Let’s just jump right in, shall we?
11. Annihilation: Southern Reach #1 – Jeff Vandermeer
Earlier this spring I developed a fascination for the genre of cosmic horror and spent a lot of my time researching genre pioneers H.P. Lovecraft and Robert Chambers (I gave The King in Yellow a shot- loved the first half but lost interest in the barely-connected second half.) Unlike conventional horror, cosmic horror deals primarily with the ineffable: that which cannot be comprehended by our human faculties. While we are certainly freaked out by zombies and nauseated by depravity, this is more of an existential haunting. These are stories that lodge deep inside our uncertainty and wheedle away at our little god-complexes. Vandermeers’ Annihilation takes up Lovecraft’s torch and carries it into the 21st century. Earth has been invaded by an unknown entity that has overtaken an area of land known as the Southern Reach. Dubbed ‘Area X’, the government sends in an exploration team consisting of five women who are only referred to as their individual expertise (The Biologist, The Anthropologist, etc.). As the story unfurls, it becomes clear that the team has very little idea as to the purpose of their mission and that nothing (and no one) can be trusted. Though a bit slow at times, Vandermeer never lost me, and the pervading eerie feeling that stalked me throughout the read kept drawing me back in. And seriously, the incantation-esque poetry scrawled by the Crawler gave me the coldest chills. As you may already be familiar, Alex Garland’s 2015 adaptation starring Natalie Portman departs from the novel but maintains its suspense so I highly recommend it if you can bear the dissimilarities. Garland’s visuals are enchanting, to say the least. Though I’ll warn you ahead of the time about the bear: be sitting down.
12. The Pastures of Heaven – John Steinbeck
Confession: This was my first Steinbeck. Sure, like everyone else Of Mice and Men was an assigned book in my high school, but did I read it? Nah, I was too cool for that and much preferred loitering at the local Byrne Dairy instead (this is rebellion in a small country town). So when a friend gave a glowing review of Pastures of Heaven, I figured now’s the time. A collection of twelve short stories that center around the Corral de Tierra valley in Monterey, California, Steinbeck made me regret my youthful dismissiveness. His reputation stands. These stories are beautifully crafted (Steinbeck’s descriptions are both grounding and lush) and speak to the strangeness of human nature in all its unpredictability. But it’s the way Steinbeck brings the interior life of his characters into the foreground that stood out most. If you’re just starting to tackle American classics but are still wary of your high school English class syllabus, give Pastures of Heaven a try.
13. Gideon Falls Vol. 1: The Black Barn – Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Dave Stewart
I’ve always loved graphic novels. Growing up I read a lot of Christian ‘spiritual warfare’ comics and the usual fare like Superman and Green Lantern. I fell away from reading them until 2017 when I found Heavens’ War by Micah Harris, a supernatural smorgasbord that pits the Inklings (Tolkien, Lewis, and Williams mainly) against Aleister Crowley in a fight across time, space, and dimensions of belief. If anything could reignite my interest, that would (and did), but to my understanding, graphic novels of this nature are few and far between. Luckily for me, I’ve picked up a few friends who are much more knowledgeable about them than I am, and a few of the rabbit holes they sent me down landed me on Gideon Falls. One Amazon review said it bore a strong resemblance to Twin Peaks and this is a fair assessment. Like Twin Peaks, Gideon Falls is very weird but it is far more bleak. I’m afraid to give too much away because it is the initial volume, but let’s just say there’s a terrifying teleporting barn and it’s pretty awesome. Side note: I’m always on the hunt for recommendations, so if you can suggest similar graphic novels of this ilk, do reach out.
14. God Country – Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Gerardo Zaffino
Evesdropping is only okay when you’re listening in on a book recommendation, especially at the local comic shop. That’s how I happened to learn about Donny Cates’ God Country. Emmett Quinlan, a widower with dementia, is caught up along with his home in the onslaught of a tornado. His children find him not only alive but in the possession of a twelve-foot sword. And strangest of all? He remembers everything, but only when he’s holding the sword. But someone wants it back: a god. No big deal, right? I loved this graphic novel. Gerardo Zaffino’s coloring is deliciously vibrant and pleasing to the eye, carrying the story along in the same electric spirit as Cates writes. For readers who are interested in delving into indie comics, this is a solid purchase. By the end, you’ll want more of Emmett Quinlan’s gruff grandpa sass in your life.
15. Palo Alto: Stories - James Franco
Once in a while I look at my bookshelf and feel guilty for buying new books while neglecting the ones I already have. If memory serves, I picked up Palo Alto with the last few remaining bucks on a Barnes and Noble gift card some time ago. It’s worth noting that James Franco directed an adaptation of this, his short story collection, starring himself and actress Emma Roberts. The film is decent and has a few poignant moments but I’m hesitant to suggest it. The short stories it is based on however, I flat out can’t recommend. Like the film, there are a few poignant scenes here and there, but it feels more like an indulgent teen romp that lacks meaning and sense. If Franco’s aim was to show the tension, confusion, and complexity of American adolescence, that can be unearthed here. For me, any such virtue got lost under a great deal of unnecessary vulgarity and gratuitous angst. Franco makes it difficult for me to root for any of the characters. But maybe that’s the thing about depravity: none of us are immune, all of us need saving.
