tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post2202717956954809790..comments2024-03-22T19:07:21.790+00:00Comments on The Wertzone: The Wertzone Awards 2011Adam Whiteheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-65429922151340953042012-01-07T20:28:25.624+00:002012-01-07T20:28:25.624+00:00I have the first two Woodring books sitting tempti...I have the first two Woodring books sitting temptingly on my bookshelves. I really should pull Retribution Falls down soon and get tucked into this much praised series.<br /><br />I'm thrilled to see several positive Deus Ex reviews as it wasn't on my radar. Now (when I finally tire of Skyrim, which I don't see happening soon) I'll know where to go next.<br /><br />I enjoyed this season of Dr. Who. It was a step down, but I didn't see it as big of one as I had expected from the buzz I heard (I didn't watch it until it came out on DVD). And surprisingly while I loved the Gaiman episode and am a big fan, it wasn't my favorite of the season. But it was fun.Carl V. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15948764216438379394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-76736327463949503412012-01-06T19:31:39.036+00:002012-01-06T19:31:39.036+00:00Just a few 2011 books by women worth reading:
God&...Just a few 2011 books by women worth reading:<br /><b>God's War</b> by Kameron Hurley (The sequel Infidel is good as well)<br /><b>The Night Circus</b> by Erin Morganstern (It lived up the hype for me and many others. Almost like a Jonathan Strange-light)<br /><b>The Cloud Roads</b> by Martha Wells (It impressed the hell out of me)<br /><b>Mechanique</b> by Genevieve Valentine (A literary psycho circus)<br /><b>The Tiger's Wife</b> by Tea Obreht (Not sure I'd consider it genre, but it is a masterful work)Mad Hatter Reviewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16020033648108721552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-87685758537444327972012-01-05T01:26:33.068+00:002012-01-05T01:26:33.068+00:00This is not the first Best Of 2011 list I've s...This is not the first Best Of 2011 list I've seen criticized for a perceived lack of diversity...<br /><br />You know what makes me tired and sad? When art opinion is assigned a race, gender or religious quota.Russnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-67112041377794105622012-01-03T22:30:39.615+00:002012-01-03T22:30:39.615+00:00@ Bill Moon
I'm not anonymous, but here's ...@ Bill Moon<br />I'm not anonymous, but here's a list for you:<br /><br />Jo Anderton's Debris<br />Paula Brandon's The Traitor's Daughter<br />Jacqueline Carey's Naamah's Blessing<br />Jacqueline Carey's Saints Astray<br />C.J. Cherryh's Betrayer<br />Kate Elliott's Cold Fire<br />C.S. Friedman's Legacy of Kings<br />Alison Goodman's Eona<br />Elizabeth Moon's Kings of the North<br />K.J. Parker's The Hammer<br />Melanie Rawn's The Diviner<br />Catherynne M. Valente's Deathless<br />Martha Wells' The Cloud Roads<br />Jo Walton's Among OthersGreyweatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05546347316848518932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-27199920317805807712012-01-03T22:01:43.042+00:002012-01-03T22:01:43.042+00:00Well, let me derail the thread for you. No, it'...Well, let me derail the thread for you. No, it's not his problem. Adam has no obligation to go out and find good books by women for him to trumpet in the interests of proclaiming the equal capabilities of the sexes. [If he were claiming that women COULDN'T write well, he would of course be obliged to canvass widely to support this. That, however, is different from happening not to have liked any books by women this year].<br /><br />If a man is deluged with books by men and one or two or maybe three books by women, why is that his fault? Adam is not a publisher. If he can't name ten great novels by women in the last year, that's not his problem, it's a problem either of society (not producing enough good female writers), or the genre (not keeping enough female writers within the genre), or the writers (not being good enough), or the publishers (not doing enough to publicise their female authors). The reader is not under any obligation to meet quotas. Nor, had Adam met a quota of female authors read, would he be under any obligation to meet a quota of favourite books by women.