TOP 10 Best Books of 2022

Many claimed that 2022 would be nearly liquidating for publishers. We might not have seen as many new releases as promised the year before, but some pieces still hit the market that you shouldn't miss. Here is a selection of the best books and comics of 2022 according to our expert book critics.

Jeff VanderMeer: A Peculiar Peril I. - The Peculiar Peril

It's a fact that Jeff VanderMeer rarely disappoints, but as a reader, you always have to tune into his wavelength. He started as one of the leading faces of the now-defunct new weird genre, but then carved his own unique path. Let's name the sci-fi-tuned Southern Reach trilogy, the steampunk noir crime Finch, the botanical post-apo Borne, or the educational-motivational Wonder Landscape. The first part of this year's new release, A Peculiar Peril, is a trip into the bizarre house of a recently deceased grandfather that would freak out even Alice. There are no limits to imagination, and even if it seems at first glance that the target audience is young adults, the book is intended for everyone who isn't afraid to dream big or occasionally indulge in hallucinations. The second part, subtitled The Body Scout, recently hit the shelves, and I need to get it immediately because I really love this guy.

Arthur C. Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama

This book isn't exactly a new release on our market, but we waited so long for a new edition that it deserves a spot in this selection. Even 50 years after its release, Clarke still has plenty to offer today's readers. In the distant future, humanity finally encounters an alien civilization in the form of a giant spaceship. A crew is immediately sent to investigate its origin and purpose. An expedition begins that will forever change humanity's perception of the universe and its place within it. Rendezvous with Rama rightfully belongs in the golden fund of sci-fi literature. It's a readable adventure story firmly rooted in scientific foundations, still full of fresh ideas today.

Marko Hautala: The Architect of Darkness

This horror author is a truly pleasant revelation. The previous local publisher somewhat undermined him in the eyes of readers by labeling him the "Finnish Stephen King" in every marketing slogan. People then expected King and got Hautala, and obviously, each of them is different… Why isn't, for example, František Kotleta labeled as the "Czech Arthur C. Clarke" when both write sci-fi? These marketing shortcuts and practices work both ways – positively and negatively, and sometimes even ridiculously. For instance, I see no reason why I should buy some Bradbury from Ulaanbaatar when I can read the real Ray Bradbury. Thanks to similar marketing gimmicks, I would have missed Marko Hautala! And that would be a real shame, because his The Architect of Darkness is, for me, the best horror book released here last year. Scout's honor!

Livia Llewellyn: The First to Go

Another year has passed, and I'm once again including a novella from the young Medusa publishing house in my top list. The First to Go has many points in common with its predecessor, Grass. Both books are novellas, meaning they aren't long texts, but essentially a quick bite you can devour in an evening, causing you very restless sleep. If sleep comes at all. A tiny pocket format, a successful unsettling cover (this time from the workshop of Santiago Betancur), and a distinctive text. Medusa publishing currently bets exclusively on female authors. Which is definitely not a bad thing! Livia Llewellyn is, however, cut from a different cloth than Grass author Anya Martin. This is Lovecraftian weird-tuned Philip K. Dick in a skirt – no offense and no gender sauce intended. The monstrous publishing Gorgon has captivated me with her second strike, and I am becoming her devoted reader. Medusa brings a breath of fresh air to our book market, especially a female perspective on the genre, and also the scent of horror of the highest contemporary quality. So keep it coming, please!

Philip Fracassi: Sacculina

Even though I read bulkier books this year, for instance, Dukaj's Ice, Červenák's For a Handful of Ducats, Šmehlík's Beast, etc., I must admit that short novellas caught my attention the most. I am fascinated by what authors can unfold in the "long short story" format and what atmosphere they can create. Philip Fracassi is another beautiful example of this. His collection Behold the Void blew my mind four years ago, and Sacculina managed to do the same. In this pocket novella, he sent a bunch of weird dudes and an even weirder captain to the open sea, only to cook up such a thick atmosphere from the mysterious waves that the horror drips from the pages like honey. Fracassi simply belongs to the best of contemporary horror being published here!

