WFC and a clarification about reviews
Oct. 27th, 2004 01:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
msagaraI'm going to Tempe for the World Fantasy Convention this year. I'm going to arrive at 9:24 a.m. Since it's my firm belief that in a kind universe, no one would actually be awake at 9:24 a.m. (and yes, this does make my belief in the kindess of the universe a tad on the shaky side overall), I'm not really looking forward to getting to the airport. As in, on time. As in, while they'll still let me on the plane.
Assuming I'm awake enough to stand in the right line.
It occurs to me that I should clarify things a bit. Which usually happens when I'm off in rant territory <wry g>.
I really love reading book blogs and LJs in which readers discuss the books they're reading. I realize that I don't discuss this much myself -- and that's partly because my reading time has been so vastly diminished over the years that I mostly read for F&SF. I start a lot now that I don't finish -- and when I was younger, I finished everything.
But there are books I do get to read for the sheer pleasure; when I can mix work and pleasure so much the better. Sometimes I read things that I don't review but liked, and I hand sell those.
When I said I don't care about amazon reviews, what I really meant was that I don't care about their ratings, their star systems, etc; there seems to be some external sense, at times, that it's like a contest with booby prizes.
I don't get a cogent sense of the reviewer when I browse amazon.com, which is why I don't do it anymore (for fiction, as others have pointed out). Reading someone's book journal is entirely different -- there's a context, and an established tone and voice that tie in the book talk in a way that makes it seem -- to me -- somehow more vital; less about a single book and more about the sheer energy and joy -- and frustration -- of the process of reading itself.
Since reading compulsively was what, in the end, brought me to writing, it remains a joy to me, and also a curiosity; even though I've worked in a bookstore for years, there's a keen anticipation when opening new covers that is unlike almost anything else. It's magic.
This doesn't, sadly, mean that I'm not opinionated -- I'm well aware that this could be considered one of my cardinal sins. Well, sharing so much of the opinion, at any rate <wry g>.
Is anyone here going to be at the World Fantasy Convention?
Assuming I'm awake enough to stand in the right line.
It occurs to me that I should clarify things a bit. Which usually happens when I'm off in rant territory <wry g>.
I really love reading book blogs and LJs in which readers discuss the books they're reading. I realize that I don't discuss this much myself -- and that's partly because my reading time has been so vastly diminished over the years that I mostly read for F&SF. I start a lot now that I don't finish -- and when I was younger, I finished everything.
But there are books I do get to read for the sheer pleasure; when I can mix work and pleasure so much the better. Sometimes I read things that I don't review but liked, and I hand sell those.
When I said I don't care about amazon reviews, what I really meant was that I don't care about their ratings, their star systems, etc; there seems to be some external sense, at times, that it's like a contest with booby prizes.
I don't get a cogent sense of the reviewer when I browse amazon.com, which is why I don't do it anymore (for fiction, as others have pointed out). Reading someone's book journal is entirely different -- there's a context, and an established tone and voice that tie in the book talk in a way that makes it seem -- to me -- somehow more vital; less about a single book and more about the sheer energy and joy -- and frustration -- of the process of reading itself.
Since reading compulsively was what, in the end, brought me to writing, it remains a joy to me, and also a curiosity; even though I've worked in a bookstore for years, there's a keen anticipation when opening new covers that is unlike almost anything else. It's magic.
This doesn't, sadly, mean that I'm not opinionated -- I'm well aware that this could be considered one of my cardinal sins. Well, sharing so much of the opinion, at any rate <wry g>.
Is anyone here going to be at the World Fantasy Convention?
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Date: 2004-10-27 12:42 pm (UTC)Have fun! And please return with at least one good rant, okay?
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Date: 2004-10-27 06:29 pm (UTC)I find them smaller than a Worldcon, so it's a bit easier to meet up with people -- but I think there is some push to have WFC considered the professional convention, (except run by fen). I like Worldcons a lot, but part of the reason I started going to WFCs in preference when I could only go to one in the early years was that WFC is a shorter con (or was), and it meant I could go for two days, be away from the kids for two days, and still get things done without feeling as if I'd missed every panel and author I might otherwise desperately want to see.
DAW editors go to both, which is why it was a choice between the two; as the kids have gotten older, I try to go to both -- but I had a great time at Confluence this summer.
Have fun! And please return with at least one good rant, okay?
LOL!