The quiet days after the New Year, when Coode Street scribes spend their days slowly summarising the moments of the year just gone and contemplating what the year ahead might bring, pass slowly in the chill of Chicago and the sweltering heat of the Antipodes. With little specific to discuss, we nonetheless headed to the Waldorf Room high atop the Coode St Motel Six, with no clear intention of what would unfold.
Moments before podcasting began, though, a query came through from James Bradley, asking our thoughts on excellent contemporary fantasy. Interest piqued, we discussed, we listed and we chatted. While we would love to hear listeners recommendations, these are the books we discussed (and recommended) during the podcast:
Contemporary Fantasy Novels (in the order mentioned on the podcast)
Mythago Wood, Robert HoldstockThe Drowning Girl, Caitlin R. KiernanLast Call, Tim PowersYsabel, Guy Gavriel KayThe Limits of Enchantment, Graham JoyceThe Wizard Knight, Gene WolfeThe Golden Compass, Philip PullmanJonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Susanna ClarkePerfect Circle, Sean StewartWaking the Moon, Elizabeth HandWizard of Pigeons, Megan LindholmThe Scar, China MievilleThe Prestige, Christopher PriestWho Fears Death, Nnedi OkoraforThe Brides of Roll-Rock Island, Margo Lanagan Was, Geoff RymanThe list has its flaws and omissions (one we reason we'd love your recommendations), but it's a starting point for discussing an interesting subject. Our thanks to James for his question. At podcast's end we briefly also discuss some points of comparison with the Locus All-Time Poll recently released, and encourage others to run their own similar polls.
As always, we hope you enjoy the podcast!