–133. September 2008.
“Tracking – part 3”. Analog 128 (10): 86–133. October 2008.
by David R. Palmer
The Briar King (2003)
The Charnel Prince (2004)
The Blood Knight (2006)
The Born Queen (2008)
All by Gregory Keyes
Sanderson:
Warbreaker
Mistoborn
Hero of Ages
Sanderson/Jordan:
Towers of Midnight
Gathering Storm
Brooks:
World war Z
In no particular order:
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Mistborn: The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Throne of Jade – Naomi Novik
(pretty standard selection!)
I know a couple are teen titles, but they were amazing nonetheless.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
The Gathering Storm by Branden Sanderson / Robert Jordan
Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Pearson, Mary.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Here There Be Dragons by James Owen
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Halting State by Charles Stross
Uglies (and also Pretties and Specials), by Scott Westerfeld
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Red Thunder by John Varley
Very Bad Deaths by Spider Robinson
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Finch – Jeff VanderMeer
Shriek: An Afterword – Jeff VanderMeer
City of Saints and Madmen – Jeff VanderMeer
The Other City – Michal Ajvaz
The Narrator – Michael Cisco
The Tyrant – Michael Cisco
The Golden Age – Michal Ajvaz
Escape From Hell! – Hal Duncan
A Shadow in Summer/A Betrayal in Winter/An Autumn War/The Price of Spring – Daniel Abraham
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The Gone-Away World – Nick Harkaway
Memoirs of a Master Forger – William Heaney (US version: How to Make Friends with Demons – Graham Joyce)
Altered Carbon – Richard K. Morgan
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden/The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice – Catherynne M. Valente
The Sharing Knife (tetralogy), Lois McMaster Bujold
Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
Here, There be Dragons by James A. Owen
Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara by James Gurney
1. Pandora’s Star/Judas Unchained by Peter Hamilton
2. The Name of the Rose by Patrick Rothfuss
3. Perdido Street Station/The Scar by China Mieville
4. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
5. Chasm City (or The Prefect) by Alastair Reynolds
6. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
7. Anathem by Neal Stephenson
8. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
9. The Warded Man by Peter Brett
10. A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
The Name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams By Robert Jordan
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
a Storm of Swords by George Martin
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
1. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
2. The Passage by Justin Cronin
3. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Jeff VanderMeer – City of Saints and Madmen
China Mieville – The Scar
George RR Martin – A Storm of Swords
Alastair Reynolds – Chasm City
Steven Erikson – House of Chains
R. Scott Bakker – The Darkness That Comes Before
Felix Gilman – The Halfmade World
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling
Knife of Dreams” by Robert Jordan
For a full series:
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin
“Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss
“Changes” by Jim Butcher
“Storm of Swords” by George R. R. Martin
In order,
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Changes by Jim Butcher
Homeward Bound by Harry Turtledove
The Goneaway World by Nick Harkaway
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Seeker by Jack McDevitt
How can the Hunger Games not make the cut? (And the two that follow it.) That would be my first choice. Followed by Old Man’s War.
To Ride Hell’s Chasm, by Janny Wurts
City at the End of Time, by Greg Bear
Old Man’s War, Scalzi
Lois McMaster Bujold, Curse of Chalion
Diana Wynne Jones, The Pinhoe Egg
Robin McKinley, Sunshine
Connie Willis, Blackout/All Clear
Megan Whalen Turner, King of Attolia
Terry Pratchett, Wee Free Men
Jo Walton, Farthing
Greer Gilman, Cloud and Ashes
Patricia Briggs, Dragon Bones
Garth Nix, Abhorsen trilogy
Patricia Wrede, Thirteenth Child
Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, Sorcery and Cecelia
Tanya Huff, Enchantment Emporium
Diane Duane, Wizards at War
Caroline Stevermer, A College of Magics
Mira Grant, Feed
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Scar, China Mieville
Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood
Transition, Iain M Banks
The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
Halting State, Charles Stross
No Limit! Oh, my! Oh, my! (rubbing hands and grinning)
Cryoburn, Lois McMaster Bujold
Diplomatic Immunity, Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Last Centurion, John Ringo
Live Free or Die, John Ringo
Boundary, Eric Flint and Ryk Spoor
Threshold, Eric Flint and Rick Spoor
Digital Knight, Ryk E. Spoor
Ashes of Victory, David Weber (March 2000)
War of Honor, David Weber (October 2002)
At All Costs, David Weber (November 2005)
Mission of Honor, David Weber (June 2010)
Crown of Slaves, David Weber and Eric Flint (September 2003)
Torch of Freedom, David Weber and Eric Flint (November 2009)
The Shadow of Saganami, David Weber (October 2004)
Storm from the Shadows, David Weber (March 2009)
Do Unto Others, Michael Z. Williamson
Contact with Chaos, Michael Z. Williamson
Better to Beg Forgiveness, Michael Z. Williamson
The Weapon, Michael Z. Williamson
Freehold, Michael Z. Williamson
Transhuman, edited by Mark L. Van Name and T. K. F. Weisskopf
Seeker, Jack McDevit
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
American Gods, Niel Gaiman
Android’s Dream, John Scalzi
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalup
Old Man’s War
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Ansansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi
Name of the Wind- Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
Storm of Swords by GRR Martin
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalup
Altered Carbon Richard K. Morgan
Seeing as the vote I posted appears to be lost in cyberspace, I’ll post it once more.
The Name of the Wind- Patrick Rothfuss
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Attwood
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Scar by China Mieville
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman, American Gods
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegoski
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Painted Man (in US ‘The Warded Man’) by Peter V. Brett
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
The Last Colony by John Scalzi
Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Both of these changed the way I looked at things.
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Anathem, by Neal Stephenson, is the most mind-blowing speculative fiction book I have ever read. If it doesn’t win … then I must have some serious reading to do!
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman- American Gods.
There is a lot wrong with anyone that has not read this book.
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel by Susannah Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind By Pat Rothfuss
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Telling by Ursula K. LeGuin
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Neil Gaiman, American Gods. Something new every time you read it!
(and for those pedants who say that technically, 2000 is the last year of the 20th century, stick a sock in it!)
Only if you explain how a decade can be eleven years long. :-)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Two Pearls of Wisdom by Alison Goodman (or any other publisher’s name for this book)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Giman!
City of Saints and Madmen Jeff Vandermeer
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell Susanna Clark
Declare Tim Powers
Cloud Atlas David Mitchell
Anansi Boys Neil Gaiman
The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolfe
Anathem Neal Stephenson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Anathem by Neil Stephenson
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
1. Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
2. American Gods – Neil Gaimen
3. Time Traveler’s Wife
American Gods.
Making Money – Terry Pratchett
Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Leviathan – Scott Westerfield
The Subtle Knife – Philip Pullman
Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix – J.K Rowling
…And Another Thing – Eoin Colfer
Dust, Elizabeth Bear
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Evolution’s Darling, Scott Westerfeld
The Wind-Up Girl, Scott Bicigalupi
The Magicians, Lev Grossman
Transmetropolitan, Warren Ellis
Nice to see some of my favorites getting some love.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Summerland, Michael Chabon
The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe
Peace Like a River, Leif Enger
Rice Boy, Evan Dahm
Digger, Ursula Vernon
Gentlemen of the Road, Michael Chabon
Pirate Freedom, Gene Wolfe
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Daemon and Freedom™ by Daniel Suarez
Golden Age by John C. Wright
It has been a great decade.
Perdido Street Station is a wonder and made me a China Miéville fan for life.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark was another one that took my breath away.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. Nuff said.
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. I enjoyed her earlier books but this one hits a whole new level.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Scar by China Mieville
Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Farthing by Jo Walton
Probability Moon by Nancy Kress
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
For the Win by Cory Doctorow
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
In roughly the order I remember enjoying them:
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffengger
Altered Carbon, Richard Morgan
Jennifer Government, Max Barry
Mathematicians in Love, Rudy Rucker
The Fourth Bear, Jasper Fforde
Final Watch, Sergey Lukyanenko
The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
American Gods and Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Limit by Frank Schätzing
“Pink Noise: A Posthuman Tale” by Leonid Korogodski
For SURE the Old man’s war – John Scalzi
@brc#783: Because, like, this is the Age of Decade-ence and One11Wonder. Miracles abound!
A quick poll: Hands up, everyone who has never ever wished for twenty-six or more hours in their Standard Day™? (counts)
Thank you, hands down please. Hands up, everyone who has so wished? (counts again) Just as I thought.
Hang in there, folks – with luck we may yet live to colonize Barrayar. ;^)
The Name of the Wind
Lois McMaster Bujold, Curse of Chalion
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green
American Gods by Neil Gaiman, without a doubt in my mind is not just the greatest Sci-fi/Fantasy novel of the past 60 years, but quite possibly one of the greatest novels, period.
Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell Susannah Clarke
Declare Tim Powers
I have to vote for American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Curse of Chalion.
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Rainbow’s End by Vernor Vinge
Pandora’s Star/Judas Unchained by Peter F Hamilton
Look To Windward by Iain M Banks
Matter by Iain M Banks
Surface Detail by Iain M Banks
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds
Singularity Sky by Charles Stross
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Not difficult at all – American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Too phenomenal for words, as is the man himself.
Also agree with Matthew Scully (811)- “not just the greatest Sci-fi/Fantasy novel of the past 60 years, but quite possibly one of the greatest novels, period.”
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, Jonathan L. Howard
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Neil Gaiman’s American Gods
Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War”
Also; Stephenson’s “Anathem” and Lynch’s “The Lies of Locke Lamora”.
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Altered carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
R. Scott Bakker – The Darkness That Comes Before
Steven Erikson – Deadhouse Gates
Iain Banks – Surface Detail
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Passage by Connie Willis
The Book of Ash by Mary Gentle
Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin
In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Natural History by Justina Robson
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark
Shrine of Stars: The 3rd Book of Confluence by Paul J. McAuley
The Dervish House by Ian MacDonald
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi
Not Before Sundown by Johanna Sinisalo
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Carhullan Army (aka Daughters of the North) by Sarah Hall
Life by Gwyneth Jones
Maul by Tricia Sullivan
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Ilium by Dan Simmons
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Book of Ash by Mary Gentle
City of Pearl by Karen Traviss
The Steerswoman’s Road by Rosemary Kirstein [the Steerswoman series]
Explorer by C.J. Cherryh [the Foreigner Universe]
Hav by Jan Morris
Dr Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Altered Carbon by Richard morgan
The Carpet Makers – Andreas Eschbach
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Agent to the Stars – John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign — Lois McMaster Bujold
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
The King of Attolia Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia – Megan Whalen Turner
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Last Elf by Silvana de Mari
Winter’s Heart: Robert Jordan (2000)
Knife of Dreams: Robert Jordan (2005)
The Gathering Storm: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (2009)
Towers of Midnight: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (2010)
A Storm of Swords: George R. R. Martin (2000)
A Feast for Crows: George R. R. Martin (2005)
The Way of Shadows: Brent Weeks (2008)
Shadow’s Edge: Brent Weeks (2008)
Beyond the Shadows: Brent Weeks (2008)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: J K Rowling (2005)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: J K Rowling (2007)
Thief of Time: Terry Pratchett (2001)
The Wolf King: Alice Borchardt (2001)
Silver Moons, Black Steel: Tara K. Harper (2001)
Wolf in Night: Tara K. Harper (2005)
Acorna’s World: Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough (2000)
Acorna’s Search: Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough (2001)
Acorna’s Rebels: Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough (2003)
Acorna’s Triumph: Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough (2004)
Pegasus in Space: Anne McCaffrey (2000)
Across the Nightingale Floor: Lian Hearn (2002)
Grass for His Pillow: Lian Hearn (2003)
Brilliance of the Moon: Lian Hearn (2004)
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Maelstrom – Peter Watts
Chasm City – Alastair Reynolds
Stephen Baxter – Manifold: Space
Pandora’s Star – Peter F. Hamilton
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Illium – Dan Simmons
City of Saints and Madmen – Jeff Vandermeer
Blind Lake – Robert Charles Wilson
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The Name of The Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Light – M John Harrison
The Night Sessions – Ken Macleod
The King of the Crags – Stephen Deas
So many great books over the last 10-11 years, off the top of my head I’d have to single out.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Pandora’s Star by Peter F Hamilton
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Matter by Iain M Banks
Mission of Honor by David Weber
Night Guard, Terry Pratchett
Wintersmith, Terry Pratchett
Nation, Terry Pratchett
The Graveyard Book, Neil GaimanHis Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
Sorcery & Cecilia, Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
The Pinhoe Egg, Diana Wynne Jones
Farthing, Jo Walton
Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Rosemary & Rue, Seanan McGuire
Savvy, Ingrid Law
The Stepsister Scheme, Jim Hines
The Indigo King, James A. Owen
Flora Segunda, Ysabeau Wilce
UnLunDun, China Mieville
Larklight, Philip Reeve
American Gods and Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan/Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Night Watch by Terry Prachett
His Magestys Dragon by Naomi Novik
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
The Name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
The Stratford Man, Elizabeth Bear
Forty Days of Rain, Kim Stanley Robinson
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Going Postal, Terry Pratchett
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
The Passage, Justin Cronin
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Atered Carbon, Richard Morgan
Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
Gridlinked, Neal Asher (start of a wonderful series)
My two favorite books from the last decade are Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow and Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (followed closely by Eastern Standard Tribe by Doctorow and Android’s Dream by Scalzi).
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Ventus – Karl Schroeder
Permanence – Karl Schroeder
Lady of the Mazes – Karl Schroeder
The Sunless Countries – Karl Schroeder
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Julian Comstock – Robert Charles Wilson
Quicksilver – Neal Stephenson
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Halting State – Charles Stross
Singularity Sky – Charles Stross
Rainbows End – Vernor Vinge
Newton’s Wake – Ken MacLeod
Execution Channel – Ken MacLeod
Zeitgeist – Bruce Sterling
Schild’s Ladder – Greg Egan
Memory – Linda Nagata
Pattern Recognition – William Gibson
Anathem.
The Book of Joby, by Mark J Ferrari
Infoquake, by Robert Louis Edelman
Temeraire/His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik
A Companion to Wolves, by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette
The Swarm: A Novel of the Deep, by Frank Schatzing
World Made by Hand, by James Howard Kunstler
The Speed of Dark, by Elizabeth Moon
American Gods – Gaiman
Old Man’s War – Scalzi
The Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Dies the Fire by SM Stirling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_the_Fire
I would nominate the entire series, actually.
