THE 2022 FATES ON FIRE BOOK AWARDS!

Welcome to the 2022 Fates On Fire Book Awards! With nearly 200 entries, the competition was fierce and the 4th 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 Oscar’s for books. This is my version of that. Like the Booker, each category receives a “short list” comprised of 6 books, with 1 being the winner. Unlike the Booker, but like the Oscar’s, I divide the awards into separate categories. The bottom line is that whatever kind of reading you may be 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 186 books I’ve read since the last awards are eligible candidates (with the exception of any re-reads).
• Eligible books can have been published any time in human history, so long as I read them since the 2021 awards.

THE CATEGORIES

1. GENERAL FICTION – This category includes any and 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 in 2022, this genre continues to have its own category.
4. GRAPHIC NOVELS – Amazing writing with amazing art – that’s what’s in this category.

GENERAL FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER – GIVE MY LOVE TO THE SAVAGES BY CHRIS STUCK

This debut collection of short stories positively blew my mind. In nine stories, set across the U.S., Portland writer, Chris Stuck, casts light on the knotty, multi-dimensional Black experience and the convergence of race, identity, and the realities of Black men through the eyes of wildly differing, yet inventive fictional characters. All of this is, assuredly, difficult and bristly terrain, but Stuck’s clever use of incisive humor make the journey extraordinarily wonderful. Standouts for me are “How to be a Dick in the 21^st Century,” “The Lives and Loves of Melvin J. Plump, Esq.,” and “Chuck & Tina Go on Vacation.” This book is bold, complex, and evocative. Next-level, genius work and I look forward to more.

THE SHORT LIST – GENERAL FICTION

ZOEY PUNCHES THE FUTURE IN THE DICK BY JASON PARGIN. I’m still astonished that Pargin was able to get this title through the bureaucracy of a global publisher, but it proves that miracles can happen. The follow up to “Futuristic Violence & Fancy Suits,” this book subverts the norm in that the sequel is actually far better than the initial work. Best summarized as a stupendous amalgam of sci-fi-thriller, gonzo cyberpunk, social commentary and an amusing excoriation of Las Vegas. With its kick-ass “trailer trash heiress” female protagonist, this ride is non-stop action, suspense and hilarity from page one. If you liked Pargin’s “John Dies at the End,” you’re going to love Zoey.

HOW TO BUILD A GIRL BY CAITLIN MORAN. At 14-years old, Midlands teen, Johanna Morrigan, indelibly shames herself on TV. At 16 she reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde, the outrageous, hard drinking, fast talking, music journalist and self-described “Lady Sex Adventurer.” Raunchy, fearless, crass and consistently uproarious, this idiosyncratic coming of age story is underscored by the poignancy of the difficult process of self-discovery and invention we all, to greater or lesser extents, experienced. *Beware, this was made into a film, which is infinitely inferior to the book.

BADASSTRONAUTS BY GRADY HENDRIX. I almost went with Hendrix’s most recent novel, “The Final Girl Support Group” until I stumbled upon this little gem, his 2nd endeavor in creative writing. When Walter Reddie, former astronaut, now perpetually tanked on vodka, in rural Melville, South Carolina, learns that his cousin is stuck in space, he decides to build his own rocket to go up an rescue him. The result is a “Redneck NASA” that ultimately involves a cast of thousands. Deeply informed by the author’s exposure to the populist socio-political “Occupy” movement, the novel embodies many of its themes such as social justice and participatory democracy, in a humorous, yet moving and spirited way. (*This is Hendrix’s 4th FoF Book Award, thus making him the winningest author to date).

HOW I LEFT THE NATIONAL GRID: A POST-PUNK NOVEL BY GUY MANKOWSKI. After an infamous stint on the Top of the Pops where singer Robert Wardner simulates suicide, his band, The National Grid, become overnight superstars and then, shortly thereafter, Robert disappears. Reporter, Sam, is now trying to locate him and from there unfolds the story. The use of multiple narrative perspectives and Mankowski’s ability to accurately describe the realities of being onstage, band interactions and the process of creativity, lend tremendous credibility to this book. The somewhat “bumpy execution” of this book could be criticized, but, for me, that’s precisely what makes it decidedly post-punk.

