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My Favorite Books of 2017

By:

JohnK_KCMO

The Kansas City Public Library

Staff-created list

These are my favorite books I read in 2017. Not all were published in 2017, but this is the year I read them. Most are fiction, some non. I haven't ranked these: they're listed in alpha order by author's last name.

By:

JohnK_KCMO

The Kansas City Public Library

22 items

22 items

All the Birds in the Sky

All the Birds in the Sky

by Anders, Charlie Jane

Book - 2016

Poetic. Imagistic. Frightening. Comforting. This bent coming of age tale is one of the best works of SF in the past several years. Poetic. Imagistic. Frightening. Comforting. This bent coming of age tale is one of the best works of SF in the past several years. Show less

Poetic. Imagistic. Frightening. Comforting. This bent coming of age tale is one of the best works of SF in the past several years. Poetic. Imagistic. Frightening. Comforting. This bent coming of age tale is one of the best works of SF in the past several years. Show less

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Barking up the Wrong Tree

Barking up the Wrong Tree

The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (mostly) Wrong

by Barker, Eric

Book - 2017

I'm not a fan of "secret to success" self-help books. But I loved this one and I've taken to quoting it constantly. It's informed by the best sc...Show more I'm not a fan of "secret to success" self-help books. But I loved this one and I've taken to quoting it constantly. It's informed by the best science we have to date and presents a balanced account of what we know. This is as much about how our minds work as it is a book about how success works. Show less

I'm not a fan of "secret to success" self-help books. But I loved this one and I've taken to quoting it constantly. It's informed by the best sc...Show more I'm not a fan of "secret to success" self-help books. But I loved this one and I've taken to quoting it constantly. It's informed by the best science we have to date and presents a balanced account of what we know. This is as much about how our minds work as it is a book about how success works. Show less

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The Shining Girls

The Shining Girls

by Beukes, Lauren

Book - 2013

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Tropic of Kansas

Tropic of Kansas

by Brown, Christopher

Book - 2017

There's something about this book that captured me. Maybe it was the cast of outcasts, maybe the post-apocalyptic setting in the heartland of America, maybe the political commentary. I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. There's something about this book that captured me. Maybe it was the cast of outcasts, maybe the post-apocalyptic setting in the heartland of America, maybe the political commentary. I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. Show less

There's something about this book that captured me. Maybe it was the cast of outcasts, maybe the post-apocalyptic setting in the heartland of America, maybe the political commentary. I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. There's something about this book that captured me. Maybe it was the cast of outcasts, maybe the post-apocalyptic setting in the heartland of America, maybe the political commentary. I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. Show less

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The Hell-hound of the Baskervilles

The Hell-hound of the Baskervilles

by Denning, G. S.

Book - 2017

Sure, reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes are a dime a dozen these days. But few are as unashamedly fun as Dennings' magical take. Sure, reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes are a dime a dozen these days. But few are as unashamedly fun as Dennings' magical take. Show less

Sure, reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes are a dime a dozen these days. But few are as unashamedly fun as Dennings' magical take. Sure, reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes are a dime a dozen these days. But few are as unashamedly fun as Dennings' magical take. Show less

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The Abundance

The Abundance

Narrative Essays Old and New

by Dillard, Annie

Book - 2016

Wise. Lyrical. Personal. Transformative. There's a reason Dillard won the Pulitzer and is one of America's most treasured essayists. This collection provides an excellent overview of her over 40 year career. Wise. Lyrical. Personal. Transformative. There's a reason Dillard won the Pulitzer and is one of America's most treasured essayists. This collection provides an excellent overview of her over 40 year career. Show less

Wise. Lyrical. Personal. Transformative. There's a reason Dillard won the Pulitzer and is one of America's most treasured essayists. This collection provides an excellent overview of her over 40 year career. Wise. Lyrical. Personal. Transformative. There's a reason Dillard won the Pulitzer and is one of America's most treasured essayists. This collection provides an excellent overview of her over 40 year career. Show less

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Phoresis by Greg Egan

https://subterraneanpress.com/phoresis

Web Resource

A spare and evocative jewel of a novella. A masterclass in world building. A lesson in craft. Look for this one in 2018. A spare and evocative jewel of a novella. A masterclass in world building. A lesson in craft. Look for this one in 2018. Show less

Terminal Alliance

Terminal Alliance

by Hines, Jim C.

