It's that time of year when, once again, I marvel at the fact that it's that time of year again. Honestly, I've been hurled around the sun enough times by now that you'd imagine I'd know how this thing called life works by now, but no, apparently not. So let's do some mock outrage – HOLY FUCK IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?! – and get on with things.
As has by now become familiar to long-time readers, I've barely touched this blog over the last 12 months (honestly, I got huge anxiety that my password wouldn't even work when I logged on to write this), although I did manage a post about a Bichon Frisé back in May. The rest of the time I spent walking (I found a nice 12 mile route around Cardiff), yoga-ing (teaching and doing), working on books and, of course, reading books (if I hadn't, this would be a very slight post). And when we say 'reading books', lordy, I read a lot this year. Hold tight to those socks, because I'm about to try to blow them off: 116 books. Yes, you read that right: ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN. It's almost like I had nothing else to do.
I'll be honest, the reason for ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN books, as you'll see during what amounts to the first few months of the year in the list (i.e. the bit before your eyes glaze over and you're rendered inexplicably unconscious), is dominated by graphic novels; specifically, Adventure Time graphic novels. I blitzed my way through the television series in the last few months of 2020, and was left bereft by its conclusion, so I sought solace in the arms of the books collecting its long run of comic books. Plus Forbidden Planet had a ridiculous sale on some of them – how could I resist a hardback book discounted to £1.99?! Things evened out a bit as the year went on and I returned to reading grown-up books (Hard Case Crime novels in particular became a surprise joy for me), then petered out a bit towards the end of the year when I was asked to do a shit-ton of work on, you guessed it, some books, which took up a lot of my time. If it weren't for the pesky need to pay bills and whatnot I reckon I could've rattled through a few more and made it a nice round 120, but it was not meant to be. That said, if we count the books I worked on we could add another … five?
I digress. Let's stick with 116 (ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN) and not get picky. This is certainly the most books I've ever read in a year (remember the early days of this list where I'd pat myself on the back for having read 34? Madness), so I'm going to award myself a little trophy, possibly a glass of Sherry, and undoubtedly a slab of lemon drizzle cake.
As usual, I'm slipping on my worn tweed jacket with the leather elbow patches (it's a little more snug around the shoulders these days, thank you home workouts) and settling my peachy posterior into my overstuffed armchair (thank you again, home workouts) ready to judge each book. We'll be following the familiar grading pattern, from A+ (I want to big spoon this book on a cold winter's night) to C and below (fork off, you're hogging the duvet). And no, I won't be providing links to each book: there are ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN and I ain't got no time to be cuttin' and pastin' for you lazy fools.
Right. Strap in, bitches – HERE WE GO!
01. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 1 - Having loved the TV show, I decided to give the Adventure Time comics a go, choosing the hardcover mathematical editions rather than the standard paperback collections. The first volume features a story about the evil Lich trying to take over Ooo, and Finn and Jake’s efforts to stop him. Nicely illustrated and a decent if slight story; worth a read if you’re a fan of the show though, and the mathematical edition is a gorgeous book: B+
02. Enemy Mine by Barry B. Longyear and David Gerrold - The novelisation of the 1985 science fiction film about a human pilot finding himself stranded on a desolate planet with only his enemy - a Drac - as a companion. An enjoyable, easy read that makes me want to rewatch the film: B+
03. Adventure Time: The Original Cartoon Title Cards - A wonderful art book showcasing the title cards featured at the beginning of each episode of the Adventure Time television series. Though featuring brief reminiscences from the artists involved, the book is light on information; examples of earlier abandoned concepts would’ve been a nice addition, for example. The finished artwork is nevertheless gorgeous, and this makes a fine addition to the bookshelf of any fans of the show: A
04. Adventure Time: The Original Cartoon Title Cards, Seasons Three and Four - The second volume of episodic title cards is more of the same; gorgeous artwork, but perhaps lacking in background information about their creation that would truly make it a standout book. Nevertheless, as with the first volume: A
05. Adventure Time: The Flip Side - A collected edition of a comics miniseries in which Finn and Jake take on a quest that causes things to be flipped in the land of Ooo. A fun read, with some interesting art that deviates from the usual Adventure Time style. Good, but not essential: B
06. Adventure Time: Sugary Shorts Volume One - A great collection of short Adventure Time stories written and illustrated by an eclectic group of comic creators. Quality is high overall, and there are some standout tales, including one by Paul Pope. Thoroughly enjoyable: A
07. The Twilight Zone edited by Carol Serling - A superb anthology of nineteen short stories published to coincide with The Twilight Zone’s 50th anniversary in 2009. Great fun, with some inventive twists and turns: A
08. Adventure Time: Sugary Shorts Volume Two - A second collection of short adventures featuring Finn, Jake and the other inhabitants of Ooo. There are some great stories here, and some gorgeous artwork: A
09. Adventure Time: Candy Capers - Collected edition of a six issue miniseries in which Finn and Jake go missing and it’s down to Peppermint Butler and Cinnamon Bun to track them down, while at the same time keeping the Candy Kingdom safe. A good story and some lovely artwork, only the rushed conclusion revealing where Finn and Jake really are lets this down: A-
10. Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens - Collected edition of a six issue miniseries that focuses on the vampire Marceline going on tour with her band, accompanied by Princess Bubblegum. Enjoyable enough, but there’s no acknowledgement of the relationship between Marceline and PB shown on the TV show (possibly because this was written before that development) and there feels few ties to the characters we know and love from Adventure Time: B
11. Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake - A collected miniseries featuring the gender-swapped characters Fionna and Cake, rather than Finn and Jake. Written and illustrated by the actual creator of the two characters, this is a fun addition to my Adventure Time collection: A
12. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 2 - A second hardcover collection of Adventure Time comics, and a thoroughly enjoyable tale of Finn and Jake dabbling in time travel: A-
13. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 3 - The third volume of Adventure Time comics finds BMO corrupted by a computer virus, leaving Finn, Jake and Marceline to go up against a new foe. A good, fun Adventure Time tale: B+
14. The Valancourt Book of World Horror Stories Vol. 1 - A beautifully packaged limited edition hardcover (mine’s 78/300) collecting horror stories from around the world. With many of the authors included never having been translated into English before, this is a treasure trove of new voices, each with a wonderful spooky tale to tell. Unlimited paperback and ebook versions are available, and highly recommended: A
15. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 4 - Opening with a single issue story that didn’t grab me, expectations were low for this fourth volume of Adventure Time comics. But the next four issues’ worth told a brilliant tale of Finn, Jake and Ice King exploring a dungeon that presents each with a unique challenge: A-
16. Paul at Home by Michel Rabagliati - The eighth story in Rabagliati’s Paul series finds the titular character in middle age, living alone and facing the death of his mother. A melancholy tale for sure, but one that is beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated by one of my very favourite graphic novelists. Each one of Rabagliati’s books is a treat to behold and this latest volume is no different: A+
17. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 5 - Another fun collection, this time featuring a story in which one of Princess Bubblegum’s early gum creations comes back to haunt her: B+
18. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 6 - This volume features the 25th issue of the comic - a great little tale told across different time periods - and a longer story of Finn and Jake turning into ghosts, which was enjoyable enough but not one of the finer stories the series has produced: B+
19. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 7 - Another fine hardcover edition featuring a story in which Finn loses huge chunks of memory after an encounter with a new enemy: B+
20. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 8 - Opening with the final story by the comic’s original creators, followed by a four-parter by the new team that sees all the people of Ooo falling foul of a curse that causes them to forget how to cook. It’s a decent enough start for the new writer and artists, but falls a little below the high bar set by the original team: B
21. Adventure Time Mathematical Edition Vol. 9 - The ninth hardcover edition of Adventure time comics features a story in which Finn and Jake become spies. A decent read, but still lacking some of the series’ earlier charms: B
22. Adventure Time Vol. 10 - After reading the hardcover mathematical editions, this is the first paperback collection of Adventure Time stories I’ve read (the hardcovers stopped at vol. 9), and it’s a cracker! A really good story of Finn and Jake finding they had a sister, but one who has to wipe herself from their memories to save Ooo from disaster: A
23. Adventure Time Vol. 11 - In which Finn is made to grow old and Jake must venture into a ghost world to reclaim the essence of his youth. Solid story, nicely drawn: B+
24. Adventure Time Vol. 12 - A fun four-part story in which the heroes of Ooo find themselves trapped in a realistic game created by an evil force that has taken over BMO. Good story, although I found the art a little too cartoonish compared to previous volumes and the TV series: B+
25. Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich - Novelisation of the hit film from 1994, in which an ancient gateway provides a team of humans with the ability to travel to a distant alien world. Written by the writers of the film, this novel adaptation adds greater depth and detail to the story, with alternate - and often more grisly and violent - takes on certain scenes. A cracking read then, with the only downside being the sheer number of typos and editorial mistakes littered throughout: A-
26. Adventure Time: Islands - A short graphic novel prequel to the miniseries of the same name that follows a ship of humans to a new island home, written by one of the show’s writers. It’s a slight tale that I breezed through in minutes, but it’s fun and adds more layers to my favourite Adventure Time miniseries: B+
27. Adventure Time Vol. 13 - A thoroughly enjoyable volume that brings together several plot strands from previous books for a cataclysmic, time-bending conclusion. Good fun: A
28. Adventure Time: Sugary Shorts Vol. 3 - A cracking collection of short tales written and illustrated by a variety of different comics creators. With so many different styles of illustration and interpretations of the familiar characters, this is a visual treat for Adventure Time fans: A
29. Adventure Time Comics Vol. 1 - The first collected edition of the second Adventure Time comic series. In execution it’s basically the same as the Sugary Shorts collections, with short stories by various writers and artists; as such it’s also a lot of fun: A
