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What Makes This Book So Great
A unique book, from the incomparable Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Among Others, Jo Walton: What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading the Classics of Fantasy and SF is a collection of brilliant reassessments of the classics - and the forgotten gems - of modern fantasy and SF.
Jo Walton is an award-winning author of, inveterate reader of, and chronic re-reader of science fiction and fantasy books. What Makes This Book So Great? is a selection of the best of her musings about her prodigious reading habit.
Jo Walton's many subjects range from acknowledged classics, to guilty pleasures, to forgotten oddities and gems. Among them, the Zones of Thought novels of Vernor Vinge; the question of what genre readers mean by 'mainstream'; the under-appreciated SF adventures of C. J. Cherryh; the field's many approaches to time travel; the masterful science fiction of Samuel R. Delany; Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children; the early Hainish novels of Ursula K. Le Guin; and a Robert A. Heinlein novel you have most certainly never read.
Over 130 essays in all, What Makes This Book So Great is an immensely engaging collection of provocative, opinionated thoughts about past and present-day fantasy and science fiction, from one of our best writers.
Jo Walton is an award-winning author of, inveterate reader of, and chronic re-reader of science fiction and fantasy books. What Makes This Book So Great? is a selection of the best of her musings about her prodigious reading habit.
Jo Walton's many subjects range from acknowledged classics, to guilty pleasures, to forgotten oddities and gems. Among them, the Zones of Thought novels of Vernor Vinge; the question of what genre readers mean by 'mainstream'; the under-appreciated SF adventures of C. J. Cherryh; the field's many approaches to time travel; the masterful science fiction of Samuel R. Delany; Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children; the early Hainish novels of Ursula K. Le Guin; and a Robert A. Heinlein novel you have most certainly never read.
Over 130 essays in all, What Makes This Book So Great is an immensely engaging collection of provocative, opinionated thoughts about past and present-day fantasy and science fiction, from one of our best writers.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2014
102 people are currently reading
2229 people want to read
About the author
Jo Walton
84 books3,075 followersJo Walton writes science fiction and fantasy novels and reads a lot and eats great food. It worries her slightly that this is so exactly what she always wanted to do when she grew up. She comes from Wales, but lives in Montreal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
October 13, 2015
I can say without blushing that I felt like I was in a long drawn-out conversation about books and reading with a long-time friend.
It might not be true, but it certainly felt true, and it was a continued conversation with whom I spent some truly memorable moments as I walked through the fantasy that was Among Others.
I'm still not blushing, but perhaps I should be, because I dropped a goodly sum of money trying to hunt down all these other books, the ones I hadn't already read, simply because her enthusiasm was simply the last push I needed after realizing that her taste in SFF is sublime.
I feel blessed, as I always feel blessed, after being introduced to fantastic and sophisticated works of high literature. (No one can gainsay me on this. I've spent a lot of time in both worlds, and genre lit is no less brilliant than any other.)
My only regret is that I can't continue the discussion as I'd please. I'd have loved to discuss so many other top-notch pieces and see her take on them, too, but in the end, I might just have to do some further rereading of my favorites. There is a solid logic there that my younger self disdained and my older self has gradually seen for its beauty.
Of course, I might not reread Dune for the fourteenth time. I've pretty much memorized that novel already. But there are a few others that might serve a third or a fourth read.
I have to face reality... the temptation is more than a little unendurable.
Shall I reopen Rajaniemi, Joan D. Vinge, or Brin? How about Eco, PKD, or Gaiman? Or Neal Stephenson, Manly P. Hall, or Ayn Rand? (Yes, indeed.)
The list feels like it ought to be endless, and perhaps when I'm 800 years old it might still seem that way, but for now, the brightest stars are the most effortless to name.
Thank you for this conversation!
Brad K Horner's Blog
It might not be true, but it certainly felt true, and it was a continued conversation with whom I spent some truly memorable moments as I walked through the fantasy that was Among Others.
I'm still not blushing, but perhaps I should be, because I dropped a goodly sum of money trying to hunt down all these other books, the ones I hadn't already read, simply because her enthusiasm was simply the last push I needed after realizing that her taste in SFF is sublime.
I feel blessed, as I always feel blessed, after being introduced to fantastic and sophisticated works of high literature. (No one can gainsay me on this. I've spent a lot of time in both worlds, and genre lit is no less brilliant than any other.)
My only regret is that I can't continue the discussion as I'd please. I'd have loved to discuss so many other top-notch pieces and see her take on them, too, but in the end, I might just have to do some further rereading of my favorites. There is a solid logic there that my younger self disdained and my older self has gradually seen for its beauty.
Of course, I might not reread Dune for the fourteenth time. I've pretty much memorized that novel already. But there are a few others that might serve a third or a fourth read.
I have to face reality... the temptation is more than a little unendurable.
Shall I reopen Rajaniemi, Joan D. Vinge, or Brin? How about Eco, PKD, or Gaiman? Or Neal Stephenson, Manly P. Hall, or Ayn Rand? (Yes, indeed.)
The list feels like it ought to be endless, and perhaps when I'm 800 years old it might still seem that way, but for now, the brightest stars are the most effortless to name.
Thank you for this conversation!
Brad K Horner's Blog
December 30, 2024
Jo Walton has a wonderfully conversational style and a disarming way with words. as she mentions in the last chapter, she doesn't consider herself to be a literary critic - she's just chatting. this guide was like getting a regular coffee with a friend where you spend the whole time talking about books. this is one of those experiences that leave the reader feeling very affectionate towards its author, like they've gotten to know her on a personal level and they like what they've learned. I even learned about her kid. sounds like a good kid and definitely a reader like his mum.
hard to pick favorites, but I especially liked her many chapters on the books in the Vorkosigan Saga (which I love) and in the Vlad Taltos series (which I need to read). I also enjoyed the various chapters on how she reads.
📚
I now want to read or I needed a reminder:
Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
the Alliance-Union novels by C.J. Cherryh
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust
Midshipman's Hope by David Feintuch
Orbital Resonance by John Barnes
Them Bones by Howard Waldrop
The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson
Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke
thanks Jo!
hard to pick favorites, but I especially liked her many chapters on the books in the Vorkosigan Saga (which I love) and in the Vlad Taltos series (which I need to read). I also enjoyed the various chapters on how she reads.
📚
I now want to read or I needed a reminder:
Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
the Alliance-Union novels by C.J. Cherryh
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
the Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust
Midshipman's Hope by David Feintuch
Orbital Resonance by John Barnes
Them Bones by Howard Waldrop
The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson
Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke
thanks Jo!
January 27, 2014
If you're looking for SF must-read novels, I would say to start here (or by exploring the original posts on Tor.com) rather than with something like the "100 Must Read" books I've been reviewing recently. They barely scrape above the level of a list: while they include a bit about each book and why it's worthwhile, Jo Walton is more passionate, more excitable, more like another fan -- she doesn't claim any kind of authority for her choice in books, doesn't hedge about including one book over another because it was more influential. Those "100 Must Read" books are a reference, a list; this book is a conversation.
