Locus recommended reading list

[Kristenelle]

The Locus magazine recommended reading list just came out. Lots that I don’t recognize here! https://locusmag.com/2022/02/2021-rec...

[Oleksandr]

It is crazy - just after the list appeared I've made a thread about it here, adding two more sources for shorter works - it seems GR ate that post! Maybe too many links - suspected spam.

I've written there and I'll repeat here: I suggest splitting shorter works among several of us and reading them like we did last year. Any volunteers?

[Antti]

Oleksandr wrote: "It is crazy - just after the list appeared I've made a thread about it here, adding two more sources for shorter works - it seems GR ate that post!"

To add to the craziness, my notifications don't show that you have commented on this thread right here. Perhaps GR is again having one of it's rather-too-frequent glitches.

But as to the actual matter: it was pretty fun reading that list together last year: if we get enough volunteers that the amount of short works is manageable (something like last year), I'm in.

[Kalin]

I'm intrigued that Locus put On the Origin of Species and Other Stories by Bo-Young Kim on their recommended collections list instead of I'm Waiting for You and Other Stories, considering how good the latter was.

[Oleksandr]

I also see no notifications. This year short works finally got back printed mags, like Analog. If you want to read these contact me, I'll lend you my access to last year subscription

[Kristenelle]

I'm not seeing notifications on this thread either.

I think I missed out on the shared reading of shorter works last year, but I'm definitely interested in participating this year!

[Ed]

I often get notifications late. Even after I've already seen the thing I'm being notified of.

Anyway, that Locus list is yet another reminder that there is way more stuff published each year than anyone could actually read.

[Kalin]

Quite frankly, there's way more stuff on recommended lists each year than an average reader could actually read. Only people who hardcore dedicate themselves to just that would get anywhere close.

[MH]

I agree - its a very, very long list. A top 10 would be readable.

[Antti]

I don't know if the list is even meant to be read in full: I thought it was more of curated list of good stuff, so if you're contemplating on reading a 2021 book you can simply pick a title from the list and not be disappointed.

[Kristenelle]

Consider that I've made an earnest attempt to devote myself to reading 2021 releases this past year. I made some exceptions for challenges and readathons but I'd say easily 90% of what I read was a 2021 release. And I'd also say that I've been fairly admirably staying abreast of what is out there in terms of new releases.

2021 Fantasy novel releases read: 16
2021 Scifi novel releases read: 19
2021 SFF novels that I tried but dnf'd: 12

Now here are my Locus list stats:
Fantasy novels read/dnf: 10
Scifi novels read/dnf: 12
Horror novels read: 1
Novels haven't read total: 49
Novels haven't even heard of: 33

To be fair, I don't read a lot of horror or try to keep up with that genre, but I'm still really surprised at how many sff books I haven't even heard of. I do remember from last year that I wasn't super impressed with the list. I felt that it had left off some good ones and included some not great ones. In many ways it feels rather arbitrary. I think the Locus award short list last year ended up including several that were not on their recommended reading list. So I'm inclined to assume that the books on the list this year that I haven't heard of are probably just not that great. There might be some hidden gems, but I suspect I would have heard about most of the hidden gems by now.

[Kristenelle]

For novellas I've read 14 and dnf'd 4.

From the Locus list I've read/dnf 10 and never heard of 14.

Of my top 5 (Hugo nominations), only Comfort Me with Apples and The Past Is Red is on the Locus list. Where are Inside Man, We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep, and One Day All This Will Be Yours?

At least all but one of my top novels made this list. Ariadne was my favorite 2021 released novel and it isn't on the list. I have a feeling Ariadne isn't going to make many lists because it maybe feels more literary? What do you guys think? Have any of you read it? Did you like it?

[Kristenelle]

Antti wrote: "I don't know if the list is even meant to be read in full: I thought it was more of avurated list of good stuff, so of you're contemplating on reading a 2021 book you can simply pick a title from t..."

I think you're right, except I have several dnf's on the list. So there is still a good chance you'll be disappointed haha.

[Oleksandr]

Kalin wrote: "Quite frankly, there's way more stuff on recommended lists each year than an average reader could actually read. Only people who hardcore dedicate themselves to just that would get anywhere close."

I agree with Antti that it is more of 'look out for these titles, you may like them' than a real to-read list. However, for shorter works groups like ours can split the list and scan thru all listed works.

[Oleksandr]

Kristenelle wrote: "Where are ...One Day All This Will Be Yours?"

I guess Adrian Tchaikovsky's is still largely unknown in the US, so I was pleasantly surprised to see him in novels this year