30. Adventure Time Vol. 14 - After the conclusion of several ongoing plot threads in the previous volume, this collection is a four-part standalone story of the princesses of Ooo competing against one another to be crowned best princess. It’s fun enough, but one of the more simplistic stories told in this series: B
31. SeaQuest DSV: Fire Below by Matthew J. Costello - Catching up on one of my weird little obsessions from 2020’s lockdown, I return to the old SeaQuest DSV books I tracked down last summer. This second novel is the first original tale in the series (the first being a novelisation of the TV show’s pilot episode), and sees Captain Bridger and the crew of the SeaQuest involved in a terrorist attack that leads them to an underwater research station that has discovered a deadly new form of marine life. I was genuinely surprised to find that this was an effective action-thriller with lots of twists and turns that I devoured in just a few days… if only tales like this had been what the television series had shown: A
32. Adventure Time: Sugary Shorts Vol. 4 - The penultimate collection of short Adventure Time stories from different comics creators, and another treat. Some really good stories here, and some beautiful artwork: A
33. Adventure Time Comics Vol. 2 - Another collection of short stories, all enjoyable enough but not quite as entertaining as those in the Sugary Shorts books: B+
34. Adventure Time Comics Vol. 3 - More Adventure Time short stories, and a more entertaining collection than the previous volume: A
35. SeaQuest DSV: The Ancient by David Bischoff - The third and final SeaQuest novel finds captain Bridger and his crew searching for a mysterious, millennia-old sea creature. This book is a bit of a mixed bag to be honest; a decent concept is never really given room to develop, ultimately turning into an oceanic version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, while some caricature-ish villains and a slightly inappropriate attraction between 15 year old Lucas and a mid-twenties research scientist don’t help matters. Not bad, but not brilliant: B
36. Captain Future’s Challenge by Edmond Hamilton - The third of the original 1940s Captain Future books that I’ve read sees the titular space hero tasked with tracking down a villain intent on destroying the solar system’s supplies of a mineral necessary for space travel. The least compelling Captain Future adventure I’ve read, but still an enjoyable retro sci-fi read: B+
37. Adventure Time Comics Vol. 4 - A fantastic selection of short Adventure Time stories; one of the most consistently entertaining volumes I’ve read: A
38. Adventure Time Comics Vol. 5 - A great collection of stories, with some of the most stunning artwork so far in this collection: A
39. Adventure Time Comics Vol. 6 - The final collection in the Adventure Time Comics series, and a fine send off for the series. Great stories, varied artwork showing different interpretations of the characters, hugely enjoyable. Of all the Adventure time books I’ve read, these have been among my favourite: A
40. Adventure Time: Sugary Shorts Vol. 5 - The final volume of the Sugary Shorts series is a little more experimental, featuring for the most part more artistic, minimal, speechless tales. A fantastic longer Marceline story giving more detail of her past is included as well. Hugely enjoyable: A
41. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow by K. J. Anderson - A thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of the 2004 movie. Energetic and written in a decent pulp-adventure style, it makes me yearn for more Sky Captain adventures: A
42. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Too Long a Sacrifice - Collected edition of the four issue comic book series in which Constable Odo is tasked with finding a murderer on DS9. It’s nice to revisit Deep Space Nine and it’s characters, but while this was a decent read competently illustrated, it didn’t fully draw me in: B
43. Alien: The Original Screenplay - A graphic novel based on the original storyline for the 1979 film Alien. Beautifully illustrated and very enjoyable, but for me there wasn’t enough difference between this and the final film version, unlike Dark Horse Comics’ earlier Alien 3 based on an unused screenplay. For completists only: B+
44. The Auctioneer by Joan Samson - Another title in Valancourt Books’ Paperbacks from Hell series is this story of an enigmatic auctioneer arriving in a small American town and swiftly using his skills to rid the population of their possessions and livelihoods. Unlike previous books in the series, there’s no hint of the supernatural in this novel, just an unsettling sense of dread as the auctioneer starts spreading his influence across the town and its people. An absorbing tale: A
45. Adventure Time Vol. 15 - Another collection of the ongoing Adventure Time comics, this time featuring a balloon race to find three missing parts of a mysterious statue. Fun, but not the best book in the series: B
46. Adventure Time Vol. 16 - The penultimate collection of the ongoing series sees Finn and Jake facing off against duplicate versions of themselves. A nice idea, but spaced across four individual issues it feels a little drawn out and not very Adventure Time-y. One of the weaker instalments: B
47. Adventure Time Vol. 17 - The final collection of the Adventure Time ongoing comic book series features a story that closes the 75 issue run, plus a couple of back-up tales including the first issue of Adventure Time Season 11. The conclusion to the series is fun, closing the comic’s run in decent, if not amazing, fashion. While this might not be the best the series had to offer, overall I enjoyed these books a hell of a lot: B+
48. Close Encounters of the Third Kind by Steven Spielberg - Novelisation of the 1977 film, and to my knowledge the only novel written by Spielberg - which is a shame, as he writes a good book. The story doesn’t deviate far from what you see in the film, but Spielberg’s prose is engaging and easy to read - so much so I devoured this book in only a couple of days. Worth a read if you can track down a copy: A
