Book Eligibility: FA's top 100 books of all time

[[deleted user]]

That's SciFi.

[Laurel]

Here are a few questions as I put together part of the list:

1 - Does the Hobbit get lumped in with Lord of the Rings, or is it a work unto itself?

2 - Is the The Time Traveler's Wife sci fi or fantasy?

3 - Was a decision ever made on Lord Valentine's Castle?

[Laurel]

Split Infinity has two parallel universes - one sci fi and one fantasy based.

Do we include it?

I'm leaning towards no, but would appreciate a second or third voice.

[Laurel]

Odd Thomas has been nominated, but as I scroll through the reviews, shelves, and the description, it seems to be more horror than fantasy.

I'm going to cut it from the list.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

lol--I remember reading Split Infinity. Interesting choice. I don't have an opinion--I would lean toward sci-fi.

Separate Hobbit and LOR--

Time Travelers Wife--isn't it sci-fi?

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

"I'm going to cut it from the list."

You go, girl!

[Laurel]

The Descent also seems like horror to me.

[Laurel]

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War also falls into the categories of horror and sci fi. I am cutting it from the list.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

What's amazing to me is that so many readers had trouble reading MrsJ's rules post...

[Kevin]

Laurel wrote: "Here are a few questions as I put together part of the list:

1 - Does the Hobbit get lumped in with Lord of the Rings, or is it a work unto itself?

2 - Is the [book:The Time Traveler's Wife|14050..."

1. seperate
2. sci-fi
3. fantasy

[Laurel]

The Winter King is classed as historical fiction. Does that count as fantasy?

[Traci]

King Arthur and Merlin. I think it counts.

[Bill]

Laurel wrote: ...1 - Does the Hobbit get lumped in with Lord of the Rings, or is it a work unto itself?..."

The Hobbit and LOTR are 2 distinct works.

[Kit★]

I'd include the Hobbit as part of the LotR series, b/c if it wasn't for Gandalf sending Bilbo on his little adventure, the ring wouldn't have been found, and it wouldn't have ended up in Frodo's possession, and the whole rest of the LotR series wouldn't have happened. :)

[Mach]

The Hobbit is a seperate story.

[Laurel]

I included it as such.

[[deleted user]]

Hobbit should be separate. Time travelers wife is scifi. Dunno about the other.

Also, I read the rules and still put up the Thrawn Trilogy...

I Regret Nothing!

eta: seriously, autocorrect, stop it.

[David]

The Winter King is not fantasy. It may use elements of the Arthurian legend but it is more historical fiction than fantasy, unlike, say, The Once and Future King, which contains fantastical elements.

The Hobbit is a separate work.

The Time Traveler's Wife is, in my opinion, SF.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Eligibility Questions!

THis series: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/84... - I would classify as PNR. Anyone else?

[Mach]

A half naked man on the cover is a good hint, don't even need to read to blurb to figure that out. How long is it till the polls come up?

[Mark]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Eligibility Questions!

THis series: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/84... - I would classify as PNR. Anyone else?"

I think the person who put that up thought they meant 'fantasy' in an entirely different way. Definitely PNR.

[Traci]

I've read the series. Love them. Love Kenyon. But they are definitely Paranormal Romance. I recommend them for open minded fantasy fans. But not for this list. =)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

More questions:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17... - horror??

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

More questions: Considering that nomination of a single book in a series nominates the entire series...would this series still be considered fantasy? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

ALso - heard this was horror: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59...

[Traci]

The first book might be fantasy. Dracula is horror. The last book...just because it has ghosts doesn't automatically mean horror, it can be urban fantasy, but I haven't read it.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Not big on Anita Blake, so I can't speak to it...

Dracula, a great book, I hate to say leave it off, but I'd say yah it's horror. THE horror, so...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Thanks! I'll keep the other two and ditch Dracula.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I am not a serial killer: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76... - this does not look like fantasy to me...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Ok, what about household gods: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38...

