Amazon Authorank: The most popular science fiction and fantasy writers

[Brian G Turner]

Amazon's author rank shows the most popular science fiction and fantasy writers by Amazon sales.

Fantasy: Amazon.com Most Popular Authors: The most popular authors in Fantasy
Science fiction: Amazon.com Most Popular Authors: The most popular authors in Science Fiction

The listings appear to be the same on Amazon UK and USA, so I'm presuming that they apply across all English language markets, ie:

USA:
Fantasy: Amazon.com Most Popular Authors: The most popular authors in Fantasy
Science fiction: Amazon.com Most Popular Authors: The most popular authors in Science Fiction

 

[MWagner]

Huh. Four of the top ten authors in Fantasy are completely new to me. Never heard of them. Probably confirms that I'm about 25 years older and a different gender than the average fantasy reader today.

 

[Parson]

Yeah! I went through the SF list, and what do you know, a fair percentage of the books were romances which somehow got tacked as S.F. And even a set of "Wizard" books. I know, I know, Space Fantasy, but that's just not my kettle of fish. The only SF book which I liked that had serious magic as a part of the situation was one of the Four Lords of the Diamond by Jack Chalker. Still, one or two authors there which I had not heard of which did sound interesting.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm planning a very ranty blog about this subject this week. As it happens, I've heard of most of the sf authors listed and am in awe of many. We have two writing worlds going on these days - and that's not a good thing for readers or writers.

 

[J-Sun]

As it happens, I've heard of most of the sf authors listed and am in awe of many. We have two writing worlds going on these days

That's for sure. I have never heard of any of the top five nor one of the back five and, of the remaining four, calling King and Martin SF writers is highly questionable. (King has dabbled and Martin used to be a great SF writer but that was decades ago.) I don't know about Howey but I've sure heard of him. I haven't read the Weir yet but I do have it and it would certainly seem to be SF. So there's one.

Maybe it's just ignorance on my part and arrogance to expect to know them but I have heard of *a lot* of SF writers and read a great many as well. But I don't live in the Amazon or novel-only worlds.

This also casts interesting side-lights on the "awards exclusivity" of the insular Worldcon and the SP-folk clamoring for more diversity and popularity: how many of those top seven have been lavished with praise by either sets of people? So I guess both are quite cloistered in a popular sense and those seven are our new masters now, alongside Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein? Riddle, Hart, and Brown!!

(Oddly, I have heard of all but 1, 3, and 8 of the fantasy list. What the heck can that mean?)

 

[PeteMC]

I must confess I've only heard of half the fantasy list, and what in the world is GRRM doing on the SF list?

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I must confess I've only heard of half the fantasy list, and what in the world is GRRM doing on the SF list?

He was an established sf author long before he was fantasy - he may well still be selling through well in sf.

My blog on this is turning into quite a rant. Oh dear...

 

[pambaddeley]

Huh. Four of the top ten authors in Fantasy are completely new to me. Never heard of them. Probably confirms that I'm about 25 years older and a different gender than the average fantasy reader today.

I'd never heard of number 1 and number 10.

 

[pambaddeley]

Yeah! I went through the SF list, and what do you know, a fair percentage of the books were romances which somehow got tacked as S.F. And even a set of "Wizard" books. I know, I know, Space Fantasy, but that's just not my kettle of fish. The only SF book which I liked that had serious magic as a part of the situation was one of the Four Lords of the Diamond by Jack Chalker. Still, one or two authors there which I had not heard of which did sound interesting.

Find it odd that Stephen King is in the top 20 for SF

 

[pambaddeley]

He was an established sf author long before he was fantasy - he may well still be selling through well in sf.

My blog on this is turning into quite a rant. Oh dear...

Really looking forward to reading it Jo!

 

[Bick]

What a dreadful list. 'Popular' opinion clearly doesn't overlap much with informed opinion. But what's new?

 

[Kieran Song]

Lol, and romance rules the world again. Well, the most prolific readers are women and the most sought after books are romance. I blame marriage for this trend- myself in particular. I used to be a romantic before marriage, I.e. Candles and dancing and home made dinners. Now the most romantic thing I do is hold in my gas after dinner.

 

[Vertigo]

Interesting that the likes of Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut still appear to be selling better than the likes of David Weber. Not entirely sure how believable that they alone amongst the deceased greats of SF should be in the top 20.

 

[Wruter]

Interesting that the likes of Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut still appear to be selling better than the likes of David Weber. Not entirely sure how believable that they alone amongst the deceased greats of SF should be in the top 20.

It's because they have required books on state educational curriculums for English lit courses, hence mandatory bulk purchases by colleges and students year after year.

 

[Vertigo]

It's because they have required books on state educational curriculums for English lit courses, hence mandatory bulk purchases by colleges and students year after year.

Ah okay makes a little more sense. Also just goes to show what a warped picture these kind of things can produce.

 

[Parson]

Lol, and romance rules the world again. Well, the most prolific readers are women and the most sought after books are romance. I blame marriage for this trend- myself in particular. I used to be a romantic before marriage, I.e. Candles and dancing and home made dinners. Now the most romantic thing I do is hold in my gas after dinner.

Babies will do that to you. But don't give up on those romantic things either. (I'm happily married for 43 years now.)

 

[Martin Gill]

I'd categorize a fair chunk of 11-20 on the fantasy list as romance/possibly soft erotica. Looks like writing vampire porn is a good way to quit your day job.

 

[ratsy]

I'd categorize a fair chunk of 11-20 on the fantasy list as romance/possibly soft erotica. Looks like writing vampire porn is a good way to quit your day job.

'Is that a stake in your pocket...?'

Martin, you are on to something. Now I just need a great pen name

 

[MWagner]

I'd categorize a fair chunk of 11-20 on the fantasy list as romance/possibly soft erotica. Looks like writing vampire porn is a good way to quit your day job.

If there's anything useful I've learned in the last couple years of informing myself about the publishing industry and book market, it's that the market for fiction is three-quarters female and two-thirds under 35. If you're going to ignore the interests of young women, your potential audience is a niche within a niche from the outset.

 

[ratsy]

If there's anything useful I've learned in the last couple years of informing myself about the publishing industry and book market, it's that the market for fiction is three-quarters female and two-thirds under 35. If you're going to ignore the interests of young women, your potential audience is a niche within a niche from the outset.

@Juliana Now we just need to get visibility! #heartblade