Competing Books : Agent Enquiry - What is expected?

[Martyn]

I've now completed my synopsis and chapter synopsis's, I just need to give them a once over. I've drafted out an author bio, but the agent in question also asked about competing books?

Now what exactly does this mean? Does he mean previously successful similar books? Books with a similar theme that recently been released? Or something else? What should I write for this section?

And what really is a competing book? It's a fantasy novel with a certain amount of moral debating, leaning towards pragmatism. It has a more 'science' tone than most fantasy with things being explained in more depth than in traditional fantasy stories perhaps? It also, not so much book 1, but the whole series has a theme of atheism and loss of belief.

I really don't know quite what the competition is. Maybe Paulini's Inheritance Cycle? Maybe Pullman's Dark Trilogy? But these are really competing, they are highly successful series by established well known authors!

So has anyone got any advice on this?

Thanks,

Martyn

[Nick]

Very simple, the agent wants to know what published books your manuscript is similar to.

If you write Fantasy and you think your book is similar to LOTR, then say so. If you write historical fantasy set in early english lore, and you think your book is similar to what Bernard Cornwell writes, say so.

If you can not think of a single book that is like yours, say so, though the agent might feel you are not well read. Hard to say...

Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be...

[Marcy]

You can make it a selling point if you put it into the same category as Pullman's Dark Trilogy, but be sure to say you're aware it's not exactly competition since it's so hugely successful. Then throw in a less successful book and say how yours is better.

[Martyn]

Thanks guys, I've taken this on board and mentioned the 'Dark Trilogy' but I'm using it more as a suggestion that there's a market for fantasy fiction which has a positive theme of atheism. I don't think my book proposal is my greatest work - but I'm going to get a couple of people to give it a good look over before I send it.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Martyn