I predict that you will love Memory,Sorrow and Thorn,I did,earlier this year.Some of my reading plans for next year are: On the first of January I will read Lonesome Dove,after that I will start the sequel series from Tad Williams,The Last King of Osten Ard.Also in January I will begin my first journey to the Dark Tower with The Gunslinger. I'm very looking forward to read more GGK,already read Under Heaven and The Lions of Al-Rassan this year and loved both. My next book will be A Song for Arbonne,in February.
I really hope you enjoy your read of the Dark tower! Be prepared for a very different kind of series. And I'm very excited that you'll be reading A Song for Arbonne in February - it's still my favorite by Kay.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. Tad Williams is one of my favorite authors. I've read all but one of his books. Navigator's Children was a terrific conclusion to his latest series, Last King of Osten Ard, the follow-up to MS&T.
Sounds like you are setting yourself up for a super fun 2025 with all the group/buddy reads. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on LPQ! And excited for the livestreams to come back, I missed those! Happy reading, Josh 🤩
I'm going to finish Suneater next year too. I've read 3 novels and 2 short stories so far. I met Christopher Ruocchio at Dragonsteel and he signed a book for me. He was really nice. I'm also going to try to start The Dandelion Dynasty next year and finish the Kingsbridge series. I think you're really going to like LPQ.
Josh I will be finishing up The Last King of Osten Ard, reading as of now just Curse of the Mistwraith but all of Malazan with John@ Talking Story. I have them all on audio. I am also picking up more vintage scifi recommends from Jack@Scifi Finds!
Love these plans! I have similar plans myself but about a year behind, I’m planning to read King Rat this year and Memory Sorrow and Thorn in 2026. Looking forward to your 2025 videos 😎.
I am finishing the Fionavar Tapestry and I am loving it much more than I expected. He is so good at making you feel for his characters from the start, it makes a big difference for me.
I read it a couple of years ago. I love how chill the college kids were about being transported to a fantasy world. They didn't freak out or anything. Instead, they were like, "Hey! This is cool!" Dave and Kim were my favorites.
@RedFuryBooks Maybe if you read it after all his later works but I only read A Song for Arbonne about 25 years ago so I don't really have a frame of reference to his other novels. I will be reading a lot of his works in 2025, that's for sure.
The Dragonbone Chair is great! Looking forward to your thoughts. I'm reading and enjoying The Stone of Farewell, and--speaking of Durfee--I recently finished The Lonesome Crown (loved it!). Also, my channel plan is to get back to recording and uploading videos in 2025.
It’s a nice, flexible set of plans. I might join you for Noble House. I’m currently about 2/3rds through Tai Pan and enjoying it tremendously. I haven’t read any of the Lindholm novels yet. They are out of print and ungodly expensive even in paperback. The Gypsy is OK, but it’s not anywhere near Hobb’s or Brust’s best. You should pick up Jhereg by Brust and just use it as a palate cleanser. I read Memory Sorrow & Thorn about 15 years ago, maybe 20. I liked it very much, but not enough to reread (or at least a fairly low re-read priority - there are just too many great books). I don’t think 80 is a big unread pile. You might consider following a rule where you have to read two books you own before you acquire another. I did that at a time when I had about 400 unread books. It took a while but never felt onerous. Right now, I have a few reading rules: 1) I can’t start a new series until I finish (or catch up) in one I’m reading. 2)in addition to my standard fare of genre books (mainly fantasy, historical, adventure, and mystery), I also always have a re-read going. 3) Every day, I try to read at least ten pages of poetry or non-fiction. 4) When I have one shelf double stacked, I have to pare down my library. I should only books I will read, use as reference, or reread. Exception for the books that double as furniture. Finally, did you write your opening fanfare? It has a hint of Ride of the Valkyrie to my ear.
I'm glad you don't think of 80 as a big pile of unread books! The good side is knowing an unread book is always on hand. My theme music was written by my friend David Herring, who unfortunately passed away 2 years ago. I asked him to use the music of Anton Bruckner and the Marvel theme as inspirations. So your Wagner reference was right on!
Only definitive reading plans I have is more GGK, to continue Wurts' Wars of Light & Shadow and start Williams' Last King of Osten Ard. Outside of that, get back to reading other genres more regularly. If it wasn't for Hobb I like to think I would've gotten more of a variety of genres in. Good problems to have. I've found I've read majority of the Fantasy series I've wanted to read and am becoming less interested in the rest of the genre as time has gone on and I've really been slacking on Sci-Fi and Historical-Fiction the last year or two.
