Danny
As a bookseller I probably shouldn’t have a favourite genre, but I do – fantasy, sci-fi, and all that encompasses! Our bestselling book of 2023 was The Watkins Book of English Folktales by Neil Philip. I think it appeals to people for several reasons. To begin with, folktales are a magical and whimsical way to explore our history. Also, having a foreword by Neil Gaiman helps! Finally, it is a stunning monochrome hardback with silver foiling. People definitely DO judge this book by its cover, and rightly so! One of my recent favourite fantasy books is Tyger by S F Said. Technically a children’s book, I read it aloud to my eldest daughter and it caused a few late nights due to both of us needing ‘just one more chapter’. Delving into punchy, topical issues like racism, immigration, totalitarianism and uneven distribution of wealth and power, Tyger is set in London in an alternate reality where slavery was never abolished. A sci-fi book I think more people should know about is Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. The story follows the progress reports of Charlie, a janitor with an IQ of 68, who is relatively happy with his lot. After an operation to boost the IQ of a lab mouse called Algernon is successful, the same procedure is carried out on Charlie. By reading his entries, we are able to watch Charlie’s spelling, grammar and vocabulary blossom. But is Charlie happier with his boosted IQ? This story still sits with me, and after I had finished it, I felt my perspective of the world had shifted. That, to me, is the mark of exceptional storytelling. Kirsty The first in a trilogy, The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin is a mind-bending exploration of humanity’s response to the existence of extraterrestrial life. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction turns its attention towards Earth. Faced with an incoming invasion, Mankind disagrees on how to react; do they welcome the superior beings, or stand and fight? George R R Martin called it ‘unique’, and it was the first Asian novel ever to win science fiction’s prestigious Hugo Award – so be sure to read it before watching the brand new Netflix series. The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard is set in 2175 where a series of solar storms have melted the polar ice caps, transforming Europe into a mass of lagoons and jungles. A team of scientists are sent to derelict London to study the wildlife that now overruns it – but the mission quickly breaks down, and a fight for survival begins. If you’re looking for science fiction with alien ships and outer space, you’re in the wrong place. This is more about ‘inner’ space, and the psychological impact of a global catastrophe. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence is my final choice. Evar Eventari has spent his entire life trapped within the walls of a vast, labyrinthine library. It’s also the home of the mysterious ‘Mechanism’, a device with the power to bring books to life. Livira is a young girl born in the impoverished region. When her village is destroyed, she arrives in the big city as a refugee, but quickly finds employment as an apprentice at the library. A little bit fantasy, a little bit romantic and a great big heap of fantastic, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is an epic love letter to books, and the places we find them. |