How do you find new authors to read?

[jbcohen]

I am always looking for new great authors to read and will soon finish up one author and will start looking for new authors. I have never found any web site to be too helpful in finding new authors. Currently I use Amazon, Borders and Barns and Nobles to help screen the field of books down to a manageable level. Fictfact has been somewhat helpful, although the site seems to stick to the most popular authors and I have a tendency to go of the beaten path in search of great lesser known authors. What web sites do you use to help screen the field of ebooks down to a manageable level?

[Altoanto]

Hi Jbcohen,
I usually start by simply typing "best GENRE books" on google and go on from there by looking up titles and reviews on Amazon, often people will compare books with other ("reminded me of the amazing work of ___" etc..) which can be a good lead to great authors.
Also I mostly read SF so I often rely on Hugo and Nebula awards.
Examples of nice book lists to start from:
http://www.goodreads.com/list
http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/
As I said I always cross it with amazon reviews since popular doesn't always means good
To me, finding books to read is as much fun as reading itself!

Good luck!

[Joebill]

I don't use web sites much. I wander the local bookstores, and pick up books at random. Look it over, and decide if I am going to buy it or not.

[Seanette]

I do either "browse around" or "word of mouth".

[SeaBookGuy]

My library's New Books shelf is a start, including searching new acquisitions list of audio and e-books. I have found Amazon's "people who liked this also liked (bought) that" helpful, too.

[kcmay]

I check out the books featured for the book clubs I belong to on Goodreads.com. I'm reading The Blade Itself now, as one of the November ebook SF/F club reads.

[lilac_jive]

I usually find mine through browsing or recommendations. If you need any recommendations, just let me know

[Steve Anderson]

I've actually find Goodreads to be pretty useful. It at least reminds me of books I meant to read a while back and forgot. As do these boards here. Sounds like you're on the right track!

[DavidRM]

I walk into the library, grab 2 or 3 books at random, and take them home. That's how I found Barry Eisler and Charles Stross. Or I read books people suggest or give me. That's how I found Andrew Vachss and Neil Gaiman.

-David

[fantasyISbetter]

I do lots of research before buying a book (or even trading/borrowing one). I am a dark or urban fantasy reader, primarily, so I search Amazon and Barnes and Noble sites for books, read reviews-both editorial and customer, track read books and books to check out. Try searching Amazon for a book you know you like, look at customer reviews, if you find a reviewer who agrees with your opinion of the book, click on "see all my reviews"- often you will get good book ideas there. And if you tell us what genre you are interested in, I am sure you will get lots of recommendations from members of this site.

[yakuzaboss]

I browse local bookstores (Chapters, Indigo Books, Coles), the public library, the 'Reading Recommendations Sub Forum' right here and word of mouth.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Steve Anderson

I've actually find Goodreads to be pretty useful. It at least reminds me of books I meant to read a while back and forgot. As do these boards here. Sounds like you're on the right track!

I love goodreads

[thrawn_aj]

This is not how I find new authors (since I just remembered this site after reading your original post ), but there's a site called allreaders.com where you can choose plot types, tone of the story and other aspects and it will generate suggestions for you. Sort of a poor man's personal book recommendation AI . Remember to change the overall genre (SF, romance, etc.) at the beginning of the page before you start choosing things.

Anyway, check it out. Perhaps you'll find something useful.

Personally, I trade suggestions with a very good friend of mine who has similar interests. Also, browsing on Amazon (starting with something you've read that's sort of a prototype for what you want to read and following recommendations, people's lists, etc.) has proved VERY fruitful in the past. I wish someone would license the Netflix recommendation engine and use it for books. There are even some articles that appear all over the net about "must-read" books in different genres, lists of underrated books and so on. I usually learn of these lists in forums like this one .

Threads on a forum like this are quite useful. Just browse around in old threads or start new ones (perhaps with some indication of what sort of books you've liked so far). It's easier that way to find kindred souls just eager to recommend more of what you might like. It's been my experience that we bibliophiles love to blab about what we read - just light the match and the rest will follow .

[edbro]

Through this thread:http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10108

[SeaBookGuy]

I try to make at least some sort of written comment at Goodreads, not just clicking stars. As a co-moderator of one of the more active forums there (Audiobooks), I can say everyone is so respectful that my biggest "duty" has consisted of locking the old quarterly "What Are You Listening To?" thread when the next one starts!