To who has no name, have you checked out Jack from scifi Finds? He has got me interested in reading vintage sci fi again! He is a great filter to picking out the best ones!!
Having Hobb take over your reading is definitely a good problem to have! My reading goes through phases as well: I'm also hoping to explore a bit more crime fiction next year, and a few years ago I didn't have much interest in that genre at that time.
I’m surprised that you haven’t read the Tad Williams novels. I think you will love them. I’ve tried to like Guy Gavriel Kay, but I don’t. Liked Ysabel and the Fionavar Tapestry series, but not much else. I’ll still read more of his books because I’m a completionist.
I want to read their new one, “Memory, Sorrow and Thorn” by Tad Williams, I will continue to read “Wheel of Time”, I want to finish “Expanse” by James S. A. Corey there are five books left and I will continue the “Dresden Files” cycle. So far, this is the plan.
Wow hearing you say you will be reading the new GGK over Stephen King is definitely high praise. I am excited to start my GGK journey in 2025. Any suggestions on where to start? I have very similar book taste to you if that helps with a suggestion
GGK, «Sun Eater» & «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn»! 🤩🙌 I have my lists of themes and references ready and locked for «MS&T», and the same for «Empire of Silence» & «Howling Dark», so don’t you worry!😄 I might get to LPQ late next year, but I think that one is more likely on my 2026 TBR! 😅 My own SFF/Historical Fiction 2025 TBR list: «Doom of Destiny» (Sundered Nation #3) by Vaughn Roycroft (Epic/Historical Fantasy inspirert by the Historical Ancient Goths and the Rohirrim of Tolkien, with a dash of «Dune») «After Rome» by Morgan Llywelyn (Historical Fiction set after the Roman Withdrawal from Britain) «Cort Adeler» by Ole Henrik Gjeruldsen (Historical Biography about the 17th Century Norwegian Mercenary and Highly Decorated Admiral for the Venetian Navy) «Anitra» by Hilde Susan Jægtnes ((Alt-)History Fiction, about an imagined granddaughter of the Composer Edvard Grieg living in Pre-WW2 Fascist Rome, torn between her creative dreams of creating a Mythological Grand Opera with the support from the totalitarian regime and her lesbian love for a Jewish musician…) «Leviathan Falls» by James SA Corey («The Expanse» #9, Space Opera) «The Children of Gods and Fighting Men» by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set in Viking Age Ireland) «Alamut» by Vladimir Bartol (Philosophical Historical Fiction, set among the Order of Assassins Sect during the Crusades, with parallels to the growth of Fascism in Bartol’s own 1930s) «Mannen som bar solen» («The Man Who Carried The Sun») by Kristian Bang Foss (Historical Fiction set in the Nordic Bronze Age) «Hengist» by Sean Poage (Historical Fiction Novella, set during the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain) «All the Horses on Iceland» by Sarah Tolmie (Historical Fiction/Fantasy Novella about an Medieval Icelander’s Fantastical Journey to Central Asia) «The Lion & the Sword» (90s Fantasy inspired by Alexander the Great’s Conquest of Greece) «Bloodstone» & «Dark Crusade» by Karl Edward Wagner (Both in the «Kane» series, S&S/Proto-Grimdark) «Lancelot» by Giles Kristian (Arthurian Fantasy/Historical Fiction) «Sun Eater» 3-6: «Demon in White», «Kingdoms of Death», «Ashes of Men» & «Disquiet Gods» by Christopher Ruocchio (Space Opera) «Navola» by Paolo Bacigalupi (Political Fantasy inspired by Renaissance Italy & «The Godfather») «Carthage Ascendant» by Mary Gentle (Book of Ash #2, Alt-Historical Military Fiction inspired by the Mercenary Wars of the Renaissance) «The Blood Dimmed Tide» by Stephen Aryan (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Mongol Conquest of Persia) «Firelord» by Parke Godwin (Arthurian Historical Fiction) «Women of Troy» by Pat Barker (Historical Fiction take on the Iliad, from the perspective of Achilles’ and Agamemnon’s «War Bride» Briseis) «The Crystal Cave» by Mary Stewart (Arthurian Fantasy from the perspective of Merlin) «The Wolf Den» by Elodie Harper (Historical Fiction set in the, eh, «Red Light District» of Ancient Pompeii😅) «Informocracy» by Malka Older (Cyberpunk) «Brothers of the Wind» by Tad Williams (Prequel to «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn», Epic Fantasy) «The Folding Knife» by KJ Parker (Political Fantasy) «Pompeii» by Robert Harris (Historical Crime Fiction, set against the Destruction of Pompeii) «The Bright Sword» by Lev Grossman (Arthurian Fantasy) «Augustus» by John Williams (Epistolary Historical Fiction about the Eponymous Roman Emperor’s Life) The «Aspect Emperor» series by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy, sequel series to «The Prince of Nothing» Trilogy) «Written in the Dark» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Published in 2025, Fantasy inspired by Medieval France) Cheers Josh, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 😊
Awesome! Of your list, there are quite a few I'd love to read soon: Firelord by Godwin Parke has been on the TBR forever, and I also really want to read Augustus. And I bet we'll both be reading Written in the Dark upon release!
