{"id":12492,"date":"2019-01-01T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2019-01-01T16:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=12492"},"modified":"2019-01-01T12:02:53","modified_gmt":"2019-01-01T19:02:53","slug":"books-2018-is-this-the-last-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=12492","title":{"rendered":"Books 2018\u2014Is this the last year?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Books I have read \u2014 2018<\/h3>\n

Well it look like this is the seventh year I have been recording my ‘books read.’ One of the things I have noticed is that I am actually rushing through books occasionally or choosing to not read some of the longer 500+ page books because they might affect my count\u2014seems we humans can become competitive with anything, even counting books. So I am seriously considering giving up the counting. On the other hand, as you will see, I blew my previous numbers out of the water so…who knows what 2019 holds except, obviously, more books.<\/p>\n

So without further ado, here are the books of 2018:<\/p>\n

January<\/h4>\n

Issola<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2001)
\nVlad Taltos<\/em> Book 9 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Dzur<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2006)
\nVlad Taltos<\/em> Book 10 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Jhegaala<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2008)
\nVlad Taltos<\/em> Book 11 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Iorich<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2010)
\nVlad Taltos<\/em> Book 12 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Tiassa<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2011)
\nVlad Taltos<\/em> Book 13 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Hawk<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2014)
\nVlad Taltos<\/em> Book 14 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

First Watch<\/em><\/strong> Dale Lucas (2017)
\nThe Fifth Ward<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Fortune’s Pawn<\/em><\/strong> Rachel Bach (2013)
\nParadox<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Honor’s Knight<\/em><\/strong> Rachel Bach (2014)
\nParadox<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Heaven’s Queen<\/em><\/strong> Rachel Bach (2014)
\nParadox<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Oath of Swords<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1995)
\nWar God<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The War God’s Own<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1998)
\nWar God<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Wind Rider’s Oath<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2004)
\nWar God<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

February<\/h4>\n

War Maid’s Choice<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2012)
\nWar God<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

An Oblique Approach<\/em><\/strong> David Drake & Eric Flint (1998)
\nBelisarious<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court<\/em><\/strong> Mark Twain (1889)
\n– audiobook; reread<\/p>\n

In the Heart of Darkness<\/em><\/strong> David Drake & Eric Flint (1998)
\nBelisarious<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Time Machine<\/em><\/strong> H.G Wells (1895)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Just So Stories<\/em><\/strong> Rudyard Kipling (1902)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Destiny’s Shield<\/em><\/strong> David Drake & Eric Flint (1999)
\nBelisarious<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Fortune’s Stroke<\/em><\/strong> David Drake & Eric Flint (2000)
\nBelisarious<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Hounds of Baskerville<\/em><\/strong> Arthur Conan Doyle (1902)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

The Tide of Victory<\/em><\/strong> David Drake & Eric Flint (2001)
\nBelisarious<\/em> Book 5 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Happy Prince and Other Tales<\/em><\/strong> Oscar Wilde (1888)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

March<\/h4>\n

The Dance of Time<\/em><\/strong> David Drake & Eric Flint (2006)
\nBelisarious<\/em> Book 6 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Killing Gravity<\/em><\/strong> Corey J. White (2017)
\nVoidwitch Saga<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Assassin’s Fate<\/em><\/strong> Robin Hobb (2017)
\nThe Fitz and The Fool Trilogy<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Valor’s Choice<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2000)
\nConfederation<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Better Part of Valor<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2002)
\nConfederation<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Heart of Valor<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2007)
\nConfederation<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Valor’s Trial<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2008)
\nConfederation<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Truth of Valor<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2010)
\nConfederation<\/em> Book 5 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

An Ancient Peace<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2015)
\nPeacekeepers<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

April<\/h4>\n

An Peace Divided<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2017)
\nPeacekeepers<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Good Guys<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2018)
\n– ebook;<\/p>\n

Karen Memory<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Bear (2015)
\nKaren Memory<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Stone Mad<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Bear (2018)
\nKaren Memory<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

A Call to Duty<\/em><\/strong> David Weber, Timothy Zahn (2014)
\nManticore Ascendant<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

