1999 In Review Posted 28 December 1999 A decidedly down year in long fiction, an average year in short fiction, and a typically appalling year in dramatic presentations. Although it's not immediately apparent from the reviews page, I read about four books of fiction and two of nonfiction for each one I review. (Even today's bloated novels seldom take more than four or five hours.) The proportion of dreck was substantially higher in 1999 than in 1998. The publishing industry consolidation pigeons are coming home to roost. I am not optimistic about the 2000 lineup. A scan of the Locus list of forthcoming books is not very encouraging. Names are withheld at this time to protect the innocent. And, for that matter, the guilty, since I don't convict until the rubbish is on the shelves; even the guilty deserve a fair trialfollowed by a first-class hanging. And now, without further ado, the envelope, please:
Overall rating for 1998:
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