Book - 2017

It's good to come across SF that intends to be fun and funny. It's a nice change of pace from the dystopia and fear these days. When a fun and funny novel...Show more It's good to come across SF that intends to be fun and funny. It's a nice change of pace from the dystopia and fear these days. When a fun and funny novel also offers top-notch world building, compelling characters, and a genuinely engrossing plot - all the better. This is the first book in what promises to be an excellent series. Show less

It's good to come across SF that intends to be fun and funny. It's a nice change of pace from the dystopia and fear these days. When a fun and funny novel...Show more It's good to come across SF that intends to be fun and funny. It's a nice change of pace from the dystopia and fear these days. When a fun and funny novel also offers top-notch world building, compelling characters, and a genuinely engrossing plot - all the better. This is the first book in what promises to be an excellent series. Show less

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Satellite

Satellite

by Lake, Nick

Book - 2017

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Death's End

Death's End

by Liu, Cixin

Book - 2016

The concluding volume to Liu's genre-defining "Remembrance of Earth's Past" series. It's as mind-boggling and expansive as one could hope for. The concluding volume to Liu's genre-defining "Remembrance of Earth's Past" series. It's as mind-boggling and expansive as one could hope for. Show less

The concluding volume to Liu's genre-defining "Remembrance of Earth's Past" series. It's as mind-boggling and expansive as one could hope for. The concluding volume to Liu's genre-defining "Remembrance of Earth's Past" series. It's as mind-boggling and expansive as one could hope for. Show less

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All Our Wrong Todays

All Our Wrong Todays

A Novel

by Mastai, Elan

Book - 2017

Some call this the "Dark Matter" of 2017. I see where they're coming from but they're wrong. Mastai offers an equally original take on the time ...Show more Some call this the "Dark Matter" of 2017. I see where they're coming from but they're wrong. Mastai offers an equally original take on the time travel / alternate realities trope - but this book is funnier. It's as impressive as "Dark Matter" but completely different in tone and style. This is for people who want their smart SF with a vein of slacker humor. Show less

Some call this the "Dark Matter" of 2017. I see where they're coming from but they're wrong. Mastai offers an equally original take on the time ...Show more Some call this the "Dark Matter" of 2017. I see where they're coming from but they're wrong. Mastai offers an equally original take on the time travel / alternate realities trope - but this book is funnier. It's as impressive as "Dark Matter" but completely different in tone and style. This is for people who want their smart SF with a vein of slacker humor. Show less

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Jerusalem

Jerusalem

A Novel

by Moore, Alan

Book - 2016

Epic. Divisive. Bizarre. Self-indulgent. Genius. Few works have evoked such extremes of love and hate from readers. People will be studying this one for y...Show more Epic. Divisive. Bizarre. Self-indulgent. Genius. Few works have evoked such extremes of love and hate from readers. People will be studying this one for years to come. It's worth reading just to experience it. Just to say you have. Just to prove you could. Show less

Epic. Divisive. Bizarre. Self-indulgent. Genius. Few works have evoked such extremes of love and hate from readers. People will be studying this one for y...Show more Epic. Divisive. Bizarre. Self-indulgent. Genius. Few works have evoked such extremes of love and hate from readers. People will be studying this one for years to come. It's worth reading just to experience it. Just to say you have. Just to prove you could. Show less

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Autonomous

Autonomous

by Newitz, Annalee

Book - 2017

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Too Like the Lightning

Too Like the Lightning

by Palmer, Ada

Book - 2016

The conceit of this novel is a bit strained but it's redeemed by some of the most robust and spectacular world building I've ever read. The characters are...Show more The conceit of this novel is a bit strained but it's redeemed by some of the most robust and spectacular world building I've ever read. The characters are complex, the cast is sprawling, and the intrigue gripping. It's well worth the stilted writing style. Show less

The conceit of this novel is a bit strained but it's redeemed by some of the most robust and spectacular world building I've ever read. The characters are...Show more The conceit of this novel is a bit strained but it's redeemed by some of the most robust and spectacular world building I've ever read. The characters are complex, the cast is sprawling, and the intrigue gripping. It's well worth the stilted writing style. Show less

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Reincarnation Blues

Reincarnation Blues

A Novel

by Poore, Michael

Book - 2017

This book is a work of profound Buddhist wisdom disguised as an offbeat SF novel. There's deep insight here about life and love and responsibility and dea...Show more This book is a work of profound Buddhist wisdom disguised as an offbeat SF novel. There's deep insight here about life and love and responsibility and death. It offers the kind of comfort that isn't always easy but always needed. It's also funny, weird, and unexpected. Show less