It's rare for a non-fiction book to keep my attention so strongly as this one did. Part of it is, I guess, that various things Jo Walton's written resonate right through me -- and I also know a little of her personal warmth and kindness. While I've spoken to a few authors and even trade tweets semi-regularly with a couple, Jo Walton is the only one who makes me feel that she cares about me as a person and not as a fan to be casually courted. So there's that: I'm utterly and completely biased about her and her work, and there's some similar stuff going on in our backgrounds (Welshness, for one thing), and even our non-SF tastes like Heyer and Sayers (and casual references to the same, even in the context of talking about SF). So it's no surprise that I adored this.
It also helps that it's very easily bite-size. I could read a few entries, then roll off my bed and reluctantly transcribe another few words -- or take some of her enthusiasm and interests with me into my slush reading for Lightspeed, or have lunch with my family, or watch a lecture on astrobiology.
It's the enthusiasm that really makes it, though. She makes me want to hurry up and read all the books, not just the ones she talks about, but all of them. And then reread them. She made me sit up in delight and grin and go yes, me too. Or hey, I want that.
The books may not all be conveniently in print, as the editors of "100 Must Read" books and others of that species try and arrange, but there's a love of the possibilities of a tiny second-hand bookshop and the charity shop find that had me scrawling down a list of stuff to look for. It's not a catalogue, a marketing ploy, a competition to be the most well-read -- it's just sharing books and the love of books and our idiosyncrasies about books.
It's rare for a non-fiction book to keep my attention so strongly as this one did. Part of it is, I guess, that various things Jo Walton's written resonate right through me -- and I also know a little of her personal warmth and kindness. While I've spoken to a few authors and even trade tweets semi-regularly with a couple, Jo Walton is the only one who makes me feel that she cares about me as a person and not as a fan to be casually courted. So there's that: I'm utterly and completely biased about her and her work, and there's some similar stuff going on in our backgrounds (Welshness, for one thing), and even our non-SF tastes like Heyer and Sayers (and casual references to the same, even in the context of talking about SF). So it's no surprise that I adored this.
It also helps that it's very easily bite-size. I could read a few entries, then roll off my bed and reluctantly transcribe another few words -- or take some of her enthusiasm and interests with me into my slush reading for Lightspeed, or have lunch with my family, or watch a lecture on astrobiology.
It's the enthusiasm that really makes it, though. She makes me want to hurry up and read all the books, not just the ones she talks about, but all of them. And then reread them. She made me sit up in delight and grin and go yes, me too. Or hey, I want that.
The books may not all be conveniently in print, as the editors of "100 Must Read" books and others of that species try and arrange, but there's a love of the possibilities of a tiny second-hand bookshop and the charity shop find that had me scrawling down a list of stuff to look for. It's not a catalogue, a marketing ploy, a competition to be the most well-read -- it's just sharing books and the love of books and our idiosyncrasies about books.
August 24, 2022
This is a collection of short essays about science fiction and fantasy books that were first published on the Tor.com site ten to fifteen years ago. What makes What Makes This Book So Great so great (added edit: I thought this was a very clever original line on my part and then was surprised to see that my friend Alan had used it in his review way back when he posted his comments in 2015, but I'm lazy and so I'm leaving mine alone anyway... I'm not going to start over now, and I do like the line...) is that she discusses books she likes in an accessible manner, making it sound like you're having a casual conversation with a friend, not engaging in literary criticism. The essays are brief, and her comments are presented in a charming and informal manner that are quite enjoyable and interesting whether you agree with her conclusions or not. She's compelled to read books straight through with no skimming, just like me, but she re-reads a lot of books multiple times, which I never felt like there was time for. I think she must read a lot faster than almost anyone else, and she seems to get more out of it with a deeper comprehension, too, which is an ability I wish I shared. She spends a lot of time discussing Bujold (which I found fascinating), and Brust (not so much), and I enjoyed her thoughts about old classics by Piper, Clarke, Asimov, and lots of others. (Nova by Delany, yep, ya'll should read that one!) Another benefit was that it convinced me that I really do need to get around to a handful of titles that I haven't found time for by Ford, Robinson, Wilson... which goes back to that whole problem of taking the time for re-reading, doesn't it? Anyway, it's a very good volume, just what we all wish Goodreads would be. (I'll admit I got almost all the way through her review of a Heinlein novel with which I was absolutely unfamiliar before I noted the date on it was April 1st.) Fun stuff all around!
Want to read
March 29, 2014I really wanted to post about this new book by Jo Walton (one of a few coming out this year by the author), but I find that if I wait until I'm done reading, it'll be years before I can say anything.
And the reason for that is right there in the title. What Makes This Book So Great is about as clever as you can get for a book containing Jo Walton's reviews and other posts she has done for Tor.com, referring to both the reviews and the immediate book.
Full of wonderful reviews, Walton covers many classics of fantasy and science fiction and does so with so much love of the genre that it compels you to check them out. As if I don't have enough in mount-to-read, this book covers so many I have and haven't heard of and I have to have them all. Now, you see why I can't possibly read this book all at once. It makes me go track down other books!
In addition to wonderful reviews, there are plenty of other articles, such as one of my favorites so far, "How to Talk to Authors."
In this world where authors are so much more accessible than they ever have been, from blogs to twitter to the endless supply of comic conventions, chances are you have the opportunity to meet an author. Don't make a fool of yourself with such simple advice as don't say "I'm sorry, but I haven't read any of your books." Because, well, what does someone say to that? As, Walton points out, "Writers see their sales figures. They know that statistically it's unlikely that you've read their books."
I'm really enjoying this book and wanted to let you know a little about it even though I'm nowhere near close to finishing it. It's one of those to read when you are in the mood and highly recommended because Jo Walton's love for the genre is infectious.
And the reason for that is right there in the title. What Makes This Book So Great is about as clever as you can get for a book containing Jo Walton's reviews and other posts she has done for Tor.com, referring to both the reviews and the immediate book.
Full of wonderful reviews, Walton covers many classics of fantasy and science fiction and does so with so much love of the genre that it compels you to check them out. As if I don't have enough in mount-to-read, this book covers so many I have and haven't heard of and I have to have them all. Now, you see why I can't possibly read this book all at once. It makes me go track down other books!
In addition to wonderful reviews, there are plenty of other articles, such as one of my favorites so far, "How to Talk to Authors."
In this world where authors are so much more accessible than they ever have been, from blogs to twitter to the endless supply of comic conventions, chances are you have the opportunity to meet an author. Don't make a fool of yourself with such simple advice as don't say "I'm sorry, but I haven't read any of your books." Because, well, what does someone say to that? As, Walton points out, "Writers see their sales figures. They know that statistically it's unlikely that you've read their books."
I'm really enjoying this book and wanted to let you know a little about it even though I'm nowhere near close to finishing it. It's one of those to read when you are in the mood and highly recommended because Jo Walton's love for the genre is infectious.
