Looking forward to 2012

I didn't think there were too many books I was anticipating the publication of, until Goodreads posted a list of books we can't wait for in 2012.  The list is ranked by the number of users picking a book, and each vote is weighted by its position on your personal list.

I thought I'd share my list, in order of expected publication date.

1. Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire (expected publication 3/6/12)
As I'm sure you know by now, I'm a huge fan of Seanan McGuire's writing.  I've been looking forward to this one since I first heard about it on Seanan's LJ over a year ago.  It has mythological beasties, several strong female characters, cargo cult-like mice, and ballroom dancing.  What's not to love?

2. Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore (expected publication 3/22/12)
Christopher Moore is another of my favorites, for entirely different reasons.  His books make me laugh. They're absurd and bizarre and darkly funny.  I don't know a thing about art history, but I suspect I'll still enjoy the read.

3. The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King (book 4.5 of The Dark Tower)(expected publication 4/3/12)
I'm one of those strange people who liked the ending to Stephen King's Dark Tower series, who liked the authorial self-insert in the books, and who liked UR just because it was an extension, however fleeting, of the Dark Tower world.  I'll take any excuse to revisit the world Stephen King taps into to write his stories.

4. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #12)(expected publication date 5/1/12)
I was disappointed by the last couple of Sookie Stackhouse books, but I'm hopeful about this next installment.  I picked up the first book entirely on a whim before it took off, and I've loved the world, the characters, the gentle dark humor, ever since.  I trust writers to do right by their characters, and so I'm sitting back with fingers crossed for this one.

5. Blackout by Mira Grant (Newsflesh trilogy #3)(expected publication date 6/7/12)
Deadline ended on a reveal that was a total game-changer for book 3, and it's been kind of torture to wait as long as I already have for the third installment.  That Mira Grant is a transparent pen name for Seanan McGuire doesn't hurt this book's anticipation value.

6. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (expected publication date 6/21/12)
I've loved all of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Barcelona books thus far.  I find them textured and atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful.  I can't help but look forward to reading this one.

7. Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #6)(expected publication date 9/12)
I'm sure you're all terribly surprised that I'm looking forward to everything Seanan McGuire is getting published in 2012.  What you don't know, though, is that I plan on rereading all five of the Toby Daye books before Ashes of Honor comes out so I can look for all the small details and clues scattered throughout the books.  Developments in later books have been telegraphed quite clearly, just from what I remember, so I can't wait to see if I can actually anticipate any of book 6's reveals. Probably not, but there are worse things than rereading a series I really like.