Challenge Questions

[Becky, Moddess]

Julie wrote: "What's the official definition of HF for the challenge again? Takes place 30 years before it was written?"

I'm ok with around 20.

[Evelina A.]

Hi Becky - Is historical fantasy an acceptable sub-genre of historical fiction in the challenge? Do you consider A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin historical fantasy for an HF point? Thanks!

[Becky, Moddess]

I don't think so Evelina... I will accept certain amounts of taking a HF in a real world setting and making it into something fantasyish by adding magic or whatever... but if it's not set on earth in a clearly historical setting, I can't count it for a HF task or for the HF point. It would be eligible for any other task it would fit though.

[Evelina A.]

Sounds good to me, Becky. I chose it for "adapted into a movie" which works for any genre.

[Becky, Moddess]

Evelina A. wrote: "Sounds good to me, Becky. I chose it for "adapted into a movie" which works for any genre."

That works. :)

[Evelina C]

What happens when the first edition which comes up on the goodread site is a Kindle? How do I figure the page number?

[Becky, Moddess]

I guess in that case we would go with the first book edition.

[Evelina A.]

Becky, I had a problem with the page amounts for one of my tasks, Zemindar, published in the 80s. The popular copy hadn't any page amounts listed, (several editions didn't). I went ahead and listed my edition with the exact page amount for now. How do you feel we should best handle this circumstance?

[Becky, Moddess]

That's fine Evelina... The rule was put in place to even out page count variations between editions, so if I read an edition that has 800 pages and someone else reads an edition that has 600, we wouldn't get a different bonus for the same book.

If it's an obscure book and we have to go with the actual page counts, we can do that. We can even do it so that if someone else does read the same obscure book, they would get the same bonus amount you did.

We're flexible... not sticklers, just trying to be fair. :)

[JC]

I'm nearly finished with a book that I thought was going to be HF, but it's not. I still want to use it for the challenge, but would like to switch spots with another book I've already posted, and that book can be used in a task I've not yet posted. (making any sense?) Is switching books around allowed after they've been posted?

[Maude]

I think that is OK JenC - just tell me what you want done and give me the name of the new book.

[JC]

Maude wrote: "I think that is OK JenC - just tell me what you want done and give me the name of the new book."

Thanks Maude - I've finished the book:
Spell of the Highlander I want to use it for Task 50.1 - Continue a series. I had previosly posted Linger for that task and would like to move it to 5.2 - any YA. I've already claimed the 50 points for Task 50.1, plus 4 bonus points. Luckily the bonus points are the same, so now I'll just add 5 points for task 5.2, with 4 bonus points for length for a total of 9 points added to my total, which is now 301. What would you like me to post on the actual challenge thread?

[Maude]

Post Spell of the Highlander to Task 50.1.
Post Linger as "Move to 5.2. Then add the correct points as you would usually do. I'll take care of the rest.

[JC]

Maude wrote: "Post Spell of the Highlander to Task 50.1.
Post Linger as "Move to 5.2. Then add the correct points as you would usually do. I'll take care of the rest."

whew!! thanks so much!

[Gayle]

For task 25.5 - 2 books in same time period from different countries: Would you consider 2 books both set before the year 1000 in the same time period even though they are about 300 years apart?

[Becky, Moddess]

Gayle wrote: "For task 25.5 - 2 books in same time period from different countries: Would you consider 2 books both set before the year 1000 in the same time period even though they are about 300 years apart?"

Yes, Gayle... That's fine :)

[Gayle]

Sweet, thanks!

[Jeane]

I am pretty sure it ahs been asked already but: continue a serie you already started..... can it be the third book if you read the two first?

[Becky, Moddess]

Jeane wrote: "I am pretty sure it ahs been asked already but: continue a serie you already started..... can it be the third book if you read the two first?"

Of course. :)

[Jeane]

:-) Great! Inkdeath gets the honour!

[Jeane]

There is a task to read a book suggested in the 'what should I read' thread but I cna't find where that is....anybody able to guide me?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

for the read 2 HF that have the same word in the title by two different authors. I assume we can't use little words like A,the, on, in etc.

[Becky, Moddess]

Correct, Jayme

[Jeane]

Heather wrote: "here you go Jeane....

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3..."

thanks:-)

[Evelina A.]

I'm thinking of using Cutting for Stone for Linda's task but I need to know if it classifies as HF. It says on the back cover it takes place from the 1940s to the present.

[Becky, Moddess]

That's fine Evelina. :)

[Gayle]

Oh great and powerful moderator......I have a question regarding challenge 15.1: a book on witches or the trial of witches. Many people of the time considered Catherine de Medici a "witch". Would a book about her be acceptable for the task? If not, that's ok, I can use it for another task as well. :)

[Becky, Moddess]

If she was tried as a witch, or if that aspect is a large part of the story, then yes, but if not, then no.

