James Talks (Mostly) Books

The holidays are here, and now it's time to say our thanks.

I'm thankful for each of these books for different reasons. They aren't all favorites per se, but have all made a positive impact on me.

Danse Macabre, Stephen King

This one got me into genre-specific reference books and pointed me towards several books that became favorites. I may never have discovered Harlan Ellison were it not for this, and that would've sucked.

Early Autumn, Robert B. Parker

This was the first Spenser novel I read, at my mother's request. After this, PI novels became one of my go-to subgenres and Spenser one of my favorite PI's. This one also had many solid lessons on how to be an adult male, something I needed at the time. It holds up, too.

Devil in a Blue Dress, Walter Mosley

Another PI novel, but this one showed me that genre fiction was super-flexible and able to tackle almost any theme or issue. It also introduced me to another favorite author and series.

Guilty Pleasures, Laurell K Hamilton

I'm not a fan of this series anymore, but this book introduced me (and may others) to the Urban Fantasy genre, which was one of my faves for years. I liked the first few (heavy on the horror, light on the sex) best, and walked away when the series became, essentially, Erotica. Still, this one had a tremendous impact on my own reading as well as the industry as a whole.

Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin

I'm not caught up with the series (got tired after binging the first three), nor have I watched much of the show, but this book got me back into traditional fantasy and introduced many to GrimDark. I will come back to these... eventually.

The Great Movies, Roger Ebert

These books introduced me to many, umm, great movies while giving me new perspective on many I'd already seen. Ebert has shaped how I watch and think about films, and his beautiful prose helped me see what criticism should be.

A Song for Arbonne, Guy Gavriel Kay

A very literary semi-historical stand-alone that introduced me to one of my new favorite authors. It also had an effect on what I look for in fantasy. It's awesome, and not even Kay's best.

This is my third time trying to write this post. I accidentally closed out halfway through the first try, and BL went weird during the second.

Also, sorry for my long absence. Life has taken interesting turns.

Anyway, this is a topic that's been batted around the inter-webs for a couple of years, ever since the Disney-Fox merger was announced. My take will be a little different, trying to capture the ideas of the characters more than the classic look. Also, I'm using a modern concept, meaning a Holocaust survivor as revolutionary is less realistic. I feel you need some realistic grounding for something like this, meaning many of my choices are well thought-out and, in some cases, even researched.

Here we go.

Professor X

Let's stick with the trend of Brits as Xavier, and this dude really rocks the cueball look.

My concept of X is rooted in civil rights, albeit with some twists. I see Xavier's dad as an important fellow in UK politics who is a closeted gay man in the early Sixties (when it was illegal). When blackmailed and threatened with public unmasking, he commits suicide and his family, though wealthy, emigrate to the US under a cloud. This would make Charles a (second-hand) victim of prejudice from the beginning, and a later Mutant Panic (late-Eighties?) would spur him to activism and opening his school.

Magneto

I'm taking a similar process with the team's most iconic adversary. As stated, his origin story no longer works for a modern telling, but elements can be reworked to fit today. In this case, I think a survivor of a more recent genocide would work. I'm thinking Rwanda, as it would give our man a trgic past and, because the US ignored the whole thing, give him a reason to resent Americans.

Idris Elba  is my choice here. He's got the gravitas and can be terrifying while still being sympathetic. He was 22 in 1994, so it could be that Magneto's village or young family were wiped out. If he was away at the time, it would add some guilt to his motivation as well.

Cyclops

A handsome, authoritative white dude with just enough humor and humanity to give the character some dimension (the writing will need to do more for Scott in this iteration, too; James Marsden was perfectly cast and woefully used). Armie Hammer or Scott Eastwood  would work, though the latter may be too grim for the MCU.

Wolverine

If you want to cast someone in the Jackman mold, Joe Mangianello would be great. He could definitely convey the rage and physical presence. Obviously, he's taller than the comics version, but so was ol' Hugh. Besides, I'm not sure movie audiences would buy into a 5'3" killing machine. The key here would be to lean into the anger instead of the wounded romanticism. You won't beat Jackman at his own game.

Jean Grey

I think, if she's willing to go back to superhero flicks, Kirsten Dunst could bring a lot of warmth to the role. She is also capable of balancing astute supporting work with tremendous impact in showcase scenes.