A Call to Arms<\/em><\/strong> David Weber, Timothy Zahn (2015)
\nManticore Ascendant<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

A Call to Vengeance<\/em><\/strong> David Weber, Timothy Zahn, Thomas Pope (2018)
\nManticore Ascendant<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Neogenesis<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (2017)
\nLiaden<\/em> Book 21 – ebook;<\/p>\n

May<\/h4>\n

Wizard’s Bane<\/em><\/strong> Rick Cook (1989)
\nWiz Biz<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Wizardry Compiled<\/em><\/strong> Rick Cook (1989)
\nWiz Biz<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Wizardry Cursed<\/em><\/strong> Rick Cook (1991)
\nWiz Biz<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Wizardry Consulted<\/em><\/strong> Rick Cook (1995)
\nWiz Biz<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Picture of Dorian Gray<\/em><\/strong> Oscar Wilde (1891)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Wizardry Quested<\/em><\/strong> Rick Cook (1996)
\nWiz Biz<\/em> Book 5 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Three Parts Dead<\/em><\/strong> Max Gladstone (2012)
\nThe Craft Sequence<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Two Serpents Rise<\/em><\/strong> Max Gladstone (2013)
\nThe Craft Sequence<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Full Fathom Five<\/em><\/strong> Max Gladstone (2014)
\nThe Craft Sequence<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Last First Snow<\/em><\/strong> Max Gladstone (2015)
\nThe Craft Sequence<\/em> Book 4 – ebook;<\/p>\n

June<\/h4>\n

Four Roads Cross<\/em><\/strong> Max Gladstone (2016)
\nThe Craft Sequence<\/em> Book 5 – ebook;<\/p>\n

All Systems Red<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2017)
\nMurderbot Diaries<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Void Black Shadow<\/em><\/strong> James Corey (2018)
\nVoid Witch<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Ruin of Angels<\/em><\/strong> Max Gladstone (2017)
\nThe Craft Sequence<\/em> Book 6 – ebook;<\/p>\n

On Basilisk Station<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1992)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Honor of the Queen<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1993)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Short Victorious War<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1994)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Field of Dishonor<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1994)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Flag in Exile<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1995)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 5 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Honor Among Enemies<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1996)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 6 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

In Enemy Hands<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1997)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 7 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

July<\/h4>\n

Echoes of Honor<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1998)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 8 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Ashes of Victory<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2000)
\nHonor Harrington<\/em> Book 9 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Prisoner of Limnos<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2017)
\nPenric & Desedmona<\/em> Book 6 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Wind in the Willows<\/em><\/strong> Kenneth Grahame (1908)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Points of Impact<\/em><\/strong> Markos Kloos (2018)
\nFrontlines<\/em> Book 6 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Kidnapped<\/em><\/strong> Robert Louis Stephenson (1886)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Too Like the Lightning<\/em><\/strong> Ada Palmer (2016)
\nTerra Ignota<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland<\/em><\/strong> Lewis Carrol (1865)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Kushiel’s Dart<\/em><\/strong> Jacqueline Carey (2001)
\nKushiel’s Legacy<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Northanger Abbey<\/em><\/strong> Jane Austen (1817)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Major Barbara<\/em><\/strong> George Bernard Shaw (1907)
\n– audiobook; reread<\/p>\n

August<\/h4>\n

The Quantum Thief<\/em><\/strong> Hannu Rajaniemi (2011)
\nJean le Flambeur<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Shadow of a Torturer<\/em><\/strong> Gene Wolfe (1980)
\nThe Book of the New Sun<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Claw of the Conciliator<\/em><\/strong> Gene Wolfe (1981)
\nThe Book of the New Sun<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Black Company<\/em><\/strong> Glen Cook (1984)
\nThe Black Company<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Three Musketeers<\/em><\/strong> Alexandre Dumas (1844)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

**Shadows Linger<\/em> Glen Cook (1984)
\nThe Black Company<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Howard’s End<\/em><\/strong> E.M. Forester (1910)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

**The White Rose<\/em> Glen Cook (1985)
\nThe Black Company<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Lady Windermere’s Fan<\/em><\/strong> Oscar Wilde (1892)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

