Happy New Year, and welcome to the 2025 Fates On Fire Book Awards! With a record 249 entries, the competition was fierce, and the 7th annual award ceremony is going to be riveting. So grab your date, make your way down the red carpet, and take your seats – it’s showtime!

WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE AWARDS AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?

If you happen to read a lot, then you know that the Booker Prize is essentially the Oscars for books. This is my version of that. Like the Booker, each category receives a “short list” of 6 books, with one winner. Unlike the Booker, but like the Oscars, I divide the awards into separate categories. The bottom line is that whatever kind of reading you are into, I hope there are a few books you may want to check out!

CAVEATS & CONDITIONS

There are a couple of caveats and conditions for the awards, which are:

• All 249 books I read in 2025 are eligible candidates (except any re-reads).
• Eligible books can have been published at any time in human history, so long as I read them in 2025.

THE CATEGORIES

1. GENERAL FICTION – This category includes all types of fiction. From popular, mass appeal to more peculiar and independent books, they are all here.
2. NON-FICTION – No qualifiers needed. Just non-fiction.
3. NON-FICTION: MUSIC – With over 40 music-oriented auto/biography entries, this genre continues to have its own category.
4. GRAPHIC NOVELS – Amazing writing with amazing art – that’s what’s in this category.

FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER

SMOKE CITY by Keith Rosson. Portland’s Keith Rosson always continues to amaze me. Never more so than with this, his 2nd novel, which has one of the most unusual premises of all-time. When mild-mannered Marvin Deitz, who is the reincarnation of Geoffroy Thérage, the French executioner who lit Joan of Arc’s pyre in 1431, sees a woman on a talk show claiming to be Joan, he heads to the City of Angels, where he picks up the debauched, alcoholic and former global art phenom, Mike Vale, on the way to his ex-wife’s funeral. And so commences their journey into Smoke City. Part classic road novel, part supernatural exploration, part personal metamorphosis, the story, while exceedingly difficult to categorize, is stunningly unique. The themes of guilt, redemption, penance, forgiveness, and despair are potent, yet adpetly tempered by the injection of Rosson’s signature gallows humor. Pay no heed to the objectively lackluster cover art because what comes after is pure genius.

*This book is from an independent publisher, Meerkat Press, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

GONE TO THE WOLVES by John Wray. Without a doubt, Wray’s Gone to the Wolves is the sister to my own book, Post-Punk Road Show. The wild tale of a troubled young man and his friends on a life journey that covers the fetid swamps of Florida, to the glitz and glamour of the Sunset Strip in the 80s, to the icy, desolate climes of Bergen, Norway. Set against the backdrop of the death & black metal scene, it is clear that Wray was either an actual participant in it or did a colossal amount of research, as the details on offer here are those of only an insider. Even the clown princes of Norwegian black metal, Øystein Aarseth and forever shithead Varg Vikernes, make appearances (yes, this level of detail). The story’s climax is thoroughly steeped in eldritch atmosphere and evokes more than a bit of legitimate terror, making the book a truly metal masterpiece. That said, at its core, it is a story of love, friendship, and personal transformation. And it’s thoroughly entertaining.

RUNNING THE LIGHT by Sam Tallent. There is a long-standing cliché that all comics hate themselves, and it does have some basis in the culture and personality types drawn to a life in stand-up. In the case of Billy-Ray Schafer, it’s an undisputed fact. Written by an actual comic, Running the Light (an industry term for going beyond your allotted time) is a thoroughly engrossing tale of a one-man death spiral over the course of an abject, unhinged, 7-day journey into personal darkness and self-envisceration, horrible gig after horrible gig. The quintessential anti-hero, Schafer, an aging comedian and ex-con, is, by design, difficult to like, but always interesting and often very funny. This may be a challenging read for many; however, throughout the bleak, bruising journey, Tallent provides us with pathos and humor, if not redemption. An absolute ace of a debut novel, and I look forward to more.

