It is not possible to read all the Sci-Fi books out there. So you must have a process for selecting what you do read. Reading a book is an investment in your time. Your time is valuable. No one wants to waste that time reading unworthy books.
I have never codified my criteria. And it has changed and evolved over time. I suspect it will continue to change moving forward, as who I am tomorrow is not who I was yesterday.
What is your criteria to date?
Mine is that it must meet ALL the following criteria, some objective and some subjective.
- it must have at least 1,000 reviews
- it must have at least 70% 5-star reviews
- if after reading about it I get the suspicion that it’s a romance disguised as Sci-Fi, I automatically reject it no matter what
- if it’s YA, it really needs to be exceedingly compelling to choose it
- Space Opera also needs to be exceedingly compelling
- if I get the feeling it’s trying to preach I’ll reject it
- if i get the feeling it has (messaging, strong opinions, or political overtones) about today’s societal issues, I probably won’t choose it. Not judging; I primarily read for escapism.
I guess that’s about it. There’s probably more but I just haven’t put that much thought into it yet.
I’m very interested in how y’all decide to choose a book to spend your valuable time reading.
First off the concept, as introduced on the back of the book, or in book-yakking circles (like this) or such must be something that interests me in some way. This means that if the books seems too political in focus (“left” or “right”), for example, I don’t engage. That’s not what I read SF books for.
Second, if the concept intrigues, I have to get a hint that it isn’t just a rehashing of something I’ve already read. I need to read a new take on a concept, not Yet Another Evil Empire Cut Down By Rebels space opera, complete with laser swords, say…
Third, if it gets to this stage, I’ll find a free ecopy somewhere and I’ll read the first 50 pages in a “try before you buy” thing. The author has to grab my interest in 50 pages, no more. If by page 50 I’m not sufficiently intrigued that I’m willing to shell out money, I don’t shell out money. The ebook is deleted and the book is put into my mental “do not enage” bin alongside books whose very concepts don’t interest me.
If, however, by page 50 the book intrigues me, I’ll start the difficult task of hunting down hardcopy and buy it when I find it.
Play Books has ~50pg samplers for just about everything I’ve been on the fence about. If it’s got me by 50pg in I’m probably interested enough to read the rest of it. They (Play Books) don’t always have the best eBook quality so I try to buy from Barnes and Noble when I can but I end up buying a lot of ~$2 sale books on the play store as well.
Play is not accessible to me; that’s not an avenue I can travel down. I basically have to pirate as a try-before-I-buy thing.
And I don’t buy e-books for reading. (I’ll by them for reference works, game rules, etc. but not reading books.) I buy books. It’s a quirk of mine.
I understand and agree regarding a stale take on an existing trope. It is hard to find a new take on a concept, but just as you, that is exactly what I’m looking for too.
After a couple hours of reading, do I still care?
I know I may miss some gems this way, but my reading list is longer than my available time.
I check cover and blurb, maybe see if there are other books by the author, and give it a chance.
1000 reviews? Nah. I like to read new authors with fresh ideas.
If it’s only 999 reviews, don’t expect me to be the 1000th reviewer.
Honestly I just read the biggest classics and hits. Usually they’re classics for a reason, and even if it’s not to my liking, at least I learn something new and can cross it off the bucket list.
Now that I think about it, scifi is somewhat monocultural - is that a word? - this way. The consensus what’s good and what’s not, and why, seems to be higher than in real world fiction.
I do listen to more audioshows than books and it’s kinda the same. If something becomes very popular, it’s likely to be better than average. Although I’ve found some sleeper hits too, and nothing really bad. Producing an audio show is probably harder than writing a book.
The cover
Strangely I don’t choose based on any set criteria and my choices often change with my mood. However, I have a threshold that the book must cross to be kept, so that at some point I will reread it knowing what mood im in and looking for that style, otherwise I donate it.
What’s the threshold? Can you articulate it, or is it more of a feeling to match your mood, or something like that?
Mood, absolutely. For example if I want something lighthearted & somewhat whimsical I’ll pick up J. Scalzi or Hamilton, books, usually during our busy season when I just need to unwind) When when I want something to ponder over, have more time on my hands (slow season) I’ll pick up A. Reynolds or S. Baxters. When I’m in a shit mood and want to know someone is having a worse time it’ll be G. Bear, or a couple other single titles (ship of fools, an exchange of hostages, armour, etc) And then there is absolute space trash for pure escapeism, usually the horus heresy.
That is interesting and a good way to do it. What about authors you haven’t heard of? How do you filter those?
Luck…pure and simple. I just finished a trilogy my son started last year and gifted him the 2 other books because…eeeech they were no bueno. I usually always finish the book because it may turn and be interesting…bit if not I give them away.
One reason I love libraries is that I can ask random strangers for suggestions.
My criteria aren’t as complex. I usually read the summary or the first sentences and if there is an idea that sounds new to me I will read the book. If it annoys me in the first 100 pages I give up.
That’s nice and easy. I didn’t say it in my post, but I too will commit to reading the first 100 pages before deciding whether to go on or abandon it.
I’m a newbie when it comes to reading novels. But I realized that a lot of movies or series I’ve seen are based on books. It’s far easier to get through a book if you already have visual references for the characters and scenes. It’s also nice to go back and experience the story from a diffrent perspective. It’s like reading with training wheels.
Understood. I like seeing the movie or series after reading the book, for some reason.
Do I crave to read it today? If that happens every day the book is good. If it feels like a chore the book is trash.
You really only ever know that after the fact, right?
Anyway - mainly from recommendations from either people I know personally, or online people that I know I often share taste with.
Needs to be at least a 3 book series, but preferably 5+.
I like the sound of it from the blurb.
It’s on Smashwords.
I like the front cover and it doesn’t have an obnoxious sticker on it.
Edit: the 1k review thing isn’t bad but the 5 star thing is. I’m too jaded with people giving 5 stars because the item was delivered quickly…
Well, when the award nominee lists come out, I jump on those if they sound like books I’d like. And of course, new books by past authors I like. And generally books that I start seeing a lot of people reviewing favorably or just getting a lot of buzz I will at least evaluate.
My decision is primarily based on if the concept of the book appeals to me, and general reviews, but reviews don’t make or break the decision. If a book is for YA but sounds like an interesting concept, then I’ll go for it!
