Tor Books, arguably one of my favorite publishers long before I started receiving the occasional book to review, has recently released their Top 10 SFF Novels of the Decade. As their post indicates, over the course of a week 10,000+ votes were cast for roughly 1600 titles and in the end 10 science fiction/fantasy books were left standing.
And the winners are:
1. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi – 295 votes
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman – 270 votes
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – 231 votes
4. Blindsight by Peter Watts – 221 votes
5. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey – 194 votes
6. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin – 179 votes
7. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke – 167 votes
8. Anathem by Neal Stephenson – 141 votes
9. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson – 125 votes
10. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville – 124 votes
I never tend to fair well with these lists and so it is probably not too big of a surprise that I have only read two of these books. They just so happen to be the top two books, however and they rank among my favorite books of all time, not just the past decade, so you won’t see any arguments coming from me.
For those into statistics I find it interesting that of 10,000 total votes cast, less than 20% of those votes make up the total count for the top 10. The percentage of overall votes vs. the number of votes each of these top 10 novels received is even smaller. To me that speaks of the wide range of tastes of readers, even those devoted enough to SFF that they felt compelled to vote in this poll. I would love to see the entire list of books that were voted for and their numbers.
I’m curious: How many of these books have you read? Which would be in your Top 10? What other SFF books written in the last decade would make your list?
My votes would have included a far different set of books largely because I have yet to read 8 of the books on this list (though I have 3 of them in my possession). If pressed to pick 10 SFF books I would certainly have included Audrey Niffenegger’s novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife as well as Gene Wolfe’s two book series, The Wizard Knight.
I strongly encourage a visit to Tor’s post on this list (click here) because they not only talk more about this list but are featuring an Appreciation of each book, one per day, written by an interesting variety of folks including authors whose books made the top 10.
This is where the man crush comes into play.
In the interest of full disclosure I will admit that I am about a third of the way through Patrick Rothfuss’ debut novel, The Name of the Wind, and he would have to have undergone a complete mental breakdown part way through the writing of this book to somehow change my current glowing opinion of the story. However, my man crush actually began to bloom before I was even 100 pages into the book. It happened for two reasons:
First, Patrick Rothfuss wrote this Open Letter to Nathan Fillion. As a HUGE fan of Firefly I couldn’t help but connect with Rothfuss’ own devotion to the actor and the show. Then this Tor Top 10 list came out and I read American Gods: An Appreciation. I couldn’t help but be a little excited that a best-selling fantasy author had read a Gaiman book more times than I have! It is refreshing to find that authors can indeed be fanboys, and fangirls. I hope the industry doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm.
So, for those of you who have read The Name of the Wind and may or may not have cracked into A Wise Man’s Fear, what is your prognosis? Is there any hope this will go away with a bit of ointment, or a tincture, or should I just embrace this man crush like a beauty mole?
that looks like a fantastic list, and I, too, am curious about maybe..the top 25 at least? I’ve read Gaiman’s, and two others are on TBR, will have to add more.
the husband asked me to pick up a Rothfuss novel (due primarily to the Fillion letter). I will send him the link for the Gaiman appreciation piece, too. (as he is a big fan of Gaiman and has read American Gods at least twice.)
thanks for sharing this. LoganKStewart speaks highly of Rothfuss, and Ibeeg just finished Name of the Wind and raved. Looking forward to your review.
~L
Ah, Carl, this post has me elated. I cannot describe the joy in my heart when people turn to reading Rothfuss’s beautiful story. I can assure that this book only improves as you read it, and it’s just as good on the re-reads. The Wise Man’s Fear has been excellent so far, too, by the way. Just like Pat has a man-crush on Joss Whedon (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?), I have one on him. There’s just so much I could write, from his personalized email to mentioning a gift I sent him on his blog to just being a fantastic geeky writer that’s made it into the upper echelons of success, not to mention all the money he’s donated to Heifer International. I’ll stop before I start blushing…
As for the SFF Top 10, my list would probably look something like this:
1. The Name of the Wind, by Pat Rothfuss
2. The Mistborn trilogy, by Brandon Sanderson
3. The First Law trilogy, by Joe Abercrombie
4. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
5. Storm of Swords, by GRRM
6. The Harry Potter books of the decade, by JK Rowling
7. The Warded Man, by Peter Brett
8. Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson
9. The Dark Tower, by Stephen King
10. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
If the list were for other formats besides novels, I’d be inclined to include some graphic novels and anthologies, but alas. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Old Man’s War, so I’m gonna HAVE to read this sometime soon.