*This book is from an independent publisher, White Rabbit Books, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

HOT WAX by M.L. Rio. And yet another marvelous damaged-protagonist-on-the-road novel! There are a good many this year. Using a dual timeline, Rio pivots between the Summer of ’89 and today, telling the story of Suzanne, the daughter of an up-and-coming rocker, Gil, and his soon-to-be notorious band, Gill and the Kills. After witnessing a desperate act of violence, Suzanne spends the next 29 years attempting to disappear and bury her past, until events transpire to awaken dormant and suppressed feelings. With a riveting story and superb character development, this book captures the true sense of what it’s like to be a scrappy, ascending band out on tour. Like Wray above, Rio must have played in an actual band or been on tour with one at some point, as the depiction of both the life and the gorgeous sonic descriptions throughout the book can only have come from an insider. I also give Rio special commendations for the very clever chapter titling, formatting, and accompanying kick-ass playlist. Literary Rock ‘N’ Rollers, this one’s for us!

I’M STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THIS BLACK BOX OF DOOM by Jason Pargin. And Pargin is back again with his 3rd FOF Book Award win! Here we go again with another tale of misfits hitting the road when a driver pulls up to a woman sitting on a mysterious black box, and she gives him $200,000 to transport it and her across the country. This fun, frenetic ride is fast-paced and full of absurd characters, perposterous predicaments, and an overall rollicking good time. Based in reality, unlike his other novels, Pargin easily transfers his absurdist hilarity while also positing a cautionary tale of the dangers of being terminally online and its self-imposed isolation.

HOW NOT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE: A COMEDY NOVEL & SELF-HELP PARODY by Rick Nash. What happens when you stumble upon and accept the advice of the world’s worst life coach – a destitute drunk with eight collapsed marriages? Well, failure is guaranteed, of course. In this hilarious send-up of traditional self-help books, Cuthbert Huntsman spins a set of rules depicting how not to live one’s life. Whether it’s a confused gangster who forgot where the bodies are buried, a nymphomaniac Yeti hunter, a perpetually living pig farmer forever in the shadow of his brother Satan, or a furious, disenfranchised Gen Zer trying to cancel the twentieth century, Cuthbert is always on hand to help and share some of his least successful life coaching techniques along the way.

*This book is published by the author, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

NON-FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER

MR. KNOW IT ALL: THE TARNISHED WISDOM OF A FILTH ELDER by John Waters. Let’s admit the fact that the pioneering, transgressive, utterly hilarious King of Sleaze, John Waters, is an American national treasure. From the delicious deviance of his early films like Pink Flamingos and Polyester to the mainstream hits of Hairspary and A Dirty Shame, Waters has always been the consummate, inimitable auteur. His wry, rapierlike wit is on full tilt in Mr. Know It All, which is effectively a memoir told as an advice column. In these short essays, Waters covers a wide array of topics from falling upward in Hollywood to cheating death, as well as the expected fare of sex, drugs, and monkey art. Still, the real beauty of the book lies in his candid unveiling of life behind the scenes, which provides an honest, charming glimpse of the man behind the pencil-thin mustache. If you’re a Waters fan or love giggling at things that are in poor taste or politically incorrect, you will find this an utterly enchanting, side-splitting read.

DRIVE-THRU DREAMS: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HEART OF AMERICA’S FAST FOOD KINGDOM by Adam Chandler. In very, very close second place is Chandler’s Drive-Thru Dreams, a spellbindingly fascinating historical tour of fast food in America. From 1921, when White Castle became the first fast-food chain and claimed the hamburger as the quintessential American meal, to the globalization of McDonald’s and others, Chandler takes the reader on an extraordinary expedition. Full of wit and nuance, the anecdotes here are entertaining and rife with informative factoids (Did you know Col. Sanders was 62 when he started KFC?). Aside from all of this, he illustrates the nature of fast food as a deeply integrated, inseparable aspect of American culture. He proves the point in that you will consciously crave fast food while reading this book, or maybe it was just me.

