(1) On this day in history —
September 15, 1949: The Lone Ranger TV series debuted with American Clayton Moore and Canadian Jay Silverheels.
(2) It’s a small world. How small? Ann Leckie, while plugging David Steffen’s Long List Anthology Kickstarter, show how small in this startling admission:
If you’re a longtime reader, David Steffen’s name might sound familiar. He runs the Submission Grinder, an online sub tracker for writers, and he is also the current champion of Ferrett Steinmetz’s Rejection Challenge. He received a rejection to a story some five minutes after he submitted it. The submission was to Podcastle, and was very short, and was timed exactly perfectly for the slush reader to respond to it almost immediately. I know this because I was the slush reader in question. High five, David! I’m exceedingly glad you’re doing this antho.
(3) The first film Alfred Hitchcock worked on, once believed lost, will be shown publicly this week.
A “lost” Hitchcock film that has not been shown publicly for nearly 100 years is being screened this week at the British Silent Film Festival. Three Live Ghosts (1922) was one of the first films that the young Alfred Hitchcock worked on and had been thought lost forever.
It has just been discovered in a Russian archive and is being publicly shown thanks to Laraine Porter|, of De Montfort University Leicester’s renowned Cinema and Television History (CATH) research team. It is one of dozens of screen gems being shown as part of the festival – the UK’s largest event dedicated to silent films, supported by the British Film Institute. Laraine, who has organised the three-day film festival at Leicester’s Phoenix Cinema, said: “No-one has seen this since 1922 and many Hitchcock scholars thought it was no longer extant. He was credited as a title designer, but it is likely that he would have been involved much more than that. “When you read his interviews he is talking about helping out and advising, and in those days it would have been a much more communal atmosphere on set. ?“What is also interesting is the role that his wife, Alma, played because she was an editor and collaborator yet received little attention.”
(4) A wonderful video about Penguin Random House midnight launch of Terry Pratchett’s The Shepherd’s Crown.
(5) Gizmag says it’s time to sell you the Star Wars Devon Dark Side Watch.
Companies the world over are clamoring to release licensed merchandise ahead of the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The recent Force Friday saw numerous products launched on an expectant public, but while most are priced between a few dollars and a few hundred dollars, rarer items come with a heftier price tag. One example of the latter is the limited-edition Star Wars watch from Devon, which will set Star Wars fans with very deep pockets back US$28,500….
Star Wars by Devon is actually based on the Devon Thread 1 model, but with plenty of Star Wars details added to ensure it will delight fans. Owners will be able to spot Darth Vader’s helmet, the wings of a TIE Fighter, and the Imperial Crest embossed on the crown.
(6) Where’s the Official WSFS Ears-Are-Burning Fire Extinguisher? Kevin Standlee sure could use it about now.
I’ve been getting e-mails now talking about unspecified “rumors” about what happened at the 2015 WSFS Business Meeting. Well, the minutes aren’t finished yet…., but there’s no secret about what happened at the Business Meetings this year…..
(7) Jim C. Hines has a take about the Maynard/Valente exchange in “Cool Kids”
I get that a lot of us struggled growing up. We felt excluded, and we envied those who were more popular, more successful, more comfortable with themselves and their friends. Most of us continue to struggle. It’s part of being human. But this whole “Nerds vs. Cool Kids” thing is bullshit. It’s the same artificial and simplistic us vs. them, left vs. right, puppy vs. anti-puppy, Hero vs. Villain garbage that’s been poisoning people for ages.
There will always be small-minded people trying to divide the world into Us and Them. Some of these folks have found that dispensing poison earns them attention and followers.
That doesn’t mean the rest of us have to drink it.
(8) Disney is working towards a new Mary Poppins movie (not a remake or a reboot) says The Hollywood Reporter.
The new story will be set around 20 years after the tale of the classic 1964 movie that starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. It will also take its cues from the book series that P.L. Travers wrote. (The original, published in 1934 is based largely on the first book. The last book in the series was released in 1988.)
Rob Marshall, who directed “Into the Woods” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” for the studio, will helm the new feature, which will also be a musical.
Songwriting team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who worked on “Hairspray” and “Smash,” will compose new original songs as well a new score.
David Magee (“Life of Pi”) is board to write the screenplay.
