I enjoy reading and I am known for being a fast reader. In 2025, I read one
hundred books…
So what kind of books did I read? Mostly science-fiction, but also some
biographies, thrillers and a few random ones.
Space operas
As in previous years, I continued reading the “Undying Mercenaries” series by
B.V. Larson. It is an easy to read series — I can read a book in the evening
and forget what was there during sleep.
There was “The Murderbot Diaries”
by Martha Wells. Mostly because there was an announcement of a TV series (which
(surprise, surprise) turned out to be worse than the books). I read the first
five books in Polish and the last two in English, as they had not been published
yet. If you plan to read them, I recommend the “1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 5, 7” order as
“System Collapse” (7th book) starts at the end of “Network Effect” (5th one),
while “Fugitive Telemetry” is more a single story happening before “Network
Effect” one.
I started reading “Expeditionary Force”
by Craig Alanson. It was an interesting space opera, but became boring at some
point so I ended on “Aftermath” (the 17th book). How long you can keep up with a
series where humans keep playing with other galactic civilisations, all thanks
to the help of an ancient AI?
After many years, I collected all parts of “Sector General”
by James White. All twelve books. It was fun to read but it feels old.
And recently Russ Allbery mentioned
“Machine” and “Ancestral Night” by Elisabeth Bear as a modern series with
similar vibe.
When it comes to old authors, I also read “To the Stars” series by Harry Harrison.
The other series was “Shadow Raptors” by Sławomir Nieściur. Common theme:
humans fighting some other species. In space.
Military fiction
Another space series was “Stark’s War”
by John G. Hemry (as Jack Campbell). A war on the Moon over the control of resources.
There were two series by Vladimir Wolff: “Nowy porządek świata” (“A new world
order”) and “Armaggedon”. It is hard to tell how they differ cause they share
some ideas. The world as we know it ends, old forces vanish, and new ones
appear. It is fun to read about a “near future” where Poland becomes a new
global force, while the United States vanishes due to a virus killing nearly
entire population.
The “All You Need Is Kill”
by Hiroshi Sakurazaka shows how much story can be changed before film adaptation
is created (the “Edge of Tomorrow” was based on this book). Highly recommend.
Other fiction
There were books by Andrzej Kwiecień — “Metamorf” and “Dori”. Some kind of
cyberpunk stories in a world where androids can take human’s form and
personality. Light read.
“Kaori” by Marta Sobiecka was a cyberpunk crime story. Reading reviews does not
remind me a book, which shows that it was mediocre one.
Other cyberpunk was set of stories called “Cyberpunk Girls”. Some were good,
some were not.
Another collection was the “Frostpunk, Antologia” — a set of four stories in
the steampunk world of the Frostpunk game (which I have never played).
And while we are around alternative world of XXI century I have to mention
“Ciepło-zimno” by Joanna Mazur. Deeper in climate change, with nine months long
summer, no electricity during some parts of a day, main character is a freelance
worker, happy to have some work at all.
There was “Czarownica znad Kałuży” postapo story by Artur Olchowy. Small village
in a middle of nowhere, with “a witch” living just outside of it. And one day a
priest arrives and tries to change the way those people live. It was an
interesting read, despite common oversimplifications (as usual in postapo stories).
Then was Blake Crouch with his “Dark matter”
and “Recursion” books.
Both are about travelling to the other versions of the world. In “Dark matter”
those are parallel universes, where the main character can meet the other
selves. “Recursion” loops the live of the main character to his younger self.
Both were a good read.
“Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and
Neil Gaiman was a must after watching TV series.
“Senni zwycięzcy” by Marek Oramus about multi-generation spaceship flying
towards the Earth. Society there is in terrible state and there are mysterious
people with paranormal abilities trying to change things. And it turns out to be
transmitted as some sick reality TV. Good book from 1970s.
And “Triplet” by Timothy Zahn. Fantasy book in space.
Literary Role-Playing Game (LitRPG)
Some time ago, someone suggested me to check books by Василий Маханенко (Vasily
Mahanenko in one transcription, Wasilij Machanienko in the other). His “Way of
Shaman” series was an interesting one. Kind of reading how someone plays the
game instead of watching it on Twitch or Youtube.
