The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.sfreader.com/default.aspx?f=66&m=70370
| Posted By : UnclePete - 2/21/2008 3:23 PM | Jordan brought up a point about stars and reviews, and someone anonymously left a comment on one of the reviews from this week, citing no negative points in the review, and therefore, why didn't said review receive 5 stars?
To which I responded, and would add here for purposes of further discussion:
Pete said...
Stars are not given on a point system -- they're an arbitrary (at best) judgement, and mean different things to different people.
Surely you've read a book which has been technically perfect, and pretty darn good to boot, but wouldn't necessarily make your list of most amazing books that rocked your world?
To this I'd just add, some reviewers send in reviews without stars, some have sent in some where ratings really don't seem to match -- as opposed to Mr Weiss' which, as Jordan pointed out, could be considered low for what was essentially a philosophical disagreement, but as others have pointed out, worse, a misleading disappointment -- or as the review says, "Douglas's writing is good enough that I actually read to the end ...quite eagerly, if the truth be told! But, this is not science fiction."
Something that should also be noted is that while the screen you see has a rating of 0-5, when I enter a review, the scale is 0-10, which is how we get 1/2 stars. Mr Weiss told me "2 stars" as many reviewers tell me "7" or whatever (some don't, and some don't give a rating at all, so I guess/translate) -- there may be a mistake in translation, too, but I email folks to let them know the reviews are posted, and they can correct me at that time -- he hasn't, which can mean a variety of things as well -- I translated correctly, he likes one star better now, he didn't get the email, etc.
Ms. Bulloch reviewed Lamplighter for me as a favour, because she'd read it already, and when I read her review and asked for her rating - she gave me 4/5. Her review is as positive as Mr Swope's, but as she told me - it was great, nothing wrong with it, she loved it and wants more, but it didn't make her personal 5-star rating -- reserved for all-time favourites.
At any rate, I bring all this up not to gripe (because it'd be in the wrong forum, if so)  but to reiterate that any rating "system" is going to vary from site to site, and in some cases, from reviewer to reviewer and reader to reader. The one thing you WON'T find here is the sort of Amazon Harriet review. SFR doesn't really have a star system beyond, 'by the gut,' I'd say.
And of course, to invite discussion -- stars and the like ARE widely interpreted. Whaddya think?
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"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." --Thomas Jefferson
www.creativeguypublishing.com |
| Posted By : Jordan Lapp - 2/21/2008 6:34 PM | The anonymous comment was me as well. Am I the only one who reads the reviews?? It's my favourite part of the site.
If I might make one suggestion to Ms. Bullock, I might say something like, "It was really great, but not on the level of Starship Troopers or <insert a book from her personal 5-star rating list here>" so that we can see the books it's being compared to. That way we would put a four star rating in context.
Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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| Posted By : UnclePete - 2/21/2008 7:36 PM | Ha -- maybe you're the only one who comments on them.
but that's sort of the point of my post -- maybe the short form would be, stars and star ratings don't mean the same thing to everyone -- take them with a grain of salt. A 4 star review in my world is great, while in yours in might only mean 'good' with 5 being great.
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"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." --Thomas Jefferson
www.creativeguypublishing.com |
| Posted By : MichaelEhart - 2/21/2008 9:53 PM | I read them, but I don't think I have ever commented. Reviews are so subjective, it doesn't usually seem to me worthwhile to comment. To Jordan it does. So even the decision to comment is subjective. :)
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| Posted By : Jordan Lapp - 2/21/2008 9:57 PM | LoL. When do i >not< find it worthwhile to comment?
Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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| Posted By : Stuart Clark - 2/21/2008 11:58 PM | I read them too. I always look forward to a new set of six!
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 2/22/2008 2:15 AM | >stars and the like ARE widely interpreted. Whaddya think?
I dislike ratings. Of anything. Movies, books, websites and resturants.
I like reviews. I like hearing what someone has to say.
I don't like numbers on a scale attached to anything.
Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!
Managing Editor of Flashing Swords
Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print |
| Posted By : DAWaverly - 2/22/2008 10:12 AM | I agree with Crystalwizard and give her above comment 8.675309 Quirky Weirdness points.
I would only add that I like reviews that review. I hate "reviews" that synopsize...
- Deven
Blogtide Rising |
| Posted By : UnclePete - 3/6/2008 2:44 PM | One of our new regular reviewers made an interesting blog post on reviews, and how even his own reviews are different, depending on whether he's reviewing for PW or us. Thought those who were following the review discussion might find it interesting:
murnkay.livejournal.com/1272280.html
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"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." --Thomas Jefferson
www.creativeguypublishing.com |
| Posted By : G.L. Douglas - 3/9/2008 4:52 PM | Thanks for the link, UnclePete,
Adam sounds like a wise and ethical man. I wish he would have been the one to review Alpha Rising. VIEW IMAGE
UnclePete said...One of our new regular reviewers made an interesting blog post on reviews, and how even his own reviews are different, depending on whether he's reviewing for PW or us. Thought those who were following the review discussion might find it interesting: murnkay.livejournal.com/1272280.html
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. |
| Posted By : G.L. Douglas - 3/10/2008 12:23 AM | Thanks, crystalwizard, I truly appreciate that suggestion. VIEW IMAGE
crystalwizard said...G.L., you can contact Adam and ask him to do a review of Alpha. No reason more than one person couldn't do a review of your book, is there?
Please visit my website: http://www.alpharising.net |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 4/12/2008 6:39 PM | One of your somewhat older reviewers offered posts on the topic of reviewing long ago:
What is a Review?
and
Why do I Review?
Personally, I eschew rating systems as well. It is some times rather hard for me to choose the stars Pete requires for the SF reviews. My own recommendations follow a simple "Yes" or "No" evaluation, though I will admit to expounding upon those books I rather like.  It is my opinion that for one to truly value the remarks and recommendations of any reviewer, one must be aware of what that reviewer values, personally holds in high regard. All of us seek to have some standard of comparison, some reference point from which to work, so any reviewer who does not reveal such information cannot be considered a reliable reviewer.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)
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