Welcome to the announcement of the fourth annual BSCreview Book Tournament.
For those coming back, welcome. For those new to the tournament this year, here is a brief rundown of what to expect.
In the past we held two book tournaments simultaneously; one for the past year’s releases and one for classics. This year we have decided to experiment with splitting the tournaments, focusing solely on the new releases tournament first, and holding the classics tournament at a later point in the year. As such, this announcement only covers the details of the tournament for the best new release of the year 2009.
64 titles have been chosen for the new release tournament and and are listed below. You vote on our forum in a series of match-ups, titles advance through a series of single elimination rounds, and a winner will be declared. You can check out one of the trophies from last year’s tournament at the end of this post.
Rules:
Each match-up will have its own dedicated thread. Voting is simple. All you have to do is:
(1) Name your pick
(2) Tell us why
(3) Defend your choice to the death if need be. (Poke them with the soft cushions if you have to; just make sure that all the stuffing is in the point.)
You only get one vote per match-up but can continue to post in the thread to debate your selection or convince someone to change their mind.
If you want to change your mind please feel free, just make sure your post is clear.
Like last year, there will be a points system to determine the winners each round. The rules as stated above consist of two parts; naming your pick and providing the reason behind your choice. If you simply name your choice it will be worth 1 point; if you give the why then it will be worth an additional point. This additional point will be granted at the discretion of the BSC tournament coordinators.
The cutoff for voting will be 8 p.m. EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
New round of voting will open the next day.
Voting Schedule for the Best 2009 Release Tournament
Round 1: 3/18 & 3/19
Round 2: 3/20 – 3/25
Sweet 16: 3/26 – 3/31
Elite Eight: 4/1 – 4/6
Final Four: 4/7 – 4/12
Finals: 4/13 – 4/19
Tournament veterans will notice that rounds two, three, and four are each longer by a day or two than in years past. The idea is that, for those so inclined, there will be enough time from the second round on for everyone to read one book each round.
Book List for the Best 2009 Release Tournament
Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham
The Other City by Michal Ajvaz
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
The Judging Eye by R. Scott Bakker
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington
Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
God of Clocks by Alan Campbell
Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Regenesis by C. J. Cherryh
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Adamantine Palace by Stephen Deas
The Other Lands by David Anthony Durham
Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson
A Magic of Nightfall by S.L. Farrell
Wings of Wrath by C. S. Friedman
Gears of the City by Felix Gilman
Hand of Isis by Jo Graham
A Madness of Angels: Or The Resurrection of Matthew Swift by Kate Griffin
The Dwarves by Markus Heitz
Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
Avilion by Robert Holdstock
In the Valley of the Kings by Terrence Holt
The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff
Buyout by Alexander C. Irvine
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey
I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura
Twelve by Jasper Kent
City Without End by Kay Kenyon
The Silver Mage by Katharine Kerr
The Red Tree by Caitlin R. Kiernan
The Unincorporated Man by Dani Kollin and Eytan Kollin
Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier
Cyberabad Days by Ian McDonald
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
The City & the City by China Mieville
Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk
Hater by David Moody
The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton
Red Claw by Philip Palmer
Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The Red Wolf Conspiracy by Robert V. S. Redick
Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Ghost King by R. A. Salvatore
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Lamentation by Ken Scholes
Drood by Dan Simmons
Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan
Silksinger by Laini Taylor
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Palimpsest by Catherynne Valente
Finch by Jeff VanderMeer
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
The Burning Skies by David J. Williams
Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson
Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding
Please feel free to comment below with any questions, concerns, comments or observations you have about the tournament.
I look forward to the tourney!
Hey, that trophy is a fake right? Armed & Magical did not win last year’s tournament. At least I didn’t think so…
It won the Dealers Choice Tournament which happened to be Urban Fantasy I believe
http://www.bscreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=7486
We had two trophies last year one for Dealers Choice and One for the regular tournament. I just happened to take the picture of the Dealers Choice one.
My brother and I are honored to have been included in this year’s list (The Unincorporated Man). All the more so since Eytan is a Renaissance Faire actor and gives numerous demonstrations on armor and weapons usage at the myriad SF conventions we attend. At 6’4″, of considerable muscular girth and one of the few people in the U.S. able to confidently wield a footman’s flail, I have no doubt who would’ve won the tourney – had the weapon of choice been iron, as opposed to paper.
May the best man…uscript win.
Welcome aboard Dani. I enjoyed your novel and wish you two luck in the coming literary melee.
(1) The City and the City
(2) Hard to explain without spoilers, but this book manages to be a shiver-worthy psychological allegory, an incisive political commentary, a character study, a thriller and I’m sure I’m missing at least 2 more.
Thank you for including Regenesis in this year’s competition. It had been (shudder) 20 years since the last venture into that piece of the universe, and I thank my very patient readers for believing it worth the wait.
Glad to hear Buyout is in the field. Let the games begin!
Wow. This looks like a great place to acquire a reading list. Because, I really need to add to that teetering tower of books by my bed!
Best wishes to all books and readers and writers!
Robin Hobb
Thanks for including my boys! Very flattered, and as Robin said, best of luck to all involved!
Thank you so much for including MAGIC IN THE BLOOD on the list. I am honored to be in such fantastic company.
Good luck to everyone!
Devon Monk
I’m delighted that you included HEART’S BLOOD on the list.
May the best book win, and good luck all!
Juliet Marillier
(1) Heart’s Blood
(2) It’s more than just a story – it’s a lesson in life. The book teaches you to look past appearances and first impressions. We may all think that we are past that in this age, but it is good to be reminded of the small things that we should all overcome as human beings.
Hater all the way – Dave Moody! Woooooo!