Storm

The woman was worshiped as a weather goddess, so this actress needs some serious oomph. My choice is Janelle Monae. Her performance in Hidden Figures tells me she can portray the grit, determination, and the utter wallop of the Gold Team leader.

Those are the most iconic characters and who I believe would play them well. The one I'm least confident in is Cyclops; he's an archetypal character, and that can easily slide into generic. Honestly, the best choices are already in the MCU playing other Boy Scout roles.

Outcry and outrage are inevitable consequences of free speech. So it is, so it has been, so it shall be. People will take offense, and that's okay. You don't have to hear it, but I do get to say it, with certain exceptions. There are things you don't say in public out of courtesy, at work due to policies, etc. When the kneeling issue was a thing in the NFL, I had no problem with the players doing it and wanted the owners and the league to OK it. They banned it, and while I didn't agree, I expected the players to either stop or accept the consequences, which they did.

What I'm getting at is this: When a piece of art comes out, a store gets to say they won't stock it (Walmart didn't sell explicit-labeled CD's for a long time) within reason (not on a religious, race-based, or a sexuality-rooted basis), but an outright ban is and should be immensely difficult to obtain. Censorship within an institution happens, sometimes too severely, but keeping art and information from the public is a problem, as is influencing what can reach the public.

If you don't want your family watching certain things, you talk to your family about it. If something is rated M or NC-17 or has an explicit label, you shouldn't buy it for your kids without deliberation or even (dare I say it?) research. You don't get to say whether it should be published at all. We consenting adults get to enjoy our "grown-up" entertainment. You don't get to enforce your views on the rest of us, even if that means you have to take a more active role in your family. That's on you.

There are responsible practices that need to be followed on the other side too, though. Heavily violent or sexualized content shouldn't be advertised directly to children, and there are programs to keep that from happening (RIP Joe Camel). Ratings boards are in place to help you decide what's appropriate, with both the X and NC-17 ratings introduced to bar children from films expressly intended for adults (how they were used is problematic, esp. when compared to other countries A-ratings,but that's another topic). They should not be used to keep things from being made or released.

Sure, there are exceptions, truly vile things that shouldn't be available, but putting everything that offends you into that category is inappropriate. Besides, if the things you like offend others, they'd have to go, too. It would get out of hand quickly.

So, if you hear someone calling for a ban or are yourself itching to pick up your pitchfork, remember to consider further implications and consequences. When a restriction is put in place, someone will try to tilt it to their own purposes, and you may eventually be strangled with your own rope.

This one isn't a list as such; it's more just a soul-searching examination of my various tastes. In other words, a bunch of self-indulgent twaddle. Too bad it's my list and you have no say, hahahaha.

Music

This one's easy: No way in hell am I mainstream here. I do not listen to modern pop or country, even most recent metal doesn't hit my radar, and I have no Idea what's going on with punk. As for hip-hop, There haven't been many tunes since 2000 that I give a damn about, almost none since Nate Dogg died. I still like some classic rock, but I'm more into deep cuts than the hits now. Nick Cave and Tom Waits aren't big on the pop charts, right? Are most people listening to vintage Dio? Yeah, I didn't think so.

Books

This one is trickier. I am a long-time Stephen King fan, I read a fair few thrillers, and I've even been digging into general fiction the last few years. Add to that a few bios and memoirs, it's pretty damn MOR. Yes, but...

I don't think epic fantasy quite falls into mainstream, but I know vintage horror and short-story collections aren't. Same goes for slice-of-life comics and westerns. So, I can't say on this one.

TV

This one's easier. I watch a fair chunk of anime, avoid most procedurals, and reality shows can go do one. I still haven't seen Stranger Things or Punisher, Handmaids Tale or Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Not only am I not mainstream, I may not even be human.

Movies

This one is a bear to figure out. I don't go for Oscar bait anymore, but I try to catch every Marvel film in theaters. When Pixar puts out a movie, I can't help but drool, but I have never seen a Transformers movie. But I don't think I'm quite in line with the majority here.

First, I watch a lot of documentaries on a whole host of subjects. The arts are the main thrust, Jiro Dreams of Sushi and The Thin Blue Line  are also favorites. I'll still pop on a silent film, and I don't even check what language a film is in anymore (I always have subtitles on anyway). Indie horror is bread and butter, and I haven't seen a rom-com in ages. So I'm leaning towards no, but if you try to take Into The Spiderverse away from me, may the gods have mercy on your soul.

