Dumpster fire

Back in the halcyon days of this blog – think the period in Star Trek history during the mid-90s when there were two popular shows on TV and the movies were going gangbusters – I used to write a year in review at the end of the each year talking about what television shows, movies, albums, books and other general stuff I'd enjoyed over the previous 365 days.

Now, let's be honest, those halcyon days are long gone. I have no idea if anyone still looks at this thing. It's now that fallow period in Star Trek history between Enterprise being cancelled and the Chris Pine movies starting (some would include the Chris Pine movies in that fallow period and they are wrong and I will chase them round the moons of Nibia and round the Antares Maelstrom and round Perdition's flames to prove them wrong), but I felt compelled, for some reason, to look back on this absolute dumpster fire of a year, even though we still seem to have *checks calendar* 4237 more months to go until it's over.

The poster child for 2020

Remember when the year started and everyone was texting each other at midnight on New Year's Eve saying "this is going to be the best year EVAH!" and claiming that the 'Roaring Twenties' were going to be so much fun like we were all going to dress as flappers and throw it down to jaunty jazz music. Larks!

And then we got to March and Boris Johnson went on telly to tell us that the Government was going to effectively pay us to stay at home, eat cake, get fat and Netflix and chill. And despite the fact that Netflix and chill with Boris sends shivers down the nation's collective spines, we all did it. How fun, because it would all be over in a few weeks, right?

Cue Olivia Coleman as the Queen-style 'Oh dear.'

"Oh dear."

And the first few weeks (how long is a week now, anyway? Eighty four days?) were quite fun. I had no work, which was fine, so I just sat around reading books and trying to complete Netflix. It's funny how weeks of nothing have a strange effect on you – I got weirdly obsessed with the old TV show SeaQuest DSV at one point. A friend sent me the first two seasons on DVD which I blitzed, then I went searching for the three novels that were published in the mid-90s before everyone realised it was an awful television show and no one had any interest in a talking dolphin or books about a talking dolphin. I found them on eBay at slightly inflated prices. 

"Go on," said TOH. "Treat yourself. It's been a difficult year. We all deserve something nice."

So I bought them.

What was Spielberg thinking?

 

Around this time was my brother's birthday. Obviously I couldn't visit – I live in Wales now, we'll come back to that sometime in the future – plus we were still in lockdown, which is an awfully exciting way of saying have you really watched everything on Netflix? Why don't you try some baking now? So everyone tried baking and all the supermarkets ran out of flour. Cue me looking at a large box of Daz washing powder in the local Co-op for a good two minutes while pondering "will anyone really be able to pick up the faintly soapy taste if I mask it with lemon frosting?"

So anyway, I told Big Bro I would post him his presents and OF COURSE see him for Sparky Pa's birthday in June. This was still when June was two months after April.

So then some work came in and I started teaching some online yoga classes via Zoom, which is an app that to this day I CANNOT wait to delete from my phone because I never want to hear the word Zoom again and even after eleventy twelve years of using it no one is able to end a Zoom meeting with anything other than a super awkward wave and countless "bye, bye, bye, byyyyyyye" like when you used to have phone calls with your nan. I also found a really good website that sells vintage sci-fi books and started spending a lot of money there because it's been a difficult year and we deserve to treat ourselves now and then.

Meanwhile, people on the internet either a) dyed their hair, b) shaved all their hair off, or c) bemoaned the fact they couldn't have a haircut. TOH bought some clippers because his mop was going full Lion-O and recruited me to trim it. With clippers in one hand, nail scissors in the other and a faintly terrified expression on my face I started going at his hair like I used to go at the bush overhanging my parking space at the old Sparky Towers. "Can you blend it in like my barber does?" he asked as I stepped back in horror to take a look at what I'd inflicted on him. 

"How do you feel about a number one all over?" I replied.

"Oh dear."

Dad's birthday came and went, and although I could've driven down to have a socially distanced cuppa with him and Sparky Ma in their garden, Sparky Ma talked me out of it because "it's a long way to drive just for a cup of tea and I'm not sure if Boris would let you come into the house to use the toilet before driving back." So I FaceTimed in and was passed around on Sparky Ma's iPad, which at several points fell backwards on its stand so now I have a pretty decent idea of what it feels like to be a dropped phone.

More months (years?) rolled by and I bought a replica Star Trek: Discovery phaser, a Voyager PADD replica and some combadges because it had been a difficult year and I deserved to treat myself. Every now and then I pick up the phaser and do a wibbly-wobbly walk through the kitchen like I'm Saru. It's simple pleasures that keep us entertained in these difficult times. 

Summer was nice, for the most part. It's easy to be told to stay at home when the weather holds, but then again I live in Wales now so one minute you're in the garden sunning yourself in your Speedos and the next you're throwing the end of a scarf over your shoulder and googling 'galoshes.'

One sartorial accessory we didn't foresee trending was the face mask. But when the government did its whole 'go out, but don't go out, go to work, but don't go to work, use public transport, but don't use public transport, oh, and why not go and have a cheap dinner (but maybe don't)' thing they swiftly became this year's HOT NEW THING. Stung by criticism that I wore only black ones (I liked the idea of looking like a ninja, OK?) I then treated myself to some more colourful ones (because it's been a difficult year and we deserve nice things).

"Oh dear."

Sparky Ma's Birthday was in September and by now this was the longest time I'd gone without seeing my family, so sod it, I jumped in the car and drove down to drop her presents off. She just happened to be in the front garden as I pulled up and promptly burst into tears (I'm hoping because she was pleased to see me, not because she was thinking "dammit, he's back," but you can never be too sure). We're not allowed to hug these days so we bumped elbows – because it's either that, do the Vulcan salute, or hands in prayer and Namaste the shit out of people now – had a socially distanced cup of tea and a doughnut and then I got back in the car and drove home. Mum said it was the best birthday ever, and I'm assuming she meant the surprise of me visiting not the idea of me getting in the car and driving back to Wales, but, again, you can never be too sure.

By now with a stack of around twenty unread books (because it has been a difficult year and I deserved to treat myself)–

"Oh dear."

–and having aged about seventy years, it was clear that this whole Covid-19 thing wasn't going to go away in a few weeks. And that's when I started getting wound up by people on the internet getting nutty. The glimmer of hope that the vaccines in development might work and be here sooner than expected inevitably brought out the crazies and the anti-vaxxers and the anti-5G 'Bill Gates wants to microchip us' lot. Let me break this down with some bullet points, because Timmy loves a bullet point:

• If there's a microchip small enough that shadowy Government agencies can inject it into me in order to track me for the rest of my life can I just say: TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS REMARKABLE TECHNOLOGY because I just bought a new iPhone (it's been a difficult year and I deserved to treat myself) and I still have to charge it at least once a day. Whatever incredible battery is in this tiny chip to power it for the next 40 years, I want it in my phone NOW.

• Do we all really think our lives are interesting enough to warrant being tagged by the Government? Because quite frankly, all the 'they just want to track us lot' are exactly the same people who tag their location on Facebook all the time (usually at the fucking gym like anyone gives a shit), using their GPS-enabled phone. I'm pretty sure they're doing the work of that miracle microchip already.

• And finally, my new iPhone is 5G-enabled and so far I've resisted any orders to go full-Terminator, take someone's clothes, boots and motorcycle and hunt down all the Sarah Conners in the country. Not that I'd need the boots because I've bought two lovely new pairs in the last couple of months. Hush, it's been a difficult year.

Quite frankly I can't see us all turning into the Borg just yet, but if we do I'm all for being a sexy drone with a twiddly thing on the end of my arm.

"Oh dear."

It's weird how people have stopped taking the whole thing seriously. We were all scared of this invisible plague at first and stayed inside lest someone cough in our faces or try to lick us in the street. And then people went "oh, it's not that bad, it's just like a cold." And that's why I snapped at someone in Boots the other day and glared at the two women in the shopping centre today who were walking around with their masks tucked under their chins and smug 'well we're still wearing them' expressions on their faces. And then there's the people who say "well, do you actually know anyone that's had it?" and you can tell they expect you to say no. But I do. I know a few people who've had it. One's a friend I know from social media. He went quiet a few weeks back and just as I'd started worrying about him he posted how he'd got it and it had, quite frankly, knocked him for six (this is an understatement). 

He posted a video on Facebook that he asked be shared. I did, and if we're friends on Facebook please go to my page and watch it. It's not easy viewing seeing someone NOT HAVING A VERY GOOD TIME OF IT; in fact, it's pretty harrowing, which probably explains why no one has commented on it or acknowledged it in any way, because Facebook is surely just somewhere where we post kitten videos and bonkers conspiracy theories and click 'maybe' to social events we have no intention of going to.

And that's why, when the jab becomes available and they say I can have it I'll be strutting up, ripping my t-shirt off and screaming 'jab me!' with every ounce of my being. Because if it means I can hug my parents, high-five my brother and fist-bump my best mate I'm here for it. Until then, I'll be wearing a mask in public. I'll be encouraging others to stay safe and stick to the rules and I'll avoid going out unnecessarily. Because I don't want to get it. I mean, if I did it might just be like a bad cold. Or it could fuck up my lungs for the rest of my life. I don't want to run the risk of finding out.

Anyway, there's enough to be doing at home without even thinking about going out. There's a stack of books that reaches my knee, The Crown's back on Netflix and I'm pondering whether I'm going to buy that nice coat I've had my eye on for a while. 

Hush. It's been a difficult year.

Reading list 2019

Well here we are again: what appears to be my annual return to blogging, despite my constant teasing at the end of every year that next year might just be the one where I get back to it more consistently. Actually, it's becoming less of a tease and more an outright lie, but hey ho, here we are again. I feel like an A-list star making a cameo appearance on a C-list sitcom.