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Lies of Locke Lamroa by Scott Lynch
Anathem by Neal Stephanson
Night watch by Terry Prratchett
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Paladin of Souls by Lois Mcmaster Bujold
Odd Thmoas by Dean Koontz
A Storm Of Swords by GRRM
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erickson
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Ringworld’s Children, Larry Niven
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddors
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
The Stratford Man duology (Ink & Steel, Hell & Earth) by Elizabeth Bear
Temeraire/His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
American Gods by Neil Gaiman. A masterpiece. Definitely.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Forbidden The Stars by Valmore Daniels
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Evolution, Stephen Baxter
Evolutionary Void by Peter Hamilton
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Variable Star by Robert Heinlein (ala Spider Robinson)
Dragonback series by Timothy Zahn
Thief of Time–Terry Pratchett
Night Watch–Terry Pratchett
Thud!–Terry Pratchett
Old Man’s War–John Scalzi
The Ghost Brigades–John Scalzi
The Last Colony–John Scalzi
Zoë’s Tale–John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Ghost Brigades–John Scalzi
The Last Colony–John Scalzi
Zoë’s Tale–John Scalzi
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Scar by China Mieville
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Sorcerers House by Gene Wolfe
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (best audiobook version of anything that I’ve EVER heard)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Odalisque by Fiona McIntosh
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
The City and the City by China Miéville
The Silver Lake by Fiona Patton
The One Kingdom by Sean Russell
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
The Wreck of the River of Stars, Michael Flynn
Elantris, Brandon Sanderson
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
Anvil of the World, Kage Baker
Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan
Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan
Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan (yes, I get multiple votes on that)
Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Mistborn: Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
…
Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan
Pushing Ice, Alastair Reynolds
The Name Of The Wind – Rothfuss
The Way Of Kings – Sanderson
Towers Of Midnight – Jordan & Sanderson
System of the World – Neal Stephenson (Or the entire Baroque Cycle, if it counts. This was the best of the three books.)
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi (OMW was good – this one was better)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson (either the first book, or the trilogy as a whole)
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Sea of Silver Light – Tad Williams
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Lies of Locke Lamora
At All Costs – the best Honor Harrington book of all
Off Armageddon Reef – I think this series may turn out to be an SFF classic and the opener here is fantastic
Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Kushiels Dart
The Long Price Quartet – Daniel Abraham
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Look to Windward – Iain M Banks
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Long Price Quartet – Daniel Abraham
First Lord’s Fury, Jim Butcher
Changes, Jim Butcher
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
Moon Called, Patricia Briggs
Wintersmith — Terry Pratchett
City & the City — China Mieville
Graveyard Book — Neil Gaiman
Kingdom Beyond the Waves — Stephen Hunt
Larklight — Philip Reeve
Skybreaker — Kenneth Oppel
Pirate Freedom — Gene Wolfe
Kushiel’s Dart — Jacqueline Carey
Under Heaven — Guy Gavriel Kay
– Rainbows End (2006) by Vernor Vinge
– The Ghost Brigades (2006) by John Scalzi
– Old Man’s War (2005) by John Scalzi
-Kiln People (2002) by David Brin- Shadow of the Giant (2005) by Orson Scott Card
– Hidden Emprie (2009) by Orson Scott Card
– The three books of the Dark Tower Seires (Wolves of the Cala (2003) to Dark Tower (2004) ) by Stephen King (books cross genres so I think they should count)
– How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (2010) by Charles Yu
– A Separate War and Other Stories (2006) by Joe Haldeman
There was some great Fantasy, i.e.. Lois McMaster Bujold has some great stuff (Curse of Chalion series in particular), Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel (2004) by Susanna Clarke, Most of the Harry Potter Books, but these are not really Sci Fi so don’t really count here.
(1999 was a great year in Sci Fi, but non of the books of that year count for this contest Cryptonomicon, Ender’s Shadow, ADeepness in the Sky, Darwin’s Radio, A Civil Campaign, etc)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi !!!
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin
The Scar by China Mieville
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
Air by Geoff Ryman
World War Z by Max Brooks
Vellum by Hal Duncan
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Changes by Jim Butcher
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
Declare, Tim Powers
Rainbow’s End, Vernor Vinge
Pattern Recognition, William Gibson
R. Scott Bakker – The Warrior-Prophet
M. John Harrison – Light
China Mievílle – The Scar
Pushing Ice, Alastair Reynolds
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Drood – Dan Simmons
Blackout/All Clear – Connie Willis
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Terror – Dan Simmons
American Gods – Neil Gaimon
Alastair Reynolds – The Prefect
Against a Dark Background – Iain Banks
Muse of Fire – Dan Simmons
Fallen Dragon – Peter F. Hamilton
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
Seeker – Jack McDevitt
Fitzpatrick’s War by Theodore Judson
Walter Jon Williams – Dread Empire’s Fall
Meteplanetary – Tony Daniel
In no particular order:
Pandora’s Star and Judas Unchained (Commonwealth Saga) – Peter F Hamilton
Quicksilver – Neal Stephenson (or the entire Baroque Cycle, if you prefer)
The Algebraist – Iain M Banks
Surface Detail – Iain M Banks
The Gone-Away World – Nick Harkaway
The Years of Rice and Salt – Kim Stanley Robinson
Galileo’s Dream – Kim Stanley Robinson
Ilium – Dan Simmons
The Hunger Games (trilogy) – Suzanne Collins
The Forest of Hands and Teeth – Carrie Ryan
The Knife of Never Letting Go – Patrick Ness
FEED – Mira Grant
The Passage – Justin Cronin
The Carpet Makers – Andreas Eschbach
Far North – Marcel Theroux
Might be an idea to have separate lists for SF and Fantasy, no? Otherwise it’ll be the WoT books and possibly Anathem in the top 10.
Happy counting!
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Dies the Fire – SM Stirling
The Sky People – SM Stirling
Old Man’s War(2005)
by John Scalzi
As someone here in a previous post stated “It rekindled my love for science fiction”. A great story a great book.
Dies the Fire (2004)
by S. M. Stirling
Though there was a lack of explanation as to why the power went away,it was a great story of how far humanity would degenerate without power of any sort.
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The Darkness That Comes Before – R Scott Bakker
Ilium – Dan Simmons
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Old man’s war by John Scalzi
American gods by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Best served cold by Joe Abercrombie
Daniel Abraham: The Long Price Quartet
Steven Erikson: The Malazan Tales of the Fallen
Jim Butcher: The Dresden Files
Jim Butcher: The Codex Alera
Lois McMaster Bujold: The Chalion sequence, particularly The Curse of Chalion and The Paladin of Souls. And if we’re counting 1999 publications, A Civil Campaign should certainly be in there.
Celia Friedmann: Feast of Souls, and Wings of Wrath
China Mieville: Perdido Street Station, The Scar, Iron Council, Kraken, The City and the City
Charles Stross: Accelerando, Halting State, The Merchant Princes series, The Laundry novels
Iain Banks: Transition
Iain M. Banks: Surface Detail
Stephen Brust: The Taltos novels, yeah all of them. The man’s a genius. Even if I can’t remember if his name has a ‘ph’ or a ‘v’.
1. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Joe Abercrombie First Law series
Steven Erikson Malazan series
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
The Scar, by China Mieville (2002)
Looking for Jake and Other Stories, by China Mieville (2005)
Light, by M. John Harrison (2002)
River of Gods, by Ian McDonald, (2004)
Story of Your Life, by Ted Chiang, (2002)
Revelation Space, by Alastair Reynolds (2000)
Redemption Ark, by Alastair Reynolds, (2002)
Natural History, by Justina Robson, (2003)
Kil’n People, by David Brin, (2002)
Cowboy Angels, by Paul J. McAuley (2007)
Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson (2003)
The System of the World, by Neal Stephenson (2004)
Look to Windward, by Iain M. Banks (2000)
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull
Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Hero Of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Princeps Fury by Jim Butcher
Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
The Lies Of Lock Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A Storm Of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
Blackout/All Clear, Connie Willis
Valor’s Trial, Tanya Huff
Dragon Blood, Patricia Briggs
White Cat, Holly Black
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
Scout’s Progress, Local Custom, Plan B, and I Dare, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
Ink & Steel and Hell & Earth (The Stratford Man), by Elizabeth Bear
Dead Beat, Proven Guilty, White Night, Small Favor, Turn Coat, and Changes, by Jim Butcher
Kushiel’s Dart, by Jacqueline Carey
Feed, by Mira Grant
Bitten, by Kelley Armstrong
The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch
The Life of the World to Come and The Sons of Heaven, by Kage Baker
Beguilement and Legacy (The Sharing Knife), by Lois McMaster Bujold
Liar, by Justine Larbalestier
Uglies and Peeps, by Scott Westerfeld
Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs
His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
Retribution Falls, by Chris Wooding
American Gods by Neil Gaiman! or Jonathan Strange…. by Susanna Clarke.
The Graveyard Book, Gaiman
Storm of Swords, Martin
Changes, Butcher [Also the series, but best single book]
Half-Blood Prince, Rowling,
City and the City, Mieville
The Scar, Mieville
Mistborn Triology, Sanderson
The Lies of Locke Lamroa, Lynch
Deadhouse Gates, Erikson [also the series, but best single book]
The Name of the Wind, Rothfuss
Issola, Brust [also the series, but best single book]
World War Z, Brooks
Honor Harrington Series, Weber
Commonwealth and Void Series, Hamilton
Blade of Tyshalle, Stover
Little Brother, Doctorow
-The Way of Shadows- Brent Weeks
-Shadows Edge- Brent Weeks
-Beyond the Shadows- Brent Weeks
-Dark Tower 5, 6 and 7- Stephen King
-The Traveller- John Twelve Hawks
-The Dark River- John Twelve Hawks
-The Golden City- John Twelve Hawks
-The Crystal City- Orson Scott Card
-American Gods-Neil Gaiman
-A Storm of Swords-George Martin
-A Feast for Crows- George Martin
-Perdido Street Station- China Mieville
Anathem (Stephenson), Old Man’s War (Scalzi), American Gods (Gaiman), Little Brother (Doctorow), Sunshine (McKinley), Wheel of Time, Speed of Dark (Moon), Mistborn (Sanderson), Song of Ice and Fire (Martin)
The Orphan’s Tales series and Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
Fudoki by Kij Johnson
Boneshaker and Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
The City & The City and Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
How to live safely in a Science Ficitonal Universe by Charles Yu
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison
The year of the flood by Margaret Atwood
Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson
Baudolino by Umberto Eco
Natural History by Justina Robson
The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach
House of Suns
Planetary
WoT
Mistborn
Way of Kings
Blindsight by Peter Watts
also How is Joe Abercrombies Last Argument of Kings not up there?
Declare – Tim Powers
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Omnitopia – Diane Duane
Dust – Elizabeth Bear
A Civil Campaign – Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Sandman Slim – Richard Kadrey
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
It has to be China Mieville. I would say Perdido Street Station, though The Scar was fantastic too. The rest of his stuff is on my “to-be-read” list.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.
No other new book I’ve read in the last 10 years has changed my opinions on how science fiction can be presented.
windup girl by paulo bacigalupi
Dies the Fire — S.M. Stirling
The Unwilling Warlord — Lawrence Watt-Evans
For favorite I vote for Dies the Fire by SM Stirling,
Runner up would go to Kevin Weeks for the Night Angel trilogy
and to Lois McMaster Bujold for Paladin of Souls.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
The Last Colony by John Scalzi
Steven Erikson – Deadhouse Gates
Steven Erikson – Memories of Ice
China Mieville – Kraken
Max Brooks – World War Z
Jim Butcher – Dead Beat
S.M. Stirling – Dies the Fire
Guy Gavriel Kay – The Last Light of the Sun
S.M. Stirling – Dies the Fire
Guy Gavriel Kay – The Last Light of the Sun
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Sunshine by Robin Mckinley (some might argue about genre there, but it is more fantasy than horror)
Also because we have as many votes as we want:
Bone Doll’s Twin by Lynn Flewelling
American Gods and/or Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Hunger Games by Susanna Collins
Oh, an I just realized that these fall in the time period:
A Game of Thrones, Clash of Kings, and Storm of Swords by GRRM
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
American Gods- Neil Gaiman
Cryoburn- Lois McMaster Bujold
Declare- Tim Powers
Galveston- Sean Stewart
Night Watch- Terry Pratchett
Pattern Recognition- William Gibs0n
Soldiers Live- Glen Cook
The Native Star- MK Hobson
The Peshawar Lancers- SM Stirling
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Bone Doll’s Twin by Lynn Flewelling
Ordered alphabetically by author:
All the Windwracked Stars (2008) by Elizabeth Bear
Changes (2010) by Jim Butcher
Paladin of Souls (2003) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Deadhouse Gates (2000) by Steven Erikson
Feast of Souls (2007) by C.S. Friedman
Melusine (2005) by Sarah Monette
The Way of Kings (2010) by Brandon Sanderson
The Sun Sword (2004) by Michelle Sagara West
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Starfish by Peter Watts
Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin
The Broken Kingdoms by NK Jemisin
I would have to say I’m for The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson andthe Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and Spirit Gate series by Kate Elliot
Blindsight by Peter Watts
It’s like choosing my favorite child, but no book suprised, impressed and hurt my brain like this book.
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Soul of Paladin by Lois McMaster Bujold
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Vatta’s war series by Elizabeth Moon
Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
The Algebraist by Iain M Banks
Take a thief by Mercedes Lackey
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
Accelerando, Charles Stross
Blindsight by Peter Watts. Hands down.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman!
Patrick Rothfuss – The Name of the Wind
The Gathering Storm by Sanderson/Jordan
Towers of Midnight by Sanderson/Jordan
Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan
Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Perdido Street Station
Windup Girl
Dervish House
Lies of Locke Lamora
Revelation Space
Altered Carbon
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Declare (Tim Powers)
The Days of Rice and Salt (Kim Stanley Robinson)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Susanna Clarke)
Perdido Street Station (China Mieville)
American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
1. Knife of Dreams
2. Brandon Sanderson Mistborn
3. George R.R. Martin Feast for Crows
4.The painted Man and The desert Spear by Peter V Brett
5. Scott Lynch Lies of locke Lamora and Red Seas under Red Skies
6. Towers of midnight
7. Joe Abercrombie the blade itself
8. chris bunch Dragon Master series
9. Temeraire Naomi Novik
10. Terry Prattchet Night Watch
Still enyoing an rereading them all, but the best series overall still is
Robert Jordans Wheel of Time.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
1. Hunger Games for originality
2. Old Man’s War for such a furious pace
• Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
• The Gone Away World – Nick Harkaway
The Orphan’s Tales
(In the Night Garden and In the Cities of Coin and Spice)
– Catherynne Valente
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss
Feed by M.T. Anderson
A Storm of Swords
The Lies of Locke Lamora
The Blade Itself
Knife of Dreams
Fool’s Fate
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
A Feast For Crows
Altered Carbon
His Majesty’s Dragon/Temeraire
Mistborn
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell – Susanna Clarke
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Butcher – The Cursor series
Morgan – Altered Carbon
Scalzi – Old Man’s War
Stirling – Dies the Fire
Gaiman – American Gods
Huff – Enchantment Emporium
Bear – Dust
Priest – Dreadnought
Pagliassotti – Clockwork Heart
Pandora’s Star
Judas Unchained
Dreaming Void
Temporal Void
Evolutionary Void
All writen by Peter F Hamilton
Cosmonaut Keep
Dark Light
Engine City
By Ken MacLeod
Look to Windward
By Iain M. Banks
Quiet War
Gardens of the Sun
By Paul McAuley
Revelation Space
House of the Suns
By Alastair Reynolds
Debatable Space
By Philip Palmer
Automatic Detective
A Lee Martinez
Star Trek Destiny
Gods of the Night
Mere Mortals
Lost Souls
By David Mack
Another vote for Blindsight by Peter Watts!
