Post by Lynn McGuirePost by D B DavisPost by Lynn McGuirePost by J. ClarkeOn Sat, 24 Nov 2018 14:27:11 -0600, Lynn McGuire
Post by Lynn McGuirePost by J. ClarkeOn Sat, 24 Nov 2018 12:42:33 -0600, Lynn McGuire
Post by Lynn McGuirePost by J. ClarkeOn Fri, 23 Nov 2018 23:47:43 -0600, Lynn McGuire
Post by Lynn McGuirePost by Robert WoodwardPost by Lynn McGuire"25 Best Science Fiction Books of 2018" by Dan Livingston
https://best-sci-fi-books.com/25-best-science-fiction-books-of-2018/
"In 2018, a lot of science fiction writers got weird. They gave us
happiness machines, time-traveling detectives, dragons, deadly
intergalactic singing contests, a superhero whose power is math, and
disappearing shadows. Good stuff."
I have not even bought any of these books, including the bonus book.
I don't remember even hearing about 18 of them.
The scary thing is that he read all 26 and 2018 has over a month to go.
Why is that scary? I've read or listened to 33 since June 5, and
that's not including what I've read for work.
That assumes that he does not have an SBR at all. And no rereads.
SBR?
I am sorry, I should not use any acronyms without defining them.
Ted is correct, SBR = Strategic Book Reserve. I have 400+ books in my
SBR. The wife is continuously telling me to reduce it and not buy any
more books until I get rid of the double stacking. I do not comply.
What purpose is served by buying a bunch of books that you may not
read for another ten years?
Because they may not be available when I am ready to read them. Just in
time is horrible thing for inventories.
That's a mighty fine answer Lynn! It's more logical than Spock himself.
There's over a hundred _Perry Rhodans_ in my own SBR, along with a
couple dozen Robin Cooks, and another couple dozen titles by various
other authors. The PRs and the Cooks were purchased as a collection.
Other than that, logic fails me and my own SBR may indicate little more
than obsessive bibliophilic irrationality...
Here is a great example why. I bought this book for $12.95 in 2017. It
is now for sale for $30 used or $48 new, one year later ! The collapse
of Amazon's POD (print on demand) business is really messing with the
self publishing business.
https://www.amazon.com/Outland-World-Lines-1-Dennis-Taylor/dp/150563119X/
A corollary to Strategic Book Reserves is books bought but never read to
the bitter end:
I saw reported somewhere that 50% of books purchased are never
actually read—at least not to the end. I have also noticed in
my own reading of contemporary books that many of them start
out strong but eventually fall off a cliff. My best guess is
that the authors of such works managed to secure generous
advances for agreeing to deliver a finished manuscript
according to a strict deadline. With a looming due date,
authors hoping to obtain future contracts may be more
concerned with retaining good relationships with their agent
and publisher than with taking the time necessary to produce a
satisfying finish to a book filled with promise, at least
judging by the query letter and opening chapter used to woo
acquisitions editors. Many writers also know, however, deep
down inside, that the best books, the ones which stand the
test of time, rather than achieving momentary popularity as a
result of dizzying marketing blitz campaigns, are not
constrained by deadlines. They are finished when they are
finished and not one moment before.
https://libertarianinstitute.org/foreign-policy/hunting-human-beings-is-not-the-good-life-brett-velicovichs-drone-warrior/
✍
Thank you,
--
Don