There was a smorgasbord of science fiction in 2010. There was a bleak, but awesome winter, a strong spring, a thrilling summertime and a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs autumn. Looking back, this was one of the best year’s for science-fiction fans since I started writing these lists, and limiting this one to just five books was tough (even after cheating a bit — see #4). Also, it apparently helps if your name was “Ian” or some derivation thereof. Here we go:
5. GEOSYNCHRON by David Louis Edelman
Edelman’s “Jump 225″ trilogy came to an end in 2010, and this might be the best book of the series. The density of the universe he created for these books is such that getting into one after a decent amount of time away from the series requires the use of GEOSYNCHRON’s excellent appendices. It’s a good thing, then, that the appendices are put together just as skillfully as the main story.
Readers who get their brains properly locked into place can expect a book with lots more of everything that the first two books had: more action, more scheming, more crazy-awesome speculation. The series’ “hero,” an uber-capitalist named Natch, finally finds out what he really wants, and comes to understand what he really deserves, while the world goes nuts around him.
4. BLACKOUT and ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis
These books occupy one slot on the list because: a) It’s really one continuous story (there’s just a smidge of resolution at the end of BLACKOUT, but it’s mostly cliffhanger. In fact, anyone who digs the book should buy ALL CLEAR before they finish BLACKOUT to avoid said hanging), and b) I’m already leaving too many good books off the list as it is.
Willis makes a triumphant return to the time-traveling-historians mythos that she had great success with in the 1990s with DOOMSDAY BOOK and TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG. This time, three historians go on three separate research assignments amid World War II in England. Things don’t quite go as planned, and as they try to puzzle out what’s going on, they also have to deal with the Blitz, German rocket attacks, and some particularly bothersome street urchins.
Willis’ research provides a very real (or at least real-seeming) window into England during wartime, and while the concept of time-travelers stuck in the past is hardly new, Willis is never content to fall back on temporal clichés. The historians begin to question the nature of time travel and the rules that they thought ruled their profession, and this uncertainty adds a layer of delicious tension to the mix.
3. SURFACE DETAIL by Iain M. Banks
This is the ninth novel set in Banks’ “Culture” universe, and, like most of the others, it’s as good a place to start as any. There are references to previous events (and a couple of Easter eggs for fans), but it stands alone quite well. The Big Theme this time is life after death, both on a micro level (a slave is killed, comes back to life, and thirsts for revenge) and a macro level (societies wage a virtual war over the existence of virtual Hells that torment the digitized dead for what seems to be eternity).
SURFACE DETAIL is one of the better “Culture” books — a lot of them are so dense up front that it takes some effort to get really invested in them — but SURFACE DETAIL kicks things off with a bang, and it’s off to the races from there. Banks’ usual blend of drama and humor is evident, as is his ability to make even jaded readers get emotionally invested in the plights of fairly ridiculous fictional characters. Also, there’s an awesome space battle.
2. BITTER SEEDS by Ian Tregillis
Where did this come from? Definitely the biggest science-fiction surprise of 2010, BITTER SEEDS has the sinister British magic of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL; the crazed, abused superheroes of some of Warren Ellis’ best work; and a slick World War II vibe straight from INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. Tregillis pulled some sort of killer rabbit out of the hat with this one.
In an alternate World War II in which the Germans have engineered a team of mentally unstable super soldiers that they use to plow through the Ardennes and wreak general havoc, the Brits rediscover ancient magic to turn the tide. But as we all know, sinister British magic always comes with a price. This is the only book I read cover to cover in one sitting this year, and if it weren’t for the genius of the year’s top book, SEEDS would definitely sit in the top spot.
1. THE DERVISH HOUSE by Ian McDonald
McDonald’s writing improves with each outing, and while this can sometimes mean that we don’t get giant doorstops like RIVER OF GODS, what THE DERVISH HOUSE lacks in girth it more than compensates for in worth. McDonald’s culture radar has led him to Turkey, from whence he shares with us all his dreams and visions of a futuristic Istanbul. Tightly plotted, superbly characterized, and wonderfully imaginative, McDonald has capped off an epic five-year span of books (encompassing RIVER OF GODS, BRASYL and THE DERVISH HOUSE) that will be tough for any author to top.
Best Cover Artist
Stephan Martiniere
Martiniere wins this one hands down. Not only did he do awesome work on THE DERVISH HOUSE and GEOSYNCHRON, but he came up with a fantastic cover for the U.S. printing of ARES EXPRESS and much, much more. As a side note, did you know that he also “directed hundreds of episodes of WHERE’S WALDO and DENNIS THE MENACE,” according to Wikipedia? He’s one bad-ass, jack-of-all-trades mofo.