The Age of Innocence<\/em><\/strong> Edith Wharton (1920)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

September<\/h4>\n

Drifter<\/em><\/strong> William C. Dietz (1991)
\nDrifter<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Colors of Space<\/em><\/strong> Marion Zimmer Bradley (1963)
\n– ebook;<\/p>\n

Arrows of the Queen<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1987)
\nHeralds of Valedemar<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Arrow’s Flight<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1987)
\nHeralds of Valedemar<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Arrow’s Fall<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1988)
\nHeralds of Valedemar<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Freedom’s Landing<\/em><\/strong> Anne McCaffery (1995)
\nCatteni<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Freedom’s Choice<\/em><\/strong> Anne McCaffery (1996)
\nCatteni<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Terminal Alliance<\/em><\/strong> Jim C. Hines (2017)
\nJanitors of the Post-Apocalypse<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Freedom’s Challenge<\/em><\/strong> Anne McCaffery (1998)
\nCatteni<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Love of Mother-Not<\/em><\/strong> Alan Dean Foster (1983)
\nPip & Flinx<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Taar-Aiym Krang<\/em><\/strong> Alan Dean Foster (1972)
\nPip & Flinx<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Freedom’s Ransom<\/em><\/strong> Anne McCaffery (2002)
\nCatteni<\/em> Book 4 – ebook;<\/p>\n

October<\/h4>\n

Orphan Star<\/em><\/strong> Alan Dean Foster (1977)
\nPip & Flinx<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Flowers of Vashnoi<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2018)
\nMiles Vorkosigan<\/em> Book 14.5 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Foundation<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2008)
\nCollegium Chronicles<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Intrigue<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2010)
\nCollegium Chronicles<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Changes<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2011)
\nCollegium Chronicles<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Redoubt<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2012)
\nCollegium Chronicles<\/em> Book 4 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Bastion<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2013)
\nCollegium Chronicles<\/em> Book 5 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Privilege of Peace<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2018)
\nPeacekeeper<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Artificial Conditions<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)
\nMurderbot Diaries<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Refugee<\/em><\/strong> Piers Anthony (1983)
\nBio of a Space Tyrant<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Mercenary<\/em><\/strong> Piers Anthony (1984)
\nBio of a Space Tyrant<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Mansfield Park<\/em><\/strong> Jane Austen (1814)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

Politician<\/em><\/strong> Piers Anthony (1985)
\nBio of a Space Tyrant<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Executive<\/em><\/strong> Piers Anthony (1985)
\nBio of a Space Tyrant<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Statesman<\/em><\/strong> Piers Anthony (1986)
\nBio of a Space Tyrant<\/em> Book 5 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Closer to Home<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2014)
\nThe Herald Spy<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Closer to the Heart<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2015)
\nThe Herald Spy<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

November<\/h4>\n

Closer to the Chest<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (2016)
\nThe Herald Spy<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Rogue Protocol<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)
\nMurderbot Diaries<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Trading in Danger<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Moon (2003)
\nVatta’s War<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Marque and Reprisal<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Moon (2004)
\nVatta’s War<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Engaging the Enemy<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Moon (2006)
\nVatta’s War<\/em> Book 3 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Command Decision<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Moon (2007)
\nVatta’s War<\/em> Book 4 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Victory Conditions<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Moon (2008)
\nVatta’s War<\/em> Book 5 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

The Engines of God<\/em><\/strong> Jack McDevitt (1994)
\nAcademy Series (Priscilla Hutchins)<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Exit Strategy<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)
\nMurderbot<\/em> Book 4 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Head On<\/em><\/strong> John Scalzi (2018)
\nLock In<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Forever War<\/em><\/strong> Joe Haldeman (1974)
\nThe Forever War<\/em> Book 1 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

A Separate War<\/em><\/strong> Joe Haldeman (1999)
\nThe Forever War<\/em> Short Story – ebook;<\/p>\n

Forever Free<\/em><\/strong> Joe Haldeman (1999)
\nThe Forever War<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Airlords of Han<\/em><\/strong> Francis Philip Nolan (1929)
\nBuck Rogers<\/em> Book 2 – ebook; reread<\/p>\n

