Floor to Ceiling Books

Apologies for the slow update schedule, my friends.  I’m currently entertaining various things, both guests and fantasies of murdering said guests.  That is no excuse, however, and I will promptly flog myself in penance and send the ensuing picture journals to you and your grandmothers so that they may say: “My word, that young man certainly has penance, and shoulders the size of Maori warriors!”

They will then swoon and offer up their daughters in marriage.  I shall marry your various mothers and you will be legally required to call me “daddy.”

That is the extent of my sorrow over this.

But I digress, it’s time to get balls-deep into our next interview:

Featuring Amanda Rutter, who I think is the owner of that tangerine-colored arm there, is a noted blogger for both Fantasy Literature and her very own solo album: Floor to Ceiling Books.  While she may not possess the charm of the Book Smugglers or the rugged handsomeness of Aidan Moher, let’s see just what qualities she offers us.

Let’s take stock of your blog here: it would probably be fair to say that you are a newcomer to the “scene,” as it were, despite reviewing on www.fantasyliterature.com.  Amongst powers such as the scathing smarm of A Dribble of Ink, the combative ire of Speculative Horizons, the Hobbit-like tenacity of the Wertzone (all of whom you read, I’m told), what does your blog bring to the table?  In short, why should we pay attention to you if you’re not going to give us candy?

Well, I am prepared to offer candy if it works! Yes, I will bribe people to visit my blog! Actually, I’m quite enjoying my blog being a little more under the radar. I’m quietly going about my reviewing and producing articles without the fierce interest and scrutiny that comes from being so high profile. Certainly the Speculative Scot, Mr. Niall Alexander (who came online around about the same time I decided to plunge properly into the world of blogging) , is receiving a great deal more hype – and is therefore under a great deal more pressure as a result. From the articles he has produced, I think he is more than up for living up to the hype, but I think I would crumble under said pressure!

Talking seriously about what my blog has to offer, though… I read across many other genres, as well as the whole field of speculative fiction, so you are able to find a mix of books on my site. I happen to think this gives my perspective on speculative fiction a freshness because it isn’t *all* I read. I will tackle classics, thriller, horror, women’s fiction, literary worthies – you name it, I’ll give it a go. Consequently, when I feel jaded with the world of fantasy, I am able to dip into another genre and then come back with clear eyes to review more speculative fiction. This makes me fairly resistant to “trends” and allows me to judge each book on its own merit. I hope that readers don’t feel I am saying the other reviewers you mention are *not* able to do this – I’m just trying to identify one of the bigger benefits I bring to the table.

I think the other real benefit is the tone of my blog. I am not (too) sarcastic. I do not suck up to anyone. I do not aim to make waves. I am providing a friendly and welcoming resource where, hopefully, you really get a sense of the love I have for reading. I am having fun with this – I can’t imagine a better situation than publishers sending me books for review, and people reading what I have to say about them. I am just giddy like a child in a candy store. If I ever lose this childlike wonder about books, that is the time to give it all up.

It is also probably fair to say that you are a girl, if my information is correct.  I posed this question to the Book Smugglers, as well, but I’d genuinely like to get more opinions on it, girl bloggers being in woefully short supply (if any of them want to come forward, though, keep in mind that you cannot legally curse at me without written consent).  But what is it that women want, do you think, at least in fantasy?  Do our tastes differ so much?  Will women naturally focus on romance or do they appreciate a good spleen-ripping as much as the next dude?

Hah, your information is correct: I am indeed a girl! Are girl book bloggers really in such short supply? Or is it that there aren’t many in the field of speculative fiction? Certainly I know that a number of my fellow reviewers on www.fantasyliterature.com happen to be girls! You’ve already mentioned the Book Smugglers (fab blog, you two!) and I know that Book Chick City is providing an excellent resource for readers of speculative fiction. There are a few of us around!

I can only speak for myself here – and I think that reveals the problem with this question you have posed. If you take one woman, for instance: she dabbles in urban fantasy, reading people like Kelley Armstrong and Laurell K Hamilton, and she reads them purely because of the sexual tension and romance going on within the pages. Take another woman who reads exactly the same, and she sneers at the romance, wanting there to be more zombie raising and witchy goings-on. The same can be said of those women who tackle straight up fantasy novels as well. It is very much personal taste as to what a reader wants from a book – I don’t think it is worth applying sweeping generalizations to the matter. I’m sure there are male readers who pick up a book and yearn for a decent love story – they might not admit it, but I reckon they’re around! I would definitely say men and women come together on wanting to read a decent story well-told.

