Pat's Fantasy Hotlist: I don't know what to say. . .

When I received that email telling me I was probably the most popular SFF online reviewer last spring, I was shocked. I knew I was popular, of course, just not that popular.

Last August turned out to be the most popular month ever on the Hotlist, and I didn't think I could possibly top that. I was wrong. . .

Thanks in large part to George R. R. Martin (who was shocked to discover that a seemingly nice lad from Canada could be a fan of the Dallas Cowboys!), who came out and claimed that this little blog of mine could well be worthy of a Hugo nomination, my traffic was once again through the roof this month.

To my dismay, this site has received 32,556 visitors in September, all of whom viewed a total of 56,586 pages. That's quite a lot of people, you know!

I really don't know what to say. . . What was already bigger than everything I had ever envisioned has been growing steadily in 2007, which makes me wonder when and where it will end.:-)

Thank you all for making this such a great experience!

16 commentaires:

Unknown said...: those numbers don't even reflect those of us who are reading syndicated feeds on LJ, I myself catch every post that way.; 6:58 PM
David Forbes said...: Congrats, Patrick. I understand the amount of time and effort that goes into this blog, and I think you're deserving of every reader you get. Your reviews and comments are insightful and your interviews and consistently interesting. I'd agree that this is deserving of a Hugo, and I think it's time they created a category for online reviewing.

Cheers!

David; 7:58 PM
David Forbes said...: And damn, I should proofread better before I post. I meant to write, "interviews ARE consistently interesting."

Oh, well. I've been writing for a couple of hours after a long day at work and I'm pretty beat....; 7:59 PM
Larry Nolen said...: Well Pat, just remember the famous words near the end of the last Narnia book, "Onwards and Upwards!"

Just keep challenging yourself to write even more in-depth reviews without changing your "voice," and see if in the next 12 months you can get more reader involvement in discussions of the reviews/interviews/commentaries.

Besides, I'm still waiting for you, oh Lemming of Discord, to comment on the latest "rumor" that Tairy will be completing WoT. After all, the mystar has spoken, you know ;); 8:56 PM
Patrick said...: Jake and David: Thanks for the kudos!

Larry: I have a little something planned to "celebrate" the ending of the Sword of Truth saga...:P

As for the Yeard finishing the final WoT volume, I think that Harriet would probably shoot him if he even suggested this!;-); 11:13 PM
Anonymous said...: As a regular reader of this blog I'd love for there to be less self-congratulating. There's not a week that goes by where you aren't congrqatulating yourself openly about your success, your number of hits, the fact that authors have mentioned to love you, that you are constantly referred to as Pat Rothfuss, or another post which has you saying you learned you are the most popular sff blogger. Seriously it gets on people's nerves to see a once regular guy like yourself become so full of himself.; 3:47 AM
Charles said...: Congrats but I do think you underestimate your popularity. =); 4:57 AM
Anonymous said...: Congrats and I don't think you are full of yourself. I think is the joy that your tremendous work is acknowledged and recognised. And if I would be in your place (so I wish, for the books :)) I would do the same.; 5:20 AM
Anonymous said...: I've been reading it as astonishment at your unexpected success (rather than 'full of yourself') and a big thank you to visitors who are making it happen. So - you're welcome!; 9:06 AM
Tom Mota said...: Alright, already.; 9:56 AM
Joan I. Guardiet said...: Congrats, Pat. I'm one of the new readers coming from the Martin's comment in his blog, and I must admit I'm enjoying a lot your work here. So carry on, helping good fantasy reach our homes...; 11:02 AM
Saladin said...: I've been reading for a year. Your blog is great. It's been a perfect re-introduction for me to what's happening in the genre. Other than a favorite few writers, I hadn't read fantasy in almost ten years. When I 'came back' to reading lots of fantasy, you put me on to Scott Lynch! And I'm about to pick up Erickson. Thanks! And the online persona here is NOT of someone full of himself -- in fact, you come off as quite friendly and gracious if opinionated. Of course, in real life you could be an arrogant bastard for all I know :P; 1:33 PM
Tom Mota said...: I *love* the blog, don't get me wrong.

Just let it speak for itself. It already does. Don't go all 'Aw, shucks' on us. :); 2:53 PM
Patrick said...: For the record: I am an arrogant bastard in real life!:P

Seriously, it is with uttermost disbelief that I look at all this. It's a bit crazy, really...:-); 5:34 PM
Aidan Moher said...: Pat, I just wanted to drop by an say congratulations once again on all the success your blog has found!

I've been reading it for a long time and it's been great to watch it grow over the years. If you don't prove what a little hard work can produce then I don't know what does!

Good job and, as Larry said, "Onwards and Upwards!"

~Aidan
A Dribble of Ink; 6:27 PM
Graeme Flory said...: Hey Pat,

Just wanted say 'nice work mate!' :o) Yours was the first sci-fi/fantasy blog I cam across and one of only a few that I check regularly. Keep on doing what you're doing and I'm sure it will get even better still!
For the record, I don't think you're up yourself. For a start, if you were that up yourself then you wouldn't help us newer bloggers get started! Also, if someone does a good job then they're allowed to congratulate themselves ;o)
Looking forward to more of the same!; 11:17 AM