Comments on: Serious Fantasy Reviewing

By: Best Of The Blog So Far

Best Of The Blog So Far — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:51:46 +0000

[...] Serious fantasy reviewing – talking about the obvious. [...]

By: Mark C Newton

Mark C Newton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:28:55 +0000

“If that were the case, what happened last year to Raymond Fiest, Steve Erikson, Ian Esselmont, RA Salvatore…?”

Well, you also have to take into account the age profile of many of those novelists’ readership – who bought the novels, from where most are bought, etc. Juliet Marillier – she’s got a big readership – the thing is, you have to look beyond the vocal minority. And who can tell where that leads, but essentially, it comes down to those things I mentioned above.

By far and away the most important thing, though, is that we’ve not once mentioned quality here. That’s what interests me the most.

By: DMiller

DMiller — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:22:19 +0000

You are not the only writer with deadlines – in fact most of those in the industry whose opinions we might respect re judging an Award, have similar deadlines. Just try asking them to read a Shortlist of 5 novels, give up a couple of days of their time – for free – to be shut in a room to argue and debate.

And at the end of the day, what exactly makes a collection of such people – who we may well like and admire – the arbiters of what is ‘worthy’ or not? Do we need their opinions as to what we should or should not like? I think not. Do you rush out a purchase the Costa & Whitbread winners every year? (And I know we’re not going to agree on this point Mark! Let me just say, the DGLA is “unashamedly commercial/populist” & I have no issue with that.

“Really, it just means “those with enough of an active online profile – in all languages – combined with those who already sell well.”

If that were the case, what happened last year to Raymond Fiest, Steve Erikson, Ian Esselmont, RA Salvatore…? It takes more than an online presence & a previous track record, I would venture to suggest it takes readers who really care enough, are invested enough in your work, to turn out and vote. Last year’s Shortlisted Juliet Marillier, being a prime example of this…

Anyway, ’nuff said’ – hope to continue perhaps in a bar near you next weekend

By: Mark C Newton

Mark C Newton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:57:43 +0000

Debbie – I have looming deadlines: I have no time to read all the books!

My question has always been of an online poll to represent “the best” (whatever that means). Really, it just means “those with enough of an active online profile – in all languages – combined with those who already sell well.

And what makes a book sell well isn’t merely down to authors – but marketing and advertising and placement in stores and the right book cover and… well, you get the picture. (I’m one of the lucky ones, but I’ve no problem in explaining the badness of what makes a book sell in the marketplace.)

But if you’ve read some of the comments here, you can see the benefits of juried awards and how they stimulate debate. Which stimulates reading, discussion, passion…