book news

And the NPR Science Fiction/Fantasy Winners Are…

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(Photo Credit: Ken Colwell)

Last week I posted about the opportunity for readers to vote for their Top 10 Science Fiction or Fantasy novels/series in NPR’s Annual Summer Reader’s Poll. I shared my own opinions on the foibles inherent in any such list and we had a lively discussion.

The final results are now in which you can see listed in order after the jump.

One of the questions many readers had was about the use of the “panel of experts” and the lack of clear description of what their involvement in the process amounted to. Today’s results post offers a brief explanation:

A quick word about what’s here, and what’s not: Our panel of experts reviewed hundreds of the most popular nominations and tossed out those that didn’t fit the survey’s criteria (after — we assure you — much passionate, thoughtful, gleefully nerdy discussion). You’ll notice there are no young adult or horror books on this list, but sit tight, dear reader, we’re saving those genres for summers yet to come.

Today’s NPR post also links to a fan reaction that I think you might find interesting, whether you agree or disagree.

Speaking of which, lets get to that list and continue last week’s spirited discussion now that we know the results. Keep in mind the fact that was pointed out last week that this is a list of readers’ Favorites, not a list of what readers considered the Best that SF/F has to offer.

Continue reading And the NPR Science Fiction/Fantasy Winners Are… →

Book Reviews, Fantasy

Way of Kings Group Read, Week 1

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“The world became ours, and we lost it. Nothing, it appears, is more challenging to the souls of men than victory itself.”


“She hadn’t asked, but she was certain Captain Tozbeck could read. She’d seen him holding books; it had made her uncomfortable. Reading was an unseemly trait in a man.”




To anyone looking it might seem that Brandon Sanderson literally burst onto the scene. Seemingly overnight the bookstore shelves were flooded with books bearing his name and he was tapped for the monumental task of bringing to a culmination the life’s work of author Robert Jordan, whose Wheel of Time series was left plotted but unfinished at his untimely death. We all know things are rarely that simple and while Sanderson’s star may have risen quickly, he has been writing for many, many years.

The Way of Kings is touted as the first novel in an epic ten volume series entitled The Stormlight Archive. Given my predilection to run screaming away from large novels and to faint dead away at the thought of reading ongoing, decades-in-the-making series this was not a novel that I expected to read, even with its temptingly gorgeous Michael Whelan cover and rare color and black and white illustrations. I must learn never to say, or even think, “never”.

An evening Twitter session with a handful of friends quickly found me throwing my hat into the ring if someone wanted to host a group read of Sanderson’s tome. And thus a community event was born. Deanna agreed to tackle the host duties for this monstrously large book and August 1st trumpeted the beginning of this grand adventure. We are in the early days, so if any of you would like to join in, we would love to have you do so.

Various readers will be taking the reins with weekly questions. Deanna has kicked us off with this week’s questions which follow the jump.

As with the recent Dune group read, expect spoilers to be present in the answers to various questions. I would encourage you to visit the group read site for links to the Q&A for other participants.

Continue reading Way of Kings Group Read, Week 1 →

book news

NPR list

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“Anything important is never left to the vote of the people.”

~Will Rogers






(Image created by Chris Silas Neal)

Earlier this 2011 summer season the good folks at NPR (National Public Radio) decided to put a call out to readers to vote for their favorite science fiction and fantasy for the annual summer readers’ poll. Over 5000 people responded on the website and thousands more over Facebook. The poll resulted in a very long list of finalists which were whittled down to the Top 100 by an “expert panel”.

NPR is now asking readers to cast their vote for the Top 10 SF/F novels/series out of this shortlist of 100. You have another in which to cast your votes and you can do so here.

I went and cast my votes yesterday (not an easy task) and then chose to brave the waters of the masses who have chosen to share their thoughts, many of which are hotter than the summer sun. Any list of this type is fraught with peril, put especially when you give passionate SF/F fans a forum in which to openly share their opinion.

My motivation for posting about this is not simply to tell you to go vote, it is actually to share my opinions the things that popped up in my mind as I read the comments. Feel free to jump into the fray with your agreements, disagreements, opinions and rants.

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book news

For Whom the Bell Tolls

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(Photo Credit: Ordinary Grace)

“Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?”

~Henry Ward Beecher

By now you are well aware that one of the largest bookstore chains, Borders Books, has received its death sentence. The rumors began to surface over a week ago and any hopes for pardon were put to rest this past Friday when the remaining stores began to liquidate their merchandise. Last Wednesday evening I went to my local Borders to use the last coupon that was emailed out. It was the last hour before closing and though there were people in the store shopping, the weight of the reality of the store’s fate hung heavy in the air. As the teller rang up my purchase I wanted so badly to say “I’m sorry” but the words stuck in my throat. It was…it is…a sad day for people who love bookstores.

I understand that a love for chain bookstores is not a universal thing. There are many who hate Borders and Barnes and Noble with the same passion with which I reserve for another chain store, Wal-mart. Those feelings do not stop me from shopping there, nor do I withhold my paycheck from my wife and refuse to let her shop there. It is convenient, less expensive, and it works despite my feelings.

I hated Borders when it first opened.

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Book Reviews, Science Fiction

Dune Group Read, Round III

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“Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.”

~from “The Sayings of Muad’Dib” by the Princess Irulan







It seems impossible, this journey many years in the making, has come to an end. As I sit here in the early hours of Saturday morning I am stunned at the realization that I have completed this journey, that I have traveled with Paul Atreides to Arrakis and have watched him become Paul Muad’Dib.

This final week of the group read of Dune covered Book Three: The Prophet. Each section of this book has held surprises for me and it was rare that even the parts of the story that I knew weren’t filled with revelations that I had not expected.

I like this novel. I like it a great deal. I feel the deep satisfaction of a story well told and it was the intricacy and skill of Frank Herbert that made this tale come to life in ways that I had not foreseen. Grace was kind enough to step in to create the questions for this week’s discussion.

The standard warning still applies:

Here There Be Spoilers!

Continue reading Dune Group Read, Round III →

Eclectic Musings of a Renaissance Geek