THE 2023 FATES ON FIRE BOOK AWARDS!

Welcome to the 2023 Fates On Fire Book Awards! With nearly 150 entries, the competition was fierce and the 5th 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 146 books I’ve read since the last awards are eligible candidates (with the exception of any re-reads).
• Eligible books can have been published at any time in human history, so long as I read them since the 2022 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. MUSIC NON-FICTION – With nearly 40 music-oriented auto/biography entries in 2023, 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 – THE MUSIC SHOP BY RACHEL JOYCE

Coming hot off the heels of her globally bestselling “Harold Fry” series (more on that in a minute), Joyce gives us an enchanting story of love, romance, music and hope. Frank owns a record shop in the dilapidated, run-down area of a suburban England town. Frank’s gift is being able to connect customers with just the right piece of music they need at any particular moment. One day the mysterious Ilse enters Frank’s life when she asks him to teach her about music and thusly the two quirky characters become entwined as they seek to overcome their emotional obstacles via the healing power of music. Enlightening, joyous and easily the best read of 2023. Because, really, what else is there in life beyond music and love?

THE SHORT LIST – GENERAL FICTION

HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE BY GRADY HENDRIX. Hendrix is back with his 5th FoF Book Award and what can easily be deemed his magnum opus. I adore horror-comedy and was enthralled with his prior efforts, but “Haunted House” is more straight-up horror, but still retains Hendrix’s unique style. Taking some hard left turns throughout the narrative which serve to puzzle, yet captivate the reader, Hendrix also exhibits previously unseen depth and literary skill to deliver a phenomenal ride with real-deal frights. In fact, having read thousands of horror stories and novels, “Haunted House” has the enviable distinction of being the only one to give me legitimate, residual nightmares months after having read it.

MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW BY STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES. Graham-Jones continues his illustrious career as one of the best contemporary horror authors with “My Heart is a Chainsaw,” the first in a new series and winner of the Bram Stoker award. The story centers around, Jade, a punkish, rage-filled, half-Indian teenager with a debauched, abusive father and an absent mother. Jade’s obsession with slasher films is a coping mechanism for the utter ghastliness of her own life. When real-life horror and mysterious killings come to her small, rural village, Jade begins to predict the outcome, or does she? As per usual, Graham-Jones transcends the horror genre and offers a multi-faceted, serpentine study of a woman who desperately longs to belong. There is most definitely a triumphant heart that beats underneath the principal plot of a murder in a small town.

THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY & GOTH GIRL BY BARRY LYGA. At first blush, this book may appear as nothing more than a light, entertaining yarn about two high school nerds from differing cliques, but, upon closer inspection, there is quite a bit more under the hood here. Fanboy is a solid student and a secretly aspiring comic writer & illustrator who is also the target of bullying and physical abuse at school. Kyra is the lone-wolf goth with severe emotional and psychological issues. When their worlds collide, friendship and connection ensue. Lyga does a nice job at addressing difficult issues such as teen bullying, violence, and suicide, but never in a calamitous way that derails the beauty of the burgeoning relationship between the two protagonists.

THE LOVE SONG OF MISS QUEENIE HENNESSY BY RACHEL JOYCE. Joyce manages to net two awards in the same year! While the sequel to her smash hit, “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,” may seem a bit peculiar to some, I assert that it is the best of the 3-book series. Better written and executed, this outing adds to and embellishes “Harold Fry” by sharing the parallel story from Queenie’s perspective. Specifically, filling in many of the intentional narrative gaps by recounting Queenie’s story from her arrival in Kingsbridge to her self-exile in Northumberland to her stay and demise in St. Bernadine’s. Its tender-heartedness and affection make it so distinctive among the three books and the ending is simply extraordinary.

CORPSEMOUTH & OTHER AUTOBIOGRAPHIES BY JOHN LANGAN. Langan follows up his amazing novel, “The Fisherman,” with this collection of 10 eerie short stories. Frankly, Langan resides on his own singular island of fiction and readers should be grateful to visit. His style invokes classic weird or cosmic fiction, yet retains an identifiable strain of originality that melds horror, fear, otherworldliness and the familial in a staggeringly transfixing way. These powerful stories more than deliver the goods and are a fine way to dip one’s toe into the irresistible world of John Langan.

NON-FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER – AMERICAN JUNKIE BY TOM HANSEN

Hansen’s no-holds-barred account of heroin abuse is profoundly horrifying and gut-wrenching. From the aspiration of being a rock star to becoming self-incarcerated to a bare mattress on the floor of a vile apartment littered with used needles while his necrotic wounds literally eat his flesh, the grim brutality portrayed here is not for the faint of heart. Hansen’s honesty on the matter strips away all of the imagined glamour and chic alluded to by the likes of William Burroughs, Kurt Cobain, et al. Nevertheless, throughout all of his self-inflicted tribulations, there runs an undercurrent of hope, humor and lucidity throughout this gritty memoir, which are the very things Hansen uses to survive and, ultimately, recover his life.