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
They’re the only two books that I remember reading through multiple times (or at least re-reading significant passages).
Gaiman – American Gods
Scalzi – Old Man’s War
Doctorow – Little Brother
Jordan & Sanderson – Towers of Midnight (and if you do end up splitting books from series, WoT in general)
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Accelerando by Charless Stross
runaway #1:
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
also extraordinary:
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
a bit off the beaten path (comparatively: either highly enjoyable/light, not generally genre author, lesser known work):
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Gaudeamus by John Barnes
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
Revleation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Glasshouse by Charles Stross
1) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
3) Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
4) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5) Twilight by Steph– WAIT!! Never mind. That’s a serious joke.
The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm Jordan/Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire JK Rowling
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin
Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
The Windup Girl by Paul Bacigalupi
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
Blindsight, by Doc Peter Watts.
Well, Starfish was pretty wicked also, but it doesn’t make the cut for the decade.
Blindsight, by Dr. Peter Watts
Oh, and:
The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
Another vote for Blindsight, by Peter Watts. I have raved about this book to friends and enemies alike.
peter watts – blindsight
greg egan – diaspora
china meiville – the city & the city
elizabeth moon – speed of dark
charles stross – halting state
gene wolfe – book of the short sun
edited to add:
robin hobb — mad ship (not sure which one to pick)
thomas pynchon — against the day
P C Hodgel (not sure which one to pick from the series)
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Blindsight, Peter Watts
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Scalzi – Old Man’s War
Almost all the authors in question turned out multiple high quality books, so I’ve settled for picking my favorites rather than listing their entire catalogue.
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
Storm of Swords by G.R.R. Martin
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Death or Glory by Sandy Mitchell
Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Breakaway by Joel Shepperd
Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Mistborn, by Brandon Sanderson
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett
Perdido Street Station, by China Miéville
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Infoquake by David Louis Edelman
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Butcher Bird by Richard Kadrey
Crystal Rain by Tobias S. Buckell
Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon
UnLunDun – China Mieville
The City and the City – China Mieville
Tender Morsels – Margo Lanagan
Pattern Recognition – William Gibson
Oryx and Crake – Margaret Atwood
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
The City and The City by China Mieville
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Pashazade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Voyage of the Shadowmoon by Sean McMullen
The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker
The Empress of Mars by Kage Baker
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Black Man (aka 13) by Richard Morgan
Melusine by Sarah Monette
A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
Ink and Steel by Elizabeth Bear
Hell and Earth by Elizabeth Bear
Vellum by Hal Duncan
Ink by Hal Duncan
Singularity Sky by Charles Stross
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Issola by Steven Brust
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Idlewild by Nick Sagan
Cell by Stephen King
Wake by Robert J. Sawyer
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Blindsight. Peter Watts.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Blindsight, by Peter Watts.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Starfish by Peter Watts
The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi
The Wreck of the River of Stars by Michael Flynn
The January Dancer by Michael Flynn
Blindsight by Peter Watts.
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Learning the World, Ken MacLeod
Glasshouse, Charles Stross
Transmetropolitan, Warren Ellis et al. (they call comics “graphic
novels” now, let’s run away with that)
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Glasshouse – Charles Stross (actually, he could have three in the ‘top’ category, but Glasshouse is perhaps best albeit not most pleasurable)
Look to Windward, Iain Banks
The Algebraist, Iain Banks
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
Sun of Suns, Karl Schroeder
Territory, Emma Bull
The City and the City, China Mieville
Halting State, Charles Stross
The Gone-Away World, Nick Harkaway
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Old Mans War by John Scalzi!
The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss) and
Old Man’s War (John Scalzi).
A Storm of Swords, by George R. R. Martin
A Feast for Crows, by George R. R. Martin
Under the Skin, by Michael Faber
Jump 225 Trilogy: Infoquake, Multireal, Geosynchron, by David Edelman
Ilium, by Dan Simmons
Eva Moves the Furniture, by Margot Livesey
Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Ilium, Dan Simmons
Santa Olivia, Jaqueline Carey
In no particular order:
The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman
Bear Daughter, by Judith Berman
Thud, by Terry Pratchett
Fledgling, by Octavia Butler
Lifelode, by Jo Walton
Lady of Mazes, by Karl Schroeder
The New Moon’s Arms, by Nalo Hopkinson
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
The Last Witchfinder, by James Morrow
I wish I could say short fiction. I read . . . a lot of it. including some things by people already listed above who I didn’t list.
Peter Watts – Blindsight
The only book I still think about, years after reading it…
That is all.
*facepalm* I left out two, the first of which was LIFECHANGING. I admit I partially put the Clarke because it was well-done, but . . . yeah.
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
Starfish, by Peter Watts
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
The Player of Games – Iain M Banks
Cyberabad Days – Ian McDonald
Finch – Jeff Vandermeer
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Watts’ Blindsight
Stross’ Glasshouse
Morgan’s Altered Carbon.
Blindsight – Peter Watts
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Peter Watts – Blindsight. I’ve yet to read something as unique and interesting.
In no particular order:
The Android’s Dream, by John Scalzi
Pandora’s Star, by Peter F. Hamilton (and it’s sequel Judas Unchained)
Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold
Hunter’s Run, by George RR Martin, Gardner R. Dozois, Daniel Abraham
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffeneger
City of Pearl, by Karen Traviss
Cryoburn, by Lois McMaster Bujold
Soulless, by Gail Carriger
Furies of Calderon, by Jim Butcher (and its sequels, each of the six books is better than the last)
Hunted by James Alan Gardner
Jim Butcher – Changes – for a very impressive shift in the series’ tone, handled in a believable manner that kept the sense of humor alive
Neal Stephenson – Anathem – For being indescribably awesome. Plus, ‘…[spoiler] packed with atomic bombs,’ I said. ‘We have a protractor.’
Tim Zahn – Outbound Flight – For Thrawn. Yay, Thrawn.
George R.R. Martin –
A Dance With Dragons… What? Still not out yet? Okay, fine, A Storm of Swords, then. Get with it, George. (Mr Martin, on the off-chance you read this, I hope your recent stomach illness is completely behind you, and that you realize I’m kidding about your writing speed. It’ll be worth the wait, right? Right?)Neil Gaiman – American Gods – That was this decade, right?
Cory Doctorow – Little Brother – I need a boot disc for Paranoid Linux. Anyone got one handy? How ’bout you, in the suit and sunglasses?
Scott Lynch – The Lies of Locke Lamora – Everyone loves a good con-artist story. Why this one time, a fellah told me a story about a con artist who was so good that… oh, hey, is this your wallet?
Phillip Pullman – Once Upon A Time In The North – Mostly because I’m also a sucker for Leone’s Dollars film trilogy
And I don’t know if it quite fits, but I’m going to go ahead and say Dark Horse Comics’ Serenity: Better Days miniseries, by Whedon, Matthews, and Conrad
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville and
Blindsight – Peter Watts.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Perdido Street Station, by China Miéville.
Mistborn blew me away, I’d never encountered such an effortless blend of Sci Fi and Fantasy, vote one to Mistborn. Also, during this decade I stumbled into the WoT Series and was lost for several weeks, vote towards WoT for sure
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Anathem by Neil Stephenson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Glasshouse by Charles Stross
Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
I have a half dozen others I want to nominate, but I’ve already listed so many I feel like I’m getting greedy.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
“Infoquake” by David Edelman
I know that Time Traveler’s Wife is not up there on everyone’s list, but it was one of the best books I read in the last decade, along with the entire Harry Potter series.
Just a few of the many possible choices: this was a good 11 years for SF & Fantasy.
Look to Windward – Iain M. Banks
The Algebraist – Iain M. Banks
Dzur – Steven Brust
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Palladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Mirror Dance – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Last Hot Time – John M. Ford
Solstice Wood – Patricia A. McKillip
Alphabet of Thorn – Patricia A. McKillip
Here, There, and Everywhere – Chris Roberson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Lady of Mazes – Karl Schroeder
Glasshouse – Charles Stross
Halting State – Charles Stross
The Fuller Memorandum – Charles Stross
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Hm. I somehow forgot to vote for every Discworld book. Consider this to be such a vote. (I am voting both for those which were and were not written in the specified time period, just because.)
SF:
Blindsight – Watts
The Speed of Dark – Moon
F:
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Lynch
American Gods – Gaiman
Now that I’m at home…
Peter Watts: Blindsight
Sandman Slim
Nightwatch
James Alan Gardner: Hunted
James Alan Gardner:Trapped
James Alan Gardner:Ascending
James Alan Gardner:Radiant
The Last Guardian of Everness
Wright: The Golden Age
Something From The Nightside
Man With The Golden Torc
Jim Butcher: Storm Front
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Mistborn, The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
Black Man – Richard Morgan
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Hunter’s Run – Gardner Dozois, George R. R. Martin, Daniel Abraham
Neuropath – Scott R. Bakker
The Last Argument of Kings – Joe Abercrombie
The Runes of the Earth – Stephen Donaldson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Scar – Mieville
The only one of the top twenty that I’ve even read is Blindsight. So I vote for it.
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Night Watch, by Sir Terry
Blindsight – Watts
Look To Windward – Banks
Surface Detail – Banks
American Gods – Gaiman
Altered Carbon – Morgan
Accelerando – Stross
1 Blindsight – Watts
2 Surface Detail – Banks
3 Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
4 Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Curse of Chalion by Lois Bujold
Any of Philip Pullmans’ Dark Materials trilogy that came out in this decade.
But first and foremost, a book that never ceases to excite, astound and get the old grey matter working (well, subjectively) – the magnificent Blindsight, Peter Watts.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
The Locke & Key graphic novels, Joe Hill
The Golden Age by John C. Wright
Accelerando by Charles Stross
The Carpet Makers by Andreas Escbach
Marrow by Robert Reed
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Blindsight by Peter Watts!
‘Blindsight’ by Peter Watts
‘The Malazan Book of the Fallen’ by Steven Erickson
Blindsight – Peter Watts.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Lavinia by Ursula Le Guin
The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Lirael by Garth Nix
Peter Watts – Blindsight.
M John Harrison – Light.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Shadow – K J Parker
The Darkness that Comes Before – R. Scott Bakker
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Schild’s Ladder – Greg Egan
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
The Atrocity Archives – Charles Stross
Moxyland – Lauren Beukes
The Execution Channel – Ken MacLeod
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Neuropath – R. Scott Bakker
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Amber Spyglass, Phillip Pulman
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Surface Detail, Iain M.Banks
The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
The Prince Of Nothing, Scott Bakker
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts
any by steven erikson
gardens of the moon
deadhouse gates
memories of ice
house of chains
midnight tides
the bonehunters
reapers gale
toll the hounds
dust of dreams
the crippled god
“Deadhouse Gates” by Steven Erikson
“Blindsight” by Peter Watts
“Revelation Space” by Alastair Reynolds
“Prince of Nothing” by R.Scott Bakker
“The Atrocity Archives” by Charles Stross
“Look To Windward” by Iain M.Banks
“Best Served Cold” by Joe Abercrombie
Got to be ‘Blindsight’ by Watts
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan
Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
Matter, Iain M. Banks
Conquistador, S. M. Stirling
The Sky People, S. M. Stirling
Susanna Clarke. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Changes by Jim Butcher
Pandora’s Star by Peter F Hamilton
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Gathering Storm by Brandon Sanderson (for bringing sexy back to the WoT)
His Majesty’s Dragon/Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Kil’n People by David Brin
A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
The Ten Thousand by Paul Kearney
Uther by Jack Whyte
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
The Gathering storm by R. Jordan & B. Sanderson
Towers of Midnight by R. Jordan & B Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by R. Jordan
The Way of Kings by B. Sanderson
Three books I think have the literary merits to be considered. (This is not to say that other books don’t have the same merits these are simply my personal favorites. Other favorites did not have the depth I thought required by this list):
The Curse of Chalion by Bujold:
American Gods by Gaiman :
His Majesty’s Dragon by Novik:
George Martin “A Storm of Swords”
A Storm of Swords – George R R Martin
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
The Darkness that Comes Before – R Scott Bakker
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – J K Rowling
Deadhouse Gates – Steve Rune Lundin/Stephen Erikson
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow
Revelation Space, by Alastair Reynolds
The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Stross
The Night Sessions, by Ken MacLeod
Rainbow’s End, by Vernon Vinge
In no particular order:
Changes by Jim Butcher
The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett
Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
That is all.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Vellum-The Book of All Hours by Hal Duncan
Shriek: An Afterword by Jeff VanderMeer
Neuropath by R. Scott Bakker
Brasyl by Ian McDonald
Light by M. John Harrison
The City & the city by China Miéville
Thunderer by Felix Gilman
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Could have easily added more. So much good stuff out there…
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
Curse of Chalion, by Lois Bujold
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Darkness that Comes Before – R. Scott Bakker
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
The Golden Age by John C. Wright
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts, then Accelerando by Charlie Stross…
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Honorable mentions to the nearly-complete Malazan series, but it’s hard to pick one; it’s more a cumulative effect.
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Changes – Jim Butcher
_Blindsight_ by Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Accelerando by Charlie Stross
In no particular order:
The Orphan’s Tales, Catherynne M. Valente
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Pushing Ice, Alastair Reynolds
Look to Windward, Iain Banks
Kalpa Imperial, Angelica Gorodischer (Le Guin English Translation appeared in 2003)
Nation, Terry Pratchett
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Preacher: Alamo, Garth Ennis (the last volume obviously standing in for the entire book)
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clark
Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
Metatropolis, by Jay Lake et. al.
Rainbows End, by Verner Vinge
Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
The city and the city, by China Mieville
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Peter Watts, Blindsight (did hurt me & changed my life)
Stephen Baxter, Time’s Tapestry Book One: Emperor (+ complete series; first you won’t notice that this is Science Fiction …)
Sergej Lukianenko, ?????? (Spectrum, read German translation)
Charles Stross, Singularity Sky
Frank Borsch, Alien Earth – Phase 1 (despite the English title in German – great localized dystopy)
Blindsight by Peter Watts, without a doubt.
The Gone-Away World, Nick Harkaway
Blindsight, Peter Watts
The Half-Made World, Felix Gilman
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Bad Monkeys, Matt Ruff
Vellum, Hal Duncan
Revelation Space, Alastair Reynolds
The Testament of Gideon Mack, James Robertson
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
Veniss Underground, Jeff VanderMeer
The Quiet War, Paul McAuley
The Raw Shark Texts, Steven Hall
Blindsight- Peter Watts
That is all.
Blindsight is definitely my favorite sff book from the last decade.
In the interest of keeping Richard Morgan in the top 20, I’m going to add a vote for Altered Carbon.
Blindsight-Peter Watts
1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
2. The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
3. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Blindsight- Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts.
Oops! Forgot a couple:
Ship of Fools, Richard Paul Russo
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
[i]Altered Carbon[i], Richard Morgan
Blindsight – Peter Watts!
