The Christian Science Fiction/Fantasy Blog Tour for December is examining the Lost Genre Guild Web site. I’m taking part. Today is the second installment of examining this Web site.
This Web site was started by a group of writers in the Christian-worldview fantasy-science fiction genre, which they renamed the Biblical speculative fiction genre, for clarification. They put out an anthology of works in 2007. They also are reviewing books in the genre submitted to them, and publishing the reviews for the books that receive three to five stars from the reviewer. Today let’s look at the book reviews on the Lost Genre Guild Web site.
There are ten reviews posted, each linked to a picture of the book cover. Each review consists of a two-paragraph plot summary and then three or so paragraphs of review by the reviewer. I like this format; it’s concise and easy to follow. The books reviewed are for teens and for adults.
Why are there only 10 books reviewed? That seems like a low number to me, for a site that has been around since 2006. The site accepts submissions of books in the genre from authors. Perhaps authors don’t know about the site, or there aren’t enough reviewers. I would love to see more books reviewed here. I know there are plenty more out there! I would also love to see the book cover links contain more information for the reader before clicking over to the review, such as target age-range (young adult, adult) and sub-genre (horror, science-fiction, high fantasy, etc.) . The links could be organized by these categories too. That would make it easier for a reader to pick and choose. Also, I would like to see a site navigation system at the top of each page that easily allows me to go from the book review page to the blog.
Check out the other blogs on the Christian Science Fiction/Fantasy Blog Tour:
Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Courtney
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Lost Genre Guild
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Mirtika
Hanna Sandvig
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise
Excellent ideas. I hope Frank comes over to read your post. Your suggestions would really enhance that service.
Becky
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Thanks for the feedback, Phyllis . . . and since I do all the online sites for the LGG I am glad to take note of your suggestions.
My intent was to keep the Guild Review site as organized and uncluttered as possible, also to organize it in such a fashion that future posts would be easy-peasy to handle (templates for the review page items, for example). I had thought of placing a quick “fact” item beside each cover on the front page, but dismissed it as adding to clutter. However, I see merit in your idea and here is what I think I will do: most Christian speculative fiction is geared toward young adults (which I think is unfortunate, but a whole other issue) so instead of providing a lot of details, I will indicate that unless a book is labeled “adult” readers can assume it is written for a young adult audience. Second, behind each title, in parentheses, I can indicate subgenre.
You also mention links. Yes, the Guild Review is a part of the Lost Genre Guild group, but it is also separate in that we review more than just LGG member books (or would like to). I didn’t want to discourage people from visiting us if they figured that all the information we had available was at the main LGG site — so why bother with the GR? It needed to be a stand-alone site but one that could be reached through either the main website or the blog. I do see that I need to put up a warning page that says “You are now leaving the main LGG site” or “the LGG blog” or something.
Alas, if only I could find the time to do everything right!
c
Your second question about the number of books reviewed is a good one.
There are more reviews on the way, but since the reviewers are busy-bees and do this voluntarily, I don’t push anyone. I wish I had the time to review more books (or even read them, for that matter) so I could get the numbers up myself.
The Guild Review offers only editorial reviews. We wanted to get away from personal taste (or other types) and provide professional third-person reviews a la the library or journal reviews. Those appearing on this site can be placed by publishers, for instance, in the editorial review section of amazon.com. So, screening reviewers and each review that comes along is part of the package — but we do need more reviewers willing to use the format. This is another reason we have so few reviews.
GR reviews more than just LGG-member books. We review all Christian and Biblical speculative fiction, however, we give priority to novels that are either published by: small presses, independent presses (those not affiliated with the CBA or ECPA), and self. While we don’t discriminate (totally!) against books from the large Christian houses, we’ll review them too, we give priority to the others because they don’t have equal access to promotional venues like the big book blog tours, many book review sites; even the library and literary journals won’t even consider a book submitted from other than a big house. Like the highly respected Midwest Book Review, we want to provide promotion for everyone–not just the big guys.
Truth be known, we get very few books submitted to us because we don’t advertise nor solicit openly. If we had the number of active reviewers necessary, it would be a different story. For now we are building slowly to show that the GR is more than just a site for “badly written POD books” (not my words, but certainly the impression that many people hold.
I thank you for taking the time to look through the Guild Review and for so many kind comments and great suggestions. I appreciate them all.
c
Guild Review was born many months after the LGG launched. Too few hours in the day.
More good advice, and thanks for participating all three days!
Faith,
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Faith,
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