I miss browsing libraries and book stores

[pwalker8]

My store browsing experience went like this -
- I go to the section that I'm interested in.
- first set of shelves had new books ordered by author. This made it very easy to scan to see if any of my favorite authors had anything new and to see if any new books appealed to me.
- Rest of the section had authors ordered by author.

repeat for each section that I was interested in.

Two issues with a similar experience via computer - first, many more books. Second, very limited screen space.

On the flip side, there are a lot of things that one can do on a computer to customize it for an even better experience. Of course, different people want different things in an interface, which is why I suggested elsewhere that the database should be decoupled from the actual interface. Amazon actually did this early on, allowing access to their database via API.

There are a number of "If you liked this author, you might like that author" search engines out there. Some of more on the mark than others.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

There are a number of "If you liked this author, you might like that author" search engines out there. Some of more on the mark than others.

About a year back, I tried a couple of the if you like this author, here's others you may like sites. I will admit that some of the results weren't bad but I also got quite a few authors being recommended that weren't even in the same time zone, well, genre. How did I get from science fiction with an emphasis on the hard science variant to shapeshifter fantasy/romances. How did Hal Clement connect to Shelley Laurenston? That's the only odd pairing I can remember but there were several in that line.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by DNSB

About a year back, I tried a couple of the if you like this author, here's others you may like sites. I will admit that some of the results weren't bad but I also got quite a few authors being recommended that weren't even in the same time zone, well, genre. How did I get from science fiction with an emphasis on the hard science variant to shapeshifter fantasy/romances. How did Hal Clement connect to Shelley Laurenston? That's the only odd pairing I can remember but there were several in that line.

Probably from people like me who read in all different genres. Sorry...I just went from John D. MacDonald to Madeleine L'Engle to a biography of Jimmy Buffet. I'm thinking of re-reading the Honor Harrington books again next. Last month I re-read some early Heinlein. I'm sure I'm not the only person who reads like this, and most of those "if you like this, then you may like this" sites go by what people read.

Shari

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by shalym

Probably from people like me who read in all different genres. Sorry...I just went from John D. MacDonald to Madeleine L'Engle to a biography of Jimmy Buffet. I'm thinking of re-reading the Honor Harrington books again next. Last month I re-read some early Heinlein. I'm sure I'm not the only person who reads like this, and most of those "if you like this, then you may like this" sites go by what people read.

Shari

You aren't alone. I'll go from reading a movie novelization to Steinbeck to a pulp western. Variety is the spice of life.

[Apache]

My main genre is Science Fiction, but I also read all over the map. I just started Harm's Way by James Bassett which I purchased February 8, 2018 for $0.99.
APache

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by shalym

Probably from people like me who read in all different genres. Sorry...I just went from John D. MacDonald to Madeleine L'Engle to a biography of Jimmy Buffet. I'm thinking of re-reading the Honor Harrington books again next. Last month I re-read some early Heinlein. I'm sure I'm not the only person who reads like this, and most of those "if you like this, then you may like this" sites go by what people read.

Shari

Ahh... now I know who to blame.

I tend to read multiple genres but likely a more limited selection. Hmmmm.... do tech manuals qualify as a genre? The last couple of weeks, my reading included a biography of John Denver, HP ProCurve switch manuals, two of Laura Chappell's Wireshark books, Darynda Jones' The Trouble With Twelfth Grave in addition to my usual science fiction and fantasy (Hal Clement, John Brunner, Grantville Gazette and the recent Baen bundle).