Echo<\/em><\/strong> Jack McDevitt (2010)
\nAlex Benedict<\/em> Book 5 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Lustlocked<\/em><\/strong> Matt Wallace (2016)
\nSin du Jour<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

December<\/h4>\n

Lustlocked<\/em><\/strong> Matt Wallace (2016)
\nSin du Jour<\/em> Book 2 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Prisoner of Zenda<\/em><\/strong> Anthony Hope (1894)
\n– ebook;<\/p>\n

Pride’s Spell<\/em><\/strong> Matt Wallace (2016)
\nSin du Jour<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Greedy Pigs<\/em><\/strong> Matt Wallace (2017)
\nSin du Jour<\/em> Book 5 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Gluttony Bay<\/em><\/strong> Matt Wallace (2017)
\nSin du Jour<\/em> Book 6 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Taste of Wrath<\/em><\/strong> Matt Wallace (2018)
\nSin du Jour<\/em> Book 7 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Runelords (The Sum of All Men)<\/em><\/strong> David Farland (1998)
\nRune Lords<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Space Opera<\/em><\/strong> Catherynne M. Valente (2018)
\n– ebook;<\/p>\n

The Cosmic Computer<\/em><\/strong> H Beam Piper (1960)
\n– ebook;<\/p>\n

Alice Payne Arrives<\/em><\/strong> Kate Heartfield (2018)
\nAlice Payne<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

20,0000 Leagues Under the Sea<\/em><\/strong> Jules Verne (1870)
\n– audiobook;<\/p>\n

The Devil’s Eye<\/em><\/strong> Jack McDevitt (2008)
\nAlex Benedict<\/em> Book 4 – ebook;<\/p>\n

Static Ruin<\/em><\/strong> Corey J. White (2018)
\nVoidwitch Saga<\/em> Book 3 – ebook;<\/p>\n

The Lost Gate<\/em><\/strong> Orson Scott Card (2011)
\nMithermages<\/em> Book 1 – ebook;<\/p>\n

((\\
\n(-.-)
\no_(“)(“)<\/p>\n

Some numbers<\/h4>\n

142 books in total! That’s .389 books\/day; 2.73 books\/month; 11.8 books\/month. A RECORD!<\/p>\n

This unbelievable total includes 70 rereads and 17 audiobooks, which means I read 55 new books.<\/p>\n

By month<\/p>\n

\n January (13)
\n February (11)
\n March (9)
\n April (8)
\n May (10)
\n June (11)
\n July (11)
\n August (10)
\n September (12)
\n October (17)
\n November (16)
\n  December (14)\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My ebook library now contains 628 ebooks and\u2014despite previous maunderings\u2014I still have 862 paper books (sci-fi and fantasy only \u2014 the others have long since been absorbed into L’s library which makes mine look puny). A far cry from the 234 I started with 2012. Oh, and for those of you who care, that’s an average of 65 books added per year…call it $520\/year which I think is quite reasonable in bibliophile circles.<\/p>\n

Audio books<\/h4>\n

I listened to 17 mostly-new titles (only 2 rereads…relistens?). If you look closely you can discern my most productive periods in the glass studio as that’s when I listen to most of them. Also of note is that the audio books comprise all of my non-sci-fi and fantasy content. I was pleasantly surprised by most of them\u2014although being an English major it is a) astonishing that I haven’t read these classics before and b) a bit of a duh moment that I should find them of sufficient quality to praise. I particularly liked Northanger Abbey<\/em> and The Age of Innocence. <\/em><\/p>\n

