SFFWorld's Favorite/Favourite 2008 book is...

**Rob B** · February 16th, 2009, 11:40 AM

For the first time in all the years of running this poll, we have a tie for first place. Last Argument of Kings and The Name of the Wind both received the same number of votes. However, Last Argument of Kings was on 21 total ‘ballots’ with 4 first-place votes and The Name of the Wind was on 15 total ballots with 10 first-place votes. We also had a tie later on down in the rankings between The Painted Man (more ballot appearances) and Anathem (more top votes). In both cases of the ties, I used ballot appearances as the tie-breaker. Here’s the full list:

Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (97 total points)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (97 total points)
Toll the Hounds by Steven Erikson (42 total points)
Small Favor by Jim Butcher (29 points)
The Shadow Isle by Katherine Kerr (27 points)
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanders (25 points)
The Painted Man by Peter Brett (20 points)
Anathem by Neal Stephenson (20 points)
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch (16 points)
Reaper’s Gale by Steven Erikson (16 Points)

Some random thoughts:

The top three from 2008 are the same top three authors from 2007, and in the same order.

This is the second time on the list for the following:

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Red Seas Under Red Skies
Reaper’s Gale

Steven Erikson continues to dominate our readership here, this is especially true with two books appearing on this year's list. Frankly, I’m surprised 2008 was the first time he had two books on the list; however, I only expanded the list to 10 in 2005. In 2007, Erikson hit #3 with Reaper’s Gale, 2006; Erikson was #3 with The Bonehunters; in 2005, he was #10 with Memories of Ice, Erikson was #10 in 1004 with Midnight Tides, #5 in 2002 with Memories of Ice and #2 in 2001 with Deadhouse Gates.
For the first time since I began running this poll, no Robin Hobb book appeared on the list.
For the first time in three years, no book by (R.) Scott Bakker appeared
Joe Abercrombie’s popularity continues grow with a strong showing for the third consecutive year, and the second consecutive year as author of the favorite read of the year. On the other hand, he is slacking compared to last year’s appearance of two books on the list.
Jim Butcher’s popularity grows year by year; he makes a strong showing at #4 after a few years of just scratching the surface of the top 10.
I'm mildly surprised Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains didn't crack the top 10, though the US version was just released so maybe it will show up on the 2009 list.
If such trends of UK book appearing one year and US book appearing the following year continue, expect The Painted Man to appear on next year’s list.
Anathem is the only Science Fiction novel on the list. Maybe I should begin running separate polls.
The biggest surprise on the list for me is The Shadow Isle by Katherine Kerr, I know she’s a huge name in the genre, but I recall very little discussion about the book last year.

Any other thoughts?

For the past results follow the links below:
2007
2006
2005
2004
2002
2001

Here's the voting thread

**ezchaos** · February 16th, 2009, 12:07 PM

The Shadow Isle by Kerr is a bit of a surprise.

Does the Deverry series get better after the first eight books?

**Paul Lamontagne** · February 16th, 2009, 12:43 PM

Rob would you qualify all ten of those as "must-reads"? In your opinion only, independent of their appearance on this Top Ten list.

**Rob B** · February 16th, 2009, 01:01 PM

ezchaos - I've never read Deverry, so I don't know

Paul - I haven't read all the books on the list, so I can't say if they are all "must reads." Of those on the list I did read (Last Argument of Kings, The Name of the Wind, The Hero of Ages and Red Seas Under Red Skies) I'd consider the first three must and RSURS, just a notch under "must read"

**Paul Lamontagne** · February 16th, 2009, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Rob B

ezchaos - I've never read Deverry, so I don't know

Paul - I haven't read all the books on the list, so I can't say if they are all "must reads." Of those on the list I did read (Last Argument of Kings, The Name of the Wind, The Hero of Ages and Red Seas Under Red Skies) I'd consider the first three must and RSURS, just a notch under "must read"

ah! are you not engrossed in the Malazan series?

**Rob B** · February 16th, 2009, 01:41 PM

I really like Malazan, but I've been trying to pace them out rather than storming through all of them back-to-back.

**jamieem** · February 17th, 2009, 06:49 AM

Great stuff Rob, thanks for this.

And well done to Joe and Pat, they really deserve the plaudits, in my eyes.

**Paul Lamontagne** · February 17th, 2009, 10:05 AM

With the exception of Kerr the list looks as though one would expect. I understand the excitement NOTW generated, but was no-one besides myself put off by Kvothe's smug narration? I could only roll my eyes so many times at his self-satisfied pomposity before I had to put it down. Never finished it.