As detailed in Disney’s “Saving Mr. Banks,” Travers’ had testy relationship with Walt Disney over the adaptation of the original. But the studio is working with her estate on the new movie.
(9) Not everyone appreciates astronaut and baseball fan Terry Virts as much as he deserves. Virts arranged to present a space-worn Orioles jersey to team manager Buck Showalter. But what was Buck’s response? He wanted to know —
“Do you have rubber gloves when you take it? It’s not like it’s been on the moon or something, right? … You don’t know what bacteria from Mars is up there or something. Next day you wake up and your arms are ate off or something.”
(10) Alexis Gilliland’s Rosinante series lives again in this review by James Davis Nicoll.
But I would credit his Campbell win to the fact that those two novels, The Revolution from Rosinante and Long Shot For Rosinante , really are fun little books, books I was certain I would not regret revisiting after a gap of twenty-two years 3.
(I do understand that’s like saying “Don’t worry, I know what I am doing” while playing with burning plastic.)
(And I hope including the parenthetical sentence spares you from unrealistic expectations of reading a nostalgic puff piece….)
(10) Lorraine Devon Wilke’s “Dear Self-Published Author: Do NOT Write Four Books a Year” at the Huffington Post has elicited much scoffing from some indie published sf writers – and now Baen novelist Larry Correia has deconstructed it in “Fisking the HuffPo because writers need to GET PAID”.
The thing is “good” is a relatively meaningless measurement. Ringo’s fans think they’re good enough to give him mid six figure royalty checks twice a year. Kevin [J. Anderson] lives in a castle. I’m pretty sure the average HuffPo writer considers me a hack, but then again, I get paid, and HuffPo writers don’t (no, really, I was shocked to learn that HuffPo only pays in “exposure”).
That’s a knockout line as long as you don’t remember Correia is delivering this fisking free of charge on a blog.
[Thanks to both Marks, Will R., Martin Morse Wooster, and John King Tarpinian for some of these stories. Title credit belongs to File 770 contributing editor of the day Anna Nimmhaus.]
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Kyra: that’s perfect.
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
The Magicians, Lev Grossman
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
ARGH! How am I supposed to choose?!?
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
Chime, Franny Billingsley
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Spirit Gate, Kate Elliot
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
Abhorsen, Garth Nix
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Range of Ghosts, Elizabeth Bear
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
pass
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells
Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
tie
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
pass
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
Child of a Rainless Year, Jane Lindskold
tie
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
pass
16. I HAVE THE POWER
pass (tempted to vote for the Bray even though I haven’t read it — I bounced HARD about halfway through the Rothfuss)
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
To Ride a Rathorn, P. C. Hodgell
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Snake Agent, Liz Williams
19. DUELING WIZARDS
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Point of Dreams, Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
pass I’m kind of burned out on GRRM and don’t know the other
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
pass
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
tie
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
29. SECRET TEXTS
pass
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
pass
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
The March North, Graydon Saunders 1
Abhorsen, Garth Nix 3
The Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia McKillip 2
@Kyra
Oh my goodness, more stuff I’ve actually read!
3. A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
5. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
(I loved loved loved this book. It was so refreshing to read about someone solving his problems by being a kind and decent person.)
7. Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
13. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
(Temeraire for the win!)
22. Maplecroft, Cherie Priest
(This was creepy as heck. Talk about atmosphere, building suspense, and an explosive climax.)
26. Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
28. Sunshine, Robin McKinley
31. Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
(Although my favorite book in the series is Dead Beat, where Harry rides Sue the T-Rex into battle.)
(So…will we have a three-dragon showdown next round?)
(Tears out hair at the thought)
ROUND ONE
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
Cuckoo Song, Frances Hardinge
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
Fudoki, Kij Johnson
(hard choice, but I want to give some support to the
underdogundercat)24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
A Stranger in Olondria, Sofia Samatar
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
pass
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
pass
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
pass
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
pass
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Diviners, Libba Bray
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
pass
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Snake Agent, Liz Williams
19. DUELING WIZARDS
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
pass
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
pass
29. SECRET TEXTS
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Daughter of Mystery, Heather Rose Jones
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
The March North, Graydon Saunders
Science fiction suggestions? Why didn’t you just ask!
Ian M. Banks – Surface Detail
Alastair Reynolds – Chasm City
Elizabeth Bear – Carnival
Ian McDonald – River of Gods
Ken MacLeod – Intrusion or The Night Sessions
Karl Schroeder – Sun of Suns or Lockstep.
