I think one of the reasons, is just people getting used to the new system, and realising that the headings on the topright are actual threads for different topics, I know it took me a few visits to realise how things worked on here, but then I am an spriggin and not that smart.
I didn't hate the green, but I agree that this brownish scheme is better.
Back to the Contemporary Fantasy topic, however, could you give a few examples of the genre?
As a side note, I will back up your assertion that new fantasy/sci-fi authors aren't doing so well, if only from my own experiences in trying to find new authors to read. I've picked up quite a few books at the local Borders or B&N trying to find a new author to like, and I don't seem to have much luck.
The biggest difficulty I have is that I hate it when a great book shows up, and then the author never produces another. As a result, I tend to wait and look for established authors, which can leave a catch-22 situation if there are a lot of folks like me. How can an author become established with a series or two if everyone's waiting for them to be established before giving them a chance?
Well, thankfully, not everyone is like me, and several new series seem to be finding their way onto shelves. I just have a hard time finding ones I like. Tried Tad Williams - didn't care for him. Tried C.S. Friedman - also a bust. Ditto Sean Russell - the only author whose book I bought and couldn't force myself to finish.
I keep at it, but it's difficult, so I typically end up just buying the authors I already like - LWE, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Alan Dean Foster, Joel Rosenberg, Jennifer Roberson, Melanie Rawn (hopefully she'll ever release another book), Mickey Zucker Reichert, Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan (hopefully he'll wind up WOT before his illness winds him up), Terry Goodkind, etc. I find myself waiting patiently for the next book to show up.
Go go local book store once a week and buy a book that looked interesting.
Go to local library once a week and borrow couple of books that look interesting (then buy them or order others by same author) - now the library has half a shelf (instead of a whole section), and no longer stock new ones.
See what's new in my book club once a month, and if no sequals out to series I already own, buy one that looked interesting.
These days I tend not to do any of that, and I get most of my books online. Trouble with that is theres so much choice that no idea who to try, so I just go for authors I know I like most of the time.
To me with so much choice available, the cost of a book these days, and with limited cash, I almost always go for an author I know I'm going to enjoy reading.
Back when the price of a book was £1.99, and second-hand were under a £1, I could aford to take a chance, now with paperbacks running at £6 or more, and hardbacks going up to nearly £20 it's much more expensive to take those kinds of chances. Or just to buy a book for that matter. I usd to get 1 or more a week, now I'm lucky to get 1 or 2 a month.
Saying that I have tried a couple of new authors this year, which I've enjoyed and added to my list to watch out for more releases by them.
Examples of contemporary fantasy? Most of Charles de Lint's work. Harry Potter. Pretty much the entire subgenre of urban fantasy, such as Wizard of the Pigeons or War for the Oaks.
Interesting. I'm not sure I would have placed Harry Potter in a different category than, say, Terry Brooks' Landover series.
The more I try to think of examples, however, the more I think that maybe there ought to be a sub-genre name for books where Contemporary characters are thrust into fantasy realms.
The series that come to mind are: Terry Brooks - Landover L. E. Modesitt, Jr. - The Spellsong Cycle Alan Dean Foster - Spellsinger Joel Rosenberg - Guardians of the Flame Christopher Stasheff - Warlock of Gramarye Chirstopher Stasheff - Wizard in Rhyme Mickey Zucker Reichert - Books of Barakhai
I'm sure there are more. Those are just the ones that come to mind.
I used to threaten to shut down the Guestbook when it did, but I'm not going to this time. I know better. It'll revive eventually.
I do have some news, as it happens -- the paperback of The Wizard Lord is scheduled for April 2007, and the hardcover of The Ninth Talisman, second in the series, is scheduled for May.
Nothing new on the third one; it's still less than half written.
22 Comments:
I do not care for the new color scheme.
My eyes! My eyes! My poor tender eyes! The green, it burns AIIIIII!!!!!!
Damn. That color scheme is practically aggravated assault!
Huh. I was trying for something reminiscent of the old Guestbook. Didn't work, huh?
Okay, what colors would you like?
Is this better?
I like this colour scheme. Much better then the black, makes things easier to read.
I think one of the reasons, is just people getting used to the new system, and realising that the headings on the topright are actual threads for different topics, I know it took me a few visits to realise how things worked on here, but then I am an spriggin and not that smart.
I like this better than the black screen. My eyes aren't as young as there were 30 years ago. LOL
Yep, this one is easy to read.
