Top five books of 2012

1. The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed Out of The Window and Disappeared 
Jonas Jonasson
This book has a great twist in that the character you think is going to be this harmless very old man who is going to need to be protection is anything but. The way the book switches from the past to the present really works well and reveals the main character Allan Karlsson has been behind the scenes of many of the great events of the twentieth century (without really trying - Forrest Gump bit), as well as being probably one of the brightest people ever (speaks several languages, nuclear physics is not a problem, international diplomacy, etc) not bad for someone with only three years of formal education - this guy makes James Bond look incompetent. The switching between the past and present also does help develop the story.
2. Robopocalypse
Daniel H Wilson 
A slightly chilling book (which I should have guessed with a quote by Stephen King) about a war between robots and humans. Ok, this is not an original idea but this book does not claim it is, in fact there are plenty of historic quotes to show this idea has been around a long time.


3.Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
This is an excellent book it has been described as "Enchanting, Willy Wonka meets the the Matrix" (USA Today) but if you were a teenager in the 80s and Geeky this book will probably please you with all the references to 80s computers, films, TV programmes and games. The character Wade Watts is a star, if this is Ernest Cline's first book then I look forward to seeing what follows!




4. The Departure
Neal Asher
If you like Polity Series I think you will like this. New heroes including the rapidly developing post-human Saul and his Mars stranded sister are interesting. The title for the Trilogy - Owner is clever (I won't spoil where it comes from).  The second book in the series Zero Point was released late 2012.


5. Three Unbroken
Chris Roberson

A war on Mars (or in his case Fire Star) seen through the eyes of three people in different services but the same side, set in an alternative history where China or Celestial Empire became the dominate world power but is at war with an Aztec-styled Mexican-like nation. I know this didn't come out in 2012 but this when I read it.



These are mine - what would yours be?

The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed Out of The Window and Disappeared

The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed Out of The Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson; a strange title but  agreat book. 

A 100 year climbs out of his retirement home bedroom window in part to avoid his party and things just seem to happen to him. Forrest Gump (with a lot more intelligence) meets Douglas Adams, the main character does not have to do anything to find excitement it just seems to find him.

This book has a great twist in that the character you think is going to be this harmless very old man who is going to need to be protection is anything but. The way the book switches from the past to the present really works well and reveals the main character Allan Karlsson has been behind the scenes of many of the great events of the twentieth century (without really trying - Forrest Gump bit), as well as being probably one of the brightest people ever (speaks several languages, nuclear physics is not a problem, international diplomacy, etc) not bad for someone with only three years of formal education - this guy makes James Bond look incompetent. The switching between the past and present also does help develop the story.

The 'supporting' cast are also great in the present day story, including another character who is a polymath just because in the past he was getting money to be a student (but he did have to complete); but starts the story as a Hot-Dog seller. Who falls in love with a red-haired woman who is hiding an elephant on a Swedish farm. A crime boss whose lieutenants are in fact wiped out the others and has links I didn't expect. A quite lonely police officer. An ambitious prosecutor, who is looking for fame. A businessman who knows how to produce the best 'Swedish' chickens and 'Spanish' Watermelons.

This story is funny, good read that doesn't insult the reader, whilst still having a great feel-good factor.