I try to think about these things before the bomb comes in the mail.

Seriously, I try to remember that these authors are human beings, and I try not to say something I wouldn't mind saying to their face, while being honest at the same time. In a sense I approach criticism in a review much like I do in a writing/critique group.

Of course, sometimes the only thing you can call a turd is a turd.

Much more enjoyable are the contacts after positive reviews. One of my favorites was when Keith Arem commented on my review of one of his CDs. Fifteen years ago I was screaming by his feet at the lip of the stage. Now he's thanking me for the kind words.

-Andy

I've gotten quite a few e-mails from authors over the years. After one negative review, I had an e-mail from the author acknowledging that this was his weakest book. I mentioned in one review that I didn't find a historical detail conviencing, and I got an e-mail from the author telling me I was wrong and to change my review. When I said a third author paid fast and loose with time, she e-mailed demanding page numbers.

On the other hand, I have gotten plenty of positive e-mails thanking me for the positive reviews.

All these responses have made me very conscious of how I review a book negatively. While I don't shy away from it, I try to play it straighter then I do with the positive reviews (less joking), and I make sure I can back up everything I saw that isn't opinion. And I even try to make sure my opinion isn't out there.

Yes, it takes more work, but I feel it makes a better review.

Mark

I wrote a review of a book one time and received an email from the author. It's kind of exciting, really... but lucky for me, she had written a good book and I reviewed it as such. I try not to be hurtful when I write reviews, too.... but man it's hard, sometimes!

Laura

I've had emails from 2 different authors whose books I reviewed, both quite pleasant. I guess I'm lucky.

One said he thought my review was better than the ones published by "professionals." That review was a completely positive one.

The other author was also very nice, even though I had been critical of one aspect of an otherwise terrific book. We had a short dialogue going for a while about the content of her book. It was enlightening!

Donna

More often than not, if and when an author has seen a review I've done it's because I enjoyed the book and wanted to give them their due, so I sent them a copy of the review. It's amazing how much more accessible people are now that we have this internet thing.

However, when my review of THE SHADOW GOD found its way to sfreader.com, the author posted a comment about how he stood behind the book and considered it very original.

He's wrong, but whatever.

It helps when the author you're trashing is dead. ;)

This happens to me fairly often, most often when I review an ARC, but even other times.

Our library charges for Interlibrary loan in two cases.

1) There was postage involved. Usually there's a van that goes around to the local libraries and moves books around. So this would be for a library off the van route.

2) The lending library charges a fee. Particularly academic libraries.

If anyone was wondering. :)

Gotta wonder... I have a google alert set on a phrase that I (may have) coined, "coincidence fairy" - I often use it in reviewing mystery books wherein the plot is driven by coincidences and deus ex machina. The author I invented (if I did) it for is Robert K Tanenbaum, who writes the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi mysteries. Got a google alert today on the phrase, which it found in a book. The phrase is used in the following passage:

"'The Coincidence Fairy needs to take a Valium when it comes to this family,"' Butch had told Marlene. "Even fiction doesn't get this weird. ..."

The book? Malice, by Robert K. Tanenbaum...

-30-

rex