When push comes to shove, I'd have to say no, but my tastes in books and film are so wide that there is some overlap with popular interest. I'm not saying that having mainstream tastes is bad, but I am glad that I can help support the quirkier stuff. If we all liked the same stuff, a lot of artists couldn't make a living. That would suck, so let's all stay a little weird.

Everybody has certain subgenres or trends they catch early. You know, the whole hipster "I liked it before it was cool" BS. I have a few myself, but I'm not gonna bore you with brags this time around. Instead, I'll talk about the opposite, the subgenres I didn't glom onto until way after they got a following. I'm not restricting this to books, but they will make appearances. I'm only doing seven, because I don't wanna cry, but there are some big ones here.

Seven Times I Was Late to the Game

1. RPGs

No, not grenade launchers; role-playing games. When I was younger, a lot of my friends were playing Diablo, Final Fantasy, all that kinda stuff. Not me. Isometric viewpoints turned me off of a lot of western RPGs, and JRPGs had that weird turn-based combat that I found silly. I mean, I'm not gonna stand still while a ten-foot-tall swings his battle-axe at my skull, am I?

Then, in my twenties, I got a copy of Game Informer showcasing the new Elder Scrolls game, Oblivion. This was right before the 360 launched, and the graphics looked so good. The story was pretty cool, their description of a living world had me intrigued; I was hooked. My roommate got a 360, we got Oblivion, I was on my way. But slowly.

First it was just the Bethesda games, TES and Fallout. Then Witcher 2 and Kingdoms of Amalur. Then a few of my friends got me to join a D&D game or two. Ohmigod, so much fun, and it got me over the whole turn-based prejudice.

My first JRPG was Eternal Sonata, because it revolved around Frederic Chopin. It's still not my favorite stuff, but it's pretty nifty.

2. Steampunk

It always seemed pretty cool, but the fictional side didn't grab me for a looong time. The aesthetic was fantastic, but I've never quite adopted it beyond the occasional desktop wallpaper (BTW, if one of your friends is planning a steampunk wedding, don't bother getting a gift, it's not gonna happen; three different couples I knew were setting these up, not one came off).

I just didn't dive into the fiction until a few years ago. I like it a lot, but I do still prefer Weird West; mixing horror, fantasy, and westerns just gets my groove.

3. 2D Fighting Games (Sorta)

Okay, I definitely dug SF2 and Mortal Kombat as a kid, but when Tekken and Soul Blade hit arcades, I found my new thing. I still dipped the occasional toe in, but I was never any good. Then I played Street Fighter 3: Third Strike. Not when it came out, mind you, but last year. Finally, the mechanics actually clicked. For the first time, I could reliably pull off super moves. Now, I'm actually hooked on the more technical fighters, the ones made by Arc System Works and the like. I'll never be tournament grade, but I'm actually better at those than Street Fighter now. The 3D fighters are still my bread and butter (I need Soul Caliber VI, man) and the new MK's are the fighters I'm actually good at, but I'm looking forward to digging a lot deeper into the tricky stuff.

4. Anime/Manga

Another thing I had circled around for a long time, dipping my toe in once in a while. I read a little Alita as a teen, watched Akira and a few others, but never watched any anime TV other than Pokemon (which I still like a lot). I know which anime show hooked me, Fate: Zero, which had an awesome (if complicated) premise, but I don't remember how it hit my radar. Then, Cowboy Bebop (Firefly Mark I, basically) and Samurai Champloo, among many others. I'm a demi-Otaku now, and I'm thrilled.

As for manga, I'm not neck-deep or anything, but I am branching out. 

5. Non-Superhero Comics

Hey, at least I got there. Again, there was the occasional Sin City or some such that grabbed me, but it was basically "All tights, all the time" for my comics consumption, before I dropped them entirely for over a decade. Then I got Comixology and dove in headfirst. Lumberjanes and Giant Days are now two of my favorite funnybooks ever. So good.

6. Audiobooks

There are a few reasons for this one, the biggest being that, when I was young, most audiobooks were abridged, and tjhey were dictated more than performed. Also, when I was on the move I wanted music; if I wanted to read, I could sit my ass down and do so, thank you. Then I started working graveyard shifts, and audios started creeping into my diet. Now, anytime I'm playing a non-narrative game, I've got one playing in the background. I still love my paper copies, but they've become part of my literary life.

