A Look Back: Deuce's Books in 2023

January 3, 2024 Deuce Richardson

Well, 2023 certainly flew by. Here we are in 2024. Before time flies by any further, I better get my traditional list of 'Books Read' posted.

The list below is comprised of all the books I remember reading or rereading in 2023. 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. If a book is listed, I consider it worth reading. Notable periodicals, such as Tales from the Magician's Skull, are also listed. However, I have not tried to list various short stories I’ve read singly here and there. As always, please try to support small and independent publishers/authors—especially the ones who don’t hate you.

As per tradition, 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.” Some of you might notice a few reoccurring entries from previous years’ lists. That’s because some books are traditional yearly rereads for me and others just needed to be read yet another time. One new ‘yearly reread’ is Samhain Sorceries. It is now required Halloween reading beside Zelazny’s A Night in the Lonesome October.

The list is a bit shorter this year, despite me having a little more down-time due to extended periods of no internet. However, a fair amount of time was spent attempting to deal with those problems. Plus, more of my 2023 time was spent keeping up with real world events than in previous years, which events are more concerning and fascinating than any year I’ve witnessed in my entire life.

I hope this list sparks some interest in the books mentioned. I also hope DMR Blog readers enjoy the next four weeks of the 2024 DMR Guest Bloggerama. We have a lot of quality content lined up.

Roads by Seabury Quinn

Arena by John Jakes

A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny

Samhain Sorceries edited by D.M. Ritzlin

The Venona Secrets by Herbert Romerstein and Eric Breidel

Swain’s Justice by Arthur D. Howden Smith

The Man from Cannae (aka The Traitor’s Legion) by John Jakes

Far Away and Never by Ramsey Campbell

Captain: Falchion’s Company Book Two by Ken Lizzi

The Moon Maid (Bison Books edition collecting the entire ‘Moon Trilogy’) by Edgar Rice Burroughs

A Feast of Ambrosia by Glenn Rahman

Conan: Blood of the Serpent by S.M. Stirling