Great video! I need to read some GGK in 2025.
I love your unbridled love for GGK need to read his works with how much you love his work
I hope you love his works as I do!
I predict that you will love Memory,Sorrow and Thorn,I did,earlier this year.Some of my reading plans for next year are:
On the first of January I will read Lonesome Dove,after that I will start the sequel series from Tad Williams,The Last King of Osten Ard.Also in January I will begin my first journey to the Dark Tower with The Gunslinger.
I'm very looking forward to read more GGK,already read Under Heaven and The Lions of Al-Rassan this year and loved both. My next book will be A Song for Arbonne,in February.
I really hope you enjoy your read of the Dark tower! Be prepared for a very different kind of series. And I'm very excited that you'll be reading A Song for Arbonne in February - it's still my favorite by Kay.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. Tad Williams is one of my favorite authors. I've read all but one of his books. Navigator's Children was a terrific conclusion to his latest series, Last King of Osten Ard, the follow-up to MS&T.
I suspect he's going to be one I really enjoy, as I have heard him compared favorably to both Hobb and Martin, two that I really love.
Can’t wait for our nebulous buddy read😂
YES!
Great plans Josh! Brunch and book talk is a cool idea. Would love to see more of those.
Thanks, Chas!
Sounds like you are setting yourself up for a super fun 2025 with all the group/buddy reads. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on LPQ! And excited for the livestreams to come back, I missed those! Happy reading, Josh 🤩
Thanks, Esmay! I'm excited for the new year!
81 to 80, ha brilliant! Would like to to the Sunday Brunch up again as well.
Thanks, coming soon I guess! :)
Great Video Red Fury! Tad Wiliiams is one of my top prioritites as well. I'm a big fan of John's channel Talking Story. Happy Holidays!
Thanks, Todd! Happy Holidays to you as well!
I'm going to finish Suneater next year too. I've read 3 novels and 2 short stories so far. I met Christopher Ruocchio at Dragonsteel and he signed a book for me. He was really nice. I'm also going to try to start The Dandelion Dynasty next year and finish the Kingsbridge series.
I think you're really going to like LPQ.
I met Ruocchio in Austin a few months ago and agree, he's a genuinely nice guy. I'm excited for LPQ!
You and Brian should read Electric Forest or Glorious Exploits! 5 star stand alone reads!!
Josh I will be finishing up The Last King of Osten Ard, reading as of now just Curse of the Mistwraith but all of Malazan with John@ Talking Story. I have them all on audio.
I am also picking up more vintage scifi recommends from Jack@Scifi Finds!
Those are some chunky books, Heidi!
Excited to eventually read Noble House! I have no idea how many unread books I have and i refuse to ever count 😂
Love these plans! I have similar plans myself but about a year behind, I’m planning to read King Rat this year and Memory Sorrow and Thorn in 2026.
Looking forward to your 2025 videos 😎.
Thanks, Al! I hope 2025 is an amazing year for you!
I am finishing the Fionavar Tapestry and I am loving it much more than I expected. He is so good at making you feel for his characters from the start, it makes a big difference for me.
I read it a couple of years ago. I love how chill the college kids were about being transported to a fantasy world. They didn't freak out or anything. Instead, they were like, "Hey! This is cool!"
Dave and Kim were my favorites.
@samcostello2861 I think they were like any fantasy reader would be, of course, it was my destiny 😂.
That's great to know! I know a lot of people don't like it as much as his other works, but glad to see that's not everyone!
@RedFuryBooks Maybe if you read it after all his later works but I only read A Song for Arbonne about 25 years ago so I don't really have a frame of reference to his other novels. I will be reading a lot of his works in 2025, that's for sure.
