The quiet days after the New Year, when Coode Street scribes spend their days slowly summarising the moments of the  year just gone and contemplating what the year ahead might bring, pass slowly in the chill of Chicago and the sweltering heat of the Antipodes. With little specific to discuss, we nonetheless headed to the Waldorf Room high atop the Coode St Motel Six, with no clear intention of what would unfold.

Moments before podcasting began, though, a query came through from James Bradley, asking our thoughts on excellent contemporary fantasy. Interest piqued, we discussed, we listed and we chatted. While we would love to hear listeners recommendations, these are the books we discussed (and recommended) during the podcast:

Contemporary Fantasy Novels (in the order mentioned on the podcast)

Mythago Wood, Robert Holdstock

The Drowning Girl, Caitlin R. Kiernan

Last Call, Tim Powers

Ysabel, Guy Gavriel Kay

The Limits of Enchantment, Graham Joyce

The Wizard Knight, Gene Wolfe

The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Perfect Circle, Sean Stewart

Waking the Moon, Elizabeth Hand

Wizard of Pigeons, Megan Lindholm

The Scar, China Mieville

The Prestige, Christopher Priest

Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor

The Brides of Roll-Rock Island, Margo Lanagan

Was, Geoff Ryman



The list has its flaws and omissions (one we reason we'd love your recommendations), but it's a starting point for discussing an interesting subject. Our thanks to James for his question. At podcast's end we briefly also discuss some points of comparison with the Locus All-Time Poll recently released, and encourage others to run their own similar polls.

As always, we hope you enjoy the podcast!