July 17, 2014
This fulfills that same sweet spot as Hornby's writing for The Believer and Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris: I really enjoy reading what a devoted reader has to say about reading. (Forgive the recursion, please) In this case, Walton is an astoundingly prolific readers, and surely she is the most prolific re-reader the modern world has ever known. Her tastes aren't exactly mine, although there is enough overlap to make some of these reviews into "I must read this now" urgency. But even the titles I won't be adding to the List make for interesting thought. As a writer, Walton is able to explain what makes books work for her, as well as why they fail. So there's an informed look at mechanics (but not a primary focus; you don't have to want to write to appreciate her commentary) Further, as this past year has seen a lot of discussion of diversity in SFF as a genre and as a community, her take on intersectionality and on the sad disappointments of much classic work is insightful and heartfelt. We all love things we know have problems, whether from nostalgia or other reasons, and professional reviews don't usually address the issue.
So, really, this collection of Walton's is rather like reading a whole slew of reviews by one of my online reviewer friends, including occasional discursions into where, when, and how one reads. Fun stuff.
Library copy
So, really, this collection of Walton's is rather like reading a whole slew of reviews by one of my online reviewer friends, including occasional discursions into where, when, and how one reads. Fun stuff.
Library copy
November 25, 2025
I like this book a lot, and I'm really glad Tor decided to publish it as a handsome hardback. But you should be aware that all of her original retro-reviews that are in the book are still available online -- and more! Plus, there's a searchable database to all 819(!) posts at http://michaelcross.me.uk/jowalton/ -- which you should definitely bookmark, and spend some time on, if you like Jo Walton's reviews and/or really good reviews of most of the best books published in the science-fiction and fantasy genres. Trust me on this -- she's our best and most enthusiastic critic and reviewer.
And, if you don't already know about her, here's "What Makes Jo Walton So Great" by her editor at Tor, Patrick Nielsen Hayden: https://www.tor.com/2014/01/21/what-m...
And, if you don't already know about her, here's "What Makes Jo Walton So Great" by her editor at Tor, Patrick Nielsen Hayden: https://www.tor.com/2014/01/21/what-m...
February 4, 2021
це книжка радості: джо волтон перечитує улюблені тексти (здебільшого sci-fi, менше фентезі, зовсім трохи іншого, типу «мідлмарча») і розповідає, навіщо до них повертається і чому вони наповнюють її втіхою. перетворювати захват у зв'язні речення — не найпростіше мистецтво, але волтон це робить так добре, що від її есеїв народжується цілковито новий захват.
July 5, 2023
I was hoping for a little more depth here. This is just a collection of relatively short (2-4 pages max) blog posts that the author did over a period of time for tor.com. Maybe more interesting to read online than in book format because I would have liked more connection between the essays and a more profound analysis of the whole thing. Also, there were lots of obscure uninteresting writers and it lacked good ones like David Brin. Oh well.
August 20, 2015
What makes What Makes This Book So Great so great—and it is—isn't just Jo Walton's boundless enthusiasm, although that's certainly a factor.
What makes it so great isn't the sheer number of books she discusses, either—although she does read a lot more than I do, and I thought I read a lot! I have read many of the same books (more than I expected, actually), but by no means all; I discovered at least five that went straight onto my to-read list. You will find more than 100 discrete volumes covered within these collected online posts from Walton's column on Tor.com, in fact—and remember that every one of them is something she read here for a second time, at least, in order to review it.
It isn't even how well and how often Walton's taste meshes with my own—although that's true as well. For one isolated counterexample that stood out for me precisely because it was so uncommon, she mentions in an aside that she doesn't plan to reread Mary Gentle's Grunts, which I recently read and thought was quite a romp... but for the most part, where I've read the book at all, her assessment of it makes perfect sense to me.
No, in the end what makes this book so great is Walton's own voice, which is always clear, colloquial and endlessly erudite. What Makes This Book So Great evokes everything about Walton's writing that I originally admired—that I fell in love with—long, long ago, before she'd published a single book, when she was just another prolific poster on the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.written. She loves sf, as a reader and as a writer, and as someone who knows the field intimately—and, what's more, she knows how to express that feeling, in ways that make me want to feel the same enthusiasm again myself.
What makes this book so great is... Walton herself.
What makes it so great isn't the sheer number of books she discusses, either—although she does read a lot more than I do, and I thought I read a lot! I have read many of the same books (more than I expected, actually), but by no means all; I discovered at least five that went straight onto my to-read list. You will find more than 100 discrete volumes covered within these collected online posts from Walton's column on Tor.com, in fact—and remember that every one of them is something she read here for a second time, at least, in order to review it.
It isn't even how well and how often Walton's taste meshes with my own—although that's true as well. For one isolated counterexample that stood out for me precisely because it was so uncommon, she mentions in an aside that she doesn't plan to reread Mary Gentle's Grunts, which I recently read and thought was quite a romp... but for the most part, where I've read the book at all, her assessment of it makes perfect sense to me.
No, in the end what makes this book so great is Walton's own voice, which is always clear, colloquial and endlessly erudite. What Makes This Book So Great evokes everything about Walton's writing that I originally admired—that I fell in love with—long, long ago, before she'd published a single book, when she was just another prolific poster on the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.sf.written. She loves sf, as a reader and as a writer, and as someone who knows the field intimately—and, what's more, she knows how to express that feeling, in ways that make me want to feel the same enthusiasm again myself.
What makes this book so great is... Walton herself.
September 28, 2014
I didn't enjoy this quite as much as I'd hoped to, but that is partly my fault for failing to read the description and the Table of Contents as carefully as I should have. This is, as Walton explains in her introduction, a collection of blog posts which were written for Tor.com “between July 2008 and February 2011.” They are all short – mostly around three pages long. That part is great. What was less great for me was that Walton is not writing reviews of new books, which I knew, but is writing about books she is rereading. This would be fine, except that, of course, one mostly rereads books one really enjoyed, and if you enjoy one book by an author you very likely will be fond of their other books as well. The upshot being that she has four essays on C.J. Cherryh, four on Robert Heinlein, fifteen on Lois McMaster Bujold, and seventeen on Steven Brust. Aside from Heinlein, who I didn't like enough to reread, I've not read any of these (though I do have Bujold on my list as “maybe someday”). Anyway, the reason I should have known better than to pick this one is that she seems to lean pretty strongly toward science fiction, and I prefer fantasy.
There were some interesting essays – one Tolkien, a couple Ursula Le Guins, and really fun one on why George Eliot (who wrote Middlemarch) should have been a science fiction writer. Some of my favorites were the “general” essays, about how and why we read. I think there were about ten of these, so, not a large proportion of the 130 pieces. I liked four of the ten. Even with the ones I liked, though, I wasn't quite happy. The author wants her readers to know that she is a spectacularly fast reader – at least a book a day, and sometimes as many as six a day – and that she was a classics major, so her reading includes Difficult Books. She rereads partly so that she won't run out of books to read (and this is presented, not as a budget issue, but as a matter of the number of interesting books in existence). When I read this, in “Why I Re-read,” I thought she was kidding, and she presented it amusingly. Turns out, however, that she wasn't kidding. Of course, being such a fast and skillful reader is lovely for Ms. Walton, but as a standard from which to offer advice to other readers, it seems a bit extreme. Actually, it wouldn't have bothered me if she had only mentioned her remarkable reading abilities once or twice, but they came up with surprising frequency. For readers of her blog, who would have encountered her little brags once or twice a year, assuming they read her posts as they were published, this probably wasn't particularly annoying, but in book form it was a bit much.