As is customary at the end of the year, I'm rolling out my reading list, not just because I sincerely hope it will inspire some of you (who am I kidding, dear sole reader) to pick up some of the books on this list, but because it stops me buying the same book each year because the publisher wheels out a version with a jazzy new cover and I'm too stupid to remember I've read it.

I wasn't quite the Olympic-level reader I was last, with 2019 numbering just 82 books to 2018's 92 (what happened last year? Did I do *nothing* else?!); that said, the Tintin boxset I read early in the year was comprised of multiple books each containing three Tintin albums, so if I were to split those up as individual books as they were originally published I would actually have read bang on 100! BOOM - in your face 2018! As usual there were some amazing books, some good books, some OK books, and some occasionally really quite fucking awful books. You'll have to read the list to find out what they were.

So let me don my familiar sexy glasses and tweed jacket with the worn leather elbow patches as I plonk myself into an over-stuffed chair beside a crackling fireplace and regal you with all the books I read this year. As always, I'm grading them from A+ (you fiiiiiine!) to C and below (yo' trash!), and like last year, I won't be providing links to that giant online retailer because a) I can't be arsed, b) buy from book shops and c) I'm google them yourself!

ONWARDS!

01. The Vertical Plane by Ken Webster - An enthralling recollection of events that took place over a period of two years in the author’s life where he received a series of messages pertaining to be from someone in the 16th century. Whether it’s true or not, this is a fascinating book, and the unusual events only get stranger when an unknown entity named 2109 begins to send their own messages: A 

02. The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 3 by Herge - The third book in the beautiful compact boxset contains the following three stories: * The Black Island, in which Tintin and Snowy find themselves in the trail of fake money that leads them to a mysterious castle on a remote island: A * King Ottokar’s Sceptre, where Tintin must retrieve a stolen antiquity to prevent the king of a small country from being deposed: A * The Crab with the Golden Claws, another story in which Tintin finds himself on the tail of opium smugglers, and the first story to introduce Captain Haddock: A

03. The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 4 by Herge - Book four of the Tintin boxset contain: * The Shooting Star, where Tintin leads an expedition to claim a fallen meteorite before a rival team can reach it first: A * The Secret of the Unicorn, in which Tintin tries to unravel the mystery of a missing model ship that holds the clue to locating treasure hidden by Captain Haddock’s ancestor: A * Red Rackham’s Treasure, which follows on directly from The Secret of the Unicorn and tells the tale of Tintin’s expedition to find the missing treasure: A

04. Live Long And... Things I Learned Along the Way by William Shatner - A wonderful book detailing Shatner’s philosophy on life, using instances and examples from his nine decades on this planet. It’s a quick read, packed full of wit, warmth and countless anecdotes brought vividly to life in Shatner’s unmistakable voice. My only complaint is the number of typos that have crept into its pages, but get past those and it’s a treat: A

05. The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 5 by Herge - The three Tintin stories contained in this book are: * The Seven Crystal Balls, in which Tintin investigates how seven members of an expedition to Peru have all been stricken by coma, and how the kidnapping of Professor Calculus ties into the affair: A * Prisoners of the Sun picks up the story as Tintin travels to Peru in search of the missing Calculus. A great conclusion to this two-part adventure: A * Land of the Black Gold, where Tintin’s investigation into petrol contamination leads him to the Middle East and the search for a missing prince. Perhaps not quite as entertaining as the last two stories, but a decent adventure tale nonetheless: B+

06. The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 6 by Herge - This book contains the following stories: * Destination Moon, in which Tintin and the gang prepare themselves for a mission into space. It’s a decent tale, but very much feels like a prelude to the one that follows: B+ * Explorers on the Moon picks up the story, with Tintin and his friends exploring the lunar surface, unaware that a saboteur is hidden aboard their moon rocket. A great continuation that really ramps up the thrills after a relatively uneventful first part. Beautiful artwork, too: A * The Calculus Affair, in which Tintin and Captain Haddock race to save Professor Calculus after he is abducted in order to procure a deadly weapon he has created. A stereotypical Tintin adventure that works well after the epic moon adventure: B+

07. The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 7 by Herge - The penultimate book in the boxset are: * The Red Sea Sharks, in which Tintin and Captain Haddock find themselves embroiled in Middle Eastern coup and a plot to smuggle slaves. Another strong adventure tale: B+ * Tintin in Tibet - apparently Herge’s favourite of his books, this adventure sees Tintin and Captain Haddock travel to Tibet in search of the survivor of a plane crash. A great story, beautifully illustrated - definitely one of the series’ best: A * The Castafiore Emerald - a farcical tale set within Captain Haddock’s country estate that follows efforts to trace a stolen jewel. Broader in comedy than other Tintin stories, and while it’s not one of the best, it’s a decent read: B+

08. The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 8 by Herge - the final book in the complete Tintin boxset contains: * Flight 714 to Sydney, in which Tintin finds himself stranded on a remote island after being caught up in an elaborate plan to steal money from a millionaire. This story introduces extra-terrestrials to the Tintin canon in a brilliantly inventive way: A * Tintin and the Picaros, in which Tintin, Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus become involved in a coup in a South American country. Herge’s last complete story is a typical rollicking Tintin tale with some stunning artwork: A * Tintin and Alph-Art - An incomplete story told in script form and accompanied by early pencil drawings has Tintin investigating the death of an art gallery owner. What exists is a great Tintin story, and shows that Herge was still at the top of his game even at the end of his life. Who knows how he would have resolved this story: A

09. From the Depths edited by Mike Ashley - A British Library collection of spooky maritime stories, featuring everything from weird creatures to ghosts and murderous ships. A Wonderful collection of forgotten stories that I devoured in just a few days: A

10. Haunted Houses by Charlotte Riddell - A British Library book collecting two ghostly novels - Fairy Water and The Uninhabited House - by this forgotten author. The first story I found somewhat unexceptional, with the notion of a haunting being somewhat secondary to a tale of Victorian class principles; the second, in which a young legal clerk resolves to uncover the truth behind a haunted house, was much more enjoyable, however. A good read, but not my favourite in this series: B-

11. Star Trek: Discovery - The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack (Kindle) - The fourth Discovery novel focuses on young Sylvia Tilly, one of the show’s standout characters. Disappointingly, this was the weakest of the series’ books so far. Although the author absolutely nails Tilly’s voice, the first half of the book dragged as it delved into her school life and routine. It picked up in the second half when Tilly leaves school and heads out into space, but the reader is never made to think that there’s any real threat; even then when there is a hint of danger it’s swiftly dealt with (most notably by an ancient alien who starts bantering with Tilly when it discovers she can speak its language). This felt like a young adult short story dragged out to full-length, but lacking the power that many of the YA books I’ve read have possessed in abundance: B-

12. The Outward Urge by John Wyndham and Lucas Parkes - An out of print novel that I sourced online, eventually finding a pristine 57 year-old copy. This book tells the tale in five parts of members of one family who feel the urge to go out into space. A thrilling, brilliant read - I loved this: A

13. The Platform Edge edited by Mike Ashley - Another British Library anthology of weird short stories, this time focusing on spooky train journeys. There are some great stories here - some chilling, others more thought-provoking, but all very effective: A

14. Tintin and Alph-Art by Yves Rodier - Hergé’s final, unfinished Tintin book is brought to completion by Rodier in a self-published volume. The art is startling Hergé-like, if lacking perhaps in a degree of finesse, while Rodier does a good job of giving the story the conclusion it lacked in the notes its creator left following his death. Whether the final product is anything like the way Hergé would’ve actually finished this story will never be known, but Rodier’s interpretation is, I imagine, as good as a final Tintin book will ever get. My only real complaint is that the print on demand publishing results in quite low resolution artwork that mars an otherwise strong volume: A

15. Planet of the Gawfs by Steve Vance - An utterly charming, highly entertaining sci-fi novel from 1978 that I bought second hand off a bookshop on Instagram. Years after a devastating plague swept the Earth, mutated humans are shipped off to a seemingly idyllic distant planet where they can be with their ‘own kind’ - but the reality is they’re dumped there and left to fend for themselves. That is until a group devise a plan to return to Earth. Told in the first person via the brilliantly realised voice of the main character, this was a fun read with a nice line of humour throughout: A

16. Calling Captain Future by Edmond Hamilton - I managed to source online a pristine 1967 paperback of the second Captain Future novel, having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first last year. This second story, in which Captain Future and his team try to stop the dastardly Doctor Zarro from his attempt to seize control of the solar system, is a brilliantly fun romp that takes us from Earth to Mars, and then onto distant Pluto. Inventive and imaginative, this was an utter joy to read: A

17. The Tide Went Out by Charles Eric Maine - This volume in the British Library’s classic science-fiction series is a story about what would happen if all the Earth’s water supplies suddenly vanished. The crisis is seen through the eyes of a journalist who is drafted into the government’s propaganda department and witness to the crumbling of society. A riveting, wonderfully written tale, and one that seems ever more prescient as the effects of climate change and human influence on our planet take hold: A

18. The Mothman Prophecies by John A. Keel (Kindle) - A fascinating exploration of the real life events involving UFOs, strange visitations, men in black and a towering, winged man that preceded the tragic collapse of a bridge in Point Pleasant, West Virginia that claimed dozens of lives in the late 1960s. Though it meandered in places and sometimes felt like the author was trying to fit a number of disperate incidents into the larger story, it was on the whole gripping and terrifying… utterly impossible and yet you can’t help feeling there’s an element of truth to it: B+

19. Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen (Kindle) - Jack is a confident, outgoing gay teenager who finds himself writing a sex column for his friend’s website, only for the column to attract the attention of a mysterious admirer who soon becomes a stalker. A good read, with some strong characters, and the identity of the stalker kept me guessing right up until the end. I enjoyed this: B+

20. The Darkest of Nights by Charles Eric Maine - Another British Library reprint of an apocalyptic tale by this author, and another brilliant read. In this book, Maine tells the tale of civilisation’s fall after a deadly virus sweeps the planet. It’s a thrilling story and hard to believe it’s almost 60 years old: A 21. The Face in the Glass by Mary Elizabeth Braddon - A collection of gothic tales, some of which I enjoyed thoroughly, others which dragged somewhat. For the most part a decent read, though: B-

22. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury - I’ve been meaning to read this classic tale of a dark carnival arriving in a small American tale for years, and for the most part it didn’t disappoint. Bradbury’s style of writing is unique and not always the easiest to read, but I enjoyed the spooky horrors faced by young Jim and Will when they encounter Mr. Dark’s circus. Worth noting that I read this as a Folio Society edition - a beautiful slipcased book with stunning illustrations: B+

21. The Face in the Glass by Mary Elizabeth Braddon - A collection of gothic tales, some of which I enjoyed thoroughly, others which dragged somewhat. For the most part a decent read, though: B-

23. Tales From The Loop by Simon Stålenhag - A large, oversized coffee table book that showcases the author’s stunning artworks of strange machines in beautiful landscapes. Around these images he spins a tale of a young boy growing up in a world that’s becoming stranger and more dangerous. A fantastic book - the story is small in scale and personal, while the art is simply jaw-dropping: A

24. Things From The Flood by Simon Stålenhag - The follow up to Tales From The Loop sees ever stranger incidents happening in the landscape of The Loop, and our protagonist moving into his teenage years. More stunning artwork and a thrilling expansion of the ideas set forth in the first book: A

25. The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag - Although similar in concept to Stålenhag’s two previous books, his latest one takes place in a America and follows a girl’s cross country journey amid a landscape of towering robots. An even stronger narrative than Tales From The Loop and Things From The Flood, with a heartbreaking conclusion I did not see coming. This is a brilliant book: A+

26. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Possession by J.M. Dillard and Kathleen O’Malley (Kindle) - This sequel to Dillard’s earlier TOS novel, Demons, sees the malevolent brings that once almost seized control of the planet Vulcan takeover the crew of the Enterprise-D. Something of a disappointment, this novel never really feels like it gets going and generally underwhelms: C+

27. The Art of John Carter by Josh Kushins - I’ve long wanted to read this visual guide to one of my favourite movies, and finally managed to get my hands on a copy. Packed full of gorgeous artwork and interviews with the creative team responsible for the design of the film, this was well worth the wait: A

28. The Nest by Gregory A. Douglas - The first in a subscription series of five ‘Paperbacks from Hell’, this novel tells the story of an outbreak of giant mutated cockroaches on a island off the U.S. coastline. Not the best novel ever written, but the stereotypical characters and outlandish plot are all part of its charm. A thoroughly enjoyable horror read: A-

29. The Dangerous Journey by Tove Jansson - A children’s picture book, yes, but one I felt compelled to read as it was Jansson’s final Moomins book. It’s a slight volume, but a beautifully illustrated one as a young girl named Susanna finds herself transported to Moominvalley and into the heart of danger and adventure. Joyful: A

30. Garfield: Complete Works Vol. 2 by Jim Davis - Another collection of Garfield strips, this time spanning 1980 and 1981, and a reminder of just how amusing these early years of the fat orange cat were: A

31. Star Trek: Enterprise - The First Adventure by Vonda N. McIntyre - A novel detailing Captain Kirk’s first mission aboard the Enterprise should be a rollicking great adventure, but this is a disappointment. The normally professional crew members of the Starship Enterprise come across as bitchy and unable to do their jobs, and for the first 200 pages they have nothing more to do than ferry a vaudeville act through space. When something does happen in the last 140 pages it’s just underwhelming. A huge disappointment: C

32. Dick Tracy Vol. 4 by Chester Gould - The fourth volume collecting all the old Tracy newspaper strips features more serialised crime-busting by the famed detective, but also marks the first appearance of one of the grotesque villains that will ultimately become the series’ trademark - in this instance, the faceless villain known as The Blank. Hugely enjoyable: A

33. When Darkness Love Us by Elizabeth Engstrom - the second book in the ‘Paperbacks from Hell’ subscription series is a book containing two stories, both of which deal with women finding themselves in horrific circumstances. The first sees a woman called Sally-Ann trapped in an underground labyrinth for years, while the second sees a mentally challenged woman start to emerge from the darkness of her own mind. Both, inevitably, become the monsters of their own stories, and both are stories worth reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book: A

34. Dick Tracy Vol. 5 by Chester Gould - Another collection of newspaper strips from the late 1930s see Tracy on the hunt for ever more nefarious villains. This volume sees more improvements in Gould’s artwork and in the nature of his storytelling. A joy: A

35. Star Trek: Yesterday’s Son by A.C. Crispin - A semi-sequel to the classic episode All our Yesterdays, this novel sees Spock discovering that his brief trip 5000 years into the past of the planet Sarpeidon resulted in the birth of a son, and he resolved to go back and rescue him. A thoroughly entertaining book that feels like an episode of the original series inbound by the limits of a television budget: A

36. Menace of the Machine edited by Mike Ashley - The latest collection from the British Library’s science fiction classics range features stories based around artificial intelligence. There’s some real gems in here, from authors both familiar and unknown: A

37. Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive - A new original Dick Tracy graphic novel that serves as something of a reboot of Chester Gould’s classic comic strip. Overall, this was a bit of a disappointment. The story was simplistic, lacking the depth and twists that Gould weaved into his own tales, while the artwork was similarly unappealing. A missed opportunity: B-

38. Dick Tracy Vol. 6 by Chester Gould - More adventures for Gould’s crimefighter. While the artwork starts to more closely resemble the familiar style that would become Gould’s trademark on the series, the stories in this volume are not quite as brilliant as those of the last. Riveting entertainment nonetheless: B+

39. The Reaping by Bernard Taylor - Book three in my ‘Paperbacks from Hell’ subscription is the story of a painter who is hired to paint a portrait at a secluded country house, only to discover there’s more to his being hired and it has something to do with some creepy nuns scurrying around in the gardens… A really good book - no sudden horror scares, just a quietly building sense of dread as events unfold. Reminded me a lot of Jonathan Aycliffe’s stories: A

40. The Mexican by Robert Westbrook - I never knew there was a novelisation of The Mexican, one of my favourite films, so after discovering that it existed I hunted a copy down. A quick, easy read that perfectly captures the fun of the film - thoroughly enjoyable: A

41. Dick Tracy Vol. 7 by Chester Gould - Another collection of classic newspaper strips featuring the heroic detective, with famed villains including The Mole and B.B. Eyes featuring. Very enjoyable, although not the strongest stories of the series so far: A

42. Kill Creek by Scott Thomas - A brilliant horror novel in which four horror writers are brought together for an interview in a supposedly haunted house… only to find that there’s a truth to stories about the house. A brilliant page-turner with some strong supernatural moments: A

43. Dick Tracy Vol. 8 by Chester Gould - This volume hits a rich seam of classic Tracy stories, with villains including Pruneface and Flattop making their debut. A great volume: A

44. The Weird Tales of William Hope Hodgson edited by Xavier Aldana Reyes – The latest collection in the British Library’s spooky classics range focuses on stories by the creator of Carnacki. There are some good tales here, but reading Hodgson’s work in a collection highlights how formulaic he was in his storytelling and ultimately I became a little bored towards the end: B

45. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Terra Incognita - The latest collection of comics dealing with the mirror universe versions of the TNG crew sees the mirror Reg Barclay infiltrating the Enterprise-D. It’s a solid read and very well illustrated, but a bit aimless - the mirror plotline feels like it falls by the wayside for a few issues to the point that the mirror Barclay doesn’t appear much. The events of the final chapter boost excitement levels, but very much leave this volume feeling like a prelude to something bigger that’s still to come: B+

46. Alien Echo by Mira Grant - A new young adult novel set in the Alien universe. It’s a decent enough story, but one that lacks a certain something. The Alien doesn’t arrive until 100 pages in, and when it does there’s a lot of repetition in the description. Add to that some overly familiar YA story tropes constantly being rolled out (the young protagonist constantly thinks about kissing her girlfriend even while the Alien pursues them) means that this book falls down compared to much more intricately plotted fare such as the Illuminae trilogy. Fun, but could’ve been better: B

47. E.T. The Book of the Green Planet by William Kotzwinkle - A novel sequel to the Spielberg blockbuster. I’ve wanted to read this for years, so tracked down a copy and bought it. And its… an odd book. At times a child’s book, at others peculiarly adult, with a plot that’s not always easy to follow as E.T., demoted and shamed following his exploits on Earth, seeks a way to get back to his beloved Elliot – now a troubled teen experiencing the first pangs of puberty. It’s not a great book, but it’s strangely compelling in places, and the ending is unexpectedly good: B

48. The Tribe by Bari Wood - The fourth book in the Paperbacks from Hell series and the one I’ve enjoyed least. A decent premise - former captives of a Jewish concentration camp bring a golem to life in 1980s New York - never really feels like it ever comes to life. I didn’t really feel like I liked the characters, and the conclusion felt rushed and convenient: B-