7. Social Media

Had no inclination until I heard about GoodReads. "Wait, I can geek out about books with like-minded lunatics? Score!" That got me used to the online culture in a friendlier way than, say, the YouTube comment section. When I left Denver this last time, Facebook was a must to keep in touch with some people, so I had to join the masses and become an online entity. Still, there is only one pic of me on the Interwebs and I have a super-generic name, so I don't deal with a whole lot of trouble.

There you go, proof that I am a late adopter more often than not. What can I say, I tend to stay in my lane.

It is said that a hero is only as good as their villain(s), and this goes double for those in capes. I was a True Believer growing up, but the Distinguished Competition always seemed to have an edge on the baddies, though Spidey and the X-Men did okay. There are some from both companies that matter to me, and even one from the Image of old. Here goes.

1. Mister Freeze - Batman

Granted, Victor Fries was a pointless thief with a thing for ice puns for long time, but Batman: The Animated Series  gave him one of the greatest, most tragic backstories of any comics character. Said story (experimented with cryo-suspension to save his wife, only for it all to literally blow up in his face) was then retconned into the funny-books because it just flat worked. True, they flubbed it in Batman and Robin, but is there anything that movie didn't screw up?

2. Kingpin - Various Marvel books

He's just a cunning, intelligent gangster with no powers who often rules the Big Apple underworld, and sometimes even the city's "legitimate" side, despite opposition from major players of every moral standing. Punisher, Spider-Man, Daredevil and many others have gone up against the big fella, but his genius plans and fighting prowess have ensured he always comes back.

3. Clown/Violator -  Spawn

Really the only memorable evildoer from Image's first go-round, this is basically the Joker given a Hellish make-over, a demon overseeing Spawn's work for Malebolgia whilst disguised as an utterly repulsive, well, clown. Except for when he's a gangly grey mess of horns and teeth. I like this one because of the design largely, but he was also much nastier than the demonic presences the Big Two ever presented. He felt like a legitimate denizen of Hell, and that's kind of a rare thing in comics.

4. The Lizard - Spider-Man

Another tragic character, Curt Connors experimented with lizard DNA to grow back a severed arm, only to become a giant sewer-dwelling alligator-ish beast. Yes, it's an amalgamation of Frankenstein and Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, but a respected scientist dooming himself and his family through his own self-pity and misdirected genius is just a good story.

5. Mr. Mxyzpytlk - Superman

A Fifth-dimensional imp who can do anything and decides to make life heck for Our Boy in Blue just for funsies, I fell for this one because of Gilbert Gottfried on the Nineties cartoon, but the print version is just as sublimely ridiculous.

6. Juggernaut - X-Men

Not particularly complex, he's just the Prof's bully of a step-brother who became unstoppable when he found a mystical ruby. But I like that about him. Magneto's characterization on the page always felt scattershot, the world-threatening mutants like Apocalypse were often unintentionally silly, the whole Summers saga was a mess, and then you get a mean-spirited brute who, at first, just wants to steal things and be a dick. He was refreshing to me.

7. Doctor Doom - Fantastic Four

Maybe he'll eventually be done well in the movies, but I'm not holding my breath. I like him for the opposite reasons of Juggernaut; he is a fleshed-out megalomaniac. I mean, eventually. He started out as just another despot looking for world domination, but things have gotten a bit muddier over the years. Between the tragedies of his upbringing, his genuinely benevolent and competent rule of Latveria, and his firm belief that his ruling the world is all that will save humanity in the future (and he may be right...) makes him much more complex without ever quite being sympathetic.

There are a fair few missing, obviously, but most I never really cared for. Joker was another one that was inconsistently written (in the comics) to the point I couldn't really get invested in him, while Two-Face had a great origin and backstory but it couldn't compare to Freeze. Catwoman is often an anti-hero more than a villain and Harley Quinn is cool, but so much of her past treatment has been distasteful. Poison Ivy may have snuck onto the list, though; not only is she relateable and sultry, but her support and love for Harley has been one of my favorite things in comics for years. The fact that her villainy is mostly subpar cost her. Magneto's muddled, the various Goblins are silly as often as sinister, and the Vulture didn't work for me until Keaton brought him to life a couple years back. So yeah, you'll probably disagree with me. Feel free to tell me why.