**mjolnir** · February 17th, 2009, 10:11 AM

Nice list once again. Pretty epic fantasy heavy, but just as was the case last year I'd say that's just what a lot of us like, [or like most, anyway], around here and I don't see a problem with that. I've got my own little list of authors I'd have liked to see do better just like everybody else, [Daniel Abraham, Richard Morgan, Kay Kenyon, etc], but the list's only ten slots long and they're ten slots well allocated so far as I'm concerned. [That being said, ... two Erikson novels?]

The Name of the Wind's prominence is testament to Rothfuss's growing popularity indeed.

Abercrombie has a winning streak! An indication of how special a work many people, [myself included], found The First Law to be. And yet ... what if Best Served Cold is so good that we are compelled to elevate it to similar heights next year? Can The 'Crombie not be stopped?

Clearly there's something about Erikson that I just do not get.

My thoughts on Hobb would be that her Soldier's Son trilogy has never been quite as widely esteemed as her Fitz books, and the split of the UK and US publications over two years finally knocked Renegade's Magic off the list. Interesting to see how Dragon Keeper performs within our humble little community, as it is set in the same world as a previous trilogy.

I'd be very much in favour of separate lists for fantasy and science fiction, certainly. I had a lot of trouble choosing my top five.
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**Paul Lamontagne** · February 17th, 2009, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by mjolnir

Clearly there's something about Erikson that I just do not get.

Any idea what it is? I keep trying but get turned off rather quickly. The "claw", the "fist", the names... I don't know what it is but it just doesn't do it for me, then I see him keep popping up everywhere and I think I have to read this guy because I must be missing out.

**Seak** · February 17th, 2009, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Paul Lamontagne

Any idea what it is? I keep trying but get turned off rather quickly. The "claw", the "fist", the names... I don't know what it is but it just doesn't do it for me, then I see him keep popping up everywhere and I think I have to read this guy because I must be missing out.

I think it turns a lot of people off because it is intentionally quite vague. The reader is dropped right into the action without any explanations. I thought it was wonderfully done because the reader ends up feeling like he/she is a part of the world instead of being told a story with explanations. Many times the reader must also figure things out for himself. I enjoyed this, but I could see how it could put people off.

One more thing. I felt very confused throughout Gardens of the Moon until the last couple hundred pages which blew my mind.

In my opinion it's worth it to make it through to the end. I don't mean that I didn't enjoy the read the entire time, I loved it.

Then, what's still crazy is that when you start Deadhouse Gates, you're still just as confused for a while until the last half blows you away. For those moments, it is definitely worth it.

**suciul** · February 17th, 2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Paul Lamontagne

Any idea what it is? I keep trying but get turned off rather quickly. The "claw", the "fist", the names... I don't know what it is but it just doesn't do it for me, then I see him keep popping up everywhere and I think I have to read this guy because I must be missing out.

I sort of liked Gardens of the Moon, but book 2 just bored me, I kept reading to see what's so special about it, and never got excited even fast browsing to the end; I just could not care less about the Shaik (sp ??) or those soldiers with a famous commander and their retreat; not enough time to waddle through thousands of pages of marginal books for me.

I guess if you like world-building Ericson is the master, but for me his prose and tons of characters turned me off quickly

**Rob B** · February 17th, 2009, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by mjolnir

Nice list once again. Pretty epic fantasy heavy, but just as was the case last year I'd say that's just what a lot of us like, [or like most, anyway], around here and I don't see a problem with that. I've got my own little list of authors I'd have liked to see do better just like everybody else, [Daniel Abraham, Richard Morgan, Kay Kenyon, etc], but the list's only ten slots long and they're ten slots well allocated so far as I'm concerned. [That being said, ... two Erikson novels?]

RE: Two Erikson - the lag in releases between the US and UK version of the book (although this has largely ceased now that Tor is caught up) and the fact that, for example, Book 7 will be released in tradepaperback/hardcover about the same time Book 6 is released in mass market paperback.

Originally Posted by mjolnir

My thoughts on Hobb would be that her Soldier's Son trilogy has never been quite as widely esteemed as her Fitz books, and the split of the UK and US publications over two years finally knocked Renegade's Magic off the list. Interesting to see how Dragon Keeper performs within our humble little community, as it is set in the same world as a previous trilogy.

True about Soldier Son, and I'd even extend that thought - the second volume was received very unfavorably by quite a number of people. I think Mithfanion and myself were the most vocal about that here at SFFWorld, but I don't think we were the only ones.

I'd be very much in favour of separate lists for fantasy and science fiction, certainly. I had a lot of trouble choosing my top five.[/QUOTE]Perhaps I'll run a poll about doing a Best SF and Best Fantasy separately.