The results of last week's reader poll, along with a few thoughts from me, are available below the fold. Thanks for participating! I will say that I was somewhat surprised by the results, so maybe you can contribute your own thoughts to these poll results.
I have a new poll for you to answer this week on the left sideboard, so be sure to add your data point to the collection.
I am somewhat surprised by this poll, so I am curious to know what your reactions are.
Even though most of my readers enjoy reading science nonfiction (not surprising, since that's mostly why you are here), I was surprised to see that you do not tend to read medical stories. Really? Or were you guys just trying to fake me out? I think that science and medicine are reasonably close topics, but maybe I am mistaken? I also was surprised by how few of you, comparatively speaking, read mysteries and crime stories, especially since my experience with both genres is that they are logic-driven, as is science nonfiction. And speaking of science type stories, why do so few of you read LabLit? Because LabLit is all about contemporary scientists who are engaged in the practice of their craft, this genre seems to be something that many of you would enjoy. But maybe you've never heard of this genre, or maybe you've never read LabLit before? ( I am especially curious about this genre because I am working on a LabLit novel, while I also work on a nonfiction science book).
I am interested to read what you have to say on this subject, so fire away!
- Log in to post comments
One glaring omission from the poll: politics.
I fall into your Science Non-fiction, but not Medical category. My focus of reading is much more on the natural world. I am fascinated with the intricacies of nature, evolution, co-dependent species (predator/prey and synergistic relationships), etc. I guess I no longer believe that humans live in the natural world. While I read the medical headlines for fascinating discoveries I am just not into diving in.
PhysioProf: OOO! how could i forget politics?? one of the topics that i read a lot is politics. sorry about that! owell, better luck next time!
Rob: i try to focus on the natural world in my writings, although i also try to bridge the gap (usually via medicine) between nature and humans, since most humans don't seem to care about nature otherwise. i hope i succeed on my blog (you'll have to let me know) because that is what my nonfiction book is all about; explaining cool physiological/biological phenomena that "common" animals exemplify.
Like Rob I like science non-fiction, but never read medical stuff. In a sense, medicine isn't science; it is to biology what engineering is to physics (and I wouldn't be reading engineering non-fiction either).
I've heard about LabLit, but haven't seen any reviews or whatever that have made me think "I'd want to read that". I guess the worry is that the author has to be a scientist (or have been one), and also be a good fiction writer. Most people who are both are too busy writing grant applications.
Does anyone have any good suggestions, links to reviews etc.?
Oh, one book that might qualify is The Leaky Establishment. One of the reviews on the UK Amazon site includes this:
My impression is that the interest in mysteries is not the solution, but in the characters. Sherlock Holmes is an interesting person, and Victorian England is an interesting setting. People go back and reread the stories, after all, even though they know the outcome.