Dean's World

Honestly, I'm terrible about picking new books. I tend to find out about some by talking to friends with known tastes like mine. Sometimes I like their suggestions, sometimes they're good enough to read once, and sometimes I just can't get through them.

I find that I prefer to stick to an author I know rather than find someone new. I'll find someone new when I have to, but generally try to avoid it.

I think the main point about Seth's post is that the bestseller list is bogus. Entirely and utterly fictional. And yet people keep it as a mark of quality. I don't know if other bestseller lists would have the same kind of impact, because who would vet it? Oprah certainly can do that, because she's got an army of O-bots ready to do whatever she says, but it doesn't seem like anyone else would be able to do that.

To your question: I pick new books by going to a mega-book-store, like Barnes and Noble, and looking on the shelf. Sadly, I go by which covers grab me, which story synopses look good. Spaceships? Good. Dragons, not so much. Sometimes I'll look for books that are part of a series, and try to get the first book in the series, or the first book in the setting, because I love when authors explore deeper in a universe. One of my favorite authors, Julie Czerneda, writes 3-novel story arcs. I absolutely love these because they allow a depth and richness to the characters that can develop over the books. It's also obvious that the stories tie together, and are written with the entire arc in mind. Her latest series in paperback, the Species Imperative Trilogy was just outstanding, and I've recommended it to 3 other friends who enjoyed it just as much as I did.

I also like things like Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, because they stay in that universe. It doesn't matter as much to me WHAT the universe is, just that it stays mostly consistent and interesting.