We’ve done it! We’re in the final stretch of 2025. The festive sprit is in the air, the weather is appropriately awful, and I for one am thinking about all the books I might be receiving over the coming weeks. and the books I’m giving to other people. This is among my favourite parts of the year. Not just because of gift giving and getting, but because wet weather and dark nights make for perfect reading conditions. So let’s take a look at what I’ll be sinking my teeth into over the next four weeks.

I’m starting the month with the last Warhammer novel on my TBR, R S Wilt’s Final Deployment. I’m only two chapters in, but it’s off to a promising start. After that I’ll be straight into my final new release of the year, Adrian Tchaikosky’s Shroud. Shroud is one of my most anticipated books of the year, making it the perfect candidate for a buddy read.

Once the 2025 reeases are completed, I’ll be turning my attention back to the past. I’ve resolved not to start any new authors this year, and actually have a chance to finish or at least continue some series that I’ve had going for a while. There’s C. S. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength and Forever Free by Joe Haldeman (which I managed to have signed by the man himself). then I’ve got the final Dark Angels book by Ian Whates, along with one of his short story collections. I’ve got a lot of Jack McDevitt books that I really need to get around to reading, as well as some more vintage space opera from Jack Williamson. If I somehow find time for more, I’ve got some Edmund Cooper, Bob Shaw, and Christopher Evans hanging around.

Post-Christmas is when I usually do my retrospectives of the year, so I’ll likely take a mini break from science fiction for the end of the year. I’ve got some Stephen King collections, a fantasy novel, and even a Hungarian children’s book to see me through the tail end of the year. Yes, it’s very eclectic round these parts.

Those retrospectives will form the backbone of my non-review blogging this year, but I’ll definitely see what else I can squeeze in before 2025 is out.

Dates for your Diary

2nd – Star Trek: The Original Series: Identity Theft, by Greg Cox – A Chekov novel! I have enjoyed all the Greg Cox novels I’ve read so far, so this looks like a perfect place to get stuck back into Star Trek.

9th – Tailored Realities, by Brandon Sanderson – Even if I have fallen of the Sanderson wagon recently, this collection of his science fiction short fiction is most assuredly calling my name.

11th – The Boundy Awards – The seventh anniversary of this blog means another celebration of all the great books, TV, and music I’ve been enjoying this year.

17th – Fallout: Season 2 – Amazon Prime’s big budget videogame adaptation is back! This time around we’re visiting New Vegas, so I’m hoping for some more madcap adventures from everyone’s favourite wasteland wanderers.