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB BY RICHARD OSMAN. A wildly famous BBC producer and announcer, Osman, now author, tells a tale of four elderly friends living in a retirement community who get together each week and try to solve actual cold-case murders. In short order, the gang of septuagenarians find themselves in the middle of their first live case. I’m generally suspect (get it?) of anything written by a celebrity, but Osman pulls this off. Offbeat, quirky, and fun with a corking dose of Brit humor, this book delivers an entertaining experience with a unique premise.

NON-FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER – THE LONG RUN & OTHER TRUE STORIES BY MISHKA SHUBALY

From being a degenerate, drunken rock ‘n roll insaniac to a bestselling author, the arc of Shubaly’s life is gritty, yet captivating. This book collects all 7 of his previous true-life short stories and novelettes in one sumptuous volume. Whether being shipwrecked, playing in failing bands, becoming an ultra-marathon runner or simply chasing oblivion for decades, themes like the struggle against one’s self, perseverance amid hardship, and dark humor are ever present. Shubaly is distantly reminiscent of the Beats and Bukowski with the distinction that, unlike them, he leveraged his intellect to transcend his demons and, ultimately, grow and develop into a person he is, seemingly, mostly content with. His sometimes abrasive, unapologetic style is not for everyone, but it certainly resonates with me.

THE SHORT LIST – NON-FICTION

YOURS CRUELLY, ELVIRA: MEMOIRS OF THE MISTRESS OF THE DARK BY CASSANDRA PETERSON. I vividly recall haphazardly tuning in to Elvira’s Movie Macabre on KHJ-TV in the 80s as a kid and instantaneously falling in love. I became and remain a devotee of the spellbinding “Queen of Halloween.” When I learned Cassandra was putting out her autobiography, I was pretty stoked. While familiar with the general plot points of her career as Elvira, this book is full of fantastic details and facts and, of course, one massive reveal (which I won’t spoil). Cassandra’s had a pretty wild and charmed life even before Elvira, and certainly since then. I’ve always respected her unassailable business acumen and now can respect her as a writer as well.

MY FAIR JUNKIE: A MEMOIR OF GETTING DIRTY AND STAYING CLEAN BY AMY DRESNER. Raised in Beverly Hills, Dresner led the quintessential life of the over-privileged wealthy. At age 24, she began to experiment with methamphetamine, thus beginning a harrowing, decades-long free-fall into the abyss of drug, sex and alcohol addiction, culminating with a felony charge of domestic violence with a deadly weapon. The stories here are disturbing, brutal, raw and utterly horrifying. While not for the faint of heart, they are made easier to digest, by Dresner’s wry, gallows humor. However, the stories serve the purpose of being the backdrop from which she, ultimately, reclaims her sobriety and her life in the process. Part memoir, part warning, part inspiration, this tale makes for an undeniably gripping read.

CONFESSIONS OF A PUPPETMASTER: A HOLLYWOOD MEMOIR OF GHOULS, GUTS AND GONZO FILMMAKING BY CHARLES BAND. If you love “trash-horror,” B-movies and flicks that are sometimes so bad, they are sublime, then you’ve likely heard of Charles Band, founder of Full Moon Features & Empire Entertainment. From Ghoulies to The Puppetmaster, Band has produced over 375 films in his storied career, and storied it is. A crazy journey punctuated by extreme ups and downs, Band shares all the details of his sensational ride through life with his indomitable imagination and passion for filmmaking never wavering. I defy anyone to find a more entertaining film biography.

BROKEN (IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY) BY JENNY LAWSON. The third collection of beautiful, laugh-out-loud essays from Lawson, the ‘comic queen of broken toys’ does not fail to deliver. A lifelong sufferer of mental illness, clinical depression, anxiety and autoimmune problems, Lawson, captures the joy, pain and absurdity of her life with unconventional, but always witty insight. Her primary strength is her honesty and authenticity which breathe life into otherwise difficult subject matter. Humor, sincerity and empathy run rampant in the world of “The Bloggess,” and we’re all the better for it.

