Favourites of 2009

Inspired by SF Signal's recent Mind Meld posts on the "best genre-related books/films/shows consumed in 2009," I thought I might give my Top 10 lists for SF&F novels and short stories read this year (for the first time) -- seeing as most of what I read was originally published before 2009. Then, I'll throw in a list for films.

Favourite SF&F Novels Read in 2009 (Out of 4 Stars)
1. Watchmen (Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, 1986)  *****
2. Red Mars (Kim Stanley Robinson, 1992)  ****
3. Blindsight (Peter Watts, 2006)  ****
4. Anathem (Neal Stephenson, 2008)  ****
5. Green Mars (Kim Stanley Robinson, 1994)  ****
6. River of Gods (Ian McDonald, 2004)  ****
7. Revelation Space (Alastair Reynolds, 2000)  *** 1/2
8. The Last Unicorn (Peter S. Beagle, 1968)  *** 1/2
9. Chasm City (Alastair Reynolds, 2001)  ***
10. Darwin's Radio (Greg Bear, 1999)  ***

Most Disappointing: Calculating God (Robert J. Sawyer, 2000); Hominids (Robert J. Sawyer, 2003); Consider Phlebas (Iain M. Banks, 1987).

Favourite SF&F Short Fiction Read in 2009 (Out of 4 Stars)
1. "Exhalation," Ted Chiang (2008)  ****
2. "The Girl Who Was Plugged In," James Tiptree, Jr. (1973)  ****
3. "Story of Your Life," Ted Chiang (1998)  ****
4. "Tideline," Elizabeth Bear (2007)  ****
5. "Pump Six," Paolo Bacigalupi (2008)  ****
6. "Verthandi's Ring," Ian McDonald (2007)  ****
7. "The Sledgemaker's Daughter," Alastair Reynolds (2007)  ****
8. "Vaster Than Empires and More Slow," Ursula K. Le Guin (1971)  ****
9. "Minla's Flowers," Alastair Reynolds (2007)  *** 1/2
10. "Boojum," Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette (2008)  *** 1/2

Honourable Mentions: "The Spires of Denon," Kristine Kathryn Rusch (2009); "Memory Dog," Kathleen Ann Goonan (2008); "Mitigation," Karl Schroeder and Tobias S. Buckell (2008); "End Game," Nancy Kress (2007); "Splinters of Glass," Mary Rosenblum (2007); "Sanjeev and Robotwallah," Ian McDonald (2007).

Favourite 2009 Films (Out of 4 Stars)
1. Avatar  *****
2. Watchmen  ****
3. Inglourious Basterds  ****
4. Bright Star  ****
5. Up  ****
6. Ponyo  ****
7. The Class  ****
8. District 9  *** 1/2
9. The Informant!  *** 1/2
10. Where The Wild Things Are  *** 1/2

Worst Film Seen in 2009: 2012  * 1/2

Top 5 Non-2009 Films Seen in 2009: (1) Synecdoche, New York; (2) Rachel Getting Married; (3) Happy-Go-Lucky; (4) Revolutionary Road; (5) Doubt.


Here are links to some other end-of-year, best-of lists from the SF&F blogosphere (to be updated as more lists become available):
• Adventures in Reading
• Antick Musings
• Bookgasm
• A Dribble of Ink
• Fantasy Book Critic (Liviu)

• Fantasy Book Critic (Mihir)
• Fantasy Book Critic (Robert)
• Fantasy Cafe
• Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews

• Graeme's Fantasy Book Review
• OF Blog of the Fallen
• Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
• SF Signal (John DeNardo)
• Speculative Horizons

• Stomping on Yeti
• Strange Horizons (multiple reviewers)
• Suvudu

• Visions of Paradise
• Walker of Worlds
• The Wertzone
• The World in the Satin Bag