Yes, I’ve been scarce in these parts. Yes I have a good reason. Patience, rabbit. All will be revealed.
In time-honored tradition, I will now distract you with a list of other people’s books. Specifically those I read (or read again) this year and that come to mind as I type this right now. I read a lot. The list is long. I have left things off that I meant to put on there. There are a number of short stories at the top, many with links, because short stories rock, and you should read some.
There is no order to this. Reason, yes. Rhyme, maybe.
- “The Man Who Bridged The Mists,” Kij Johnston, Asimov’s
- “The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees,” E. Lily Yiu, Clarkesworld
- “Our Drunken Tjeng,” Nicky Drayden, Daily Science Fiction
- “The Dala Horse,” Michael Swanwick, Tor
- “A Vector Alphabet of Innerstellar Travel,” Yoon Ha Lee, Tor
- “Six Months, Three Days,” Charlie Jane Anders, Tor
- “Face Value,” Karen Joy Fowler, Lightspeed
- “Maneki Neko,” Bruce Sterling, Lightspeed
- “The Leavings of the Wolf,” Elizabeth Bear, Apex
- Embassytown – China Mieville
- Among Others – Jo Walton
- Rainbow’s End – Vernor Vinge
- Wee Free Men & Hat Full of Sky – Terry Pratchett
- Farewell Horizontal – K.W. Jeter
- The Inheritance Trilogy – N.K. Jemisin
- River of Gods – Ian McDonald
- The Dervish House – Ian McDonald
- Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
- 7th Sigma – Steven Gould
- Rule 34 – Charles Stross
- Feed – Mira Grant
- Zoo City – Lauren Beukes
- Mechanique – Genevive Valentine
- REAMDE – Neal Stephenson
- The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities – Ann and Jeff Van Der Meer, eds.
- Deathless – Catherynne M. Valente
This isn’t a complete list, and it’s not very helpful, but it’s a place to start. There are more books over thisaway, via goodreads.
FRAN WILDE 
finally. i’ve only been asking for this for like, as long as i’ve known you.
happy merry and shit.
to you too! I also need to remember to steer you towards The City and The City (Mieville) and Cold Kiss, by Amy Garvey (which I read last year, which is why it’s not on this list)
A most excellent list, and you caught two stories I meant to mention – Our Drunken Tjeng and the Dala Horse. Several of those novels are on my ever-growning to-read list. I shall have to investigate the others. Thanks for sharing!
I need to add a few more too – thank you for inspiring me to share! (A.C.’s excellent list is here: http://www.acwise.net/?p=886)
Hmmm, I already compiled my fave novel-length reading of the year, but now you have me thinking about short stories.
Not to mention, now I want to check out the short stories you listed 🙂
Nicole, I loved reading your list (note to self: it’s over here: http://nicolefeldringer.com/2011/12/21/best-books-read-in-2011/) – and now I’m looking forward to your short story list too!
So this is why you send me must-reads when my own list runs three years out 🙂
But I’ve a light semester and I’ll make a start, as soon as I finish J.G. Ballard’s collected stories…esp. the Mieville, though I was not as happy with Kraken as I was with The City and The City.
Happy reading in 2012!