My Five Best Reads of 2024

I suppose it is time to do a wrap-up for 2024. These are my favorite books of the past 12 months. These are books that I read in 2024. That does not mean they came out in 2024 (most of them didn’t). I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, but I read other things too, so these are the best books I read in 2024 in no particular genre and in no particular order. Again, these are just the books that I liked. You may have hated some of these books and that’s okay. This is my list. I had difficulty narrowing it down to five. That is why this top five list inexplicably contains six. It is also why there are honorable mentions afterward.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Comic existentialism in robot form. Who could imagine such a thing? Well, the brilliant Adrian Tchaikovsky, that’s who. Don’t let the “E” word scare you off. I promise, it’s funny.

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

A post-apocalyptic story about an airplane pilot and his dog who partner up with a half-crazed survivalist. There are very few people left alive and most of them, you don’t want to meet . . . yeah. Still, there is always a desire for human contact.

Steel Beach by John Varley

A good old-fashioned sci-fi yarn. Varley is always fun, but give me characters not-so-loosely based on The Front Page, with snappy dialog and acid wit, and I am all in.

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

A satisfying ending to a wonderful fantasy trilogy. It is a fantasy that not based on medieval European sensibilities, but more akin to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. It also has some badass female lead characters.

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A combination of cinematic schlock movie history and a bit of horror. Plus our protagonists have to outwit NAZIs. It is also a story about friendship and growth. The main characters of Montserat and Tristan are both down on their luck, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find it in themselves to be heroes.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

A rich cast of characters carries us through the life of Danny and his family, through good times, bad times and really bad times. Danny and his sister find ways to navigate the obstacles and cope. The characters in the book are given choices. Many of them have, or will choose a path to wealth. But the characters who choose a different path seem to be happier.

Honorable mentions:

It Takes a Village edited by Eric Klein

Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Making it So by Patrick Stewart

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

Star Liner

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