ETERNAL GOTH: EXPLORING THE WORLD’S MOST ENIGMATIC CULTURAL MOVEMENT by Emma Madden. As a lifelong deathrocker who came up in the original Los Angeles scene in the 80s, I was more than a tad wary about this book, having never heard of the author before. However, Madden’s comprehensive overview of all things goth blew my homemade fishnet shirt and pointy buckle boots right off. Beginning with the original Visigoths’ sack of Rome in 410 CE to present-day global goth culture, Madden artfully covers the chronological evolution of goth, covering every conceivable facet, including architecture, literature, cinema, comics, and much more. Of particular note are the chapters on goth music, which she absolutely nails (an exceptionally rare feat). While history tends to be a crash course in boredom, Madden’s style makes it both relatable and extremely enjoyable. If anyone were to ask me what goth culture is all about, I’d hand them this – it’s perfect.

*This book is from an independent publisher, Castle Books, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

ENSHITIFICATION: WHY EVERYTHING SUDDENLY GOT WORSE & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT by Cory Doctorow. Big Tech has each one of us by the balls, and the squeeze gets tighter and more agonizing every single day. Global enterprises like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, et al. have cunningly lured us into their walled gardens and deviously made us their willing supplicants. How did this occur? Through Enshitification, which, as Doctorow wittily yet trenchantly describes as the process where tech companies gain users via convenience and over time, degrade their services, users, and business clients to milk profit, thus becoming a big pile of shit. Despite the cutsey cover, this is a very serious, exceedingly well-researched book, filled with eye-opening real-life case studies on how the internet is becoming worse, one algorithm at a time, and what we, as a society, can do to change things.

KEANU REEVES IS NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU by Becky Holmes. Cardigan-clad middle-aged Brit Becky Holmes tackles the guileful topic of internet romance fraud. Despite the somber subject, her hysterical humor always characterizes the tone, especially when she confronts scammers pretending to be Brad Pitt, oil rig workers desperate for iTunes vouchers, or the 100s of Keanu Reeves who have confessed their undying love but need her to book them a week at a 5-star hotel in Fiji. Silly high jinks aside, Holmes shares the heartbreaking, true-life accounts of financial and emotional devastation that have destroyed their lives, and discusses the psychology of fraud. If you know anyone who is, or has been, the victim of online romance fraud, they need to give this a read.

*This book is from an independent publisher, Boundless Publishing, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

YOU CAN’T DRINK ALL DAY IF YOU DON’T START IN THE MORNING by Celia Rovenbark. American humor columnist Celia Rivenbark is a straight-up, unequivocal daughter of the South, and it shows in the sassy, uproarious wisdom embedded in her essays, such as “How Gweneth Paltrow Wants to Improve Your Pathetic Life,” “Airlines Serving Up One Hot Mess,” and “Action Figure Jesus.” Dripping with sarcasm and punctuated by comic quips, grab this good-time read and enjoy while guzzing mint juleps on a fine Sunday morning.

NON-FICTION: MUSIC

CATEGORY WINNER

PHANTOMS: THE RISE OF DEATHROCK FROM THE LA PUNK SCENE by Mikey Bean. Admittedly, there is a massive amount of personal bias in this selection, as Mikey Bean has effectively and dazzlingly codified my adolescence and early adulthood with this book. As mentioned above, I was an active part of the LA deathrock scene for decades, and Bean’s astoundingly meticulous oral history does a magnificent, breathtaking job providing a comprehensive, accurate history of this musical movement that continues to this day. Coming in at over 600 pages and comprised of interviews with over 250 original members of the scene, along with a stunning array of archival documents (flyers, album covers, previously unprinted photographs, etc.), Bean provides the definitive tome on the subject (and a radiant gift to all of us who were there). Thanks so much, Mikey. You made all the days of “sex, death, and eyeliner,” not to mention incredible music, worth it.

