Greetings all, I apologize for not posting the group reads poll until now, I suggest we leave it open for a few days so everyone can have their say. I hope I included a book from all those who sent in suggestions. If I did omit a suggestion please let me know immediately. I could either add it to this period's poll or make sure it comes up for May-June, 2009.
Thanks,

Missing suggestions. I seem to have left out Sabatini, Rafael's Scaramouche and H.G. Wells. I thought the poll would let me add more but apparently that's not an option once votes start coming in. I apologize and will add those to the next poll. I must say that even though neither writer really published in the Pulp Magazine both were quite influential, and I almost bought a copy of Scaramouche the other day at my local Barnes and Noble...

In the interests of consensus, I voted for Swords of Lankhmar, too. I've read one of Leiber's short stories featuring those characters, and I've always wanted to read more; so I'd be game to join in on that one, as well!

We have 14 choices up, by my count. Since I proposed the Lovecraft book, I'm willing to drop it, to thin the field a bit. After all, as I said before, I nominated the previous read, so it's best to give someone else a chance this time!

Tough choices, but since _Eldritch Horrors_ was just published and some of the others are OOP I’m going with that. In addition to stories by Henrik Harkens, Benjamin Szumskyj and Leigh Blackmoore, all of which I enjoyed but about which I must confess myself biased since they are all written by internet friends, I’ve found three other top notch and very original stories so far (not finished yet) by writers not formerly known to me. Some other tales closer to the Lovecraft mold may be preferred by others.

Most of the Lankhmar stories I read as short stories and enjoyed immensely. I once confided to Mr. Leiber that I’d read a good way into “When the Sea-King’s Away,” the first one I encountered, before I realized Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser were the heroes; they fit the mold of a pair of villains in a Conan story. He was amused.

At one point Mr. Leiber was, apparently, compelled by evil editors to rewrite some of the stories as novels, and I felt they were the worse for it.

Any suggestions regarding how to finalize group read selections when we have a large number of books receiving votes, as is the case right now. At present one book has 4 votes out of 22 cast if the poll were to end right now. Should we have a type of "run-off" system whereby the the top 2 or 3 (or 4 whatever) vote getters duke it out for the main prize, so to speak? Or should we just let the top vote getter be the one chosen?
Also, should there be a cut-off limit on nominations per month or should we continue to allow as many as possible?
Any other suggestions or ideas ?

Well, Swords of Lankhmar won the most votes for a book (5) but I note that Robert E. Howard books garnered a total of 7 votes (Almuric- 3, Sowers of the Thunder - 2, and The Riot at Bucksnort - 2). How would y'all feel about having a co-reads for March and April? Say, Swords of Lankhmar plus any other Fafhrd/GM stories anyone wants to throw into the mix along with a Howard story/book? Just an idea...

Is The Swords of Lankhmar a definite enough go that I should go ahead and see about getting an ILL copy next week?

Yes, I think so, if no one has any objections let's go with The Swords of Lankhmar by Fritz Leiber.

Sounds good! I'll get my hands on a copy ASAP.