Paul McAuley – The Quiet War or An Evening’s Empires
Paolo Bacigalupi – The Windup Girl
Hannu Rajaniemi – The Quantum Thief
Steven Gould – 7th Sigma
Michael Swanwick – Dancing with Bears
Catherynne M. Valente – Silently and Very Fast
Alaya Dawn Johnson – The Summer Prince
Charles Stross – Saturn’s Children, Neptune’s Brood, Accelerando or Glasshouse.
Linda Nagata – The Red
This one has some tough choices.
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
I went back and forth on this one. But the Kusher just edged ahead.
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
To Ride a Rathorn, P. C. Hodgell
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Snake Agent, Liz Williams
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Point of Dreams, Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
1 The March North, Graydon Saunders
2 The Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia McKillip
This one was a hair puller. One is a tapestry woven of dreams and mist and the other is like being hit over the head with a baseball bat made out of words.
My votes are cast wherever I have Strong Feelings:
1. Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
The Enchantment Emporium, Tanya Huff
There’s definitely a lot of Huff I love, but 3PD blew my mind when I read it.
3. A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint
A Natural History of Dragons is built out of Everything I Love, but somehow the whole never quite equaled the parts for me. The Blue Girl, on the other hand, is one of the few times I thought de Lint wrote a novel on par with his amazing shorter fiction.
4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
I earlier confessed my love for Taylor’s work despite its flaws. But my love for City of Stairs is much, much stronger.
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
I think I’m pretty safe in saying The Way of Kings is not going to win here. I’m voting for it anyway. The Goblin Emperor was great, and I loved it. But I thought The Way of Kings was dazzling both in its epic scope and its personal stories, and I actually thought the RPG-style magic was less intrusive here than in some of his other books.
6. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
Cuckoo Song, Frances Hardinge
I will sing the praises of Cuckoo Song to all who will listen. Hardinge turns out brilliant books one after another, and Cuckoo Song is among the best.
7. The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells
Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
Wildly inventive, fantastically original, and always with one more trick up its sleeve. I like McGuire, but Wells definitely takes this one for me.
9. Life After Life, Kate Atkinson
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
Life After Life was another mind-blowing read for me. Kowal’s book was good, but I couldn’t put the Atkinson down.
11. The Midnight Mayor, Kate Griffin
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Another one I feel safe in saying, it’s gonna lose, but here we go. This was a tough, tough choice, and JS&MN is in many, many ways a more inventive, and yes, better written book. But somehow The Midnight Mayor hangs together for me better than JS&MN did. Give Me Back My Hat.
15. Liar, Justine Larbalestier
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
What can I say, I like books that mess with my head.
16. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The Diviners, Libba Bray
The Diviners is Libba Bray at her best, with strong characters, a great story, and the 1920’s brought to vivid life. The Name of the Wind … is a book I have opinions about.
17. Chime, Franny Billingsley
To Ride a Rathorn, P. C. Hodgell
Chime is really, really good. To Ride a Rathorn I’ve reread maybe five, six times, and it’s always just as great as the first. GOD STALK!
19. The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
I wanted to love The Night Circus, but only liked it a lot. Angry Teen Harry Potter is my third-favorite Harry Potter book, which actually puts it up pretty high on my list of good books.
21. Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
Very difficult choice here. The Red Wedding nearly carries the Martin by itself, but it’s also where things were starting to come off the rails for me a little with that series. Let The Right One In is a dark little gem throughout.
22. Declare, Tim Powers
Maplecroft, Cherie Priest
Powers is hard to equal at the height of his, um, powers.
23. Conrad’s Fate, Diana Wynne Jones
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
I agree with whoever said above that Jones has better, but this is Pratchett at his best.
25. Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Zoo City is very good. But Coraline stayed in my head a long, long time.
26. Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
Aaaaaa tough one. But while Walton’s book is tons of fun, Seraphina aims higher and hits the target dead on.
27. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
Sigh, another likely Doomed Vote. But as much as I loved Paladin of Souls, Fire Logic touched me right at the core.
28. Sunshine, Robin McKinley
Spirit Gate, Kate Elliot
I’m not sure I can express how much I love Sunshine. This is The Best vampire novel. Ever. And I actually LOVE vampire novels.
30. Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
I enjoyed Ship of Destiny immensely. I think Catherynne Valente rewrote parts of my brain.
31. Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
Daughter of Mystery, Heather Rose Jones
I buy every Harry Dresden novel when then come out, and Summer Knight was one of the highlights. But Daughter of Mystery is simply operating on another level here, partly but not solely thanks to its deft touch with characters.
32.
The March North, Graydon Saunders
Abhorsen, Garth Nix
1. The Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia McKillip
I feel about McKillip the way some people here feel about, say, Pratchett, or their internal organs, or something. The Tower at Stony Wood is one of the best of her stand-alones.
@Microtherion: I’ll see your updated music and raise you the recut horror trailer for Mary Poppins!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic
@rea: And to an extent, they both (Scalzi & Correia) are channeling Harlan Ellison (& no doubt others, but IIRC he’s harshly vocal about this) in their emphatic “writers should get paid.”
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Range of Ghosts, Elizabeth Bear
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
Ouch.
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Painted Man (AKA The Warded Man), Peter V. Brett
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Ouch the second.
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
29. SECRET TEXTS
Alif the Unseen, G. Willow Wilson
Oooouuuuch
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
@lurkertype : “Also, his ability to rock a Regency dress without it affecting his sense of manhood, and have a gorgeous wife and daughter and acres of land.”
So you’re saying he has both a Regency dress and huge… tracts of land?
1. Three Parts Dead
3. The Blue Girl
5. The Goblin Emperor
8. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
9. Shades of Milk and Honey
11. The Midnight Mayor
12. The Atrocity Archives
14. Child of a Rainless Year
16. The Diviners
17. Chime
18. Oh, this choice hurts… But I asked for it… Okay, Under Heaven.
19. The Night Circus
20. Perdido Street Station
22. Declare
25. Zoo City vs. Coraline. I don’t even know how to compare them. My brain is literally throwing out little error messages. TIE.
26. Tooth and Claw vs. Seraphina; either way, Meredith will be pleased. I just moments before opening my browser completed Tooth and Claw, which got promoted to the top of my TBR specifically for the brackets. As exo cted, I very much enjoyed it and it gets my vote.
28. Sunshine
30. Voting for Valente. Still preferring Six-Gun Snow White.
32. The Tower at Stony Wood
I step away for a few hours, and the results are a good normal day at the 770. Our regular trolls have shown up to spout nonsense. Kyrra has a wonderful bracket up, with many new books I should really try and read sometime. And M. Mamates has expressed nuanced views on the topic of bullying.
‘nother Day, more SFF.
Everything not listed is an abstain.
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
Tough call, but Maia gets my vote again, just as he did for this year’s Hugo.
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
To Ride a Rathorn, P. C. Hodgell
GOD STALK always wins, or else Jame will fall off the rathorn and accidentally cause an earthquake, a tornado and a plague.
19. DUELING WIZARDS
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
23. CAN FATE BE
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
29. SECRET TEXTS
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
Enjoy your break, Kyra, and come back with more great bracket titles.
@TheYoungPretender: Buwaya was actually right on JCW. Kind of a miracle I didn’t scroll past that one and miss it. Brian Z was reduced to word salad though. I am coming around to the view that his comments should only clear moderation if they win a majority of all attending and supporting Worldcon members two years in a row.
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
Still so much I haven’t read yet!
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Life After Life, Kate Atkinson
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
White Apples, Jonathan Carroll
Abstaining because I wasn’t really all that impressed by Aaronovitch and I haven’t read the Carroll
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Easily one of the big guns in this bracket and I fully expect it’ll make it to near the end.
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Painted Man (AKA The Warded Man), Peter V. Brett
Nice magic system, would like to read more but other things keep coming up
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
19. DUELING WIZARDS
The Night Circus, Erin MorgensternHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. RowlingApparently The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick was first published in 2003, so throwing in a protest vote for that here. I expect it to accomplish nothing.
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Coraline’s going to be a hard one to beat, for me. I’m not looking forward to it coming up against some other favourites though, if it makes it that far.
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
Finished it last night. Should really pick up the next book soon…
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ship of DestinyAssassin’s Quest, Robin Hobb31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
Abhorsen, Garth Nix
One of the few things commonly regarded as YA that I’ve found to actually be really, really good. I hope if I ever get around to re-reading the series that the suck fairy hasn’t visited in the meantime.