49. The Spirit by Thomas Page - The fifth and final book of this Paperbacks from Hell subscription is a tale of two men’s obsession with tracking a Bigfoot across the U.S. A decent read, but it didn’t always hold my attention as some of the earlier books in the subscription did: B

50. The End of the World edited by Mike Ashley - A collection of classic stories focusing on world-ending scenarios. There’s some great tales included here - I rattled through this book in just a few days: A

51. Alien: Isolation by Keith R.A. DeCandido - A novelisation of the acclaimed Alien video game in which Ellen Ripley’s daughter sets out in search of her missing mother only to find the deadly xenomorph. It’s a quick and entertaining read that I enjoyed for the most part, although there were additional storylines used to expand the book that felt somewhat shoehorned in, and sections of the book read very much like an explanation of how you would progress in the game. A solid read nonetheless: B+

52. The Enterprise War by John Jackson Miller (Kindle) - A new Star Trek: Discovery novel that explains just where Captain Pike’s Enterprise was during the Klingon war of the TV series’ first season. Of all the Discovery novels so far, this is perhaps my favourite: a good story, a real sense of threat, some great action sequences and a strong tie-in to the events of season two. Not perfect, but a good read: A-

53. Trolls by Stefan Spjut (Kindle) - A sequel to Stallo, a wonderful novel I read a few years ago about missing children and trolls in Sweden. This books picks up some of the characters from the earlier novel 10 years later, and adds werewolves into the mix. Not quite as engaging as the original, but an entertaining and subdued horror nonetheless: B+

54. Alien 3: The Unproduced Screenplay - A graphic novel adaptation of William Gibson’s script for the third Alien movie. Hugely different to the film we ended up with, this story focuses more on the characters of Hicks and Bishop and sees the alien loose on two different space stations. My issues with this are less to do with the adaptation - the artwork is fine - and more to do with a story I found serviceable if less than compelling; the actual Alien 3 movie that we got is a far superior (if itself, flawed) story: B

55. Dick Tracy Vol. 9 by Chester Gould - The next book in the comprehensive collection of Tracy newspaper strips features some of the character’s best storylines and most iconic villains, from Flattop to The Brow – the latter of which is a personal favourite – to Shaky and Breathless Mahony: A

56. The Question Mark by Muriel Jaeger - A 20th century man finds himself awakening in the utopian civilisation of the 22nd century, but all is not as it seems. An interesting story, but one that failed to fully engage me: B-

57. Wild Harbour by Ian McPherson - A couple retreat to the Scottish highlands fearing that war is closing in on them, but as the months pass their hideaway becomes threatened. A good read, but not one I’m sure falls within the realm of the British Library science-fiction classics it’s published under. Tense and unnerving, nonetheless: B

58. Doorway to Dilemma edited by Mike Ashley - A British Library collection of dark fantasy short stories, and the volume of this series I’ve connected with the least. There are some decent tales within, but the title of dark fantasy almost feels a little misleading: B-

59. To be Taught if Fortunate by Becky Chambers (Kindle) - A new novella from the author of the acclaimed Wayfarer series, and the first set outside of its continuity. The book follows four astronauts on a decades long mission to explore four alien worlds, the changes made to them to ensure their ability to survive their mission, and the possibility of how humanity has moved on without them. Short but brilliantly told - Chambers’ best book since The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet: A

60. The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle (Kindle) - A 1958 ‘hard’ science-fiction novel thy explores humanity’s response to a massive cloud that obscures the sun. A highly acclaimed novel, but for me this is definitely a book of its time - too dense in places, limited characterisations and lacking that special something that would really pull me in: B

61. Dark Sublime by Michael Dennis - The script of this play that ran at Trafalgar Studios over the summer months gives me an additional opportunity to appreciate its story, with time to linger on dialogue I may have missed at the theatre. It’s a terrifically enjoyable, witty and emotional piece that focuses on the former star of a 1970s science-fiction show, her relationship with her best friend, and a young fan that comes into her life: A

62. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz - The complete collected edition of Schwartz’s scary stories. Intended primarily for children these stories are slight and not terribly scary for adult readers, but remain entertaining and the illustrations are gorgeous: B+

63. Dick Tracy Vol. 10 by Chester Gould - The master detective battles villains Itchy and Influence in this collection, which also sees the debut of the iconic two-way wrist radio beloved of Tracy fans: A 

64. Evil Roots edited by Daisy Butcher - A British Library collection of weird tales focusing on the botanical gothic. There are some good stories here, but also a couple that have already appeared in previous volumes, and on the whole this was one of the less engaging volumes in the series for me: B-

65. Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell; illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks - A graphic novel telling the tale of Josiah and Deja as they work their last shift at a pumpkin patch theme park before going to college. An utterly charming, quick and easy read - thoroughly enjoyable: A

66. Fury from the Tomb by S.A. Sidor - A retro pulp novel in which an Egyptologist is recruited to find a lost tomb and transport the mummies within back to the United States - only to find he unleashes an incredible evil instead. A terrifically fun book - great characters, humour, a riveting story and a stunning cover; I loved this: A

67. The Beast of Nightfall Lodge by S.A. Sidor - A fantastic follow-up to Fury from the Tomb that sees Romulus Hardy reunite with his companions from that book to track down a monster lose on an isolated mountain. An equally thrilling adventure to its predecessor that does everything you’d want from a sequel while adding more layers to the characters and leaving the door open for further adventures. A highly recommended pulp read: A

68. Menace of the Monster edited by Mike Ashley - A British Library collection of sci-fi monster stories, containing some wonderful tales. Thoroughly enjoyable: A

69. Supermarket by Bobby Hall - The debut novel from rapper Logic is about an aspiring author who takes a job in a supermarket to gather ideas for his first book, only to find his main character taking over his life. A dark comedy with hints of Fight Club, this was an engrossing, well thought out story and genuinely brilliant debut; Logic also released a soundtrack to accompany the book that I also recommend highly: A

70. Black Ambrosia by Elizabeth Engstrom - The first book in Valancourt Books’ second wave of Paperbacks from Hell. This was a slow burner for me; initially I wasn’t too into it, but as this story of a young woman turning to vampiric ways unfolded I became increasingly enamoured of it as it built to a wonderful conclusion: B+

71. Star Trek: The Q Conflict - A graphic novel that sees the crews of the original series, TNG, DS9 and Voyager brought together at the whim of the omnipotent Q. It’s a lot of fun, but ultimately few of the expansive cast get a moment to shine and there feels little sense of an actual threat. Worth a read though, and the artwork is gorgeous: B+

72. Dick Tracy Forever by Michael Avon Oeming - Collected edition of the recent four issue comic series in which Tracy is tasked with bringing down a crime ring that hacks rich people’s minds. An odd one, this; the art is great, but the story, which takes Tracy into the future, seems at odds with Chester Gould’s original setting for the famed detective. Better than the Dead or Alive paperback I read earlier in the year (no. 37 on this list) but still lacking something: B

73. Maria M by Gilbert Hernandez - A new graphic novel that collects the original Maria M book and the never before published second volume. Not one of Beto’s best works, but it’s still a good read, as the titular character moves to the States and becomes embroiled in mob affairs: B+

74. The OC: The Outsider - Decided to revisit one of my favourite TV shows via this novelisation that encompasses the first seven episodes of the debut season. It’s a perfectly serviceable adaptation, but one that lacks the flair and humour of the show itself: B-

75. Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Missions Continue - Huge hardback collection featuring a number of IDW’s TNG comic miniseries. Only one of the included stories (‘Ghosts’) fails to impress, all the others are beautifully illustrated and brilliantly told: A

76. Penguin Highway by Tomihiko Morimi - A young Japanese boy tries to work out why his home town is being invaded by hordes of penguins, while also investigating a mysterious woman, a strange sphere in the forest, and avoiding the attention of the school bully. A terrific book that translates that 80s Amblin movie vibe into a Japanese setting, like Strange Things with penguins. Kooky, endearing, and beautifully told: A

77. The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocals by Nicholas Meyer - A simply brilliant new entry in Meyer’s series of Sherlock Holmes pastiches that began in the 1970s with The Seven Per Cent Solution. Here, Holmes and Watson are tasked with discrediting The Protocals of the Learned Elders of Zion, a document that suggests a plot to takeover the world. Wonderfully written and clearly exhaustively researched, the tale weaves Holmes into - frighteningly - actual events that unfolded in 1905. A fantastic read, and I can only hope Meyer will follow it with further tales of the great detective: A+

78. Ghost Train by Stephen Laws - A horror novel about an ancient evil seeking to enter our world through the train tracks running the length of the UK, and the one man who can stop it. A slow burner, and one I struggled to get into initially, but things pick up in the latter part of the book. A decent horror read, if not as exceptional as I’d hoped: B

79. Detective Comics 1000 - Yes, it’s a comic book, but it’s a big one and DC are actually selling it as a hardback deluxe edition, so I’m classing it as a book. This celebratory 1000th issue presents short Batman stories by some of the industry’s finest writers and artists. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but on the whole enjoyable: B

80. Almost Midnight by Rainbow Rowell - A wee little book containing two of the author’s festive themed short stories, one set around New Years and the other around the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. Utterly charming tales - I thoroughly enjoyed: A

81. Alien Next Door by Joey Spiotto - A fun picture book in which the deadly Alien from the films is placed in domestic situations. Beautifully illustrated and fun: A

82. Batman: The 1989 Movie Adaptation Deluxe Edition - Gorgeous new hardback edition of the comic book adaptation of Tim Burton’s classic movie. Original inked art sits alongside the finished pages, giving a never before seen insight into the creative process, and this remains one of the very best movie-to-comic works I’ve ever read: A+ 83

So there we have it - 82 books (or 100 if you want to cheekily count the Tintins as individual stories. And already 2020 is looking like a stellar year for me - I've got a huge stash of books waiting to be read, including 17 more Dick Tracy collections and a massive wedge of paperbacks. And that's before I even take the books I've written on my special list of 'books I want to read'. Seriously, someone needs to employ me as a professional reader. I promise I'll wear the tweed jacket everyday, and I might even pop on a bow tie or something.