Carl,
That is an interesting list. Although I have heard good things about several of the books on that list, I have read only one of them: Perdido Street Station, and I would agree that it belongs on the list. It was a wonderfully written yet very strange and fantastic book – I would recommend it to anyone that likes the SF / Fantasy genre.
As for other books I would like to see on the list, I would also recommend Alastair Reynolds Chasm City – a very cool read.
Rusty: I’m not sure where I want to go next with my foray into Mieville’s work. I know I am interested in reading Kraken and it sounds like the kind of book that might be right up my alley. Have you read that one? I also have The City and The City on audio checked out from the library.
I meant to add Chasm City to my list when I posted and forgot it. It is a very cool read indeed and is far and away one of the top science fiction books I have read in the last ten years. It was in my own Top 20 in the 2000’s post I put up last year.
Logankstewart: Yes, definitely read the Old Man’s War series. Scalzi is one of those authors I can gush about for a long time. Not quite as long as Gaiman, but Scalzi certainly fills the niche in SF that Gaiman fills for me in fantasy (or however one would classify Gaiman’s work).
I knew you were a big Rothfuss fan from visits to your blog. I’m hoping to get through Name this weekend or early next week so that I can start on A Wise Man’s Fear and be able to chat with others about it while it is fresh in everyone’s minds.
As for your list, my track record is even worse as I’ve read none of them. That will of course change when I finish Name of the Wind. I’ve read a great deal of Jonathan Strange, loved it, and then got side tracked. Its been long enough now that I really just need to start it all over again.
L: I look forward to reading Ibeeg’s review and talking about it with her once I am finished reading it. I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman’s work in general and American Gods is certainly his most complex novel and one that has satisfied every time I’ve “read” it. I read it once when it first came out and have listened to the audio version (which is phenomenal) twice. I’ve also read and listened to the short story that occurs after American Gods several times. It is called Monarch of the Glen and is in the Fragile Things collection.
I have read exactly ONE of the books, the Scalzi. I have the Sanderson in hand (meaning here somewhere), the rest are complete strangers to me. As you know, we have agreed to disagree about Gaiman. I didn’t like Sandman nor the other one I tried. I read many reviews of Strange and Norrell, and most of them said the same thing: pretty good but WAY too long and in need of an editor. So I skipped it. I’d be interested in reading the China Mieville, but am not sure where it falls in her books, and the GRRM is in the middle of a long set, if I’m not mistaken, so I’ll probably not ever get to it. I have the Rothfus, and started it once, read about 10 oages and got sidetracked, possibly by our move to Portland. I’ll pick it back up, probably after the new one comes out in mass market paperback. (2 years?)
There were a dozen books on the list which show as receiving less votes that I did read and like and would have put on my own list, such as The Bird of the River by Kage Baker and Hyperion by Dan Simmons, a really excellent book.
RkR: Strange and Norrell struck me as a book whose beauty is in its language as well as story and I was certainly enjoying it at the time. China is a guy, just so you know. Although had I not already known that my first guess would have been a female as well. GRRM is supposedly only going to be 7 books long, but book 5 isn’t set to come out until July of this year and it has taken him MANY years to right this last one. I think all of his fans are hoping he kicks it in gear a bit. 🙂 No one wants to see a Robert Jordan situation occur with this series.
It was interesting to see the full list and see, for example, how many Robert Jordan books ranked very highly despite the complaints I’ve heard over the years about how meandering they were. I wonder how much of that reflects a change in attitude about the books now that Sanderson has begun to tie everything together and put a close to it.
Oh, yay, I loved loved loved The Name of the Wind! I have the sequel pre-ordered and am very excited! It was my one of my favourite reads last year and is definitely one of my favourite books of all time. 🙂
I’ve read Old Man’s War and The name of the Wind. I thought the latter was beautifully written so enjoy it. I’ve heard great things about Cryptonomicon by Stephenson so he’s on my TBR list.
Wish granted. Looks like Tor.com has posted the top 50 as part of their article on Votes by Gender.
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/03/best-of-the-decade-data-votes-by-gender
I just love talking about books and lists like this!!!
I was quite shocked to see that I had read and/or listened to 6 of the 10 top books. I’ve read the following:
1. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi – 295 votes
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman – 270 votes
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – 231 votes
6. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin – 179 votes
7. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke – 167 votes
9. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson – 125 votes
I would also have all of them in my top 10 as well except for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I was not happy with the ending of that book so it won’t make my top ten. I REALLY loved the other 5 I’ve read.
