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# What I read in 2018: Books
- URL: https://www.andrewliptak.com/all-the-books-i-read-in-2018-science-fiction-fantasy-horror-history/
- Published: 2018-12-31T21:39:18.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-25T13:27:08.000Z
- Author: Andrew Liptak

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2c/d7/2cd7d323-e6ed-4666-8092-07e380dbdf2a/content/images/2025/09/img_6232-format-original.jpg)

2018 was a year of … a lot of reading. If you follow me on Twitter / Facebook / The Verge / Wordplay, this likely isn’t news. I write a lot about the genre, and I like the community. But in the last couple of years, I’ve found that I’ve been reading less and less — put off by things like work or Twitter or television, and it’s been frustrating, because there’s been a ton of things that I’ve wanted to get to, but haven’t been able to.

2018 was the year that I made the effort to carve out a lot more reading time, and … I read a lot. 74 books in all — plus a bunch that I started and tossed aside. I don’t know that I have any particular lessons that I’ve drawn out of this year’s crop of books, other than that a) there’s a shitload of good stuff out there right now, b) making it a point to read more diversely gives you a lot of really good stuff that I might not have otherwise picked up, and c) I still have stacks of things that I just didn’t get to this year. I’ve got piles kicking around that I really would like to get to, and hopefully, I’ll knock some of that down in the coming year.

Here’s the complete list of books that I read this year (reviews linked where I wrote them):

1. *The Red Threads* of Fortune by J.Y. Yang
2. [*Dark Deeds*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/6/16850404/mike-brooks-keiko-trilogy-dark-run-sky-deeds-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com), by Mike Brooks
3. *The Forever War* (Graphic Novel), by Joe Haldeman
4. [*Black Star Renegades*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/13/16885392/black-star-renegades-michael-moreci-star-wars-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Michael Moreci
5. *Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate* by Zoe Quinn
6. *Buffalo Solider* by Maurice Broaddus
7. [*Fields of Fire*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/27/16933550/marko-kloos-frontlines-terms-of-enlistment-points-impact-military-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Marko Kloos
8. *The Only Harmless Great Thing* by Brooke Bolander
9. [*Points of Impact*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/27/16933550/marko-kloos-frontlines-terms-of-enlistment-points-impact-military-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Marko Kloos
10. *River of Teeth* by Sarah Gailey
11. [*Semiosis*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/10/16994952/sue-burke-semiosis-first-contact-science-fiction-intelligenet-plants-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Sue Burke
12. *The Night Masquerade* by Nnedi Okorafor
13. [*The Gone World*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/3/17070658/tom-sweterlitsch-the-gone-world-complicated-time-travel-mystery-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Tom Sweterlitsch
14. [*Gunpowder Moon*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/17/17126352/gunpowder-moon-david-pedreira-space-war-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by David Pedreira
15. [*Breach of Containment*](https://www.andrewliptak.com/elizabeth-bonesteels-central-corps-trilogy-is-a-refreshing-space-opera/) by Elizabeth Bonesteel
16. *The Big Picture: The Fight for the Future of Movies* by Ben Fritz
17. [*Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/24/17147240/gods-monsters-and-the-lucky-peach-kelly-robson-time-travel-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Kelly Robson
18. *The Visible Filth* by Nathan Ballingrud
19. *Head On* by John Scalzi
20. *Time Was* by Ian McDonald
21. [*The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/7/17205838/margaret-killjoy-danielle-cain-books-fantasy-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Margaret Killjoy
22. [*The Barrow Will Send What it May*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/7/17205838/margaret-killjoy-danielle-cain-books-fantasy-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Margaret Killjoy
23. [*Space Opera*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/14/17233606/space-opera-catheryenne-valente-science-fiction-humor-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Catherynne M. Valente
24. [*Star Wars: Last Shot*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/21/16962486/star-wars-han-solo-lando-calrissian-last-shot-daniel-jose-older-ac-crispin-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Daniel José Older
25. *Agents of Dreamland* by Caitlín R. Kiernan
26. *The Power* by Naomi Alderman
27. *Killing and Dying* by Adrian Tomine
28. *Crooked* by Austin Grossman
29. [*Artificial Condition*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/13/17928580/martha-wells-murderbot-exit-protocol-artificial-condition-exit-strategy-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Martha Wells
30. *The Long Sunset* by Jack McDevitt
31. *Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War* by Paul Scharre
32. *The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World* by Stephen Brusatte ([Author Q&A](https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/23/17483340/jurassic-park-world-steve-brusatte-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-dinosaurs-book-interview-paleontology?ref=andrewliptak.com))
33. *The Taking of K-129: How the CIA Used Howard Hughes to Steal a Russian Sub in the Most Daring Covert Operation in History* by Josh Dean
34. [*Trail of Lightning*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/26/17474566/trail-of-lightning-rebecca-roanhorse-native-american-urban-fantasy-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Rebecca Roanhorse
35. [*The Cabin at the End of the World*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/30/17444584/paul-tremblay-the-cabin-at-the-end-of-the-world-horror-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com)by Paul Tremblay
36. *The Book of Extraordinary Deaths: True Accounts of Ill-Fated Lives* by Cecilia Ruiz
37. *Generation Robot: A Century of Science Fiction, Fact, and Speculation* by Terri Favro
38. *The Old Iron Dream* by David Forbes
39. [*Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17642792/2001-a-space-odyssey-astounding-science-fiction-michael-benson-alec-nevala-history-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Michael Benson
40. *The Poppy War* by R.F. Kuang
41. [*The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States: A Speculative Novel*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/8/17649588/north-korea-nuclear-attack-2020-commission-report-jeffrey-lewis-book-interview?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Jeffrey Lewis (Author Q&A)
42. *The Future of War: A History* by Lawrence Freedman
43. *Side Life* by Steve Toutonghi
44. [*The Calculating Stars*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/22/17698510/the-lady-astronaut-calculating-stars-fated-sky-mary-robinette-kowal-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Mary Robinette Kowal
45. [*The Fated Sky*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/22/17698510/the-lady-astronaut-calculating-stars-fated-sky-mary-robinette-kowal-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Mary Robinette Kowal
46. *The Black God's Drums* by P. Djèlí Clark
47. *War Cry* by Brian McClellan
48. [*Rogue Protocol*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/13/17928580/martha-wells-murderbot-exit-protocol-artificial-condition-exit-strategy-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Martha Wells
49. *Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances* by Timothy Zahn
50. *The Freeze-Frame Revolution* by Peter Watts
51. [*Solo: A Star Wars Story*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/6/17824230/solo-star-wars-story-novelization-mur-lafferty-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Mur Lafferty
52. *Sharp Objects* by Gillian Flynn
53. *The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone* by Brian Merchant
54. [*Ball Lightning*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/15/17855138/liu-cixin-ball-lightning-chinese-science-fiction-translation-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Liu Cixin (translated by Joel Martinsen)
55. [*The Three-Body Problem*](https://www.andrewliptak.com/cixin-liu-three-body-problem-dark-forest-deaths-end-science-fiction-book-review/) by Liu Cixin (translated by Ken Liu)
56. [*The Dark Forest*](https://www.andrewliptak.com/cixin-liu-three-body-problem-dark-forest-deaths-end-science-fiction-book-review/) by Liu Cixin (translated by Joel Martinsen)
57. [*The Queen of Crows*](https://www.andrewliptak.com/myke-cole-queen-of-crows-grimdark-fantasy-book-review/) by Myke Cole
58. [*Exit Strategy*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/13/17928580/martha-wells-murderbot-exit-protocol-artificial-condition-exit-strategy-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Martha Wells
59. [*Death’s End*](https://www.andrewliptak.com/cixin-liu-three-body-problem-dark-forest-deaths-end-science-fiction-book-review/) by Liu Cixin (translated by Ken Liu)
60. *Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded* by Jason Heller
61. *LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media* by P.W. Singer and Emerson Brooking
62. *On a Sunbeam* by Tillie Walden
63. [*Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17642792/2001-a-space-odyssey-astounding-science-fiction-michael-benson-alec-nevala-history-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Alec Nevala-Lee
64. [*Red Moon*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/3/18055324/kim-stanley-robinson-red-moon-science-fiction-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Kim Stanley Robinson
65. *It's All a Game: The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan* by Tristan Donovan
66. [*Record of a Spaceborn Few*](https://www.andrewliptak.com/becky-chambers-wayfarers-space-opera-record-of-a-spaceborn-few/)by Becky Chambers
67. *Jack London's To Build a Fire* by Christophe Chabouté
68. [*Firefly: Big Damn Hero*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/20/18097173/firefly-big-damn-hero-james-lovegrove-nancy-holder-joss-whedon-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Nancy Holder / James Lovegrove
69. *Mutiny at Vesta* by R.E. Stearns
70. *How Great Science Fiction Works* by Gary K. Wolfe
71. *Unholy Land* by Lavie Tidhar
72. [*Foundryside*](https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/23/18148907/foundryside-robert-jackson-bennett-fantasy-cyberpunk-book-review?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Robert Jackson Bennett
73. *The Tiger Flu* by Larissa Lai
74. *Children of Time* by Adrian Tchaikovsky

What’s to come in 2019? Well, there’s a [ton of really excellent-looking books hitting shelves](https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/30/18127072/sci-fi-fantasy-anders-leckie-liu-hurley-coreybook-gibson-chiang-recommendations-2019?ref=andrewliptak.com) next year that I can’t wait to dig into. I’m hoping to read a bit more widely than just SF/F though — there are some histories that I want to get to (this year marks a bunch of Apollo histories hitting bookshelves), as well as some other things, but at the very least, I want to try and hit a comparable number. My minimum is 52, so anything over that is just a bonus.