I will seek out some of these! Thanks! Sci-fi and fantasy feature heavily in my top 10 books read in 2024 : 1 The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep (H G Parry) 2 How High we go in the Dark (Sequoia Nagamatsu) 3 My Brother's Keeper (Tim Powers) 4 The Midnight Library (Matt Haig) 5 Slaughterhouse 5 (Kurt Vonnegut Jr) 6 The Secret History of Moscow (Ekaterina Sedia) 7 The After Cilmeri series (1-5) (Sarah Woodbury) 8 Time and Time Again (Ben Elton) 9 A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) 10 The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters (G L Dahlquist).
Adding a few of these to my shopping list! Glad to see you ranking Parable of the Sower and Neuromancer among your favs. Surprised by Lord Valentine's Castle, but it's been a few decades since I read it. It wasn't my fav Silverberg when I read it, and I would have thought it a book that hadn't aged well. Maybe I'll give it a reread. Have a good holiday!
Awesome list! I just reread Parable of the Sower and Neuromancer this year, but the remainder of your list is new to me. I'm going to have to check them out in 2025. Have a great holiday and new year! - Todd
Thanks Steve, glad you're enjoying my channel. My summaries are a work in progress, i don't always avoid spoilers like I should. Thanks for watching 👀!
Awesome list! I still remember the first time I've read Lord Valentine's Castle. A truly magnificent book. I still have to finish the series tho. Also, basically everything Tchaikovsky writes sounds so intriguing!
Great list! As usually some more over my head than I’d like (one day I shall be competent). I’ve been eager to read Dogs of War and I’m also looking forward to Parable of the one who raises female pigs.
I’ve read the first five books of The Sun Eater series this year, and I’m currently on Chapter 48 of the sixth book. It’s incredibly engaging, with heart-wrenching fight scenes that keep me on the edge, yet also heart-breaking and soul-crushing at times. The emotional rollercoaster is intense. The early chapters of the first book’s first half carry a tone reminiscent of Dune and other space operas. However, some chapters in the second quarter can feel monotonous, leaving the reader to wonder if the story will ever take off. Fortunately, the author soon finds their unique voice, steering the narrative in an exciting new direction.
Of the 15 I've read "The Death of Grass", "Neuromancer"- due to re-read next year-, "Lord Valentine's Castle." I intend to read "In Ascension" in the new year. A great year's reading! Have a great Christmas Jon.
False Dawn and The Furies are on my top 10 to be collected. Everyone seems to enjoy them. Your tastes and mine crossover a large amount but I have never read anything by your top 3 authors and know very little about any of them. As always, more to read!
Your take on "The Furies" being a somewhat grittier version of John Wydham's excellent books is spot on. I found Lord Valentine's Castle to be very enjoyable. I suppose it's fantasy, but in my dodgy opinion, the overall feeling of it is that of SF. - I've read two other volumes in the series, including a collection of novellas set in the same world - Silverberg keeps impressing me. Even his earlier & more simply written books from the 50s are interesting.
I've been reading it simultaneously with the Alien Clay and there were many parallels and similarities between those. To be honest this book left me with more questions than answers. What was the weapon? Who are the Macathar? Who are all other species? Are the remnants of the human race somehow connected to those in the Final Architecture series? Who or what is Faith? And many more. Also great list, definitely some good ideas for my future reads.
@@SciFiScavenger I know, but all this idea of killing someone with the power of your mind, reaching out to some bigger mind asking for help. Maybe some other reality, or perhaps this is not even this earth. Anyway, logic is not my strong side, but strange ideas are ;)
I clicked on your Amazon wish list thinking I'd get to see what books you want to read in 2025, but when I got to Amazon, my entire account switched from USA to UK. That was fun trying to figure out how to get my settings back to USA. 🤣
Bill, Is it too much to ask that you just move to the UK so you can more easily enable my book problem?? Honestly, viewers these days, so needy! 😃 Thanks for taking a look, hope it wasn't too much hassle to switch it back to 🇺🇸. thanks for watching 👀!
Really enjoyed Dogs of War. Wanted to love Neuromancer. I think it might be due a re-read at some point. Otherwise these are all still TBR (thankfully a good chunk of then stuck on my shelves).
