[jbcohen]

Would you ever consider a book award such as the Hugo or the World Fantasy Award when selecting a book to read?

[Aglaranna]

Nope.

[Rob B]

If you mean would I read a book simply because it won an award?

Well not ONLy because the book won an award, but if it won an award and I read up on the book, i.e. if it interested me and if people who's opinions I respect have given favorable comments on the book I would read it.

[ChrisW]

Nope those awards are worthless as usually none of the books that win are what I consider great fantasy.

[Qin]

I always give award winners their five minutes of consideration. If the ideas in the novel engage me, then I purchase it. If not...

[Rupert Avery]

Never!
Just like the Oscars, half of the movis that win I do not find that good.As they say each to there own.

[Mithfânion]

Same as Qin. I'll check out some of them because they are Award winners. If it doesn't seem to be something I would enjoy then it's out.

[Alucard]

Can't say that I live and die by awards, but with books, if they're getting praise, I'll maybe check into it. Not that awards gaurantee quality, but it can help a little when I'm sifting through the crap for something to read.

[Kamakhya]

Last year I read every Hugo winning novel from the first through 2000. It was a really fun exercise. I started on the project because I wanted to explore some authors that I had not read before, but had no idea where to begin. I did not like each and every novel, but by and large, most were decent reads and a few were outstanding. One of these days, I will probably do the same with the Nebulas.

[Hobbit]

A small point to make here but the difference between the Hugos and the Nebulas is that the Nebulas are voted for by the Science Fiction Writers of America (though many other nationalities are actually now involved and it can be for SF & Fantasy), whilst the Hugos are more populist, being voted by the members (any members!) of the annual World Science Fiction Convention.

This may account for some of the differences through the years.

Hobbit