I too have a man crush on Patrick Rothfuss. I read The Name of the Wind over about a year’s worth of time. It’s a huge book. I eneded up nibbling on it from time to time over six months for the first half of the book and then finished the second half in less than a month. It’s defiently one of those books that gets better and better as it goes and leaves you wanting for more. That love of the book led me to go buy A Wise Man’s Fear on release day. Thus I have started nibbling again and boy o boy does it taste so good.
Other’s I would add to my Top 10 list.
* New Spring by Robert Jordan ( My favorite characters in that series are highlighted in this book. )
* A Feast for Crows by GRRM ( Some people poo pooed this book when it came out because it lacked their favorite characters. My favorite characters weren’t it either but I was still blown away and capitvated by the characters in this book. Now I fidget with excitement until July 12th when A Dance with Dragons is released. I may even have to take off work that day. )
* The Time Travelr’s Wife by Audrey H. I still think of this love story often.
* The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I haven’t even finished it yet and I already love it.
* The Sowrd Edged Blonde by Alex Bledsoe. This book was the first PI fantasy novel I’ve ever read and I loved it.
* THe Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – A truly special tale for all ages.
My list in order would go like this:
1. A Storm of Swords by GRRM
2. A Feast For Crows by GRRM
3. Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
4. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
5. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
6. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey H.
7. New Spring by Robert Jordan
8. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
9. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
10. Mistborn: The Final Emprie by Brandon Sanderson
11. Whatever book I’m forgetting… 🙂
Opps. The Sword Edged Blonde should be number 10 and bump Mistborn to number 11.
Jeff: Sword Edged Blonde would be on my personal list as well. Both Eddie LaCrosse boooks were in my Top 20 of the 2000’s list. New Spring wasn’t too far down the bigger list of books that Tor readers voted on. Graveyard Book would be there for sure. Name of the Wind no doubt will be once I’m finished.
I mentioned on Little Red Reviewer’s site a few days ago that I have a small group of friends that I feel comfortable lending books to. Now that I know you are chewing on them I’m not sure you will be staying on that list! By some beef jerky or something, geez!
David S.: Thanks. I knew it had to be around somewhere and I was just too lazy to go look. RkR also emailed me the link earlier, or a link earlier, that had this info on it.
Stuart Clark: I’ve heard good things about Snow Crash as well, and it is a tinier book than Anathem, so if I decide to try Stephenson I’m sure I’ll go with something not so huge!
Kailana: When does Wise Man’s Fear come out there?
I’m a nibbler what can I say? 🙂
Wise Man’s Fear was released March 1 in the U.S. Is Kailana… elsewhere?
Interesting. I have only read 2 books on the list, and one of which I would rank right at the top, or very close – The Name of the Wind. There are a few on the list that I do want read: The Mistborn, Amercian Gods, and Old Man’s War.
You say you have a man crush going on, well, I am certainly crushing big time over here…fangirl all the way with The Name of the Wind. I have a ohmygodilovethisbook feeling going on which is slightly boarding on a ohmygodilovethischaracterKvothe…ohmygod!!!
My review is up on my blog. Take a read.
Yay, I am so glad that you are liking this book. I can not wait read your thoughts.
I’ve read 3, American Gods, Kushiel’s Dart, and A Storm of Swords. I also loved Rothfuss’ American Gods appreciation!
I’ve only read one (Jonathan Strange) and have two on my TBR (American Gods and Perdido Street Station). I appreciate lists like this when I am approaching a genre that I don’t read regularly.
Ibeeg: I’m looking forward to reading your review, but won’t be even glancing at it until I finish the book here (hopefully) in a few days. Was excited to see the email earlier that you had it up.
RkR: Yes, Kailana is definitely ‘elsewhere’, ha! Elsewhere being Canada. I assume the U.S. release is the same, but maybe not. I already picked up my copy of the book on Tuesday.
Jeff: I’ll make you where a Silence of the Lambs mask from now on when you borrow my books.
Melanie: Wasn’t his appreciation just so perfect? It had all the enthusiasm of a fan and I loved that.
Kristen M.: Me too. Although I have read a lot of science fiction and fantasy there is so much more that I haven’t yet experienced and so it is nice to see these kind of lists as they can often act as a guide of sorts in where to start in trying a new (to you) author.
