Books

My ability to recommend 'The Final Programme' is dependent on your familiarity with Michael Moorcock’s work. If you already know Elric of Melniboné or Duke Dorian Hawkmoon, you’ll enjoy analyzing Jerry Cornelius as another aspect of the Eternal Champion. But if this is your first visit to the Multiverse, start with Melniboné first.

'All the Birds in the Sky' features compelling characters working through complex problems and emotions. Charlie Jane Anders sometimes struggles to find the right tone, and the novel’s sillier parts feel out of synch with the apocalyptic conclusion. But on the whole, this is a thought-provoking marriage of fantasy and science fiction that sheds light on the real-world problem of environmental degradation.

Irvine Welsh is deeply immersed in the seamy sides of life, but the tone of 'A Decent Ride' is never dark or brooding. It does not shy away from ugliness, but Welsh serves it up with irreverent humor and panache.

An ideal heroine, compelling stand-alone stories and enticing familial connection to pop culture icon Temperance Brennan (of the 'Bones' books and TV show) make 'Trace Evidence' a superb entry point into the 'Virals' series of books.

'Prince of Nightmares' is a fast-paced and cinematic horror novel. Rather than relying on shock value, McNee’s horror arises from thrusting interesting characters together in an unsettling setting. These characters face dangers beyond their control, but they are hardly blameless victims. For our nightmares are all in our heads—whom else can we blame for them but ourselves?

Beautifully written, meticulously researched and infused with palpable passion, 'The Young Messiah' is very highly recommended not just for Christian readers but anyone who can appreciate intelligent and historically rich spiritual literature.

'Made to Kill' is a pitch-perfect tribute to Raymond Chandler, but its unique premise builds on rather than merely imitates the work of the master. The novel zings along with spitfire dialogue and madcap action. This is a solid kickoff to a fun new series, and I look forward to reading the next Ray Electromatic Mystery.

Despite a stylistic tendency to interrupt the characters’ dialogue and conversations midstream with descriptions and observations, 'The Girls She Left Behind' is an engrossing and rapid read.

With lively illustrations by Edward Koren, 'Do I Have to Say Hello?' is a fun and lighthearted way to teach kids (and, as the title states, their grownups) the importance of manners.

At Pop Mythology, we are ardent devotees of what’s popularly known as genre fiction, particularly the areas of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery and horror. Here are our 10 favorite books from these genres from 2015.

For all of his talent and novel-writing experience, Gene Wolfe still struggles to write female characters. In 2015, this flaw is so distracting that it drowns the interesting things 'A Borrowed Man' has to say about important issues like slavery, population control, disability, pornography and resource depletion. Like his narrator, Gene Wolfe is sadly a writer living outside of his own time.

'Hell's Ditch' is a rollercoaster ride that clatters along at a wonderful pace and is a fantastic start to what promises to be an engaging and horrific series. Bring on the next book!

Book 3 of the Cormoran Strike mystery novels is where this series truly starts getting good - really good. May J.K. Rowling's 'Career of Evil' flourish!

Taken as a whole, the Imperial Radch Trilogy is a refreshing new take on the space opera genre, and Leckie’s vision of a gender-less future illustrates sci-fi's ability to shape worlds free of the inequities of ours. 'Ancillary Mercy' offers surprises up to the very end and successfully concludes this epic saga.

With a gorgeous cover by Glen Orbik and 20+ illustrations, 'Joyland - Illustrated Edition' is an attractive volume. But it doesn't offer enough to justify buying if you already own the original edition.