Comments on: 5 Best Sci-Fi Books of 2009

By: The Arab Mob

The Arab Mob — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:48:22 +0000

dude dont forget china meiville he had a good one this year a really good on and i am looking forward to peter f hamiltons last book of the void trillogy in 2010 pete hamillton is pretty damn good if you have not read him i suggest you check bth of those authors out

By: Gallo VanGlee

Gallo VanGlee — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:11:02 +0000

What about nSpace by Dovin Melhee?

By: Louis Fowler

Louis Fowler — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:25:02 +0000

How come you ain’t got no books written by bitches?

By: RP

RP — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:00:44 +0000

Absolutely not.

By: R

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:42:45 +0000

Yeah, but what if I don’t have an Armenian sister? Can I still go to the site?

By: RP

RP — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:03:26 +0000

Thanks for the constructive criticism. There’s a whole story behind my name and the permutations thereof, but the gist of it is that it’s a combination of “R’lyeh” and “Cthulhu.”

By: Allan

Allan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:34:09 +0000

I do not read sci-fi, so I have nothing to say about your list or its overt misanthropy, but I have always wanted to comment on the spelling of your first name. Using a “u” in place of a traditional “a” is–I feel–gamely provocative, but lacking in the style that would be found in a “y” and completely devoid of the biting satirical whimsy of a “q”. Ultimately it suggests a promise of better things, but results only in disappointment. Hopefully your next name will prove more rewarding.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:16:42 +0000

wasn’t implying bias – 5 is a pretty small sample! Just saying it is a question that should be asked from time to time.

Thanks – yes, I admit I went the widest possible definition and have (mis)used “sci-fi” as a shortcut. It seemed a bit cumbersome to say “science fiction, speculative, fantasy and/or horror” in every title…..

Will be reading some of the others on your list now. Have already had “The Quiet War” recommended, so could well be net on the list.

By: RP

RP — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:28:25 +0000

Thanks for the backup on TRANSITION, Melissa.

I also think it’s reasonable to discuss the status of female writers in science fiction, but I think it is unreasonable to imply bias based on a top 5 list–it would have been terrible to say “these are my five favorite SF books of the year, as well as my favorite SF books written by women.” I’m proud of my list and happy to debate its merits with any and all. (And recent readers will recall that I love famed science fiction author Margaret Wise Brown.)

Also, your list of the top 100 sci-fi women rocks, though we differ on the definition of “sci-fi.”

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:56:40 +0000

As women do constitute 50% of the world’s population, unlike Armenians, I think it was not an unreasonable question from Joel.

But I’m with you on Transition RP, I liked it a lot.

By: Alec

Alec — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:44:59 +0000

I was hugely disappointed by The Quiet War and Caryatids. The fact that they made it on any list for 2009 besides “hyped up swill of the year” makes me want to strangle a baby.

By: RP

RP — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:51:13 +0000

I’m so proud of the Internet right now. You’ve really kicked it up a notch, people.

By: Rod Lott

Rod Lott — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:16:53 +0000

Hey, what about sci-fi books written by children? DO YOU HATE THE CHILDREN?!?

By: RP

RP — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:08:12 +0000

Those, actually, are on our Armenian sister site, http://www.girqhatwowyq.am

By: R

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:38:57 +0000

Also…no good sci-fi this year from Armenians? Hummmmm?

By: RP

RP — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:16:18 +0000

I can always depend on you, R.

By: RP

RP — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:11:16 +0000

Sure there were. Off the top of my head, DIVING INTO THE WRECK and CITY WITHOUT END were good. I do however, think these books are better. Connie Willis’ BLACKOUT is only a couple of months away, though, so next year’s list should be more gender-diverse, if it’s anywhere near as good as her other books.

By: R

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:59:25 +0000

How’s this then? I haven’t read any of those books you reviewed, but you were absolutely wrong about them. Also, you smell.

By: Joel Bass

Joel Bass — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:15:30 +0000

So… no good sci-fi this year from women, then?

By: RP

RP — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:50:43 +0000

Reasonable people can disagree, Steve, but once again, the respectful tone of your comment distresses me. It’s more fun if you say that I’m stupid or that I need to pull my head out of one orifice or another.

By: Steve Oerkfitz

Steve Oerkfitz — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:01:00 +0000

As a fan of Banks-both his literary and SF novels-I was very disappointed in Transition. Glad you picked both Julian Comstock and The Windup Girl tho.