Fantasy Book Club discussion

Should we have a runoff poll or just accept Throne of the Crescent Moon is our June book?

I would be happy to accept that as the June book :)

It has 7 more votes than the next book so I think it will probably come first anyway in an run-off poll, so I think one should be it.

I vote for accepting the book as June read, no need for a poll.

I would like to have a runoff :)

Since Once and Future King was within seven votes from the top, I would also like a runoff poll. Thanks!

The January poll was 17 votes between 1 and 2, there was a runoff afterward, and the 3rd book wound up winning :) I just think it's good because you have so many people voting for other books that they (and I) would like to get one more chance to vote for a book that has a chance :D

I vote for a run-off poll. :)

I voted for a book that got very few votes, sticking to it because despite the probability of losing. I felt it accurate to get a first read.however I would vote for a different first choice than the one people chose with so many choices.

I would like a run off poll because I'm thinking this time Once and Future King will have a better chance of winning because its more available because Throne of the Crescent Moon just came out, no one wants to buy it if their library does not have it.

Kevin wrote: "I would like a run off poll because I'm thinking this time Once and Future King will have a better chance of winning because its more available because Throne of the Crescent Moon just came out, no..."

I agree, Kevin. I have a huge home library and pretty much own many of the books that are nominated, especially if they're older books. But if it's a brand new book, I can't afford to buy it and these usually have long wait lists at the library. Which is why I haven't joined in on any discussions yet. The books chosen have usually fallen under the latter. However, I do own Graceling and I'm still planning on reading it before the month is over and joining this month's discussion. God willing!

Michelle/ wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I would like a run off poll because I'm thinking this time Once and Future King will have a better chance of winning because its more available because Throne of the Crescent Moon jus..."

Yeah, a group I belong to on Goodreads, read all new books last fall. I know people did not like that.

I vote for a run-off poll too, especially that there were so many votes on the minor books that may alter the outcome of a run off.

Why wouldn't there be a run-off?

252 people voted for neither of the two top books, and the margin between those books is 7 votes. I think if you want to encourage participation, you shouldn't throw out the votes of those 252 people.

What's more, if you're running a first past the post poll, that's one thing (though probably not the best thing), but leading people to expect a run-off vote and then changing it to first past the post halfway through, is just unfair. I'm sure a lot of people would have voted differently had they known that they wouldn't have a second vote.

Of course it may be justifiable to forgo the second ballot when one book has completely run away with it and seems unlikely to be caught, but when it's a very tight fight? Please, no.

Was it announced up front that there would be a runoff poll? If not, I don't see why one is needed just because it was a close vote.

Jim wrote: "Was it announced up front that there would be a runoff poll? If not, I don't see why one is needed just because it was a close vote."

There's been no 'rule' about it, but we have done runoffs the last few months because of the long list of nominations we got. It looks like opinion is running for a runoff, so I will try to set it up tomorrow with the top five books.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Jim wrote: "Was it announced up front that there would be a runoff poll? If not, I don't see why one is needed just because it was a close vote."

There's been no 'rule' about it, but we have done ..."

Cool! Thanks, Sandra.

Maybe setting up a rule for this wouldn't be a bad idea. Personally I'd go for either a) closing nominations after, say, 10 books have been nominated, no runoff poll or b) continue to allow a random number of books to be nominated, but have a runoff poll each time. Or even both. There are groups that have runoff polls each time, even if only 5 or 6 books were nominated. The outcome is still often unpredictable.

The poll is up:

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/64...