I don’t read as much “new” science fiction and fantasy because too much of the emphasis seems to be on length rather then ideas and quality. However I have read more books published in the last decade than I thought. Here is my top ten
in no particular order
Ilium/Olympos
House of Leaves
Old Man’s War
Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Depths of Time (Trilogy)
Variable Star
Scales by Anthony G. Williams
These are really interesting choices. I read a fair amount of scifi & fantasy and I haven’t heard of half of these… I will have to take this list to the library and see what I can get.
AND I’m so excited to see Strange and Norrell at #7! One of my favorite books in any genre!
Ella: I enjoy Susanna Clarke’s short story collection, The Ladies of Grace Adieu, so much that I am thrilled to see her make the top 10 as well.
John G.: That is one thing that has certainly changed with me over the last decade in that I do read more new sff. Not even close to as much as comes out, as evidenced by my having only read 20% of the top 10, but much more than I used to. House of Leaves is one I have on my shelves, as is Variable Star.
Am I the only one who likes to wait until a trilogy – or more, who can guess? – is all in hand before reading it? When I started reading NME OF THE WIND I thought it was to be a stand-alone. I didn’t get far as other things pulled me away, and then when I later heard it was to be multiple volumes I set it completely aside. After a year or three, I can’t remember the details in the long series and don’t want to re-read all the previous books before each new one. I’ll wait, hoping the author will write with more alacrity than Jordan or Martin.
Thanks for sharing this list, now I have some new books to go find and read! I’ve read 4 of these (American Gods, Kushiel’s Dart, A Storm of Swords by George, Anathem) and if the others are as good I should read them too.
I’ve read four on the list and would have included two on my own list. I miss seeing Wolfe, Banks and McDonald up there. Guess it’s time I read “Old Man’s War” and “The Name of the Wind”.
I’ve read American Gods, The Name of the Wind, Kushiel’s Dart, A Storm of Swords, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and Perdido Street Station. Funnily enough, I started reading Old Man’s War just the other day. So I am going to have 7/10 down pretty soon. Overall I consider that a really solid list. It’s all over the place, but all the books on the list are really good reads. I would have other books on my top 10 list and probably would skip Perdido Street Station, but the quality of remaining books makes me want to check out the 3 that I haven’t read yet.
Maria: It is all over the place and I kind of like that about the list. 7 of 10, wow! You are rockin the list.
Gav: I will always recommend Old Man’s War to those thinking of reading it as the series is fantastic. And so far I am enjoying the heck out of The Name of the Wind.
Ejly: Like Maria mentioned, the quality of the books on the list does make one think that the others are worth checking out.
RkR: For me it largely depends on the book. I read the first two books in the Old Mans War series before the third came out, but my wait wasn’t an enormously long time. Less than a year, or about a year, I believe. As for Rothfuss I figure if he sticks to his commitment and only writes a trilogy then I can live with reading these two and waiting several years for the last one. I know I’m bound to be more upset with having to wait for Martin’s books to come out, though by July, when the next one is released, I’ll have 2 or 3 left to read anyway. Since friends are reading these books I decided I wanted to be able to talk with them about them now while they are fresh. But normally I am like you. I don’t like waiting. That is part of the reason I stopped reading Robert Jordan’s novels many years ago. I was sick of it never ending. And now that it is ending I find myself lacking the desire to go back and start at ground zero.
Same thing here with Jordon, and I only got through 3 of them. I later read a prequel, but that didn’t make me want to get back into them. Maybe someday, but let’s face it, there are lots of other books, past and new, to read.
RkR: Ain’t that the truth. Gotta run a few errands but will be over to check out the newest pics of your library later tonight. Can’t wait.
See I’ve had the opposite reaction to the Jordan series now that it is ending I’m getting the itch to back and read more of them. I’ve read the prequel and the first two so far and would love to read all the rest of them one day. I really liked the 3 books I’ve read of his a lot.
I also want to read Steven Erkison’s series one day. All I ever is good things about it as well and it just finished up this year.
I’m glad you’re getting in Name of the Wind so much Carl because I too really loved it. I thought it was just the kind of book you would love as well if you could just get past the chunck factor of it. I’m glad you did.
Way to go Maria. You trumped my six read with your seven. Bravo!
Jeff S.: That doesn’t surprise me because, on top of everything you are also becoming a fan of Brandon Sanderson with your read of Mistborn and what you’ve read of Way of Kings thus far.
I’ve decided to tear my Name of the Wind paperback up into 200 page sections and treat it like several smaller books. That way, no chunkster fear!
And if you know me at all, you know how ridiculous that statement is. As if I could tear a book.
I did buy the three-volume (boxed) Mistborn trade paper edition set, which will be gotten to One Of These Days (OOTD).