History
Between science fiction books I smuggled some history ones. Mostly around the
Second World War.
There was “Wojna oczami wroga, sojusznicy Hitlera” by Grzegorz Bobrek. A book
showing WW2 from a view of German allies: Italy, Hungary, Romania or Japan. And
Germany itself. Was boring at some points but if someone wants to see the other
view, I recommend this book.
Friedrich Sander’s book titled “Blood, Dust and Snow: Diaries of a Panzer
Commander in Germany and on the Eastern Front, 1938-1943” was another one
showing WW2 from the German side.
The “Operation Paperclip” by Annie Jacobsen is about secret US project of
gathering as much of German research and scientists as possible during the end
of WW2. If you were deemed valuable enough, you were moved to the USA with a new
identity as long as you were ready to work for “your new country”.
The “Ludzie na mydło” (“Humans for soap”) by Tomasz Bonek is about German
anatomists turning human corpses into school material. And that soap made from
human fat was more of a side effect of that work rather than primary purpose.
There was also something not about WW2:
“The Hot Zone” by Richard Preston.
Worth reading book about the Ebola virus.
The end of the world
There were some books which can be described as “the end of the world we know”.
“The End of Men” by Christina Sweeney-Baird shows the world where 90% of men
died due to unknown disease. When vaccination arrives, international travel is
allowed only between countries with 99.9% of population being vaccinated. And
that book was written before COVID-19 pandemic. Very interesting position to read.
The “Blackout: Tomorrow Will Be Too Late”
by Mark Elsberg was another book in this category. Imagine Europe without
electricity. Which means no water, no fuel, no food, no hospitals, no
communication etc.. All because of a cyberattack.
Biographies
I read some biographies during 2025.
There was “The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue” by Frederick Forsyth. From the
youngest pilot in RAF, to journalist, almost a spy and the author. Quick read,
despite 368 pages.
And then were books about Jan Himilsbach (“Ja to chętnie napiłbym się kawy”) and
Zdzisław Maklakiewicz (“Zaczęło się od tego, że jestem brzydki…”). Both by
Ryszard Abraham. Add “Rejs na krzywy ryj” by Anna Poppek and you have three
interesting books about famous Polish duo and the film which started their
common career. I was also reading stories written by Jan Himilsbach but did not
finished it in 2025 so it was not counted.
The book by Chrysta Bilton “A Normal Family: The Surprising Truth About My Crazy
Childhood (And How I Discovered 35 New Siblings)” was a fun read. Author
described her crazy childhood and later finding out that author’s father was a
sperm donor. Which ended with her “expanded family” of 35 brothers and sisters…
Another book from this category was “American Sniper” by Chris Kyle, Scott
McEwen and Jim DeFelice.
Journalism
A few books here. Starting with “ZATO” by Alice Lugen — a book about closed
cities in Soviet Union (and later Russia). Very good read, describing how Soviet
maps were falsified to hide those cities even from neighbours, how life there
was different etc.
“Głusza” by Anna Goc described world of deaf people. Their language, culture and
problems. How world of “those who hear” tries to force them “to fit”. Highly recommend.
Edyta Żemła in “Armia w ruinie” described how Polish Armed Forces changed during
last years. To worse.
“Miła robótka” by Ewa Stusińska describes how everything around sex and porn
arrived in Poland during 1990s. From VHS films to sex toys. How people started
explore new areas of sexual freedom.
“Breasts” by Corien van Zweden is a wonderful book about breasts. Their role,
how they change during life and what breast cancer can mean. Highly recommend.
Even if you lack them yourself.
And the last entry: “Pogo” by Jakub Sieczko describes life of an ambulance workers.
Summary
It might look that I had a lot of free time in 2025, because reading all those
books takes time.
I mostly read in the evening. Lying in bed, with my Onyx Nova2 e-book reader.
Sometimes during day (there was lot of reading during time when I had a problem
with my arm).
In those one hundred books, I read a few of them in English. Rest was in Polish
(I had to look out for English titles for most of this post).
How many books I will read inn 2026? No idea. Probably fewer.
