SF Signal's Fantasy & Science Fiction Flowchart


This from SF Signal:

Over the summer, NPR solicited the input of its listeners to rank the top science fiction and fantasy books of all time. Over 60,000 people voted for the top picks which were then compiled into a list by their panel of experts. The result? This list of 100 books with a wide range of styles, little context, and absolutely no pithy commentary to help readers actually choose something to read from it.

We at SF Signal have, once again, come to the rescue. This flowchart is designed to help you follow your tastes, provide context, and fulfill (indeed exceed!) any need for pithy commentary you might harbor
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The flowchart is great! Click on the image for a larger version of the flowchart. And follow the aforementioned link to find a printable version of the SFF flowchart.

14 commentaires:

Eluse said...

Great idea - I'd love to do it but I can't read most of it and when I save the jpeg and blow it up, it's still not readable

Anonymous said...

The flowchart looks fantastic, and there are many books on it I haven't heard about yet, so I'd really like to check it out in detail.

However, even in the larger version the texts are too small for me to make out... Is there a bigger file somewhere available for viewing or download?

Patrick said...

Looks good on my end. . .

Click on the SF Signal link for a bigger file. . .

Ted Cross said...

They don't have A Wizard of Earthsea or any of the Fafrd & Gray Mouser books. I'd trade a few of the not so great ones on there for these, and even add the Thieves' World books.

valerie said...

that's very well done, I'm impressed!

John D. said...

Thanks for the link love. :)

Fwiw, there's an easier-to-read interactive version here: http://www.sfsignal.com/interactive/npr100.htm

Anonymous said...

And where's malazan in all this? FAIL.

-paran

Anonymous said...

This will help me with creating a worthy To-Read list for next year. Me current list is messy and contains more less-than-good books than I'd care to read in my lifetime.

Patrick said...

Paran: Look carefully. It's there!

Aaron said...

I find it incredibly lame that there isn't a single book by Jack Vance on the chart, but Goodkind? Yeah, he's on there.

Baptiste said...

While I find the chart a fun idea, I was somehow disappointed by the list. Some authors seemed overrepresented (A. Heinlein, N. Stephenson) while others were totally absent even though they are recognized as being key contributors (P.K. Dick comes to mind).

That being said, it still is a great list if one wants to pick up a new book.

darkul said...

It's seems to be an impressive work, but I'm not convinced. The way to GRRM or to Erikson is not where I would put them. If I go through every question/decision I would never end up where I want.
It needs editing, as a book does.

Anonymous said...

If you go off on the horror subheading, it only let's you see vampire or zombie options, totally weak.

aderek said...

If you select yes on the Fantasy side question, "Does the series have to be finished?", one of the end results is the Wheel of Time series.

As far as I am aware the series still has one book left.