posted
I don’t post often, but I have been lurking for a while, and I had an idea for recommending authors. It seems like there are threads popping up all the time for author or book recommendations, and I thought something like the Harry Potter game would be a good way to consolidate it.
I would like to have different categories for authors to make it easier for people to find what they are looking for (i.e. science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, general fiction, romance, etc.). Feel free to move an author to a different category or add categories or sub categories if necessary. I think the kids list is too long for this thread, so I am starting another thread just for that, but feel free to add authors that are appropriate for adults as well as kids here.
Each author will start with 15 points and you can vote for them or against them. Here is how, you pick out three authors and either give them a + or – 2 and add or subtract accordingly. The difference is when an author gets down to 0, they don’t die; they can go into negative numbers so people to know what authors to avoid.
A couple more rules make sure that you vote for 3 people only per day and you give them + or – 2. You may add as many authors you want at any time (starting with a 15). Also, you may want to give reasons why you like or dislike an author, and/or a favorite, or least favorite book or series. Here is a starter list: Have fun everyone!
Science fiction
Orson Scott Card 15 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Dan Simmon 15 Robert Heinlien 15 George Orwell 15 Ray Bradbury 15 Douglas Adams 15 H. G. Wells 15
Fantasy
J.R.R. Tolkien 15 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Mercedes Lackey 15 Terry Pratchett 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 George R. R. Martin 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Terry Brooks 15
Horror
Stephen King 15 Dean Koontz 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15 Edgar Allan Poe 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
That’s enough to get us started, let’s get this list going.
Orson Scott Card 15 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Dan Simmon 15 Robert Heinlien 15 George Orwell 17 Ray Bradbury 15 Douglas Adams 15 H. G. Wells 15
Fantasy
J.R.R. Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Mercedes Lackey 13 Terry Pratchett 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 George R. R. Martin 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Terry Brooks 15
Horror
Stephen King 15 Dean Koontz 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15 Edgar Allan Poe 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
Orwell, Tolkien +2 Lackey, -2 If only I could take away more than 2...
Posts: 561 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Science Fiction OSC 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Dan Simmon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 George Orwell 17 Ray Bradbury 15 Douglass Adams 17 H.G. Wells 15
Fantasy JRR Tolkien 15 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Mercedes Lackey 13 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 George R. R. Martin 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Terry Brooks 15
Horror Stephen King 15 Dean Koontz 17 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15 Edgar Allan Poe 15
Mystery James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
+2 for Koontz, OSC, and Douglas Adams
Posts: 31 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Science Fiction OSC 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Dan Simmon 13 Robert Heinlen 15 George Orwell 17 Ray Bradbury 15 Douglass Adams 17 H.G. Wells 15
Fantasy JRR Tolkien 15 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Mercedes Lackey 13 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 George R. R. Martin 17 Gregory Maguire 15 Terry Brooks 13
Horror Stephen King 15 Dean Koontz 17 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15 Edgar Allan Poe 15
Mystery James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
George R.R. Martin +2 Dan Simmons, Terry Brooks -2
Posts: 1269 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Science Fiction OSC 17 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Dan Simmon 13
Fantasy George R. R. Martin 17 JRR Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13
Horror Dean Koontz 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15 Edgar Allan Poe 15
Mystery James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
Fixed the list so that the authors in each category are now ordered from highest score to lowest. Also, fixed Tolkien because I forgot to carry over his score from tern's chart.
Posts: 31 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Science Fiction OSC 19 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 15 Dan Simmon 13
Fantasy George R. R. Martin 17 JRR Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13
Horror Dean Koontz 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15 Edgar Allan Poe 15
Mystery James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
+2 to OSC, added Asimov
Posts: 187 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
+2: OSC, Dan Simmons, G.R.R. Martin Added: Frank Herbert (!!!), Ph. K. Dick (!!), Arthur C. Clarke (ok, I'm bored of exclamation signs...), A. E. van Vogt, Joe Haldeman, Norman Spinrad for SF; Roger Zelazny for Fantasy
Science Fiction
OSC 21 Dan Simmons 15 Frank Herbert 15 Ph. K. Dick 15 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15
posted
++ Edgar Allen Poe ++ Frank Herbert -- Dan Simmons
Science Fiction
OSC 21 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Frank Herbert 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 15 Ph. K. Dick 15 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15 Dan Simmons 13
Fantasy
George R. R. Martin 19 JRR Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 15 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Roger Zelazny 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13
Horror
Dean Koontz 17 Edgar Allan Poe 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
Posts: 1269 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Hmm, I'm wondering, are we allowed to vote more than one time for/against the same author? Seems a little bit strange because the +2/-2 limit doesn't mean much after that...
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Another thing: I'm not sure these long lists are really useful. A simpler way would be to post only your points and make a new list every 10-15 posts. It's just hard to see who voted what. And why, assuming that someone will actually post reasons. I intend to do that next time I post, and I'll try to give reasons for my first set of votes too.
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Alcon: You're missing some really good authors...
Boy, does she indeed! I could have listed some others, but I'll reserve that for my next post, I wanted to give people a shot at some of my favorite authors first. And she *did* say "That’s enough to get us started" so now it's up to us to fill the gaps.
Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003
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OSC 21 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Frank Herbert 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 17 Ph. K. Dick 17 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15 Dan Simmons 13
Fantasy
George R. R. Martin 19 JRR Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 13 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Roger Zelazny 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13
Horror
Dean Koontz 17 Edgar Allan Poe 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
+ Asimov + Philip K Dick - Robert Jordan
Posts: 853 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
"Hmm, I'm wondering, are we allowed to vote more than one time for/against the same author? Seems a little bit strange because the +2/-2 limit doesn't mean much after that..."