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Blindsight Peter Watts
Towers of Midnight/Wheel of Time – Jordan/Sanderson
Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Way of Kings – Sanderson
A Storm of Swords – GRRM
Cursor’s Fury/Codex Alera – Jim Butcher
Deadhouse Gates – Erikson
Long Price Quartet – Daniel Abraham
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susannah Clark
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
A Storm of Swords – George R R Martin
Farthing / Ha’Penny / Half a Crown – Jo Walton
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Vellum/Ink – Hal Duncan
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Pattern Recognition – William Gibson
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
City of Saints and Madmen – Jeff VanderMeer
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
so many to choose from…
in no particular order:
Changes by Jim Butcher
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
Halting State by Charlie Stross
Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds
Look to Windward by Iain Banks
The Laundry Series: The Atrocity Archives, The Jennifer Morgue and The Fuller Memorandum by Charlie Stross
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
A Storm of Swords – George RR Martin
Deadhouse Gates – Erikson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
The Passage, Justin Cronin
Curse of Chalion by Lois Bujold
In order of preference:
-Child of Fire (Connolly)
-Pattern Recognition (Gibson)
-Lies of Locke Lamora (Lynch)
-Hunger Games (Collins)
-Ombria in Shadow (McKillip)
-Dead Witch Walking (Harrison) (I’d nominate the whole series, but the first novel is representative of one of the more complicated worldbuilding urban fantasy stories- the whole thing has obviously been planned out from page one, rather than from book to book, like most UF.)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, FTW!
-American Gods by Neil Gaiman
-Changeless by Gail Carriger
-The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
-Brasyl by Ian McDonald
-Under the Dome by Stephen King
-Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
-The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
And many, many more….
In no particular order:
The City & The City – China Miéville
Line War – Neal Asher
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
House of Suns – Alastair Reynolds
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Accelerando – Charles Stross
Pandora’s Star – Peter F. Hamilton
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Changes by Jim Butcher
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Blindsight, by Peter Watts,
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Matter – Iain M. Banks
The City & The City – China Miéville
Blindsight – Peter Watts
An entire decade is a long time to remember what I read, especially when you have to separate the things that were actually published in that time. I think I should do something like join Goodreads so I can keep track of this kind of stuff.
Ilium by Dan Simmons
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
EDIT: Joined Goodreads and sifting through their own “Best Books of the Decade” and I had to add this speculative fiction work:
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
Feast of Souls (The Magister Trilogy) – C.S. Friedman
Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
Look To Windward – Iain M.Banks
Surface Detail – Iain M.Banks
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Perdido Street Station by China Meiville
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell – Susanna Clarke
The Changeling – Keith Donahue
Dusk – Tim Lebbon
Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin
Midnight Robber – Nalo Hopkinson
Way of Kings. Stormlight Archive is the next big thing!
There were so many good books, it was hard to narrow this down so much. But these are some of my standout favorites:
The Bigend Trilogy – William Gibson
Pattern Recognition
Spook Country
Zero History
World War Z – Max Brooks
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
Altered Carbon – Richard K. Morgan
Definitely that’s Joahn Rowling, she’s very gifted and unique writer.
1. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K.Rowling
2. Harry Potter & Half-Blood Prince by J.K.Rowling
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
My top Five:
1. The Scar – China Meiville
2. Saturn’s Children – Charles Stross
3. The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
4. Black Men – Richard K. Morgan
5. Blindsight – Peter Watts
Top 5 in my view
1. Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
2. Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
3. A Civil Campaign – Lois McMaster Bujold
4. Dead Beat – Jim Butcher
5. Midnight Tides – Steven Erikson
China Mieville’s “Bas-Lag” Trilogy gets my vote, with The Scar taking my number one spot. Perdido Street Station is a close second.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson
Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett (and really, everything else by him with the exception of Nation)
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
His Majesty’s Dragon (Temeraire) by Naomi Novik
The Black Magician Trilogy, by Trudi Canavan
Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
Halting State by Charles Stross
My top 5
1 Blindsight – Peter Watts
2 The Scar – China Mieville
3 House of Suns – Alastair Reynolds
4 The Dervish House – Ian McDonald
5 Anathem – Neal Stephenson
6 Glasshouse – Charles Stross
Yes I know :)
Mistborn: The Final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
Spirit Gate – Kate Elliott
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
1. Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
2. The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
3. Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
4. Hell Hath no Fury – David Weber & Lindo Evans
5. We Few – John Ringo & David Weber
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Curse of Chalion and The Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Very hard to decide, but I’ll vote for:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
(Totally off-topic but has something to do with one of the books: I also celebrate Lilac Day, or the Glorious 25 May. That day, it’s all Lilacs and Towels and Geek Pride here.)
Best Sci Fi: “Accelerando” by Charles Stross.
Best Fantasy: “Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Night Watch (Terry Pratchett)
The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold
Memory of Fire, The Wreck of Heaven, and Gods Old and Dark by Holly Lisle
Lots of great stuff! My top two, and I guess I’ll stop there:
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
Camouflage – Joe Haldeman
The Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale – John Scalzi
Ruled Britannia – Harry Turtledove
The Disunited States of America – Harry Turtledove
The Gladiator – Harry Turtledove
Ilum – Dan Simmons
Mainspring – Jay Lake
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Boneshaker – Cheri Priest
1632 – Eric Flint
The Age of Unreason – J. Gregory Keyes
“Curse of Chalion” and “Paladin of Souls”, by Lois McMaster Bujold are my top favorites. “Farthing”, “Ha’Penny”, and “Half a Crown” by Jo Walton were the most chilling alternative history I’ve read in a long time.
After that, the Harry Potter books, some of which are better than others, although the entire series is worthy of nominations; then “Her Majesty’s Dragon” by Naomi Novik.
Any book by Terry Pratchett.
Inda – Sherwood Smith
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale – John Scalzi
Ruled Britannia – Harry Turtledove
The Disunited States of America – Harry Turtledove
The Gladiator – Harry Turtledove
Shambling Towards Hiroshima – James Morrow
Ilum – Dan Simmons
Bright of the Sky – Kay Kenyon
Camouflage – Joe Haldeman
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Boneshaker – Cheri Priest
1632 – Eric Flint
The Name of the Wind – Pat Rothfuss
Curse of Chalion – L.M. Bujold
Fool’s Fate – Robin Hobb
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Inda – Sherwood Smith
The Fox – Sherwood Smith
The Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Variable Star by Heinlien and Robinson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Memories of Ice or Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Bright of the Sky by Kay Kenyon
An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham
Ilium by Dan Simmons
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Towers of Midnight by Jordan/Sanderson
The Gathering Storm by Jordan/Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
His Majestys Dragon by Naomi Novik
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
In no particular order my list (and youll see Im quited faithful to authors).
Assassins Apprentice – Robin Hobb
Assassins Quest- Robin Hobb
Royal Assassin- Robin Hobb
Ship of Magic- Robin Hobb
Mad Ship- Robin Hobb
Ship of Destiny- Robin Hobb
Golden Fool- Robin Hobb
Fool’s Errand- Robin Hobb
Fools Fate- Robin Hobb
Dragon Keeper- Robin Hobb
Dragon Haven- Robin Hobb
Shamens Crossing- Robin Hobb
Forrest Mage- Robin Hobb
Renegades Magic- Robin Hobb
Winters Heart – Robert Jordan
Crossroads of Twilight – Robert Jordan
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight– Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
A Storm of Swords – George RR Martin
A Feast for Crows– George RR Martin
The Painted Man (Warded Man in US) – Peter V. Brett
The Desert Spear – Peter V. Brett
The Gates of Rome – Conn Iggulden
The Death of Kings – Conn Iggulden
The Field of Swords – Conn Iggulden
The Gods of War – Conn Iggulden
Old Mans War – John Scalzi
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi
Spirit Gate – Kate Elliot
Shadow Gate – Kate Elliot
Traitors Gate – Kate Elliot
Hero in the Shadows – David Gemmell
White Wolf– David Gemmell
The Swords of Night and Day– David Gemmell
Midnight Falcon– David Gemmell
Ravenheart– David Gemmell
Stormrider– David Gemmell
Echos of the Great Song– David Gemmell
Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow– David Gemmell
Troy: Shield of Thunder– David Gemmell / Stella Gemmell
Troy: Fall of Kings– David Gemmell / Stella Gemmell
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Before They Are Hanged – Joe Abercrombie
The Last Argument of Kings – Joe Abercrombie
Best Served Cold – Joe Abercrombie
Transformation – Carol Berg
Revelation – Carol Berg
Restoration – Carol Berg
The Time Travellers Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Her Fearful Symmetry – Audrey Niffenegger
The Truth – Terry Pratchett
Thief of time– Terry Pratchett
The Last Hero– Terry Pratchett
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents– Terry Pratchett
Night Watch– Terry Pratchett
The Wee Free Men– Terry Pratchett
Monstrous Regiment– Terry Pratchett
Going Postal– Terry Pratchett
Thud– Terry Pratchett
Apologies for my length
As good as many of these books are, I’m surprised I haven’t seen any of the Inheritance books by christopher paolini… I know Eragon the movie didn’t do the books justice but still…
Oh boy!
1) American Gods — Neil Gaiman
2) The Name of the Wind — P-Roth
3) The Lies of Locke Lamora — Scott Lynch
4) The Prince of Nothing Trilogy — R. Scott Bakker
5) The Truth — Terry Pratchett (because I am a nerd forever)
6) Mistborn — Brandon Sanderson
7) Dies the Fire — S. M. Stirling
8) Game of Thrones series — GRRM
9 ) The Scar — China Mieville
10) Ilium — Dan Simmons
“Curse of Chalion” by L.M. Bujold.
Blindsight – Peter Watts.
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville.
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds.
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Memories of Ice ~ Steven Erikson
Midnight Tides ~ Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates ~ Steven Erikson
Bonehunters ~ Steven Erikson
Reaper’s Gale ~ Steven Erikson
Toll the Hounds ~ Steven Erikson
Dust of Dreams ~ Steven Erikson
House of Chains ~ Steven Erikson
The Lies of Locke Lamora ~ Scott Lynch
Red Seas under Red Skies ~ Scott Lynch
A Storm of Swords ~ George RR Martin
Memories of Ice ~ Steven Erikson
Midnight Tides ~ Steven Erikson
Deadhouse Gates ~ Steven Erikson
Bonehunters ~ Steven Erikson
Reaper’s Gale ~ Steven Erikson
Toll the Hounds ~ Steven Erikson
Dust of Dreams ~ Steven Erikson
House of Chains ~ Steven Erikson
The Lies of Locke Lamora ~ Scott Lynch
Red Seas under Red Skies ~ Scott Lynch
A Storm of Swords ~ George RR Martin
I’ve loved so many of the books everyone else is mentioning here… In no particular order:
WoT series as applicable — Jordan/Sanderson
Mistborn series — Sanderson
Old Man’s War series — Scalzi
Codex Alera series — Butcher
Night Angel trilogy — Weeks
Harry Potter series (as applicable) — Rowling
Percy Jackson series — Riordan
Kushiel’s Legacy series — Carey
Song of Ice & Fire — GRRM
His Majesty’s Dragon — Novik
If it counts, I believe the English edition of Night Watch (Lukyaneko) was published in this decade… Though the original Russian was from 1998. Dealer’s choice on that.
Spin State by Chris Moriarty
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Variable Star by Robert A. Heinlein and Spider Robinson
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan
The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan
Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Changes by Jim Butcher
The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn
Night Train to Rigel by Timothy Zahn
Hope’s Folly by Linnea Sinclair
Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair
Tempest’s Legacy by Nicole Peeler
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The City and The City by China Mieville
Best served cold by Joe Abercrombie
His Majestys Dragon by Naomi Novik
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Yiddish Policeman’s Union – Michael Chabon
Blindsight – Peter Watts
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffinegger
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Maelstrom – Peter Watts
Starfish – Peter Watts
Superman: Red Son – Mark Millar
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anathem
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Terror, Dan Simmons
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Black Hills – Dan Simmons
Declare by Tim Powers
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
Halting State by Charles Stross
Daemon by Daniel Suarez
Ilium, Dan Simmons
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Accelerando, Charles Stross
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
Golden Fool- Robin Hobb
Fool’s Errand- Robin Hobb
Fools Fate- Robin Hobb
Smoking Mirror Blues – Ernest Hogan
Dust – Elizabeth Bear
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland – Catherynne Valente
the Carhullan Army – Sarah Hall
Air — Geoff Ryman
Life – Gwyneth Jones
Mindscape — Andrea Hairston
The Farseer Trilogy-Robin Hobb
The Way of Kings-Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn-Brandon Sanderson
The Well of Ascension-Brandon Sanderson
The Hundred Thousand Kingdams-N.K. Jesamin
Fool’s Errand-Robin Hobb
Golden Fool-Robin Hobb
Fool’s Fate-Robin Hobb
A Clash of Kings-George R.R. Martin
The Gathering Storm-Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Crossroads of Twilight-Robert Jordan
Rhapsody-Elizabeth Hayden
Nalo Hopkinson, The New Moon’s Arms
Peter Watts, Blindsight
Christopher Barzak, The Love We Share Without Knowing
Liz Williams, Generation Loss
Nnedi Okorafor, Who Fears Death
Emma Bull, Territory
Michael Swanwick, The Dragons of Babel
Ellen Klages, The Green Glass Sea
Hal Duncan: Vellum: The Book of all Hours
Geoff Ryman, Air
Malinda Lo, Ash
Holly Black, White Cat
Robert Charles Wilson, Spin
Ian McDonald, Brasyl
Gene Wolf, The Sorcerer’s House
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
Quicksilver – Neal Stephenson
The Confusion – Neal Stephenson
The System of the World – Neal Stephenson
***very upset that Cryptonomicon was published in 1999
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
A Feast for Crows – George R. R. Martin
Crossroads of Twilight – Robert Jordan
Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Daemon, Daneil Suarex
Ilium, Dan Simmons
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalup
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling
A Storm of Swords, George RR Martin
A Feast for Crows, George RR Martin
Shaman’s Crossing, Robin Hobb
Forest Mage, Robin Hobb
Dragon Keeper, Robin Hobb
Dragon Have, Robin Hobb
Deadhouse Gates, Steven Erikson
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
Issola, by Stephen Brust
The Family Trade, Charlie Stross
Kusheil’s Dart, Jacqualine Carey
STORM OF SWORDS!!!!
