ALL of the Bs. Didn’t think I could do it, but 16+ inches of snow on the ground kinda interferes with outside activities. I’ll finish up the second letter of the alphabet (second place is just the first place loser, lol – bit of paintball t-shirt lore there for ya) and then get back to reading – another Turtledove and this time it is for a rather well-respected literary ‘zine.
Barbara Martin: Dark fantasy, horses and history. And some really fine photos. This one is a probable add – the only downside being her insistence on using the metric system for measurement. So what you’re a Canadian! I’m an amerikun and we use real measures like feets and yahds an bushels an pecks! (The pecks ought to be over in the romance review section.) (Yeah, I know we’re the hold outs, but I just love pushing american-centrism on people – it endears us to them so much…)
Bees and Books on the Knob: Beekeeping and book reviews and e-reading tech coverage. The book reviews are being moved to their own blog (Books on the Knob). Unfortunately, the site kept on blowing up on me; I’ve had similar issues with Amazon ads occassionally. THIS will be a “re-do” and, since I like social insects (ants more than bees but ya can’t be picky), I’ll probably add it.
Bibliophile Stalker: Add. Nice collection of other blog entries, book reviews (SFF) RPG gaming (gaming being the operative for me), interviews and to the point style.
Bibliosnark: Whoa! Confessions of a book whore! (Just checked, the wife is not looking over my shoulder…) and she’s a Celt! And she just looooooves those movies. And she writes very professional reviews – with blurbs from the covers right at the beginning. I wish more people did that. I should lead by example, but I won’t. Bibliosnark can do that. Definite add. Heavy on the horror though.
BillWardWriter: Already a fan. Oh. And btw: if I’m already on you’re blogroll, I should have or will add you to mine. If you say nice things about me, I’ll do the same for you. And Bill Ward rocks. (And if you have added me and find that I haven’t added you – which is not the case with Bill – it is merely an oversite. I do appreciate friendly reminders.)
Bitten by Books: Hmmm. Not sure on this one. The page layout needs a little work as I had to scroll past a lot of stuff to get to the first entry. This is another grog – with some twenty+ reviewers – and a lot of ‘win free book contests’ for the Holidays. Seems pretty horror oriented also. I think I’ll be going back a few times before making a final decision.
The Black Library Blog: A review site from Games Workshop. Nice fantasy/pseudo-Frazetta artwork there. Short and sweet ‘support the business’ type blog. Another maybe.
Blog Jvstin Style: “Proudly Supporting Anti-Mundane SF”. Justin has just discovered the golden ticket. Well, more like the silver one (I’d prefer to see ‘Proudly Supporting Classic SF’), but it still gets him in the door. Journeyman’s blog, equal parts games, SF and NFL football.
Blood of the Muse:Comics, SF, Fantasy and good, comprehensive reviews. Also, a collector of autographs (so if you ever want to forge Stephen R Donaldson’s sig – here ya gp). An add.
The Book Bind: a Blog from “Keppler’s Teens” – people passionate about books and helping you find the right one. Not frequently updated and a blank myspace and website result. Mostly YA stuff – which I can avoid, since I don’t think kids should get special treatment. Damn whippersnappers are taking up all the shelf space at the bookstore. I thought they supposed to be seen and not heard. If I want ankle-biters hangin around, I’ll get a small dog. Oh, right – already got one. Not likely to be added.
Bookgeeks: Three blokes from London read on the train and write it all up here. Good mix of just about everything, and thoughtful reviews. Gonna give a little ‘cross-the-pond-love and add this one.
Bookslut: Wow – got a whore and a slut this episode! Unfortunately – no shoes here. The blog is a portion of a larger website, seemingly devoted to ‘mainstream’ and liturairy literature (the latter based on coverage of the New Yorker Magazine and NPR). Won’t be adding this one.
The Book Smugglers: Just about equal parts romance and spec fic reviews. A happy image of Princess Leia smooching with Han Solo greets you upon arrival. Bleh. (Two strikes there: books based on the movies of plus romance.) If someone really wanted to push the envelope, it’d be a cover featuring Chewbacca getting it on with Jabba the Hut. This one is a re-visit.
BookspotCentral: Ecclectic and funny – and some interesting layout and graphics. Manga, science fiction – and even Sesame Street are covered here. Definite add.
The Book Swede: Another pom. Tied in and happening. Stross, Morgan, etc., all the right publishers mentioned and a nice link library of advice for would-be SF writers. This one is an ADD.
Bookrastination: A freelance editor’s tales of roaming New York City and occassionally writing about comics and SF/F. (Which is not a bad thing.) Tough row to hoe on the work side – pretty good blog on the blogging side. Most likely an add.
BreeniBooks:Seems to be a creature of ‘pumpupyourbooks.com’ and enamoured of POD books. Does have a link to Preditors and Editors going in its favor, as well as a very extensive link list to other review sites not listed in the meme. No SF/F/H reviews after going several levels deep – and not really interested in self-published stuff anyway (not after breaking my back on the traditional submission to traditional publishers route) so won’t be adding this one – but it might be right up your alley if you’re looking to support the new ‘everyone can be anything’ internet economy.
Wow. End of the Bs. I’ll start the Cs tomorrow. That’s the alphabetic category my own blog is in, so prepare yourselves for just a small amount of ego.
I’m actually terrified of what you’ll say about my blog, which is way down in the Ts or Ws (depending if they’re going by the first word or the second word)…but, hey, I do appreciate criticism and look forward to whatever you have to say. I’m always worried about layout and content, etc. so anything you have to complain about will probably help me!
And thanks for doing these little reviews of folks. It’s helping me to decide which blogs to follow, etc. That darn list was so huge it was a bit intimidating…
Interesting review of Bitten by Books. I find it interesting that you think she’s pretty “horror oriented” when I really haven’t seen anything horror related there. A lot of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, but I guess some do lump those together with Horror.
Thanks man! And I have to say, I’m glad you’re going through and giving us these capsule reviews, because I don’t think I have the strength to navigate that entire list!
I agree. I am trying to slog through them myself, but the demands of “real” life are making it difficult. And I’m impressed with the speed with which you’re moving through them!
SMD – you’re making me think I should have put an “opt-out” of the review option.
And I guess I should, but really, these are just quick impressions and what kind of rating is ‘gonna add ya to the blogroll’ (or not)?
I just thought it was fun, interesting and not bad for traffic!
Jackie – yes, I guess I do lump those in with horror. How about I amend that to “more fantasy and horror than sf”?
truscifi – real-life conspired to give me some time, and goofing off this way is better than doing drugs…
Bill – anytime. BTW – yeah, I saw the default – shows up in the original meme too. I’ll have to eventually talk to the folks at wordpress as ‘fixing’ that is beyond me.
Oh, no, I’m not that scared of being reviewed. It’s just somewhat unexpected is all. I wouldn’t opt-out. If you hate something about my blog, then I would like to know about it. Criticism is a really good thing. And if there’s something you don’t like that can be fixed to make my blog better, then I will consider fixing that.