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
DWJ vs Pterry ?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
A Stranger in Olondria, Sofia Samatar
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
The March North, Graydon Saunders
For all those who made or will make them — thanks for the science fiction suggestions, but can I ask if we could wait on that until the fantasy bracket has a little less for me to keep track of? They really are appreciated, just trying to keep things saner on this side.
Forehead cloths! Getcher forehead cloths here! Nice fresh cold forehead cloths! Gluten free! Organic! Sooth that fevered brow!
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
As previously, I choose to interpret the act of prioritizing reading to be a book evaluation in itself, and therefore don’t necessarily feel required to vote only when I’ve read both.
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
This makes me really really wish I’d gotten to the Brennan already, because I’m quite sure I’m going to love it. But it still languishes on the iPad.
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
19. DUELING WIZARDS
I’ve read the Rowling but not the Morgenstern, but I’m not sure that I loved the Rowling enough to support it in those circumstances.
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Point of Dreams, Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
Again, this really makes me wish I’d gotten to the Samatar already…
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Spirit Gate, Kate Elliot
29. SECRET TEXTS
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
I started out with the position that I was going to abstain in match-ups for my own book. But I only made it through the first two Dresden books before throwing them against the wall. There were structural and world-building things that just bugged the heck out of me. So I’m going to skip the self-effacement and say…
Daughter of Mystery, Heather Rose Jones
@Jim Henley.
I’ll admit that my eyes somewhat glazed on buwayaha – I’m not sure whether it was Fox being liberal, Catholics hating the poor, or some other cute comments about various “those” people. But yes, , you are correct. And he was correct about Wright. Between the criticism of Wright and the use of the paragraph in English, I’m wondering if the account is actually him.
The Brian Z proposal sounds quite like a good idea.
I just reread the series (to refresh my memory before Clariel), and I loved it all over again – no suck fairy in sight. YMMV, naturally.
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
The Enchantment Emporium, Tanya Huff
[pulls a forehead cloth out of stock] The Gladstone, if I must choose.
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin
Range of Ghosts, Elizabeth Bear
Abstain; still haven’t read the Le Guin. Dammit.
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint
The Brennan. Dammit.
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
Abstain; still not read either.
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
I haven’t read the Sanderson, but I DON’T CARE. Maia!!
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
The Magicians, Lev Grossman
Cuckoo Song, Frances Hardinge
Abstain again.
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells
Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
Aaarrrrrgggghhhhh. Wells. No, McGuire. No, Wells. Aarrrgh. Wells it is.
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
Fudoki, Kij Johnson
And I’ve not read the Johnson, so abstain again again.
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Life After Life, Kate Atkinson
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
I’d love to vote for the Kowal, but haven’t read the Atkinson. Abstain.
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
White Apples, Jonathan Carroll
And I’ve not read the Carroll. Abstain.
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
The Midnight Mayor, Kate Griffin
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
I bounced off the Clarke, and haven’t read the Griffin. Abstain.
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
The Painted Man (AKA The Warded Man), Peter V. Brett
Not read the Brett. Abstain.
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
The Alchemy of Stone, Ekaterina Sedia
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
Not read the Sedia. Abstain.
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
Child of a Rainless Year, Jane Lindskold
Aaaargh. I literally read the Lindskold this afternoon. And you put it against the Kushner? I hate your dice! Hate them!
Umm, I guess the Kushner, but I won’t be sad if the Lindskold wins.
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
Liar, Justine Larbalestier
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
Your dice have a sense of humor. Not read the Larbalestier, though, so abstain.
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
The Diviners, Libba Bray
And not read the Bray, so abstain again.
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
Chime, Franny Billingsley
To Ride a Rathorn, P. C. Hodgell
And not read the Billingsley. But Jaime might start dancing if I don’t vote for her. Hodgell.
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Snake Agent, Liz Williams
Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
Ouch. Badger teapot! Williams.
19. DUELING WIZARDS
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
Abstain; not read the Morgenstern.
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
Point of Dreams, Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett
Bounced off the Mieville, and I think I’ve read PoD but don’t remember it. Not remembering is better than bouncing, so PoD.
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
Abstain
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
Maplecroft, Cherie Priest
Not my favorite Powers. I’ll vote for the Priest.
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Conrad’s Fate, Diana Wynne Jones
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
Still haven’t read the Jones. Abstain.