Speaking for myself, I enjoy bodice-ripping romances. I also enjoy a good decapitation. I like zombie raising and conflicted mages. I even like young farm lads discovering their destiny! I don’t think my taste in fantasy would differ much from a guy’s – in fact, I know that my tastes run very similar to people like Aidan and Niall, having read reviews on their respective blogs.

Taking a look at your blog, your tastes seem pretty eclectic, with the only certainty being your utter hatred of moles, particularly those made of stone.  Tell us about your most loathed book of all.

Now, there is a controversial little question! *attempts to prevent foot-in-mouth syndrome* Maybe I can just concentrate on the authors who are dead and therefore NEVER ABLE TO READ me dissing their books!

I have read some truly terrible books – and it is quite easy to pick on the easy ones, like Terry Goodkind (man, I was not expecting that series to go so terribly wrong!) and Laurell K Hamilton (how is it possible to continuously write such *bad* sex scenes…?) but I thought I’d throw out a handful of books that I would say I’ve loathed.

As you point out, my strength of negative feeling for moles is not kept under wraps on my blog: I would put up Duncton Rising (by William Horwood) as the very worst book in the six book mole saga. I put up with issues through the first four books, but this one brought on actual physical nausea.

I’m going to be crucified for this one, but here goes: The Lord of the Rings *ducks flying missiles*. Just wait a minute and let me explain! I have read this one a few times – well, not read so much as struggled through it. I love the story; I loathe the execution. Slow dreamy passages about trees just don’t do it for me. I feel this book has to be read, and I know of many who would class it amongst their most favourite books, but I say “Thank God for the films” which have enabled me to take the decision to *never read the damn thing again!*

Lastly, there is only one book that I have actually torn up in disgust. I mean, physically ripped pages from it. Of course, that might have been to do with my general mood on the day…but still. This was the excruciatingly awful Wit’ch Star by James Clemens. Yes, just dwell on that erroneous apostrophe. Admire its uselessness. What really defies reason is the fact that this is the fifth book in the series and I labored through the other four – just to see how the story turned out. Derivative fantasy, poor two-dimensional characters (hell, they might have been bad enough to classify as one-dimensional), and a truly abysmal climax to the story. I am sure some might have enjoyed it, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Oh, and I don’t know another genre that produces such consistent rubbish as chick lit (how I hate that term). There are some glittering exceptions, but there are some real clangers as well. I would steer readers towards such luminaries as Marian Keyes and Jane Green for the good that can be found in this genre.

You’ve also gained quite a reputation for your US vs. UK cover quizzes.  Do you find that a lot of people are surprised by their results?  How much does cover art weigh on your radar, really?  And what do you feel about the big debuts coming out in terms of cover art?

*laughs* Those quizzes! *fake outrage* Isn’t it typical that they’ve picked up the majority page views since I started blogging?! I just did them for a laugh and to fill a gap between reviews, and never ever realized that they would prove to be so popular and controversial all at once. I even had some people on a very random forum commenting on the fact that I was such a cover art snob! That is the furthest from what I am, really. I rarely pick up a book based on the cover – I’m more interested in what is inside.

One thing I have noticed is that most people lean more heavily towards liking UK covers – I do think the US publishers are starting to up their game with covers coming out more recently, but certainly older fantasy covers from the US are dire (and would actually make me embarrassed to be seen with them on public transport!)Another thing I have noticed is that in the case of cover art familiarity certainly does NOT breed contempt: US readers of the quiz came out in favour of their own covers a great deal and vice versa with Brits, and I think this reflects that fact that we’re used to the comfort of certain styles.

Hmm, this year is certainly a year of hooded men, isn’t it? We’ve all seen the new trend – and I think it’s reached the point of complete parody now. I was half-tempted to run a series of mocked-up covers from older books showing the now-familiar hooded figure parading across them, but then I figured that I might gain a reputation for being a…umm.. cover art snob! Oh! It also amused me that the hooded figure on the book ‘The Left Hand of God’ is actually waving that bloody great sword in his right hand. Just me amused? Probably! I intend to read all the debuts this year, if I can – I’ve already completed *ahem* your book, and have The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms on my radar for sometime in Feb probably. I do not intend to read them in an order based on what is on the outside!

Well, that will just about do it, won’t it?

Amanda Rutter offers us a pretty diverse and varied lot of books, diving headlong into any kind of book with a wolverine-like aggression, chewing and later converting to high-fiber nutrient-rich feces, books of all kinds, genres and qualities!  Few people cover as many books as she does.

And they don’t offer you candy!  Check it out.