Top Ten Tuesday is was created by The Broke and the Bookish, and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It’s all about books, lists and sharing the love we have of both with our bookish friends. This week, we’re considering those books that we haven’t read yet, even though they were written by authors we adore. Really, why haven’t we read them yet?

Let’s be honest: there’s lots of reasons we may not have read a book yet, but it’s often because there are so many books. Sometimes it gets a bit more complicated when it’s a book by an author we love, because those tend to rocket to the top of the pile. But honestly? It’s a big pile. My reason for not having read many of these yet is OMG DO YOU HAVE A TIME TURNER I CAN BORROW?

 

The Book of Strange New Things – Michel Faber

I compulsively buy Faber’s output; Under the Skin and The Crimson Petal and the White won enough good will that he will always get my consideration. This one is a missionaries in space story, which means I will inevitably measure it against The Sparrow (high bar!) when I get to it; and/or have the perfect excuse for a reread of one of my long-time faves. Yay?

 

Bellman and Black – Diane Setterfield

It feels odd naming Setterfield on a list of favourites, but I loved The Thirteenth Tale without reservation and have wanted to read Bellman & Black ever since. I’ve seen it called a Gothic ghost story and the most boring thing ever written, so err, jury’s out?

 

Most of her output – Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire is a go to for me when I want fast, fun stories that still catch me sideways with feelings. I’m far from up to date on her Incryptid series (I WANT TO MEET ANTIMONY), but I’d really like to pick up Into the Drowning Deep (yay, murderous mermaids!). And one day, the rest of the Wayward Children

 

The Tidal Zone – Sarah Moss

This is the only oneof Moss’s works that I haven’t read, and it’s mostly because of the subject matter (it’s a very contemporary novel around a child nearly dying). Having enjoyed Ghost Wall so much recently, I’m bumping this up the pile. Moss has a history of tackling difficult subjects, and her gorgeous writing will carry me through this one.

 

The Tea Master and the Detective – Aliette de Bodard

For all I love de Bodard’s work, I’m woeful at keeping on top of her output. On the plus side, that means I always have gems to look forward to, like her Xuya Sherlock Holmes. Mindships solving crime in space? Here’s a Sherlock I can get excited about.

 

Thomas the Rhymer – Ellen Kushner

Perennial fave Ellen Kushner taking on a traditional tale of Faerie and winning all the awards? No I don’t know how I haven’t read this yet either; it’s a perfect pitch.

 

The Copper Promise – Jen Williams

Jen Williams won my heart with the Winnowing Flame, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about her buddy fantasy saga. Strong women, big swords, a dungeon crawl, some sass and a good pint? Count me in.

 

The Hydrogen Sonata – Iain M Banks

The last of the Culture novels, and I’ve been putting off reading it for years now. Am I afraid to have no more Culture on my to read list? Maybe. I’ve also bounced off it a couple of times. Here’s to SciFiMonth coming up: another year, another good reason to finally finish the journey.

 

Doc – Mary Doria Russell

Russell got a Sparrow-shaped nod earlier in this list, but I love her historical fiction too (A Thread of Grace – a tale of the resistance in northern Italy during WWII – is well worth your time). Doc is less obviously my cuppa: I don’t have an affinity for westerns, in spite of Hollywood’s best efforts (let’s not talk about their worst). But I trust Russell, so this is firmly in my future.

 

Signal to Noise – Silvia Moreno Garcia

I think Moreno Garcia is one of the most interesting writers working in genre at the moment. She refuses to be pegged in a subgenre, and each book has fully-fleshed, awkward characters who I can’t help but love. Her debut is a tale of love and the magic of music; I need to find a quiet weekend to finally read it.

 

Last but not least, honourable mention to…

Record of a Spaceborn Few – Becky Chambers

Yes, I know, it was on my list last week too – I should have saved it for this week! I love the Wayfarers books; the universe is wide, and full of interesting people, and the stories focus on personal connections and loving victories. So this one is my gift to myself for finishing my current work contract.

 

Do you have any of your favourite authors languishing in your TBR?