In Science Fiction, some awards have become almost meaningless as they came to be dominated by interests other than the pure enjoyment of a truly good story. The Hugo Awards, for example, have descended into a left/right catfight. They have become as meaningless as a Nobel Peace Prize.
Some, like yours truly, have entirely stopped reading about awards after getting burned once too many times and rely almost entirely on word of mouth or serendipity to find new authors and worthwhile books.
Our recent discussion of "The winners of the 2018 Hugo Awards" brought the idea (from bzipitidoo) that perhaps Soylent News could do a better job of pointing out new works of Science Fiction that could be of interest to soylentils and janrinok supported the idea, going so far as offering a kidney to the best author. (I think he's British, so he might have meant a kidney pie. [Not true, but funny])
Mind you, we would need to separate Science Fiction from Sci-Fi, Fantasy and other genres that have been mishmashed into one by most publishers and awards organizations.
So what do you think? What is the best new author/book in Science Fiction?
(Score: 2) by EventH0rizon on Friday August 24 2018, @12:49AM (4 children)
I think this is a great idea.
But rather than just judging new books I'd love to see other Soylentils views of any SF title, like a SN Rotten Tomatoes.
If, before I fork out for the next Great Thing, I could see how other readers of this site rated it, I'd be that much more confident.
I am always looking for something to fill the void left by Ian M Banks. I still can't believe he's gone.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @12:52AM (3 children)
Maybe we can organize a book club in the journals and submit reviews to the main page under a "Community Review" section?
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Friday August 24 2018, @01:00AM
That's exactly what the Community Reviews nexus is for. We would also be willing to put a book club thing on the front page in that nexus. For example, 1 post at the start of the month telling you to read a book, and another post after 1 month discussing the book and picking another one. In between, we could use the poll to vote on a selection of choices.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @01:46AM (1 child)
Huh, in a twisted way this whole left/right fight might end up with conservatives broadening their horizons as they find solidarity amongst other cultures. The Lord of Pasta works in mysterious ways.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 24 2018, @05:15AM
May his noodly appendage reach out to you in your moment of need. Pasta-man.