This book is a work of profound Buddhist wisdom disguised as an offbeat SF novel. There's deep insight here about life and love and responsibility and dea...Show more This book is a work of profound Buddhist wisdom disguised as an offbeat SF novel. There's deep insight here about life and love and responsibility and death. It offers the kind of comfort that isn't always easy but always needed. It's also funny, weird, and unexpected. Show less

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The Color of Law

The Color of Law

A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America

by Rothstein, Richard

Book - 2017

This is one of the most important works of American history written in the past several years. It offers an unflinching view into the roots of the systemi...Show more This is one of the most important works of American history written in the past several years. It offers an unflinching view into the roots of the systemic racism that still shapes our world and shows us how much more work we need to do to correct it. Show less

This is one of the most important works of American history written in the past several years. It offers an unflinching view into the roots of the systemi...Show more This is one of the most important works of American history written in the past several years. It offers an unflinching view into the roots of the systemic racism that still shapes our world and shows us how much more work we need to do to correct it. Show less

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The Collapsing Empire

The Collapsing Empire

by Scalzi, John

Book - 2017

Scalzi has started a new series. Need I say more? I can't wait for the next one. Scalzi has started a new series. Need I say more? I can't wait for the next one. Show less

Scalzi has started a new series. Need I say more? I can't wait for the next one. Scalzi has started a new series. Need I say more? I can't wait for the next one. Show less

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Word by Word

Word by Word

The Secret Life of Dictionaries

by Stamper, Kory

Book - 2017

This is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in language. Written with humor, patience, and insight, it just might put to rest the argument over what dictionaries are supposed to do. This is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in language. Written with humor, patience, and insight, it just might put to rest the argument over what dictionaries are supposed to do. Show less

This is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in language. Written with humor, patience, and insight, it just might put to rest the argument over what dictionaries are supposed to do. This is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in language. Written with humor, patience, and insight, it just might put to rest the argument over what dictionaries are supposed to do. Show less

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Saga

Saga

[Volume Seven]

by Vaughan, Brian K

Graphic Novel - 2017

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Artemis

Artemis

A Novel

by Weir, Andy

Book - 2017

Weir's second novel is different than his first. This is more traditional SF, less overtly geeky. But it's gripping, exciting, funny, and just as detailed. It proves that Weir is more than just a one-trick pony and he's here to stay. Weir's second novel is different than his first. This is more traditional SF, less overtly geeky. But it's gripping, exciting, funny, and just as detailed. It proves that Weir is more than just a one-trick pony and he's here to stay. Show less

Weir's second novel is different than his first. This is more traditional SF, less overtly geeky. But it's gripping, exciting, funny, and just as detailed. It proves that Weir is more than just a one-trick pony and he's here to stay. Weir's second novel is different than his first. This is more traditional SF, less overtly geeky. But it's gripping, exciting, funny, and just as detailed. It proves that Weir is more than just a one-trick pony and he's here to stay. Show less

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All Systems Red

All Systems Red

by Wells, Martha

Book - 2017

Short and sweet. Fast-paced and exciting. And one of the most unexpectedly relatable main characters in recent memory. Short and sweet. Fast-paced and exciting. And one of the most unexpectedly relatable main characters in recent memory. Show less

Short and sweet. Fast-paced and exciting. And one of the most unexpectedly relatable main characters in recent memory. Short and sweet. Fast-paced and exciting. And one of the most unexpectedly relatable main characters in recent memory. Show less

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The Force

The Force

by Winslow, Don

Book - 2017

When people call this "the Godfather for cop novels" they're not exaggerating. This may be the best fiction novel of the year in any genre. It's also an incisive look into one of the most pressing social conflicts of our era. When people call this "the Godfather for cop novels" they're not exaggerating. This may be the best fiction novel of the year in any genre. It's also an incisive look into one of the most pressing social conflicts of our era. Show less

When people call this "the Godfather for cop novels" they're not exaggerating. This may be the best fiction novel of the year in any genre. It's also an incisive look into one of the most pressing social conflicts of our era. When people call this "the Godfather for cop novels" they're not exaggerating. This may be the best fiction novel of the year in any genre. It's also an incisive look into one of the most pressing social conflicts of our era. Show less

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