49. Flash Gordon by Arthur Byron Cover - Novelisation of the 1980 movie in which the titular hero must defeat Ming the Merciless to save Earth from destruction. A surprisingly erotic and tongue-in-cheek interpretation of the film, and all the more enjoyable for it: B+
50. Tom Strong’s Terrific Tales Book 2 - Being a huge fan of Alan Moore’s Tom Strong character, it had somehow slipped by me that a second volume of short stories had been published almost 10 years ago. Fortunately, a hardback edition was not difficult to track down, thus completing my collection of Tom Strong books - and what a good read it is! Tom Strong has always been among my favourite comics characters, and the stories here - including tales of Jonni Future and young Tom Strong - are every bit as thrilling as I remember from years ago: A
51. The World of Moominvalley by Philip Ardagh - A wonderfully comprehensive hardback book that explores the rich characters and settings of Tove Jansson’s Moomin novels, along with background information about the life of Moomin creator Tove Jansson herself. A beautiful book, and one that I cannot recommend highly enough for Moomin fans: A+
52. The Society of Time by John Brunner - A British Library collection of five of Brunner’s novellas; three connected Society of Time stories and two separate tales. All are enjoyable, but it’s the two standalone novellas that intrigued me more. A decent collection overall: B+
53. Over the Garden Wall: Distillatoria written by Jonathan Case, illustrated by Jim Campbell - After enjoying the television series of the same name, I thought I’d try the graphic novels spin-offs. This first one sees Greg, Wirt and Beatrice seemingly out of the Unknown and back in the real world, but not everything is as it appears. A brilliant addition to the Over the Garden Wall canon, made even better by having a copy autographed by the writer: A
54. Over the Garden Wall: Circus Friends by Jonathan Case, illustrated by John Golden - A second Over the Garden Wall graphic novel, and another terrific read. Here, Wirt and Greg discover a circus in the Unknown whose master wants Beatrice to be part of his performance. A great story, and artwork that differs slightly from the previous book and the show itself, but is gorgeous and works brilliantly. Highly recommended: A
55. The Thing by Alan Dean Foster - Novelisation of the 1982 John Carpenter film in which a small team of Americans at an Antarctic research base find themselves confronted by an aggressive alien life form that has been freed from centuries frozen under the ice. At the time of reading I’d not seen the film, but Foster writes a strong novelisation that makes this an enjoyable read in its own right: B+
56. Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze by Kenneth Robeson - Having never read any of Robeson’s pulp hero tales, I quickly snapped up this edition from the All Data is Lost website when it appeared for sale. In this first tale, Doc Savage and his team of adventurers find themselves travelling to Central America on the trail of a deadly assassin. I really wanted to like this, but unlike other pulp heroes such as Captain Future, I didn’t engage with the characters and the plot felt slight. It’s fun, just not as fun as I’d hoped: B
57. Howard the Duck by Ellis Weiner - A surprisingly well-written and self aware novelisation of the much maligned 1986 film in which the titular duck is transported across space to the planet Earth, where he finds himself facing off against a Dark Overlord of the Universe. I’ve got rather a soft spot for the movie and the author translates the story well to prose with plenty of humour and verve. A surprisingly fun read: A
58. Hypnotwist/Scarlet by Starlight by Gilbert Hernandez - Two tales by Beto in his line of standalone stories outside of the usual Love and Rockets continuity. This book is unusual in that it’s a ‘flipper’ with effectively two front covers; Hypnotwist is the longer of the two and entirely free of dialogue, while Scarlet by Starlight is a shorter tale of explorers on an alien world. Both are fun, but perhaps only really essential for Love and Rockets completists : B+
59. The Black Hole by Alan Dean Foster - Novelisation of the 1979 Disney film about a ship of scientists discovering a long-missing Earth vessel on the edge of a powerful black hole. A good read that adds extra layers of detail absent from the film: B+
60. Doc Savage: Python Isle by Kenneth Robeson - A Doc Savage novel published in 1991 after being completed by Will Murrey using notes left by Robeson. In this adventure, Doc Savage and his team find themselves drawn into a mystery involving a woman that only speaks an archaic language and an island rich in gold. I enjoyed this more than the previous Doc Savage book I read; it’s more of a fast-paced pulp thriller, but truth be told, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t really find Doc or his compatriots terribly interesting characters. Enjoyable, though: B+
61. Into the London Fog edited by Elizabeth Dearnley - An entertaining British Library collection of weird tales focusing on the city of London. As with most volumes in this series, the stories included here are of a consistent quality, especially ‘The Lodger’ which ranks as one of the first tales of Jack the Ripper and is genuinely unnerving; only the inclusion of some non-fiction essays didn’t appeal. On the whole, a good read: B+
62. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton - I first read Crichton’s dinosaur thriller back in the early 90s before Steven Spielberg’s film came out, and thoroughly enjoyed it then. Revisiting almost 30 years later, I’m pleased to find the book remains an absolutely brilliant read. Engaging, action-packed, intelligent and populated by characters you genuinely care about, the novel is much darker and more complex than the blockbuster movie it inspired. Extra marks for this being a gorgeous Folio Society edition, featuring eye-catching artwork throughout the book, and a sturdy dinosaur skin-like slipcase to keep it in. A rare treat: A+
63. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - From a Certain Point of View - Following on from the A New Hope anthology of a few years back, the second (or fifth, depending on how you look at it) Star Wars film gets a collection of short stories that tie into events seen in the movie. There are some decent stories here, but I did feel this collection was less enjoyable the previous and more of a slog to get through, especially when there’s connective strands that go beyond the film series and into the animated shows and wider literary universe that I’ve not explored. Decent enough, though: B
64. The Desolations of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs - The sixth and (for now, at least) final book in the Miss Peregrine’s series finds Jacob and his peculiar friends battling Miss Peregrine’s brother Caul to protect the future of peculiar kind. An epic, rollicking adventure that takes readers from Devil’s Acre, the sanctuary of the peculiars, to the dark days of World War I, modern day London and Florida, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series, and The Desolations of Devil’s Acre is a fitting conclusion: A
65. Inside Star Trek: The Real Story by Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman - A comprehensive non-fiction book looking back on the original Star Trek series, as told by two of the most influential people involved in the production of the show. I always regretted not buying this when it was first published in the mid-1990s, so eagerly snapped up a copy for a mere fiver on eBay - and what a treat it turned out to be. Not just a comprehensive look back on Star Trek’s tumultuous early years, but a detailed insight into the complexities and craziness of television production in the sixties. Witty, emotional, and full of stories even I was not aware of, this is one of the very best non-fiction Star Trek books I’ve read, and one I’d recommend to all fans: A+
66. A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson - A young adult novel about three teenagers who find themselves aboard a spaceship with no idea how they got there. An enjoyable and easy to read book, but I didn’t warm to the characters too well, and it takes a while to really get going before reaching a decent conclusion. Fun enough: B
67. Star Trek: Discovery - Die Standing by John Jackson Miller (Kindle) - The latest Discovery novel focuses on Emperor Georgiou, formerly of the Mirror Universe, and her first mission for Section 31. A decent read - Miller captures Michelle Yeoh’s performance well in his prose, and the addition of supporting characters Finnegan (from the original series) and Emony Dax (later to be DS9’s Jadzia) add a flourish of familiarity to proceedings without feeling forced. If I’m grumbling, it felt a little too long in places, but on the whole I enjoyed this: B+
68. Dick Tracy Vol. 15 by Chester Gould - After taking an eight month gap in reading Gould’s complete run of Tracy newspaper strips I pick up again at the halfway point in the collection. Enjoyable crime capers as always, but this volume doesn’t showcase the intrepid cop’s finest tales - 3-D Magee featured here isn’t the most compelling villain, and the storyline he features in runs over seven months worth of strips: B+
69. The Deep by Alma Katsu (Kindle) - Like the author’s previous novel, The Hunger, this book adds a supernatural twist to real life historical events, in this case the sinking of the Titanic and, four years later, its sister ship the Britannic - bridging these two catastrophes with characters present at both events. Though I could quibble that the ending seemed perhaps a tad rushed, this is both an inventive and engrossing story that I thoroughly enjoyed: B+
70. The Haunting of H.G. Wells by Robert Masello (Kindle) - Having read the author’s earlier book, The Jekyll Revelation, I jumped at the opportunity to download his latest when Amazon offered it for free on Kindle. This tale focuses on the author H.G. Wells being sent to the front line during the First World War, the ghosts that haunt him on his return, and a plot to unleash a gas attack on London. A hugely entertaining book that rattles along at a fair old pace: A
71. Dick Tracy Vol. 16 by Chester Gould - Following straight on from the previous volume, this collection of Dick Tracy newspaper strips sees the detective continuing his attempts to track down Rughead, before reintroducing the famed villain Mumbles and giving us our first glimpse of Flattop Jr. A great read with some wonderful rogues: A
72. Later by Stephen King - A new novel from the famed author of horror fiction shares a similar concept with the movie The Sixth Sense, but ultimately takes its own path, one that I found hugely satisfying. To say more would ruin for new readers what was, to me, one of the best books I’ve read to this point in 2021. Utterly brilliant: A+
73. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - I’ve long meant to read Capote’s ‘non-fiction novel’ of the brutal killing of the Clutter family in 1959, and it more than lived up to expectations. A thorough, thought-provoking book that gives a well-rounded glimpse of the victims and ultimately the men who committed the killings, elevating all from mere descriptions to the living, breathing people they were. Chilling in places, emotional in others, and well-written throughout. An undisputed classic: A
74. Somebody Owes Me Money by Donald E. Westlake - A cracking Hard Case Crime book in which a New York cab driver finds himself caught up in the mystery of a bookie’s murder. I was initially drawn to this by the stunning cover art, but the story itself rattles along at a fair old pace, with a likeable main character and some decent humour along the way; I thoroughly enjoyed this book: A
75. Adventure Time: Ice King - A collected edition of the six-issue comic miniseries in which the Ice King finds his favourite penguin, Gunter, has gone missing, and sets out to track him down. There are some nice moments in this, but it felt overly long and I was disappointed by the artwork in places, which seemed like it wanted to try something new but didn’t commit and instead just looked hurried. Not an essential read: B-