<br /><br />To put it on more concrete ground: Adam says he hasn't been given many good books by women this year, you think it's sigh-worthy and pitiful that he can't think of them. OK. Which books SHOULD Adam have arranged for himself to have heard about, and which books SHOULD Adam have considered among his top novels of the year?<br /><br />Specifically, given the books Adam was given, which of the Sookie novel and 'songs of the earth' do you want him to have put on his list? I'm sure that if you sent him ten brilliant books by women this year that he otherwise wouldn't have recieved, he'd be very grateful!<br /><br />So, given that the absence of women from the list clearly wasn't his fault (given what he had to work with), and that of all the people to whose detriment it is he comes fairly low down the list, how exactly is it "his problem"?Wastrelhttp://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-61668494989523443252012-01-03T21:47:48.450+00:002012-01-03T21:47:48.450+00:00Bakker is someone I really need to get on my list ...Bakker is someone I really need to get on my list I keep hearing good things there.<br /><br />I read 50 books a year and I just checked my goodreads list for 2011 . 4 books from Marianne de Pierres and 3 from N. K. Jemisin. 1 from K. J. Parker but I never know if that counts. So 7-8 books out of 50 does look a bit slanted from a numbers perspecrive.<br /><br />I have no interest in UF which seems to be heavily played with women writers. When it comes to hard scifi, space opera or 'gritty' fantasy what female authors am I missing out on? I do have 2 Kameron Hurley books in my 2012 pile but looking at 30 books already queued up, that's my only female author on the list.Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06998931714568216400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-58771632012946842332012-01-03T20:02:54.822+00:002012-01-03T20:02:54.822+00:00The arrow/knee thing has already been done to deat...The arrow/knee thing has already been done to death, to be honest. I'm 20 hours into SKYRIM, enough to form an early impression but not enough for a full review. That will follow in time (a couple of months, at this rate :-) ).Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-29381082434933922262012-01-03T18:41:16.783+00:002012-01-03T18:41:16.783+00:00It's is so hard not to respond and derail the ...It's is so hard not to respond and derail the thread when I innocently tune in to a "best of" list and get smacked in the face with <i>"I can't think of very many good fantasy novels that were written by women that came out last year at all"</i>. Sigh. Dude, that is your problem. And I feel sorry for you.<br /><br />Thanks for the list, The Islanders looks great. You have to check out Portal 2. Really really fun gaming.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00923975835078747456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-70887078882610440372012-01-03T12:49:18.953+00:002012-01-03T12:49:18.953+00:00Hello Adam,
That small paragraph you wrote about ...Hello Adam,<br /><br />That small paragraph you wrote about Skyrim doesn't make up a review.<br /><br />So I hope you'll write a very thoughtful test of it in the following days/weeks (with funny remarks about getting arrows in the knee) ! ;-)Neronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-74253260854343346762012-01-03T02:46:45.876+00:002012-01-03T02:46:45.876+00:00Hi Adam
