Book Reviewing - Diversity vs Specialization

[neadods]

Malice Domestic is at the end of the month, and it marks my first anniversary as a book reviewer. Reviewing the Evidence relentlessly advertised itself and I was quick off the mark (even though they were looking for authors more than reviewers.) Almost my first dozen reviews were done of books I'd received at Malice as I worked off my apprenticeship (they don't put you on the free book list until you've proved that you're serious about it, which makes sense.)

I always intended to add a second online reviewing job to RtE once the TBR stack was down to non-gargantuan levels. And I should be there by the end of the year.

The question is... what? I carefully made a list of fantasy review sites at WFC and Worldcon (and then carelessly lost the thing, damNATION!) Branching out into a new genre would mean a whole new set of eyeball sporkingly bad books to have wandering in for free. But it would also mean catching up on the background, authors, and history of a whole different group while I try to get a more solid grip on the mystery world.

So I'm wondering if I'm better off digging deeper into the mystery culture, maybe joining Sisters in Crime perhaps, and keeping F&SF, Romance, and History as pleasure reading. It's not like I'd have to show a genre passport to go to Worldcon, or would be barred as an outsider from WFC.

One adds breadth, the other depth. And I'm not sure which way to go.

Comments

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

ooh - yes, Malice is a great place for mystery/fantasy fans. It's one of my favorite cons. Besides, not only do we need more crossover writers (Charlaine and I try to hold down the fort!), but I'd love to meet you.