So I’ll write up a Year in Writing a little later. But having just completed my annual Goodreads challenge I figured I’d highlight some of my favorite reads of the year. In all I read 45 books (my target) this year. A bit more since I’m reading a friend’s manuscript right now and that doesn’t get logged into GR. This is just a highlight real. I’m not a book blogger. With very very few exceptions, everything I read this year I enjoyed.
This was a late-year read. I can’t recommend this book enough if you’re at all curious about how our society (America but also the human race as a whole) can get past our current capitalist dystopia.
The saddest part of this book is just how close we’ve come more than once to breaking free of our self imposed dystopian lifestyle only to just miss it.
I’ve been a proponent of UBI in particular for a long time, so the studies cited were great to learn about. We could do it, right now. There’d even still be money left for the pentagon to waste.
The author puts a lot of dense material into a downright enjoyable format. At no point did I feel like I was slogging through theory or formula mundanity.
My local indie bookstore paired with the author and publisher to give out copies of this book. I walked down for a copy. I also bought the ebook version, because, well the print on the book is TINY!
Anyhow. If you’re at all curious (and you really should be) about some of the crap Amazon does, take a look. It’s a fun read, written by the owner of an indie bookstore.
Reading this definitely helped nudge me to shopping elsewhere whenever I can.
The reality is. Amazon isn’t our friend, and isn’t good for anyone but Amazon.
Hunters: Spinward Fringe Broadcast 16.
The Spinward Fringe series is one of my all-time favorites. It’s long-running, enjoyable, packed with characters I really like.
I stumbled on to this series ages ago when self-publishing on the Kindle was a bit newer.
I’m really glad he’s taken his work wide and hope it’s working out well. If you’re a space opera fan, check this series out.
Ep.#1 – “Aurora: EV-01” (The Frontiers Saga – Part 3: Fringe Worlds).
Another of my favorite long-running space opera series. Some entries are slower-paced than others, but overall I still very much enjoy each entry.
I wish Ryk would take his work wide, I hate having to buy on amazon and convert it to a Kobo usable file. But such is life and I’ll support him as best I can.
This series is now… 31 books long. As a writer, I can only hope to create a universe as rich as his. As a reader that LOVES series, I hope he never runs out of adventures for these characters.
Heir to the Empire (Original Thrawn Trilogy).
This was a re-read. I read the entire trilogy this year. I’ve read the trilogy a few times, and was due. I’ll be honest I haven’t read the new “Non-legends” Thrawn trilogy, simply because I like this Thrawn and am not interested in a version of him that isn’t this.
Every time I read this trilogy I think what a missed opportunity for Disney/Lucas in not using this trilogy either wholly or as the basis of their new trilogy of movies.
This series will always for me, be the canon of what happened next after Return of the Jedi.
There are so many more, forty, to be exact but writing something about each one… sounds exhausting. I hope you enjoyed the books you read this year, and met whatever goal you set for yourself.
Onward to reading in 2022!