Happy Fourth, Lawrence (and readers). Glad we are still up and running.
I didn't hate the green, but I agree that this brownish scheme is better.
Back to the Contemporary Fantasy topic, however, could you give a few examples of the genre?
As a side note, I will back up your assertion that new fantasy/sci-fi authors aren't doing so well, if only from my own experiences in trying to find new authors to read. I've picked up quite a few books at the local Borders or B&N trying to find a new author to like, and I don't seem to have much luck.
The biggest difficulty I have is that I hate it when a great book shows up, and then the author never produces another. As a result, I tend to wait and look for established authors, which can leave a catch-22 situation if there are a lot of folks like me. How can an author become established with a series or two if everyone's waiting for them to be established before giving them a chance?
Well, thankfully, not everyone is like me, and several new series seem to be finding their way onto shelves. I just have a hard time finding ones I like. Tried Tad Williams - didn't care for him. Tried C.S. Friedman - also a bust. Ditto Sean Russell - the only author whose book I bought and couldn't force myself to finish.
I keep at it, but it's difficult, so I typically end up just buying the authors I already like - LWE, L.E. Modesitt, Jr., Alan Dean Foster, Joel Rosenberg, Jennifer Roberson, Melanie Rawn (hopefully she'll ever release another book), Mickey Zucker Reichert, Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan (hopefully he'll wind up WOT before his illness winds him up), Terry Goodkind, etc. I find myself waiting patiently for the next book to show up.
My old methods for buying a book was:
Go go local book store once a week and buy a book that looked interesting.
Go to local library once a week and borrow couple of books that look interesting (then buy them or order others by same author) - now the library has half a shelf (instead of a whole section), and no longer stock new ones.
See what's new in my book club once a month, and if no sequals out to series I already own, buy one that looked interesting.
These days I tend not to do any of that, and I get most of my books online. Trouble with that is theres so much choice that no idea who to try, so I just go for authors I know I like most of the time.
To me with so much choice available, the cost of a book these days, and with limited cash, I almost always go for an author I know I'm going to enjoy reading.
Back when the price of a book was £1.99, and second-hand were under a £1, I could aford to take a chance, now with paperbacks running at £6 or more, and hardbacks going up to nearly £20 it's much more expensive to take those kinds of chances. Or just to buy a book for that matter. I usd to get 1 or more a week, now I'm lucky to get 1 or 2 a month.
Saying that I have tried a couple of new authors this year, which I've enjoyed and added to my list to watch out for more releases by them.
Examples of contemporary fantasy? Most of Charles de Lint's work. Harry Potter. Pretty much the entire subgenre of urban fantasy, such as Wizard of the Pigeons or War for the Oaks.
Interesting. I'm not sure I would have placed Harry Potter in a different category than, say, Terry Brooks' Landover series.
The more I try to think of examples, however, the more I think that maybe there ought to be a sub-genre name for books where Contemporary characters are thrust into fantasy realms.
The series that come to mind are:
Terry Brooks - Landover
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. - The Spellsong Cycle
Alan Dean Foster - Spellsinger
Joel Rosenberg - Guardians of the Flame
Christopher Stasheff - Warlock of Gramarye
Chirstopher Stasheff - Wizard in Rhyme
Mickey Zucker Reichert - Books of Barakhai
I'm sure there are more. Those are just the ones that come to mind.
Whoops! Looks like the conversation petered out! I hope it wasn't the topic I kinda started.
Did it just peter out? I can't tell since the posts have times, but no dates.
Could be most of the readers here are depressed by the subject of our favorite genre being so "sick."
Surely there are some bright spots out there?
Yes, it petered out. That happens sometimes.
I used to threaten to shut down the Guestbook when it did, but I'm not going to this time. I know better. It'll revive eventually.
I do have some news, as it happens -- the paperback of The Wizard Lord is scheduled for April 2007, and the hardcover of The Ninth Talisman, second in the series, is scheduled for May.
Nothing new on the third one; it's still less than half written.
Thanks for the update.
As for it fading out, chances are people just cannot think of anything to add to the topic, perhaps something different to talk about may help.
Yeah, that's a thought, but I don't have anything I particularly want to say right now.
I couldn't think of a topic either, which was why I didn't suggest one.
You have no idea how long it took me to realize why there were no new messages on the Misenchanted Guestbook... I feel so blonde lol
Hey, you aren't the only one to miss the change. Good to see you here!
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