THE SHORT LIST – NON-FICTION

QUIETLY HOSTILE: ESSAYS BY SAMANTHA IRBY. It is clear that, with this, her forth collection of uproarious essays, Irby has not lost her edge. If anything, it’s gotten sharper and more incisive. With her unique approach of being equally combative, yet loving; visceral, yet cerebral, Irby will have you in convulsive fits of uncontrollable laughter and glee. The ability to mine humor from outlandish situations such as visiting the emergency room, a lover wanting to pee on her, or chronic illness makes Irby a master of her craft.

LEGS GET LED ASTRAY BY CHLOE CALDWELL. Caldwell’s collection of personal non-fiction essays takes the reader on an uninhibited tour of her adolescent and young adult life as she searches for meaning. Experiences from crushes, to dreams, to impetuous sexual exploits to the death of a former lover, it’s all here. Unrestrained, yet heartfelt, Caldwell superbly straddles the darkness and the hope in an enchanting and unpredictable way.

THE SECRET LIFE OF GROCERIES: THE DARK MIRICLE OF THE AMERICAN SUPERMARKET BY BENJAMIN LORR. Five years of intense, deep investigation into the intentionally shrouded and mystifying U.S. grocery industry make Lorr’s insightful expose a thoroughly eye-opening and intensely engrossing read. Whether it’s learning the secrets of Trader Joe’s from Trader Joe himself, or the ruthlessly competitive nature of product shelf placement or the wretched truth of the shrimp industry’s slave trade, this book showcases all of the inglorious, behind-the-scenes aspects of the American supermarket.

THE WRECKAGE OF MY PRESENCE: ESSAYS BY CASEY WILSON. Former SNL cast member and now prominent director, actor, comedian and podcaster, Wilson expands her repertoire to writer in her hysterical first book of essays. Have you ever laughed so hard it actually hurt? If so, this is the stuff to engender such a reaction. Whether she’s discussing her father’s perm, eating in bed, motherhood or even death, Wilson will have you in stitches. Even with a low-brow approach to sharing, Wilson still makes the read highly relatable, as if you’re hearing stories from a good friend.

THE PROBLEM WITH EVERYTHING: MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE NEW CULTURE WARS BY MEGHAN DAUM. Penned in 2017, Daum delivers a trenchant take on many of the era’s issues, arguing with measured, nuanced logic, eschewing the performative outrage that seems to be the new order of today. Tackling such knotty topics as Trump’s presidency, Generation X & Millennials, the #MeToo movement, identity politics & cancel culture, Daum’s sociopolitical thesis is interestingly prescient in hindsight and remains a worthy read 7 years later.

MUSIC NON-FICTION

CATEGORY WINNER – THE ART OF ASKING OR HOW I STOPPED WORRYING & LET PEOPLE HELP BY AMANDA PALMER

Unquestionably, Amanda Palmer is a polarizing figure and her insatiable compulsion for attention can certainly be somewhat off-putting. However, her authenticity is as genuine as it is unimpeachable, even if, sometimes, it isn’t pretty. I have always respected and appreciated her approach to both creating and distributing art, which she brilliantly details in “The Art of Asking.” The book is astonishingly complex, being part autobiography, part “how to” manual, part feminist philosophical treatise and an overall delightful, thought provoking read. Fundamentally, it is about the act of furiously asking, giving and receiving. It explores the themes of trust, relationships & connections and how they are the underpinnings of a life well led and artistic independence (financial & otherwise). With parallels to Covey’s “The Speed of Trust” and Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends,” this is an exceptional book. Equally important, it is a veritable textbook for all musicians (and artists) on how to cultivate an authentic audience via connection and the acts of giving and receiving.

THE SHORT LIST – MUSIC NON-FICTION

FAITH, HOPE AND CARNAGE BY NICK CAVE & SEAN O’HAGAN. Comprised from over 40 hours of telephonic conversation between Cave & O’Hagan during the pandemic, “Faith, Hope & Carnage” is a superb glimpse into the mind of the musician and artist. Deeply contemplative and soul-bearing, the book examines the internal mechanisms, drive and inspiration for Cave’s creativity and artistic output. Moreover, the book grapples with the onerous, convoluted nature of grief and of loss and how to navigate through them with empathy and grace.

BLOOD, FIRE, DEATH: THE SWEDISH METAL STORY BY & IKA JOHANNESSON & JON JEFFERSON KLINGBERG. Prior to reading this I had, effectively, zero clue about Swedish metal. However, thanks to Johannesson & Klingberg’s painstakingly researched and rivetingly presented book, I am now somewhat of an expert. The research and attention to minute detail gives it an almost academic feel, but the sheer volume of data is counterbalanced with interviews, stories and historical accounts. Decades in the making, the passion and commitment of the authors is nearly palpable and shines throughout every chapter. Simultaneously consulting the online Encyclopaedia Metallum to check out and listen to the bands mentioned made this the most interactive and enjoyable reading experience of the year. Though the music may not be my particular cup of tea, “Blood, Fire, Death” is, without question, the best document on any music scene ever written.