now that DwD is long out, I for one would...Hi Adam<br /><br />now that DwD is long out, I for one would be interested in an updated review, with reflection on the long wait that was and the long one that awaits us.denvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-47852520976855861312012-01-03T02:34:31.020+00:002012-01-03T02:34:31.020+00:00Nice list and wrap up for the year. Mostly in agre...Nice list and wrap up for the year. Mostly in agreeance, too. Especially your take on Doctor Who this year, you absolutely nailed my thoughts about this season.Elfyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09955473789404631382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-60851782268097958712012-01-03T00:06:42.320+00:002012-01-03T00:06:42.320+00:00Here's a woman you've not mentioned: Margo...Here's a woman you've not mentioned: Margo Lanagan. <br /><br />I've not read it, but I'm informed that she put out another short-story collection this year ("Yellowcake")<br /><br />Four World Fantasy Awards, and nominations for the Hugo and Nebula, say that she's worth paying attention to. Locus have praised her "genius" and "effortless mastery".<br /><br />She's also got at least book to be looking out for next year: Sea Hearts (in Australia), also called The Brides of Rollrock Island (UK, probably USA). It's based on a WFA-winning novella (I assume, given that they share a name). The publisher isn't pulling punches in the advertising blurb, not only promising "devastatingly beautiful prose", but even that after reading the book "the world will never seem the same". Even more impressively, the Daily Mail has censured her work, calling it "sordid wretchedness" - and recommendations don't come much higher than pissing off the Daily Mail!<br /><br />And yet, in a travesty of justice, the poor woman still works three days a week, and is thinking about going back to a full-time job, her writing career is so unsuccesful. Makes you want to reject the very thought of ever writing anything, if one of the greatest living genre authors can't even make a living out of it.<br /><br />----<br /><br />On the topic of books by women that will be out next year (or THIS year now, I should say!) - Mary Gentle's back with "Black Opera". Apparently it involves apocalyptic blood sacrifices, and opera. Can't go wrong.Wastrelhttp://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-1989430222951233972012-01-02T18:44:15.892+00:002012-01-02T18:44:15.892+00:00Note that the list consists of things that I'v...Note that the list consists of things that I've actually seen/read/played in 2011, which is far from exhaustive. I haven't seen BREAKING BAD, JUSTIFIED, HOMELAND or Season 2 of THE WAKING DEAD, so couldn't really comment on them. As they arrive in the UK or on DVD, I'll get to them. <br /><br />Likewise, I got a new PC (finally!) last month so I've been able to play a few 2011 releases, hence the very small list.<br /><br />Regarding notable recent female fantasy authors, I've heard mixed things about N.K. Jemisin and haven't gotten to her yet. I'm way behind on Celia Friedman (I've only read the first COLDFIRE book). I enjoy Kate Elliott's work a lot, but have fallen behind her contemporary releases (I still need to finish the CROSSROADS sequence). I plan to get back to J.V. Jones's SWORD OF SHADOWS sequence when the next book comes out. I also have a couple more KJ Parker and Steph Swainston books to catch up on.Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-49315750210750440242012-01-02T10:07:01.245+00:002012-01-02T10:07:01.245+00:00To Anonymous#1:
You may be write that more female...To Anonymous#1:<br /><br />You may be write that more female authors are missing. But to be honest, I've not recognized a few handfuls of good/excellent fantasy books in the last year(s) written by female authors. Most of them are predictable or relying on cliche. Maybe N.K.Jemisin is an exception. Then they often tend to romanticism, mirrored in cheap covers. There may be many exceptions but women have their Robin Hobb, their Ursula K. Le Guin and then the line is thinning very fast.<br />I've tried Cherie Priest with here cycle beginning with "Boneshaker" but in my eyes this is a highly overrated and hyped inconsequent attempt with a variation of well known stereotypes, just in another setting, which, acknowledged, is a cool idea. But the writing and the story is average, nothing more, nothing less.<br /><br />Maybe Adam or yourself can change that by an almost complete list of female fantasy outputs this year?<br />Maybe there are really some pearls we all would miss?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-18384788584258010802012-01-02T09:49:17.844+00:002012-01-02T09:49:17.844+00:00I'm impressed by this list.
