Since we’re more than halfway through 2019, I figured it was a good time to reflect on some of the genre books I’ve read this year. I compiled a list of these ten books that I rated four or five stars on Goodreads. They’re a variety of subgenres, including folk horror. And I’ll admit that I did cheat and include an environmental thriller that’s clearly not horror or science-fiction (but the story does deal with conflicts with nature – that’s science!).
Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand [Goodreads]
This folk horror novel was unsettling and engrossing. I’m a fan of narratives that aren’t straight storytelling, and this one is told through interviews with the various band members and other witnesses. It’s a great way to piece together an eerie ghost story and build dread. I think the novel is successful because it’s presented so well that it almost makes me believe that the band and the event actually happened. I think if someone is a fan of found footage horror they would enjoy this book.
Triangulum by Masande Ntshanga [Goodreads]
This book was a surprise for me – I only discovered it because I was randomly browsing the new books shelf at a New York Public Library while my phone was charging. Since its premise seemed to be about aliens, it appealed to me right away and grabbed me from the first lines. As I wrote above with Wylding Hall, I love when stories use different ways of telling its narrative like with diary entries, etc, and so I enjoyed the way this story was told. It’s also beautifully written.
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers [Goodreads]
This book lived up to its fabulous cover, which I absolutely adore. I thought the story was adventurous and charming, and worthy of a re-read. There are many characters and time jumps to keep track of, but I had such fun reading it.
Robotics Through Science Fiction: Artificial Intelligence Explained Through Six Classic Robot Short Stories by Robin R. Murphy (Editor) [Goodreads]
This is a really useful book that blends science-fiction with non-fiction. Robin Murphy compiles these stories about robots and not only provides a background of each, but there’s also a scientific discussion following each one. I liked this format because it gave me an idea of what topics in robotics that are more interesting to me and I can go from here. And I think she chose great stories for this book; typically I find anthologies hit or miss but I generally enjoyed them all, with Long Shot by Vernor Vinge being my favorite.
Zero Bomb by M.T. Hill [Goodreads]
I liked the ideas explored in this book (like automation) and I also liked how the story changed gears throughout. I’ve found that when authors do these switches in their story, it often fails because they don’t know how to write different voices for their characters. This isn’t the case with Zero Bomb, which I thought made its disparate sections cohesive.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite [Goodreads]
Funny and smart, and also a fairly quick read. Not your typical serial killer novel, and I think there were elements of both characters that I could relate to. Especially having grown up with sisters!
The Cipher by Kathe Koja [Goodreads]
I read this with a few other people at the same time, and I was the only one who was in love with it. It’s great finding a horror novel written by a woman; and one that’s so gross, so weird, and so fantastic as The Cipher just made my year. Emphasis on gross. I wanted to take a shower every time I finished a bit of reading.
Where Oceans Hide Their Dead by John Yunker [Goodreads]
Here’s my cheat book! I liked the blend of mystery and ecological issues. As an animal advocate, it was nice to read a book in which characters who cared about animals were portrayed as complex people. I wrote a fuller review of this book over on my sister site, The Paw Report. Feel free to read my review here.
I Remember You: A Ghost Story by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir [Goodreads]
If it’s hot where you currently live, then cool off with this icy, terrifying story. I read it in the winter and it absolutely chilled me to my bones.
African Psycho by Alain Mabanckou [Goodreads]
“to kill at last, crush… I was going to exist at last, that’s it, exist… I was going to be somebody.”
Warning – African Psycho book is offensive and upsetting. Definitely not an easy read since it puts the reader squarely in the mind of yes, a psycho, but I thought it was fascinating. It’s also quite funny. One could consider this novel folk horror as well, since the main character believes he is communicating and ritualizing with a dead killer who has become mythic.