Honorable Mention
SLEEPLESS by Charlie Huston
Huston’s one of my favorites, but of course, he wrote a science-fiction novel in a year already jam-packed with greatness. SLEEPLESS is very worth it, however, especially if you feel like you’re not pessimistic enough.
Not Included Because I Haven’t Finished Reading It Yet, But It’s Pretty Great So Far
VERSION 43 by Philip Palmer
This is a really cool noirish police procedural about a cyborg cop and a race of unstoppable sand rats. Or so I assume — I’m only up to page 200. It’s good so far, though; it’s got this kind of Heinlein vibe to the dialogue.
Not Included Because It’s Not Science Fiction
ZERO HISTORY by William Gibson
It’s not science fiction. Put it on whatever shelf you want, and explain to me how reality is the same as sci-fi nowadays as much as you want, but it’s not. It is a good book, though. More of a techno thriller. Sort of hyper-real and focusing on fashion and the secret world of really rich people and clothes that only super-cool or super-rich people can have. —Ryun Patterson
Related posts:
- 10 Books I Can’t Wait for in 2010
- 5 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2008
- 5 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2007
- Prime Books announces BEST OF genre anthologies
- 5 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2006
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the list. Always great to have recommendations for quality sci-fi reads, as it’s a genre I could easily find myself swamped in looking for good books.
And with the acute encephalitis that accompanies your rabies, I would assume that you need to get to these books quickly! Good luck! Rest in Peace!
Just got the download for BITTER SEEDS from iBooks. Bought it based on the comparison to JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL – one of my top 5 faves of all time.
You should dig it. There’s definitely more “action” in BITTER SEEDS, but the sort of foreboding unease that I liked about JONATHAN STRANGE is definitely present. I read BITTER SEEDS on my iPad, and totally neglected the rest of my life for about 24 hours.
Wow, I’ve really got to pay more attention to current SF; I had no idea Banks, Gibson, and McDonald all put out books this year! Thanks for the list.
Thanks. If you missed any other stuff in 2010, here are the important parts:
The Kasubi tombs, Uganda’s only cultural World Heritage Site, were destroyed by a fire; the president of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, died in airplane crashes in Russia; South African footballer Oscar Ntwagae died; and the beloved entertainer Charo celebrated her 59th birthday.
Charo’s only 59? That may the best sci-fi of the year.
She turns “60″ on Jan. 15, and if I remember correctly, her brain is put into a new body every 60 years. It might be 70.
I don’t know what the Gibson was about either but I really loved it
I thought it was good, but the plot seemed to be an excuse for Gibson to write awesome sentences. His use of words is better than ever, and the characters are spectacular, but if you actually look at the story itself, there’s not much there.
Something that may only interest me: three of your top five are named “Ian” (or some variation thereof).
Thanks for starting my “2011 To Read” list!
I forgive you, Steve, for not reading the first paragraph and skipping right to the picks–I do that myself all the time.
Also, aren’t you glad we didn’t do this as a super-annoying slideshow where you have to refresh the page for each item? That might be the worst innovation in search engine optimization-gaming and clickthrough scamming ever.
Martiniere is an amazing artist, isn’t he? Love his work. His cover for Desolation Road is what made me pick it up last year only to discover a new favorite author. I have Ares Express waiting for me on my bookshelf now.
I read Fire Watch a few months back, the award-winning short story that Willis that is set in the same universe as Blackout and All Clear and I loved it and cannot wait to read both of these books sometime this year. Glad to hear that you enjoyed them.
Man, I was heavy into Connie Willis’ time travel stuff back in the ’90s (I got a lot of her books in my first orders from Amazon.com, back when the top 10 DVDs were sold at half price), and if you haven’t read DOOMSDAY BOOK or TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG, read those before you read the new ones–they’re equally good, although I’ve noticed that some people don’t care for the comedy-of-manners literary style of TSNOTD. I think it’s great.
RE: Martiniere: Have you checked out his website? People with more discretionary income (and perhaps a hidden room for hanging sci-fi art prints) should head over to http://www.martiniere.com/ and buy some–the art for BRASYL and CYBERABAD DAYS, among many, many others (and a great SNOW CRASH print) is available for purchase in a variety of sizes, though I could never buy a small one without longing for the huge, limited-edition, high-end prints. I think it’s a goddamn shame that a talent like his isn’t recognized as much as it should be.