I am not ADHD or anything, but I sometimes see a shiny before I finish a book, even ones I like, and don't get back to it. Happens to most readers, I think. So here are a few, some I first opened years ago. All novels this time out, because collections and anthologies can be returned to at any time without issue (except reviewing).

1. Name of The Rose, Umberto Eco

This is ridiculous. I've been reading it, off and on, for about five years. It's long, dense, and translated, mostly. There are still chunks of Latin, as well as religious jargon and lore. But the prose is gorgeous, and the combination of books, monastic life, and murder keep bringing me back.

2. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry

There aren't a lot of 1,000 page Westerns out there, and this is probably the only one to ever win a Pulitzer. Beautifully written without being showy, but it takes a good while to get going. Still, I miss the characters.

3. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Okay, a lot of these are doorstops, and this is another with seriously dense, intricate prose. The Victorian England setting also ensures many of the well-to-do characters are stuffy and dry. Still, the magic theory and use of Faery, along with Norrell's cantankerousness, are big draws for me.

4. The Eight, Katherine Neville

Chess, computer programming, and DNA are the cornerstones of this one, and it is fascinating. The characters are a little dull sometimes, and there are some doldrums that set in, but the story is intriguing enough that I need to find my way back.

5. The Alchemaster's Apprentice, Walter Moers

One of Moers's Zamonia novels, this one about a cat-like creature being fattened up for it's magical lard by an evil genius and learning alchemy while trying to escape. Fun, but a little too cutesy sometimes. Still, the flat-out weirdness and nifty lead, as well as my love for the author, keep scratching at the back of my brain.

6. Brittle Innings, Michael Bishop

SF/Horror with a golem, kinda, playing baseball in the Forties. He is, of course, a power hitter, but also a great fielder. It sounds perfect for me, yeah? The rub comes from the ineffectual narrator and rape as a major plot point. I tend to avoid that. But the core concept is still awesome.

7. The Well of Ascension, Brandon Sanderson

This is a different kind of thing. The book is second in a popular series, and quite good. The magic systems are deep, the story clever and twisty, and the characters are almost all engaging. I didn't stop because of the book itself, or even because of a shiny. It's because I saw Sanderson in an interview and disliked him terribly. A pompous, superior and mean-spirited if that hour was anything to go by. Still, I believe you should separate the art from the artist in most cases. He hasn't done anything to except him from that, and I didn't stop reading Harlan Ellison or Piers Anthony because they were jerks, and the books really good, so I need to just get over it.

That's the list. What books are crying out for you to come back?

Bye!

First, let me apologize for my extended absence. I have no excuses.

This is my list for #BooktubeSFFBabbles for 3/4-3/17, favorite creatures from SF and Fantasy. Because of the BookTube origins, there will be a list of five from lit, but I'm also doing a list from other pop culture, because I can.

Top 5 SFF Pop Culture Creatures

1. Beholders,  Dungeons & Dragons

It's all eyes, mouth, and tentacle, blocking your magic while wrecking your day with its own. Highly intelligent, evil as can be, and really weird. Gotta love 'em.

2. Predator, Predator

Was debating between Predators and Xenomorphs, but Prometheus and Alien: Covenant made the choice pretty easy. It's a trophy hunter looking for worthy prey. The concept is basically "The Most Dangerous Game" FROM SPACE!!! And that rocks. Plus, the design is flat frickin' brilliant. Mandibles and dreadlocks? Who knew?

3. Mogwai/Gremlins, Gremlins

The rules, the referential humor, and the sheer viciousness lock these in. And then there's my boy Gizmo...

4. Tribbles, Star Trek

Silly, stupid, and adorable. A bear to clean up after, though.

5. Cat Bus, My Neighbor Totoro

The name says it all, and it is awesome. The totoros and soot sprites are really nifty, too.

And, the Lit List:

1. Foxes, SE Asian myth and folklore

Shut up, it counts. The inscrutable, alien tricksters that emerge during sun-showers and trap the unwary are, unlike many trickster legends, unbearably sad more often than mischievous. Not that such a thing resonates with me, mind you...

2. Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh

He's a chronically depressed, talking stuffed animal. If you don't think he counts, walk your happy ass home.

3. Lockheed, X-Men/Excalibur

Kitty Pryde's pet dragon. Not much more to say, really.

4. Spriggans, Witcher series and others

Like wood nymphs, except carnivorous and territorial. They're just cool.

5. The Librarian, Discworld

If only for the time he dangled from the grasp of a giant blonde woman. Ook, indeed.

