Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!jim
From: jim@TYCHO.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Separating wheat from chaff
Message-ID: <3561@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Fri, 6-Sep-85 19:13:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.3561
Posted: Fri Sep  6 19:13:22 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Sep-85 06:37:41 EDT
Sender: daemon@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 64

From: jim@TYCHO.ARPA    (James B. Houser)



	Having been looking at AI type issues recently, I thought it
would be interesting to write down the rules by which the decision is
made whether to read a SF book or not. In other words, what is the
search strategy used on a visit to your local book emporium. These rules
immediately came to mind. (A given rule base would actually have a basic
and personnalized portion.) Any thoughts?

		Decision Rules for SF Books

Positive Indicators

1. If book is rewritten by an author you have previously liked.
	(This effect of this rule is a function of how recent
	the experience is. Sometime good authors peak and seriously
	decline ala MZB.)

2. If the cover information sounds good.

3. If you have the prerequisites for the book.
	(Fairly silly to buy book 42 of the Gorblatz trilogy
	if you haven't read at least one of the first 41.)

4. If the book is your Genre type.
	(I have observed that each person tended to read only certain
	genres of SF. These categories include; swords and sorcery,
	mechano-SF, psychic stuff, and so on.)

5. If the book is on your target list.
	(After all if 6 zillion people on SFL said a book is great
	you have to keep an eye out for it.)

Negative Indicators

1. If the cover refers to Lord of the Rings or Tolkien.
	(Books like Sword of Sha-na-na fall into this category
	If the cover says something to the effect that "this book makes
	LOTR look like dog manure" don't even THINK about buying it.)

3. If the book is heavily illustrated.
	(This often results from trying to pass a short story off
	as a novel. See large print rule.)

4. If the publisher used very large type and wide spacing.

5. If book is found in convenience type store next to romances.

6. If book involves intelligent sea mammals.
	(Especially dolphins!)

7. If book is a cleverly concealed re-issue.
	(Can be hard to detect.)

8. If book is written by an author that you have had previous bad
luck with.

9. If you have heard bad things about book from friends, net etc.
	(For example, Thomas Covenant the Unbelievable.)

10. If there is no cover blurb to speak of.
-------