Space Opera Fans discussion

I couldn't find a good place to post this question.

For the BOTM nominations for READER pick, the book needs to be readily available in bookstores and libraries, as well as ebook. I live in a small town, population under 6k. The library is small. The only bookstore went out of business several years ago. I buy my books online. I have been using a rule of thumb that if it's a big name in publishing and not out of print that it's ok for READER, but odds are some small press books are not getting nominated by me, thinking that they count as Indie instead.

I always can think of multiple indie nominations but Reader nominations other than Liaden Universe books, not so much. Particularly when oldies but goodies may no longer be in print in dead tree versions.

I would appreciate some guidance here on how to tell whether a book that is currently in print from a publisher I've never heard of would count as Reader. Thanks!

I agree this can be tricky. One quick device is to check the number of ratings/reviews on Goodreads. Indies are likely to have fewer. More than 1,000 ratings might indicate Reader. But this is not exact. Some of Nathan Lowell's books has more than 5,000 ratings, and I know they are self-published because I follow his blog.

Another thing I do if I'm uncertain whether the publisher is independent or not is check them on Google. It's still not always easy to tell, but it may give you some useful information.

If you're having trouble thinking of Reader Picks that aren't out of print, check previous months' nomination threads. In the posts where we list "what we've got so far" are nominations that have been appropriately vetted. If any of those appeal to you, just re-nominate them.

Thanks Betsy. I was trying to think of one that I hadn't nominated yet, and avoiding Liaden Universe since we just had one. I'd think of an oldie, then decide not really space opera (Footfall). Think of another, ugh currently only available in ebook (The Ship Who Sang). Noticed some of my indie list books were available in paper with publisher not just as Amazon or whatever, so thought I'd ask. I'll try googling those authors.

Aha! When I checked a few days ago Amazon only listed Ship Who Sang paperbacks from third parties. They show 8 copies now. I'll nominate that one.

Teresa wrote: "I'll try googling those authors. "

Also try googling the publisher.

Do you have an objection to more recent publications, like Scalzi or Weber or Ringo or Robinson or Reynolds or Corey or Banks or Bujold?

Teresa wrote: "Thanks Betsy. I was trying to think of one that I hadn't nominated yet, and avoiding Liaden Universe since we just had one. I'd think of an oldie, then decide not really space opera ([book:Footfall..."

BTW, why does it matter if you've previously nominated it? You can nominated the same book every month forever, until it wins or until it somehow no longer meets the criteria (i.e. falls out of print).