Going back through the book, I'd say there were about eight pieces I enjoyed. Not a great ratio, but if I'd checked this out of the library (assuming my library system owned this, which it doesn't) I'd have been quite content. The one I mentioned earlier, on George Eliot, was really good, and I also very much liked “From Herring to Marmalade: the perfect plot of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.” Also the one on Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog.
There were some interesting essays – one Tolkien, a couple Ursula Le Guins, and really fun one on why George Eliot (who wrote Middlemarch) should have been a science fiction writer. Some of my favorites were the “general” essays, about how and why we read. I think there were about ten of these, so, not a large proportion of the 130 pieces. I liked four of the ten. Even with the ones I liked, though, I wasn't quite happy. The author wants her readers to know that she is a spectacularly fast reader – at least a book a day, and sometimes as many as six a day – and that she was a classics major, so her reading includes Difficult Books. She rereads partly so that she won't run out of books to read (and this is presented, not as a budget issue, but as a matter of the number of interesting books in existence). When I read this, in “Why I Re-read,” I thought she was kidding, and she presented it amusingly. Turns out, however, that she wasn't kidding. Of course, being such a fast and skillful reader is lovely for Ms. Walton, but as a standard from which to offer advice to other readers, it seems a bit extreme. Actually, it wouldn't have bothered me if she had only mentioned her remarkable reading abilities once or twice, but they came up with surprising frequency. For readers of her blog, who would have encountered her little brags once or twice a year, assuming they read her posts as they were published, this probably wasn't particularly annoying, but in book form it was a bit much.
Going back through the book, I'd say there were about eight pieces I enjoyed. Not a great ratio, but if I'd checked this out of the library (assuming my library system owned this, which it doesn't) I'd have been quite content. The one I mentioned earlier, on George Eliot, was really good, and I also very much liked “From Herring to Marmalade: the perfect plot of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.” Also the one on Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog.
March 14, 2017
This was great, and confirmed what I have always believed: that Jo Walton and I are completely in sync when it comes to books. I loved hearing her thoughts on a lot of favorites of mine, like why Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell isn't more widely imitated, or how the first few books of the Dragonriders of Pern were the best. It was also interesting, and left me a lot of things that I want to read, to hear her talk about things that I had either not read or never heard of. I have seen Steven Brust's Dzur books around for years, used to shelve them at Borders, in fact, but never really cared. Now having read Walton's rundown of the series, I'm determined to try at least one! I really loved the essays where she wasn't just straight up talking about a book, but talked about skimming vs reading every word, or reading a series out of order. We are the same on these counts as well!
This wasn't a perfect book, it's taken from a blog series that she did, which is what keeps me from giving it five stars. There's very much a sense that she is talking to friends via the blog, some of it was a little baffling. You kind of had to be in the Tor.com online community to get all the jokes, in a manner of speaking. But it's an excellent reference, and I plan to use it as a guide to What to Read!
This wasn't a perfect book, it's taken from a blog series that she did, which is what keeps me from giving it five stars. There's very much a sense that she is talking to friends via the blog, some of it was a little baffling. You kind of had to be in the Tor.com online community to get all the jokes, in a manner of speaking. But it's an excellent reference, and I plan to use it as a guide to What to Read!
December 3, 2013
I love Jo Walton's blog posts on Tor.com. Walton is a passionate, thoughtful reader and re-reader and I appreciate her sharing this with so many. For one, I know I will never read or re-read as much as she has in this lifetime, but I get the benefits of her experiences one essay after another. I am about halfway through these and they were perfect for a family trip in which I had little time or concentration to read a sustained narrative. I just finished reading her many awesome chapters on Bujold's Vorkosigan series which is particularly helpful as my book group is discussing "Warrior's Apprentice" in a couple of weeks. I do with this book had a recent post she did on what other books and series you might like if you like Bujold, depending on which books and aspects of each you enjoyed---that is a particularly great post for Bujold fans.
Loving this so far....
Loving this so far....
July 13, 2024
I think I just really enjoy reading/listening to people nerd out about things they love. In SFF author Walton's case, she has a lifelong love of science fiction and fantasy novels. This book is a collection of of over 100 short pieces she wrote for Tor.com (now known as Reactor) about many, maaaaaaaany SFF books she loves and likes and hates, and also a few about reading and the genre in general.
And despite having read almost none of the books she wrote about, I loved it! This is not a book of criticism per se, just breezy freewheeling thoughts about characterization, plot, pace, literary legacy. She has read so many books and has so much knowledge, and her enthusiasm is infectious, even if I have very little background to go on.
As a side note, I think Walton is an unsung great Literary Citizen of the Internet. She has been writing for Tor/Reactor for over a decade, and still publishes a monthly column discussing her omnivorous recent reading - 0f many genres - and it's one of the things I most look forward to reading every month.
And despite having read almost none of the books she wrote about, I loved it! This is not a book of criticism per se, just breezy freewheeling thoughts about characterization, plot, pace, literary legacy. She has read so many books and has so much knowledge, and her enthusiasm is infectious, even if I have very little background to go on.
As a side note, I think Walton is an unsung great Literary Citizen of the Internet. She has been writing for Tor/Reactor for over a decade, and still publishes a monthly column discussing her omnivorous recent reading - 0f many genres - and it's one of the things I most look forward to reading every month.
July 22, 2020
This book is a collection of essays published by Jo Walton on the Tor.com website between July 2008 and February 2010. The are almost all about SF (and occasionally fantasy) books she's reread. Walton reads at a pace that leaves me breathless with jealousy and manages to read her way through both rereads of old favourites and new reads as well and a very steady pace.
I read pretty much all of these on the website when they were posted, but that didn't stop me from pre-ordering the book and starting to read it as soon as it hit my Kindle, abandoning the book I had just started for the duration of this one. And I enjoyed it all over again. She reads a depth into books that I rarely manage and occasionally I get a bit left behind, but that's okay.
I've read some of the books she covers in this book, but I admit most I haven't. Walton seems to have a liking for complicated books of many layers and older books, and while I love the idea, I struggle to read such things and have been even more since my ME developed. Since that happened when I was 21 (and 23 years ago; I don't mind if you feel the need to calculate my age), I missed out on some very fertile reading years. But that's okay too, I love the books I read and I get as much out of them as I get out of them.
It didn't matter if I hadn't read the book she was discussing in any particular essay. It was still a most interesting read. Most of the books I still don't feel a surging desire to read even now, but it's always nice to know a bit more about books that are well known in the genre. I have bookmarked some essays to either go back and check out the original blog posts (they're all still online) and see what the commenters had to say, or to consider the book for myself.
I think the books that tempt me the most after these essays are the Steven Brust books. So I stopped half way through the essay for the first one and skipped forward until we reached another author. Will I read them? I don't know. There's the time and the money and all the other books I want to read to consider. But I'm going to avoid spoilers to give myself the option. As Jo Walton says a few times in this book, you can get all sorts of things out a a reread but you can only ever read a book for the first time once.
