mikekn

Since I'm not going to finish either of the two books I'm working on in the next few days I'll put this up now.

2011 was almost identical to 2010 as far as reading went. Fewer physical books got read, but a few more audio books made up the difference. The big problem is that my "to read" list went up by 50(!) books. A good chunk of that is audio books that I picked up through my Audible membership (now canceled). The rest came in via book sales and picking up the latest from my usual authors.

43 books finished
17 physical books
26 audio books
808 books left to read

I am still using LibraryThing for my book catalog, but I also signed up with Goodreads. I figured I'd check out the features there and see what it is like. There I'm only tracking the fiction I read and not worrying about the rest.

( The 2011 list ) 

42. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline *

Set in the not too distant future, where the planet is going to pot and most folks spend all their time in the virtual world of the Oasis. This is the story of one boy and his quest to discover and unlock an easter egg left by the creator of the Oasis, thus earning himself vast wealth and control of the company which runs the Oasis. Chock full of 80s references (maybe a little too full at times) it made for a fun and engaging read.
 

39. The Dying Earth - Jack Vance *

With his superous
descriptions and fancimus
style of writing prose
I bet that Jack Vance would have
no problems writing tankas.
 

35. A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin *

I finished listening to this a week or so ago, just never got around to writing it up. This book only covers a few of the characters we are following in the previous books. The afterward explains that the book got too larger so only the stories from half the characters were put in. Fortunately for me I didn't need to wait 5 years between this book and the next one.

32. Cursor's Fury - Jim Butcher

Finished book three of the Codex Alera series. Loving this series, but I found it mixing with Game of Thrones. Both follow multiple characters across a world filled with war and politics. They have different feels to them, and different focuses, but I kept expecting character from one to appear in the other :)
 

30. Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan

A very well done cyberpunk detective novel. The main tech they have is the ability to digitize people and load them into different bodies (sleeves). Punishment for crimes is being put into storage for a number of months or years (while your body may or may not get rented out). This is book one in a series, though they may all be stand alone stories.

27. King Rat - China Mieville

King Rat is an early work (first?) of China Mieville, and just as interesting/weird as his other works. This one takes place in London, but on the inner edges (think Neverwhere). The Pied Piper has returned and is on the hunt for the King Rat.

25. Academ's Fury - Jim Butcher

Book two in Jim Butcher's other big series. This book picks up several months after the end of book one. Everything I like about the Dresden books (good characters, well thought out world and magic, leveling challenges as the characters grow) without me getting annoyed at Dresden being (in my mind) an idiot :) Time to track down a copy of book three.

23. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Final book in the Hunger Games. The revolution is under way, but it will bring about the changes for which the Districts hope? Light read.

24. Fuzzy Nation - John Scalzi *

I read "Little Fuzzy" (as well as all the other Fuzzy books) many years ago, so I was very curious to see what Scalzi would do with a "reboot". For my tastes, he knocked this one out of the park - good characterization (while not always nice characters), great humor, and a great story. The story only shares a few things in common with the original, but I think it is much better then a retelling of the same story with updated tech and modern sensibilities. As an added bonus, this audio book version was read by Wil Wheaton. And for a bonus bonus, they also included an audio version of "Little Fuzzy" (different reader though) so I'm re"reading" that one now.
 

21. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Book two of the Hunger Games sends our heroes on a victory tour of the districts and the Capital. A simple world, with a hard to swallow premises, but good characters and a good story nonetheless.
 

18. With a Little Help - Cory Doctorow *

This self published short story collection also serves as an experiment in publishing methods. The book is available in a variety of formats for a range of prices. The most expensive "edition" was actually commissioning a new story for the volume (the rest of the stories have been printed else where in the past). Overall a very nice collection, full of the sort of neat ideas I've come to expect from Doctorow. (Side note: Cory Doctorow will be the Guest of Honor at Philcon this year)
 

16. Indigara - Tanith Lee *

Short young adult SF novel. Not bad but not great.