so-soI'm reviewing this for a local daily & my suspicions of anthologies with "best" in the title are confirmed. For what's touted "best", there's a lot of mediocrity. For what's touted "speculative", there's a lot of "I've read this exact story several times before". I know that's unfair & even lazy criticism—what's life, after all, but the same stories told over & over again—but it has to be distinctive, fresh. Mostly wanted these 456 pages to end ?
TrishB Honest review 👍🏻 5y
gradcat I agree with @TrishB ... furthermore, I‘ve never really thought about it, but now that you point it out, you‘re so right: Beware the “Best Of” books! I know I‘ve read other anthologies purporting to be “best” collections that are exactly as you describe this one. (edited) 5y
saresmoore When it comes to spec fic, I think the anthologizers should choose the stories that give them the most inexplicable, visceral response as a reader. My experience with the “best of” collections is similar to yours & I imagine there are too many tired criteria being used in the selection process (no doubt a healthy portion of favoritism, too). 5y
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batsy @TrishB It's rather dispiriting when a book is a chore :( 5y
batsy @gradcat @saresmoore You're both so right. Sara, I feel like that should be the main criteria for spec fic. Something that truly shakes you up inside. I think there's so much unexpected work being done by Asian writers but they publish in smaller online venues and go unnoticed (favouritism and connections definitely play a part!) 5y
fleeting I vote that the word "best" be forever eliminated in anthologies. 5y
Lindy @batsy 😐What a shame. Luckily for me, I‘m currently reading a Best of with excellent writing:![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png)
The Best American Food Writing 2018 5y
The Best American Food Writing 2018batsy @fleeting I completely agree! 5y
batsy @Lindy Oh, I'm glad to hear that! But now @fleeting and I will have to put our ban on hold 😁 5y
gradcat @batsy @saresmoore @fleeting @Lindy We can make an exception for food. Writing. For food writing! (Anything with food, and I‘m all in!). 😂 5y
Lindy @gradcat 😁👍 5y
batsy @gradcat I like the way you think! 😂 5y
Centique @Lindy I‘m keen on reading that too. Jenny spoke about it didn‘t she? It sounds so good 😍 5y
Centique Here‘s to the next book being completely different! #nomorechores 5y
Lindy @Centique Good memory! I heard about it on Jenny‘s @ReadingEnvy podcast. 5y
batsy @Centique Honestly, that's what life should be about 😂❤️ #nomorechores 5y
Cathythoughts Great work you are getting to do though ... exciting reviewing for the paper 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Cathythoughts They are so lucky to have you ♥️👍🏻 5y
batsy @Cathythoughts Thank you, sweet Cathy 💕 5y
GatheringBooks i hear you. this kind of review is exactly what authors need - particularly from southeast asia - to push the narrative further and to elevate the discourse somewhat to more than just pandering and relentlessly affirming, without being constructive. 5y
batsy @GatheringBooks Thank you, I felt like I was being too harsh so it helps to hear this. I never want to just pander, especially not when it's SE Asian writers and I know they can be and should be held to higher standards. 5y
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