Battle of the Books

[vanaaron]

I write book reviews for Fantastic Reviews, but lately I've been writing many fewer reviews, while publishers and authors keep sending us more and more books. So what do you do when you're getting more review copies than you can possibly read? Make them fight to the death!

Over at the Fantastic Reviews Blog, we have just announced the Winter 2012 Bracket of the Battle of the Books. You can see the full bracket here. You can click here to see all the rules, and go here to read why we decided to do a Battle of the Books.

Look closely at the bracket, and you will spot our own Thomas K. Carpenter, who submitted a review copy of his novel Gamers. He has a major challenge out of the blocks, as the random bracketing process slotted him in opposite some guy name Orson Scott Card.

Results will be announced starting Tuesday. Hopefully it wil be fun!

[kyle]

He has a major challenge out of the blocks, as the random bracketing process slotted him in opposite some guy name Orson Scott Card.

My money's on Thomas, actually, given Card's recent work...

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Awesome. I'm glad my book made it in.

And I love the format of the contest. Should be fun.

[vanaaron]

Kyle, I agree that Card's recent work isn't as powerful as some of his earlier stuff, but it's still pretty darn good.

Then again, I'm reading the start of Gamers now and it's pretty darn good too . . .

[vanaaron]

The first round is under way, beginning with When We Were Executioners by J.M. McDermott vs. Eyes Like Leaves by Charles de Lint. Feel free to post here or at the Fantastic Reviews Blog if you care to let me know what an idiot I am or for other comments.

[ThomasKCarpenter]

*nervously awaits*

[vanaaron]

Your match is posted, Tom. No hard feelings, I hope . . .

[kyle]

Robbed! ThomasKCarpenter's been robbed I tell you!

Oh, wait, this is completely subjective and a matter of personal taste, isn't it?...


Anyway, kudos on putting the book out there, and I hope it generates sales for you.

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Your match is posted, Tom. No hard feelings, I hope . . .

None whatsoever. Tough match up first round is all. Really interesting review format and I hope you continue with it for the foreseeable future.

[s_c_baker]

Very cool idea.

Although ... am I the only one who was expecting this thread to be about Jonathan Swift? I actually got all excited at the title of the thread, and was subsequently disappointed when my expectations weren't met--or even mentioned!

edit after reading the posted matches so far: great execution. I love that your analysis is more than "This book is about blah."

[vanaaron]

Yes, I should have started this thread out with, "Apologies to Jonathan Swift." I feel like such a yahoo . . .

[vanaaron]

The first round is complete. All the results so far have been posted at the Fantastic Reviews Blog, and the updated full bracket is here.

I've read a lot of terrific opening sequences -- I hope I'm learning something.

[vanaaron]

And this bracket is complete. Over at the Fantastic Reviews Blog, we have announced the Championship Round of the Winter 2012 Battle of the Books.

The winner of this bracket was Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear, which Tor is releasing on March 27. Check it out -- it is an outstanding novel. Range of Ghosts won out over a number of very strong competitors, including Charles de Lint, Stina Leicht, Orson Scott Card, Thomas K. Carpenter, and many others. You can see the full bracket here.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Bear!

[s_c_baker]

Very cool.

I'll have to add both to my (already far too long) reading list.

Thanks for posting here again and reminding me about this!

[ThomasKCarpenter]

I enjoyed the whole Bracket! Looking forward to your next one. :)

[kyle]

At least you lost to the best.

[ThomasKCarpenter]

At least you lost to the best.

[vanaaron]

And now the Spring Bracket is up. The four seeded books this time are Christopher Fowler, Hell Train; Ken MacLeod, The Night Sessions; Ben Marcus, The Flame Alphabet; and Saladin Ahmed, Throne of the Crescent Moon. I think that's a nice mix of horror, science fiction, literary contemporary fantasy, and high fantasy.