Ranking the Books I Read in 2024 - The Middle Bit

Continuing on with my 2024 ranking. You can expect the top ten tomorrow! #ranking #2024

[vintagesf]

Reading ‘The Man Who Awoke’ right now (thanks to you!). Just into the second of five futures. Will finish this weekend. Glad you loved ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’. Here’s to good reading in 2025!

[thekeywitness]

Great selection. I can’t wait to see the top ten.

[kufujitsu]

I've read many "non-Dune" books by Frank Herbert as well, & all of them were entertaining, & with great descriptions as you said.
I still haven't read Dune, sadly. I think what puts me off is the fact that I've already seen two movie versions of the novel. Maybe one day I'll finally read

[michaelwest]

Can't wait to the final countdown...

[sfwordsofwonder]

Sounds like a crazy ride so far, excited to see the top 10.

[CptSamelsSigils]

Sword of the Lictor is even better. Get pumped! Also as a random aside, there’s a rock song about Shadow of the Torturer. It’s called Terminus Est by Julia Ecklar. I know you’ve said you’re into music, too.

[philbc]

You'll be pleased to know that JG Ballard has received a lot of academic commentary here in England, and does exert a presence in popular culture. One of the most consequential writers in the latter half of the 20th century.

[sethball]

Discussion of Concrete Island…followed by The Man Who Awoke. Two big favourites of mine. Okay, I’m subscribed! Looking forward to the Top Ten.

[marsrock]

"Hallucinogenic drugs"... seems to be a theme emerging here...

[secretfirebooks]

"Crazy space drug cats who glow green" has got to be the most sci-fi thing I've ever heard.

[t.e.nickerson]

Yes, you have to finish Ghost Story. The further you get into it, the more he opens up the concept of the ghost, which isn't really what you think it is here. The book does touch on some issues of abuse (as a lot of his stories do), though not in that first part. But Straub is just a Class-A writer who knows how to build dread perfectly. I love King too but I think Straub was a true genius of slow-burn suspense and horror. This book, Floating Dragon, Shadowland, the Blue Rose stuff... what an underappreciated writer.

[asdfhjklacew]

Thanks for the content as always! Can't wait to see how you like the rest of Book of the New Sun. I'm at the same spot as you!! Happy new year!

[kufujitsu]

Yeah, Julia was a great read, creepy as heck - & it led me to Peter Straub's other supernatural books - such as Shadowland, which was especially memorable.
Ghost Story is not quite as accessible as Shadowland, because it is told in a non-linear style - but it's still worthwhile if you're prepared to commit to it. Just take notes on your pad whenever the author jumps to another time-zone, so that you won't forget it when he goes back to it - that's what I did, & it improved my enjoyment of it immensely. And his prose is as good as John Wyndham's - & is so absorbing once you get a feel for it.

[GrammaticusBooks]

Great stuff Liminal! I'm currently reading This Immortal, about 50 pages in, and good point about how the characters are introduced. I'm looking forward to finishing this one up. (I forgot about Color out of Space!!!!)

[psychbookman]

I DNF'd Le Guin too...Left Hand of Darkness...I really wanted to like it...but it was a slog...

[giuseppepicciariello]

Good stuff! If you are looking for something really wild and over the top, go for "Mindswap" by Robert Sheckley... Memorable!

Greetings from Italy!

Giuseppe