The only book i read Is Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky and I love it. The Eden Trilogy by Chris Beckett it is definitely on my 2025 reading plans.
Good list; was wondering, tho, is it just me or smt strange happened near the end, some sort of loop, cuz I definitely heard you mentioning hopeland 2 times identical (how it hooked you around the 50 p mark)... youtube shenanigans? Cheers!
I've watched that video back myself a couple of times (weird, I know) and did not see that repeat loop, perhaps you hit rewind a couple of times without realising? Thanks for watching 👀!
Yes, but several years ago. I probably need to read it again. I have a short story collection Cyberabad Days which is set in the same India as RoG. Thanks for watching 👀!
Let me make an analysis: So you've got 8 vintage books and 7 new ones, but the top 3 is only new books. My conclusion: this year, you preferred new books more than the vintage ones! :) It's kind of the same for me. My statistics show me that, this year, I've enjoyed new books more than the vintage ones. To be clear, for me vintage is before year 2k
My criteria are more about how much I enjoy the book than the age of it. I read a bunch of older books this year and thought they were wonderful, although there were some that were a huge disappointment. But I think on balance I do prefer post 1980 books. Thanks for watching 👀!
I bought the Sun Eater first book on sale, and based on your recommendations, Jon. I also got the Valentine Trilogy, after being reminded of how wonderful the first book was. I gotta stop squirreling away books, based on recommendations. But that's ok, because you've rarely steered me wrong. (and the books were on sale...🙄🙄) Seriously, Jon, I've forgotten just how bewildering the New Release Science Fiction scene can be. That's why I've been buying old friends, books I've read before, years ago. But you've managed to kick me dragging and screaming into looking at newer authors. And I'm all the better for it. 🐶😎😛. This week I've got the flu, thankfully my flu shot earlier this year took the edge off, but after watching some SAS, Rogue Heroes, and get over the flu, I'm going to revisit some old friends, (Heinleins) and finally take a look at the Sun Eater, or try to complete the Lord Valentine trilogy.🫡🫡 Edit: Just bought Battlestar Galactica yesterday. 🎉🎉🎉. So my books may have to wait, as I rewatch what may be the greatest science fiction series ever made. 🤩🤩🤩
Hope you enjoy Sun Eater, it isn't universally loved, shock horror. Are you referring to the cheesy original BSG, or the 2000s reboot? The reboot is just fantastic, I've watched it several times and dip in from time to time. Probably my favourite tv show, certainly well up there. Hope your flu recedes forthwith, and thanks for watching 👀!
![The 15 Best Sci-Fi Books I've Ever Read [Updated]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pP0XnfC1jVM/mqdefault.jpg)
I will seek out some of these! Thanks!
Sci-fi and fantasy feature heavily in my top 10 books read in 2024 :
1 The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep (H G Parry)
2 How High we go in the Dark (Sequoia Nagamatsu)
3 My Brother's Keeper (Tim Powers)
4 The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)
5 Slaughterhouse 5 (Kurt Vonnegut Jr)
6 The Secret History of Moscow (Ekaterina Sedia)
7 The After Cilmeri series (1-5) (Sarah Woodbury)
8 Time and Time Again (Ben Elton)
9 A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
10 The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters (G L Dahlquist).
Awesome, thanks for watching!
Adding a few of these to my shopping list! Glad to see you ranking Parable of the Sower and Neuromancer among your favs. Surprised by Lord Valentine's Castle, but it's been a few decades since I read it. It wasn't my fav Silverberg when I read it, and I would have thought it a book that hadn't aged well. Maybe I'll give it a reread. Have a good holiday!
I think the audiobook narrator probably added to my enjoyment of LVC, a really good voice. Thanks for watching 👀!
Awesome list! I just reread Parable of the Sower and Neuromancer this year, but the remainder of your list is new to me. I'm going to have to check them out in 2025. Have a great holiday and new year!
- Todd
Fab, hope you pick a few out and give them a try. Cheers Todd, thanks for watching 👀!
