The next book in the “Game of Thrones” (G.R.R. Martin) series - This is grim/realistic fantasy of the new wave, in the sense that it considers politics and diplomacy, is gigantic in scope, and that there are no real hero or hero quests but a lot of people fumbling along. Although I really like his writing and his world, this book was at times hard to read cause it is grim, almost depressing. He sure has no gripes killing main characters or putting them through hell. It puts me in about the same mood as the second book of the “Assassin” trilogy did… It is also awesome. And we’ll have to wait a long time for the next one, awwww.

Jan Siegel, “Prospero’s Children” (Locus: A dreary holiday in Yorkshire is anything but for two teens caught up in magic tied to ancient Atlantis. An enchanting and very promising first novel, the first in a trilogy - SFX: it deserves better than to be exiled to the childrens shelves, it’s the best fantasy novel I have read in months 4*)

“The Bean Trees”, Barbara Kingsolver’s first book i think, and a prequel to Pigs in heaven. Absolutely wonderful, i just read it in one go!

“China Mountain Zang” - a science fiction story in which china is the dominant power. I had been looking for it forever, and it is a good read.

“The Grand Design” - the sequel to the Jackal of Nar. It is better than the first one, which was already pretty darn good . More involving, more complex… can’t wait for the next one.

“Winter’s Heart”, the new Wheel of Time - the series is picking up quality again . BUt it does seem that every book he writes covers less and less time - the first one covered months and here we are getting maybe a week? But it is not that things accelerate so much - there is more happening but the pace still feels slower. I fear this series is in cash cow mode now but will give them the benefit of the doubt for now

“Water Sleeps” - Glen Cook - The Black Company. An excellent Black Company book.

“Golden Witchbreed” - Mary Gentle. A alien cultural contact book that reminds me a lot of the Foreigner series by CJ Cherryh. And quite good too.
“Ancient Light” - the sequel. Different and still quite good

“Cryptonomicon” - this book is good. It can’t be read too quickly, but it’s very enjoyable, and quite thrilling in an odd way. And if you know the true tales or some cryptography it’s even more enjoyable as the book is full of games and references…

“Ship of Destiny” by Robin Hobb, the final book in the Liveship series, where I shall finally find out what the link between the ships and the sea serpents is (although we guess that already) and how the heck this tangled situation gets resolved. And it is full of surprises, and some happy endings too (unlike her assassin series)

“Interview with a Vampire”, “The Vampire Lestat”, “The Queen of the Damned"- all pretty good books.

“When we were Orphans” hard to classify this. Quite an interesting read, from the author of “the remains of the day”. It’s sort of a detective novel, old style, but not really. It’s also the portrait of a time and a society.

“The Jackal of Nar” - Almost made me miss my train several times, i was so engrossed in it… It’s a first novel, I think. A surprisingly good fantasy yarn. It’s what I’d call the “grey wave” of fantasy (i.e. not all black and all white), fantasy integrating realistic political and military elements, with realistic and flawed characters. A bit like Robin Hobb’s books, or G.R.R. Martin’s. I’m getting #2 real soon

“My Year of Meats” - it made a buzz 2 years ago, and I can see why. A very intriguing book, fresh, different, fun yet serious. I’ve already finished it but I’ll leave it here to be seen a while.

“Fortress of Owls” C.J. Cherryh - the newest book in that series. It’s good and decent High Fantasy, not outstanding but with interesting twists. Cherryh is good and even an average book by her is a treat

“Widow for one Year” Quite a thick book, with the usual Irving themes, disfunctional people and families trying to live the best they can etc. but very very good! his best book in a long time, imho. Follows a group of people around a person (as a child then an adult) at 3 different points in her life.

“The Forest of Hours” Kerstin Ekman - poetic and haunting book which sweeps through the history of Sweden.

“Timbuktu” Paul Auster - it’s a really short book, and very very good. Over too quickly, really. Great trip in a dog’s head.

“Ghostwriter” - loosely connected tales around Asia, its people, its past present and future. Quite nice, very trendy in form, theme and style. Touches of “magical realism”, which of course suits me fine. (Independant: Not so much one book, but ten: a planet-hopping circle of tales that begins with the Tokyo subway gas attack and moves, via China, Mongolia and Ireland, to a DJ and his spectral caller in New York. Mitchell plays one extraordinary riff after another – in a rainbow coalition of styles – on the idea of what it means to be “haunted” in our global village. Technically accomplished, but consistently funny and affecting: if you want to know what the distinctive literature of the 21st century will look like, begin here)

“Countrymen of Bones” - interesting novel of two researchers at and around Los Alamos and the trinity test site. Strange too.

“The intuitionist” - a really odd thriller in an alternative future around elevator inspection. It’s a nice book but somehow I didn’t quite get into it.

Bande Dessinée (B.D.): the “comics” of the francophone world. I find there is a lot more variety and creativity than in the english speaking world. It has a wider audience and more legitimity than “comics”.  Not that there arent some excellent comics.

Some random favorites that just came to my mind right now - the pics are on separate page

Loisel & LeTendre, "La quête de l’oiseau du temps" - a classic! An amazing and dark heroic fantasy series. Beautifully drawn.  Has been translated I’m sure. His "Peter Pan" is dark, poetic and beautiful

Will (1927-2000) - I like his drawing (I own a really nice serigraphy of his). Will’s site

Fmurr, especially the series "Le Génie des Alpages" - this is a weird-wacky-hilarious comic about a shepherd, his intellectual dog, the hundreds of wacky sheep, death, flying objects, a crazy fox and much much more. Just my kind of humour!

there’s lots more… when i was younger i especially liked Boule et Bill, Asterix, Yoko Tsuno, Michel Vaillant, Isabelle, Buddy Longway, "les centaures"…

Later I started liking the science fiction and fantasy ones more: Valerian, the Moebius books (and Blueberry too, same author), the Bilal books, Aria, the books by Cosey, the Peter Pan of Loisel and I’m forgetting many!