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!

Episode 130: Contemporary fantasy, lists and other things