*This book is published by the author, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

MINISTRY: THE LOST GOSPELS by Al Jourgensen & John Weiderhorn. Michael Jackson will forever hold the title of being the most prodigious, egregious abuser of drugs in the world of music, but Ministry’s Al Jourgensen is right behind him. The difference is that Al is still standing and has a 25+ album legacy of brilliant, genre-pioneering music. Having indulged for decades in every imaginable rock ‘n’ roll vice and cliche, Jourgensen’s gritty, no-holds-barred memoir captivatingly recounts his life story, from the early days in the burgeoning Chicago underground scene to global stardom, all the while retaining much of the sardonic humor he is renowned for. Uncomprehendingly, amid all the addictions and excesses, Jourgensen’s relentless work ethic is showcased here by his prolific, continuous output of art—a truly commendable feat. Cleaned up, but still kicking against the pricks, Ministry remains a viable, energetic act that continues to deliver the goods.

MOOD MACHINE: THE RISE OF SPOTIFY AND THE COST OF THE PERFECT PLAYLIST by Liz Pelly. As a Spotify artist myself, I am keenly aware of how this Machiavellian enterprise rips off those of us whose music it enriches. Still, it appears this is only the beginning. Not only does Pelly give us a perfect case study of the enshitifaction process (see above review) in her utterly fascinating exploration/analysis/cultural criticism, she also examines how one organization has consolidated the business of music in an equally underhanded 2-sided marketplace that fleeces both creators and consumers of art. Rife with hundreds of interviews from industry insiders, this is both a bone-chilling exposé and yet another cautionary tale for us all about the horror of Big Tech. Sadly, it gets worse, as this book was published before the outing and subsequent furor of Spotify’s funding of AI military weapons and forcing ICE recruitment ads on their subscribers. Seriously, stop reading right here and cancel your Spotify account NOW!

NONBINARY: A MEMOIR by Genesis P-Orridge. Cultural engineer, musician, visual artist, etc., Genesis P-Orridge was always a polarizing figure, but say what you will, s/he was always on the bleeding edge of culture, pushing boundaries, taking the hits, and paving the way forward. From their early avant-garde music with Coum Transmission, to literally creating industrial, an entirely new genre of music, with Throbbing Gristle in the 70s, to concocting a band, cum actual cult with Psychic TV, to pioneering extreme body modification and the Pandrogyne project, Genesis spent a lifetime attempting to answer the question posed by William S. Burroughs, “How do we short-circuit control?” In all candor, I’ve found his art and behavior both divine and execrable at times over the decades, but, if anything, this honest, open memoir certainly offers an enthralling insight into a singular character and a life dedicated to art.

GIRLS TO THE FRONT: THE TRUE STORY OF THE RIOT GRRRL MOVEMENT by Sara Marcus. What Mikey Bean has done for deathrock, Marcus here does for the Riot Grrrl movement. Coming hot off the heels of last year’s Music Non-Fiction category winner, Rebel Girl, this is an exhaustive and definitive history of the musical feminist uprising in the 90s. The stories of iconic bands like Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy, Huggy Bear, and, of course, Bikini Kill are recounted here, along with the larger account of the scene’s fomentation, peak, and ultimate decline. If, like me, you enjoy fiery women with instruments and no patience for sexism who refuse to be quiet about it, then grab a copy now.

DON’T CALL IT HAIR METAL: ART IN THE EXCESS OF 80S ROCK by Sean Kelly. Despite all my post-punk street cred, it’s somewhat of an open secret that I am a bit of a closeted metal aficionado. While my least favorite strain of the genre, hair metal, was, itself, an undisputedly massive force that dominated the globe for nearly a decade. Now considered a sad joke and relegated to the dustbin of rock history. Kelly admirably and expertly picks up the defense of this cotton-candified sub-genre with this engrossing, erudite analysis. Full of insightful interviews with many eminent luminaries, including Poison, Whitesnake, Ratt, Skid Row, Quiet Riot, & Twisted Sister, it’s an absolute thrill to hear the musicians’ take on their approach to songcraft and showmanship, as well as their musings about it all, decades after hair metal’s implosion. Kelly’s own personal hair metal story is adroitly and saliently interwoven into the larger narrative arc, making this an essential for anyone of that era, or those just curious about it.