I imagine if I read Sanderson that I will start with Mistborn as well. Unless I get crazy and decide to read Way of Kings so that I can get in a long waiting cycle for subsequent books. LOL!
For those of you who have read The Name of the Wind, John Scalzi’s appreciation for the book is up today:
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/03/best-sff-novels-of-the-decade-an-appreciation-of-the-name-of-the-wind
I would pay to see you cut up a book. It was be hilarious. You know I could do it. Remember me cutting up Sandman comics to use as wrapping paper for your birthday gifts one year. If I can do that to Sandman then you know I could cut up a book. 🙂
I just went and read Scalzi’s appreciation of The Name of the Wind. It was great. Stew. So funny. As if I didn’t already love Scalzi enough he goes and writes a great appreciation review that causes me to love him even more. Thanks for the link as I hadn’t popped over to tor.com today.
Carl – As for Sanderson. Having read Mistborn book 1 and some of Way of Kings and would say Way of Kings is the way to go in my opinion for you. That is me basing what I know of what I believe you like in books. Way of Kings has a little of that Gene Wolfe Wizard/Knight feel to it to me that I think you would appreciate with these creatures that seem to exsist on more than one diemension. It’s just one little element that I think you would appreciate. Mistborn does have a cool magic system with some nice villians and an Ocean’s 11 type crew on the side of good that I really liked. Either I guess is not a bad way to go. 🙂
I met China Mieville at our local book store. He is quite an interesting and well educated guy. Actually I’ve listen to him a few times doing readings. Perdido Street Station was brilliant. So so different from anything I had ever read. Well written. Most of the books can be read independently, although a few are set in the same world they are not related at all. I have Kraken waiting in my book queue.
Ian: I’m looking forward to reading Kraken at some point. The description of the story and the few reviews I’ve read lead me to believe that it is the kind of book that I would enjoy.
Jeff: I guess it would depend on the money. And the book. If you would pay me to cut up any ol’ book I choose then I imagine I could do so. Then again, the idea still makes me cringe. I’m such a book lover!
I had a feeling the Scalzi appreciation would be great. I can’t wait to read it.
Ah Carl, again you have inspired me. I’ve not read most of the books on the list(s) sorry to say. I have read Nevermore many times, have read Stardust a number of times (and listened to the author’s audio as well). I have never read American Gods. I don’t know why it took me this long, but I am a few chapters into it. Spring (almost) is Neil Gaiman time for me, so your post was perfect inspiration. Thanks!
I think I still haven’t read enough sci-fi and fantasy (of any decade…) to actually be able to write up a good top ten list. But don’t worry, I’m working towards it!
Oooh, I LOVE Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell! The only other book on the list I’ve read is American Gods, which I really like, too. You have to read Jonathan Strange, though. It’s long, but worth it.
Just started on a real oldie, A. Bertram Chandler’s THE RIM OF SPACE (1961). Nothing earth-shaking, just old-fashioned fun with spaceships and alien planets…space adventure might be the best way to categorize it. I’m only 1/3 way through and have already ordered more Chandler, an omnibus volume from Baen.
Which reminds me, Carl, are you going to do a separate follow-up to the SF reading event? I’m afraid I only managed only a single book this time around: BERSERKERS: THE BEGINNING by Fred Saberhagen. I’ll do better next year!
RkR: I will do some sort of follow up to the Sci Fi Experience here soon, and shortly after that will be the Once Upon a Time announcement. The Chandler book sounds like something I would really enjoy!
Biblio: I feel like I am in the same boat largely because I’ve read so much classic stuff over the last decade and barely made a dent into the work that was released the last 10 years.
Emily: I know. I kick myself sometimes for not finishing it when it first came out.
Qugrainne: So wonderful to hear from you, it has been far too long. Glad you are reading American Gods. If you hadn’t started reading it I was going to suggest the audio because it is fantastic as well. I’m leaning towards a re-read of Neverwhere for Once Upon a Time, only this time it will be the Author’s Preferred Edition. Looking forward to seeing if I recognize the added material.
hey carl, like you i’m pretty low with the numbers on this list, having only read the gaiman (of course). a few of the others were on my radar, but i haven’t yet got round to them.
i find it very interesting that the top 10 received so few votes out of the total percentage! and, as you said, that shows a really wide range of tastes, which is really good to see.
i’d agree with you about the “time traveller’s wife”, even though i haven’t read the other 9 on the list.
Well, the good thing about the list and not having read many on it is that it provides some ideas and inspiration about what books should go on my tbr list.