[Gayle]

OK, that's fair. Guess I'll find out as I read the book!

[southpaw285]

I have a question. I'm trying to find someplace to fit Dragonfly in Amber for Challenge #4. I've already posted points for Task 50.1, or I would put it there.

My question is, is Dragonfly in Amber considered enough of an "alternate history" book that it could be applied to the 3rd Place Task for Challenge #3, or is it even considered fantasy/alternate history?

If so, I would use Dragonfly in Amber for Challenge #4, Task #20.6.

[Becky, Moddess]

I'd say it would count as fantasy SP, because of the magical time-travel aspect (although I've only read the first one - series readers confirm?). I don't think it would count as much for alternative history - I consider that to be books where it takes a shift from the course history actually took... Like if the Confederacy won the Civil War, etc.

[southpaw285]

Becky wrote: "I'd say it would count as fantasy SP, because of the magical time-travel aspect (although I've only read the first one - series readers confirm?). I don't think it would count as much for alternati..."

Thanks Becky. I can't really tell from reading the descrpition if time-travel is involved. I do see it shelved as both Fantasy and Time-Travel, but I know that is not always correct.

If so though, it could be used for Challenge #4, Task #20.6 (re: Challenge #3, 3rd Place Task) right?

[Becky, Moddess]

Oh... yeah.. sorry. I'm out of it today. Yes, you could use it for that.

[JC]

southpaw285 wrote: "I have a question. I'm trying to find someplace to fit Dragonfly in Amber for Challenge #4. I've already posted points for Task 50.1, or I would put it there.

My question is, is [bo..."

I have it down for 20.3 - HF with woman's name in title (Amber) but now you've got me quesioning if enough of it is in the past. It will be a reread for me, but as I recall it begins in the characters' "present". I can't remember if the time-travel happens at the end of this book or the beginning of the next: [book:Voyager|10987]

[southpaw285]

Becky wrote: "Oh... yeah.. sorry. I'm out of it today. Yes, you could use it for that."

Thank you. For someone who started off skeptical about this series, I'm moving right along...wouldn't you say? LOL

[JC]

ok, after thinking about it a bit and looking at some summaries, I think it is HF since it takes place 20 years after she returns and this was just after WWII, so maybe the late 1960's, early 1970's. Does that sound right?

[Amy]

I just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and was wondering how many bonus points I will be allowed due to the length of the book. The story is told in 1,243 pages. I believe that books over 1,000 pages get 10 bonus points. Would it be possible for me to get 12 bonus points?

Also, does this book count as Historical Fiction? I think it's listed here at Goodreads as one of the best historical fiction books ever written, but, per the definition of Historical Fiction as seen here, it may not meet that criteria. The beginning of the book is clearly 20+ years before the author wrote it, but it jumps forward in time and a good portion of the book is written near the authors present.

I would be thrilled to get the extra +1 point for HF, but if it's not going to work, I'll be okay. :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

As far as I know "The Count of Monte Cristo" is an HF.

[Becky, Moddess]

You'd get 10 bonus points for the length, and 1 bonus HF point, Amy. I consider COMC to be HF.

[Evelina C]

Do you prefer that we post our challenge books as we finish them? Last time, I waited until the end of September to report a months worth of reading. Whatever makes your work easier works for me!

[Becky, Moddess]

It's up to you Evelina - you can post as you finish or all at once, we just need to be able to verify that the books were read within the challenge period. :)

[KristiJ]

Is "Middlesex" by Eugenides considered HF? If so, would it count for Task 10.4 and Bonus 50.3, or only one of them?

[Becky, Moddess]

Kristi wrote: "Is "Middlesex" by Eugenides considered HF? If so, would it count for Task 10.4 and Bonus 50.3, or only one of them?"

Yes, yes and I think so (there are a couple different lists now, I think). LOL

[southpaw285]

Hi Maude and/or Becky,

Can I move something? There would be no change in points.

If so, I would like to move Mistress of Rome from task #15.5 to task #15.6.

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, you can move whatever you like whenever you want. Maude will update the spreadsheet. :)

[southpaw285]

Becky wrote: "Yes, you can move whatever you like whenever you want. Maude will update the spreadsheet. :)"

Thank you, Becky. Should I post it in the Challenge #4 thread?

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, that way Maude will see it the next time she's updating. :)

[Maude]

Southpaw, Just updated Mistress of Rome per your request.

[southpaw285]

Thank you Maude and Becky.

[Amy]

Maude rocks! I'm just sayin'. :)