An audiobook recap:<\/p>\n

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court<\/strong> Mark Twain
\nThe Time Machine<\/strong> H.G Wells
\nJust So Stories<\/strong> Rudyard Kipling
\nThe Hounds of Baskerville<\/strong> Arthur Conan Doyle
\nThe Happy Prince and Other Tales<\/strong> Oscar Wilde
\nThe Wind in the Willows<\/strong> Kenneth Grahame
\nKidnapped<\/strong> Robert Louis Stephenson
\nAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland<\/strong> Lewis Carrol
\nNorthanger Abbey<\/strong> Jane Austen
\nMajor Barbara<\/strong> George Bernard Shaw
\nThree Musketeers<\/strong> Alexandre Dumas
\nHoward’s End<\/strong> E.M. Forester
\nLady Windermere’s Fan<\/strong> Oscar Wilde
\nThe Age of Innocence<\/strong> Edith Wharton
\nMansfield Park<\/strong> Jane Austen
\n20,0000 Leagues Under the Sea<\/strong> Jules Verne<\/p>\n

Habits<\/h4>\n

A lot of the reason for the increase in the books-read count was rereading series which tends to go quickly. I re-chewed my way through the rest of Brust’s Vlad<\/em> books, Anthony’s Bio of a Space Tyrant<\/em>, Moon’s Vatta’s War<\/em>, Mercedes Lackey’s Heralds of Valdemar<\/em>, Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun<\/em>, Rick Cook Wiz Biz,<\/em> the first 4 books of Foster’s iconic Pip & Flinx<\/em> books, Rachel Bach Paradox,<\/em> both Huff’s Confederation<\/em> and Peacekeepers<\/em> series, David Drake & Eric Flint Belasarius<\/em> and a lot of Weber: Honor Harrington<\/em> books up to Book 9 (I just couldn’t justify buying new copies of the rest of them as I feel the series started to go downhill), the Manticore Ascendant<\/em> series, and the War God<\/em> books. A few of these I hadn’t read since I was in my 20s. Wolfe aged well but Piers Anthony did not (although it was<\/em> interesting to see how much societal mores have changed over the past few decades). And I still love Pip.<\/p>\n

I also added in some new series. Max Gladstone Craft Sequence<\/em>, Lackey’s Collegium Chronicles<\/em> and The Herald Spy<\/em> (which are really just one long series) and, to my delight, discovered that Joe Haldeman had written sequels to his classic The Forever War<\/em>.<\/p>\n

2018 saw the resurgence of the short form sci-fi\/fantasy novel. While technically novellas these shorter \u2014 ~100 page books \u2014 are closer in size to the standard pulp fare I grew with. Anyway, Tor seems to be at the forefront of this movement selling the books for around $6 and usually being a series of 3 or 4 titles. I thoroughly enjoyed Matt Wallace’s Sin du Jour<\/em> series, Corey White Voidwitch<\/em>, and of course Martha Well’s excellent Murderbot.<\/em><\/p>\n

Housekeeping<\/h4>\n

I got involved in an ebook project, Standard Ebooks<\/a>, which aims to take copyright free books (mostly sourced from the industrious Gutenberg Project) and apply high standards to both editorial and typography\u2014something quite missing from the standard Gutenberg ebook fare. To date I have “produced” two ebooks: The Airlords of Han<\/a> and A Prisoner of Zenda <\/a>and am working on a third title. Check them out if you are looking for free ebooks\u2014I guarantee a satisfactory experience<\/p>\n

The big news of 2018 is that I have dumped Apple’s iBooks from my  life entirely. I used to organize and catalog my ebooks in Calibre and then copy the books over to the Apple ecosystem to update my various i-devices. But Apple moved all the books out of iTunes and into their new iBooks app, crippling most of the features along the way. I have put up with it for two years hoping for a version 2 but there has been zero improvement and I just couldn’t take it anymore. So now I use Calibre Companion to move books to my Nexus and iPhone and (since my iPad is ancient) Stanza to copy books to the iPad. It means a few extra steps but it is worth it not to have to put up with Apple’s bllsh<\/em>t…and this from an Apple fanboy. <\/p>\n

I have ranted before about “distributors” getting too involved and too powerful in the process of ebook dissemination so I won’t go into it other than to say I won’t ever be buying an ebook from Apple again.<\/p>\n

\n

So that’s it. I am writing this a bit early but I assume you will, as always, be able to see Leslie’s 2018 book list here<\/a> and the-man-originally-responsible-for-this-bloated-monstrosity-of-a-post Earl’s list here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Links to previous years book posts:<\/p>\n