[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by John F

Sorry for the confusion, I didn't realize that the previous categories varied year to year. Since the various lists being proposed look good, I withdraw my request.

No problem at all. I think in years past the changes were more moderator driven and therefore less apparent, although I wasn't around for most of those years (except 2012 which no-one wants to repeat). As pilotbob said...

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I see things have changed quite a bit since I passed the Grand PooBah hat!

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I’d also like to propose another option being added:

A single category poll run by Dazrin. Multiple choice, visible votes, all votes are final so consider everything carefully beforehand, you can vote for as many or as few as you like. Voting open say two weeks to give everyone a chance to pass by here and vote. The top twelve become our categories. Any relevant ties and we have a run-off, single choice. Everyone can vote but if there’s a tie again then whatever Dazrin (or Tom) voted for breaks the tie.
...
Once we have our twelve categories then Dazrin (or Tom) will sort them into appropriate months and that’s that.

I see what you're doing there, it won't work... Well, it might. It isn't really much more work than the other option I proposed. I can add this to the list.

Regarding length of polls, I will be gone for some time coming up, so I was planning on having the first poll run till at least the 26th. The second set of polls (if required) would probably start later that week and run for at least 2 weeks. It is right at the start of the school year chaos, so more time seems to be warranted.

Originally Posted by John F

I like these categories, but could I get clarification on what Historical Fiction is? Thanks.

I think in the past we have always said that "whatever you think fits in the category" is ok and let everyone else decide by how they vote.

My definition of historical fiction is "stories that take place in the past and in our world." Generally I think of it as more than 100 years ago, but that is somewhat flexible. A novel in the 1980's doesn't seem "historical" to me since I lived it, but a WW2 novel might count. So that would include stories set in the American Civil War, Robin Hood, or King Arthur legends, etc. It would not include fantasy or science fiction things that weren't contemporary to the times, that is, "Abe Lincoln, Vampyre Hunter" wouldn't count, but the Greek epics w/ their gods would. I am sure others have their own definitions, and that is a good thing.