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
A Stranger in Olondria, Sofia Samatar
Ooh. That’s a hard one. Very different moods. Stranger, by the thinnest of hairs.
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Not read the Beukes. Abstain.
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhh! [grabs another forehead cloth out of stock]. Umm, Walton, I guess. But I’m going to up the percentage of forehead cloth sales that goes to the “get Kyra a sledgehammer for her dice” fund.
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
Oh, your dice heard me, did they? I’ll have to give the edge to the Bujold, but SLEDGEHAMMER. Just sayin’.
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
Spirit Gate, Kate Elliot
Not read the McKinley, but apparently I should. Abstain.
29. SECRET TEXTS
Alif the Unseen, G. Willow Wilson
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
Not read the Wilson. Abstain.
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
Not read the Valente, but bounced off the Hobb. Abstain
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
Daughter of Mystery, Heather Rose Jones
The Jones is still in my to-read mountain. Abstain.
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
1 The March North, Graydon Saunders
3 Abhorsen, Garth Nix
2 The Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia McKillip
BATTLE SHEEP!
1. Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
2. Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin
3. The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint
5. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
9. Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10. Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
11. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
15. The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
18. Snake Agent, Liz Williams
19. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
22. Declare, Tim Powers
23. Conrad’s Fate, Diana Wynne Jones
25. Coraline, Neil Gaiman
26. Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
30. In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
The Enchantment Emporium, Tanya Huff
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Range of Ghosts, Elizabeth Bear
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
Abstain
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Abstain
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Abstain
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
Abstain
16. I HAVE THE POWER
Abstain
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
Abstain
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Abstain
19. DUELING WIZARDS
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Abstain
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Abstain
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
Tie
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
29. SECRET TEXTS
Abstain
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
TIE
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Abstain
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
Abstain
We’ve neglected too many books in 3009
I personally think it’s good to vote for oneself. After all the best writers write for themselves I’ve heard. 😀
I also bounce off the Dresden each time I try to read. Loved the TV show. The books just not my cuppa.
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
And then just to be safe, a year to have an independent expert study them and report back.
Wildcat on September 16, 2015 at 9:17 pm said:
That’s very good to hear!
@andyl: “Basically my experience is that mean kids (aka arseholes) at school are always going to single something out if they decide you are going to be one of their targets.”
What would you say to the idea that junior high and high school society is a hypersensitized petri dish of intersectional privilege, where status is king and social survival depends on being able to claim any positive status marker you can while concealing all negative ones?
(And now I wonder if trying to explain privilege in terms of high school cliques would be useful when talking to those who Do Not Get It.)
Lots of books I’ve read, but very few in pairs. Let’s start:
#16: I HAVE THE POWER (YOU GOT THE POWER?)
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
?The Diviners, Libba Bray
Diviners was very good. Name of the Wind is amazing.
19. DUELING WIZARDS?
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
I seriously identified with angsty teen Harry.
20. TALES OF THE CITY?
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
?Point of Dreams, Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett
Point of Dreams is about theatre!
My response to Perdido Street Station is similar to Homer Simpson’s response to this:
23: Abstain. This is the only time I’ve ever been glad not to have read a Pratchett, because I think I’d claw my eyes out trying to decide.
24. The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde?
A Stranger in Olondria, Sofia Samatar
Hey, Greg, do you clever wordplay and meta-fiction and hiding in footnotes WAIT WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH MY COPY OF THE EYRE AFFAIR YOU DIDN’T PAY FOR IT…
31. Summer Knight, Jim Butcher?
Daughter of Mystery, Heather Rose Jones
A bit of a cheat, since I haven’t read that particular Butcher, but I can’t not vote for a fellow File770 contributor! (Also, Daughter of Mystery is damn fine writing. Damn fine.)
Random question: How many bracketed authors are also people who have posted on File 770? Cat Valente and Heather Rose Jones are 2. I suspect there may be others?
(Also, if we ever do a bracket for graphic novels, Kurt Busiek will inevitably be a third, for ASTRO CITY.)
(eagerly awaits web series bracket)
(web series bracket is not happening, Greg, give it up)
(DAMNIT)
You know, Greg, YOU could do a graphic novel bracket while Kyra is on hiatus….
(I’d be unable to vote, not being much of a graphic novel reader, but I’m sure there are others who’d be thrilled to.)
Tempty-tempt-tempt.
(Also, these forehead cloths aren’t going to get rid of themselves….)
1. Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
5. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
8. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
12. The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
14. Child of a Rainless Year, Jane Lindskold
17. Chime, Franny Billingsley
18. Snake Agent, Liz Williams
A rough one.
20. Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
22. Declare, Tim Powers
23. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
25. Coraline, Neil Gaiman
26. Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
Rachel Hartman 4-eva
Parentheses* time!
1. Huff.
5. Addison.
7. McGuire.
8. Jemisin.
11. Griffin.
12. Stross.
19. Rowling.
22. Priest. Ouch.
23. Pratchett.
24. Fforde.
31. Butcher.
* aka “brackets, round”
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
The Enchantment Emporium, Tanya Huff
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Range of Ghosts, Elizabeth Bear
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
City of Stairs, Robert Jackson Bennett
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
The Magicians, Lev Grossman
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Painted Man (AKA The Warded Man), Peter V. Brett
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
The Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Diviners, Libba Bray
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
To Ride a Rathorn, P. C. Hodgell
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Snake Agent, Liz Williams
19. DUELING WIZARDS
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Sorry, Harry, but I liked The Night Circus better.
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Maplecroft, Cherie Priest
I still dislike Declare intensely and enjoyed Maplecroft a whole lot.
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
Ah, difficult, but I’m going with Fforde over Samatar.
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
Again difficult, but I enjoyed Zoo City slightly more.
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Sunshine, Robin McKinley
Another difficult choice, but Sunshine wins out narrowly.
29. SECRET TEXTS
Alif the Unseen, G. Willow Wilson
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
In the Night Garden, Catherynne M. Valente
Abstain. Not a fan of one, haven’t read the other.
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
Another really diffcult choice, but Butcher wins out narrowly.
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
The March North, Graydon Saunders
Abhorsen, Garth Nix
The Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia McKillip
Abstain.
2. Powers, Ursula K. Le Guin
5. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. The Magicians, Lev Grossman
8. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
10. Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
11. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. The Painted Man (AKA The Warded Man), Peter V. Brett
13. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
15. The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
19. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling
20. Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
22. Declare, Tim Powers
23. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. A Stranger in Olondria, Sofia Samatar
25. Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
27. Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
29. Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
C’mon guys! Kyra isn’t being mean to you with her match-ups, she is just rolling out all the 1s from her dice before a RPG session. Have a good weekend, Kyra.
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Range of Ghosts, Elizabeth Bear
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
The Magicians, Lev Grossman
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
Liar, Justine Larbalestier
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Under Heaven, Guy Gavriel Kay
19. DUELING WIZARDS
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Spirit Gate, Kate Elliot
29. SECRET TEXTS
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Ship of Destiny, Robin Hobb
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Daughter of Mystery, Heather Rose Jones
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
Abhorsen, Garth Nix
Knowing how few times I’ll have a vote once science fiction September Madness rolls around (Never Let Me Go always and forever, but pretty much a blank everywhere else), I’m voting for two books I really, really loved (like dog love) even though I haven’t read their competition. At least it’s not a slate and I’ve refrained from spite voting (even though I detested three of the books on here) and abstained where I was meh on both of a pair, so I’m giving myself a pass.
Also, I don’t know if I most like @kyra’s bracket titles or the anguish the pairings cause, but both fill me with delight.
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
The Enchantment Emporium, Tanya Huff
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
The Blue Girl, Charles de Lint
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Painted Man (AKA The Warded Man), Peter V. Brett
16. I HAVE THE POWER
The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
1. The Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia McKillip
Jim Henley: “word salad”
Keep on fighting the File 770 culture wars, then. I just thought Buwaya should knock it off, but by all means, feel free. Maybe someone will post a script that can help with your moderation policy.
Pretender:
Of course Buwaya’s right about Wright. He seems to be right about you too.
@RDF: He’s got the tracts… but he borrowed the dress from MRK.
@RedWombat: Even if you’re rich and famous, your cat is going to eat you when you’re dead anyway. Or possibly before. But the wombats and honey badgers will live on.
1 Three Parts Dead, Max Gladstone
5 The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (As much as I like 3BP, TGE wuz robbed)
6 The Magicians, Lev Grossman
7 Rosemary and Rue, Seanan McGuire
8 The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
9 Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
10 Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
12 The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13 His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
15 The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch
16 The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
20 Perdido Street Station, China Mieville
21 A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin
22 Declare, Tim Powers (a painful matchup)
25 Coraline, Neil Gaiman
26 Tooth and Claw, Jo Walton (I predict a close one here)
29 Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
RedWombat on September 16, 2015 at 6:15 pm said:
@ Heather Rose Jones
I’m a cool kid, and I STILL worry that if I ever stop doing and making fabulous things, no one will ever want to talk to me or be my friend ever again. But that’s my problem.
I live in a pretty-much perpetual state of “Well, haven’t put out a book for six months/haven’t done a great painting in X time, so everyone will forget I exist and I will die friendless and alone and be eaten by my cat.”
I am sure if I died my cats would refuse to eat me, same as they refuse to eat anything really healthy, or that I buy a case of because they ate it last time.
Because they are brats.
And, after all, I am not made of tuna, or anything neat like that.
Nope, they would just scratch the rug over me and go cadge crunchies from the neighbors.
In re Abhorsen: I think it,
and Lirael and Sabriel, stand up to re-reading, but I didn’t think Clariel was as good.
Bracket votes later when I’m not on a phone.
Well, Declan Ganley tried, but didn’t get very far.
Oh hey, a bracket I can vote in!
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
I run hot and cold on Gaiman, but generally I prefer his prose to his comics (the first Death miniseries and his second (unfinished) arc on Miracleman are the notable exceptions). And while I enjoyed Coraline, Zoo City blew me away. Fantastic prose, a compelling setting and story, and a real gutpunch of an ending. And it reminds me, I need to get more of her books!
Only one where I’ve read both books again…
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
Big fan of the Laundry books.
Woo-hoo – lets hope I get some votes
21ST CENTURY FANTASY, ROUND ONE — THE BIG ROUND
1. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MAGIC COST?
Abstain – not read the Huff
2. SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
Abstain – not read the Bear
3. TRANSCENDING YOUR SOCIAL POSITION
Abstain – not read either
4. DOORWAYS TO A DIFFERENT CITY
Abstain – not read either
5. EMPERORS AND KINGS
Abstain – not read the Sanderson
6. THE OTHER WORLD HAS ISSUES
Abstain – not read the Grossman
7. COMPLICATED COURTS
Abstain – not read either
8. THE ATTENTION OF THE GODS
Fudoki, Kij Johnson
9. ENGLAND’S GREEN AND PLEASANT
Abstain – not read either
10. ONE DAY SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED TO ME
Rivers of London (AKA Midnight Riot), Ben Aaronovitch
11. A VERY BRITISH MAGIC
Abstain – not read the Griffin
12. THE HORRORS COME AT NIGHT
The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross
13. GOLEM VS. DRAGON
Abstain – not read the Sedia
14. THE ROAD TO SELF DISCOVERY
Abstain – not read either
15. WHOLE LOT OF LYING GOING ON
Abstain – not read the Larbalestier
16. I HAVE THE POWER
Abstain – not read the Bray
17. I HONESTLY DON’T MEAN TO DESTROY EVERYTHING
Abstain – not read either
18. CHINA NEW AND OLD
Snake Agent, Liz Williams
19. DUELING WIZARDS
No Vote
20. TALES OF THE CITY
Abstain – not read the Scott / Barnett but really like Perdido Street Station
21. GRIM, GRIM STORIES
Abstain – not read the Lindqvist
22. AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF HISTORY
Declare, Tim Powers
23. CAN FATE BE CHANGED?
Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
24. THE POWER OF BOOKS
The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
25. SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY LOST
Zoo City, Lauren Beukes
26. DRAGON SHOWDOWN
Abstain – not read the Hartman
27. BREAKING FREE OF THE PAST
Abstain – not read the Marks
28. THE GOOD GUYS ARE OUTNUMBERED
Abstain – not read the McKinley
29. SECRET TEXTS
Ash: A Secret History, Mary Gentle
30. A COMPLEX CAST OF CHARACTERS
Abstain – not read the Hobb
31. WE WANT TO USE YOUR MAGIC SKILLS FOR PERFECTLY INNOCENT REASONS, HONEST
Abstain – not read the Jones
32. THREE WAY BATTLE!
Abstain – not read all in the triplet