NOTES ON A NERVOUS PLANET BY MATT HAIG. The world is messing with our minds. The world is faster, more chaotic than ever and it’s making us sick. The overuse of and dependence on technology, social media, and our phones is systematically atrophying our mental health. This is Haig’s (spot-on) central argument, To combat this, he offers all manner of insights, tips and techniques to live life in the present moment peppered throughout this collection of essays. Employing a humble, vulnerable style, it’s clear that Haig is genuinely interested in helping others and meaningfully contributing to the antidote to the fundamental problems of our technology-ridden modern lives.

MUSIC NON-FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER – THE STORYTELLER BY DAVE GROHL

You might think that Dave Grohl’s most significant achievement in life is being part of Nirvana, one of rock’s greatest bands or starting the Foo Fighters, another of rock’s greatest bands. And while those are certainly noteworthy, you’d be wrong. Dave Grohl’s greatest achievement is being the nicest guy in rock ‘n roll history. In over 30 years, I’ve never read or heard anyone say anything bad about him and, after reading “The Storyteller,” it’s clear why. Musical talent aside, Dave is an earnest, honest, focused dude. He loves his mom, his wife and his kids and has always put them first, irrespective of what external band-related wackiness was swirling about him. What I like about him most, is that with all that he’s accomplished, he’s still a hard-core rock fan-boy whose intrinsic, relentless passion for music will forever be the fuel for his soul. One of the best rock autobiographies ever. (P. S. Foo fans, be sure to check out, “Studio 666,” Dave’s horror-comedy film released earlier this year).

THE SHORT LIST – MUSIC NON-FICTION

BUNNYMAN: A MEMOIR BY WILL SERGEANT. Will is one of my all-time favorite guitar players and the founder of one of my all-time favorite bands, Echo & the Bunnymen. Legendarily reserved and quiet, the medium of writing suits him well. He provides a detailed account of all of the influences and factors that coalesced to ignite the genesis of Echo. The book covers only up to the initial year of the band’s formation (and before drummer, Pete de Freitas, joined), so while there is very little Bunnymen in “Bunnyman,” the wealth of rare information and terrific tales make for riveting reading. Best is that Will is currently working away on the follow-up.

ROCK AND ROLL WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE: A BOOK BY AND FOR THE FANATICS AMONG US BY STEVE ALMOND. Many of us are lifetime members of the Church of Rock ‘n Roll or, as Steve Almond would refer to us (and himself), “Drooling Fanatics: a genus of geeks who walk around with songs constantly ringing in their ears and own more than 3,000 albums.” This collection of hilarious essays is joyously transcendent. Whether it’s a drunken interview with a rock star; getting indirectly furious with, then loving Dave Grohl; the account of getting stoned while touring Graceland; or the hysterical deconstruction of the lyrics of Toto’s abysmal song, “Africa,” Steve gets to the true heart of things and provides a magnificent celebration of the “noble obsession” of we rock fanatics.

FACING THE OTHER WAY: THE STORY OF 4AD BY MARTIN ASTON. You likely have heard of the bands The Birthday Party, Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins, Pixies, Throwing Muses, Breeders & Dead Can Dance, but you may not be familiar with their iconic record label, 4AD. Well now you can in this positively lavish 700-page book that removes the veil of wondrous mystery that has shrouded 4AD and its founder Ivo Watts-Russell & principal designer, Vaughan Oliver, for decades. I’ve read a number of books on record labels and this is, far and away, the best. Comprehensively detailing every aspect and every release over a 20-year period, this book is an exquisite reflection of the extravagant, atmospheric nature of 4AD itself.

CHRISTIAN DEATH – ONLY THEATER OF PAIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDWARD CULVER. Ed Culver is visually synonymous with Southern California punk rock. In fact, he single-handedly photo-documented the entire scene from its inception to dissolution. This gorgeous, painstakingly curated, large format book is a glorious tribute to my good friend, the late-great Rozz Williams and his legendary band Christian Death, whose album, “Only Theater of Pain” was ground zero for the U.S. deathrock/goth scene. With 100s of never before seen photos along with fantastic interviews from band members & collaborators, it is a brilliant artefact and brought back a lot of wonderful memories.

