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Two-year anniversary and Top 10 List (2002-2003) This month marks the two-year anniversary of this book-reviews page. In the past year I've read only 50 books (compared to 73 last year) and written 47 reviews. In the last month I had the biggest reading splurge, perhaps because it was the last month of summer vacation: 11 books, and 11 corresponding reviews. The Best Books of 2002-2003 That I Read 10. Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow Though not without its flaws, this novel nevertheless made you care so deeply about its characters--and their terrible dilemmas--that you ignore all of its blemishes. 9. Patrick Suskind's Perfume A very strange novel, but written very well. You'll never smell the same way again. 8. Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory Surely the most respected novel on this list, The Power and the Glory should have been powerfully dull; instead, its intense portrait of a religiously troubled priest enthralls. 7. Kelley Eskridge's Solitaire A short novel, but an affecting one. I'm not sure why Eskridge writes science fiction; it's the fiction part, not the science part, where she shines. 6. Alastair Reynolds's Chasm City A slam-bang space opera set in a single city. Reynolds is a wonderful science-fiction writer with a great feel for plot and suspense. 5. Daniel Keys Moran's The Last Dancer and Michael Marshall Smith's Only Forward (tie) Over-the-top science-fiction extravaganzas. Seldom have two books made less sense, or been more fun. (Smith's later books are not as good.) 4. Jeff VanderMeer's City of Saints and Madmen One of the best portraits of an imaginary city ever. VanderMeer writes with a sure and steady style that effectively evokes the macabre and decrepit feeling of Ambergris, his sickeningly lovely creation. 3. China Mieville's The Scar Mieville is an ever-reliable author: Perdido Street Station was a favorite of mine last year, and The Scar, its sequel, also impresses. 2. Michael Moorcock's The Dancers at the End of Time It starts off annoying but, for some reason, I found the central relationship between the two protagonists appealing. 1. Robin Hobb's The Liveship Traders Trilogy (1. Ship of Magic, 2. Mad Ship, 3. Ship of Destiny) Robin Hobb is one of the single best writers of fantasy out there today. Her first trilogy, The Farseer Trilogy, was by far one of the most intense, riveting fantasy series out there. This, her second trilogy, is not as intense, but just as good. I still remember reading the last book into the early morning, feeling a giddy sense of excitement as she pulled her characters together in one of the most rousing conclusions I have ever read. Also notable: Jeffrey Archer's Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less Tim Powers's Anubis Gates Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring Last Year's Top 10: Steven's Picks for the Best Books of 2001-2002. |
Steven Wu's Book Reviews |