Ryan Berger’s Reviews > Canary Fever: Reviews > Status Update

I set this down for almost a complete year. I desperately need it now. I have completely lost my reviewing mojo. I'm piling up RTC's. Hoping this will shock my system.

Reading Clute is a pleasure. I don't even think it's hyperbole to say he's probably the best book reviewer alive. What a privilege to have had him cover SFF for so long. Need more of his ilk in the genre space-- someone who takes the work seriously.

I would give anything to be able to write reviews like this. It's such a shame that I've read (or even heard of) so few of the books in this collection to see if I even align with his taste and judgements.

The more you read a great critic the more I can't believe that people aren't interested in making it the most dominant and celebrated form of review. Capability aside, why do people *want* to do meme reviews? What are you hoping to accomplish?

For the first time, Clute defends the fact that he spoils every book he reviews. While I greatly sympathize with his desire to explain how a plot gets from here to there and how it *works*, I can't help but feel like he's ignoring one of the most critical functions of a review-- to help the reader make an informed investment.

No doubt he's a wonderful critic, maybe the best SFF has ever had-- but c'mon man.