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N.K. Jemisin
The City and the City – China Miéville
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett (and the Tiffany Aching books)
The City of Pearl – Karen Traviss
Transformation – Carol Berg
Changes (and other Dresden files books) – Jim Butcher
Spin State by Chris Moriarity
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
World War Z by Max Brooks
In no particular order
Spin State by Chris Moriarty
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Snake Agent by Liz Williams
The Demon and the City by Liz Williams
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Ghost Brigade by John Scalzi
Soon I will be Invincible by Austin Grossman
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
the 100,000 Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden & The Cities of Coin and Spice, Cat Valente
Palimpsest, Cat Valente
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland, Cat Valente
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Nation, Terry Pratchett
Going Postal, Terry Pratchett
Liar, Justine Larbalestier
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
The Pinhoe Egg, Diana Wynne Jones
The House of Many Ways, Diana Wynne Jones
Tithe, Holly Black
Inda – Sherwood Smith
A Stranger to Command – Sherwood Smith
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
Sorcery & Cecelia – Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer
Thirteenth Child – Patricia Wrede
Elfland – Freda Warrington
Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld
Mystic and Rider – Sharon Shinn
Summers at Castle Auburn – Sharon Shinn
Trickster’s Choice – Tamora Pierce
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Curse of Chalion by Lois Bujold
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
World War Z by Max Brooks
Kusheil’s Dart by Jacqualine Carey
The Stradford Man Duology by Elizabeth Bear
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Lois McMaster Bujold
The Wide Green World Series
The Sharing Knife, Vol. 1: Beguilement(2006)
The Sharing Knife, Vol. 2: Legacy(2007)
The Sharing Knife, Vol. 3: Passage(2008)
The Sharing Knife, Vol. 4: Horizon(2009)
Elizabeth Bear
The Jenny Casey Trilogy
Hammered (2005)
Scardown (2005)
Worldwired (2005)
Undertow
Dust
The Promethean Age,
Blood & Iron(2006
Whiskey & Water(2007)
Ink & Steel(2008)
Hell & Earth(2008
Patricia Briggs
Moon Called(2006)
Blood Bound(2007)
Iron Kissed(2008)
The Hob’s Bargain(2001)
Jo Walton
1 Farthing (2006) Tooth and Claw (2003)
Carrie Vaughn
NovelsKitty and the Midnight Hour (2005) Kitty Goes to Washington (2006)
Ilona Andrews
Magic Bites
Temeraireby Naomi Novik
His Majesty’s Dragon• Throne of Jade • Black Powder War • Empire of Ivory • Victory of Eagles
Sharon Lee / Steve Miller
The Great Migration Duology
Crystal Soldier(2005)
Crystal Dragon(2006)
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Bujold, Lois McMaster: The Curse of Chalion. (fantasy)
Brust, Steven: The Viscount of Adrilankha. (fantasy)
Berg, Carol: Flesh and Spirit. (fantasy)
Pratchett, Terry: Night Watch. (fantasy)
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson.
“American Gods”
–Neil Gaiman
The list of contenders is loaded with amazing choices. I gave Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War” serious consideration for my vote and wouldn’t be disappointed by any of the others in the Top 10.
Bear, Elizabeth and Monette, Sarah. A Companion to Wolves.
Harrison, M. John. Light.
Jeminsin, N. K. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
Watts, Peter. Blindsight.
Wilson, Robert Charles. Spin.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMasrter Bujold. Quite simply one of the best fantasy novels ever written.
China Mieville, The Scar
Gwyneth Jones, Life
Tricia Sullivan, Maul
M John Harrison, Nova Swing
Richard K Morgan, Woken Furies
Peter Watts, Blindsight
Cory Doctorow, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Octavia Butler, Fledgling
Scott Bakker, Neuropath
Coyote – Allen Steele
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Marsbound – Joe Haldeman
Rollback – Robert J. Sawyer
Flood – Stephen Baxter
Chindi – Jack McDevitt
Fleet of Worlds – Larry Niven & Ed Lerner
Darwin’s Children – Greg Bear
In no particular order:
Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N. K. Jemisen
Blackout/All Clear – Connie Willis
Crystal Rain – Tobias Buckell
The Wee Free Men – Terry Pratchett
The Language of Power – Rosemary Kirstein
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Contact Imminent – Kristine Smith
The Queen of Attolia – Megan Whalen Turner
The King of Attolia – Megan Whalen Turner
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls, by Bujold.
Gaiman, Neil. American Gods
Coraline
Clarke, Susanna Clarke. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Valente, Catherynne. The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice
Pratchett, Terry. I Shall Wear Midnight
Going Postal
Jemisin, N.K. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Jones, Diana Wynne. The Pinhoe Egg
The House of Many Ways
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Other Wind – Ursula K. Le Guin
Voices – Ursula K. Le Guin
China Mieville – The City & The City
Neil Gaiman – American Gods
That is all.
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Accelerando, C. Stross
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Mistborn — Brandon Sanderson
Cloud Atlas by Mitchell
Altered Carbon by Morgan
Blindsight by Watts
Hammered by Bear
Eifelheim by Flynn
Huff, Tanya: The Heart of Valor. (sci-fi)
Huff, Tanya: Valor’s Trial. (sci-fi)
Lindskold, Jane: Through Wolf’s Eyes. (fantasy)
Moon, Elizabeth: Trading in Danger. (sci-fi)
Moon, Elizabeth: Victory Conditions. (sci-fi)
Pratchett, Terry: Going Postal. (fantasy)
My votes for best as they stand:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Susana Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (favorite of 2010!)
My nominations for the best because they are!
Ilium by Dan Simmons (2003)–my favorite of 2009 when I read it!
The Touch by Brian Lumley (2006)
The Dark Lady’s Chosen by Gail Z. Martin (2009).
Necroscope: Avengers by Brian Lumley, way back in 2001.
Peter Watts — Blindsight
Peter Watts – Behemoth
Karl Schroeder – Sun of Suns
Karl Schroeder – Pirate Sun
Charles Stross – The Family Trade
Lois McMaster Bujold – A Civil Campaign
Hammered – Elizabeth Bear
Peter Watts — Blindsight
Peter Watts – Behemoth
Karl Schroeder – Sun of Suns
Karl Schroeder – Pirate Sun
Charles Stross – The Family Trade
Lois McMaster Bujold – A Civil Campaign
Hammered – Elizabeth Bear
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Iron Council by China Mieville
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Curse of Chalion, Bujold
Paladin of Souls, Bujold
The Sharing Knife series, Bujold
I Dare, Lee & Miller
Balance of Trade, Lee & Miller
Changes, Butcher
Small Favors, Butcher
His Majesty’s Dragon, Novik
Going Postal, Pratchett
The Wee Free Men, Pratchett
Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Clarke
The Two Princesses of Bamarre – Levine
Warbreaker – Sanderson
Mistborn – Sanderson
The Seventh Tower Series – Garth Nix
Keys to the Kingdom series – Nix
Coraline
City of Ember
Gregor the Overlander
Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
The Mazerunner
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Spin – Robert Charles Wilson
River of Gods – Ian McDonald
Glasshouse – Charles Stross
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
World War Z – Max Brooks
Rainbow’s End – Vernor Vinge
Julian Comstock – Robert Charles Wilson
Accelerando – Charles Stross
Learning the World – Ken MacLeod
Eifelheim – Michael Flynn
The Algebraist – Iain M. Banks
1- The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2- Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
3- For the Win by Cory Doctorow
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Gone-Away World – Nick Harkaway
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clark
Nightwatch, Terry Pratchett
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Speed of Dark, Elizabeth Moon
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, Michael Chabon
Altered Carbon (Richard K. Morgan)
Chasm City (Alastair Reynolds)
River of Gods (Ian McDonald)
Counting Heads (David Marusek)
The Line of Polity (Neal Asher)
Ilium (Dan Simmons)
Saturn’s Children (Charles Stross)
The Stories of Ibis (Hiroshi Yamamoto)
End of the World Blues (Jon Courtenay Grimwood)
The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman)
Steven Brust: The Paths of the Dead (2002)
The Lord of Castle Black (2003)
Sethra Lavode (2004)
Dzur (2006)
Lois McMaster Bujold: The Curse of Chalion (2001)
Walter Moers: The City of Dreaming Books (2004)
Sorry for the length, but there are so many authors who deserve more attention than they’re getting. Also, I started a booklog in 2005, so I had an easy way to see which books I’d read that qualify (and this was a very good decade for series fantasy).
Donna Andrews: You’ve Got Murder (2002), Click Here For Murder (2003), Access Denied (2004), Delete All Suspects (2005)
Kage Baker: Mendoza in Hollywood (2000)
Patricia Briggs: Moon Called (2006), Blood Bound (2007), Iron Kissed (2008), Bone Crossed (2009), Silver Borne (2010)
Steven Brust: Issola (2001)
Lois McMaster Bujold: Beguilement (2006), Legacy (2007), Passage (2008), Horizon (2009)
Jim Butcher: Furies of Calderon (2004), Academ’s Fury (2005), Cursor’s Fury (2006), Captain’s Fury (2007), Princep’s Fury (2008), First Lord’s Fury (2009)
Jacqueline Carey: Kushiel’s Dart (2001), Kushiel’s Chosen (2002), Kushiel’s Avatar (2003), Naamah’s Kiss (2009), Naamah’s Curse (2010)
Amanda Downum: The Drowing City (2009), The Bone Palace (2010)
Steven Erikson: Deadhouse Gates (2000), Memories of Ice (2001), House of Chains (2002), Midnight Tides (2004), The Bonehunters (2006), Reaper’s Gale (2007), Toll the Hounds (2008), Dust of Dreams (2009)
Daniel Fox: Dragon in Chains (2009), Jade Man’s Skin (2010)
Robin Hobb: Ship of Destiny (2000), Fool’s Errand (2001), The Golden Fool (2002), Fool’s Fate (2003), Dragon Keeper (2009), Dragon Haven (2010)
P.C. Hodgell: To Ride a Rathorn (2006), Bound in Blood (2010)
N.K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010), The Broken Kingdoms (2010)
Derek Landy: Sceptre of the Ancients (2007), Playing With Fire (2008), The Faceless Ones (2009)
Jane Lindskold: Through Wolf’s Eyes (2001), Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart (2002), The Dragon of Despair (2003), Wolf Captured (2004), Wolf Hunting (2006), Wolf’s Blood (2007), Thirteen Orphans (2008), Nine Gates (2009), Five Odd Honors (2010)
Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006), Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007)
Laurie J. Marks: Fire Logic (2002), Earth Logic (2004), Water Logic (2007)
Sarah Monette: Melusine (2005), The Virtu (2006), The Mirador (2007), Corambis (2009)
Terry Pratchett: The Truth (2000), Thief of Time (2001), Night Watch (2002), The Wee Free Men (2003), Going Postal (2004), A Hat Full of Sky (2004)
Cherie Priest: Boneshaker (2009), Clementine (2010), Dreadnought (2010)
Laura Resnick: The White Dragon (2003), The Destroyer Goddess (2003), Disappearing Nightly (2005)
Kat Richardson: Greywalker (2006), Poltergeist (2007), Underground (2008), Vanished (2009), Labyrinth (2010)
Michelle Sagara: Cast in Shadow (2005), Cast in Courtlight (2006), Cast in Secret (2007), Cast in Fury (2008), Cast in Silence (2009)
Brandon Sanderson: Elantris (2005), The Final Empire (2006), Warbreaker (2007), The Well of Ascension (2007), The Hero of Ages (2008), The Way of Kings (2010)
Joel Shepherd: Crossover (2001), Breakaway (2003), Killswitch (2004), Sasha (2007), Petrodor (2008), Tracato (2010)
Alison Sinclair: Darkborn (2009), Lightborn (2010)
Kristine Smith: Rules of Conflict (2000), Law of Survival (2001), Contact Imminent (2003), Endgame (2007)
Jonathan Stroud: The Amulet of Samarkand (2003), The Golem’s Eye (2004), Ptolemy’s Gate (2005)
Charles Stross: The Family Trade (2004)
Adrian Tchaikovsky: Empire in Black and Gold (2008), Dragonfly Falling (2009), Blood of the Mantis (2009), Salute the Dark (2010)
Carrie Vaughn: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (2005), Kitty Goes to Washington (2006), Kitty Takes a Holiday (2007), Kitty and the Silver Bullet (2008), Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand (2009), Kitty Raises Hell (2009), Kitty’s House of Horrors (2010), Kitty Goes to War (2010)
Jo Walton: The King’s Peace (2000), The King’s Name (2001), Farthing (2006), Ha’penny (2007), Half a Crown (2008), Lifelode (2009)
Lawrence Watt-Evans: Night of Madness (2000), Ithanalin’s Restoration (2002), The Spriggan Mirror (2005), The Vondish Ambassador (2007), A Young Man Without Magic (2009)
Martha Wells: The Wizard Hunters (2003), The Ships of Air (2004), The Gate of Gods (2005)
Scott Westerfeld: The Secret Hour (2004), Touching Darkness (2005), Blue Noon (2006), Leviathan (2009), Behemoth (2010)
Liz Williams: Snake Agent (2005), The Demon and the City (2006), Precious Dragon (2006), The Shadow Pavillion (2009)
Patricia Wrede: Thirteenth Child (2009)
Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer: The Grand Tour (2004), The Mislaid Magician (2006)
Stephan Zielinski: Bad Magic (2004)
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Changes by Jim Butcher
Feast of Crows George R. R. Martin
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
In order of my liking (and only from the top 20 list)
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
1. Feed by Mira Grant
2 Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold
3. Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold
4. Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold
5. Variable Star by Robert Heinlein and Spider Robinson
Old Man’s War!
(Although I do feel a bit guilty voting, since I haven’t read all of the books listed).
In no particular order…
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon
Look To Windward- Iain M. Banks
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Singularity Sky – Charles Stross
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
Anathem- Neil Stephenson
Soon I Will Be Invincible – Austin Grossman
Dragons of Babel – Michael Swanwick
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Ananthem by Neal Stephenson
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
Graceling – Kristin Cashore
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Dragon Bones – Patricia Brigg
The Lion of Senet – Jennifer Fallon
Ender’s Shadow – Orson Scott Card
White Cat – Holly Black
Fool’s Fate – Robin Hobb
1) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
2) Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
3) The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
4) A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
5) The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
6) The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
I waited just so I could finish it, and it is so totally awesome, so there it goes:
Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
And of course,
Towers of Midnight & The Gathering Storm, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Also,
Fool’ Fate & Assassin’s Quest, Robin Hobb
Hyperion, Dan Simmons
And
A Game Of Thrones, GRRM
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
The Scar by China Mieville
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Matter by Iain M Banks
Transition by Iain M Banks
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
1. Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind
2. Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
3. House of Chains by Steven Erikson
4. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
5. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Inda – Sherwood Smith
King’s Shield – Sherwood Smith
Curse of Chalion – Bujold
Civil Campaign – Bujold
King of Attolia – Turner
Sunshine – McKinley
Passage – Willis
Blackout/All Clear – Willis
Tooth & Claw – Walton
Speed of Dark – Moon
Sorcery & Cecelia – Wrede & Stevermer
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds
Watts- Blindsight
Put me down for one helping of The Curse of Chalion, please, by Lois McMaster Bujold. Though Going Postal by Terry Pratchett comes a very close second.