@@ABookForest lots of Kay in 2025 sounds like a great year!
Please do any TBR contest open to all your subs please!! Your Fireside is not for everyone!!
I'll do a community tab post for nominations too.
The Dragonbone Chair is great! Looking forward to your thoughts. I'm reading and enjoying The Stone of Farewell, and--speaking of Durfee--I recently finished The Lonesome Crown (loved it!). Also, my channel plan is to get back to recording and uploading videos in 2025.
Glad you enjoyed The Lonesome Crown as well! It wasn't a neat and clean ending, but I loved it nonetheless. Happy New Year, Michael!
I am HERE for the nebulous! Can't wait to read (insert book here) in (insert month here)!
YES!
Some great choices. My goals are to complete the First Law saga, the Tide Child Trilogy, Gunmetal Gods and Dandelion Dynasty.
Of those I've only read The First Law, and it was fantastic. Happy Reading!
It’s a nice, flexible set of plans. I might join you for Noble House. I’m currently about 2/3rds through Tai Pan and enjoying it tremendously.
I haven’t read any of the Lindholm novels yet. They are out of print and ungodly expensive even in paperback. The Gypsy is OK, but it’s not anywhere near Hobb’s or Brust’s best. You should pick up Jhereg by Brust and just use it as a palate cleanser.
I read Memory Sorrow & Thorn about 15 years ago, maybe 20. I liked it very much, but not enough to reread (or at least a fairly low re-read priority - there are just too many great books).
I don’t think 80 is a big unread pile. You might consider following a rule where you have to read two books you own before you acquire another. I did that at a time when I had about 400 unread books. It took a while but never felt onerous.
Right now, I have a few reading rules:
1) I can’t start a new series until I finish (or catch up) in one I’m reading.
2)in addition to my standard fare of genre books (mainly fantasy, historical, adventure, and mystery), I also always have a re-read going.
3) Every day, I try to read at least ten pages of poetry or non-fiction.
4) When I have one shelf double stacked, I have to pare down my library. I should only books I will read, use as reference, or reread. Exception for the books that double as furniture.
Finally, did you write your opening fanfare? It has a hint of Ride of the Valkyrie to my ear.
I'm glad you don't think of 80 as a big pile of unread books! The good side is knowing an unread book is always on hand.
My theme music was written by my friend David Herring, who unfortunately passed away 2 years ago. I asked him to use the music of Anton Bruckner and the Marvel theme as inspirations. So your Wagner reference was right on!
LPQ is on my reread list for 2025.
Awesome!
Only definitive reading plans I have is more GGK, to continue Wurts' Wars of Light & Shadow and start Williams' Last King of Osten Ard.
Outside of that, get back to reading other genres more regularly. If it wasn't for Hobb I like to think I would've gotten more of a variety of genres in. Good problems to have.
I've found I've read majority of the Fantasy series I've wanted to read and am becoming less interested in the rest of the genre as time has gone on and I've really been slacking on Sci-Fi and Historical-Fiction the last year or two.
To who has no name, have you checked out Jack from scifi Finds? He has got me interested in reading vintage sci fi again! He is a great filter to picking out the best ones!!
Having Hobb take over your reading is definitely a good problem to have! My reading goes through phases as well: I'm also hoping to explore a bit more crime fiction next year, and a few years ago I didn't have much interest in that genre at that time.
I’m surprised that you haven’t read the Tad Williams novels. I think you will love them. I’ve tried to like Guy Gavriel Kay, but I don’t. Liked Ysabel and the Fionavar Tapestry series, but not much else. I’ll still read more of his books because I’m a completionist.
I'm really looking forward to starting The Dragonbone Chair in just over a week!
I want to read their new one, “Memory, Sorrow and Thorn” by Tad Williams, I will continue to read “Wheel of Time”, I want to finish “Expanse” by James S. A. Corey there are five books left and I will continue the “Dresden Files” cycle. So far, this is the plan.
Happy reading to you in 2025!
Wow hearing you say you will be reading the new GGK over Stephen King is definitely high praise. I am excited to start my GGK journey in 2025. Any suggestions on where to start? I have very similar book taste to you if that helps with a suggestion
I think where I started for GGK works extremely well: The Lions of al-Rassan. It's one of his best and a great intro I think.
