The Basics Challenge ~ books read

The Basics Challenge ~ books read list.

What is it?  A personal project located at The Basics Challenge site, where I (Shellie) explore Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror) and where YOU can explore any genre(s) you wish!

It’s a “perpetual” 100 book challenge, with a 25% forgiveness rate, and a five year time limit. The plan is to prevent a story writer from “re-inventing the wheel”, or to help a reader to be more knowledgeable within the area of their interest(s). It’s a challenge that is open to anyone who cares to join. Let me know in the comments if it’s something you would like to do.

Titles link to Shellie’s review for each book.

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2012

1. A Long Long Sleep ~ by Anna Sheehan (YA – dystopian)
2. Darkfever; Bloodfever; and Faefever ~ by Karen Marie Moning (review coming) (paranormal romance)
3. Jamrach’s Menagerie ~ Carol Birch (review coming) (literary w/paranormal elements)
4. Other Kingdoms ~ by Richard Matheson (review coming) (historical fantasy)
5. Oryx and Crake ~ by Margaret Atwood (review coming) (sci fi)
6. The First Days (As the World Dies #1) ~ by Rhiannon Frater (horror)
7. The Whisperer ~ by Donato Carrisi (paranormal crime)
8. “The Women of Nell Gwynne’s” ~ by Kage Baker (steam punk)

2011

1. Blue ~ Lou Aronica (modern fantasy)
2. Changeling Moon ~ by Dani Harper (paranormal romance)
3. Delirium ~ by Lauren Oliver  (YA – dystopian)
4. Eddie - The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe ~ written and illustrated by Scott Gustafson (YA – historical paranormal)
5. Electric Ant ~ by Philip K. Dick (adapted by David Mack; illustrated by Pascal Aline) (sci fi – graphic novel)
6. Feed (audio) ~ by M. T. Anderson (YA – dystopian)
7. Galore ~ by Michael Crummey (historical paranormal)
8. In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination (Audio) ~ by Margaret Atwood (sci fi – non fiction)
9. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (in audio) ~ by Susanna Clarke (historical fantasy)
10. Kafka on the Shore ~ by Haruki Marakami (modern fantasy)
11. Nebula Awards Showcase 2011 ~ edited by Kevin J. Anderson (collection) 
12. Possession ~ by A.S. Byatt (in audio) (historical – literary)
13. Promises to Keep ~ by Charles De Lint (urban fantasy)
14. Shadow Bound ~ by Erin Kellison (paranormal romance)
15. Spellwright (Spellwright, #1) ~ by Blake Charlton (epic fantasy)
16. The Afflicted Girls ~ by Susy Witten (historical horror)
17. The Conference of the Birds ~ by Peter Sis (fable)
18. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making ~ by Catherynne M. Valente (YA – fantasy)
19. The Hermetica of Elysium ~ by Annmarie Banks (historical fantasy)
20. The Hobbit ~ by J.R.R. Tolkien; adapted by David Wenzel (epic fantasy – graphic novel)
21. The Oracle of Stamboul ~ by Michael David Lukas (literary – magical realism) 
22. The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus (in audio) ~ by Margaret Atwood (myhology – retelling)
23. The Picture of Dorian Gray (in audio) ~ by Oscar Wilde; read by Simon Vance (classic horror)
24. The Sandman - The Dream Hunters ~ by Neil Gaiman; illustrated by Yoshitak Amano (fable – graphic novel)
25. The Uncertain Places ~ by Lisa Goldstein (urban fant)
26. Those Across the River (audio) ~ by Christopher Buehlman (horror)
27. Trouble and Her Friends ~ by Melissa Scott (sci fi – lgbt)
28. Warm Bodies ~ by Isaac Marion (literary horror)
29. Willy ~ by Robert Dunbar (literary horror)
30. Wither (Chemical Garden Trilogy # 1) ~ by Lauren DeStefano (YA – dystopian)
31. Wuthering Heights ~ by Emily Brontë  (classic paranormal)

2009 ~ 2010

1. Alone ~ by Marissa Farrar (vamp horror/uf)
2. Cursed ~ by Jeremy Shipp (horror- bizarro)
3. Dracula ~ by Bram Stoker
4. Haunted Legends ~ edited by Datlow and Mamatas
5. Hothouse Flower ~ by Margot Berwin (magical realism)
6. Inside Out ~ by Maria Snyder (young adult – girls science fiction)
7. Keeper ~ by Kathi Appelt (young adult/tween, mythic - slipstream)
8. Life As We Knew It (#1) and 
9. This World We Live In (#2)
10. The Dead and The Gone (#3) ~ by Susan Beth (all linked here in one post) – (apocalyptic, young adult)
11. My Name is Memory ~ Ann Brashares
12. One Bloody Thing After Another ~ by Joey Comeau (lgbt horror)
13. Our Tragic Universe ~ Scarlett Thomas
14. Pathfinder ~ by Orson Scott Card
15. Post-Human ~ by David Simpson (sci fi)
16. RELEASE ~ by Nicole Hadaway – (horror, vampire)
17. Soulless ~ by Gail Carrigan – (urban fantasy, steam punk, vampire, werewolf)
18. Tender Morsels ~ by Margo Lanagan – (dark fantasy, fairytale retelling )
19. The Arrival ~ (a wordless novel) by Shaun Tan
20. The Handbook for Lightening Strike Survivors ~ by Michele Young Stone
21. The Healer's War ~ by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
22. The Magic Warble ~ by Victoria Simcox (children’s fantasy)
23. The Metamorphosis ~ by Frank Kafka (horror, classic, literature)
24. The Passage ~ by Justin Cronin (horror)
25. The Reincarnationist;
26. The Memorist;
27. and The Hypnotist ~ by MJ Rose (all three books in one post) (paranormal)
28. The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight ~ by Gina Ochsner (slip stream, literary)
29. The Song of The Whale ~ by Uri Orlev (fant/myth)
30. The Stupidest Angel - by Christopher Moore (horror, humor, zombie)
31. The Tempest ~ rewritten by Ann Keay Beneduce
32. The Things That Keep Us Here ~ by Carla Buckley (adult apocalyptic)
33. The Unit ~ by Ninni Holmqvist (dystopian sci fi)

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For a total of 74 books read in a less than a 3 year period. I have 26 more books to read to reach my 100 goal.

This list will be updated periodically and accessible via the tabs at the top of the blog.

Here’s to hoping that lists of books don’t bore you to pieces cause I have a few more coming up. I am still playing catch-up for our “real-life event” filled 2011. Not the best year, but what can one do? “Have a cup of tea, and get on with it!” as the English say.

Thanks for reading.