76. The Art of Bravest Warriors - A lush, coffee table art book focused on Bravest Warriors, the other show created by Adventure Time’s Pendleton Ward. There’s little text in this oversized hardback, but plenty of gorgeous artwork, development sketches and concepts to feast your eyes on. A must-buy for fans of the show: A
77. Witness to Myself by Seymour Shubin - Fearing that he accidentally killed a young girl on a family holiday 15 years earlier, a man sets out to uncover the truth, only to expose himself further in the process. Another Hard Case Crime book, and another brilliant tale; I was gripped from start to finish: A
78. Charlesgate Confidential by Scott Von Doviak - Another Hard Case Crime novel, this one split across three time periods - 1946, 1986 and 2014 - and telling the tale (inspired by true events) of the theft of 13 paintings and their connection to the real life Charlesgate building in Boston. An absorbing read with plenty of twists and turns; I thoroughly enjoyed: A
79. 253 by Geoff Ryman - I first saw this book years ago and always meant to pick up a copy, finally doing so this year! It’s a rather unique novel, with each page dedicated to telling the story of the 253 passengers on a london tube train one January morning, all within the space of 253 words. And it’s utterly absorbing getting such insight into these fictional, yet seemingly all too real people. Brilliant: A
80. The Cutie by Donald E. Westlake - Another Hard Case Crime novel by the author of Somebody Owes Me Money. In this book, a mobster’s employee finds himself investigating the murder of a woman, a search that becomes more intense when he finds himself accused of the crime. More serious than the comedic Somebody Owes Me Money, and a thrilling read. Westlake’s prose is precise and easy to read, and the journey to the ultimate revelation of who killed Mavis St. John is an enjoyable and satisfying one: A
81. Adventure Time: Season 11 (Kindle) - Available a few years ago as a paperback collected edition but now out of print and difficult to find, I turned to Amazon to fulfil my desire to read this comic book continuation of Adventure Time. There, for the same price as a graphic novel, I got all six issues of this short-lived series, and was able to read them in vibrant form on my new iPad. The series itself is a lot of fun, picking up story threads after the series’ final episode, and it’s a real shame it was cancelled. Beautiful artwork and a degree more maturity to the stories, there was much that this comic series could have explored had it gone on longer: A
82. Star Trek Year Five: Weaker than Man - The third collection of the Year Five continuity sees Captain Kirk and the Starship Enterprise continuing their journey home as they near the end of their five year mission, encountering a secret Federation medical experiment, Harcourt Fenton Mudd and Gary Seven along the way. A solid read with decent artwork: B+
83. Spaceworlds edited by Mike Ashley - A British Library short story collection featuring stories of life in space. There are some good tales here - especially those about generation ships and the problems that can arise on them - and it’s an enjoyable enough read for the most part, but I didn’t really connect with this anthology as much as some of the previous books in the series: B+
84. Two For the Money by Max Allan Collins - A Hard Case Crime book collecting the author’s first two novels featuring the character Nolan. And it makes absolute sense to package these two books together seeing as how the second is a continuation of the events of the first, with Nolan engineering a bank heist to clear his name with a member of the mob who has a hit on him, and then having to deal with the fallout of the job when things go wrong. A great read from a master of the crime genre: A
85. Bravest Warriors Complete Comics Collection (Kindle) - OK, not strictly speaking a book, but I’m sneaking this on to my reading list on a technicality as most of these comics have been released as collected editions; I chose to read on my iPad via the Kindle app as the last four comics were never released as a book. This is the complete 36 issue run of the monthly comic book series based on the TV series created by Pendleton Ward, plus the Catbug, Paralysed Horse and Tales from the Holojohn specials. For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed these - they strike the same tone as the show, and the handful of episodes written by the writers of the series really reach great heights. Very enjoyable: A
86. Captain Future: 1500 Light Years From Home by Allen Steele (Kindle) - The third instalment of Steele’s latest Captain Future adventure for Amazing Stories follows right on from the previous book, with Captain Future held captive and transported across the Galaxy to a distant star system. Although of course this volume relies on you having read the previous two instalments, this is a brilliantly written sci-fi that’s a lot of fun, and it ends on a great cliffhanger that will be resolved in the fourth and final book: A
87. Fifty-to-One by Charles Ardai - As the 50th Hard Case Crime book, this novel has an intriguing concept: each chapter is named after one of the preceding 49 books in the publisher’s catalogue. What could have been a mere exercise in box ticking actually proves to be a thrilling ride in the skilled hands of Ardai, as a young woman writes a crime novel that somehow predicts the theft of $3 million from a notorious crime lord, leading to her going on the run with the fictional Hard Case’s roguish editor. Hugely enjoyable: A
88. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino - This novelisation of Tarantino’s most recent movie adds extra depth to the story of Western actor Rick Dalton and his stunt man Cliff Booth. Differing in places from the film (the movie’s conclusion occurs only 100 pages into the 400 page book), makes this not so much a straight novelisation, more a retelling from a slightly shifted perspective - and it’s all the more enjoyable for it. Tarantino’s prose is crisp and deliciously witty throughout, making this a very enjoyable read: A
89. Dick Tracy Vol. 17 by Chester Gould - This volume features the conclusion of the Flattop Jr. storyline, one of the best continuities, and the Morin Plenty story, regarded as one of Gould’s least interesting tales - but one that I actually rather enjoyed! Good fun, as always: A
