When picking the “best” books of the 21st century thus far, a famous writer was late in throwing together his list. It consisted of novels that spoke strongly to his heart. His remark got me thinking about how I select books to review and to nominate for awards like the Hugos, Nebulas, etc. Is it more from my heart or my head? Because this can look like an opaque process to readers, authors, etc. I’d like to give you some insights into how I go about it. Please keep in mind that each reviewer and nominator has their own method.
First, I pick out a few books I want to consider reviewing before I’ve read them. Some are works by writers I’ve enjoyed reading in the past. Others are wholly new to me. I especially try to find debut novels and new voices in our field. Next, I consider what seems apt to appeal to readers of Analog Magazine. This consists mainly of science fiction, but does stray into science fantasy, and collections that include pure fantasy.
Next, I always give books at least thirty pages to capture and hold my interest, which seems only fair. However, there is no reason to keep going if the plot, characters, or prose simply don’t do much for me.
I also think about what I can say about a novel that will be helpful to readers. Some react strongly to novels told in first person, or from multiple viewpoints, or that do not follow a strictly chronological timeline. I must be choosy because I only have room for about six books per column.
Here’s what I don’t do: I almost never select books by the best selling authors in the field. Many readers will already be familiar with at least some of their past works and do not need my advice when deciding if they want to delve into the latest one. Then too, these writers get reviewed all over the place. I would rather let readers know about gems that might otherwise go unremarked.
Nominating novels and short fiction for awards is a little different for me. Works I read and loved spring to mind right away. Ah, but there are always others that have drawn lots of attention and praise. I’ll give a bunch of them a shot, by which I mean at least a few pages. Even so, it’s not possible to read more than a small portion of what comes out each year. Here is where my heart clamors to focus on my friends’ pieces first and my head tells me to broaden my perspective. I tend to split the difference while quietly bemoaning the lack of the super power I want most: the ability to read ten times faster with perfect understanding and recall.