the-lemonaut

[the-lemonaut]

Before I go on vacation, I present my list of my top books for 2024.

COMICS:

Roaming by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki

Bunt! by Ngozi Ukazu & Mad Rupert

Ukazu and Rupert are a powerhouse team, and as an art school adjunct, this already funny GN is even funnier (albeit in a way that necessitates a skull emoji in the educator groupchat)

Tiffany’s Griffon by Magnolia Porter Siddell & Maddi Gonzalez

Phobos and Deimos by J Dalton

Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui

It's a tough task to reach a satisfying conclusion to a series that was as strong as Dungeon, but I think Kui accomplished it!

Fool Night by Kasumi Yasuda

King in Limbo by Ai Tanaka

Over the last year I've been drawn towards comic series that work with a retro, fixed-width inking style, and King especially informed some recent experiments of mine.

PROSE:

Twins by Bari Wood & Jack Geasland

When I learned Wood was responsible for the book that became Dead Ringers, I knew I had to try it. This is the one that wins my "Oh, shit! Wow!! Okay!!!" award for the year (distinctions previously awarded to Cyteen and Manhunt).

The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow

DS9: A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson

Those of you who read my journal comic from last August might recall that I met Robinson at a Trek convention! I'd learned from reading these books that Stitch was considered a white whale among collectors, and now I absolutely understand why. If you're a DS9 fan and you want to try any book from the original run of novels, try this one. By which I mean, try the far easier-to-find audiobook version.

Translation State by Ann Leckie

A Woman of the Iron People by Eleanor Arnason

Fellow SBCF participant Erin Roseberry had shared this title as an inspiration for their comic, The Maker of Grave-Goods, and I was especially interested in trying a book by a Twin Cities author. What a serendipitous find!

Arboreality by Rebecca Campbell

For the third year in a row, a book nominated for the Le Guin Prize makes the list.

Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Le Guin

This is another book I always told myself I'd try someday, and was it ever worth it! I spent some time talking about my experience with this story (and its accompanying materials that fill out the world) in my talk with Evan Dahm on his show.

See you in the new year! I've packed some thick books for a long flight, so I'm starting my 2025 reading pile right away!

Reruns of my previous two lists, 2023, and 2022, below the cut.

2023

COMICS:

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou by Hitoshi Ashinano

Out of Style by Devi Putri Megwati

Skip and Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu

The Harrowing of Hell by Evan Dahm

The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu

Esteban by Matthieu Bonhomme

I covered my ShortBox reccs back in October, but since then I also picked up Pearl Hunting by Hana Chatani when it came to itch.io and adored it.

PROSE: 

So yes, maybe I'm cheating by including Moby Dick since I'm not all the way finished, but Whale Weekly really did end up being a great tool for getting me to crack open my gorgeous Evan Dahm-illustrated copy I've had for a while.

My favorite book of the year is Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky. I genuinely did read it the first week of January, but after having it recommended to me for years, I'm thrilled it didn't disappoint. Maybe I am someone who likes Russian novels after all???

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

Such Nice People by Sandra Scoppettone

Cyteen by C.J. Cherryh (I jokingly placed these three in the "READ 👏 FEMALE 👏 AUTHORS 👏" category because they don't have anything in common other than describing some of the most upsetting/bizarre scenarios I've read this year. Cyteen especially! Wowee!!!)

Brother Alive by Zain Khalid

Glory by Vladimir Nabokov

A Different Trek by David K. Seitz, which I mentioned as my vacation book for the Star Trek convention, but it's given me some great suggestions for more books, both fiction and otherwise. Also, I read... 11 more DS9 books this year. 

2022

COMICS:

Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa

Vattu by Evan Dahm

The Well by Choo and Jake Wyatt

Wash Day Diaries by Robyn Smith and Jamila Rowser

Some ShortBox Comics Fair entries that are graphic novella length and are really good include Food School by Jade Armstrong and The God of Arepo by Reimena Yee et al.