I agree with this. Then if there's one author that only one person on this board likes, but that person votes for them every single day, that author will get high points even though only one person likes him.
Maybe a better way to do this would be to just list all of the authors and then everyone posts a list of authors they recommend from the list and a list of authors they think people should avoid and everyone just makes one post with all of their recommendations. And then after alot of posts you could have one list that says how many times each author was recommended and how many times each author was given a negative vote.
Posts: 853 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Didn't mean to kill you, Corwin. My bad. (by the way, I started reading PKD not too long ago because I read a post that I think was from you that recommended him. If it was you who made that post, thanks!)
Posts: 853 | Registered: Feb 2004
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OSC 21 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Frank Herbert 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 19 Ph. K. Dick 17 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15 Dan Simmons 13 David Brin 17 Ben Bova 15 Kim Stanley Robinson 15 Lois McMaster Bujold 17
Fantasy
George R. R. Martin 19 JRR Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 13 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Roger Zelazny 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13 David Gemmel 15
Horror
Dean Koontz 17 Edgar Allan Poe 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
Added David Brin, Ben Bova, Kim Stanley Robinson, David Gemmel, Lois McMaster Bujold
+David Brin +Lois McMaster Bujold +Issac Asimov
I prefer the long list format. That way you can tally the points as you go, and you can always see how a person changed it by looking at the bottom of their post where they list what they did. I think compiling it every 15 posts would be a lot of work for no good reason.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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OSC 21 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Frank Herbert 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 19 Ph. K. Dick 17 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15 Dan Simmons 13 David Brin 17 Ben Bova 15 Kim Stanley Robinson 15 Lois McMaster Bujold 17 Jack Vance 17 Connie Willis 17
Fantasy
George R. R. Martin 19 JRR Tolkien 17 Robert Jordan 13 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Roger Zelazny 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13 David Gemmel 15 C. S. Lewis 17
Horror
Dean Koontz 17 Edgar Allan Poe 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 15
Added: Jack Vance (I put him in SF; he got Hugo & Nebula for The Dragonmasters, and The Last Castle, and deserved an award for his fantasy Lyonesse);
Connie Willis (mostly for her Hugo-Nebula Winner To Say Nothing of the Dog)
C. S. Lewis (for Narnia, and the 3 Perelandra books)
Posts: 1877 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I think the Brin's best book so far has been [i]Kiln People.[/url]. Fantastic book.
So how was it that the list composer decided to put George R. R. Martin in Fantasy, rather than either Science Fiction or Horror?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Except for The Sundiver (the first book). It was really bad, and you can safely skip it because all the important stuff is recapped in the later books. Startide Rising and The Uplift War were both enjoyable reads.
OSC 21 George Orwell 17 Douglass Adams 17 Frank Herbert 17 Robert Charles Wilson 15 Robert J Sawyer 15 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 19 Ph. K. Dick 17 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15 Dan Simmons 13 David Brin 17 Ben Bova 15 Kim Stanley Robinson 15 Lois McMaster Bujold 17 Jack Vance 17 Connie Willis 17
Fantasy
George R. R. Martin 19 JRR Tolkien 19 Robert Jordan 13 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Roger Zelazny 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13 David Gemmel 15 C. S. Lewis 17 Patricia McKillip 17
Horror
Dean Koontz 17 Edgar Allan Poe 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 17
Christie +2 Tolkien +2 Patricia McKillip added, +2 (A Riddle-Master of Hed was her greatest)
Posts: 1877 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
This always bothers me. What's the point of giving 15 points if all the votes are +/- 2? It'd make way more sense if the votes were +1 or -2. Plus the game would actually end.
Posts: 148 | Registered: Feb 2000
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OSC 21 George Orwell 17 Douglas Adams 17 Frank Herbert 17 Robert Charles Wilson 17 Robert J Sawyer 17 Kay Kenyon 15 Robert Heinlen 15 Ray Bradbury 15 H.G. Wells 15 Isaac Asimov 19 Ph. K. Dick 17 Arthur C. Clarke 15 A. E. van Vogt 15 Joe Haldeman 15 Norman Spinrad 15 Dan Simmons 13 David Brin 17 Ben Bova 15 Kim Stanley Robinson 13 Lois McMaster Bujold 17 Jack Vance 17 Connie Willis 17
Fantasy
George R. R. Martin 19 JRR Tolkien 19 Robert Jordan 13 David Eddings 15 Terry Pratchet 15 Joan D. Vinge 15 Diana Wynne Jones 15 Charles DeLint 15 Gregory Maguire 15 Roger Zelazny 15 Terry Brooks 13 Mercedes Lackey 13 David Gemmel 15 C. S. Lewis 17 Patricia McKillip 17
Horror
Dean Koontz 17 Edgar Allan Poe 17 Stephen King 15 Anne Rice 15 H.P. Lovecraft 15 John Saul 15 Bram Stoker 15 Mary Shelley 15
Mystery
James Patterson 15 Sue Grafton 15 John Grisham 15 Sara Paretsky 15 Agatha Christie 17
+2 Robert Charles Wilson (esp. Blind Lake ) +2 Robert J Sawyer (esp. Calculating God ) (I really like Canadian SF)
-2 Kim Stanley Robinson (40 Signs of Rain was BORING)
Posts: 241 | Registered: Aug 2003
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![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
I intend to do that next time I post, and I'll try to give reasons for my first set of votes too.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I could have listed some others, but I'll reserve that for my next post, I wanted to give people a shot at some of my favorite authors first. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
And she *did* say "That’s enough to get us started" so now it's up to us to fill the gaps.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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