Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

Every time I see this question on my Goodreads notifications, my mind automatically answers: horribly!

I admire anyone who can write a well thought out review. Whenever I am reading reviews about a book I'm thinking of buying, I usually gravitate to the three star reviews, or any written with a more balanced viewpoint, listing pros and cons.

Sabrina wrote: "I usually gravitate to the three star reviews, or any written with a more balanced viewpoint, listing pros and cons. "

I thought I was the only one who did that. I frequently give 4 and 5 star reviews (when they are good) but I seldom read those reviews. I want to know what wasn't done well and you usually only get that in the 3 star reviews. Frequently it was just personal taste and I often buy based on these reviews.

I personally do my reviews as more of a reminder to myself as to my overall thoughts on the book, a recap of the basic story, what was done well and/or poorly, and if I enjoyed it. I read so many stories I usually forget a lot of them a year or two later (no comments on this being age related, lol).

I review Fantasy and Sci-fi differently than other genres for several reasons.

First, the setting is often unique and not within the know structure of the universe. Reading and reviewing a mystery novel based in 1930s New York is completely apart from a Fantasy novel set in a world made up in the Authors mind where even the simplest of scientific rules are not always followed.

Secondly, the characters in Fantasy and Sci-fi are more often experiencing the story alongside you (if that makes sense) and through many characters and places, and the feeling of without the characters, the story would go on (albeit very badly for the world), whereas in a mystery novel the story itself is wholly dependent on the protagonist.

Third, I invest more time in world building and string characters in Fantasy, more on scientif believability, imagination, and thought provoking issues in Sci-Fi, and more on crisp story arc, humor, and setting in other genres.

Mark E. Lein

https://borderleinpublishing.squaresp...

I'm hit or miss on reviews. For a while I went to great pains to write detailed reviews for everything that I read. But that was a lot of work! Now I generally don't, unless I do. If I do write a review it is short, more notes to myself than anything else. And I only write them in GoodReads. I enjoy reading other reviews, though. But only AFTER I've finished the book. Especially if I've just finished a popular title that I simply loathed. Finding other one or two star reviews in the piles of five star reviews helps me feel less lonely. :)

If I'm reviewing a non-fiction book, then I use my review to evaluate the author's argument. This is especially relevant if I'm reading a book written by a scientist that makes sneering remarks about philosophy: scientists are uniformly incompetent at philosophy, never having bothered to study it properly, and the puerility of their arguments is only matched by the insufferability of their arrogance.

If I'm reviewing fiction, I generally give a completely subjective reaction, because I have little skill as a literary critic, and my own feelings are really all I have to work with. If I love a book, it gets a glowing review and 5 stars. If I hate it, it may have won prizes everywhere and be universally regarded as the greatest work of literature in the last fifty years, but I will still give it only 1 star and be extremely rude about it.

I pretty much give similar reviews and feel very much like you do Chris!
Christine

Yes I am encouraging good reviews. People who leave ybad reviews who are constructive are also welcome but the bias to good reviews is two-fold: one it serves my interest in being able to secure promotions for the book ( most need a 4 star average) and also that people don't generally need to be encouraged to leave bad reviews!

Rose, that's exactly why I usually like the 3-star, because they usually let me make up my own mind based off of tastes. What bothers some, others will love!