It has taken me a while to decide how I wanted to approach making lists of "The Best of 2012." I finally decided to give certain groups their own list, but to not try and arrange the items within each list in any particular order. But I know I enjoy it when review sites posts these lists and use them to plan a few library trips! So, here is 2012 from my shelves.

Best Stand Alone Books or Starts of Series 2012

• Full Disclosure – Dee Henderson
• Star Wars X-wing Mercy Kill – Aaron Allston
• Railsea – China Mieville
• Daughter of Light – Morgan Busse
• House of Mercy – Erin Healy
• Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo
• Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
• Starflower – Anne Elisabeth Stengl
• Crater – Homer Hickham
• Long Earth – Terry Pratchett
• Gregor the Overlander – Suzanne Collins
• Failstate – John W. Otte
• Throne of Bones -- Vox Day
• Wards of Faerie – Terry Brooks
• Angel Eyes – Shannon Dittemore

Best New Books in Established Series 2012

• Bitterblue – Kirstin Cashore
• Insurgent – Veronica Roth
• Ashes of Honor – Seanan McGuire
• Judgement at Proteaus – Timothy Zahn
• The Twelve – Justin Cronin
• Daystar – Kathy Tyers
• Fair Game – Patricia Briggs
• Mark of Athena – Rick Riordan9). Last Guardian – Eoin Colfer
• Coldest War – Ian Tregillis
• Liberator – Bryan Davis
• Albrek’s Tomb – M.L. Forman
• Crown of Embers – Rae Carson
• Endangered – Ann Littlewood
• Earth Unaware – Orson Scott Card

Best Previously Published Books I Read for the First Time 2012

• Discworld – Terry Pratchett
• Tales of Goldstone Woods – Anne Elisabeth Stengl
• After the Golden Age – Carrie Vaughn
• Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
• Unspoken – Angela Hunt
• Face of a Stranger – Anne Perry
• Oxygen – John B. Olson
• Furies of Caldera – Jim Butcher
• Wheel of Time – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
• Bitter Seeds – Ian Tregillis

Best Good Books with Serious Problems 2012

• Newsflesh Trilogy – Mira Grant
• Casual Vacancy – J.K. Rowling
• Redshirts – John Scalzi
• The Magicians' King – Lev Grossman

Movies I Liked Released in 2012

• Hobbit: Unexpected Journey
• Avengers
• Brave
• Hunger Games
• We Bought a Zoo
• Dolphin Tale
• Big Miracle
• Mission Impossible IV
• Iron Lady
• Dark Knight Rises
• Hobbit
• Men in Black 3
• Madagascar 3
• War Horse
• Three Musketeers

T.V. Shows I've Watched or Rewatched 2012

• Stargate Atlantis
• Castle
• Doctor Who
• Once Upon a Time
• Babylon 5
• Downtown Abby

And as for next year? It looks like it will be just as exciting! Here are some of the things I know I'm looking forward to even though there are probably a few I missed and a few still to be announced.

Books 2013

• Star Wars Scoundrels – Timothy Zahn
• Memory of Light – Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson
• Star Wars Last Jedi – Michael Reeves
• Bloodfire Quest – Terry Brooks
• Divergent Book 3 – Veronica Roth
• Star Wars Crucible – Troy Denning
• Chasing the Prophecy – Brandon Mull
• The Gate Thief – Olson Scott Card
• Witch Wraith – Terry Brooks
• Rithmatist – Brandon Sanderson
• Necessary Evil – Ian Tregillis
• Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman
• Siege and Storm – Leigh Bardugo
• The Bitter Kingdom – Rae Carson
• Broken Wings – Shannon Dittemore
• Chimes at Midnight – Seanan McGuire
• Six Gun Snow White – Catherine M. Valentine
• Shadow of Freedom – David Weber
• Dark Thorn – Shawn Speakman

Movies 2013

• Epic
• Iron Man 3
• Star Trek 2
• Ender’s Game
• Man of Steel
• Monsters University
• Despicable Me 2
• The Wolverine
• RED 2
• Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
• Thor 2
• Catching Fire
• Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug