Books of 2014
I read 291 books this year, the most since 2011, with a total pagecount of ~97,100, which is way above previouis tallies ( ~68,000 in 2013, ~77,800 in 2012, ~88,200 in 2011). Partly this was the accelerating incentive of the Arthur C. Clarke Award; I read 58 works either which have been submitted or in a couple of cases which I thought might be submitted (and still might be).
Diversity: 81 (28%) by women, compared to 71 (30%) in 2013, 65 (25%) in 2012, 22% in 2011, 23% in 2010, 20% in 2009, 12% in 2008. Highest number recorded to date.
21 (7%) by PoC this year, compared with 11 (5%) in 2013, 12 (5%) in 2012, 5% in 2011, 9% in 2010, 5% in 2009, 2% in 2008. Boosted by Clarke submissions.
Most books by a single author:
Justin Richards (4), and one other who gets to 4 by counting Clarke submissions.
Non-fiction
20142013201220112010200948465369668816%19%20%23%24%26%
Best in category: Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell. Really fantastic writing.
Runner-up: Other People's Countries: A Journey into Memory, by Patrick McGuinness - still not sure who recommended this to me, but it was a good call.
The one you won't have heard of: Legacy: A story of racism and the Northern Ireland Troubles by Jayne Olorunda
Non-sfnal fiction
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Best in category: The Waves, by Virginia Woolf - NB SPOILERS in my write-up.
Runner-up: The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene
The one you won't have heard of: Battle for Bittora, by Anuja Chauhan
Non-Whovian sff
201420132012201120102009124656278737843%27%24%26%26%23%
(for convenience, this year's total includes a couple of Clarke submissions that I don't really think are sf.)
Best in category: The Ocean At The End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman
Runner-up: Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie
The one you won't have heard of: The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing-World, by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.
Doctor Who fiction
20142013201220112010200959727580717020%30%29%27%26%19%
Best in category: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Time Traveller, by Joanne Harris - short but punchy.
Runner-up: Damaged Goods, by Russell T. Davis - excellent, unexpecetd foreshadowing of New Who.
The one you won't have heard of: The Cybermen Monster File, by Gavin Collinson and Joseph Lidster - a nifty ebook about your second favourite monsters.
Extra - Who non-fiction: Adventures with the Wife in Space: Living With Doctor Who, by Neil Perryman - a lovely confessional account of life as a Who fan and blogger
Extra - Who comics: The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who, by Paul Cornell - loved it.
Comics
2014201320122011201020091930212718287%13%8%9%6%8%
Best in category: Dotter of Her Father's Eyes, by Mary M. Talbot and Bryan Talbot
Runner-up: Sugar Skull, by Charles Burns
The one you won't have heard of: Brussel in beeldekes: Manneken Pis en andere sjarels, ed. Marc Verhaegen
Worst book of the year: with some competition from others in the same series, the 1986 Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Doctor Who story by William Emms, Mission to Venus, is so poor that I would gently suggest to even the most dedicated Who completist than they can safely give it a miss.
Diversity: 81 (28%) by women, compared to 71 (30%) in 2013, 65 (25%) in 2012, 22% in 2011, 23% in 2010, 20% in 2009, 12% in 2008. Highest number recorded to date.
21 (7%) by PoC this year, compared with 11 (5%) in 2013, 12 (5%) in 2012, 5% in 2011, 9% in 2010, 5% in 2009, 2% in 2008. Boosted by Clarke submissions.
Most books by a single author:
Justin Richards (4), and one other who gets to 4 by counting Clarke submissions.
Non-fiction
20142013201220112010200948465369668816%19%20%23%24%26%
Best in category: Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell. Really fantastic writing.
Runner-up: Other People's Countries: A Journey into Memory, by Patrick McGuinness - still not sure who recommended this to me, but it was a good call.
The one you won't have heard of: Legacy: A story of racism and the Northern Ireland Troubles by Jayne Olorunda
Non-sfnal fiction
20142013201220112010200941444848505714%19%19%16%18%18%
Best in category: The Waves, by Virginia Woolf - NB SPOILERS in my write-up.
Runner-up: The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene
The one you won't have heard of: Battle for Bittora, by Anuja Chauhan
Non-Whovian sff
201420132012201120102009124656278737843%27%24%26%26%23%
(for convenience, this year's total includes a couple of Clarke submissions that I don't really think are sf.)
Best in category: The Ocean At The End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman
Runner-up: Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie
The one you won't have heard of: The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing-World, by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.
Doctor Who fiction
20142013201220112010200959727580717020%30%29%27%26%19%
Best in category: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Time Traveller, by Joanne Harris - short but punchy.
Runner-up: Damaged Goods, by Russell T. Davis - excellent, unexpecetd foreshadowing of New Who.
The one you won't have heard of: The Cybermen Monster File, by Gavin Collinson and Joseph Lidster - a nifty ebook about your second favourite monsters.
Extra - Who non-fiction: Adventures with the Wife in Space: Living With Doctor Who, by Neil Perryman - a lovely confessional account of life as a Who fan and blogger
Extra - Who comics: The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who, by Paul Cornell - loved it.
Comics
2014201320122011201020091930212718287%13%8%9%6%8%
Best in category: Dotter of Her Father's Eyes, by Mary M. Talbot and Bryan Talbot
Runner-up: Sugar Skull, by Charles Burns
The one you won't have heard of: Brussel in beeldekes: Manneken Pis en andere sjarels, ed. Marc Verhaegen
Worst book of the year: with some competition from others in the same series, the 1986 Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Doctor Who story by William Emms, Mission to Venus, is so poor that I would gently suggest to even the most dedicated Who completist than they can safely give it a miss.