She also has a few essays that aren't about particular books, but about issues that come up in the SFF genre conversion. There are things like how SF fans read compared to how mainstream readers read - and her discussion of this makes me realise why literary fiction just doesn't work for me. I read too much like an SFF reader and so I put emphasis on the wrong parts of the story. As, Walton says, mainstream authors often do the same when they try to write SFF.
She also talks about rereading series, different kinds of series, readers who gulp and readers who sip, the concept of skimming and that scary creature who can get into books you loved years ago and ruin them, the Suck Fairy (a term I've been using as I discuss rereading myself).
This is kind of an odd book, as it talks in detail about books that the reader may not have read. This reader often hadn't, and this reader loved the book all the same. It won't be for everyone, but give it a try if you think it sounds interesting. You could even try one or two of the columns on Tor.com and then come back and buy the book so Jo gets a royalty and you have her essays forever.
I also find it kind of ironic that my first new read for 2014 (White Nights by Ann Cleeves was started in 2013 so it only half counts), the year my only goal is to get in some rereads, is a book all about rereading.
I read pretty much all of these on the website when they were posted, but that didn't stop me from pre-ordering the book and starting to read it as soon as it hit my Kindle, abandoning the book I had just started for the duration of this one. And I enjoyed it all over again. She reads a depth into books that I rarely manage and occasionally I get a bit left behind, but that's okay.
I've read some of the books she covers in this book, but I admit most I haven't. Walton seems to have a liking for complicated books of many layers and older books, and while I love the idea, I struggle to read such things and have been even more since my ME developed. Since that happened when I was 21 (and 23 years ago; I don't mind if you feel the need to calculate my age), I missed out on some very fertile reading years. But that's okay too, I love the books I read and I get as much out of them as I get out of them.
It didn't matter if I hadn't read the book she was discussing in any particular essay. It was still a most interesting read. Most of the books I still don't feel a surging desire to read even now, but it's always nice to know a bit more about books that are well known in the genre. I have bookmarked some essays to either go back and check out the original blog posts (they're all still online) and see what the commenters had to say, or to consider the book for myself.
I think the books that tempt me the most after these essays are the Steven Brust books. So I stopped half way through the essay for the first one and skipped forward until we reached another author. Will I read them? I don't know. There's the time and the money and all the other books I want to read to consider. But I'm going to avoid spoilers to give myself the option. As Jo Walton says a few times in this book, you can get all sorts of things out a a reread but you can only ever read a book for the first time once.
She also has a few essays that aren't about particular books, but about issues that come up in the SFF genre conversion. There are things like how SF fans read compared to how mainstream readers read - and her discussion of this makes me realise why literary fiction just doesn't work for me. I read too much like an SFF reader and so I put emphasis on the wrong parts of the story. As, Walton says, mainstream authors often do the same when they try to write SFF.
She also talks about rereading series, different kinds of series, readers who gulp and readers who sip, the concept of skimming and that scary creature who can get into books you loved years ago and ruin them, the Suck Fairy (a term I've been using as I discuss rereading myself).
This is kind of an odd book, as it talks in detail about books that the reader may not have read. This reader often hadn't, and this reader loved the book all the same. It won't be for everyone, but give it a try if you think it sounds interesting. You could even try one or two of the columns on Tor.com and then come back and buy the book so Jo gets a royalty and you have her essays forever.
I also find it kind of ironic that my first new read for 2014 (White Nights by Ann Cleeves was started in 2013 so it only half counts), the year my only goal is to get in some rereads, is a book all about rereading.
February 20, 2014
When I read Jo Walton's award-winning fantasy "Among Others'' (winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards), I especially enjoyed how the young character constantly visited to her local library to get stacks of science fiction and fantasy books through interlibrary loan. I thought at the time that Walton must be an avid reader.
Avid is an understatement. When I read Walton's book of columns, entitled "What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading the Classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy,'' I found out that she reads several books a week, and if she spends a day in bed, she will get through four to six titles!
If you are a die-hard science fiction and fantasy reader, this is a great book to read because Walton highlights many of her favorite novels. Some are rather obscure, and no doubt will require you to get them via interlibrary loan. If you are relatively new to the genre and are looking learn more, Walton provides a lot of names to become familiar with.
But my favorite parts of Walton’s essays were her observations about the practice of reading. One chapter discusses the delights of re-reading a book. She has read “Game of Thrones’’, which is more than 600 pages, six times! She notes that there are three kinds of people in the world: those who re-read, those who don’t because there are too many books out there to read, and those who don’t read at all (of those people, she asks, “What do they think about on buses?’’)
Other questions she muses over include whether it is OK to skim a book, what to say to an author (don’t tell her you skimmed her book!) and what to do if the first book in a series is amazing, but the sequels aren’t so much. All in all, a great collection of essays.
Avid is an understatement. When I read Walton's book of columns, entitled "What Makes This Book So Great: Re-Reading the Classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy,'' I found out that she reads several books a week, and if she spends a day in bed, she will get through four to six titles!
If you are a die-hard science fiction and fantasy reader, this is a great book to read because Walton highlights many of her favorite novels. Some are rather obscure, and no doubt will require you to get them via interlibrary loan. If you are relatively new to the genre and are looking learn more, Walton provides a lot of names to become familiar with.
But my favorite parts of Walton’s essays were her observations about the practice of reading. One chapter discusses the delights of re-reading a book. She has read “Game of Thrones’’, which is more than 600 pages, six times! She notes that there are three kinds of people in the world: those who re-read, those who don’t because there are too many books out there to read, and those who don’t read at all (of those people, she asks, “What do they think about on buses?’’)
Other questions she muses over include whether it is OK to skim a book, what to say to an author (don’t tell her you skimmed her book!) and what to do if the first book in a series is amazing, but the sequels aren’t so much. All in all, a great collection of essays.
December 6, 2018
Four & a half stars. Walton wrote a chapter in this book called “Gulp or Sip: How do you read?”. I guess I’m both a sipper and a gulper. I used to be a gulper of everything. I read quickly and easily and I read everything. But somewhere along the way I lost ability to gulp everything. I don’t seem to have huge swathes of time to just sit and read. So some things I sip. I sipped this book. I loved it but it took me a while to read it as I was busy reading other things, planning a Christmas party (it was great by the way), Christmas shopping, working, walking my dog, cleaning my house and planning for my surgery. But now I have time. I had my surgery yesterday (nothing serious) and now I am recovering and I have a few weeks where I get to sit around and read. How nice is that. Anyhow I loved this book. I am in awe of the amount of time Jo Walton has to read and I loved her telling us why she thinks these books are so great. I’ve read a lot of the books she talks about, I skipped the chapters she wrote about Steven Brust mostly because now I want to read all of them. If you are a lover of science fiction and fantasy I highly recommend this. It is like having a nice long chat with an old friend about books.