PROSE:

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

How to Blow Up a Pipeline by Andreas Malm

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin

Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman

Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente

edit: oh my god I can't believe I forgot Perfume by Patrick Süskind

Honorable mentions from the pile of DS9 novelizations include Revenant by Alex White (for successfully pulling off a Sara Paretsky-style mystery in space) and Dominion War: Call to Arms by Diane Carey (for absolutely unhinged adjective choices).

[the-lemonaut]

This is the standard winged nightjar and it has one singular stupidly big feather on each wing... if you even care.

[the-lemonaut]

[the-lemonaut]

Would you look at that 👁👁 recognize anyone? Eheheh

The other pieces are so beautiful wtf

Solarpunk Art 2024 (New Dreams of Labour)

City Planners by @buttercuipp

Infrastructure Rewilders by Bobby Akina

Community Center by Samantha

The Handcraft Library by Wandering Meomeo

Community Labour by Linds

Maker/Hackerspace by Lemonaut

[the-lemonaut]

My first ever webcomic is finally here!

Little Maric was lucky to be born a grandson of a famous noble knight. Now his grandfather is finally back home from war and got an opportunity of a lifetime which will drastically change the life of the Ironwood family.

Drama/Thriller

Read Apex Predator on ComicFury

[the-lemonaut]

Finally went back to designing some OCs after like half a year of not doing that (sad!). This one's lowkey skeleton and radiation themed because of awesome

She/her for the character. Reblogs always appreciated

[the-lemonaut]

Holy shit, someone donated 300 USD???

Whoever you are, Michael, thank you so much 😭

Also thank you to the person who sent some money and a hello from Belarusian Mastodon 💛

Current commissions status: open

Finally made a new commission sheet! Reblogs very much appreciated 🤲✨ I'm trying to collect money to pay for a semester of uni. It's around 300 USD. Should be doable, I'll put up a little countdown:

45/300

If you want to see more examples of my art, you can find them here: #my art

[the-lemonaut]

Current commissions status: open

Finally made a new commission sheet! Reblogs very much appreciated 🤲✨ I'm trying to collect money to pay for a semester of uni. It's around 300 USD. Should be doable, I'll put up a little countdown:

45/300

If you want to see more examples of my art, you can find them here: #my art

[the-lemonaut]

Current commissions status: open

Finally made a new commission sheet! Reblogs very much appreciated 🤲✨ I'm trying to collect money to pay for a semester of uni. It's around 300 USD. Should be doable, I'll put up a little countdown:

0/300

If you want to see more examples of my art, you can find them here: #my art

[the-lemonaut]

Current commissions status: open

Finally made a new commission sheet! Reblogs very much appreciated 🤲✨

If you want to see more examples of my art, you can find them here: #my art

[the-lemonaut]

[the-lemonaut]

Don't fucking drop it.

[the-lemonaut]

I usually go for something a little more lifelike and concrete, but yesterday i got this idea and wanted to make it as soon as possible. A great excuse to use as many vibrant colors as i want >:) Finally

[the-lemonaut]

New Solarpunk illustration, yay! The full thing was made for a thing, but also each half was also drawn for the Solarpunk (writing) Prompts podcast.

This one features a maker/hackerspace. It's a thing that has existed for a while but that few people seem to know about? I myself learned about the idea from a friend relatively recently. While I've never been to one myself, plenty of references were provided and I hope I've captured the feeling well enough.

Saw the "Free shrugs" t-shirt in a 3D render over here, I believe, and fell in love with it at first sight lol. Also a locker that was plastered with stickers warning that's it's explosive, radioactive, a bio- and fire hazard and may electrocute you was too funny not to adopt. I wonder what they kept in there.

[the-lemonaut]

DESPITE IT ALL, WE HAVE EACH OTHER

no matter how much hopelessness they corner us into, they cannot stop us from taking care of each other.

somewhere to start today is by helping nada, who is less than 40% of the way towards her goal.

https://gofund.me/e06f31d3

please continue to share mutual aid, whether its in your own neighborhood or across the sea. please continue to find both what's urgent and what's beautiful in the world.

thank you always, take care.

[the-lemonaut]

Here I am, posting something similar like the fibro post... this one goes out to my psychotic folks🫶

[the-lemonaut]

Alright, that's enough boops for today

MUAH to everyone who booped back >:]