Blindsight – Peter Watts
The Years of Rice and Salt – Kim Stanley Robinson
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Culture novels by Iain M. Banks
Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan
Halting State, Charles Stross
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Merlin Conspiracy Dianna Wynne Jones
A Shadow in Summer Daniel Abraham
A Betrayal in Winter Daniel Abraham
An Autumn War Daniel Abraham
The Price of Spring Daniel Abraham
Mistborn: The Final Empire Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages Brandon Sanderson
Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell Suzanna Clarke
A Hat Full of Sky Terry Pratchett
Wintersmith Terry Pratchett
Lamentation by Ken Scholes
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
The Warded Man by Peter Brett
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Acacia by David Durham
Spin by Robert Wilson
The Lions of Al-Rassan by GG Kay
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Blind Sight by Peter Watts
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Dust by Elizabeth Bear
The Etched City by KJ Bishop
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice by Catherynne Valente
Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer
1. The Book of the Short Sun: Gene Wolfe
2. Perdido Street Station: China Mieville
3. The Atrocity Archives: Charles Stross
4. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union: Michael Chabon
5. The Wizard Knight: Gene Wolfe
6. Broken Angels: Richard Morgan
7. Revelation Space: Alastair Reynolds
8. Temeraire (AKA His Majesty’s Dragon): Naomi Novik
9. Anansi Boys: Neil Gaiman
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Yes, those two should be next two each other more often.
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
Deepness in the Sky – Vernor Vinge
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
The Darkness That Comes Before – R. Scott Bakker
The Warrior Prophet – R. Scott Bakker
The Thousandfold Thought – R. Scott Bakker
The Judging Eye – R. Scott Bakker
Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory
The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway
Horns by Joe Hill
Kraken by China Mieville
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
In the Night Garden – Catherynne Valente
The Traveler – John Twelve Hawks
Beautiful Creatures – Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice #1) – John Flannagan
Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer
Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Personal Demons – Lisa Desrochers
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J.K. Rowling
Night Myst – Yasmine Galenorn
Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Soulless – Gail Carriger
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
The Icebound Land by John Flanagan
Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan
The Sorcerer in the North by John Flanagan
The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan
Erak’s Ransom by John Flanagan
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer
Lost and Found by Alan Dean Foster
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
The Demon’s Covenant and The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
The Knife of Never Letting Go and The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness – can’t believe only one other person has mentioned this fantastic author!
Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna ClarkeSpin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Spin by Robert C. Wilson
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
American Goda by NeilGaiman
A note here that I’ve been following the updates, and while I’ve read nearly all the books mentioned, and enjoyed most of them? (Have not read Blindsight, or The Time Traveler’s Wife, and from what I’ve heard of them I’m unlikely to any time soon…) I don’t think most of the ones that are currently in the top 20 are worth the “BEST” title.
I’ll also note that while Brandon Sanderson has written two extremely good entries in the Wheel of Time, I can’t bring myself to vote for them either, because they are about as far from being stand-alone novels as it’s possible to GET. The Harry Potter books aren’t as interconnected, but they still have that issue…
So I’ll mention three for now (and may be back later if I think of others):
_Night Watch_, by Terry Pratchett. (Yes, Discworld’s also a fairly interconnected series, but it does stand-alone reading a lot better than some. And _Small Gods_ is way too early to be counted here.)
_Deadhouse Gates_, by Steven Erikson. Another series, but it’s readable on its own – it just gets a lot DEEPER once you’ve read the other entries. _Gardens of the Moon_, alas, is too early to be counted in this poll or else I’d have mentioned it first. And I sort of want to mention every other book so far in the series, as their synergy is part of what makes the series so superior … heck, let’s go: _Memories of Ice_, _House of Chains_, _Midnight Tides_, _The Bonehunters_, _Reaper’s Gale_, _Toll the Hounds_, and _Dust of Dreams_. _The Crippled God_ is gonna be too late, in the USA, to count; ah well.
_A Fire Upon the Deep_ is also too early to count. Bah.
Finally, it isn’t a novel yet, because it’s not finished … and so far it’s only been published on the Web … but I would be remiss if I did not mention the ongoing fanfiction by Eliezer Yudkowsky, _Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality_. I see, checking, that I am the VERY first to do so, and I understand that unfinished fanfic may not be what the pollsters were thinking of. But … I urge you to read it, because it’s better, even in its current only-65-chapters only-up-to-spring-of-first-year only-10,500-reviews state, than a good many of the books mentioned here. See what you think.
–Dave
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
The Demon’s Lexicon – Sarah Rees Brennan
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Rainbow’s End by Vernor Vinge
Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Pandora’s Star, by Peter F. Hamilton
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Zendegi by Greg Egan
The Algebraist by Ian M. Banks
Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross
River of Gods by Ian McDonald
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Shadows Edge by Brent Weeks
Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan
CrossRoads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
New Spring by Robert Jordan
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
A Feast For Crows by George R.R. Martin
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Scar by China Miéville
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
The Bone Doll’s Twin by Lynn Flewelling
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb
Blindsight, by Peter Watts
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.
Hands down
(R.) Scott Bakker: Neuropath
Robin Hobb: Fool’s Errand
Robin Hobb: The Golden Fool
Robin Hobb: Fool’s Fate
George R. R. Martin: A Storm of Swords
George R. R. Martin: A Feast for Crows
Ship of Destiny – Robin Hobb
Fool’s Errand – Robin Hobb
The Golden Fool – Robin Hobb
Fool’s Fate – Robin Hobb
“The Blade Itself” Joe Abercrombie
“Blindsight” Peter Watts
“Perdido Street Station” Chinal Mieville
“Surface Detail” Iain Banks
“Look To Windward” Iain Banks
“The Darkness That Comes Before” R.Scott Bakker
Having read the rules more clearly and realizing for sure that you could vote multiple times and that it wasn’t just Tor books eligible (I was bleary eyed), I’d like to amend my nomination to:
Blindsight, by Peter Watts (already mentioned, so anybody counting votes, this is not an intent at double vote, just for clarity)
Altered Carbon, by Richard K. Morgan
Lady of Mazes, by Karl Schroeder
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson
Accelerando, by Charles Stross
Feed, by Mira Grant
The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K. Jemisin
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling
Blindsight Peter Watts
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham stands head and shoulders above almost anything else I’ve read this decade and against some incredibly strong competition. I’ll also mention Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan as I totally think WoT definitely should be further up the list.
China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station
John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War
Peter Watts’s Blindsight
Well, I’ll throw in my hat for The Name of the Wind. Seriously think that deserves top spot.
After that, I’d say Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, and Wolves of the Calla. I might also toss in Under the Dome. Heavy impact on that one.
But yes, NotW for sure.
Accelerando, by Charles Stross;
Blindsight, by Peter Watts;
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan;
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett .
I agree with Beerofthedark – The Long Price by Daniel Abraham and Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan were some of the best books of the decade.
I would also add Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe because that is all round amazing.
I too think that Name of the Wind deserves top spot, and so without further ado, my votes…
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Knife of Dreams, Robert Jordan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Richard Morgan – Altered Carbon
Blindsight, by Peter Watts;
Schild’s Ladder, by Greg Egan;
Toll the Hounds, by Steven Erikson
The Speed of Dark, by Elizabeth Moon
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow, by David Gemmell
Black Man, by Richard Morgan
Anathem, by Neal Stepenson
Quarantine, Egan
Little Brother, Doctorow
Old Man’s War, Scalzi
Blindsight, Watts
* Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
* Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb
* The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb
* Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb
* Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
* Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Curse of Chalion – Lois McMaster Bujold
Summers at Castle Auburn – Sharon Shinn
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
I vote for ‘Blindsight’, by Peter Watts.
Also ‘Darwin’s Radio’, by Greg Bear.
So there.
In no particular order:
Altered Carbon – Richard (K.) Morgan
The prefect – Alastair Reynolds
Steel Remains – Richard (K.) Morgan
Last Argument of Kings – Joe Abercrombie
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Nightwatch – Terry Pratchett
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Assasin’s Apprentice, Robin Hobb
Royal Assasin, Robin Hobb
Assasin’s Quest, Robin Hobb
In no particular order:
* WoT of course
* Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn
* Brent Weeks’s The Night Angel Trilogy and The Black Prism (first book in a series)
* A Trial of Blood and Steel by Joel Shepard
* Graceling and Fire by Kristen Cashore
* The first two books (The Dark Griffen and Griffen’s Flight) in the Fallen Moon series by KJ Taylor
There’s probably others that I can’t think of at the moment, but then, they’re obviously the ones that didn’t leave as big an imprint on my mind as the above ones.
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robim Hobb
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
Dragon Heaven by Robin Hobb
Shaman’s Crossing by Robin Hobb
Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
The Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss. Hands down the best book I have ever read.
Absolutely Hobb! :)
– Fool’s Fate – Robin Hobb, 2003
– Ship of Destiny – Robin Hobb, 2000
– Golden Fool – Robin Hobb, 2002
– Fool’s Errand – Robin Hobb, 2001
The Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks
Mistborn trilogy By Brandon Sanderson
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Wheel of time by robert jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Sword of shadows by J.V. Jones
Peter Watts – Blindsight,
Charles Stross – Glasshouse,
Brandon Sanderson – Way of Kings,
John Scalzi – Old Man’s War,
Alastair Reynolds – House of Suns,
Peter F. Hamilton – Pandora’s Star,
Anathem – Neal Stephenson.
Coupla things: I seem to be the only person who typed a title wrong.
The Robinson book is
Forty Signs of Rain (not Days-mixed it up with the 3rd book in the series)
I also note that Cryptonomicon doesn’t seem to be eligible after all so would like to add
Lamentation–Ken Scholes
The Year of Our War–Steph Swainston
Sunshine–Robin McKinley
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Neuropath – Scott Bakker
The Scar – China Mieville
The Quantum Thief – Hannu Rajaniemi
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
The Soldier Son trilogy, Robin Hobb
The Tawny Man trilogy, Robin Hobb
Spindle’s End, Robin McKinley
Doctrine of Labyrinths quartet, Sarah Monette
The Android’s Dream, John Scalzi
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Year of the Griffin, Diana Wynne Jones
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
The Spirit Lens, Carol Berg
The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
The Last Knight, Hilari Bell
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
The Demon’s Lexicon and The Demon’s Covenant – Sarah Rees Brennan
The Scar – China Mieville
Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Night Watch -Terry Pratchett
A top ten
The Skinner – Neal Asher
Ash: A Secret History – Mary Gentle
In War Times – Kathleen Ann Goonan
Learning the World – Ken MacLeod
The Dervish House – Ian McDonald
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville
Black Man / 13 – Richard Morgan
Air – Geoff Ryman
Accelerando – Charles Stross
Blindsight – Peter Watts
And another ten “bubbling under”
Flood – Stephen Baxter
Servant of the Underworld – Aliette de Bodard
Lavinia – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Quiet War – Paul McAuley
River of Gods – Ian McDonald
Kraken – China Mieville
Chasm City – Alastair Reynolds
The Caryatids – Bruce Sterling
New Model Army – Adam Roberts
Spirit – Gwyneth Jones
Though difficult, I have restricted myself to one book by any author in either list …
Watts’ Blindsight by a mile.
also: Stross’ Glasshouse.
then, Perdido Street Station.
Mortal Coils – Eric Nylund
Signal to Noise – Eric Nylund
A Signal Shattered – Eric Nylund
Blindsight just jumped to the top of my bedside books pile.
I nominate just one though, hoping it will get some votes.
Diving into the Wreck by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Thouroughly enjoyed this book.
Old Man’s War John Scalzi
Gets another vote from me.
My Votes In Order of their Conceptual Virtues+Influence on Me
1. Peter Watts Blindsight
2. Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space
3. Ken Macleod The Star Fraction
4. Paul mcauley The Quiet War
5. Iain M. Banks Look To Windward
1. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
2. A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
3. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
4. The Terror by Dan Simmons
5. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Sorry. Didn’t see Fantasy up there. Thought it was just Sci-Fi.
I have to put up:
The Edge of the World by Kevin J Anderson
The Map of all Things by Kevin J Anderson
One of the only fantasy series I have truly enjoyed. So far.
I would like to vote for Curse of Chalion and Night Watch – both excellent books!
Chasm City – Alastair Reynolds
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Dust – Elizabeth Bear
Finch – Jeff VanderMeer
Sun of Suns – Karl Schroeder
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Ship of Destiny – Robin Hobb
Absolutely!
Caillean
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Tithe by Holly Black
Jeff VanderMeer, “Finch”
R.Scott Bakker, “The Darkness That comes Before”
Iain M.Banks, “Look To Windward”
Peter Watts, “Blindsight”
China Mieville, “The Scar”
Charles Stross, “Accelerando”
Peter Watts, “Blindsight”
Alastair Reynolds, “Revelation Space”
Charles Stross, “Accelerando”
Old Man’s War By John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The City & the City by China Miéville
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Un Lun Don by China Miéville
Gaiman, American Gods
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Anathem by Neil Stephanson
The Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
-shout out for tumblr peeps.
1. Towers of midnight, RJ
2. Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
3. Hero of Ages, Brandon Sandersson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Chalice by Robin McKinley
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks
Anathem by Neil Stephensen
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Hmmm, this decade wasn’t all that strong, was it?
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
World War Z by Max Brooks
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Algebraist , by Iain Banks
Memories of Ice, by Steven Erickson
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Way of Kings
Tower of Midnight
Storm of Swords
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
The Last Colony by John Scalzi
Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi
Ghost by John Ringo
Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling
bt
Anathem by Neal Stephenson.
Memories of Ice-Steven Erikson
The Warrior Prophet- R.Scott Bakker
A Storm of Swords- George R R Martin
American Gods-Neil Gaiman
The Scar- China Mieville
This poll has blown up and re-ordered my “to read” list. Love it.
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N. K. Jemisin
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
The Knife of Dreams – Robert Jordan
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – JK Rowling
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
The Lord of the Sands of Time – Issui Ogawa
Old Man’s War by Scalzi
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow – David Gemmell
Perdido Street Station – China Miéville
Golden Fool – Robin Hobb
Night watch – Terry Pratchett
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – Michael Chabon
Going Postal – Terry Pratchett
Queen of the darkness – Anne Bishop
Memories of Ice – Steven Erikson
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clark
Anathem – Neil Stephenson
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
The Onion Girl, Charles De Lint
The Orphan’s Tales (Vol 1 & Vol 2), Catherynne Valente
Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
Fitcher’s Brides, Gregory Frost
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Warchild by Karin Lowachee
Burndrive by Karin Lowachee
Cagebird by Karin Lowachee
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Fledgling by Octavia Butler
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Territory by Emma Bull
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
The Yiddish Policemen’s Unionby Michael Chabon
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Old Man’s War-Scalzy
Name of the Wind – Rothfuss
Mistborn 1 and 3 – Sanderson
Furies of Calderon (the whole Codex Alera series, really) – Butcher
Way of Kings – Sanderson
Lies of Locke Lamora – Lynch
Spin – Wilson
Pushing Ice – Alastair Reynolds
Halting State – Charles Stross
Learning The World – Ken Macleod
Android’s Dream, by John Scalzi
Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson
Solitaire, by Kelley Eskridge
Un Lun Dun, by China Miéville
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Surface Detail – Iain Banks
Perdido Street Station – China Mieville (Does anyone know how to type that fanciful e-with-a-tiny-stick letter?)