ANYWAY. That was 2019. A new year awaits, so time for me to wish you all (sole reader) a Happy New Year!

And maybe/possibly/definitely* not a return to blogging!

*delete as appropriate, we can discuss this time next year

Reading list 2018

I'm going to be honest from the outset: while I have once again neglected this blog like some Dickensian street urchin for most of 2018, I'm going to smugly state that I believe I more than make up for it with this year's reading list, because - BRACE YOURSELVES - I read an astonishing number of books this year. I thought I did well with 60 last year, but quite frankly, 2018 makes 2017 look like that kid we all knew at school who sat there with his tongue poking out the side of his mouth while still making his way through a Meg and Mog book long after the rest of us had moved onto Willard Price novels (if you've never read a Willard Price novel, GET IN THE BIN).

As always, I'm donning my glasses (which I only need for working on the computer, but they make me look intelligent and 'speccsy') as well as my well-worn, trusty tweed jacket with the leather elbow patches, and will be assigning each and every book a grade, from D- (you're blocked and unfollowed) to A+ (feel free to slide into my DMs). And for those that are wondering, yes, I'm really wearing the jacket; nothing else, just the jacket.

Now, as long time readers will know (I'm just gonna assume I still have some of those), I usually provide links to each book so you can toddle off and buy your own copy should the fancy take you. This year, however, I'm not going to because quite frankly I read over 90 books and I don't really feel inclined to paste in 90+ links. Honestly, I think we all know how the internet works now, so just cut and paste the title into Google, hit return and - gee whiz it's like witchcraft - you'll find somewhere to treat yo' self. Any books listed below as Kindle were obviously bought from that gargantuan behemoth-like beast beginning with 'A'. As a general rule of thumb, any books I do choose to buy as a physical, you-can-hold-it-in-your-hands, dead tree edition I do make the effort to buy from an actual  bookshop, because they're precious and we should treasure them. Waterstones is lovely, and their click and collect option is a treat. Buy from them. Or an independent bookshop - if you've got one of those near you give it all the business you can afford to.

Anyway, lecture over: TO THE BOOKS!

(And you at the back, stop picturing me in just my tweed jacket like the literary equivalent of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct)

01. Star Trek: Boldly Go Vol. 2 - The second collected edition of comic book stories post-Star Trek Beyond deal’s with the fallout of Starfleet’s encounter with the Borg, reimagines Garth of Izar for the Kelvin Timeline, and gives us a short tale with a small alien called Kevin. Great fun: A

02. Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View - A wonderful collection of short stories that retell the events of A New Hope from the perspective of other characters. As with all short story collections, some tales are better than others, but for the most part this is a great anthology that puts a fresh and unique spin on familiar territory: A

03. The Twilight Zone adapted by Anne Washburn - Script book of the play that debuted at the Almeida Theatre in late 2017, based on episodes of the classic TV show. The play was wonderful, ands reading the original script only enriches it further: A

04. The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove Jansson - A lovely hardback edition of the very first Moomins story, in which Moomintroll and Moominmamma try to find the missing Moominpappa. A quick and easy read, endlessly inventive and utterly charming: A+

05. Heart-shaped Box by Joe Hill - The story of an ageing rock star who buys a ghost, only to find it – and his own past – coming back to haunt him. I really wanted to enjoy this, and for the most part did, but it felt overly long, and I couldn’t help feeling it would’ve made a much stronger novella: B- 

06. The Cardiff Christmas Club by Nick Frampton (Kindle) - A festive tale of a woman named Katy returning to Cardiff after a year travelling, only to find her life complicated by the affections of two different men. An utterly charming novel that I thoroughly enjoyed: A

07. The Silence of Ghosts by Jonathan Aycliffe (Kindle) - Another spooky tale from one of my favourite authors of recent times. This book sees an injured World War II naval officer return to his family’s old home in the Lake District only to find its not quite as empty as he had first thought. An effective ghost story: A

08. The Talisman by Jonathan Aycliffe (Kindle) - This master of horror stories turns his hand to a story that (by his own admission) bears some resemblance to The Exorcist. This tale of demonic possession nevertheless has its own flavour and is a riveting read I devoured in just a couple of days: A

09. Star Trek: Discovery - Drastic Measures by Dayton Ward (Kindle) - The second tie-in novel to the latest Star Trek series is a prequel in which younger versions of Georgiou and Lorca find themselves involved in the events of the massacre at Tarsus IV, as first mentioned in the TOS episode The Conscience of the King. It’s a great concept, but this book dragged somewhat around the middle third. Solid conclusion though, and worth a read if you go in with moderate expectations: B-

10. Comics Dementia by Gilbert Hernandez - A collection of some of Beto’s lesser seen work. Hit and miss in places, but still wonderful enjoyable: B+

11. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engle (Kindle) - Thought is read the original novel of this classic before the film hits cinemas and… I was disappointed. It’s a reasonably fun story of three kids skipping across the universe in search of their missing father, but it’s a slight tale and I fail to understand why it’s so highly praised: B

12. Dick Tracy by Max Allen Collins - After getting my hands on Collins’ sequel novels last year, I had to complete the trilogy (having thrown out my original edition years ago) and managed to find a brand new copy of this nearly 30 year old book! A terrific novelisation of the 1990 film that adds layers of detail not seen in the big screen version: A

13. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Kindle) - This young adult novel tells the story of Simon, who is coming to terms with his sexuality, and the online friendship he strikes up with another closeted gay teen. A very enjoyable, quick read: A-

14. Don’t Skip Out on Me by Willy Vlautin (Kindle) - Just as he did with his stunning novel Lean on Pete, Vlautin takes another subject I have little interest in - in this instance boxing - and crafts a truly remarkable story around it. A real slow burner that’s vividly brought to life by Vlautin’s sparse prose. I loved this book: A

15. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - The third and final part of the story that began with Illuminae and continued through Gemina. This book picks up with the characters we met in the previous two, and sets them back on course for the planet they had previously fled. Packed full of incredibly designed pages, and inventive storytelling, this is a fitting conclusion for these wonderful characters, and for this trilogy, which I rank as among the best sci-fi I’ve ever read: A+

16. All the Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler (Kindle) - A short novel that delves into the filthiest aspects of a horny teenager. Fun, filthy and doesn’t outstay its welcome - you even grow to like the protagonist: B+

17. No Good Brother by Tyler Keevil (Kindle) - Two brothers steal a race horse and smuggle it from Canada to the United States - where things just get worse for them. There’s more to this novel than that brief summary; it starts slow and builds so you really get to know and understand the narrator and his brother, their motivations and how down-trodden life has become for them. It’s a great tale, and one I enjoyed more and more as it went on: A

18. The Hunger by Alma Katsu (Kindle) - A stunning novel based on the true story of the The Donner Party, a wagon train that became snowed in during their trek to the American West Coast in the 1840s. Katsu gives the events a terrifying, almost supernatural spin to explain what happened on the fateful journey, and in the process weaves a gripping tale I couldn’t put down: A

19. Groo: Fray of the Gods by Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier - The hapless hero returns, this time finding himself caught between two kings, one of which is trying to gather followers for a new God. Another fun adventure for Groo: A

20. Groo: Play of the Gods by Sergio Aragones and Mark Evanier - Groo is shipped off to a foreign land along with an invading force intent on forcing the natives to worship their own god. Needless to say, with Groo involved it all goes wrong. Another strong Groo adventure: A

21. Star Trek: The Motion Picture by Gene Roddenberry - Filling a gap in my collection of Star Trek movie novelisations, I found this pristine copy on eBay… And it’s a great read. The only published Star Trek novel that Roddenberry wrote brings an added dimension to the events of the slow-paced movie, making this a thoroughly decent novelisation: A

22. Star Trek: Discovery Annual - OK, so this is essentially just a slightly bigger comic book, but it has a spine and will sit on my bookshelf, so it counts as a book! This Discovery annual provides a compelling backstory for the character of Lt. Paul Stamets, and reveals more about the U.S.S. Discovery’s revolutionary spore drive. A quick read, but worthy for Discovery fans: B+

23. Doctor Who: Rose by Russell T. Davis - Admission: I was sent this book by the author, but regardless, this novelisation of the Ninth Doctor’s first television episode is a lot of fun, and adds more layers, depth and detail to the story on which it is based: A

24. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Mirror Broken - A well-crafted graphic novel that gives us a glimpse into The Next Generation crew’s Mirror Universe counterparts. It’s a good read, with plenty of scope for further adventures for this motley crew of 24th century scoundrels: B+

25. Lost Mars edited by Mike Ashley - A wonderful collection of vintage science-fiction stories focusing on the red planet. My sole complaint is that the tales within have clearly been scanned in using an OCR scanner and some words have gotten confused in the process; not enough to ruin this book, but enough to make it noticeable. Still, a wonderful read: A

26. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification by Jeri Taylor - I found a new copy of this novelisation of the two-part TNG story on Amazon for 70p and it was well worth buying! Taylor’s book adds extra nuances not only to the meeting of Spock and Picard, but also to the mission of the Enterprise crew that acts as the episode’s B-plot, helping to add greater clarity and detail to the events of the storyline. Well worth reading for Star Trek fans: A

