A Look Back: Deuce's Books of 2019

January 1, 2020 Deuce Richardson

It’s that time of year again. I decided that, before the revelry got too outta hand, I better get this list posted. Some of you might notice a few reoccurring entries from last year’s list. That’s because some of them are traditional yearly rereads and others just needed to be read yet another time, dammit.

Take special note of the Gardner Fox historical adventure novels. The man has very quickly become one of my favorite historical authors. He totally delivers blood, passion and great storytelling. Howardesque with a solid dose of Sabatini. If only Gar had applied himself to the same degree in regard to his S&S novels…

Various books from the DMR stable appear below. That’s not out of some sort of “corporate loyalty”—though I do wish Dave would slacken my shackles just a bit and add just one Slim Jim to the bread and water he usually delivers to my cubicle… No, it’s because this has been a truly outstanding year, quality- and volume-wise, for DMR publications. “Skull-crushing” might be the term I’m looking for. I just call ‘em as I see ‘em.

The list below is comprised of all the books I remember reading or rereading in 2019. There is certainly the possibility that I've forgotten some worthy books I read earlier in the year. Rest assured that all of the books listed are ones I actually liked—books I didn’t like simply became one with the dust of forgotten ages. YMMV. Like before, the list is a mix of vintage and “just published yesterday” books. As always, please try to support small and independent publishers/authors, especially the ones who don’t hate you.

In general, I have tried to embed a link in each book title to the exact edition I read. That may not be so in some cases, however. Also, I'm not listing the books in any particular order, alphabetical or otherwise. More like, “Here’s the first bookstack. This is the top book on the bookstack.”

I hope all our Readers of the DMR Blog have a great New Year and let’s look forward to a rockin’ 2020.

Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell

Ciaphas Cain: Saviour of the Imperium by Sandy Mitchell

The Annotated She by H. Rider Haggard, edited by Norman Etherington

Swords of Steel Omnibus edited by D.M. Ritzlin

The Tartar Khan’s Englishman by Gabriel Ronay

Om, the Secret of Ahbor Valley by Talbot Mundy

Fury by James Alderdice [David J. West]

The Dark Man #10 edited by Mark Hall

Sherlock Holmes’ War of the Worlds by Manly W. Wellman and Wade Wellman

The Road to Infinity by Gael DeRoane

The Freedom of Fantastic Things edited by Scott Connors