Call for a Co-Moderator

[Dan]

Greetings Folks. I have an announcement:

As of December 31, 2024, I am stepping down from moderating the monthly polls and the monthly group reads. The main reason is, I have little to no interest in reading the works that have been winning. The last time my nomination won a poll was in May. If someone had run something against it, anything really, my favorite group read of this year, Lin Carter's Simrana Cycle, would have never been selected group read. I'm under no illusions. Moderating the seven poll winners since then has been more work than pleasure, and I don't feel I did that great a job of it.

It seems clear my tastes have diverged from the majority of the membership's taste. My take on Mieville, for example, is "Meh, if you have read one of his works, you've read them all. Who wants to repeat that torture?" Horror, as a genre in and of itself, I could take or leave. No one here, I realize, agrees with me on that, or a lot of stuff for that matter. The membership needs a moderator who better alligns with them, someone willing to help this poor old moderator out, solicit and field nominations, run the polls, and host the monthly group read poll winner discussions. I therefore make (repeat) a request, or open call, for a moderator willing to take over that task.

If, and only if, someone steps up to do that, will poll winner group reads continue in a form like they currently are, modified, of course, however that co-moderator sees fit. I share power; I don't preside. That aspect of this group will become his or her baby! If no one wants to do it, and that's entirely possible--this isn't a paid gig after all--then that function in this group dies as of 2024. R.I.P.

This does not mean that the Weird Fiction group is going away in 2025, or that we're becoming defunct. I will stay on as a moderator. I have an exciting new initiative to announce next weekend to replace the Lovecraft series, for example.

Please message me directly if you have an interest in co-moderating the GoodReads Weird Fiction group. Hey, if nothing else, it would be a great bullet on your resume!

[Kevan]

In the short time I've been here I've sincerely appreciated your efforts. I've really enjoyed reading your comments and analysis of the stories. I'm looking forward to whatever you have in store next after Lovercraft!

TBH, if you were happy to consider it, I would enjoy a moderator's choice every month that went along with a community choice. Members can read one or read both, catering for the span of what is weird fiction these days. Something I really appreciate is your knowledge of the genre, which is impossible to discover looking at the weird fiction genre tag in Good Reads, so that would actually make the group more enjoyable for me personally. Whatever the outcome, thanks for your efforts!

[Rosemarie]

Thanks for all your work, Dan!

[Dan]

Kevan wrote: "In the short time I've been here I've sincerely appreciated your efforts. I've really enjoyed reading your comments and analysis of the stories. I'm looking forward to whatever you have in store ne..."

Thank you for the kind words Kevan and Rosemarie. I considered, but am not a fan of moderator-selected group reads. I have seen them used in a few other groups I have been in and it just feels too dictatorial to me.

I have read only about 50% of the books on our bookshelf, partially read maybe 35% of the others, and never touched the other 15%. I'd like to get the read figure to at least 90%, and think I may have an opportunity now. The topics of past group reads never die and can always be revisited any time.

My next personal weird fiction read I will start in early January solo. I doubt any other active member would have an interest in reading it. The novel is An Evil Guest by the late Gene Wolfe. It's a "stand-alone supernatural horror novel in the Lovecraftian tradition with a 1930s noir atmosphere," according to the cover blurb. The reason I don't think there will be an interest is because Gene Wolfe is known in science fiction circles, and even better known by fantasy readers, but virtually unknown in horror circles, from which most of our members seem to come. I wonder why the book has a 3.11 GR rating though. Might be a stinker.

[Dan]

I am sorry; I am changing my mind. I have received private messages about how much a few people enjoy this group, so I want to keep the group going. I will keep running the polls as I have been. If a work gets voted in that I don't care for, like the one this month, I'll just run it and not read or comment much on it. Others are free to, of course. I'm still, as always, open to bringing on a co-moderator. Please message me if you have any interest in that.

[Rosemarie]

Thanks for changing your mind, Dan.
I'm a moderator in a number of groups and I've discovered- You can't read them all!
If a book I nominated wins the poll, then I read that book.

[Dan]

Good policy! Looks like reading next month's book is a lock for me then.

[Kevan]

Thank you Dan, really appreciate your ongoing work to manage the group.

[Nicolai Alexander]

I just saw this thread, and I am so happy you decided to change your mind, Dan. I have also really appreciated your contributions to this group. I've enjoyed reading your takes, and I feel like I've learned so much about weird fiction because of you. These reads and discussions have been a highlight of my reading life ever since I joined in the summer of 2023. I am grateful to you and this group!

[Zina]

hey did you do Gene Wolfs book already? If not yet, I am interested. I have his Long Sun books in the queue, but would also do the other one you mentioned.

[Dan]

An Evil Guest remains on my tbr stack. I am reluctant to nominate it. The reviews of it here at GoodReads are not promising.

[Zina]

Dan wrote: "An Evil Guest remains on my tbr stack. I am reluctant to nominate it. The reviews of it here at GoodReads are not promising."
I looked at some. It appears the heaviest criticism comes from some hairbrained girls (too much goinng on, can't understand, he doesn't get female mind). From people who do appear to have a clue - looks like a bit too much dialogue and too much exposition/explanation (even thoughh obviously nnot enough for the abovementioned).
If you want to do a buddy read - I'm in, perhaps later. I am still only 33% on llast monnths' read haha.