Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY! discussion

This was brought up in another group I'm in but it made me curious... How do you read anthologies?? Do you read from front to back? Do you pick & choose which stories to read? Shortest to longest stories perhaps? Or do you have an all together different quirk when it comes to anthologies?



I don't read them that often, but when I do I pick and choose which stories to read. I'll read any that are part of a series I've read (or am reading as long as it's in order) or any stand-alones. I'm always hesitant to read shorts that are part of a series I haven't started because I HATE feeling lost as well as I don't want spoilers.

I pick and choose. I bought alot of used paranormal anthologies to get the Sookie Stackhouse short stories. I read in order, when I could. I then needed a "P" author or title for a challenge to read the month "April", so read a Vampire Files short story from P.N. Elrod. I loved it enough to order the omnibus editions of the Vampire Files stories to get me the first 6 novels in two volumes. Since I'm new to PN/PNR/UF I'm getting a feel for different authors and series by reading different short stories. See what I like and don't like. So I definetly skip around til I find something that interests me, or fits a challenge, etc.

I usually read front to back, but if there happens to be a Sookie or a Harry Dresden story I'll read them first. If a story doesn't grab me within the first couple of pages and it's an author I haven't read before I'll sometimes skip them altogether.

I'll usually read the authors I know first and then go back and read the rest. Anthologies are how I was introduced to Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks and Sunny, which are some of my favorite authors.

I was going to say I read anthologies from front to back, of course. Especially when they're a collection of all Charles de Lint or Connie Willis or Charlaine Harris stories. Or I read a lot anthologies on themes: the Chicks 'n' Chained Male series by Esther Friesner is a hoot, so is her series of suburban fantasies Witch Way to the Mall? and I'm a sucker for anything edited by Terri Windling, BUT. With some of the uf anthologies I don't read the whole book, or I start reading each story and if I'm not grabbed in a few or five pages I go onto the next story.

I read them front to back but if I totaly can't get interested in a story I'll skip it. I've found several new authors by reading anthologies.

Mostly I read front to back and that's how I've gotten into several series I'm into but sometimes if I bought the anthology specifically for a particular short I'll read that one first before I read front to back or if I know the short is part of series that I want to read I'll skip it and save it for later (to read in order with the series)

I don't particularly care for anthologies. When I do read them, I pick and choose which stories to read and I definitely have to read them in series order.

I don't buy anthologies any more, I borrow them. I read the authors I'm reading first and then the ones I recognise and then the rest if the other stories were good, if they weren't then I might not bother.

My problem is if I don't finish the whole book I can't count it on the 144 in 2010. So, I'm stuck with stinky books/stories. Sometimes it works out because I may not like it in the beginning but toward the end change my mind.

I've been tempted to read shorts I don't want to for one reason or another because I'm doing the 144 in 2010 challenge as well. BUT I've been strong & skipped the stories anyways. I still count the pages.

To Carolyn and Shannon:

My problem is if I don't finish the whole book I can't count it on the 144 in 2010.

Why? You pick a lousy book or short story -- or you're in a lousy mood for a book -- and you've got to suffer through it? That's nuts.

I'm with Shannon, count it Carolyn! Life's too short to read books you hate or are indifferent to.

I feel like a cheat if I count it. Besides, I went and opened my trap giving my opinion that only books you completely read should count. Damn my big mouth!!!

Open your mouth, apologize and change your mind!

:)

I love anthologies. I can pick up and put down easily and I get to sample different authors

This is my first post, so, hello everyone! I'm with Terri, I've discovered some great authors through them -- Rachel Caine, Thomas Sniegoski, Faith Hunter, Kat Richardson... I read them front to back, I haven't bailed on a story, but I've definitely skimmed to get through it.

Me too Laura. Some I love, and others I trudge through, but I do try to finish each and every story.