Top Ten poll by Tor

Tor has posted the results of their poll to name the top ten F/SF titles:

1. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
4. Blindsight by Peter Watts
5. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
6. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
7. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
8. Anathem by Neal Stephenson
9. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
10. Perdido Street Station by China Mieville 

So I went to www.paperbackswap.com where I have lots of credits for books and did some shopping. Found one available of the ones I haven't read: Kushiel's Dart. Rest are on my wish list. Of the ones I have read...

2. American Gods. I did read it at some point, I seem to remember. Fun, but didn't make a huge impression. First met Gaiman's work back in his Sandman days -- I have the issues starting with the "Game of You" story arc. I always enjoy his stories.

6. A Storm of Swords. Read it, enjoyed it, read the rest of the series. What there is of it, anyway. Said I was a fan for many years but, well, I guess we all know how that's been going. I'm not an angry fan -- no author is obliged to entertain me -- but I'll cop to being disappointed.

7. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. A friend loaned it to me, so I read it as promptly as I could so I could give it back. I would not say it was a struggle to read, but I did feel a bit of obligation to get through it. The use of magic was interesting, and led to me poking around a bit about John Dee and such people just out of curiosity. Otherwise... again, didn't make a huge impression.

I suppose I should admit that I'm something of a cold fish when it comes to reading. I'm difficult to reel in. Don't invest much emotion in the characters. Been known to put perfectly good books down and wander away for a few days. Once I finish a book, it tends to sink into the murk that passes for my brain.

None of that is necessarily the author's fault. Heck, posting reviews here soon after I read something will probably be more help to me than you all, in the long run.