[No-God]

Even ignoring all the epic fantasy, we have R. A. Salvatore, who seems to be cranking out 5 quality basic fantasy novels monthly. Then add that A Feast For Crows is being released in either November or December...

[gyrehead]

I think you miss much of what reading is about if you put so much dependence on others' opinion. Reviews have their purpose, but I don't want anyone else to sort through the crap for the good. That is my role, my job as reader. I fear too many treasures would be thrown away and too many pretentious little yawns heaped with accolade after accolade and engender yet more such pretentious wee efforts. But I realize that probably is what makes me a little different than others. Other people like hearing what yet even more other people like and dislike. I just follow the news of rights sold and convention talk and what the publishers send out to our reading group. It helps being in one of the larger writers' workshops as well.

My advice is subscribe to Locus Magazine if you really want to get wet. Keep an eye on such websites as alienonline for author news. It's cut and dried. No agendas. No investment other than just the genre as a whole. Which is nice.

I realize as a collector of books as well as an avid reader, I might not be the norm. So the current bumper crop is to my liking. I get excited to see my library grow so quickly with new works and authors. This will be the third year I will easily break 90 new releases added to the shelves. Yeah sometimes that means the same number being put away in boxes to someday go to building that local public library wing of really bad fantasy. This year I have about thirty books that won't see the light of day for awhile and whose authors will not get a second chance unless they start an entirely new series in a new setting and a new world. I do sometimes give second chances to authors whose work just doesn't take the first time. Another reason I don't bother with reviews. As of this morning's plane ride, my 2005 brand new releases count is at eighty to keep and thirty to get boxed. Pretty good odds. My to get list for the remainder of the year is at about sixty in the genre, so hopefully the percentage of quality will stay as high or be even higher. Next year, I only have the first six months penciled in with any fullness, but already those six months to-buy count already surpasses 100. So not only am I quite content, but next year looks to keep me just as, if not more happy. If Kay turns out to just be coy as rumored and does produce a book next year, then 2006 will easily surpass 2005. And already the 2006 releases I have read have been quite good. The aforementioned Lies, Winterbirth (what I read of it) and The Stormcaller all were interesting is somewhat rough (naturally). And about twenty really good first time authors this year look to repeat their freshmen efforts with some (hopefully) sophomoric glory. But this is all coming from someone that keeps track of as many books coming out in the next 12 to 18 months as I can. It is a sickness, I have to warn you.

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Then add that A Feast For Crows is being released in either November or December...

One of the moderators in our reading group got confirmation of her ARC (UK edition) due to arrive next week I believe. I skipped Blount's reading from his copy as I have a hard enough time wadding through the wallow that Martin indulges in halfway through the ASOI&F novels without being spoiled. I was almost nauseous from the incredible inert plotline after I made the mistake of reading the first half of the rough draft of ASOS eight months before it came out. Nonetheless I think the November US release date is quite firm if the UK publishers are sending out ARCS to the reading groups already. Usually the UK waits a bit unless it is new author like Lynch, Duncan, Ruckley, Lloyd or Abercrombie. Martin is not yet that big that his books might even hit shelves a little early. Particularly in those brick and mortar locations that just shelve their spec fiction and don't pay it any more mind.

[werewolfv2]

I find that there is still plenty out there to read. Heck I just found Erickson in the last 4 months, though Im a tad confused on how Ive missed such a great author for so long.

[caladanbrood]

Having currently 44 books on my to-read pile, I would not say I am dissatisfied with what there is out there to read... admitadly some of that is sci-fi (@Jay - ah, the derogatory term. I mean SF, or Science Fiction;))

[gyrehead]

I have no idea what the "policy" is toward reading groups. I do however know what the policy is toward members of reading groups who are employees of HarperCollins.

[Brys]

caladanbrood said:

Having currently 44 books on my to-read pile, I would not say I am dissatisfied with what there is out there to read... admitadly some of that is sci-fi (@Jay - ah, the derogatory term. I mean SF, or Science Fiction;))

I beat you - 57 science fiction or fantasy novels on my to read bookshelf! And there are still books I want to get.

