Read and Appreciated in 2003

An Editorial Year’s Best List

By Jeff VanderMeer

Originals · Listmania! 2003 · January 7, 2004

For a second consecutive year, most of my fiction reading fell within the boundaries of “genre.” I don’t know if my reading tastes have changed or if the field has changed somewhat. It has led to a holiday resolution to read widely outside of genre in 2004, to see what I’ve missed in the last few years. In 2003, also, I glutted myself on graphic novels and comics to an extent I had not in the past. Being very interested in art as well as story, I’ve found the best graphic novels to be comparable to the best fiction. But I separate them here for two reasons: (1) I read a lot of graphic novels first published before 2003 and (2) I still do consider graphic novels a different medium than prose fiction.

In 2003, many of us were introduced to the terms “New Weird” and “Interstitial Arts” for the first time, provoking a wide range of reactions. After flirting with the interstitial and ignoring the New Weird for most of the year, I ultimately found New Weird innocuous and Interstitial less helpful than I’d first thought. My New Year’s resolution, frankly, is to focus on my fiction writing and leave the discussion on labeling to others with more time for it. What cannot be doubted, though, no matter what you call it, is the health and vibrance of surreal, magic realist, fantastical, whatever-you-call-it fiction.

What does the future hold? I believe 2004 and 2005 will see the further ascendancy of writers like Zoran Zivkovic, Jeffrey Ford, Kelly Link, M. John Harrison, Richard Morgan, Ian R. MacLeod, and China Miéville, while newcomers such as K.J. Bishop, Anna Tambour, Kim Westwood, Michael Cisco, Minsoo Kang, Ben Rosenbaum, and Brendan Connell, among many others, make a more permanent mark on the landscape.

Fiction Top 10

1. Lucius Shepard

As far as I’m concerned, 2003 was The Year of Lucius Shepard, with so many memorable novellas and stories published that I couldn’t choose just one. From Louisiana Breakdown (Golden Gryphon) to Floater (PS Publishing) to… well, just pick your favorite, Shepard proved that he is an absolute fiction master.

2. Altered Carbon, Richard Morgan

(Del Rey, 2003)

Although this book came out in the UK in 2002, the trade paper didn’t appear in the US until 2003, which is when I first read it. In thinking of all the fiction I read in 2003, Altered Carbon is the one book that blew the top of my skull off while reading it. From the stunning eye for detail to the brave approach to portraying violence to the amazing ideas to the wonderful mix of noir detective fiction with SF thriller, this book had it all.

3. The Light Ages, Ian R. MacLeod

(Ace, 2003)

Careful characterization, a marvelous evocation of a magic London, and a compelling story made MacLeod’s novel truly timeless.

4. Trampoline, Edited by Kelly Link

(Small Beer Press, 2003)

This gorgeous collection of stories and novellas featured exemplary work by, among others, Greer Gilman, Shelley Jackson, Alex Irvine, Ed Park, and Rosalind Palermo Stevenson.

5. Limekiller, Avram Davidson

(Old Earth Books, 2003)

The curmudgeon’s most eccentric and laid-back stories, collected in one volume for the first time. Limekiller is Davidson’s most interesting protagonist, and the less plot-oriented focus of these stories allows the author’s talents for the specific detail and characterization to come to the fore. Featuring a splendid introduction by the ubiquitous Lucius Shepard.

6. Kalpa Imperial, Angélica Gorodischer, translated by Ursula K. Le Guin

(Small Beer Press, 2003)

An elegant “mosaic novel” from one of Argentina’s finest fantasists. Small Beer deserves high marks for taking the risk of putting out this book.

7. Journeys Beyond Advice, Rhys Hughes

(Sarob Press, 2002)

An insane collection of stories in which Hughes transcends pastiche while obviously riffing off of authors such as Clark Ashton Smith, William Hope Hodgson, and others. The long novella “The World Beyond the Stairwell” is particularly stunning.

8. Gazelle, Rikki Ducornet

(Alfred A. Knopf, 2003)

A sensual portrait of a time and place (Cairo) as Ducornet continues to stretch and refine her talent. Ducornet, as always, displays an amazing control of style and eye for detail.

9. Broken Angels, Richard Morgan

(Gollancz, 2003 and Del Rey, 2004)

Morgan’s second novel was not quite as good as Altered Carbon, although it contained many of the same trade marks. Still, an excellent effort and one that may grow in stature upon a re-read.

10. In Springdale Town, Robert Freeman Wexler

(PS Publishing, 2003)

This sly, slim book works its effect gradually and through a wry subtlety, the core of the book an event that cannot fully be explained. The first book from an accomplished and original stylist.

Nonfiction Top 10

Note: Unlike my fiction selections, most of my nonfiction reading was of books not published in 2003.

  1. Winter in Majorca, by George Sands
  2. Surrealist Subversions: The Surrealist Movement in the United States, edited by Ron Sakolsky
  3. Things That Never Were, by Matthew Rossi
  4. The Spanish Civil War, by Antony Beevor
  5. The Paradise of Cities, by John Julius Norwich
  6. Platypus, by Ann Moyal
  7. The Best of Myles, by Flann O’Brien
  8. The River’s Tale: A Year on the Mekong, by Edward A. Gargar
  9. The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet, by Georgius Everhardus Rumphius
  10. The Case of the Persevering Maltese: Collected Essays, by Harry Matthews

Graphic Novel Top 10

Unlike my fiction selections, most of my graphic novel reading was of books not published in 2003. My favorite graphic novels publisher of 2003 was Humanoids Publishing. They continue to push the envelope.