Those are my list, silly as they are. Tell me yours.

First, let me apologize for my extended absence. I have no excuses.

This is my list for #BooktubeSFFBabbles for 3/4-3/17, favorite creatures from SF and Fantasy. Because of the BookTube origins, there will be a list of five from lit, but I'm also doing a list from other pop culture, because I can.

Top 5 SFF Pop Culture Creatures

1. Beholders,  Dungeons & Dragons

It's all eyes, mouth, and tentacle, blocking your magic while wrecking your day with its own. Highly intelligent, evil as can be, and really weird. Gotta love 'em.

2. Predator, Predator

Was debating between Predators and Xenomorphs, but Prometheus and Alien: Covenant made the choice pretty easy. It's a trophy hunter looking for worthy prey. The concept is basically "The Most Dangerous Game" FROM SPACE!!! And that rocks. Plus, the design is flat frickin' brilliant. Mandibles and dreadlocks? Who knew?

3. Mogwai/Gremlins, Gremlins

The rules, the referential humor, and the sheer viciousness lock these in. And then there's my boy Gizmo...

4. Tribbles, Star Trek

Silly, stupid, and adorable. A bear to clean up after, though.

5. Cat Bus, My Neighbor Totoro

The name says it all, and it is awesome. The totoros and soot sprites are really nifty, too.

And, the Lit List:

1. Foxes, SE Asian myth and folklore

Shut up, it counts. The inscrutable, alien tricksters that emerge during sun-showers and trap the unwary are, unlike many trickster legends, unbearably sad more often than mischievous. Not that such a thing resonates with me, mind you...

2. Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh

He's a chronically depressed, talking stuffed animal. If you don't think he counts, walk your happy ass home.

3. Lockheed, X-Men/Excalibur

Kitty Pryde's pet dragon. Not much more to say, really.

4. Spriggans, Witcher series and others

Like wood nymphs, except carnivorous and territorial. They're just cool.

5. The Librarian, Discworld

If only for the time he dangled from the grasp of a giant blonde woman. Ook, indeed.

Those are my list, silly as they are. Tell me yours.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a geek. Like many geeks, I love lists; reading them, making them, debating them or flat disagreeing with them, I love it all. As such, I have quite a few books that are, basically, "best of" lists. I love these because they point me at good stuff I haven't experienced yet.

It struck me that there are many different ways to compile such a book, each with it's own benefits and drawbacks. So, here are a few different ways of doing it, with examples.

1. Utterly Subjective, Single Author

Example:   The Great Movies - Roger Ebert,Mary Corliss  

This style is probably the simplest: You list your favorite examples of a thing and explain why. This is the style I employ on this blog, and the style Ebert employed in his Great Movies series.

Benefits: Ease of writing, pleasantness of experience, enthusiasm, easy to organize.

Drawbacks: No data to fall back on, personal exposure, not authoritative.

You don't have to watch, read, or listen to anything you don't want to, but people can attack you for your opinions (risky in the internet era). Still, it's a lot of fun to just gush about the stuff you love.

2. Attempted Objective, Single Author

Example:   Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels: an English-language selection, 1949-1984 - David Pringle  

Here, the author makes their best stab at an "official" list, compiling examples because of importance, influence, quality, or other criteria based on their own judgement.

Benefits: More comprehensive and authoritative, helpful creative/critical exercise.

Drawbacks: "Why this one and not...", exposure to works that one finds unpleasant, "important" works that don't hold up.

This kind of list is great for the author in two ways: They have to step outside of themselves, and it's a chance to dig into classics they haven't gotten around to (and any purchases are tax-deductible, because it's "research"). Still, they have to slog through some works they don't like, and will still be open to accusations of bias. Hell, they will be biased, no matter how hard they try to avoid it. This will also affect the passion in the writing. And they still don't have concrete data backing them up.

3. Subjective Take on Objective Data, Single Author

Example:    The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time - Martin Popoff  

Gather data from various polls, interviews or other outside sources, compile a ranking, and then express your opinion of the various works, their placement, etc.

Benefits: Opportunities for snark, exposure to new works, not having to dredge your own brain.

Drawbacks: Frustration, works you may find awful/offensive, disappointment when some of your favorites are low on the list or absent altogether.

This one is just too much work for me, although it would be interesting to, say, watch and review every Best Picture winner, in order. Watching Crash again would be a chore, though.