*This book is from an independent publisher, ECW Press, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

GRAPHIC NOVEL

CATEGORY WINNER

MY FAVORITE THING IS MONSTERS VOL. 1 & 2 by Emil Ferris. Certainly deserving of its category win here, My Favorite Thing is Monsters is also one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read. Period. Ferris’s two-volume debut novel is a tragically stunning coup de maître. Written over the course of six years, shortly after she became paralyzed in her 40s from West Nile Virus, the book’s primary narrative arc follows protagonist Karen Reyes, who is investigating the mysterious death of her neighbor in 1960s Chicago. Moreover, within the 700 pages, Ferris deftly weaves achingly profound side stories, including prisoners of the holocaust, childhood prostitution, broken homes, and street crime in a compelling, yet always empathetic and caring way. The scope here is vast, and she pulls it off in a seemingly effortless way. All of this is visually manifested in her astonishing, meticulously detailed artwork, rendered via colored ballpoint pen. It literally took my breath away to know how much time, effort, and soul went into this project. This book is a bona fide masterpiece and will join the ranks of the most legendary graphic novels of all time.

*This book is from an independent publisher, Fantagraphics, so please consider supporting them by purchasing a copy.

A GUEST IN THE HOUSE by Emily Carroll. Upon first blush, Carroll’s story is relatively straightforward: Abbey, a young woman, marries a kindly widowed dentist who has recently moved to town with his daughter in search of a new lease on life. Things rapidly take a hard right turn when Abbey begins to sense that things concerning the death of her husband’s former wife, Sheila, seem strange. When Sheila’s memory manifests itself into a potent power of its own, things get slippery indeed. The beauty of this book is Carroll’s masterful use of foreshadowing and potent understatement in her storytelling. When the reader arrives at the ending, they are assuredly no longer quite certain how they arrived there. I had to go back several times to piece it all together, which made this experience genuinely fun and satisfying. Equally important is Carroll’s art, particularly her powerful use of color and its significance in the narrative and conclusion, which is intentionally ambiguous. This might drive some readers mad, but I adored it.

TOKYO GHOST: COMPLETE EDITION by Rick Remender & Sean Gordon Murphy. In Tokyo Ghost, Rick Remender presents us with a dystopian Isles of Los Angeles set in 2089, where everyone is addicted to technology and the world is run by idiotic, corrupt gangsters masquerading as politicians. Written in 2016, he sadly failed to account for culture acceleration, as this world is pretty close to what we have now in 2025. Constables (read: enforcers), Led Dent and Debbie Decay, are conscripted to raid tech-free Japan to dismantle its EMP, which can destroy technological devices and infrastructure, forcing them to confront their lives, love, and future. Yes, the messaging may be a bit brash and unapologetic. Still, since I believe many (most) aspects of our technology culture, as well as comic superheroes in general, suck hard, I lauded it. If you have a predilection for sci-fi/cyberpunk stuff, particularly Ghost in the Shell or Judge Dredd, you’ll dig this. 

FUN HOME: A FAMILY TRAGICOMIC by Alison Bechdel. A graphic memoir at its core, Fun Home took me a bit by surprise. The story is full of both humor and pain. Principally centered on Bechtel’s father, a small town English teacher and FUNeral Home director, who she discovers is closeted gay shortly after she comes out to her family. Only days later, he is killed by either accident or suicide, which establishes the central, lifelong mystery that Bechtel explores throughout the book. The narrative is deeply enhanced by her scrupulous, semi-realistic, expressive artwork. To be balanced, the experience is often stultified by the dialogue Bechtel employs to brazenly flaunt her intellect and the relentless references to classical literature, which, while germane to the story, feel excessive. That said, it’s a probing, incisive personal journey that will resonate with any reader.