Personally I woul...I'm impressed by this list.<br /><br />Personally I would push Erikson Crippled God on top of the list, not only for the special achievement. Ah, I see Anonymous#2 has the same opinion. <br />Even the "boring" dialogues have always hidden clues and are not written in a style every "listener" can grasp at first. If two characters know each other, not everything has to be said, because it is known between them. That's Erikson's style and that's why many think, his dialogues seem unnecessary.<br />Remember: Erikson never writes a word without reason. Some may not have understood the truth of that.<br />And also a great deal of these dialogues help to know certain people we may not have been interested in. We believe to know them, to know their motivations.<br /><br />In your TV series list I miss "Breaking Bad" extremely. By far the best series the last years where not even GoT could stand equal. I think GoT ist still rising (there were too many unnecessary scenes and not enough battle scenes) though the setting and cast is/was incredible. Westeros is alive. <br />Also "Boardwalk Empire" could've been in the list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-4120439144752796712012-01-02T07:35:44.201+00:002012-01-02T07:35:44.201+00:00Hey anonymous, seeing someone get tired & sad ...Hey anonymous, seeing someone get tired & sad over a best books list makes me feel tired and sad. Maybe you could send us some recommendations? B/c I can't think of very many good fantasy novels that were written by women that came out last year at all.Bill Moonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-9797594043624023602012-01-02T04:43:26.507+00:002012-01-02T04:43:26.507+00:00I liked a Dance with Dragons and have enjoyed a so...I liked a Dance with Dragons and have enjoyed a song of fire and ice so far but in some ways it's starting to look like the TV show Lost. It's hard to keep track of everything that's happening plus I thought the end of the Jon Snow story was a bit to contrived, it just seemed forced to me.Oznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-57992250611731230192012-01-02T01:48:34.749+00:002012-01-02T01:48:34.749+00:00Excellent list, and a lot of new stuff for me to r...Excellent list, and a lot of new stuff for me to read.Raquelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17181855641076360454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-39232578527212996472012-01-02T00:29:53.461+00:002012-01-02T00:29:53.461+00:00Agree with you on LeGuinns Left Hand Of Darkness. ...Agree with you on LeGuinns Left Hand Of Darkness. Absolute masterpiece and my second favourite read of the year after Daniel Woodrells Winters Bone which was truely astonishing.<br />As for this year I'm expecting Avillion by Robert Holdstock to be the best read of the year if its half as good as Lavondys was.chris uptonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-58159159122609040312012-01-01T22:10:56.612+00:002012-01-01T22:10:56.612+00:00Unless you purposefully only chose books by male a...Unless you purposefully only chose books by male authors then it really isn't a problem, just a coincidence. I assume these are just the books that appealed to you in 2011. The majority of the books I read are by female's, but there wouldn't be an outcry about that.<br /><br />I'm seeing a lot of recurring titles in 'best of 2011' lists that I haven't even heard of in poor old Australia, so have made sure to chuck them on the list.Joshua Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05660987767660028351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-31287990306054281882012-01-01T21:53:28.717+00:002012-01-01T21:53:28.717+00:00The lack of the women on the list is an issue, I a...The lack of the women on the list is an issue, I agree. The problem is that I was heavily reliant on review copies being sent to me this year for my reading, and the number of books sent to me by female authors was almost non-existent. There was SONGS OF THE EARTH, which was an okay debut, and the latest SOOKIE STACKHOUSE (I haven't even read the first one yet) and not a huge amount more beyond that.<br /><br />However, talking about books I read this year overall (not just 2011 releases), THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS was probably the single finest book I read this year. I should edit the entry to reflect that.Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-75898124402795149272012-01-01T18:31:57.443+00:002012-01-01T18:31:57.443+00:00Nice list. I would have put "The Crippled God...Nice list. I would have put "The Crippled God" at number one, but I guess it’s a personal thing. It is really incredible that Erikson managed to give us so many great books in "just" 12 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-54904582759283501132012-01-01T16:25:44.642+00:002012-01-01T16:25:44.642+00:00You know . . . I would take the recommendations im...You know . . . I would take the recommendations implicit in the best novel list way more seriously if there was <i>even one single female author</i> on it. As it is, the list just makes me tired and sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-83975686561680814222012-01-01T16:15:54.695+00:002012-01-01T16:15:54.695+00:00I regret that there are so many good books that I ...I regret that there are so many good books that I didn't get the chance to read this past year. I did manage to read "The Dragon's Path" and "The Emperor's Knife," but there are a quite a number on your list that I wanted to read but just didn't have the chance or time to.<br /><br />Hopefully 2012 will be a better year, where that's concerned.Bibliotropichttp://www.bibliotropic.comnoreply@blogger.com