Sorry late to this video, I continue to marvel at your ability to summarize these novels. You do a fantastic job doing this TH-cam thing.
Thanks Steve, glad you're enjoying my channel. My summaries are a work in progress, i don't always avoid spoilers like I should. Thanks for watching 👀!
I love your channel, Jon!
Aw thank you!!
Awesome list! I still remember the first time I've read Lord Valentine's Castle. A truly magnificent book. I still have to finish the series tho. Also, basically everything Tchaikovsky writes sounds so intriguing!
Hi Abel, definitely worth giving both Tchaikovsky books a read, I think they're among his best. Thanks for watching 👀!
Great list. More books to add to my reading for next year. Although I will have to do some more collecting before I read them!
The collecting is half the fun! Cheers Donna, thanks for watching 👀!
I do love a good top-whatever list of books. Nice meeting you this year.
You too, good luck with your channel in 2025, and thanks for watching 👀!
Great list! As usually some more over my head than I’d like (one day I shall be competent). I’ve been eager to read Dogs of War and I’m also looking forward to Parable of the one who raises female pigs.
You're a smart lady and you read a lot, I'm sure you'd be fine with any of these! Thanks for watching 👀!
I read False Dawn this year and really enjoyed it, six more of your selection are on my shelves and TBR in 25.
Hi Ian, great minds think alike! Enjoy those then, thanks for watching 👀!
Lots of interesting books to add to my TBR!
Hi Kris, the TBR groweth, it's the rules. thanks for watching 👀!
I’ve read the first five books of The Sun Eater series this year, and I’m currently on Chapter 48 of the sixth book. It’s incredibly engaging, with heart-wrenching fight scenes that keep me on the edge, yet also heart-breaking and soul-crushing at times. The emotional rollercoaster is intense.
The early chapters of the first book’s first half carry a tone reminiscent of Dune and other space operas. However, some chapters in the second quarter can feel monotonous, leaving the reader to wonder if the story will ever take off. Fortunately, the author soon finds their unique voice, steering the narrative in an exciting new direction.
Yeah I'm looking forward to book 5. It's certainly epic in scope. Thanks for watching 👀!
Of the 15 I've read "The Death of Grass", "Neuromancer"- due to re-read next year-, "Lord Valentine's Castle." I intend to read "In Ascension" in the new year. A great year's reading! Have a great Christmas Jon.
Great, hope you enjoy them David. Merry Christmas to you too, thanks for watching 👀!
Recently finished False Dawn. I’d say a must-read for fans of the road.
agree, thanks for watching 👀!
Nice variety.
Cheers Duane, thanks for watching 👀!
False Dawn and The Furies are on my top 10 to be collected. Everyone seems to enjoy them. Your tastes and mine crossover a large amount but I have never read anything by your top 3 authors and know very little about any of them. As always, more to read!
Hi Joel, that's the joy of this booktube nonsense, always plenty of books to discover. Thanks for watching 👀!
Your take on "The Furies" being a somewhat grittier version of John Wydham's excellent books is spot on.
I found Lord Valentine's Castle to be very enjoyable. I suppose it's fantasy, but in my dodgy opinion, the overall feeling of it is that of SF. - I've read two other volumes in the series, including a collection of novellas set in the same world - Silverberg keeps impressing me. Even his earlier & more simply written books from the 50s are interesting.
Apparently Keith Robert very deliberately wrote it in Wyndham-stylie. Silverberg is the GOAT. thanks for watching 👀!
Great list!👍👍👍📚🤖🐲🚀
Thanks for watching 👀!
Yeah, want to read the Sun Eater series.
So much fun. Thanks for watching 👀!
I've been reading it simultaneously with the Alien Clay and there were many parallels and similarities between those.
To be honest this book left me with more questions than answers.
What was the weapon? Who are the Macathar? Who are all other species? Are the remnants of the human race somehow connected to those in the Final Architecture series? Who or what is Faith? And many more.
Also great list, definitely some good ideas for my future reads.
Cage of Souls? All good questions. Thanks for watching 👀!
@@SciFiScavenger Yes, Cage of Souls. And I can not stop thinking about its' possible connection to the Architecture world.
