How Many Fantasy Novels? - Page 3 - Writers Forum

Verago · 03-10-2006, 06:10 PM

1. I am.
2. I am.
3. I am.
4. I am.

Wow.

enigmaticuser · 03-10-2006, 06:55 PM

To Mike_C's further incision...No I don't read exclusively fantasty, It's probably about 60% though. Healthy I think since that's where my interests lie.

Of the books I buy...well in a year I maybe buy a dozen (I know I should be ashamed), and of those I'd say more than 70% are fantasy...but I'd say that's just recent and specific. I don't go into the fantasy section and browse, I bought Frankenstein because it was a classic and known to me, the same with The Stand, and a couple novel forms of anime. If I look at my whole collection fantast probably occupies 10% overall, and 30% of the fiction.
There that's my contribution

Titania · 03-10-2006, 07:45 PM

A few years ago I would have said that I read almost entirely fantasy, but since I've gotten more and more into writing I've been reading less and less, mainly because I got to the point where I could predict things far too easily. So now I just read the occasional fantasy, most from series that I've already begun reading. No real idea on the percentage.

As to the # of books I buy... um... a lot?

CZ · 03-11-2006, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

I'd like to extend the question further (to fantasy writers):

Do you read exclusively fantasy?

How many books per year do you BUY? And what percentage are fantasy?

Huh, good questions.

I read about 40% fantasy, probably 40% nonfiction, 20% "other" including non-fantasy/sci-fi fiction and an very occasional romance. (Currently reading "Snow" by Orhan Pamuk)

Of the books I buy, probably more like 70% are fantasy, 25% nonfiction, 5% romance. I work at a library so I actually don't buy a whole lot of books... maybe about 30 a year tops. Also, I already own erm, hm, well, in this house we probably have 1200? books, or more. Not a ton of room for many more so I have to be kinda selective until I earn enough money to buy a house with a large library

My current obsession is with gathering the Lone Wolf series, anyone remember those? Maybe a bit cheesy but I loved them when I was 12-13, a fantasy choose-your-own adventure type of thing.

ReikiMeg · 03-11-2006, 01:46 AM

About 90% of my reading is Scifi and Fantasy(probably more fantasy than scifi). 10% is non-fiction and historical suspense.

I try to read 50 books a year and I probably buy about 40.

Hodge · 03-11-2006, 02:07 AM

I buy hundreds of books a year. This is because most cost from $.25 to $1.00. I tend to stay away from fantasy unless I've heard good things about an author or know the author--I will not buy a book with a name like, Xkergin's Sword or anything else with ridiculous, meaningless names in the title. I buy mostly classics, but also some sci-fi, mythology, and academic stuff (like sociology, biology, psychology, physics, etc. books).

As for the original questions...

1) I am.

2) Sorta, maybe--dunno if it's really considered fantasy.

3) Hell no.

4) I'm 20, but when I was around fourteen I sat down and wrote a fantasy novel of about 100,000 words. I think I have it laying around on a disk somewhere, but I'll never let anyone see it.

woodcut.evolution · 03-11-2006, 02:55 PM

Okay, let's see... I read about 40-50 books a year, I read a lot of short stories too. As for reading fantasy, I absolutly can't stand it. I can count the fantasy books/series I've read on one hand. However a fair number of the short stories I read are fantasy (what to you expect from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and like periodicals). I read mostly science fiction because I find it to be a diverse genre. I also enjoy reading non-European mythology.

Oracle · 03-11-2006, 09:07 PM

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

And yeah, I agree with your theory. Alot of fantasy authors are young, and I'm sure loads of them grow out of it. Surprisingly though, alot of people answered no to your age question.

As for reading, I'd say most of it is sci-fi/fantasy, but I love mystery as well. I'm always open to other genres though.

I've got alot a fantasy series and a sci-fi series planned, but I've got some more abstract ideas on the backburner. I just want to get the fantasy series out of the way first in order to hone my skills before moving on to my more serious projects.

blankslatejoe · 03-11-2006, 09:52 PM

1: no, currently. but I've tried.

2: no

3: no

4: no (24)

I enjoy reading fantasy, but couldn't put a percentage on what I read. It's less than half, maybe less than a quarter.

Verago · 03-12-2006, 10:22 AM

I don't read exclusively fantasy. Probably...40% of what I read is contemporary fantasy, 20% poetry and short stories usually by Poe, Lovecraft, Stephen King, and other horror-esque writers; 20% reference books/encyclopedias/manuals, and 20% noir, suspense, and else.

I don't buy many books over the course of the year...5-10 tops, usually, unless it's just a really good year for my tastes. However, I do check the school library which is usually kept fairly up to date, the public libraries, and I also check the gutenburg project website for things to read (usually has some good stuff). Sometimes I get books for my birthday, Christmas, etc...But not too often.

addix · 03-12-2006, 04:16 PM

1. Yes
2. Mayhaps
3. Perbe
4. Not anymore

Now that I think about it, it's true I recall a time when I was young (duh), that is around 14, when I told myself it'd be great to write big fat cycles or sagas like LOTR.

As I grew up I guess I've gotten more realistic; I can hardly write a 10,000-words story

Talia_Brie · 03-12-2006, 10:01 PM

I read about 30 books a year. I used to read fantasy exclusively, because that is what I now write exclusively. I used to have time to do other things, but now I don't.

Now I'm no longer reading just fantasy, and that's because there's not enough of it out there that's good enough to warrant the $20 investment. So I'm reading other things. I think that's pretty healthy, while the previous total immersion in fantasy was also useful.

I think that as a reader, reading just fantasy is something you grow out of. There's only so much you can learn from one genre. After that you have to go looking in other places.

RebelGoddess · 03-13-2006, 12:14 AM

Connor: Thanks! I wasn't sure if the popularity of it may have caused the creation of new genre. It sounds strange, but Harry Potter to me almost doesn't feel like fantasy, you know?

Racheal

Dresdor · 03-13-2006, 03:12 AM

Yes I am writing fantasy.

Yes, one is a novel, the other is a short story for class that will become an intro/preface/first chapter of a novel.

There will be multiple novels in the setting (or at least I hope so) but not neccesarily following the same characters.

I am 19.

Caolan · 03-14-2006, 04:56 AM

1. I'm attempting fantasy.
2. Yes.
3. Maybe.
4. Yes.