May 4, 2017
If you know me well, then you probably know that I can be a little excessive about reading about other people reading. If I could, I would force everyone I like, some people I don't like, and possibly some borderline strangers to regularly update me on their reading habits. Instead of satisfying that addiction, goodreads only made things worse when I joined. I'm personally responsible for forcing convincing a number of friends to sign up, promising them that it's fun but really, driven by my desire to keep up to date with their reading. (Raise your hand if I've ever bugged you to update your goodreads! Feel free to do that by means of hitting the like button.)
(What follows is not really a spoiler; you can't really spoil this book; but lengthy and digressive thoughts around and on the side of this book, on the subject of books, reading and reviewing and hate-reviewing, that I thought a spoiler tag would work to hide that part. When I get back to the book at hand, the spoiler tag will end, and there's a tl;dr.)
Okay, tl;dr abbreviated version: sometimes seeing people complain about how awful some books purportedly are on various issues makes me sad or like things less even when I think those people are wrong, or even when I think people are right and I agree and disliked the book too / have no desire to read it, because I wish instead of having to point out the shitty we could focus on celebrating the awesome.
And that's what makes this book so fun. I don't always agree with Walton's tastes at all, but I loved how enthusiastic and loving she is about books and how unapologetic she is about liking what she likes. And at the same time, that she is willing to admit when stuff she likes contains flaming piles of garbage. I mean, most of us have loved piles of garbage at some point. (A few books by Oscar Scott Card were so influential for me as a teen and had an impact on shaping some parts of my life philosophy. And that's not even mentioning what fanfic I read.) It reminded me of how much I can enjoy interacting with others about reading, and that criticism, also when coming from me, doesn't have to be like a contest where the person who notices the most that's wrong, wins*. I'm grateful for the recommendations (I've noted down a few titles I want to check out.) I was so happy that she'd written up Bujold novels, because I could read the novel and then Walton's take on it.
*Unless it's typos, in which case, Tor.com, don't mix up it's and its please, how am I supposed to tell my ESL students that it matters to use them correctly in formal contexts.
As to the format of the book, amusingly enough, I don't think it quite worked for me - I would have liked to have more context in some cases (some of the essays definitely felt like they were only written for readers acquainted with the work under discussion). All the same, I really enjoyed the short essays that were more meta - about the act of reading, aspects of SF, Walton's readerly quirks. I saw myself a lot in her description of where she reads (I mean, unless I'm playing Pokemon Go, I read on my commute. Even if I'm walking on foot. I haven't caused an accident, yet.)
But as my wife likes to repeat (or maybe quote?), a good book makes you want to read all the books, and this book made me feel like reading not just some of the books it hailed but all the books (insert that hyperbole and a half pic), even ones I won't love, and maybe even a few that won't make me look good (to myself) on goodreads. Badreads? Goodreads secrets, anyone?
(What follows is not really a spoiler; you can't really spoil this book; but lengthy and digressive thoughts around and on the side of this book, on the subject of books, reading and reviewing and hate-reviewing, that I thought a spoiler tag would work to hide that part. When I get back to the book at hand, the spoiler tag will end, and there's a tl;dr.)
Okay, tl;dr abbreviated version: sometimes seeing people complain about how awful some books purportedly are on various issues makes me sad or like things less even when I think those people are wrong, or even when I think people are right and I agree and disliked the book too / have no desire to read it, because I wish instead of having to point out the shitty we could focus on celebrating the awesome.
And that's what makes this book so fun. I don't always agree with Walton's tastes at all, but I loved how enthusiastic and loving she is about books and how unapologetic she is about liking what she likes. And at the same time, that she is willing to admit when stuff she likes contains flaming piles of garbage. I mean, most of us have loved piles of garbage at some point. (A few books by Oscar Scott Card were so influential for me as a teen and had an impact on shaping some parts of my life philosophy. And that's not even mentioning what fanfic I read.) It reminded me of how much I can enjoy interacting with others about reading, and that criticism, also when coming from me, doesn't have to be like a contest where the person who notices the most that's wrong, wins*. I'm grateful for the recommendations (I've noted down a few titles I want to check out.) I was so happy that she'd written up Bujold novels, because I could read the novel and then Walton's take on it.
*Unless it's typos, in which case, Tor.com, don't mix up it's and its please, how am I supposed to tell my ESL students that it matters to use them correctly in formal contexts.
As to the format of the book, amusingly enough, I don't think it quite worked for me - I would have liked to have more context in some cases (some of the essays definitely felt like they were only written for readers acquainted with the work under discussion). All the same, I really enjoyed the short essays that were more meta - about the act of reading, aspects of SF, Walton's readerly quirks. I saw myself a lot in her description of where she reads (I mean, unless I'm playing Pokemon Go, I read on my commute. Even if I'm walking on foot. I haven't caused an accident, yet.)
But as my wife likes to repeat (or maybe quote?), a good book makes you want to read all the books, and this book made me feel like reading not just some of the books it hailed but all the books (insert that hyperbole and a half pic), even ones I won't love, and maybe even a few that won't make me look good (to myself) on goodreads. Badreads? Goodreads secrets, anyone?
March 10, 2017
I both am and am not the target audience for this book, having never been a devoted reader of Walton's column. I am, however, a well read fan, which is part of why I found the subtitle ridiculous (but that's a marketing choice on the publisher's part). Many of these books are not 'classics' by any stretch, despite how lovingly they are described. What this book is is one author's take on books she likes enough to read and reread, so if that's what you're looking for, you could certainly do worse. My frustration lies in the incredible whiteness and Western-based nature of the authors and works chosen - Butler gets one post in which she bounces off "Kindred" and doesn't try another one of her books, but Brust gets 18 posts, one for each book in his series, for example. It's weighted toward male writers, and mostly heterosexual pretty much goes without saying (Delany gets a few posts, at least, and there are one or two other mentions of other folks, but if you didn't already know who they are, you wouldn't pick up on it). On the one hand, the author likes what she likes, but on the other, I desperately wished for more self-examination of the choices she picked to write about, particularly as the posts moved close to the current time. The field has changed a lot and she had a huge platform for introducing new voices and diversity to the field but I didn't see this happening in either the columns or this collection. I picked it up hoping that I would be introduced to authors I either hadn't read or perhaps hadn't really understood the first time through and needed to revisit. And that goal, alas, was not achieved, which is a shame from my standpoint.
Added to this, she namechecks a notorious sexual harasser in the field as one of her best buddies (his reputation was very public at the time the book was being put together) and I got yanked out of the text every time because all I could see were the number of women who wouldn't be believed, who would stop attending cons, perhaps stop writing, because any complaints would be greeted with "Shiny Big Name Female Author says he's awesome! La-la, can't hear you!"
So, yeah. I didn't hate every post, by any means but I can't say that I was motivated to read any new to me authors either.
Added to this, she namechecks a notorious sexual harasser in the field as one of her best buddies (his reputation was very public at the time the book was being put together) and I got yanked out of the text every time because all I could see were the number of women who wouldn't be believed, who would stop attending cons, perhaps stop writing, because any complaints would be greeted with "Shiny Big Name Female Author says he's awesome! La-la, can't hear you!"
So, yeah. I didn't hate every post, by any means but I can't say that I was motivated to read any new to me authors either.
