This year – aside from all the great books I read as a judge for the World Fantasy Awards, and specifically not including any of them, here is my 2016 list of wonderful books. (Alphabetical by author.)
A God in Ruins, Kate Atkinson.
- Deep and subtle characterizations
- Profound insights
- Plot pacing and through line.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven, Chris Cleave
- Evocation of WW2 London
- Stakes
- Deft and deep writing
A Green and Ancient Light, Frederic S. Durbin
- Intensely evocative writing
- Tender coming of age story
- Characters and relationships
How It All Began, Penelope Lively
- Wry and witty writing
- Twists and turns of plot
- Characters
The Red, Linda Nagata
- Military SF with heart
- Memorable near future milieu
- Superb balance of action and characters
Unquiet Land, Sharon Shinn
- Lovely ensemble casting
- Smoothly flawless prose
- Addictive 5th book in series