PUNK PARADOX: A MEMOIR BY GREG GRAFFIN. Having led a highly unusual double-life as both a PhD university lecturer and front-man for Bad Religion, one of the world’s most tenured and respected punk bands, Graffin is a paradox unto himself. His memoir is both erudite and insightful as he effortlessly interweaves his own personal story along with that of Bad Religion. Overarching all of this is an astute cultural criticism of punk that argues against the preconceived narratives and perceptions of the genre and explores its evolution, resiliency, and fortitude. Like the music of Bad Religion, the book is simultaneously enjoyable and thought provoking.

GRAPHIC NOVEL

CATEGORY WINNER – PAPER GIRLS BY BRIAN K. VAUGHAN

As if being the writer for the highly regarded “Saga” wasn’t enough, Vaughn created this, yet another multi-Eisner award winning series. Paper Girls follows the story of four 12-year old newspaper delivery girls that inadvertently become caught up in the conflict between warring groups of time travelers while delivering papers the day after Halloween. It all may sound a little silly, but the story is as engaging as it is wild and Cliff Chiang’s art takes things to another level. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on the beautiful 800-page hardback “Complete Story” edition. If reading’s not your thing, check out the series that debuted earlier this year on Amazon Prime.

THE SHORT LIST – GRAPHIC NOVEL

A NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE BY JAMES TYNION. James Tynion is one of the best writers in comics today. Like his other series, “Something is Killing the Children” and “The Department of Truth,” Tynion continues to warp the face of horror with, this, his latest effort. The pace of the story is at such a slow creep that you don’t know how frightened you are, until you are. With a highly unique villain operating in an equally unique apocalyptic setting, A Nice House on the Lake is utterly engrossing. Masterfully executed, it’s no surprise that this book won the 2022 Eisner Award for best new series.

THE AUTUMNAL BY DAVID KRAUS. Having won two prior FoF Book Awards for “The Shape of Water” in 2021 & “Hard Candy” in 2019, Kraus nets his third, with this dark, horrific graphic novel. There are only a handful of books that have the power to legitimately scare me and this is one of them. With a story that is creepy, brutal and tragic, the book is intensified by the brilliant art of Chris Shehan. I particularly loved the subtle, to the point of sub-conscious, visual foreshadowing. Perfectly done and I will never quite be able to look at Fall the same again.

MAN-EATERS BY CHELSEA CAIN. I met Chelsea after a writer’s panel she was on in Portland. She mentioned her book, Man-Eaters, and it sounded intriguing, so I picked up a copy. And I’m delighted I did. With a somewhat wild premise that adolescent girls can be real monsters, Cain’s sharp wit and deftness with the horror-comedy genre, combined with the feminist bent are what make “Man-Eaters” shine. The clever and distinctive use of image macros throughout the book, are just the glorious icing on the cake.

DELICATES BY BRENNA THUMMLER. “Delicates” is Thummler’s follow-up to her award winning, “Sheets,” which I also read this year, but preferred this effort slightly more. It tells a compelling story about acceptance, fitting in and tenderly addresses those feelings of invisibility that we all have had at some point in our lives. While it goes to somewhat dark places, it does so with a greater purpose of showing that light, help and friendship are always there to those who need it most. Moreover, Thummler’s art, typified by a vivid, dreamy quality, is ideally suited to truly bring this story alive. A veritable masterwork.

PUNKS NOT DEAD: TEENAGE KICKS BY DAVID BARNETT. Get this for a premise – The spirit of deceased Sex Pistol, Sid Vicious, has been trapped inside London’s Heathrow Airport for 40 years until, by way of co-ink-a-dink, it’s released during a chance encounter with Fergie, a 15-year old who can see ghosts. I was sold simply based on that, but the book is a high-spirited, bonkers ride with Sid being attached to Fergie and imbuing him with uncontrollable abilities. The story-line’s a bit all over the place and there’s a good dose of Brit slang, but I found that added a legitimacy to the punk nature of the book, along with the killer art. Hands down, this was the most fun, punk rock romp of the year.

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 2022 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!

THE DAY AFTER: DUDE, WHERE’S MY BOOK?

Oh wow, that was a lot of great reads, red carpet, and bubbly! Great times as always. I’m curious, which of the 24 books that won awards are you inclined to read? Leave me a comment. I’d love to know.