jim@TYCHO.ARPA (09/07/85)
From: jim@TYCHO.ARPA (James B. Houser) Having been looking at AI type issues recently, I thought it would be interesting to write down the rules by which the decision is made whether to read a SF book or not. In other words, what is the search strategy used on a visit to your local book emporium. These rules immediately came to mind. (A given rule base would actually have a basic and personnalized portion.) Any thoughts? Decision Rules for SF Books Positive Indicators 1. If book is rewritten by an author you have previously liked. (This effect of this rule is a function of how recent the experience is. Sometime good authors peak and seriously decline ala MZB.) 2. If the cover information sounds good. 3. If you have the prerequisites for the book. (Fairly silly to buy book 42 of the Gorblatz trilogy if you haven't read at least one of the first 41.) 4. If the book is your Genre type. (I have observed that each person tended to read only certain genres of SF. These categories include; swords and sorcery, mechano-SF, psychic stuff, and so on.) 5. If the book is on your target list. (After all if 6 zillion people on SFL said a book is great you have to keep an eye out for it.) Negative Indicators 1. If the cover refers to Lord of the Rings or Tolkien. (Books like Sword of Sha-na-na fall into this category If the cover says something to the effect that "this book makes LOTR look like dog manure" don't even THINK about buying it.) 3. If the book is heavily illustrated. (This often results from trying to pass a short story off as a novel. See large print rule.) 4. If the publisher used very large type and wide spacing. 5. If book is found in convenience type store next to romances. 6. If book involves intelligent sea mammals. (Especially dolphins!) 7. If book is a cleverly concealed re-issue. (Can be hard to detect.) 8. If book is written by an author that you have had previous bad luck with. 9. If you have heard bad things about book from friends, net etc. (For example, Thomas Covenant the Unbelievable.) 10. If there is no cover blurb to speak of. -------
bahilchie@water.UUCP (Brian Hilchie) (09/09/85)
> Decision Rules for SF Books > Negative Indicators > 6. If book involves intelligent sea mammals. > (Especially dolphins!) I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who didn't like Startide Rising. Can't figure out why it won the Hugo and Nebula. If this was the best of the year it must have been a very bad year. Brian Hilchie {decvax,utzoo,ihnp4,allegra,clyde}!watmath!water!bahilchie
Caro.PA@Xerox.ARPA (09/11/85)
From: Caro.PA@Xerox.ARPA Actually, I think this would tend to tell more about the writer of the rules than anything else, i.e. I happen to LIKE smart dolphin stories! Here's my set of decision rules, in no particular order: 1. Author Name Recognition -- if it's Zelazny, it must be worth reading, etc. 2. Recommendation From a Friend -- "I don't CARE if you think Piers Anthony is a repetitious, misogynous, money hungry sot! Read 'On a Pale Horse' or I'll KILL you!" 3. Random -- Better than 3 on a six-sided die. 4. [Very rarely] Craving For a Theme -- such as my recent search for computer science fiction. I make a point of NEVER reading a back-cover blurb or teaser page until AFTER I have read the book (such things are ALWAYS inaccurate and usually spoilers.) I try not to let cover art influence me, but sometimes it does. Reviews are anathema to me, therefore I cannot base decisions on such. Perry
Fournier.pasa@Xerox.ARPA (09/13/85)
From: Fournier.pasa@Xerox.ARPA I'm afraid that I tend to head TOWARDS books with intelligent sea mammals, although I can't say much for DAY OF THE DOLPHIN in either book or film form. There have been one or two others that stank. A couple of years ago there was a story in Galaxy called "The Girl and the Dolphin" whose plot I could pretty much guess before I read the story: I was right, but I still kinda liked the story in spite of it. However, I always thought it was too bad that John Meyers (I think that was the last name: it's been a while) (DOLPHIN BOY, DAUGHTERS OF THE DOLPHIN and DESTINY OF THE DOLPHINS) died before he finished the fourth book, so that I'd know what happened after the end of DotD. I certainly enjoyed David Brin's books on the Uplift saga, and hope he writes more. Marina Fournier <Fournier.pasa@Xerox.ag> (Whose home and office, in spite of my using a Dandelion, are littered with dolphin art work, jewelry, and other paraphenalia, many given by friends . And I *can't* stand unicorns, in spite of the fact that some of my well-intentioned friends think "well, she likes fantasy, so she must like..."! I also avoid overly cutesy/cartoony dolphins, but have Wyland's realistic-but-silly PUNK DOLPHIN on my wall at work.)