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Originally Posted by DiapDealer
Couldn't it also mean that you're stuck in a rut (or the past) with your reading? And that your knowledge of the genre is based on a previous decade? That's a semi-rhetorical "you," by the way.
I've been reading the genre myself for a long, long time. I just don't presume to have my finger on the pulse at all times--no one can. I frankly don't trust anyone who says they know the major players. It's not a static list. What that person is saying is that they're aware of most genre best-sellers--which isn't the same thing at all.
To expect to be familiar with most names on a genre award shortlist is a wish for the genre to never evolve.
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It's certainly possible, on the other hand, I've purchased some 200 books so far this year and more than a few of those are authors that I've run across this year. I'm pretty willing to take a chance on new authors. I've been reading SF&F since the early 70's, so I've seen a lot of new authors come and go. If I wasn't always on the look out for new authors, I wouldn't have much to read.
It's pretty rare for new authors to make best of lists simply because it's tough for a new author to build up enough of a fan base to win against the name authors. As an example, Django Wexler had his first hit about 3 years ago. Think about some of the recent big hits by new SF/F authors and how many of those actually made the awards lists.