90. The Nice Guys by Charles Ardai - Novelisation of the 2016 movie about two mismatched detectives trying to locate a missing girl, and uncovering a conspiracy in the process. A straightforward adaptation, but a hugely enjoyable and well-written one nonetheless: A
91. Deadly Beloved by Max Allan Collins - The first - and so far only - novel based on the author’s Ms. Tree graphic novel character, and it’s a blast, as Ms. Tree becomes embroiled in helping a woman accused of murdering her unfaithful husband. One of the shorter Hard Case Crime books I’ve read, coming in just under 200 pages long, but a tightly plotted and entertaining one nevertheless: A
92. The Twenty Year Death by Ariel S. Winter - A remarkable book, told in the form of three 200-page novels, each written in the style of a different crime writer, which together tell a story spanning 20 years. A thoroughly engrossing read: A
93. Help I am Being Held Prisoner by Donald E. Westlake - After enjoying Somebody Owes Me Money, I thought I’d try another of Westlake’s crime comedies, and I wasn’t disappointed. This book tells the story of Harold Künt, sent to prison for a practical joke that results in a 20 car pile up, where he soon finds himself part of a gang planning to perform a bank robbery while they’re all still in jail. A hugely enjoyable read - intelligently plotted, funny and well-written: A
94. Adventure Time: Marcy and Simon (Kindle) - A six issue comic book collection set after the Adventure Time finale, with Simon Petrikov going on an apology tour to make amends for his time as Ice King, only to find his memory starting to falter. An enjoyable tale, with artwork that really looked great when read on my iPad: B+
95. The Autobiography of Kathryn Janeway by Una McCormac (Kindle) - Much like the earlier autobiographies of James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard, this book takes a look back at the life of Voyager’s captain, supposedly in her own words, but unlike the previous volumes, this isn’t one I found particularly engaging. Short in length and feeling somewhat rushed in execution, this book was fine; if you’re looking for a more involved take on the pre-Delta Quadrant life of Kathryn Janeway, Mosaic by Voyager executive producer Jeri Taylor is well worth a look; it’s been years since I’ve read it, but I recall it being an enthralling novel – but sadly one I believe this new book contradicts in places: B-
96. Secret Fords Vol. 1 by Steve Saxty - I found out about this book via instagram, and being fascinated by the development of cars and with a particular soft spot for 80s Fords, I gave it a whirl - and what a read! Packed full of previously unseen photos and informative text, this is a real treasure trove of information about some of Ford’s most well-known cars. This collector’s edition came with a shorter scrapbook, which although slight in comparison to the main book, provided even more details about unseen concepts and paths not taken with familiar cars: A
97. Five Decembers by James Kestrel - In this Hard Case Crime book detective Joe McCrady investigates a double murder on one of the Hawaiian islands, an investigation that sees him follow the trail of his suspect all the way to Hong Kong, on the eve of the outbreak of the Second World War. An epic, thrilling novel that I couldn’t put down; brilliant characters, beautifully written and perfectly plotted with numerous twists and turns along the way - highly recommended: A+
98. The Dark Knight by Dennis O’Neil - After rewatching the 2008 movie I thought I’d scratch the itch of never having read the novelisation. Out of print, I managed to pick up a pristine copy off eBay for just £1.80 - and it’s a decent read! Crisply written, with some added connective tissue that links it to the previous film, Batman Begins, this was a quick and enjoyable read: A
99. Alien 3: The Unproduced Screenplay by Pat Cadigan - As the title suggests, this is a novelisation of the unproduced William Gibson script for the third Alien movie, which focuses on Michael Biehn’s character, Colonial Marine Hicks. Regular readers (do you still exist?!) will recall I read the graphic novel version of this back in 2019 (which apparently was based on a different draft of the script) and rated it a ‘B’; with considerably more room to breath life into Gibson’s story, Cadigan’s novel is a much more enjoyable and engrossing read. I still prefer the movie we ultimately got, but I enjoyed this a lot: A
100. Star Trek: Picard - The Dark Veil by James Swallow - The second novel set in the continuity of the Picard television series follows Captain Riker and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan as they discover a friendly but secretive species intend to depart their planet wholesale for a distant part of the universe, while also dealing with the presence of a Romulan ship. Not tied anywhere near as heavily into the series as the first novel based off the show, this felt very much like a regular Star Trek story that just happened to touch on certain plot lines featured in Picard: B-
101. Blood on the Mink by Robert Silverberg - A short novel following a man who assumes the identity of a crime gang operative in order to disrupt a mob scheme to print and distribute fake bank notes. Short and snappy, this was a solid crime read, with two excellent short stories by the author filling out the book’s length: A-
102. 361 by Donald E. Westlake - Two brothers, one still recovering from the life-changing injuries caused by the shooting that claimed the life of their father, set out for revenge. One of the darker and more grim Westlake novels I’ve read, but a gripping tale nevertheless: A
103. The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Kindle) - Recommended to me by my Dad, this book is about a down on his luck writer who, while teaching a writing course, discovers one of his students has developed a tale that promises to be a bestseller. When the student dies, the teacher writes his own version of the story, only to find himself the focus of a targeted hate campaign when it goes on to become a huge success. A slow burner, but one that really gets going as the plot unfolds; I really enjoyed this: A-
