Annual list of the novels, audio books, graphic novels, and trades I read—as I go.

Broken hearts drive ex-lovers back into each other’s lives for one terrifying night along the stormy edges of Galveston. While love may not die, the same cannot be said about the people closest to Charlie Book in this creepy modern-day horror tail.

Drome puts the “graphic” in graphic novel. Lonergan is known for his dynamic, naturalist figure work, fantastical animals, and groundbreaking page layouts. Here he combines all of this into a universal creation myth that tips it’s cap to the printed form..

This gritty and near-feral execution of the dark knight, set in a painfully prescient future dystopia, grabs you and holds tight—sharing each painful blow—till the bone-scraped end. A masterful work to live in my hall of fame.

An entirely new beginning in a different, but familiar world from a grim-dark standout. Abercrombie re-sculpts a medieval—papal—landscape with history, gender roles, elves, magic, and monsters. An adventure, that leans on the joke more than the sword.

Third and final (?) book in this magical-jambalaya fantasy series. Bendis pushes his voice with a new pallet of characters and concepts, while Araújo grounds this wild world in masterful art with familiar touches. Golden age stuff.

Back on the Discworld, with yet another errant king-to-be, atrophied metropolitan enforcement agencies, power-hungry throne obsessors, a prodigious great ape, and a range of dragons. Always unexpected, and always fun.

A behemoth of a work to contend with the equally titanic career of Robert Moses. Caro is a master of translating tireless research in a mind-numbing topic into a captivating tale that reshaped New York City, New York State, and a country

Maybe the best collection of Hemingway’s short works? So many pieces of his prose from these stores have seeded many subsequent works in words and images. So much craft-worthy work in this slim book.

Assassin princes, evil high priests, noble ghosts, ancient rites, duty, and misplaced romance are only a few of this wild time and space-splitting book.

Alternate history, science fiction story focused on a special group of British public school students and their young adult years, as they navigate their lot in life and confront a grim end with unexpected—and un hope.

Alternate history detective thriller fans rejoice in this ‘50s Cold War police tale, filled with backside of Hollywood glamour, and deadly intent. If you thought McCarthyism and the Black list was bad, it’s far worse here.

One of the foundations of this long-running spy/thriller/mystery series. A Cold War game of who’s got who, that feels as stable as trampoline balanced on champagne glass towers. Tight and unforgiving.

Rarely does death, and the threat of feel so blithe, but in this riverside English town, a killer foolishly plied their grim trade within eyeshot of local curiosity, and puzzle creator, Judith Potts. A cup of tea is required. Okay, maybe a splash of whisky too.

A rough tale filled with grim characters, unable, or unwilling to take accountability for their misdeeds. This makes for a messy world, until it turns deadly. We stumble through this Highsmith grandchild of a book to a sobering conclusion.

Small-village murder mystery that catches the attention of George Smiley, much to the chagrin of the perpetrator. Great story evolution, and variety of characters fill this quick mystery tale.

A textural visual treat from a visionary art team coupled with one of the rising writing stars of the comic biz. If only there were more pages to tell more of the character’s story, and less of the set-piece plot.

More Discworld loveliness, that reveals a wider corner of a past character and their practical non-involvement in the shaping of lands and monarchies. A joy to read.

What feels like a padded and opportunistic, gang-tackled article turned “book” on a topic that is sure to evolve we’ll beyond the unsubstantiated predictions of an easy future through magical technology.

A multi-faceted tale centered on the extremes families go to protect the next generation. Of course they never count on running into the protagonist of this Southern Californian neo-noir detective series.

A beautiful, and costly reckoning with the unknowns of culture, greed, love, and family, as a young man journeys further than he could imagine in order to live a simple life with horses.

As a long time lover of the film, I dove into this book. This story covers so many taboo subjects, especially for the time, yet feels fresh. The themes of existentialism, transference, and obsession haunt every page. A brilliant debut.

Continuing the audio re-read of my favorite book(s), and the Andy Serkis narration artfully melds the splendor of the prose with the familiar accents of the film actors. These are not to be missed by fans of the books or films.

The third book in the original Foundation series. Many bits and pieces of these books pepper the science fiction landscape of these last sixty years. Great ideas, but still I struggle to develop connections to the characters.

An English spy novel that replaces the luxury world of the Double-O’s with an office full of agents and their demons waiting out their careers in purgatory. But when someone takes advantage of their lowly station, they push back.

"As the Discworld lumbers through the cosmos, the odds continue to work for AND against it’s inhabitants, none more so for poor Rincewind. Perpetually [hilariously] oblivious to his path toward a peaceful life.
Onward with the series!"

The first solo novel by the comic book superstar, birthed from the eponymous ‘90s—low-budget but charming—television series. For aspiring writers, it’s good to see this unpolished work. Nuff said.

The beginning of the author’s long-running literary relationship with his metamorphic protagonist, George Smiley. Le Carré blends the shadowy thrill of a mystery into the Cold War spy genre.