Did we do that already? It looks like time travel but not really fantasy.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

MrsJ, I Am Not A Serial Killer suddenly turns into an Urban Fantasy as it reaches the climax. (view spoiler)[ The book is told from the point of view of a young man struggling not to give in to his psychopathy or sociopathy. He sets out to solve some killings (yah I know, go figure). When he finds the killer he/it turns out not to be human and is some type of creature that needs to replace parts of itself as it's stolen human body wears out. It has apparently been around a long time stealing bodies.... The story continues in the next volume as to what it is/they are, where they come from etc. The books are disturbing (I've read the second), but they do become UF. (hide spoiler)]

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "MrsJ, I Am Not A Serial Killer suddenly turns into an Urban Fantasy as it reaches the climax. [spoilers removed]"

Oooooh. ok. Thanks! :)

[Traci]

Household Gods. I consider time traveling with a machine science fiction. Without fantasy. But it's a completely personal thing.

[[deleted user]]

Never read that household gods book.

At first glance, I'd say it depends on how the time travel is handled.

But, if the time travel has some magical explanation and is the only magical bit in the book, then it just doesn't sound like a fantasy.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Household gods looks a lot like historical sci-fi or fantasy depending on the mechanism of travel. Kind of like Connie Willis though--the majority isn't really about the science OR the fantasy.

You could always include the dubious ones, MrsJ, and let the voting sort them out.

My personal opinion: these are some wierd-ass choices for top 100.

[Traci]

@ Carol, I'm loving that last part =)

Although I totally believe everyone has a right to love weird ass books. Lol.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I agree, I'd never vote for I Am Not a Serial Killer, even if it is fantasy.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Mach wrote: "A half naked man on the cover is a good hint, don't even need to read to blurb to figure that out. How long is it till the polls come up?"

I have to finish out this nomination list. You'd be amazed at what's on here. It's coming, hold your horses. ;)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Carol wrote: "Household gods looks a lot like historical sci-fi or fantasy depending on the mechanism of travel. Kind of like Connie Willis though--the majority isn't really about the science OR the fantasy.

Yo..."


I thought about it...I really wanted as clean a list as possible.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

MrsJoseph wrote: "More questions: Considering that nomination of a single book in a series nominates the entire series...would this series still be considered fantasy? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30......"

COme on people - Help me with Anita Blake!

Looking at the books - as a series - is it fantasy or PNR?? Someone has read them, I'm sure!

[Laurel]

Well, the first few books are good urban fantasy. After that, they turn to pretty much erotica, in my opinion. It's one of my top all time book disappointments. A series with great potential reduced to mediocre porn.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Laurel wrote: "Well, the first few books are good urban fantasy. After that, they turn to pretty much erotica, in my opinion. It's one of my top all time book disappointments. A series with great potential red..."

So, looking at the series as a whole - this is more PNR than it is UF? I'll remove it from the list.

[Traci]

I consider them PNR. It's kind of by taste. They're a more edgy and sexual Sookie Stackhouse 8 Volume Set.

[Janny]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Ok, what about household gods: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38...

Did we do that already? It looks like time travel but not really fantasy."

I have read Household Gods - I'd not really consider it fantasy, but I'll leave it for y'all to decide. In a nutshell (without undue spoilers)

Modern woman has old object - goes 'back in time' to Roman times - most of the book is about her viewing Roman culture and times through the eyes of a 20th c. viewpoint.

I really looked at it as more historical - it didn't read as fantasy at all - more modern take/with back story in history, with the historical bit taking front seat.

If I were to class this, I'd put it with The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and The Tenth Gift or maybe People of the Book which are equally Not Fantasy.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

THanks Janny! I'm taking it off the list.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Any comments about the Pillars of the Earth: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50...

it looks like alternative history to me, not fantasy.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

The Wind-up bird chronicle: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...

This doesn't look like fantasy to me...

[Traci]

It's not alternative history. Just historical epic. Love it. Recommend it to fans of ASoIaF but it doesn't have any fantasy at all in it.

[Janny]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Any comments about the Pillars of the Earth: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50...

it looks like alternative history to me, not fantasy."

Pillars of the Earth is HISTORICAL - start to finish. No fantasy in it at ALL - yes, there is a sort of 'witchy' character but she's done in period.

Read the book - not a shred of fantasy about it.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't read it yet, but I don't think the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is fantasy though there is some sort of supernatural theme in it.