Kazuo Ishiguro: Klara and the Sun

I openly admit that I have a subconscious aversion to universally acclaimed books and authors adorned with literary awards. A lot of what I've read from the shiny ranks were just intellectual gibberish non plus ultra, where flowery language and sentence structure won over the story itself. But to each their own, right? On the other hand, I also know people who read mainly acclaimed works to feel IN, and they don't care if they like them or not. As long as they have something to show off on their bookshelf. I also know well that even acclaimed books can occasionally kick my butt. Like Petr Stančík's Mummy Mill, which I kept "warming" on my shelf for a really long time. That's why the path to Nobel laureate Ishiguro was quite convoluted. First, the films Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day based on his novels broke the ice, and my love for him has now fully ignited thanks to the book Klara and the Sun. The story written from the perspective of a robot who serves to exist is as touching as it is remarkable and cautionary. Hats off, Mr. Writer, I've already purchased your next book, because this was the best reading for me over the past year!

T. Adams & G. Rodriguez: The Island of Dr. Moreau

In last year's top list, I told myself I should give more space to comics this year, but I only managed about half that. Still, two "picture stories" snuck into my ranking this year. Two things are most remarkable about this comic adaptation of H.G. Wells:

1) Gabriel Rodriguez's art. I have never experienced this guy slacking off or failing to bring something to perfection. What he created in this comic is simply a visual blast. But beware, the story itself is only half the book; the other half consists of a recap of the entire story without speech bubbles and in Rodriguez's pencil sketches.

2) It is also fascinating how Ted Adams managed to retell a story for which both creators were given only 48 pages. Sure, Adams has no chance to depict everything that happens in this classic sci-fi novel within such a small scope, but for me, he handled it with honor. I've read more such shortened comic adaptations of famous works, and The Island of Dr. Moreau is currently winning for me. Both in terms of script and art.

J. Hill & G. Rodriguez: Locke & Key - The Golden Age

And Rodriguez again! And Joe Hill with him! Who is, in case anyone doesn't know, the son of Stephen King, who definitely took after his father. I consider their Locke & Key series one of the two best comic horror series ever published here. (The other is Fatale, in case anyone is asking.) This short story bonus The Golden Age to the original series is mainly a reward for loyal fans, because on its own, it wouldn't be such a blast. But if you know and have read the entire Locke & Key universe, you will be purring with bliss here too, and quite loudly. By the way, one of the stories is a crossover between the world of the Locke family and Gaiman's Sandman universe, which was a great inspiration for the creation of the whole series.

Joshua Hale Fialkov: Echoes

The comic publisher Mighty Boys has only been active on the local market for a short while, but they have already managed to get several very interesting pieces into our libraries. The best of them at this moment is undoubtedly the thriller with horror elements Echoes. The main character unexpectedly gets involved in a harrowing story full of mysteries the moment his father reveals a secret from the past on his deathbed. He sets out to investigate, but his own schizophrenia doesn't help him much. Echoes are dark, raw, and surprising. The comparison to Jeff Lemire's stories is apt. In Echoes, an impressive story met stylish art. This combination catapulted the comic among the best that appeared on the market last year.

Ed Brubaker: Velvet

Comic, noir, thriller, espionage, and mystery elements. All this is connected by the name of screenwriter Ed Brubaker, who repeatedly demonstrates that he belongs among the best in this genre. The comic Velvet only confirms this. The heroine, Velvet, has a past that is subject to top-secret classification. But when her partner dies in her organization, she sets out on a wild ride in search of the truth. Velvet is a comic full of action, spy gadgets, and tension. If James Bond comes to mind, you won't be far off. A must-read for fans of spy stories. Definitely for lovers of great comic stories too. A beautiful comic with top-notch production.

authors: Roman Bílek, Karel Krajča