And now it is time for THE 2020 RY AWARDS! An extremely nonprestigious annual award for the best books read each year by me.
Starting off with my favorite genre —
FANTASY
BEST EPIC FANTASY: The Unspoken Name, by A. K. Larkwood — it went in directions I didn’t expect and came together beautifully
BEST CYBERPUNK FANTASY: Shorefall, by Robert Jackson Bennett — I didn’t even know this genre was possible
BEST FABLE: Redemption In Indigo, by Karen Lord — a charming story, perfectly told
BEST FANTASY SHORT STORY COLLECTION: The Language Of Thorns, by Leigh Bardugo — fairy tales wonderfully reimagined and transfigured
BEST WARTIME FANTASY: The Healer’s War, by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough — a gripping and horrifying depiction of war
BEST FANTASY WESTERN: A Stitch In Crime, by Justin Robinson — the finest book he’s written yet, and I was already a fan
Following it up with my second favorite —
SCIENCE FICTION
BEST SPACE OPERA: Network Effect, by Martha Wells — I was a Martha Wells fan before she was super-popular; therefore, I am cool
BEST CLASSIC SF: The Man Who Fell To Earth, by Walter Tevis — by the end, it worms its way under your skin with insidious subtlety
BEST TIME TRAVEL SF: The Psychology Of Time Travel, by Kate Mascarenhas — a locked-room murder mystery, a love story, and a deep look at how time travel might seriously mess with your mind
BEST POST-APOCALYPTIC SF: Memory Of Water, by Emmi Itäranta — poetic, evocative, and thought-provoking
And of course, there was plenty of —
YA
BEST YA FANTASY SERIES: Unicorn Trilogy, Tanith Lee — an utter delight from beginning to end
BEST YA FANTASY BOOK: (tie) The Midnight Lie, by Marie Rutkoski, and Girl, Serpent, Thorn, by Melissa Bashardoust — two exquisitely written books
BEST YA SCIENCE FICTION: Catfishing On Catnet, by Naomi Kritzer — the story the book is based on is charming; the book is as well
BEST GODS: Deeplight, by Frances Hardinge — some of the best word-building in the genre from one of the best authors in the genre
BEST YA BOOK I LOVED IN SPITE OF ITSELF: A Deadly Education, by Naomi Novik — the setting makes no sense, but the story and voice is so good
This year, for some reason, I read an unusually large amount of —
HORROR
BEST HORROR SHORT STORIES: Things We Say In The Dark, by Kirsty Logan — unsettling tales from an always-excellent author
BEST SCIENCE FICTION HORROR: The Outside, by Ada Hoffman — a big yes to cosmic horror in an SF setting
BEST CLASSIC HORROR: Picnic At Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay — atmospheric and strange
BEST HORROR GRAPHIC NOVEL: Are You Listening?, by Tillie Walden — a great, wild road trip horror story
BEST UNDEAD: The Bones Houses, by Emily Lloyd-Jones — unexpected depth and great characters
Which leaves only the —
GRAB BAG
BEST BOOK WRITTEN BY RY: Love Bites, by Ry Herman — it is possible that I might be biased, but I honestly do like it
BEST MEMOIR: In The Dream House, by Carmen Maria Machado — beautifully written and powerful
BEST NONFICTION GRAPHIC NOVEL: Solutions And Other Problems, by Allie Brosh — Allie Brosh once again provides humor, insight, and the occasional emotional gut-punch
BEST HISTORICAL FICTION: (tie) The Rapture, by Claire McGlasson, and The Mercies, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave — books that made you feel like you were horribly, horribly there
BEST PLAY: Leopoldstadt, by Tom Stoppard — another fantastic hit from a playwright who seldom misses
BEST BAD BOOK: Atlanta Nights, by Travis Tea — awful in the best way
BEST WESTERN: Whiskey When We’re Dry, by John Larison — lyrical language, strong themes, and an awareness that not everyone in history was male, white, or straight
BEST CONTEMPORARY FICTION: Cottonmouths, by Kelly J. Ford — anyone who’s ever been in a really bad relationship will have shuddering moments of recognition
BEST LITERARY FICTION: Art & Lies, by Jeanette Winterson — nearly every single sentence of this book is amazing