[polishgenius]

It's slightly difficult for me to answer this question, since apart from certain books it's quite hard to get ahold of much fantasy around here, and I don't have that much money to buy anything that gets recommended.
I disagree with everyone who says that epic fantasy is stagnant at the moment: there aren't particularly many good authors writing it at the moment, but looking back at older books, that's always been the case, since epic fantasy is rather hard to write well. Erikson and Martin, are probably as good as any author who's ever written epic fantasy.
I agree with those who say that New Wierd is where it's at, though: Mieville and Gaiman are two of my favourite authors, and I really must get around to reading Vellum as soon as I can either borrow a copy or get the paperback (I'd get the hardback, but I can't afford it right now).
And the shallow but enjoyable end of the fantasy pool is still going strong, although nowadays I tend to read little out of that apart from Gemmell, unless it comes recommended.
And, of course, there's always Terry Pratchett.

[tickhill43]

In my opinion fantasy/sf is in the best state that it has ever been in.

There are alot of old authors still releasing quality novels such as Donaldson, GRRM, Gene Wolfe and Arthur C. Clarke.

There are dozens of decent authors who got there break in the last 10 years such as Hobb, Erikson, Vandermeer, Reynolds, Hamilton, McLeod, Bakkar and Mieville.

As well as this there are still interesting debut novels being realeased such as 'Johnathon Strange and Mr Norrel' and 'The Year of Our War'.

Overall it is in a brilliant state; sure theres alot of crap being published but when has that not been the case?

[polishgenius]

I'm going to bump this topic, I'm interested to see if anyone's got any new opinions after this last year or so of fantasy.

[ChrisW]

Can't say I've read much in the past year, but what I have has kept me content.

[McLovin]

I'm pretty happy with it right now.

[Werthead]

Things are pretty good at the moment, what with Abercrombie, Lynch, Bakker, Martin, Erikson, Kay, Hamilton, Reynolds, Morgan, Kearney, Asher, Suzanna Clarke and Gaiman all still producing interesting new works.

[jscottnelson]

I think it is important in reading fantasy to be open to changing one's opinions based on growing as a reader and learning to use one's imagination. I have found that over time books that I absolutely loved years ago are not enjoyable at all in a reread, and books that I did not enjoy long ago came to be very interesting and enjoyable when I tried them again later with new eyes from a new perspective in life.

I have to admit, when I started Erikson a couple years ago I got completely lost, had no affinity for the characters, and thought he could have benefited from an enormous amount of editing. Everything seemed like private jokes between characters that had no context, and I threw the books into a corner in disgust.

Over time in working on my own writing, I built a much better appreciation for the complexities of world-building, and I remembered that he had some pretty cool details. I started the series again a few months ago and am amazed at details and arcs that I find fascinating that I totally did not appreciate the first time through. I still think GOTM had some serious flaws and could have used more editing, but as I'm getting into the deeper series and see the connections and themes, I really do agree that Erikson is among the best.

So I'm trying to hold back my judgement on the state of the industry, knowing that my particular views are colored by the moment -- and I try to just give each book a fair chance.

(of course, I think that the bookshelves are missing one particular author that needs to be included -- and hopefully a publisher will see that soon! )

[stone monkey]

There's far more to read than just fantasy. If the genre's moribund - which it isn't - just read something else. Unless you're the most closed-minded reader on the planet, I can guarantee there'll be something else out there that you like.

ps. How the hell do you people get to-read lists that hold 40+ books? If I buy 5 books on a Saturday afternoon, I've read them by Monday morning.

[ChrisW]

obviously people arn't as super intelligent as you.

Dumb people usually take a few days to read a book and sometimes even weeks.

[caladanbrood]

Intelligence is not really what effects how fast you read - everyone reads at different speeds - it's effected more by concentration levels or, in a lot of cases, bank accounts;)

I read a book one average every fortnight, because I prefer soaking up the detail, and I'm quite easily distracted unless it's a very good book. That doesn't mean I'm stupid.

[McLovin]

I'm a fast reader usually, but recent years have pretty much forced me to read fiction only late at night in bed, which means I'm out cold within half an hour. Thus, it now takes at least a week to get through one book.