27. Moonrise edited by Mike Ashley - A companion volume to the Lost Mars collection of short stories, this time focusing on vintage tales of the moon. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories contained within, although a number of small typographical errors slipped through as with the Lost Mars collection - but not enough to spoil it. Highly recommended: A

28. Jack the Ripper: Case Closed by Gyles Brandreth - An enjoyable novel in which Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle are set the task of discovering the true identity of the infamous Whitechapel murderer. Well written, with a plausible conclusion given that the ripper was never truly identified: A-

29. Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel (Kindle) - The third and final part of the trilogy that began with Sleeping Giants and continued in Waking Gods. This book picks up the ongoing threads from its two predecessors to close out the story of giant metal robots appearing on Earth. It’s a worthy climax, but one that lacked some of the thrills and excitement of the two previous books: B-

30. Dick Tracy: The Collins Casefiles, Vol. 3 by Max Allan Collins - A collection of Collins’ Tracy strips from the early 1980s, which returned Chester Gould’s iconic detective to the more gritty storytelling he was famed for in the 30s and 40s. Great stories and striking artwork made this a fun read. It’s just a shame the fourth and final volume in the series was never published to round out Collins’ time on the strip: A

31. Out There Volume One: The Enemy Within by Humberto Ramos and Brian Augustyn - I first read Out There as individual comic books years ago, but this story of four teenagers fighting against a demon’s attempts to take over th Earth has long remained with me as one of my favourite comics series. This first volume contains the first six issues, and it’s every bit as enjoyable as I remember it being - brilliantly written and beautifully illustrated. A rare comics treat: A+

32. Out There Volume Two: Out of this World by Humberto Ramos and Brian Augustyn - The second volume of Out There marks the first time these issues have been collected in book form, and pick up the story from where it left off at the end of the first volume. A great continuation that sees the teenaged heroes continuing their battle to reclaim their town: A+

33. Out There Volume Three: Reunion by Humberto Ramos and Brian Augustyn - The final volume of Out There sees the kids in their final battle with the demon who seized their town. A brilliant conclusion to the series, but still one that ends on a final page that offers so much more ahead. A new epilogue gives a little closure to the series, but still… that chapter 18 cliffhanger…! A+

34. Whirlaway by Poe Ballantine (Kindle) - This new novel by one of my favourite writers tells the tale of Eddie Plum, who escapes from a psychiatric hospital and attempts to get his life back on track. I was initially a little underwhelmed by this book, but the closer I got to the end the more I came to enjoy it. Perhaps not the finest example of Ballantine’s work, but a great read nonetheless: A-

35. Star Trek: Boldly Go Vol. 3 - The third and final volume of the Kelvinverse comic book brings the adventures of Captain Kirk and his crew post-Star Trek Beyond to a close with a story that sees multiple Kirks facing one of their oldest friends in an epic battle. On all honesty, not my favourite collection of the new Star Trek comics, but this series has been consistently high quality, and this is by no means a bad tale to leave us with until the next big screen adventure of the Starship Enterprise: B+

36. The Vanishment by Jonathan Aycliffe (Kindle) - Another cracking horror tale from one of my favourite authors. A man’s life is thrown into turmoil when a summer get away with his wife leads to her disappearance and the secrets of an old house are finally brought to the fore. Thoroughly enjoyable and quietly spooky: A

37. Naomi’s Room by Jonathan Aycliffe (Kindle) - A genuinely chilling read in which a man’s life takes a terrifying turn after his young daughter goes missing. A brilliant, haunting page turner: A

38. The Twilight Children by Gilbert Hernandez and Darwyn Cooke - A collected edition of a four issue miniseries by Love and Rockets’ Beto and the late creator of DC: The New Frontier. This tale tells the story of a small town that is visited by mysterious orbs and a strange white-haired woman, and feels much like Beto’s Palomar stories with a little sci-fi twist and stunning artwork by Cooke. A quick, fun read: A-

39. Whispers in the Dark by Jonathan Aycliffe (Kindle) - A chilling tale about a young woman in the early 1900s whose well to do family falls on hard times. After a period in a workhouse, she subsequently finds herself living with rich cousins in an isolated Manor House where spooky goings on begin to manifest. Slower paced than Aycliffe’s other tales (the first hint of something haunting doesn’t really appear until a third of the way through the book), but that’s not a complaint; indeed, it helps the set the story up and make the rising evil even more of a mystery: A

40. Angels and Magpies by Jaime Hernandez - The latest book in the Love and Rockets library collection brings Jaime’s God and Science and The Love Bunglers together in one volume. Both stories are worth the price of the book alone, but The Love Bunglers in particular is a sublime, heart wrenching piece of art that ranks as one of the finest graphic novels I’ve ever read: A+

41. Grip: The Strange World of Men by Gilbert Hernandez - A collected edition of Beto’s four issue miniseries focusing on the mystery of a strange man who appears with seemingly no idea of his identity. A surreal adventure that’s nevertheless quite in: B+

42. Avengers of the Moon by Allen Steele - A wonderful pulp sci-fi novel that revives the 1940s Captain Future character for the modern age. Great characters and a strong story - in which the titular captain finds himself infiltrating a conspiracy to destabilise the solar system’s government - make this a thrilling read: A

43. Moominsummer Madness by Tove Jansson - The latest book in the new series of collectors edition hardbacks sees the Moomins’ home valley flooded, and them escaping by jumping aboard a theatre adrift in the water. Another joyful Moomins tale, and a beautiful little book: A

44. Moominpappa at Sea by Tove Jansson - Another in the new hardback collectors series. In this volume, Moominpappa feels the need to uproot his family and move to an island in order to live in an abandoned lighthouse. Its a noticeably more somber, mature and melancholy tale than Jansson’s previous books, but nevertheless retains the considerable charms of this remarkable series: A

45. The Summer Book by Tove Jansson - This adult novel from the creator of the Moomins tells the tale of a young girl named Sophia, and her exploits and adventures on an island she shares with her Grandmother. Written in the form of short vignettes, this book is a beautiful, reflective work that I devoured in a day; it will remain with me much longer: A+

46. A Garden Lost in Time by Jonathan Aycliffe - A novel by my favourite horror writer that’s not on kindle and out of print, so I had to track a copy down on eBay. This story is about a young boy who is sent to live with well to do relatives in Cornwall during the First World War, only to find that the Manor House in which they love is home to ghosts and an old evil. Not my favourite of Aycliffe’s novels - not helped by some typos and instances of character’s names being swapped around - but still an effective read that I thoroughly enjoyed: A-

47. Moomin: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition by Tove Jansson - A huge slipcased book featuring all of Jansson’s Moomins comic strips from the fifties and sixties. Although the stories are more comical than Jansson’s Moomin novels, the same charm is there. The stories, artwork and roster of crazy characters make this book a pure joy: A

48. A Winter Book by Tove Jansson - A collection of beautiful short stories from the creator of the Moomins that run the full breadth of human experience from youth to old age. Wonderful tales with a unique charm and a wickedly dry sense of humour: A

49. Star Trek: The Newspaper Comics Vol. 1 - An oversized collection of the newspaper strips that picked up the voyages of the Starship Enterprise after the end of The Motion Picture. Markedly better than it has any right to be, there are some genuinely great stories with beautiful illustrations in this volume: A

50. Star Trek: The Newspaper Comics Vol. 2 - The second and final volume of the Enterprise’s newspaper voyages is more of a mixed bag than the first. The stories are less compelling (aside from one that foreshadows the Borg on TNG) and the artwork becomes noticeably less accomplished as the strip nears its conclusion. There is nevertheless considerable charm to be found in this book: B 

51. Awakened by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth (Kindle) - A brand new underground network opens in New York, but with it comes the discovery of terrifying creatures living under the city and a global conspiracy led by a shadowy figure. I’d read good things about this book but after reading it I was a little bit underwhelmed. It so very much wants to be Aliens, but I just found much of the book lacking. A reasonable conclusion though, so I’d be tempted to pick up the next two novels when they’re released to see where the story goes: B-

52. Star Trek: Discovery - Fear Itself by James Swallow (Kindle) - The latest Star Trek: Discovery novel takes us back to a mission involving the U.S.S. Shenzhou, and Saru becoming involved in the forced relocation of alien refugees. It’s a good read, well-written and with the characters feeling much like their televisual selves. Of the three Discovery novels, this is probably the one I enjoyed most: B+

53. Four-Sided Triangle by William F. Temple - The latest book in the gorgeous series of British Library science fiction classics, following on from Lost Mars and Moonrise. This tale is something of a science fiction romance, with two young scientists creating a device that can replicate anything perfectly - even the beautiful woman they both adore. I thoroughly enjoyed this book: A-

54. The Matrix by Jonathan Aycliffe (Kindle) - The final book of Ayecliffe’s that I’d not read sees a university lecturer becoming entangled in a strange cult that seeks to raise the dead. In my opinion this is the least successful of Ayecliffe’s books, but having said that, it’s still an effective horror that stands out from the crowd with moments of chilling suspense: B+

55. Star Trek: The Entropy Effect by Vonda N. McIntyre - A classic Star Trek novel from the early 1980s in which Spock must travel back in time to prevent Captain Kirk from being murdered on the bridge of the Enterprise. A solid read, but in a Star Trek universe that has filled out more coherently in the intervening decades, there are some strange anachronisms in this book that was published a year before The Wrath of Khan was released: B

