Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1...

I don't know how you can have this list without Oathbringer. To an extent I can forgive Deadhouse Landing not making the list since I'm a big fan but recognize it's not as popular. Even though I'm not a KingKiller fan I'd be shocked if it didn't make a list like this, almost as shocked as it actually getting released.

There was an all time greatest fantasy series one that they did recently that I didn't post on but the premise was equally as bad. Using number of ratings and average rating to come up with the list. There were so many average YA series on the list it was completely distorted.

If you're going to put out content make it good.

They left out the fact that every book they listed is standalone or the first of a series... that puts a serious damper on what is on the list...

Almost everything I read is part of a series... and the things I am most anticipating are usually the later, "more epic" books in those series...

It's one of those articles which reminds me that SFF is somewhat 'niche' when it comes to the grand scheme of books and reading.

An aside, but relevant story: one of the biggest book stores in Dublin has recently shifted all of the SFF into the basement of the shop along with the YA and other 'teen' type books. The whole area is filled with collectible toys and is clearly aimed at a younger audience. I feel pretty silly going down there to browse for new fantasy books and have a shelf with 'Vlogging' books right beside it :S Not to come across as a bit of a snob, but it's a really annoying approach to just think, "SFF, yeah put that down with the graphic novels and teen books."

So yeah, this article annoys me in the same way. But like I said, SFF always starts to feel niche when I start talking to people who have an interest in reading, but not at all SFF. I'll stop myself now as this feels like a cyclical rant....excuse me while I go hug my Gene Wolfe books...

Honestly, goodreads articles are almost always a joke haha. I don't usually pay any attention to them.

They didn't used to be so prominent before the site revamp last year... that and when they replace the site name with a stylized link to something else some weeks...

In general, most people I know/work with think reading is something they had to suffer through in school... never mind getting into the specifics of genre...

I tend to get all my books from Kindle store... I haven't been inside an actual bookstore more than a dozen times in the last 10 years... and those were usually Barnes & Noble...

Scott wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1...

I don't know how you can have this list without Oathbringer. To an extent I can forgive [book:Deadhouse Landing|299379..."

Well, to be fair, Oathbringer is strongly implied in the little print near the end where it says: "Plus fantastical sequels from Brandon Sanderson, Nnedi Okorafor, and Peter V. Brett!" lol
But I get your point. Other than the new Andy Weir book, which just came across my updates feed yesterday, I've never heard of the other SFF offerings.

Yeah, they put no effort into seeing what's fresh and up and coming with new authors on the scene.

Reminds me of how much of a f*ing joke the "awards" are. HP and the cursed child winning Fantasy. A screenplay.

It's a popularity contest... with enough popularity, I think you could make a book win outside of its correct category unless there is some sort of moderation going on...

I just looked the results up by the way... HP got 4x the votes of any other book... Obelisk Gate is the 9th book on that page I will have read, and added together those 9 books will just BARELY total more votes combined...

Margret wrote: "Yeah, they put no effort into seeing what's fresh and up and coming with new authors on the scene.

Reminds me of how much of a f*ing joke the "awards" are. HP and the cursed child winning Fantasy..."

Exactly what I'm talking about. It's really just about whichever book sells the most, even if the books completely sucked.

I would rather see a list with three books I don't know than have them talk about the same popular books/series/authors that I already know. I'm sure any fantasy fan who is active in a fantasy related group on GR has heard of Oathbringer.

They could've gone on any of the popular reviewers lists and looked at what's hot. Copy/paste then they'll look legitimate.

Bill wrote: "I would rather see a list with three books I don't know than have them talk about the same popular books/series/authors that I already know. I'm sure any fantasy fan who is active in a fantasy rela..."

If the title was three under the radar books you should check out I'd agree. But the premise was 25 most anticipated. Given that OB has to be in the list.

What Scott said... lists like "Greatest Books You've Never Heard Of" are great for finding new things to read...

The only books I've heard of on the Big Books of Fall list are Sing, Unburied, Sing and Warcross...

I'd be willing to bet those titles are featured because the publishers paid for the spot.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I'd be willing to bet those titles are featured because the publishers paid for the spot."

BOOM!

I hate lists like that. This is actually the first time I've ever looked at the Goodreads blog, and probably the last.

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I'd be willing to bet those titles are featured because the publishers paid for the spot."

Precisely, I always thought about those as product placement/ad campaigns and Sanderson needs neither.

Just when I thought they were doing a big epic fantasy blog post they turn it into a history non-fiction post instead:

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1...

I mean come on... it's Game of Thrones, not a show ACTUALLY based directly on historical monarchies...

Iain wrote: "Just when I thought they were doing a big epic fantasy blog post they turn it into a history non-fiction post instead:

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/1......"

Yeah, I saw this too and would understand if a couple history books or historical fiction was thrown in, but there should be at least some fantasy.