September 28, 2014
I'm not a big SF reader, so I'm not this book's audience. I've read barely a quarter of the books this discusses. (For some reason I thought there would be more of a focus on fantasy. I was wrong.)
I did enjoy a few essays a lot, though, particularly the one titled "Literary criticism vs. talking about books" -
That made me think. And yeah, Derek Jeter's been on my mind a lot this weekend, so that's a factor, but while a great book does have tangibles that can be discussed objectively, sometimes I just want to burble about intangibles. Emotion and reading experience and "I loved this so much I can't talk about it." And that's a part of reading that literary criticism never seems to capture.
I did enjoy a few essays a lot, though, particularly the one titled "Literary criticism vs. talking about books" -
Literary criticism is a conversation, and it's a conversation I've never been a part of - critics are in dialogue with the text but also in dialogue with each other. I'm talking about books as part of a different conversation... Beyond that, I resist the term because critics are supposed to be impersonal and detached, they're not supposed to burble about how much they love books and how they cried on the rain. Most of all I resist because I hate the way that necessary detachment and objectivity seem to suck the life and joy of reading out of the books critics talk about...
It's funny. I'm a real writer. But when it comes to this I feel as if I'm not really a grown-up critic. And I don't want to be. It's too much of a responsibility and not enough fun.
That made me think. And yeah, Derek Jeter's been on my mind a lot this weekend, so that's a factor, but while a great book does have tangibles that can be discussed objectively, sometimes I just want to burble about intangibles. Emotion and reading experience and "I loved this so much I can't talk about it." And that's a part of reading that literary criticism never seems to capture.
July 17, 2015
Although Jo Walton doesn't tip her hand until the very end of What Makes This Book So Great, it's pretty obvious from the beginning that the essays in her book are intended as enthusiasms rather than super-serious, high-minded critical reviews. At this point in time, the enthusiast style of writing about books is the one I'm most familiar with. It's what the web, and this site for that matter, thrives on, after all: personal, undetached responses to what we read, seeking both common opinions and ones that differ wildly from ours.
Being all from one person, Walton's essays have a certain flavor and character. Some aspects of her writing are enjoyable... and some are kind of irritating. There's no doubt she loves the books she's talking about, and it was easy to get caught up in her enthusiasm for a book, at least for the few minutes it takes to read a single one of these short essays. She mentions train trips, childhood visits to the newsstand, reading in the bath, and so on, and these tidbits are fun to read. Somewhat less fun are her preenings: her classical education, how she can read not one but two types of runes, how she can knock out six books in a day. There's also, at times, an inflexibility, an inability to consider modes of reading that don't match her own. For example (paraphrased): "How could you possibly skim? Why even read the book if you're going to do that?" (Insert haughty sniff!)
But those irritations, in their way, are part of the fun, too. I felt I came to know Walton a little bit, warts and all. She's highly skilled as a reader, and most of the time can give you the shape of a book without spoilers, and a good idea of what drew her to the book and what brings her back to it again and again.
There are a couple of themed sets of essays: one on "cozy apocalypses," and another on time travel, and interspersed throughout the book are essays on the experience of reading and re-reading itself. The one about the Suck Fairy has been a favorite of mine for years, and one I refer others to now and then, since the Suck Fairy is a familiar face even for people who don't re-read often.
There are also two larger bundles of essays, one on Bujold's major series, and another on Brust's. I skipped all but the introductory essays of these sets. For whatever reason, I lost the energy to go any further an essay or two in. Maybe I'll get back to 'em when I'm a good ways into reading these series myself. I guess this format works a lot better for me when you're talking about only one book at a time by a particular author I haven't read, rather than, say, fifteen books.
Just about any SF fan will find something to enjoy in What Makes This Book So Great. Whether you've read a book Walton's talking about or not, you're bound to want to read some SF! And love of reading SF is the reason that this book exists in the first place. It's a fun trip (call it a train trip, since Walton loves trains) alongside an exuberant and sometimes self-congratulatory fellow traveler.
Being all from one person, Walton's essays have a certain flavor and character. Some aspects of her writing are enjoyable... and some are kind of irritating. There's no doubt she loves the books she's talking about, and it was easy to get caught up in her enthusiasm for a book, at least for the few minutes it takes to read a single one of these short essays. She mentions train trips, childhood visits to the newsstand, reading in the bath, and so on, and these tidbits are fun to read. Somewhat less fun are her preenings: her classical education, how she can read not one but two types of runes, how she can knock out six books in a day. There's also, at times, an inflexibility, an inability to consider modes of reading that don't match her own. For example (paraphrased): "How could you possibly skim? Why even read the book if you're going to do that?" (Insert haughty sniff!)
But those irritations, in their way, are part of the fun, too. I felt I came to know Walton a little bit, warts and all. She's highly skilled as a reader, and most of the time can give you the shape of a book without spoilers, and a good idea of what drew her to the book and what brings her back to it again and again.
There are a couple of themed sets of essays: one on "cozy apocalypses," and another on time travel, and interspersed throughout the book are essays on the experience of reading and re-reading itself. The one about the Suck Fairy has been a favorite of mine for years, and one I refer others to now and then, since the Suck Fairy is a familiar face even for people who don't re-read often.
There are also two larger bundles of essays, one on Bujold's major series, and another on Brust's. I skipped all but the introductory essays of these sets. For whatever reason, I lost the energy to go any further an essay or two in. Maybe I'll get back to 'em when I'm a good ways into reading these series myself. I guess this format works a lot better for me when you're talking about only one book at a time by a particular author I haven't read, rather than, say, fifteen books.
Just about any SF fan will find something to enjoy in What Makes This Book So Great. Whether you've read a book Walton's talking about or not, you're bound to want to read some SF! And love of reading SF is the reason that this book exists in the first place. It's a fun trip (call it a train trip, since Walton loves trains) alongside an exuberant and sometimes self-congratulatory fellow traveler.
March 15, 2016
I really like Jo Walton's writing and I feel like a lot of her tastes correspond with mine. This book was an enjoyable read for me. Do NOT pick up this book if you do not want to significantly add to your TBR pile. My quibble with this book, and the reason that my review alternates between three and four stars is that too much of this book (25%) was a direct shill for two authors/series - Brust and Bujold. Now, admittedly, I love the Vorkosigan saga and can understand her enthusiasm for it but her blog posts are essentially a plot synopsis with minor spoilers, not really an in-depth dissection of issues or ideas. She would have had more to talk about with Bujolds's other books about which I would have liked to have read. Not to mention, once you get someone to read one of her books, that person will either eagerly gobble the rest up or their lack of taste will cause them to ignore the rest of Walton's recommendation. As far as Brust, I have not yet cracked open his books so I cannot comment on the opinions expressed but again, too many blog posts about only one series (18 out of 130 or 14%) without any real meaty discussion. Since I haven't read the series, I was reduced to skimming these sections for fear of ruining my (hopefully) future enjoyment. I do think there are other authors out there she could have talked about and instead wrote a compilation/condensation of her impressions of these two authors, i.e. recommended start places, the chronology of the books, their relative strengths/weaknesses and tone. I enjoyed more of the one-off impressions of books and authors and I really enjoyed the discussions on rereading in general and other topics. I like her discussion delineating her take on issues in science fiction and fantasy from the point of view of a genre fan. Organizationally, this book should contain an index listing the books she rereads.
