[jbcohen]

What do you think of the inability of fantasy novels to obtain listing in the NY Times Bestsellers lists?

[jbcohen]

Ok, I will admit the fact that Robert Jordan has obtained the slot as the # 1 hardback and has maintained it for a while now. There has been a long time since the coming of Crossroads of Twilight since there has been a fantasy novel on the lists. Do you think that this is due to a bias in our society against fantasy novels? Do you think there is reluctance on the part of the general public to read fantasy novels because it is somehow "way out there" or "unbelievable"?

[Rob B]

Actually Fantasy novels do make the NYT Bestseller list, right now Robert Jordan's newest WOT book is #1. NoGoodkind often makes the list, Neil Gaiman was on the list with American Gods, Tad Williams has been on the list as well. David Farland's last book Wizardborn was on the extended list, which includes up to the the 35th bestselling book. Weis & Hickman consistently hit the list.

The Lovely Bones which has fantastical elements, though not a straight-forward fantasy, has been on the list since it published in the middle of last year.

[ezchaos]

Locus Online has the fantasy and science fiction books that are currently on different bestseller lists:

http://www.locusmag.com/2003/Monitor/Bestsellers0119.html

[Crysania]

The Covenant series by Donaldson held court on the List for a long time. It definitely happens.

[milamber_reborn]

Feist topped it with Magician.

[allanon]

And Eddings with the "Seeress of Kell".
I know that before woT, Morgawr hit it also.

[Bond]

Did people forget about Harry Potter already or is HP not considered fantasy? :D

LotR probably did too but I'm guessing.

[Aoibheil]

If you think about it, the number of Fantasy books published each year is much smaller than the number of straight Fiction books published each year, therefore it makes sense that there aren't as many fantasy books on the Best Sellers list, just because there are less of them. If you look at the percentage of Fantasy books that make the Best Sellers list versus the number published and compare that to the percentage of Fiction books that make the Best Sellers list versus the number published, it's probably fairly close... not that I've actually done the math or anything...

[Rob B]

Good point Bond. The power of Rowling/HP actually changed the best-seller lists---when all of the first three books were on the list, they created the Children's bestseller list.