56. Star Trek: Ishmael by Barbara Hambly (Kindle) - Another classic Star Trek novel, and another that sees Spock traveling back in time. I was intrigued by the premise of this book being, as it is, effectively a crossover with an old Western TV show called Here Comes the Brides, and the suggestion that facsimiles of other famous genre characters pop up along the way, and, against all the odd… it works. Brilliantly so, in fact. This is a riveting tale - one of the most unusual and effective Trek novels I’ve ever read: A

57. How Much For Just the Planet by John M. Ford - Another old Star Trek novel, this time sourced secondhand from Amazon, and another slightly kookier adventure for Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise as they descend on a planet to negotiate dilithium mining rights opposite a Klingon crew. This tale is farcical, broad comedy with, would you believe it, shades of musical theatre… and like Ishmael, it does work. It’s bonkers - but brilliant: A

58. Star Trek: Demons by J.M. Dillard - Another older Star Trek novel, this time by the author of some of the Star Trek movie novelisations. In this book the crew of the Enterprise and the people of the planet Vulcan are possessed by alien life forms that turn them into crazed murders, and only Spock, McCoy and a woman with extraordinary psychic abilities can stop them. It’s a fun read, and rather dark for a Trek novel: A-

59. Star Trek: Mindshadow by J.M. Dillard - In this older Star Trek novel Spock suffers a serious injury while trying to protect a planet from aggressive pirates, and the amnesia he subsequently experiences prevents him from warning the crew of the Enterprise about Romulan involvement in the plot. Not one of the better Trek books I’ve read recently, but a decent Trek read nevertheless: B+

60. Star Trek: Discovery - The Light of Kahless - This graphic novel tying into the new Star Trek series details the rise to prominence of the Klingon T’Kvuma. It’s a solid read that adds detail to the show’s backstory and the Klingon culture of Discovery’s era: B+

61. Dick Tracy: Volume 2 by Chester Gould - The second volume collecting newspaper strips dating back to 1933-1935. Gould’s work becomes more assured in this book, his stories more involved and his artwork more confident. Like the first volume, the best Tracy stories are not to be found here, but they’re still engrossing tales: A

62. Star Trek: Bloodthirst by J.M. Dillard - Effectively a vampire story set aboard the Enterprise, this is the least satisfying of the three novels by Dillard that I’ve read recently. The tone of the characters feels a little off, and the plot spread a little too thinly. It’s still entertaining enough, if not terribly memorable: B

63. Star Trek: The Lost Year’s by J.M. Dillard (Kindle) - A novel that reveals what happened following the Enterprise’s five year mission. A bit of an odd Star Trek book. The characters seem barely recognisable from the ones we see in the show - as if they’re being forced into the way they’re seen in The Motion Picture simply to create connective tissue - and the plot seems to want to focus more on the supporting characters; Uhura and Sarek are present, for example, but for no real reason. Combined with several not terribly interesting plot strands, The Lost Years left me somewhat cold: C+

64. The Predator: Hunters and Hunted by James A. Moore - A prequel novel to the new Predator movie, telling the story of group of soldiers specially trained to battle the deadly aliens. This book knows exactly what its purpose is - adding a little extra detail to the events of the movie and telling a decent if not wholly original Predator story. And this it does very well. A brisk read and and entertaining tale: A-

65. Shoot for the Moon by William F. Temple - The latest in the British Library classic sci-fi series is a 1960s novel detailing the events of the first British mission to the moon in an atomic-powered spacecraft, and the murders that subsequently take place on the lunar surface. A great read with a surprisingly rich humorous thread running through it. Thoroughly enjoyable: A

66. Captain Future and the Space Emperor by Edmund Hamilton (Kindle) - After reading Allen Steele’s Avengers of the Moon I thought I’d go back and read the original Captain Future novel - and I wasn’t disappointed. In this book, Captain Future travels to Jupiter to discover how a new villain is transforming ordinary men into dangerous beasts. A fun, pulpy sci-fi romp: A

67. Garfield: Complete Works Vol. 1 - 1978 & 1979 by Jim Davis - A new collection bringing all the Garfield newspaper strips together in beautiful hardback books. I loved rediscovering so many classic strips, discovering ones I’d never read before, and seeing the origins of these classic characters in this first book of the series, and can’t wait for future volumes: A+

68. The Predator by Christopher Golden and Mark Morris - This novelisation of the recent Predator movie is a solid read - brisk and entertaining, and yet the one thing that struck me upon finishing it is how it lacks a significant part of the movie’s storyline - the notion that the Predators are increasing their visits to Earth as a result of global warming, and the rogue Predator bringing something to help humanity fight his people - as well as *that* ending. Worth a read if you’re a fan, though: B+

69. Star Trek: Final Frontier by Diane Carey - One of the older ‘giant’ Star Trek novels, this one tells the story of Captain Kirk’s father George being called on to join a mission with Captain Robert April aboard the starship that will eventually become the Enterprise - a mission that takes an unexpected detour to Romulan space. A cracking adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed! A

70. Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky. Chambers (Kindle) - The third instalment of the Wayfarers series. This tale features a number of interwoven storylines and Chambers’ trademark quality storytelling, and yet I felt it took a while to actually get going and for the most part seemed like just a glimpse into the future human society the author has created. Eventually a plot point occurs that draws the storylines together and then it gets interesting... A decent read, but the previous books in the series are stronger: B+

71. Star Trek: Best Destiny by Diane Carey (Kindle) - A semi-sequel to Final Frontier, this book features a storyline in which George Kirk takes his teenage son Jimmy into space, bookended by events that take place after the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I thought this was a good read, if not quite as strong as its predecessor: A-

72. Dick Tracy Volume 3 by Chester Gould - The third collection in this series sees Tracy fighting more 1930s gangsters, and hints of some of the more outlandish characters and plot lines that will become Gould’s trademark in later years beginning to seep in. Great stuff: A-

73. Moominvalley in November by Tove Jansson - The final Moomins novel sees a number of different characters visit Moominvalley in search of the friendly Moomins, but they are no longer there. Like the previous book in the series, Moominpappa at Sea, there’s a melancholy feel to this book but one that’s tinged with hope. It’s a delicate read with crisp prose and gentle humour and I loved every page: A+

74. Tales from Moominvalley by Tove Jansson - Closing out Sort Of Books’ series of Moomins collector’s editions hardbacks is this gorgeous collection of short stories. Imbued with a sharp wit and not afraid to stray into darker territory, each and every tale is a delight, and I’m delighted to add this volume to my collection. I’m sure I’ll be revisiting all Jansson’s Moomin books again in the years ahead: A

75. Slender Man (author unknown) - A surprisingly chilling tale, told in the form of text messages, emails and journal entries about a missing girl and the efforts of her friend to locate her, all while the legend of the Slender Man grows ever more present... Against my expectations, this was a decent little ghoulish tale: B+

76. Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge (Kindle) - In contrast to the above, this spooky novel (which has been highly praised) proved something of a disappointment. Every Halloween in a small American town, a creature known as October Boy rises from the cornfields and races into town, where it is summarily slaughtered by the town’s teenage males. For me, too much insight was given to the October Boy, stripping him of mystery and a degree of threat, and I found the main protagonist somewhat unlikeable. It’s a decent read, but for me, one that failed to live up to its potential: B-

77. Unexplained by Richard MacLean Smith (Kindle) - A book based on the Unexplained podcast I had begun binging on just prior to reading it. The book, and indeed the podcast, explore the interesting stories across such strange phenomena as UFOs to ghosts and everything in between, and this prose version provides the author with space to delve more deeply into 10 unsettling encounters. I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration of the unknown. Recommended: A

78. Help the Witch by Tom Cox (Kindle) - A cracking collection of short stories, some ghostly, some a little more experimental and out there, but all evoking a sense of the unusual. I very much enjoyed this book: A

79. Ultimate Invincible Vol. 12 - The final hardback collection of the Invincible superhero comic book. While I feel the last few volumes have lost a little of the momentum built by the earlier books in the series, this is still a great read and one of the most enjoyable superhero books of recent years. While it doesn’t quite recapture the feel of Invincible’s best stories, it does manage to wrap the series up in a more than satisfactory way: A-

80. A Map of Days by Ransom Rigg - The fourth book in the Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children series begins a new trilogy of stories featuring Jacob Portman and his gifted friends. This book starts slowly as it reintroduces readers to the Peculiar world and felt like it probably could’ve been edited a bit more thoroughly, but once it gets going (admittedly after about 120 pages) things pick up steam and it becomes quite a page-turner. Ends on a decent cliffhanger that left me looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book: A-

81. Star Trek: The Art of John Eaves by John Eaves and Joe Nazzaro - A lavish coffee table book full of Eaves’ stunning illustrations, and telling the story of his association with the Star Trek franchise from Star Trek V to the latest series, Discovery. It’s a beautiful book, spoilt only by captions that barely give any detail to what they’re describing and a rather high number of typos. Ignore those and just enjoy the artwork, though: A

82. The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson - Another adult novel from the creator of the Moomins. In this tale, a brother and sister worm their way into the life of an elderly artist, in the process having a profound effect on the life of the other. Beautifully crisp and precise in its writing, with not a word being wasted, this is a gentle story of how intersecting lives can influence one another: A

83. Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar (Kindle) - A riveting exploration of the unsolved mystery that claimed the lives of nine Russian hikers in early 1959. A thought-provoking and absorbing book that does a good job of considering and dismissing various theories from escaped prisoners to UFOs, before presenting a sound idea of what exactly may have taken place. Utterly fascinating, while at the same time respectful of those that died: A

84. Mr Godley’s Phantom by Mal Peet - A young man comes back from war and accepts a job working for an old man at a secluded country home. And then the old man goes missing... Part ghost story, part detective tale, I loved this book: A+

