What the online ratings say about the BSFA and Kitschies shortlists
O frabjous day! Both the BSFA and the Kitschies have published their shortlists for this year's awards for SF. As I have done in previous years, here are the statistics for the number of owners, and the average rating, that each of the shortlisted novels has on LibraryThing and GoodReads.
First up, the BSFA, which has given us an unusually wide choice, eight novels due to a multiple tie for fourth place in the nominating process.
GoodreadsLibraryThingownersav ratingownersav ratingThe First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North75354.003374.07Ancillary Sword, Anne Leckie43084.093174.16Cuckoo Song, by Frances Hardinge3344.18534.27Lagoon, by Nnedi Okorafor2683.72494.06Wolves, by Simon Ings1013.37283.70Europe in Autumn, Dave Hutchinson853.81363.64The Moon King, by Neil Williamson403.50173.70The Race, by Nina Allan164.4483.63
Apart from the fifth and sixth placed books, the order is consistent between the two systems, and it's also fairly clear that Harry August and Ancillary Sword have both wildly outsold the rest combined; though it may be worth noting that Cuckoo Song is more popular on both systems among those who have read it.
Last year, the BSFA Award had two winners, for the first time in its history. As the ratings stood on the day the shortlist was announced, Ancillary Justice was top on Goodreads and second on LibraryThing; Ack-Ack Macaque was third on GR and fourth, i.e. second last, on LT. These statistics may be a decent guide to what has already sold well, but only the vaguest of indications as to what will actually win.
A similar, if not stronger, warning applies to the Kitschies, where there are two shortlists to consider. The Red Tentacle, for best novel, consists of the following five books:
GoodreadsLibraryThingownersav ratingownersav ratingGrasshopper Jungle, by Andrew Smith51303.762313.73The Peripheral, by William Gibson33604.043203.98Lagoon, by Nnedi Okorafor2673.72494.06The Way Inn, by Will Wiles1053.50312.83The Race, by Nina Allan164.4483.63
Again, two strong leaders, but this is a juried award, so even less likely to be reflective of purchasing patterns, and I note that The Race is rated highest by GR users and Lagoon by LT users. Having said that, last year the winner was indeed the leader by this system.
The Golden Tentacle, awarded by the Kitschies for best debut novel, also has five nominees, but here there is a very clear front-runner:
GoodreadsLibraryThingownersav ratingownersav ratingThe People in the Trees, by Hanya Yanagihara 31223.542553.67The Girl in the Road, by Monica Byrne 8903.561093.59Memory of Water, by Emmi Itäranta 8503.781083.92Viper Wine, by Hermione Eyre783.56313.88The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers 544.333-
Note however the strong showing of Memory of Water, highest rated on LT and second highest on GR.
I am necessarily being a bit circumspect in my commentary this year, but I've read eleven of the sixteen books above, and enjoyed almost all of them.
First up, the BSFA, which has given us an unusually wide choice, eight novels due to a multiple tie for fourth place in the nominating process.
GoodreadsLibraryThingownersav ratingownersav ratingThe First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, by Claire North75354.003374.07Ancillary Sword, Anne Leckie43084.093174.16Cuckoo Song, by Frances Hardinge3344.18534.27Lagoon, by Nnedi Okorafor2683.72494.06Wolves, by Simon Ings1013.37283.70Europe in Autumn, Dave Hutchinson853.81363.64The Moon King, by Neil Williamson403.50173.70The Race, by Nina Allan164.4483.63
Apart from the fifth and sixth placed books, the order is consistent between the two systems, and it's also fairly clear that Harry August and Ancillary Sword have both wildly outsold the rest combined; though it may be worth noting that Cuckoo Song is more popular on both systems among those who have read it.
Last year, the BSFA Award had two winners, for the first time in its history. As the ratings stood on the day the shortlist was announced, Ancillary Justice was top on Goodreads and second on LibraryThing; Ack-Ack Macaque was third on GR and fourth, i.e. second last, on LT. These statistics may be a decent guide to what has already sold well, but only the vaguest of indications as to what will actually win.
A similar, if not stronger, warning applies to the Kitschies, where there are two shortlists to consider. The Red Tentacle, for best novel, consists of the following five books:
GoodreadsLibraryThingownersav ratingownersav ratingGrasshopper Jungle, by Andrew Smith51303.762313.73The Peripheral, by William Gibson33604.043203.98Lagoon, by Nnedi Okorafor2673.72494.06The Way Inn, by Will Wiles1053.50312.83The Race, by Nina Allan164.4483.63
Again, two strong leaders, but this is a juried award, so even less likely to be reflective of purchasing patterns, and I note that The Race is rated highest by GR users and Lagoon by LT users. Having said that, last year the winner was indeed the leader by this system.
The Golden Tentacle, awarded by the Kitschies for best debut novel, also has five nominees, but here there is a very clear front-runner:
GoodreadsLibraryThingownersav ratingownersav ratingThe People in the Trees, by Hanya Yanagihara 31223.542553.67The Girl in the Road, by Monica Byrne 8903.561093.59Memory of Water, by Emmi Itäranta 8503.781083.92Viper Wine, by Hermione Eyre783.56313.88The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers 544.333-
Note however the strong showing of Memory of Water, highest rated on LT and second highest on GR.
I am necessarily being a bit circumspect in my commentary this year, but I've read eleven of the sixteen books above, and enjoyed almost all of them.