Do you think so? How? Isn't Earth destroyed in those books?
@@SciFiScavenger I know, but all this idea of killing someone with the power of your mind, reaching out to some bigger mind asking for help. Maybe some other reality, or perhaps this is not even this earth. Anyway, logic is not my strong side, but strange ideas are ;)
Plenty of strange ideas in science fiction, you've come to the right place!
I clicked on your Amazon wish list thinking I'd get to see what books you want to read in 2025, but when I got to Amazon, my entire account switched from USA to UK. That was fun trying to figure out how to get my settings back to USA. 🤣
Bill, Is it too much to ask that you just move to the UK so you can more easily enable my book problem?? Honestly, viewers these days, so needy! 😃
Thanks for taking a look, hope it wasn't too much hassle to switch it back to 🇺🇸. thanks for watching 👀!
Really enjoyed Dogs of War. Wanted to love Neuromancer. I think it might be due a re-read at some point. Otherwise these are all still TBR (thankfully a good chunk of then stuck on my shelves).
Excellent, plenty of good reading ahead of you if you pick a few of these for your 2025 tbr. Cheers John, thanks for watching 👀!
@ thank you. Hope you, Mrs Scavenger and the Scavenger juniors have a great Christmas.
The only book i read Is Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky and I love it. The Eden Trilogy by Chris Beckett it is definitely on my 2025 reading plans.
Eden is fab, hope you enjoy it Andrei, thanks for watching 👀!
Good list;
was wondering, tho, is it just me or smt strange happened near the end, some sort of loop, cuz I definitely heard you mentioning hopeland 2 times identical (how it hooked you around the 50 p mark)... youtube shenanigans?
Cheers!
I've watched that video back myself a couple of times (weird, I know) and did not see that repeat loop, perhaps you hit rewind a couple of times without realising? Thanks for watching 👀!
By McDonald, have you read River of Gods too?
Yes, but several years ago. I probably need to read it again. I have a short story collection Cyberabad Days which is set in the same India as RoG. Thanks for watching 👀!
@@SciFiScavenger Thanks to you!!
Don't you prefer Dying Inside by Silverberg?
I didn't read that in 2024 (or at all, yet). I hear its good. Thanks for watching 👀!
Let me make an analysis: So you've got 8 vintage books and 7 new ones, but the top 3 is only new books.
My conclusion: this year, you preferred new books more than the vintage ones! :)
It's kind of the same for me. My statistics show me that, this year, I've enjoyed new books more than the vintage ones.
To be clear, for me vintage is before year 2k
My criteria are more about how much I enjoy the book than the age of it. I read a bunch of older books this year and thought they were wonderful, although there were some that were a huge disappointment. But I think on balance I do prefer post 1980 books. Thanks for watching 👀!
I bought the Sun Eater first book on sale, and based on your recommendations, Jon. I also got the Valentine Trilogy, after being reminded of how wonderful the first book was. I gotta stop squirreling away books, based on recommendations. But that's ok, because you've rarely steered me wrong. (and the books were on sale...🙄🙄)
Seriously, Jon, I've forgotten just how bewildering the New Release Science Fiction scene can be. That's why I've been buying old friends, books I've read before, years ago. But you've managed to kick me dragging and screaming into looking at newer authors. And I'm all the better for it. 🐶😎😛. This week I've got the flu, thankfully my flu shot earlier this year took the edge off, but after watching some SAS, Rogue Heroes, and get over the flu, I'm going to revisit some old friends, (Heinleins) and finally take a look at the Sun Eater, or try to complete the Lord Valentine trilogy.🫡🫡
Edit: Just bought Battlestar Galactica yesterday. 🎉🎉🎉. So my books may have to wait, as I rewatch what may be the greatest science fiction series ever made. 🤩🤩🤩
Hope you enjoy Sun Eater, it isn't universally loved, shock horror. Are you referring to the cheesy original BSG, or the 2000s reboot? The reboot is just fantastic, I've watched it several times and dip in from time to time. Probably my favourite tv show, certainly well up there. Hope your flu recedes forthwith, and thanks for watching 👀!
@ the reboot, of course. It's also probably my fav too. 😉😎