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Storm of Swords — George R.R. Martin
Blackout/All Clear — Connie Willis
Lies of Locke Lamora — Scott Lynch
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal — Christopher Moore
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell — Suzanna Clarke
Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins
HP and the Goblet of Fire — JK Rowling
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
The Way of Kingsby Brandon Sanderson
The Gathering Stormby Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Windby Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swordsby George R. R. Martin
The Oracle’s Queen by Lynn Flewelling
Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb
Deadhouse Gates – Steven Erikson
Finch – Jeff VanderMeer
Issola – Steven Brust
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Look To Windward – Iain M Banks
Pattern Recognition – William Gibson
The Darkness That Came Before – R.Scott Bakker
Blindsight- Peter Watts
Blindsight by Peter Watts
likes of locke Lamor by Scott Lynch
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novick
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Mistborn: The Final Empire, Brandon Sanderson
Bright of the Sky, Kay Kenyon
The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Charles Stross: Saturns Children
Iain M Banks: Matter
Jon Courtenay Grimewood: Redrobe
John Ballantyne: Recursion
Anathem – Neil Stephenson
WWW:Wake – Robert J. Sawyer
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Passage – Connie Willis
The Fresco – Sherri Tepper
Halting State – Charles Stross
Daemon – Dainiel Suarez
Watermind – M.M. Buckner
A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham
The Darkness That Comes Before by R Scott Bakker
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Memories Of Ice by Steven Erikson
Kraken by China Mieville
Look To Windward by Iain M Banks
A Storm of Swords – George Martin
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Blindsight, Peter Watts
Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan
Halting State, Charles Stross
Spook Country, William Gibson
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski
The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie
Another vote for Kushiel’s Dart. Has anyone mentioned D.W. Cornish’s novels: Foundling, Lamplighter, and Factotum? I guess I’ll put in a vote for Foundling, though it may be the only one. And of course I have to vote for The Windup Girl!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
Anathem by Stephenson
Way of Kings by Sanderson
The Amber Spyglass by Pullman
Mistborn by Sanderson
Anansi Boys by Gaiman
Rainbow’s End by Vinge
Forty Signs of Rain by Robinson
The Dark Tower by King
Kiln People by Brin
City at the end of Time by Bear
Eater by Benford
Kushiel’s Dart
A Feast For Crows
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Chainfire – Terry Goodkind
My votes:
The Curse of Chalion, Lois Bujold
Paladin of the Souls, Lois Bujold
The Sharing Knife Quartet, Lois Bujold
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacquelin Carey
Kushiel’s Avatar, Jacqquelin Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
1. Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
I regret that Night Watch by Sergei Luk’janenko is from 1998…
Kushiel’s Dart
American God’s
Ysabel by GGK
Last Light of the Sun by GGK
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart FTW!
(Jacqueline Carey)
Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart by J. Carey!
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
my favorite of all time!
I would have to say Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey is definitely one of the best science fiction books written in the last decade. My second choice would be Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss
Accelerando by Charles Stross
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey (or any/all from the Kushiel series)
Furies of Calderon series from Jim Butcher
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
the WoT books that were written in that period &^_^&
Lireal and Abhorsen by Garth Nix
Chainfire by Terry Goodkind
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Kushiel’s Avatar
Kushiel’s Dart
Kushiel’s Chosen
Naamah’s Curse
Naamah’s Kiss
Kushiel’s Justice
Kushiel’s Mercy
Kushiel’s Scion
All (obviously) by the lovely Ms. Jacqueline Carey.
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Devil’s Eye, Jack McDevitt
Thud, Terry Pratchett
Monsterous Regiment, Terry Pratchett
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Going Postal, Terry Pratchett
Making Money, Terry Pratchett
Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
The Machine’s Child, Kage Baker
Echo, Jack McDevitt
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey or any of that series
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!!! This is book that sets standards for the genre and romantic, sweeping, SFF epics!!!
2nd choice, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost.
Two books by Jacqueline Carey:
* Kushiel’s Dart
* Naamah’s Kiss
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
and then the rest of the Kushiel’s Series too.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey, or any other book by her :D
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss!
Also I quite enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. :P
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Banewreaker by Jacqueline Carey
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Through Wolf’s Eyes by Jane Lindskold
Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind
The Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss
A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin
In no particular order:
• Blindsight, Peter Watts
• Anathem, Neal Stephenson
• The Wind-Up Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling
• A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
• Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
• The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
• River of Gods, Ian McDonald
• Revelation Space, Alastair Reynolds
• Ilium, Dan Simmons
• Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
• The Mirrored Heavens, David J. Williams
• Spin, Robert Charles Wilson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
My personal best for the decade:
A Civil Campaign – Lois McMaster Bujold
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N.K. Jemisin
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
Night Watch – Terry Pratchett
Accelerando – Charles Stross
oh, and does World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War – Max Brooks count as SFF? Because it, too, is awesome.
Series: another vote for WOT, and for the HP series, which started out unremarkable but became something special towards the end.
In the order of decreasing effect on yours truly (but not decreasing quality =D )
Blindsight by Peter Watts
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Surface Detail by Iain Banks
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Hands down, my number one is Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss.
My second vote goes to Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
My vote goes to Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey :) The whole series is unbelievable
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey.
Altered Carbon – Richard K. Morgan (2002)
American Gods – Neil Gaiman (2001)
Bones of Faerie – Janni Lee Simner (2009)
Child of Fire – Harry J. Connolly (2009)
Declare – Tim Powers (2001)
Digger – Ursula Vernon (2005)
Farthing – Jo Walton (2006)
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman (2008)
The Last Hot Time – John M. Ford (2000)
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow (2008)
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi (2005)
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold (2003)
Rainbows End – Vernor Vinge (2006)
Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds (2001)
Shelter – Susan Palwick (2007)
Soon I Will be Invincible – Austin Grossman (2007)
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow – Fuyumi Ono (2007)
It makes me sadder than I can say that I’ll never be able to put a Mike Ford book on a “Best of the Decade” list again. I’m glad 2000 was counted as eligible for this one.
Kushiel’s Dart (Jacqueline Carey) is my favorite as well!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey, and the rest of the Kushiel series.
If it counts (the last was released in 2000) The Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey is my number one pick!
My number one is Blindsight by Peter Watts.
[I liked Greg Bear’s Hull Zero Three almost as much!]
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The Gathering Storm by Jordan and Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Here are my picks:
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
Blackout / All Clear by Connie Willis
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
Farthing / Ha’penny / Half a Crown by Jo Walton
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Lirael by Garth Nix
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
One more vote for Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell, and one for American Gods.
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff Vandermeer
All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka
The Lord of the Sands of Time by Issui Ogawa
The Name of the Wind (Rothfuss), American Gods (Gaiman), and Kushiel’s Dart (Carey) would get my votes, in that order!
The Darkness That Comes Before – R.Scott Bakker
The Warrior Prophet – R.Scott Bakker
The Thousandfold Thought – R.Scott Bakker
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Deadhouse Gate – Erikson
Memories of Ice – Erikson
Bonehunters – Erikson
Cloud Atlas – Mitchell
The City and the City – Mieville
The whole Kushiel’s Dart triology (but specifically Kushiel’s Dart) by Jacqueline Carey & the whole Black Jewels Trilogy (but again specifically Queen of the Darkness) by Anne Bishop :)
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey would be my number one choice!
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Changes – Jim Butcher
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Perdido Street Station by China Meiville
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Light By M. John Harrison
Midnight Tides by Steven Erickson
The Scar by China Meiville
Iron Council by China Meiville
The City and The City by China Meiville
The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
The Etched City by K.J. Bishop
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Wireless by Charles Stross
The Risen Empire by Scott Westerfeld
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Boneshaker by Cheri Priest
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
1. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
2. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
3. A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
4. Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip
5. Nightwatch by Terry Pratchett
6. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
7. Sunshine by Robin McKinley
8. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
9. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Suzanna Clarke
10. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
The Darkness that Comes Before – R Scott Bakker
Storm of Swords – GRR Martin
The entirety of Kushiel’s Legacy (All 6 books) By Jacqueline Carey.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Rant – Chuck Palahniuk
Wrings of Wrath -C.S. Friedman
Strom of Swords- Geroge R.R. Martin
Kushiels Dart – Jacqueline Carey
The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Changes and Furies of Calderon- Jim Butcher
Queen of Darkness- Anne Bishop
The entirety of Kushiel’s Legacy (All 6 books) By Jacqueline Carey!! amazing books!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
1. Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
2. Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
3. Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
4. The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
1) Kushiel’s Dart
2) Alphabet of Thorn
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Elisabeth Vonarburg, Reine de Mémoire
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Suzanna Clarke
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Trickster’s Queen and Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce
If I were stranded on an island with only one book to read for the rest of my days, it would be Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey.
Kushiel’s Dart
Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey was by far my favorite series this past century.
Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien (edited by Christopher Tolkien)
The Darkwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist
Hunters of Dune & Sandworms of Dune by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Gosh! There are so many!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Order of the Phoenix and Deathly hallows by Rowling, Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Shalador’s Lady, and the Ephemera books by Anne Bishop
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead
Sword of Truth and Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey. Only one that matters :-)
Kushiel’s Dart!!!!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore
The King of Attolia by Megan Whelan Turner
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold
Blindsight by Peter Watts
No. 1 – The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Faith of the Fallen – Terry Goodkind
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Strom of Swords- Geroge R.R. Martin
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
First Law Series – Joe Abercrombie
The Magicians – Lev Grossman
A Madness of Angels – Kate Griffin
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
In no particular order, and leaving out books I might otherwise have included (like Old Man’s War) because they’ve got enough votes already;) I must say, this thread is great for new reading ideas:)
Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
The Eyre Affair – Jasper Fforde
Night Angel Trilogy, by Brent Weeks
Furies of Calderon, by Jim Butcher
The Long Price Quartet, Daniel Abraham
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Altered Carbon – Richard Morgan
Galileo’s Dream – Kim Stanley Robinson
The Windup Girl – Paolo Bacigalupi
Anthony Huso – The Last Page
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Surface Detail by Iain Banks
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Rainbows End by Vernon Vinge
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – N.K. Jemisin
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling
Issola – Steven Brust
The Lightning Thief & Percy Jackson Series in general – Rick Riordan
Storm Front & Dresden Files Series in general – Jim Butcher
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
As well as…
Kushiel’s Chosen
Kushiel’s Avatar
Kushiel’s Scion
Kushiel’s Justice
Kushiel’s Mercy
…is it obvious I love Kushiel’s Legacy?
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
So good.
Also, I’m excited to go down this list and get some recommendations on books that I may have missed.
*Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
*Fool’s Errand, Robin Hobb
*Golden Fool, Robin Hobb
*Fool’s Fate, Robin Hobb
*Dragon Keeper, Robin Hobb
Kusheil’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart – by Jacqueline Carey – hell the entire series
The Night Angel Trilogy – Brent Weeks
The Warded Man – Brett Peters
Anathema – Neal Stephenson
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War, John Scalzi
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
The Android’s Dream, John Scalzi
Halting State, Charles Stross
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
Towers of Midnight, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Anathem, Neal Stephenson.
Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
Kushiels Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind
China Mieville: Perdido Street Station
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey
Both brought good writing with new and well written ideas seamlessly integrated with the story. So often books present a great idea with mediocre writing. These are the exception.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip
The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia McKillip
The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy by Martha Wells (Includes The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air and The Gate of the Gods)
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey (The entire series is amazing, but this started it all.)
Naamah’s Kiss – Jacqueline Carey (As good as her first series.)
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin (PLEASE finish this series!!!)
Issola – Steven Brust (Keep them coming Mr. Brust!)
I love this list of books! I see some great recommendations and I can’t wait to see the results.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
That’s certainly a shortlist, but it’s the best I can do at this point.
China Mieville: Perdido Street StationNeil Gaiman: American Gods
George R.R. Martin: The whole Song of Ice and Fire Series
The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn Trilogy (or one vote per book, if that’s allowed) – Brandon Sanderson
Towers of Midnight – Robert J. And Brandon S.
Gathering Storm – Robert J. and Brandon S.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Oops… meant to do this earlier in the week. Here’s 10 that stayed with me … in no particular order:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
City of Pearl by Karen Traviss
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Soon, I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
Blindsight, Peter Watts
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon
The City & the City, China Miéville
Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan
Pattern Recognition, William Gibson
Blackout by Connie Willis
All Clear by Connie Willis
Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix
Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Storm of Swords! and I’ll toss A Feast for Crows in there too. both by George R.R. Martin.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey.
The Gathering Storm by Jordan and Sanderson.
Towers of Midnight by Jordan and Sanderson.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
( also Kushiel’s Chosen & Kushiel’s Avatar )
Edit: nevermind, those were too old ;)
A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo
The Last Centurion by John Ringo
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Kushiel’s Dart (Jacqueline Carey)
Queen of the Darkness – Black Jewels Trilogy Book 3 (Anne Bishop)
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart (Jacqueline Carey)
Daughter of the Blood (Anne Bishop)
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
The Gathering Storm – Robert Jordan
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – JK Rowling
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin
A Sword from Red Ice by J V Jones
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Daughter of the Blood (Anne Bishop)
Naamah’s Kiss – Jacqueline Carey
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
The Kushiel Legacy was my series for the decade.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey started it off.
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
I can name only one: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey. I am reading it out of necessity (for a role playing game) and I am really enjoying it.
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Jacqueline Carey Kushiel’s Dart
Daughter of the Blood – Anne Bishop
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Wit’ch Fire – James Clemens
Poison Study – Maria V. Snyder
The Runelords – David Farland
Witches of Eileanan – Kate Forsyth
The Enchantment Emporium – Tanya Huff
Kushiel’s Dart
Soulless
Old man’s War – Scalzi
American Gods – Gaiman
Way of Kings – Sanderson
Curse of Chalion – Bujold
Passage – Bujold (all 4 or the series)
Elantris – Sanderson
His Majesty’s Dragon – Novik
Accelerando – Stross
Going Postal – Pratchet
Sunshine – McKinley
Hundred Thousand Kingdoms – Jemisin
Android’s Dream – Scalzi
Flesh and Fire – Gilman
Changes – Butcher
Aleria/Furys of X series by Butcher (First Lord’s Fury and Furies of Calderon if you don’t reduce to series)
Kushiel’s Dart, beyond question. The only book I’ve ever read where as soon as I finished it, I immediatly began reading it again! The entire series is compelling, but Kushiel’s Dart remains my favorite. EVER.
1) In the Night Garden – Catherynne M. Valente
2) Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
3) The Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
4) A Storm of Swords – George R. R. Martin
(I don’t think the two predecessors count, since they were published in the 1990s)
5) The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
6) The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
7) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
8) Feast of Souls – C. S. Friedman
9) The Long Prince Quartet – Daniel Abraham
10) Elfland – Freda Warrington
11) The City & the City – China Miéville
Without a doubt : Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss
However a word about the loss of good Sci-Fi. I love Fantasy, but my favorites have always been about aliens. Stranger in a Strange Land, Imago (Octavia Butler). Five Moon Dance, Migration. Where are the new authors for these genres? Everything is Fantasy or cyberpunk. Todays Sci-fi is all computers and robots and hard science. Don’t get me wrong I read Peter Hamilton too, but I miss a good clean sci fi story that actually goes from point a to point b without the need to ingest psycotropic drugs to follow.
