The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

Jason R. Richter Why did I love this book?

When Sir Terry passed away in 2015, I was devastated. I met him once at a book signing in Denver. The only person I’ve ever seen live that got more laughs per minute while on stage was George Carlin. Sir Terry was this beautiful, mischievous presence.

There were a few of his books that I hadn’t read that I held off on reading because I wanted to save them. I’ve read all of the Discworld novels several times, or so I thought. I thought this book was a stand-alone that wasn’t based in the Discworld. When I realized it was a Discworld novel, I couldn’t put it down. I read it all in one sitting. It was like receiving a letter from a beloved, long-past uncle. 

By Terry Pratchett,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

IT'S A RAT-EAT-RAT WORLD . . .

Every town on Discworld knows the stories about rats and pipers, and Maurice - a streetwise tomcat - leads a band of educated ratty friends (and a stupid kid) on a nice little earner. Piper plus rats equals lots and lots of money.

Until they run across someone playing a different tune.

Now he and his rats must learn a new concept: evil . . .


When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Press Start to Play

Jason R. Richter Why did I love this book?

I happened to see this short story collection with the foreword by Ernest Cline at my local bookstore. All of the stories are somehow video game-related. Some of the stories I cannot get out of my head.

Desert Walk by S.R. Mastrantone is a creepy meditation on being a completionist.

All of the People in Your Party Have Died by Robin Wasserman is a chilling homage to the Oregon Trail.

1Up  by Holly Black is about the bond you can create with gamers you’ve never met in person.

Oh, sure, there are stories by Andy Weir and Hugh Howey as well, but those three stories live in my head rent-free. 

By Daniel H. Wilson (editor), John Joseph Adams (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Press Start to Play as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

IT’S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS.
 
You are standing in a room filled with books, faced with a difficult decision. Suddenly, one with a distinctive cover catches your eye. It is a groundbreaking anthology of short stories from award-winning writers and game-industry titans who have embarked on a quest to explore what happens when video games and science fiction collide.

From text-based adventures to first-person shooters, dungeon crawlers to horror games, these twenty-six stories play with our notion of what video games can be—and what they can become—in smart and singular ways. With a foreword from Ernest Cline, bestselling…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Forever War

Jason R. Richter Why did I love this book?

As a veteran of the Marine Corps, I tend to shy away from military science fiction. But so many people had recommended this book that I couldn’t ignore them forever.

Apparently, Haldeman was a Vietnam veteran and wrote this book as a scathing satire of the military. I don’t remember who said it, but “military intelligence is an oxymoron.” The book perfectly captures the bureaucracy, the nonsense, and the hurry-up-and-wait aspect of military life. Not to mention the difficulty of getting out of the military and trying to reacclimate to civilian life.

On the positive side, he does an excellent job of capturing the bond you build with the people you share a fighting position with. And the strange sensation when they get transferred, and you may never see them again. 

By Joe Haldeman,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked The Forever War as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The monumental Hugo and Nebula award winning SF classic-- Featuring a new introduction by John Scalzi

The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand--despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away. A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite Military unit, Private William Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict; to perform his duties and do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle, because, thanks to the time…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

LIFE in the 23rd Century

By Jason R. Richter,

Book cover of LIFE in the 23rd Century

What is my book about?

My book is an absurd, darkly humorous dystopian future to distract you from your horrific dystopian present.

If 1984 were written by Monty Python. It's not as dark as Brazil, not as absurd as The Fish Slapping Dance.  

Book cover of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Book cover of Press Start to Play
Book cover of The Forever War

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,487

readers submitted
so far, will you?