104. The Dead Man’s Brother by Roger Zelazny - A Hard Case Crime novel in which a former criminal is charged with discovering what as happened to money stolen from the Vatican. Perhaps the HCC book I’ve enjoyed the least, but one that still tells a diverting enough tale: B
105. Batman by Craig Shaw Gardner - Upon discovering a pristine hardcover edition of this novelisation of the 1989 film, I had to have it – which also gave me an opportunity to revisit the book that probably sparked my love for movie adaptations. I remember devouring this book in a day when I first read it back in ’89 (a paperback edition I still own and treasure); this time around I savoured it a little longer, but enjoyed it every bit as much. Gardner’s book is the perfect novelisation: briskly written, descriptive, and with scenes that differ in places, or expand upon those seen in the film. Huge fun: A
106. Batman Returns by Craig Shaw Gardner - And with a beautiful hardcover edition of Batman, I had to track down a matching Batman Returns edition too. Having given away my paperback of this book back in 2005, I was overjoyed to find an unread hardcover of Gardner’s second Batman adaptation to replace it. The story is well known, and the book a very enjoyable read, though it lacks much in the way of the expanded/extra scenes that helped its predecessor stand out. Still, huge fun: A-
107. The Labyrinth by Simon Stålenhag - The latest book from the author of Tales from the Loop is another oversized book packed full of gorgeous artwork and sparse text filling in a story, this time about a community of humans who have had to retreat below the surface of Earth after an unusual phenomena renders the outside world uninhabitable. But instead of focusing on that story, The Labyrinth instead tells a smaller, more character based tale – which proves every bit as absorbing. Wonderful: A
108. Fan Fiction by Brent Spiner - The actor who brought Data to life in Star Trek: The Next Generation turns his hand to writing with this ‘mem-noir,’ apparently inspired by real events. In this fictional account, set during production of TNG, Spiner tells the tale of Lal, a stalker who threatens his life, and the complex web of intrigue and, yes, comedy that follows. A hugely enjoyable book, with Spiner’s voice and sense of humour coming across loud and clear on every page. The only question is… exactly how much of it is true? A
109. The Night Always Comes by Willy Vlautin - The latest novel by one of my very favourite authors takes place across two days and two nights, as a hard-done by young woman tries to raise the money she needs to buy her family home. Like Vlautin’s best works, this is an inspiring story of one person’s determination against insurmountable odd. Tinged throughout with sadness and despair, but ultimately an uplifting tale: A
110. Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson - A new version of a book I adore, featuring seven beautiful illustrations by Tove Jansson which have never previously been included in an English language edition. The tale of Moomintroll waking from hibernation remains as enthralling as it was when I first read it a few years ago, and this special edition is a wonderful addition for both Moomin completists and those discovering Jansson’s timeless tales for the first time: A+
111. Future Crimes edited by Mike Ashley - A British Library collection of short stories mixing crime and science-fiction. There are some cracking tales included here, but, as I’ve found with previous volumes in this series, it’s those by obscure authors that prove the more exciting read for me: B+
112. Secret Fords Vol. 2 by Steve Saxty - The second volume in Saxty’s exploration of cars the Ford Motor Company never made. This book - and it’s companion scrapbook - explore the development of the 1989 Fiesta, the flawed CE14 Escort, through the Mondeo and Focus that revitalised the company. Along the way there are fascinating stories about the Scorpio, the Ka, and a whole host of other cars that never made it out of the development workshops. An incredible read for anyone interested in Fords or how a car is developed: A+
113. Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar - A novel written in the style of a true crime book, detailing the hunt for a killer dubbed the ‘boogeyman’ in the author’s home town in the late 1980s. I was gripped by this book from start to finish - and it was made all the more thrilling by successfully keeping me from correctly identifying the identity of the killer. Highly recommended: A+
114. Search For Spock by Robb Pearlman - A fun book very much in the style of Where’s Wally, where the reader must locate the U.S.S. Enterprise’s Vulcan first officer in a variety of colourful artworks showing characters and scenes from Star Trek. Slight, but a fun diversion: B+
115. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei - A graphic novel memoir telling the story of Star Trek actor Takei’s incarceration, along with his family and 120,000 other Japanese American people, in internment camps during the Second World War. Takei’s voice comes through strongly in this book, while clean artwork comfortably runs the fine line between comic book exaggeration and gritty realism. Heartfelt and horrifying by equal measure, this was utterly absorbing: A
116. The Colorado Kid by Stephen King - A short Stephen King novel that was written in the early days of Hard Case Crime. Not so much a crime novel as it is a mystery, with two old newspaper men regaling their younger colleague with the story of a man's body found on a beach years earlier. Short and yet beautifully told, their is no definitive conclusion to the mystery told here – and the story is all the better for it: A
So there we go. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN books. Phew. I need a lie down. But wait! I've already got 19 on my to-read stack, and I've still got all those Dick Tracy collections to finish. Will I manage them all in the next twelve months?! Tune in same time, same place next year to find out!
Happy New Year!
**Update**
