I’ve actually been writing lately, so expect some kind of process post in the near future.  In the meantime, more links, including some 2011 lists that you can read from the comfort of early 2012.

The Alternative, The Underground, The Oh-Yes-That-One List of Favorite Books of 2011

A roundup gleaned from The Millions’ excellent Year in Reading series.  I loved the Year in Reading series, partially because it focused on favorite books read, not favorite books published, in 2011.  I should really get around to posting a similar essay.  Unfortunately, I only recently started tracking my reads on Goodreads again after a long hiatus and it turns out I can’t place my readings in time at all without some kind of record.

Kill Screen’s High Scores: Best of 2011

Kill Screen writes about video games differently than most other place write about video games, so it makes sense that their “best of 2011” ranking system and results would also be a little different.  Includes links to all of their lovely reviews.  The game itself didn’t make their list, but I found Kirk Hamilton’s review of L.A. Noire to be particularly great.

The Ghosts of Sex and the City

I find the idea of real places merging with or being superseded by fictional places to be exceptionally interesting and creepy.  There’s a good metafictional existential horror story lurking in there.

THE LONELY VOICE #14: Isaac Babel, Every Grief Soaked Word 

I’ve been working my way through the archives of The Lonely Voice column over on The Rumpus.  It is about short stories, and, as you may know, I really like short stories.

Red Cavalry is one of my favorite collections anywhere, in any language.  Read Babel in Russian if you can, but many of the English translations are okay.  “The orange sun is rolling across the sky like a severed head.” That is a good line in every language.

William Gibson, The Art of Fiction No. 211

As always, I am endlessly fascinated by other people’s processes.  And, of course, William Gibson.

 Tina May Hall’s “Visitations”

My friend J. recently encouraged me to reread this story, and I did, and I was reminded of how much I like it.  It’s a good story to read when you live in a small, freezing house and keep trying to stay warm by drinking innumerable cups of coffee and restlessly cooking things on your gas stove.