GGK, «Sun Eater» & «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn»! 🤩🙌
I have my lists of themes and references ready and locked for «MS&T», and the same for «Empire of Silence» & «Howling Dark», so don’t you worry!😄
I might get to LPQ late next year, but I think that one is more likely on my 2026 TBR! 😅
My own SFF/Historical Fiction 2025 TBR list:
«Doom of Destiny» (Sundered Nation #3) by Vaughn Roycroft (Epic/Historical Fantasy inspirert by the Historical Ancient Goths and the Rohirrim of Tolkien, with a dash of «Dune»)
«After Rome» by Morgan Llywelyn (Historical Fiction set after the Roman Withdrawal from Britain)
«Cort Adeler» by Ole Henrik Gjeruldsen (Historical Biography about the 17th Century Norwegian Mercenary and Highly Decorated Admiral for the Venetian Navy)
«Anitra» by Hilde Susan Jægtnes ((Alt-)History Fiction, about an imagined granddaughter of the Composer Edvard Grieg living in Pre-WW2 Fascist Rome, torn between her creative dreams of creating a Mythological Grand Opera with the support from the totalitarian regime and her lesbian love for a Jewish musician…)
«Leviathan Falls» by James SA Corey («The Expanse» #9, Space Opera)
«The Children of Gods and Fighting Men» by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set in Viking Age Ireland)
«Alamut» by Vladimir Bartol (Philosophical Historical Fiction, set among the Order of Assassins Sect during the Crusades, with parallels to the growth of Fascism in Bartol’s own 1930s)
«Mannen som bar solen» («The Man Who Carried The Sun») by Kristian Bang Foss (Historical Fiction set in the Nordic Bronze Age)
«Hengist» by Sean Poage (Historical Fiction Novella, set during the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain)
«All the Horses on Iceland» by Sarah Tolmie (Historical Fiction/Fantasy Novella about an Medieval Icelander’s Fantastical Journey to Central Asia)
«The Lion & the Sword» (90s Fantasy inspired by Alexander the Great’s Conquest of Greece)
«Bloodstone» & «Dark Crusade» by Karl Edward Wagner (Both in the «Kane» series, S&S/Proto-Grimdark)
«Lancelot» by Giles Kristian (Arthurian Fantasy/Historical Fiction)
«Sun Eater» 3-6: «Demon in White», «Kingdoms of Death», «Ashes of Men» & «Disquiet Gods» by Christopher Ruocchio (Space Opera)
«Navola» by Paolo Bacigalupi (Political Fantasy inspired by Renaissance Italy & «The Godfather»)
«Carthage Ascendant» by Mary Gentle (Book of Ash #2, Alt-Historical Military Fiction inspired by the Mercenary Wars of the Renaissance)
«The Blood Dimmed Tide» by Stephen Aryan (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Mongol Conquest of Persia)
«Firelord» by Parke Godwin (Arthurian Historical Fiction)
«Women of Troy» by Pat Barker (Historical Fiction take on the Iliad, from the perspective of Achilles’ and Agamemnon’s «War Bride» Briseis)
«The Crystal Cave» by Mary Stewart (Arthurian Fantasy from the perspective of Merlin)
«The Wolf Den» by Elodie Harper (Historical Fiction set in the, eh, «Red Light District» of Ancient Pompeii😅)
«Informocracy» by Malka Older (Cyberpunk)
«Brothers of the Wind» by Tad Williams (Prequel to «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn», Epic Fantasy)
«The Folding Knife» by KJ Parker (Political Fantasy)
«Pompeii» by Robert Harris (Historical Crime Fiction, set against the Destruction of Pompeii)
«The Bright Sword» by Lev Grossman (Arthurian Fantasy)
«Augustus» by John Williams (Epistolary Historical Fiction about the Eponymous Roman Emperor’s Life)
The «Aspect Emperor» series by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy, sequel series to «The Prince of Nothing» Trilogy)
«Written in the Dark» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Published in 2025, Fantasy inspired by Medieval France)
Cheers Josh, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 😊
Awesome! Of your list, there are quite a few I'd love to read soon: Firelord by Godwin Parke has been on the TBR forever, and I also really want to read Augustus. And I bet we'll both be reading Written in the Dark upon release!
I’m a simple guy. I see Sun Eater. I click on video.
I'm early in my Sun Eater journey, but thoroughly enjoying it!
Remember the days when authors could tell a complete story in less than 400 pages?
That's not changed. But in the same breath, you can just not read big epics which have their own appeal.
Some still can thankfully!