  1. The Frank Book, by Jim Woodring
  2. The Nikopol Trilogy, by Enki Bilal
  3. The Incal, by Jodorowsky and Moebius
  4. V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore
  5. Box Office Poison, by Alex Robinson
  6. Stray Toasters, by Bill Sienkiewicz
  7. Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror, by Junji Ito
  8. Orbiter, by Warren Ellis with Colleen Doran
  9. From Cloud 99, by Yslaire
  10. Top Ten (Books 1 and 2), by Alan Moore

Music Top 10

In this category, I had to go with the CDs I listened to the most—the ones that I kept picking up and playing in the car on the way to work. Is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Take Them On, On Your Own” as artful as The Swimming Pool Q’s? Maybe not, but I sure listened to it a lot more. That said, I could easily have put picks #2 or #3 in the top position.

1. Take Them On, On Your Own, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

If Oasis and the Stone Roses had ever gotten their brand of rock-pop right, it might have sounded something like this second CD from BRMC. Every song is loud and intense and hook-heavy, with no filler material. Standout track: 4, In Like the Rose. (A great soundtrack for Richard Morgan’s Altered Carbon.)

2. Built on Squares, Starlight Mints

It would have been hard to top their first CD, but “Built on Squares” comes close. It’s hard to describe the Mints’ sound, but it’s a little like carnival pop mixed with some Bowie mixed with some Violent Femmes mixed with… oy. It’s not possible to do it justice. It’s weird, strange, beautiful, crunchy music. Stunning. Standout track: 1, Black Cat (Detective).

3. Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, The National

This rock band gives The Tindersticks some competition for writing sad songs, while sometimes ratcheting it up a notch into searing, loud music. The ends of relationships, bad relationships—mix Leonard Cohen with vintage Afghan Whigs and you have some idea of The National. The lead singer has a wonderfully husky, smoke-worn voice. Standout Track: 2, Slipping Husband.

4. Das Capital, Luke Haines and The Auteurs

Luke Haines, through The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder, Baader Meinhof, and his solo recordings, has made a stunning amount of superb pop-rock/glam-rock in a stunningly short period of time. This CD collects some of his best, re-arranged and re-recorded, some with a strings section, one with a saxophone. From “How Could I Be Wrong” to “Unsolved Child Murder” to “Lenny Valentino,” all of these new versions are top-rate. As an added bonus, new songs such as “Satan Wants Me” are also included. “Baader Meinhof” is perhaps the most interesting alternate version since the original was extremely sparse. The CD also contains a hidden orchestral medley of Haines’ songs at the –1 position. Standout track: 6, Satan Wants You. (especially for the lyric, “Satan wants me/not you.”)

5. Kind of Light, The 88

Imagine listening to the radio one day and hearing what has to be a Kinks song circa 1967-69 that you’ve never heard before. And yet it also sounds like 2003. Is it a remix? Then you find out you were really listening to The 88, a new band out of California. Brilliant pop from devotees of The Kinks, among others. Standout track: 11, Sunday Afternoon.

6. Countrysides, Cracker

Dropped by Virgin, who wouldn’t release this cover CD of country songs, Cracker turned to BMG and promptly recorded the greatest label-kiss off song of recent memory, “It Ain’t Gonna Suck Itself,” as the last track on Countrysides. But the stars here are Merle Haggard, Bruce Springstein, Hank Williams Jr. The Cracker covers are wonderful, especially “Family Tradition,” “Sinaloa Cowboys,” and Ike Reilly’s “Duty Free.” “Duty Free” is just a wonderful pop-rock song. I think I listened to that song more than any single song all year. Standout track: 2, Duty-Free.

7. Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins

Pop-rock-whatever, The Shin’s second CD has a range that seems to encompass everyone from Martin Newell to Pavement. Shiny happy music with a melancholy edge in places. Standout track: 5, Saint Simon.

8. 12 Memories, Travis

A band that’s been trashed by some reviewers as shallow comes out with a beautiful, low-key, sometimes sad CD of songs that manages to be both somber and poppy at the same time. More depth than their past releases. Standout track: 6, Paperclips.

9. Royal Academy of Reality, The Swimming Pool Q’s

Eclectic rock from a band that hadn’t had a CD out in almost 10 years. Over 20 songs, in many different modes. It’s almost too eclectic a CD for its own coherence, but somehow it manages to hold together. Standout track: 9, Everybody Knows Tomorrow.

10. Keep on Truckin, Caustic Resin

Spazzed-out, psychedelic rock that’s sometimes too sludgy but that attains an amazing power in the latter half of the CD. Standout track: 6, Keep On Truckin.

Fiction I Enjoyed that I Couldn’t Consider for My Top Picks Due to Conflict of Interest

Other Noteworthy Fiction

Fiction I Didn’t Have Time To Read But Wish I Had

Fiction I Found Interesting But Overrated in 2003

Jeff VanderMeer is the author of City of Saints and Madmen and Veniss Underground, and co-editor (with Forrest Aguirre) of Leviathan Three, winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology in 2003. Secret Life, a new collection of short fiction from Golden Gryphon is forthcoming in 2004.

Copyright © 2003 by Jeff VanderMeer.