16. Millenium – Joe Harris, Colin Lorimer
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the X Files and have strong admiration for writer/director Chris Carter. In short, I think the man is a genius and his work is way ahead of its time. Perhaps you’ve heard of it before, but Millenium was an X Files spinoff show on the air from 1996-1999, centered around the paranormal investigations of former FBI Agent Frank Black. Where the X Files dealt primarily with extraterrestrial phenomena, Millennium took a more religious route in focusing on the supernatural in connection to the turn of the millennia. I can’t tell you how much it breaks my heart that this show only lasted three seasons. Much religious portrayal on television is usually mocking or demeaning in essence, but Carter takes belief seriously even while exploring the world’s more loaded spiritual symbols and ideas (which, sadly, most Christian fiction fails to do as well). The pilot even incorporates W.B. Yeat’s “The Second Coming”, one of my all-time favorite poems. Anyway, Millenium developed a cult following besides myself and after its cancellation, there was enough momentum to get a graphic novel together. It’s always a little scary when a favorite program gets a reboot or a cherished book is made into a new adaptation, but Joe Harris does a great job in his contribution to the Millennium story. What’s really cool is how true Harris keeps to Lance Henrickson’s portrayal of Frank Black, who is one of the primetime’s most gritty and intimidating protagonists.
17. The Place of The Lion – Charles Williams
A lesser known Inkling, Charles Williams’ religious fantasy is tragically overlooked. Albeit he was an odd character with questionable theology, Williams’ novels are chock-full of meaning and religious symbolism. His language can be a bit indulgent at times, but his rich ideas pull ahead. In The Place of The Lion, he plays with the doctrinal idea of federal headship (the representation of a group united under a federation or covenant) in regards to the animal kingdom. He theorizes that all animals had an Original: the first of their kind created in the Garden of Eden who were named and tended to by Adam (our initial federal head). And it is in a small English town that the Originals have returned and, by gathering their descendants, are ushering in the end of all things. Needless to say, the story itself is original and quite thought-provoking. Like his fellow Inklings, Williams masterfully explores his theological ideas through his works of fiction. Just consider this line from Anthony, the protagonist: “All material danger is limited, whereas interior danger is unlimited. It's more dangerous for you to hate than kill, isn't it?”
18. The Zeal of Thy House – Dorothy Sayers
On the fringe of the Inklings was the great philosopher, mystery writer, and witty-as-hell thinker Dorothy Sayers. For fans of Agatha Christie, Sayers’ Peter Wimsey mysteries will do nicely, but you really should check out her religious writings as well. Like her Inkling friends, Sayers occasionally used creative writing as a medium to flex out her theological ideas. Zeal of Thy House is a phenomenal little play which explores the doctrine of vocation. Should a man with questionable morals but high quality skill be employed as a church architect? How does one define Christian work: a job well done or the product covered in little crosses (to paraphrase Luther)? There are many great ideas at play here which can speak to modern questions such as the importance of expertise and innovation in Christian music.
19. Life at The Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass – Theodore Dalrymple
Whew, here we go. One of my favorites of the year and potentially the most controversial for me to speak about, but this is probably the most vital and relevant read you could pull from my recommendations here. British writer, doctor, and psychologist Theodore Dalrymple was a physician for City Hospital and Birmingham Prison for about ten years. In that time he wrote a collection of essays based on his experiences with clients and the socialistic British system for City Journal magazine, which compose this book. These essays discuss ideas of determinism and the impact of ones worldview on their personal choices. Dalrymple argues that a victim mindset encouraged by the belief that ‘the system is holding me down’ perpetuates itself by giving the individual permission to deny his own personal responsibility. In his essay The Knife Went In, Dalrymple shows how murderers deflect from taking personal responsibility by giving the weapon sentience. It’s never “I used the weapon” (which implies participation, a decision)- it’s “the gun went off”. Suddenly, there is no one pulling the trigger. Other essays are just as compelling and I personally loved the essay that argues against tattoos (see, I told you it’d be controversial!). At times, this book is not for the squeamish due to some crime scene descriptions, but if you’re interested in thinking deeper instead of blindly criticizing the ‘capitalist system’, give Dalrymple a little of your time. You can always read his work in the City Journal archives as well- a google search away.
20. Miss Subways – David Duchovny
There are some things that are constants in this world. One of them is my everlasting crush on David Duchovny. A few years ago I read his debut novel Holy Cow!, the story of a clever cow who learns that her kind are worshipped in India and promptly skips town with a turkey. While that mostly rode the rails of a Vonnegut-esque vein of satire, Miss Subways is a totally different beast. The plot is relatively straightforward: Miss Subways is the Gaelic myth of Emer played out around the New York Subway system. I hadn’t heard of the NY subway beauty pageant before but there’s a first time for everything and, I must say this was a great introduction. A bit long-winded (and to my faith, blasphemous) toward the end, but despite that the character development throughout really shines against the solid craftsmanship that is Duchovny’s prose. Whenever I’m bragging about David, people are always shocked to learn that he has a Masters in English from Yale. Read Miss Subways, or watch him read an excerpt of Robert Browning’s poem “Paracelsus” in the X Files episode “The Field Where I Died” and it’ll all make sense. See? My crush is everlasting.