PS I think Kushiel’s Dart would be 2nd, City of Pearl 3rd.
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Inda series by Sherwood Smith
Palladin of Souls by Lois Bujold
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
kushiel’s dart by jacqueline carey
kushiel’s dart by jacqueline carey
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Storm of Swords
no contest
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
add these to my list:
Pandora’s Star – Peter F. Hamilton
Revelation Space – Alistair Reynolds
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Jacqueline Carey – Kushiel’s Dart
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!!!!!!!!!!
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007)
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Kushiels Dart by Jacqueline Carey! One of the few books I must have read at least 5 times, and one that I always reccomend to everybody.
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin (I love them all).
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Prey by Michael Crichton (I think it still falls under science fiction because of the science in it *grins*)
A Storm of Swords – George R.R. Martin
A Feast for Crows – George R.R. Martin
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Sunshine – Robin McKinley
Ysabel – Guy Gavriel Kay
Under Heaven – Guy Gavriel Kay
Maledicte – Lane Robins
Melusine – Sarah Monette
Ash: A Secret History – Mary Gentle
1610: A Sundial in a Grave – Mary Gentle
The Priviledge of the Sword – Ellen Kushner
The Fall of the Kings – Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman
The Silver Mage – Katherine Kerr
The Runes of the Earth – Stephen R. Donaldson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!!!
1. Kushiel’s Dart
2. Kushiel’s Chosen
3. Kushiel’s Avatar
4. Kushiel’s Scion
5. Kushiel’s Justice
6. Kushiel’s Mercy
:-) Love Them!!!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
American Gods – Gaiman
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Clarke
Android’s Dream – Scalzi (haven’t read his others yet)
Quicksilver – Stephenson (or the whole Baroque Cycle, depending on how you’re counting–better than Anathem, I thought)
The Golden Compass – Pullman (if only the other two were as good!)
Kushiel’s Dart
Hunger Games
Armageddon’s Children
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007)
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The King of Attolia by Megan Whelan Turner
Counting Heads by David Marusek
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Accelerando by Charles Stross
The Unincorporated Man by Dani and Eytan Kollin
River of Gods by Ian MacDonald
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Oh yes, and
Halting State – Stross
Kushiel’s dart (well the entire series)
Wheel of Time
Elantris
Mistborn (whole series)
The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Long Price Quartet, specifically An Autumn War – Daniel Abraham
Kushiel’s Dart, but all of the Kusheil’s Legacy sereis – Jacqueline Carey
Lord of Emperors & Last Light of the Sun – Guy Gavriel Kay
The Blade Itself – Joe Abercrombie
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J.K. Rowling
Well, of the books currently on the list, The Curse of Chalion is the only one (so far) that I’ve read more than three times, so it gets my vote.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Spin, by Robert Anton Wilson
Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
Kushiel’s Dart, by Jacqueline Carey
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
Feed, by M.T. Anderson
Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
Kushiel’s Dart, Kuchiel’s Justice, Kushiel’s Avatar, Kushiel’s Scion, Kushiel’s Chosen, Kushiel’s Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, by George RR Martin
Battleaxe, Enchanter, Starman, Sinner, Crusader, Pilgrim by Sara Douglass
Warlord, Warrior, Treason Keep, Harshini, Medalon, Wolfblade, Eye of the Labyrinth, Lord of the Shadows, Lion of Senet by Jennifer Fallon
A storm of swords By George RR Matin
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Song of Ice and Fire (All of them) by George R. R. Martin
Palladin of Souls by Lois Bujold
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Singularity Sky by Charles Stross
Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Matter by Iain Banks
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Honor Harrinton series by David Weber
Kushiel’s Dart- Jacqueline Carey
American Gods- Neil Gaiman
A storm of swords! G.R.R. MaSiggirtin
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Lisey’s Story by Stephen King
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
I could include Miles in Love by Lois McMaster Bujold, but since two of those stories were first published in 1999 and 1998 and the one in 2004 was a short, I won’t.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiels Dart by Jaqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Wit’ch Star by James Clemens
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey definitely gets my vote!
Kushiel’s Dart
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
I don’t know if it’s the right genre, but I’d also nominate “Never Let Me Go.”
The Hunger Games
Peter Watts – Blindsight
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Kushiel’s Dart- Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey (ok, really–Kushiel’s Chosen and Kushiel’s Avatar, too. Amazing!)
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Daughter of the Forest and Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier (I liked Child of the Prophecy too, but not nearly as much)
The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan!
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Midnight Tides by Steven Erikson
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Night Watch by sir Terry Pratchett
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Scar by China Mieville
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer (Tor, 2002) and the whole trilogy
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer (Tor, 2000)
Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card (2001)
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss.
Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb
The Midnighters Trilogy by Scott Westerfield
Wow, what to pick? There are so many excellent books and authors out there. Having not been a prolific sci-fi/fantasy reader in this past decade, I can only go with what I know, and I would have to pick as my top 5:
1) Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
2) American Gods by Neil Gaiman
3) Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind
4) Chainfire by Terry Goodkind (what can I say – he is one of my faves)
5) Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey
(I swear I do read books by more than three authors – I just know what I like!)
A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo
The Last Centurion by John Ringo
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Haze by L.E. Modessitt
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
Something From the Nightside by Simon R Green
Way of the Wolf by E.E. Knight
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Revelation by Carol Berg
Kushiel’s Dart
Towers of Midnight
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson
Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
….
…
..
.
In fact, let’s just make that all of Jacqueline’s Kushiel’s series:
Kushiel’s Dart
Kushiel’s Chosen
Kushiel’s Avatar
Kushiel’s Scion
Kushiel’s Justice
Kushiel’s Mercy
Best author ever!!!!!!!!!
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Cary
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey! yay!
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
Anathem, Neal Stephenson
A Feast for Crows , George R.R. Martin
Way of Shadows , Brent Weeks
American Gods , Neil Gaiman
1. The Name of the Wind — Patrick Rothfuss
2. Kushiel’s Dart–Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey – my very very favorite book of all time
Naamah’s Kiss – Jacqueline Carey – coming in close second
Dreamfever – Karen Marie Moning – awesome series
Changeless – Gail Carriger – surprisingly witty and humorous
Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins – couldn’t put it down
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
Mistborn: The First Empire by Brian Sanderson
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
1) The Curse of Chalion
2) Night Watch
3) Altered Carbon
4) Anathem
5) Changes
6) The Name of the Wind
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Avatar – Jacqueline Carey (It’s debatable that this is better than Kushiel’s Dart)
World War Z – Max Brooks
The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Destiny: Child of Sky (Rhapsody Trilogy) by Elizabeth Haydon
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Definitely Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey!
Also Gail Carriger’s Soulless, Changeless and Blameless
Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfus
Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Destiny by Elizabeth Haydon
Kushiel’s Avatar – Jacqueline Carey
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey is great
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
A storm of swords – George R R Martin
1. Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
2. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
3. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Altered carbon. Richard morgan
The Birthday of the World – Ursula LeGuin
Set This House in Order – Matt Ruff
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
When You Reach Me – Rebecca Stead
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J K Rowling
The City and the City – China Mieville
Voices (from Annals of the Western Shore trilogy) – Ursula LeGuin
Demo (graphic novel)- Brian Wood
Lost in a Good Book (from Thursday Next series) – Jasper Fforde
Liar – Justine Larbalestier
1.) Song of Ice and Fire Series – George R. R. Martin (Storm of Swords, Feast for Crows)
2.) Wheel of Time Series – Robert Jordan (Winter’s Heart, Crossroads of Twilight)
3.) The Symphony of Ages Series – Elizabeth Haydon (Prophecy, Destiny, Requiem for the Sun, Elegy for a Lost Star, Assassin King)
Oh fun! Hope I’m not too late to the party. I’m sure American Gods and Time Traveler’s Wife don’t need my help, so I’ll just mention a few more I think deserve props:
Havemercy – Jones + Bennett
The City & The City – Miéville
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Lynch
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Ysabel – Guy Gavriel Kay
Under Heaven – Guy Gavriel Kay
Privilege of the Sword – Kushner
Alphabet of Thorn – McKillip
Kushiel’s Dart, all the way
Kushiel’s Dart-Jacqueline Carey
Really whole series, and anything she’s done prior or following is fantastic, but I’ll stick with that for voting sake. Ms. Carey is a phenomenal, gripping writer who stories stay with you long after you’ve put them down, if you can put them down.
Yay!
1) Anathem by Neal Stephenson
2) Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
3) Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
4) Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
5) The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Blindsight by Peter Watts
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novick
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
My top ten:
American Godsby Neil Gaiman
Glasshouseby Charles Stross
Perdido Street Stationby China Miéville
Sunshineby Robin McKinley
World War Zby Max Brooks
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Kushiel’s Dartby Jacqueline Carey
A Storm of Swordsby George R. R. Martin
The Eyre Affairby Jasper Fforde
Blindsight- Peter Watts
The Darkness That Comes Before
The Warrior Prophet
The Thousandfold Thought
all of which make up The Prince of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker
Rothfuss. Name of the Wind
Paolo Bacigalupi The Wind Up Girl
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Actually, all the Kushiel’s legacy series and Namaah’s Trilogy by her.
Blindsight- Peter Watts
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
11 years? Okay, here’s my favorites:
The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold
Beguilement (The Sharing Knife) by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Sharing Knife: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold
Passage (The Sharing Knife) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Legacy (The Sharing Knife) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Scout’s Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Mouse and Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Duainfey by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Longeye by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee
Alien Taste by Wen Spencer
Tainted Trail by Wen Spencer
Bitter Waters by Wen Spencer
Dog Warrior by Wen Spencer
Tinker by Wen Spencer
Wolf Who Rules by Wen Spencer
A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer
Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
as well as all the other Kushiel and Naamah series books she wrote!
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell also in my opinion :)
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey my ultimate favorite!
Anathem by Neal Stephenson and
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow.
Where to start? Considering that I’ve only been a fantasy reader since the turn of the decade (pretty much starting with Harry Potter back around 2001), and a sci-fi reader for only a bit longer, I have discovered a lot of great books in the last ten years.
I think the ones most significant to me, that were published in the allowed time frame are:
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
2. The Knife of Dreams
3. The Gathering Storm
4. Mistborn: The Final Empire
5. Going Postal (Discworld)
6. Elantris
7. Dead Beat (Dresden Files)
8. White Knight (Dresden Files)
9. Warbreaker
It would be difficult to rank them properly, though Harry Potter and Wheel of Time are probably what I spent the most time reading altogether. I spent a lot of time re-reading and speculating about the former series in the leadup to the final novel.
These are my choices, I selected one book where I would’ve voted for a series.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin (should be the series)
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds (should be the “trilogy”)
Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton (should be the duology)
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (should be the trilogy)
Black Man by Richard Morgan
The Warrior-Prophet by R. Scott Bakker (should be the trilogy)
The Conventions of War by Walter Jon Williams (should be the trilogy)
A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Ok now that voting has ended, I would like to nominate all the books I dont like.
Sherwood Smith’s Inda Quadrology is tops!
MY VOTE IS FOR:
“Kushiel’s Dart” by Jacqueline Carey
Her “Phedre” character and the story / plot lines she is written in, deserves nothing but the best, in acknowledgement VIA votes!
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Star Doc – S.L. Viehl
The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold
The King of Attolia, Megan Whelan Turner
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
The Bards of Bone Plain, Patricia A. McKillip
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice, Catherynne M. Valente
A Rumor of Gems, Ellen Steiber
All the Windwracked Stars, Elizabeth Bear
The Last Hot Time, John M. Ford
Cast in Courtlight, Michelle Sagara
I will refrain from naming the rest of the Chronicles of Elantra, but if we were choosing series, it would be my first choice.
Guy Gavriel Kay, Under Heaven
Name of the Wind
1 American Gods
2 Little Brother
kushiel’s dart
the windup girl
in the night garden & the cities of coin and spice
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Suzanna Clarke
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Little Brother, Cory Doctorow
For the Win, Cory Doctorow
Pattern Recognition, William Gibson
American Gods, Anathem, Canticle, Name of the Wind
I find it mildly amusing that people keep on voting after
poolvote’s closed :DOld Man’s War by John Scalzi
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds
Little Brother – Cory Doctorow
Blindsight – Peter Watts
Curse of Chalion, Bujold;
American Gods, Gaiman;
Changes, Butcher;
Anathem, Stephenson;
His Majesty’s Dragon, Novik;
Name of the Wind, Rothfuss.
Count my votes for Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War”, Stephenson’s “Anathem” , Morgan’s “Altered Carbon” and Bacigalupi’s “The Windup Girl”.
name of the wind by patrick rothfuss
Towers of Midnight
The Gathering Storm
Knife of Dreams
Crossroads of Twilight
Winter`s Heart
New Spring
all by Robert Jordan (and Brandon Sanderson)
P.S. To all WoT fans : Stop voting for “WoT” – those votes probably don’t count. Just write the names of the books – it doesn’t take that much time…
“Kushiel’s dart” by Jacqueline Carey
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
The Name of the Wind
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
1. The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss
2. The Last argument of Kings, Joe Abercrombie
3. Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandan Sanderson
1. Old Man’s War, by J. Scalzi
2. The Name of the Wind, by P. Rothfuss
3. Shadowmarch, by T. Williams
1. Blindsight by Peter Watts
2. Anathem by Neal Stephenson
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
First, Anathem.
Second, The Trade of Queens.
Third, Cryoburn.
In no order…
Name of the Wind – Patrick Rothfuss
Changes – Jim Butcher
Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch
Kushiel’s Dart – Jacqueline Carey
Altered Carbon – Richard K Morgan
Off Armageddon Reef – David Weber
Dies the Fire – SM Stirling
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novik
“Old Man’s War” by John Scalzi
Brass Man – Neal Asher , Revelation Space – Alastair Reynolds, China Meiville – The Scar, Steven Erikson Deadhouse Gates, American Gods – Neil Gaiman, The Technician – Neal Asher
The Runelords, David Farland
old man’s war
bitter seeds
the windup girl
the time traveler’s wife
down and out in the magic kingdom
world war z
the amber spyglass
Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey, all the way!
Deadhouse Gates Steven Erikson
Memories of Ice Steven Erikson
Storm of Swords George RR Martin
Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch
Perdido Street Station China Melville
If we’re counting series Malazan Book of the Fallen and second Song of Fire and Ice
Blindsight by Peter Watts
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
(Am I too late?)
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Blindsight by Peter Watts
oh and also Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
The Fifth Head of Cerberus – Gene Wolfe
Out of The Silent Planet – C.S. Lewis
Palimpsest-Catherynne M. Valente
Kushiel’s Dart–Jacqueline Carey
1.Tower of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
2.The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
3.Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
4.Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
5.Winter`s Heart by Robert Jordan
6.New Spring by Robert Jordan
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch