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While I usually find new authors through family/friends I'll sometimes read books based on reviews by authors. I picked up Green Rider by Kristen Britain because it had a blurb by Goodkind saying that he liked the book. I have also read several books that George RR Martin has recommended on his page, I particularly enjoyed McCullough's rome books that he mentioned (though I do wish he would spend more time writing than reading ).
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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Well, I read both Guns, Germs, & Steel and Octavia Butler's Wild Seed because OSC recommended them. But it wasn't because he's OSC; it's because both books sounded interesting to me, and his recommendations happened to be the first I'd heard of them. I'd have read them regardless of who had told me about them. So I don't know if that counts.
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Stephen King has turned me onto Peter Straub, Bentley Little and Clive Barker. I'm sure there were other authors I started to read based on a cover blurb, but off the top of my head I can't think of them. maybe if I went looking through my library.
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OSC is responsible for me reading all of Octavia Butler's novels I could put my hands on because of his high praise of her in "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy"
But in general, no I don't pick up a book because an author is on the cover saying how it's the best thing since sliced bread.
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I don't even look at those little quotes on books. What do I care about those? It doesn't matter what the book is; they all say the same thing anyway.
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I did it kind of backwards - I read Guy Gavriel Kay because he wrote about loving, and being influenced by, Dorothy Dunnett. I figured if he has such good taste he can probably write too!
Now I own all his books and am pining after the newest one. Dang it.
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...hasn't OSC written something about those just being little niceties authors do for each other (and for their agents/publishing houses?) so they'll get better publicity and/or have their backs scratched back when they need it?
(Not OSC's recs in How to Write, but all the little cover blurbs)
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A frontcover/frontpage(s)/backcover blurb/recommendation and pre-publication/first-printing review by an author tells me nothing: not even whether the author actually likes the book.
However, I am highly influenced by interviews/conversations in which a favorite author mentions a book written by someone unknown to me when there is no "be nice" tit-for-tat incentive to give a favorable opinion.
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If I remember correctly, OSC had a favorable review on Eye of the World or whatever the first book in the Wheel of Time series was. I forgive him because it wasn't the reason I started that series, and because the first couple were actually not horrible.
I have read a lot of Robin Hobb because George R. R. Martin likes them. I think her books are good, if not great, so maybe I will try another of his suggestions.
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Yes. The guy who wrote Th. Covenant (who is, by the way, a very handsome man as well mentioned the Song of Ice and Fire series when he was a member of a writers' panel at the big Fantastic Arts conference in Lauderdale a few years back. He and the rest of the panel all agreed that they are "the best non-Tolkienesque fantasy novels in a long time." I read them, and I agree completely.
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I'm reading "There Are Doors" right now with my wife. It is very confusing so far (we are on chapter 14) but very well written. I really love Wolfe and I am sure I will get more out of it on a re-read.
And on-topic, I bought "There Are Doors" because I love Wolfe, not because of the quote from Card on it.
I did, however, buy "A Game Of Thrones" because I was very into Robert Jordan at the time and the quote on the paperback was from him.
[ April 25, 2005, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: solo ]
Posts: 1336 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote: I recently decided to try out Octavia Butler because OSC said that her Xenogenesis series was an excellent story about a truly alien culture.
I am now trying to read everything of hers that I can get my hands on.
LOL! Ditto for me. I picked up the first one last week and am now on to the second. I went to my local Half Price Books and bought everything they had by her. She's incredible. Posts: 1947 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Amanacer -- OSC recommended several other books in that thread, but that thread appears to have disapepared. Do you recall what any of them were?
Posts: 751 | Registered: Apr 2005
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He actually doesn't read much in the way of fantasy...Britain was an exception to the rule, which is why I was surprised by the rec.
Though, since he is dyslexic (now don't you feel bad for making fun of his reading skills )...I'm not surprised that he doesn't do a lot of reading. It would be rather tough to read a bunch, and keep up a decent writing schedule.
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I've read a number of books because Connie Willis said she loved them in various commentaries in her books. I did love Three Men in a Boat, but haven't fallen in love with P.G. Wodehouse. I suspect it's that I haven't read the right ones.
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mentioned the Song of Ice and Fire series when he was a member of a writers' panel at the big Fantastic Arts conference in Lauderdale a few years back. He and the rest of the panel all agreed that they are "the best non-Tolkienesque fantasy novels in a long time." I read them, and I agree completely.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