85. Three Sisters by Gilbert Hernandez - The latest collection of Beto’s Love and Rockets work delves into the lives of the three sisters Luba, Petra and Fritz, along with the giant cast of familiar recurring characters. A solid collection of what remains my favourite comic book: B+

86. Spirits of the Season edited by Tanya Kirk - I wanted a collection of Christmas ghost stories and this British Library volume of vintage spooky tales more than ticked the box. I thoroughly enjoyed every story in this book and devoured it in a matter of days: A

87. Glimpses of the Unknown edited by Mike Ashley - Another British Library collection of spooky tales, this volume featuring mostly unknown or forgotten authors. I found this collection somewhat more of a mixed bag than Spirits of the Season, but for the most part enjoyed the tales within: B+

88. Mortal Echoes edited by Greg Buzwell - Another British Library collection of spooky tales, this one focusing on encounters with the end. There’s some real gems included in this collection, but also some that didn’t hold my attention so well. Still, a good read nevertheless: B-

89. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Through the Mirror - A great graphic novel follow-up to the earlier TNG Mirror Universe story in which the alternate universe Enterprise-D crew begin their infiltration of the Federation. Great fun: A

90. Star Trek: Discovery - Succession - A cracking graphic novel that picks up the story of the Mirror Universe Discovery characters after the events of the show’s first season. Strong art and some good twists and turns, plus an ending that leaves plenty of scope for future stories: A

91. The Adventures of Tintin: Vol. 1 by Herge - The first book in a beautiful boxset featuring all the Tintin adventures includes Tintin in the Land of the Soviets and Tintin in America. The first tale is one of the earliest stories, but although feeling a little like a work in progress, it remains an enjoyable read: B- Tintin in America is more like the familiar stories of the young reporter, albeit without the much-loved supporting cast we come to meet in later books, as Tintin tracks gangsters across the United States: B+

92. The Adventures of Tintin: Vol. 2 by Herge - The second book includes: Cigars of the Pharaoh in which Tintin finds himself on the trail of opium smugglers (B+), The Blue Lotus, which continues the story as Tintin travels to China (B), and The Broken Ear in which Tintin and Snowy track a stolen statue (B-). All are good stories, though the first was the most compelling of the three in this volume.

There we have it then, 92 books! Although depending on whether you want to count the Tintin books as their original album format rather than these collected editions, it could be 95. However you look at it, though, it's a helluva lorra books - GOLD STAR FOR ME!

All that's left now is for me to make my usual hollow promise to blog more in 2019:

Hey, maybe I'll actually get back to writing this blog in the coming 12 months!

And to wish you a Happy New Year:

Hope you all have a healthy, happy and brilliant New Year!

L'il Granny

When my Grandad died in 2008 I wrote a post where I shared some fond memories and talked about the wonderful man he was. I don't think I ever really planned to write it at the time as it seemed very final to be saying it, but something made me feel as if I needed to, to preserve something of who he was, if only for me.

I feel the need to write something similar today, because a couple of days ago my Nan passed away.

It was expected and we were all probably as ready as we could've been, but the finality of that phone call where I was told the news still took the wind out of my sails.

This hasn't been the easiest thing to write, and I'm sure I'm missing so many little things that I'll kick myself for forgetting when I remember them later, but I just needed to write this.

So let me tell you about Stella.

She was brilliant, let's say that straight off. Of all my grandparents, she was the one I spent most time with, not only because she was the longest lived of them, but because as kids Mum used to take my brother and I over to spend time with her during summer holidays. Every Friday we'd get the bus over  to her house in St. Margarets. If she was working we'd watch TV before racing off to meet her when she finished work at midday; if she wasn't, or after she'd retired, we'd all take a morning stroll down the river to Richmond for a bite to eat in the cafe in Dickens and Jones department store followed by a bit of shopping. Occasionally my brother and I would stay overnight - it always feeling like a treat to get to spend more time with them so we'd be on our best behaviour.  Nan and Grandad had a VHS player long before we did, and they'd taped Raiders of the Lost Ark - complete with adverts - off the TV. My brother and I watched it on a weekly basis to the point we knew every line of dialogue inside out.

She cooked the best dinners - incredible roast potatoes - and always catered to my fussy tastes without quibble. Pudding was always a chocolate gateaux that she served on a proper cake stand and cut with a proper cake knife (and she'd always let me have seconds). It became a recurring joke amongst us that not long after dinner when we were sat with full bellies she'd ask if anyone wanted a packet of crisps or a banana. She was for a long time the only person I'd allow to call me Timmy. She was always generous with the pocket money she gave us.

She'd tell us stories about the war, about how she'd cycle home from the factory she worked at in pitch black, and how one night she got caught out when the air raid sirens went off and she had to make a mad dash for a shelter in Richmond where a man tried to barge her out of the way to get in first and she gave him a piece of her mind. She talked about sitting under the stairs during the blitz, and how thunder and lightening would remind her of it so much so that she would get out of bed and sit there by Grandad's little bar when there was a storm. In later years, she even bought some heavy duty ear defenders like workmen use when they're drilling in the street to wear during storms - the idea of her sitting under the stairs wrapped in her dressing gown and wearing her ear defenders never failed to raise a smile; even she thought it was funny.

When they came over to visit my brother and I would run up the road to meet them; when Dad took them home we'd run up the road trying to keep pace with the car. As the years went by I got more protective of my grandparents, always offering to pick them up and drive them home when I got my first car so they didn't have to get public transport. Nan would sit in the back, waving like the Queen as we set off. And then, when Grandad passed I got more protective still. Together they had been the perfect team - she helping him with everyday tasks when his arthritis took hold, he holding her arm in the crook of his when they went out in case she should be a little unsteady on her feet. Alone, she seemed to me a little lost, rattling around the home they had shared for 60 years, half of an unbeatable duo waiting for the other to one day return. I wanted to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her safe.

I nevertheless shared some great times with my Nan over the next couple of years. Every Tuesday I'd stop in for dinner with her on my way home from work - always chicken and chips because she knew that was my favourite - then we'd watch a bit of TV and have a cuppa before I went out for a run. However long I was out running, when I got back to my car she would always be standing in the porch waving me off and blowing kisses.

I remember in August 2008, a few months after Grandad had died she asked me if I'd take her shopping so she could buy something for Mum's birthday. I'd already picked up a few gifts on her behalf, but she wanted to choose something special herself – and she wanted to go out exactly as Mum and I did when we went on our shopping trips. So one sunny day I picked her up. She was ready and waiting, immaculately turned out in a smart pink jacket and pretty skirt. We went to Kingston, because that's where Mum and I always went. And because Mum and I always started our shopping days with a Starbucks, she wanted to go to Starbucks too. After a few hours of shopping - during which she almost smacked someone in the face with her walking stick as she lifted it up to point it in the direction we were going - she asked that I take her to Nando's, because that's what Mum and I did - so I took my then-84 year old Nan for her first Nando's. She had a quarter chicken (lemon and herb) and chips, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

A few years later she broke her arm and not long after that she decided that she couldn't stay in the house on her own anymore. She moved into a lovely top floor room in a retirement home not too far from where I live and furnished it with a few things to make it feel like home. She took part in the arts and crafts they offered on a weekly basis, painting a mug in broad lilac stripes one time, a ceramic cupcake jar in bright colours another. She made a little drinks coaster, and a mirror with blue and green tiles that I had no idea she'd made until Mum told me yesterday, it looking like it could've been bought in a shop. When they were given to her after they'd dried she didn't seem too bothered by them, but they remained in her room nevertheless.

As the years passed she got a little frailer, giving up her walking stick for a stroller, then giving that up for a wheelchair, but whenever I visited her mind was still sharp as a tack. She was always interested in what we were up to with our lives, with our work and whether we'd done anything exciting. She'd always ask me if I'd been shopping recently and whether I'd bought anything. She supported me when I headed to Los Angeles for my Yoga training in 2012, and kept a framed copy of my graduation photo in her room.

She had the most beautiful handwriting; I envied it from a young age as it looped across everything from birthday and Christmas cards to shopping lists. Even though she struggled to write in recent years, it still looked a hundred times better than my scrawl. She had a lovely smile and a great sense of humour - I have the most brilliant photo of her holding a vase of fake flowers upside down, a broad smile on her face as she saw our reactions thinking it was real. And she always dressed so prettily, whether she was going to the shops, out to dinner or coming over to spend time with us. Even in her retirement home she was very particular about her appearance, wearing lovely knitted jumpers and patterned skirts, having her nails painted and her hair styled regularly. We called her our Glamorous Granny.

In October she turned 93, an age even she seemed surprised to have reached. My brother and I bought her a perfume she loved and a basket of flowers. She sprayed the perfume liberally and admired the flowers, telling us which varieties she could see and remarking how beautiful they were.

Not long after that she was taken ill. She was defiant, a spark of determination blossoming as she said she was going to get better. But eventually we were told to say our goodbyes and I did that at least three times because, bless her, she couldn't have been quite ready to go. The last time I saw her was when my brother and I visited on Christmas Eve. She was peaceful in her bed in the room that had been her home for seven years, surrounded by her photos and trinkets and flowers.

A little over a week later she passed away, with as my brother put it, immaculate timing, seeing in the New Year and then slipping away a few short hours later.

Over the years, she was known variously as Nana Spong, then Nana, then Nan when we reached that age where we didn't think it was cool to call her Nana. As we grew and began to tower over her she became L'il Granny, and then most recently because my brother can be a ridiculous person when the fancy takes him, G-Ma. Whatever name we gave her, I'll never forget her. I loved her to bits. She was the absolute best.

I'll miss you, Nana.