4. Utterly subjective, Multi-Author

   Horror: The 100 Best Books - Stephen Jones,Kim Newman  

Get a bunch of people to talk about their favorite works. What could possibly go wrong?

Benefits: Less writing, lots of discoveries, high enthusiasm.

Drawbacks: Logistical nightmare, missed deadlines, explaining the concept repeatedly.

Now I just need to find 100 people in the field who have enough time to write a piece, make sure there are no double-ups (two people picking the same subject), editing each piece, communicate with various agents/publishers, etc. If you prefer organizing to writing, not a bad choice, but keeping your ducks in a row can be a bear. Plus, there will be classics/"essentials" that no one picks, but you can blame your contributors for that.

5. Attempted Objective, Multi-Author

   Fantasy: The 100 Best Books - James Cawthorn,Michael Moorcock,James Cawthorne  

You and a cohort come up with a list of classics, then divide and conquer.

Benefits: Lessened workload, interesting conversations, a united front.

Drawbacks: Arguments, resentment.

Doing an SF list but hate Heinlein? You can have your friend write that piece while you review that Ellison collection. Great, but what happens if one of you has a personal crisis? The other has to step up, leading to a potentially unbalanced workload. And the hashing out of the actual list can be both fun and frustrating, while dealing with each other's criticism of your writing styles just might suck. Just kidding, it'll be fine!

6. Subjective Takes on Objective Data, Multi-Author

Example:    Thrillers: 100 Must-Reads - David Morrell,Hank Wagner  

Gather the pertinent data to compile a list, then get other people in the field to discuss their favorites from said list.

Benefits: Enthusiasm, less writing, hard data.

Drawbacks: Logistical issues, unpicked subjects.

Here, you have the same issues as #4, except you're backed up by data. But what if nobody really wants to write about something on the list? That falls to you, and can lead to some entries having all the verve of a high school book report.

Anyway, thanks for reading this list about books of lists.

I have been a fan of UF since I read the first Anita Blake novel, Guilty Pleasures, back when god was a baby and dirt was new. The balance of mystery, fantasy and horror was all I could hope for. Over the years, it has transformed from an outlying subgenre into a major force on the best-seller lists. I have embraced and discarded various series' over the decades, but these are the ones I still read.

1. Dresden Files - Jim Butcher

The current big daddy of UF, a #1 NYT best-seller and cultural phenomenon; it even spawned a (short-lived and mediocre) TV show, as well as a comics series. I've sung it's praises before, and will do so again. Good stuff!

Quick story: My mom knows Jim, so, when I was in the hospital with a collapsed lung, she got him to call and wish me well. He's a great guy. Unfortunately, I can't remember most of the conversation because the Dilaudid kicked in right after I answered the call. Opiates don't mess around, kids.

2. Nightside series - Simon R. Green

Got into this series because of Jim Butcher's blurb on the cover of the first book. This series is both darker and fluffier than the Dresden Files. Basically, there is a side of London where it's always after midnight, magic and mayhem are always on tap, and nothing is what it seems. It's a blast, with enough in-jokes to make any sf/f fanatic smile. Green's Ghost Finder and Secret History novels are also worth a look.

3. Iron Druid Chronicles - Kevin Hearne

On the mythical side of UF, you have a series about a 2,000 year-old Irish Druid who fights gods and vampires. A lot of fun, but there are some iffy gender politics, especially in the first couple of books.

4. Alex Verus series - Benedict Jacka

One of the more political UF series, this deals with the governance of mages in the UK as much as the adventures of Alex and his friends, especially in the later books. A little more dour than some of the other choices here, but still tons of fun.

5. Checquy series - Daniel O'Halloran

The only female-led series on this list (will explain in a bit), and even more political than the Verus books. The Checquy is basically the UK's magical Ministry, and the lead in book one, The Rook, has a leadership role in the administration. She appears in a more supporting role in book two, Stiletto, but the emphasis of that one is diplomacy. Great stuff, but a bit headier than most UF.

About the lack of female-led or, especially, female written UF on this list:

Laurell K. Hamilton may have introduced me to UF (hell, originated it), but I feel the Anita Blake books went off the rails circa Harlequin, to the point where I couldn't even enjoy her other series or revisit the earlier entries. I will always hold the author in high esteem (she also helped my mom early in her writing career), and will recommend her, especially if you want heavy doses of sex in your UF, but it's not my cuppa.

Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series is fun, but I got bored around book 5.

I jumped off the Mercy Thompson bandwagon after book 2; Mercy is a great, tough, amazing woman who, for reasons, always needs rescued. That pissed me off, but if you're willing to give that a bye, they're a lot of fun.

There's my two cents.

I set several goals for this year; this is my progress thus far.

Total books: 10/75

Am on track, but want to pick up speed.

Public domain titles: 1/12

Collections/anthologies: 1/10

...but I'm partly through three others, and will finish one tonight.

Award winners: 3/35

Need to jump back on this.

TBR challenge: 2/20

Running a little behind here.

In other words, I need to get it in gear!

These are the six best books I read (for the first time) last year.

  Soldier of the Mist - Gene Wolfe  

Combine the Greek pantheon with an amnesiac soldier trying to discover himself and you get one of my new favorite fantasy novels. Wolfe has a reputation for both beautiful prose and unreliable narrators; these are on full display here. This was the first novel I've read by Wolfe; it will not be the last.

  The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Liu, Ken (March 8, 2016) Hardcover - Ken Liu  

A brilliant collection of short stories, some magic realism, most SF. Tears through quite a few subgenres, including alternate history and cyberpunk. Themes of alienation, parenthood, and racism repeat throughout.

  700 Sundays - Billy Crystal  

A beautiful, and hilarious, remembrance about the author's parents, especially his father. There are a few painful moments, but also a lot of laughs.

  The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead  

The first Pulitzer-winning novel I've read, this is a fantastic piece of magical realism / speculative fiction, with an emphasis on racial prejudice. This book imagines the Underground Railroad as a literal train route, and we follow an escaped slave on the various legs of her trip. Through various means, Whitehead examines many historical crimes against Black Americans, including several that took place well after slavery. How the author does this should be discovered through the reading; this book is magic.

  The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies - John Langan  

One of the best horror collections I've read in years. Many of these stories are post-modern in their approach to horror, using the genre's themes and tropes (as well as formal experimentation) to examine it. Good stuff.

  Whip Hand - Dick Francis  

A great suspense/mystery novel that centers around horse-racing. It also deals with grief, confidence, and despair. Loved it.

I would highly recommend these books to anyone; they're all amazing.

Here are my preliminary reading goals for 2018, including a few challenges I'm undertaking.

Challenges:

75 Books Total

20 TBR Books

For this, books that are easily available (owned, family/friend, or IN local library), that are already on my TBR.

12 Public Domain Books

So, hope to hit the classics. Have a few on my shelves, too.

10 Collections/Anthologies

Love short stories, and already have a bunch on my shelves

35 Award Winners Challenge

My own challenge: Read a winner of a big award from each year of my life. Awards include lifetime achievement, in which case any of that author's works would count for the year awarded. Have started a list for this, which includes a few from the TBR and Collections challenges.

Books can be used to complete multiple challenges, which should make this more manageable.

Goals

Read a wider variety, with an emphasis on classic and/or highbrow fiction, even within genre.

Maintain this blog.

Interact more on GR.

Write more.

So, what are your goals?

As you've probably guessed, this year sucked for me. That was true for my reading (and book buying) as much as my life as a whole. So I didn't clear a lot of my reading goals.

Let's just rip the band-aid off, shall we?

TBR List

0/7

Not one of these got read, and I lost one of them in the various troubles I've had. Will replace it, in time

7 "Gotta Get" Books

4/7

Much better, this one. Attempted Cuckoo's Calling, DNF'd as I found it boring. Read Assassin's Apprentice and it's sequel, and enjoyed them. Bought Tigana, though I have yet to read it. Read and loved Wide Carniverous Sky, got it from the library. Bought, and then lost, View From the Cheap Seats. Will replace it, eventually.

Total Books Read

92/75

Cleared it!

TBR Clearance

16/25

Nope! To be fair, I spent five months separated from most of my books, which seriously dented my progress.

Follow-Through

Again, no, but I get a pass on this one. Stress levels were just too high, you know?

High-Brow

Did read a few more literary works, but I certainly didn't up my ratio. Still, most of the ones I read made my Best-of list (coming soon).

Conclusion

I did the best I could, all things considered. The deck was stacked in favor of the house, and the house won. Still, I was able to walk away from the table with a few shreds of dignity.