December 10, 2015
Unless you are as well read as Jo Walton (doubtful, she admits she almost reads quickly and constantly), there is no way you could walk away from reading this book without a few new books that you want to read. Its clear that Walton really enjoys the books she writes about here, even the ones that she sees faults in. Although never labeled as such, she writes sets of posts about genre tropes (time travel books, alt history, etc). And if there are any chapters that don't peak your interest, you won't suffer for very long as most are 3-4 pages (and then its onto the next one).
Authors that I'm more interested in because of this book: Samuel Delany, CJ Cherryh and Robert Heinlein.
Disclaimer: There are two parts of this book that I did not read - the posts about Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan books and Steven Brust's Vlad books. I had already planned to read the Vorkosigan books and will go back to read those chapters once I do. As for the Vlad books, in her introduction to the series Walton made it sound very interesting. So I plan to try the first in the series out before reading those chapters.
Authors that I'm more interested in because of this book: Samuel Delany, CJ Cherryh and Robert Heinlein.
Disclaimer: There are two parts of this book that I did not read - the posts about Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan books and Steven Brust's Vlad books. I had already planned to read the Vorkosigan books and will go back to read those chapters once I do. As for the Vlad books, in her introduction to the series Walton made it sound very interesting. So I plan to try the first in the series out before reading those chapters.
April 23, 2014
(Reviews day Tuesday)
This book isn't just about great books, it IS a great book. Jo Walton clearly engages with her blog readers on Tor, and these posts make for some of the most interesting analysis. This isn't just a collection of review of books (although there are a lot of those), there are reflections on why and how we read and re-read. Posts like 'sip vs gulp' and 'skimming' really ask just what it is we're doing when we pick up a book and stare at text.
Of course, there are many wonderful review of books, and not just great or good books, but even some books that don't sound so good. Yet, somehow, hearing Walton's love for the book come through make me want to read even those 'not so great' (or at times, bad) books.
Jo Walton clearly loves these books and authors, the genre, and reading (and re-reading). It reminds me of why I love this genre and what keeps me coming back.
Perhaps someday I'll even re-read a book. ;)
This book isn't just about great books, it IS a great book. Jo Walton clearly engages with her blog readers on Tor, and these posts make for some of the most interesting analysis. This isn't just a collection of review of books (although there are a lot of those), there are reflections on why and how we read and re-read. Posts like 'sip vs gulp' and 'skimming' really ask just what it is we're doing when we pick up a book and stare at text.
Of course, there are many wonderful review of books, and not just great or good books, but even some books that don't sound so good. Yet, somehow, hearing Walton's love for the book come through make me want to read even those 'not so great' (or at times, bad) books.
Jo Walton clearly loves these books and authors, the genre, and reading (and re-reading). It reminds me of why I love this genre and what keeps me coming back.
Perhaps someday I'll even re-read a book. ;)
September 5, 2016
This volume reads like precisely what it is: a series of short blog posts, frequently related by author or theme, collected together and bundled into a very lightly edited book. Some of these little essays are thoughtful and interesting and are sure to spur the casual reader of the genre on to new discoveries. Others, though, are the kind of thing best left to the ephemerality of the internet (no one needs to immortalize their leaden April Fool's posts or republish trite open-ended queries meant to elicit discussion among blog regulars). There are also too many essays loaded with heavy spoilers for me to be able to recommend this book as means for newcomers to explore the genre.
reference
January 14, 2018This is a lovely collection of Walton's essays, mostly about works of science fiction. I have read many a book based on her suggestions. She writes regular columns for Tor.com.
I wish it had an index. There's a table of contents, but the title of each essay doesn't always indicate which authors or works it covers.
I wish it had an index. There's a table of contents, but the title of each essay doesn't always indicate which authors or works it covers.
July 19, 2020
This book makes me want to read or reread a lot of books, and also get much better at reviewing them.
Read
February 21, 2014What Makes This Book So Great is a must read for any genre lover. Walton will astound and amaze you. Her essays are poignant. She often talks about details that I’d skip over or miss, and works them into a larger picture that I’d probably not look at quite as intensely as she does. The bottom line? Walton reminds me of why I love reading, and why I love this genre, and why I started running this pipsqueak website in the first place. Walton makes me want to simplify and get back to my reading roots, and, better than that, she makes me want to read differently.
And the real crux of the matter is the fact that this book is going to make Mount To Be Read turn into a transcontinental mountain range, and the best part of it is that Walton will get you excited. She’ll root you back in that passion that first got you started in speculative fiction.
That’s a true gift. I needed something to bring me back to my genre roots, to remind me of my passion, and to give me the insights and ambition to read differently. This is one of those books that I can read again and again, and always find something different in the text. I love books like that.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2014/02/...
And the real crux of the matter is the fact that this book is going to make Mount To Be Read turn into a transcontinental mountain range, and the best part of it is that Walton will get you excited. She’ll root you back in that passion that first got you started in speculative fiction.
That’s a true gift. I needed something to bring me back to my genre roots, to remind me of my passion, and to give me the insights and ambition to read differently. This is one of those books that I can read again and again, and always find something different in the text. I love books like that.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2014/02/...
February 4, 2017
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2773548.html
This book of reviews originally published on Tor.com in 2008-2011 is an extended conversation about great (and some less great) works of SF, part of a chat that I've been having since the start of the century. The final essay, which I think didn't appear online, established the agenda: this is not literary criticism, this is talking about books, not new books but books that she has reread and thought about for our benefit.
As always, I find I have distinct points of convergence (Bujold, Le Guin, the Clarkes - Arthur C. and Susannah; Doorways in the Sand, When the Kissing Had To Stop) and divergence (Brust, Cherryh; to an extent Delany and Asimov); but enough of the former that I will be adding several of her recommendations to my own wish list (Random Acts of Senseless Violence, Black Wine, In The Wet).
And the piece on The Last Dangerous Visions is grim but funny at the same time. All good fun and recommended.
This book of reviews originally published on Tor.com in 2008-2011 is an extended conversation about great (and some less great) works of SF, part of a chat that I've been having since the start of the century. The final essay, which I think didn't appear online, established the agenda: this is not literary criticism, this is talking about books, not new books but books that she has reread and thought about for our benefit.
As always, I find I have distinct points of convergence (Bujold, Le Guin, the Clarkes - Arthur C. and Susannah; Doorways in the Sand, When the Kissing Had To Stop) and divergence (Brust, Cherryh; to an extent Delany and Asimov); but enough of the former that I will be adding several of her recommendations to my own wish list (Random Acts of Senseless Violence, Black Wine, In The Wet).
And the piece on The Last Dangerous Visions is grim but funny at the same time. All good fun and recommended.
April 19, 2014
I know that all of these essays are available for free online, but the hardcover was so pretty, and I always absorb content better when it's not scrolling down a screen. My only complaint is that I didn't really want to add more books to my to-read list. Thanks a lot, Jo Walton.
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