PAINT MY NAME IN BLACK & GOLD: THE RISE OF THE SISTERS OF MERCY BY MARK ANDREWS. Distilled to its essence, “Paint My Name in Black & Gold” is the quintessential biography of the legendary Leeds band, The Sisters of Mercy. From the band’s inception in 1980 to its dissolution in 1985, every possible historical detail has been lovingly captured by Andrews over the book’s 450+ pages. Oddly, until this, there have been no biographies on the band, but this is certainly all anyone needs, thus making it not just the only, but the First and Last and Always on Sisters history and lore.

SOME NEW KIND OF KICK BY KID CONGO POWERS. Brian Tristan grew up in La Puente, one of the many cities comprised of L.A.’s urban sprawl. Getting in on the ground floor of the burgeoning punk scene, he quickly transformed into the iconic Kid Kongo Powers and landed spots in some of the most revered and lauded bands of all time, including The Gun Club, The Cramps, and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. The book regales the reader with his account of all manner of wonderful (and sometimes difficult) adventures. A must read for any self-respecting post-punk.

BAUHAUS UNDEAD: THE VISUAL HISTORY & LEGACY OF BAUHAUS BY KEVIN HASKINS. In every band, there is seemingly one member who, by either design or happenstance, becomes its historian; its archivist – diligently collecting and preserving everything the band creates or byproducts thereof. Drummer, Kevin Haskins, is this guy for Northampton’s Bauhaus. This large-format, coffee table-style book is chockablock with never before seen photos, flyers, press clippings, anecdotes, hand drawings, notes, correspondence, and other rare ephemera from the band’s career. All of this is bound in a positively gorgeous blood-red fabric cover (natch). Bela would be proud.

GRAPHIC NOVEL

CATEGORY WINNER – THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE: VOLUME 2 BY JAMES TYNION

There is a reason why James Tynion has been honored with the Eisner award for Best Writer for 3 consecutive years. It’s because his innovative, brilliant stories are so compelling and bewitching. Volume 2 of this series concludes the story of a group of people who accept an offer by their mutual friend, Walter, to spend time at a beautiful house on a lake in the country to relax and reconnect. Little do they realize that it is, indubitably, “the vacation of a lifetime,” but Walter has severely underestimated the reaction of his guests once they realize the truths of their entrapment. Wickedly spellbinding, “The Nice House on the Lake” is a veritable masterpiece by one of the greats of the graphic novel format.

THE SHORT LIST – GRAPHIC NOVEL

BEASTS OF BURDEN: OCCUPIED TERRITORY BY EVAN DORKIN. Evan Dorkin’s Wise Dogs return in the newest installment of the award-winning, “Beasts of Burden” series. While original artist Jill Thompson has been replaced by Ben Dewey here, the art remains both excellent and consistent with the original. This fantasy story is set shortly after World War II in U.S. occupied Japan where a strange curse is wreaking havoc in the area and the gang of pups work to solve the case. Complete with disembodied heads, demons and other species of eldritch fauna, it’s a magnificent tale that delivers an abundance of shivers, mystery and joy.

REVENGE OF THE LIBRARIANS BY TOM GAULD. Gauld is a virtuoso of the ability to serve-up both high and low-brow humor in the same setting. His latest zeros in on the denizens of the book industry with great comedic effect. Herein, he viciously lampoons procrastinating writers, evil editors, the ever-growing stacks of unread books all readers have, literary pretension, and the harshness of critics to name only a few. Enjoying many a chuckle at the expense of we readers, writers and book aficionados has never felt so damn good.

THE ME YOU LOVE IN THE DARK 1 BY SKOTTIE YOUNG. If Edgar Allan Poe, Neil Gaiman and Jeff Lemire somehow managed to bring forth an offspring into this world, it would absolutely be Skottie Young. I love his “I Hate Fairyland” series and this spooky one-shot is simply mesmerizing as it tells the tale of an artist retreating to a house in a small village for creative inspiration only to find a most unlikely muse. Dark and unsettling, “The Me You Love in the Dark” is utterly gripping while the minimalist language and gorgeous art take things over the top.

BLACK SCIENCE – COMPENDIUM BY RICK REMENDER. Strap yourselves in for a chaotic, yet jubilant ride through time and space. Protagonist and science anarchist, Grant McKay, has invented a device that can punch through interdimensional reality only to discover that it is pandemonium and madness that await rather than the panacea for Earth he predicted. Over the course of 1100 pages, this epic tale of adventure is filled with action and surprises that will keep the pages turning until the very end.

RICK & MORTY VS. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: DELUXE EDITION BY JIM ZUB. Admittedly, this one is a bit wacky, but I will confess I positively love both Dungeons & Dragons AND Rick & Morty, so when I saw this gem at the Portland ComiCon, I immediately snagged it. If you’re also a fan of either or both, you’ll love this! Zub magnificently interweaves the silly antics of the hit cartoon characters with the seriousness and fun of the renown, 50-year old role-playing game. The result is sheer, pee-your-pants hilarity and oodles of sly references to both properties and more Easter eggs than the Bunny himself could every carry.

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 2023 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.