ONCE & FUTURE, Vol 1.: THE KING IS UNDREAD by Kieron Gillen & Dan More. Renowned graphic novelist, Kieron Gillen, presents a bold and refreshing take on the Arthurian mythos. Abandoning the rigid canon and its constraints, Gillen spins a fantastical yarn set in the modern day, in which a group of British nationalists resurrect King Arthur through a supernatural invocation, only to learn that he has his own nefarious designs. His unchecked rampage of death and destruction is then challenged by a retired monster hunter and octogenarian, along with her grandson. This unconventional approach to the timeless legend is as wildly successful as it is entertaining.

THE DARK HORSE BOOK OF HAUNTINGS by Mike Mignola (Editor). Hellboy heavyweight Mike Mignola’s editorial spearheading of this compilation of spooky stories is nothing other than glorious, fiendish fun. The book does a notable job of emulating the look and feel of the iconic EC Comics’ Tales from the Crypt, The Haunt of Fear, and other beloved 50s horror titles. The ante is upped with the inclusion of a host of prominent, respected individuals, such as Fates on Fire Book Awards’ winningest writer, Evan Dorkin (Milk & Cheese, Dork), P. Craig Russell (Sandman), Jill Thompson (Scary Grandmother), and others. Be it haunted doghouses, haunted suits, traditional haunted houses, or even a new Hellboy story, Mike’s got you covered.

THAT’S A WRAP!

That’s a wrap, and I hope you enjoyed the ceremony! Please join me in one last toast to celebrate all of our 2025 category winners and short-list finalists.

I also hope you found a book or two that piqued your interest to read yourself or that would make a nice gift for someone. Now, I’m off for a few photo ops before hitting the after-party! Until next year, darlings. In the meantime, keep reading!

A SHAMELESS PLUG MASQUERADING AS AN AUTHOR’S NOTE

The careful reader may have noticed that several winners this year are centered on music, road novels, personal transformation, and love. This is likely because those are the very themes of my new book, Post-Punk Road Show, coming in April. If you also enjoy these themes, you will love my book. Click below to learn more and subscribe to get free goodies, exclusive offers, and more. Thanks for reading and thanks for supporting me for the past 8 years. It means a lot. That said, we’ve only just started.

CLICK HERE FOR POST-PUNK ROAD SHOW INFORMATION & LAUNCH DETAILS

Like you, I am overwhelmed by the zillions of disingenuous “opportunities” every day to give up my email address for something special, only to receive nothing and have it sold to spammers. Please know that I do not ask for yours lightly. I am building a respectable art business based on community and, most importantly, integrity and trust. Fates On Fire is committed to bringing new forms of beauty to life, and we’d be honored to share the journey with you. If you like, or are even remotely interested, in what we’re doing here, I encourage you to subscribe. Here is my commitment to you:

1. You will get “free loot” as advertised on the pop-up. Specifically, subscribers who purchase any special edition of Post-Punk Road Show will receive a) a free copy of the “Easter Egg Decoder Sheet” that reveals the 101 hidden references within the book and b) a limited, subscriber-only bookmark. We will be selling the “Decoder Sheet” for $3, and only subscribers will receive the bookmark.
2. Subscribers who purchase the Rock ‘N’ Roll Zero: Singles & Rarities collectors package (limited to 50 only) will receive a personalized message/art print as well as a 15% discount on the print purchase of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Zero: A Magical Life in the Margins of Music special edition on its April 2027 release.
3. We will NEVER spam you or sell your information. I plan, perhaps, quarterly updates. As many of you know, I am an active writer beyond books. I write essays, articles, and somehow the sonic gods of music have conscripted me to be a music journalist yet again. All of that will be available on my Substack, but not here.
4. Full disclosure: Everything we publish will have non-deluxe, basic retail versions as bills must be paid. However, whatever you buy from us directly is unique and limited. There will always be special editions, collector’s editions, and secret subscriber goodies, just because I want rad art in your hands, even at a loss, I will make that happen.

So, there you have it. Hopefully, a compelling argument for you to choose to join us. To quote “Diamond” David Lee Roth of Van Halen infamy, “When someone buys a ticket to your show, that’s a contract between you and them.” As a musician, I’ve always honored that. As a publisher, I always will.