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The is set!


I had a bit of an issue finding the polls, but that's been sorted out and the links are now live.

Round 1 will be February 25th - March 2nd 11:59PM EST

Match 1:

(1) Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

vs.

(16) The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells

Vote Here

Match 2:

(8) Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

vs.

(9) The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

Vote Here

Match 3:

(4) Rivers of London / Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch

vs.

(13) Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Vote Here

Match 4:

(5) Green Rider by Kristen Britain

vs.

(12) The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

Vote Here

Match 5:

(2) The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear by Walter Moers

vs.

(15) The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner

Vote Here

Match 6:

(7) Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

vs.

(10) Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Vote Here

Match 7:

(3) The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

vs.

(14) The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull

Vote Here

Match 8:

(6) The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

vs.

(11) Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees

Vote Here

Vote for your favorite color!

It's like a binary sort.

Tamahome wrote: "It's like a binary sort."

Which books do you already have?

/list/show/1...

Mark wrote: "Which books do you already have?

/list/show/1..."

I own/have read 2 of the 16. None of the others are currently on my TBR list. I'm sure I'll end up adding a few once I read the descriptions before voting.

There are a couple others I was familiar with, but otherwise a lot of new stuff for me.

I've read 8 of the 16, of the remaining I've heard of maybe 2, though neither were particularly high on the TBR list. This should make my voting easy though.

Most are new to me too. I've only read Rivers of London and I have a copy of Gods of Jade and Shadow.

So, The Lesson is a science fiction title hidden among the March Madness fantasy contenders.

I'm a little disappointed it's not the usual science fiction and fantasy bracket. I do get that we have read a lot of science fiction lately with our guest hosts, but I think if the audience was feeling burnt out on science fiction and wanted fantasy, the voting would reflect that. Just my thought.

all the Sword & Laser March Madness lists at a glance

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016

Bold prediction: it will come down to Rivers of London and The Eyes of the Dragon, with The House in the Cerulean Sea as the closest almost-ran.

Trike wrote: "Bold prediction: it will come down to Rivers of London and The Eyes of the Dragon, with The House in the Cerulean Sea as the closest almost-ran."

your finalists are the 2 I've read. lol. I will at least be voting for both in the opening round. Not sure if I'll still with both until the end though. It'll depend on the matchups.

As to my own predictions, I think The Priory of the Orange Tree will make a deep run as it was a popular pick on the S&L Discord for an alt pick this month already.

Rivers of London is making it's 3rd attempt (18, 20, 21) at winning it all. It took 3 tries before people took pity on me and voted Theft of Swords the winner in 2019.

This is the second appearance for The Blue Sword (17).

I think the other 14 are all making their first appearance, although some authors have had a different book in past years such as Martha Wells.

OK.. Turns out Tom did make the polls, but they weren't on the main page so they were buried several pages down.

He's since made them on the main page so they should be easier to find now.

I've updated the links in my original post.

Go forth and vote!

I think predictions are always skewed towards the own voting preference. Meaning, the own reasoning why to vote for a certain option. Don't forget that there are several options. Like "I know this book, and want to discuss it here in the book club, so I'm voting for this one". Or "Hm, I don't know this one, but that sounds interesting. I'm voting only for this one and hope it gets picked". Or even "Let's vote against all the ones I've already read, since I want to read new stuff, regardless how good the one I vote against are" - selfish, kind of, but a valid reason. Next to impossible to account for all those in predictions, I think.

Anyway: Happy voting, whatever your reasons are!

You're not wrong, but that's not going to stop me from making predictions each round. That's half the fun!

Think so too. Maybe for next year we could organize a bot for the Discord, allowing horse race like betting on the outcome... Don't really know what the currency would be? Participation points (12 point for Hufflepuff!), for engaging in discussions, or writing reviews? Some kind of mer(r)it? Does this make sense? No. But would I like it? H*ll, yes!
Just spitballing here (and sneakily advertising the Discord server, ofc).

Esar wrote: "I think predictions are always skewed towards the own voting preference. Meaning, the own reasoning why to vote for a certain option. Don't forget that there are several options. Like "I know this ..."

I’m trying to predict what all y’all are gonna do.

Me, I want The Cloud Roads.

Oh man, match 4 has my nominee vs a book I think I read and enjoyed. TOUGH!!!!!!!!!!

Bracket 7 is the hardest for me. I really want everyone to read The Priory of the Orange Tree but The Lesson looks really good too.

Bracket 1 is also hard. 2 authors that I enjoy, with books I haven't read, yet.

I've only read 2 of the books The Eyes of the Dragon which I read back in the late 80s and found meh and The Priory of the Orange Tree which I absolutely loved.

It should be a fun March Madness.

"There can be only one"

Except for 2016 when we had a tie 😉

Tassie Dave wrote: "Bracket 7 is the hardest for me. I really want everyone to read The Priory of the Orange Tree..."

That one was a US Audible daily deal or a Kindle deal at one point with a really cheap Audible add-on, so it's in my library and I'm glad to hear of this recommendation, even if it doesn't win, it moves it up on my list.

We will probably end up reading a ¼ of these books for S&L

We are averaging right on 4 books per March Madness:

2016: 4
2017: 4
2018: 4
2019: 5
2020: 3

Middlegame really jumps out to me so added that to my TBR and I've long looked at Rivers of London. They're my only 2 votes this round.

Nothing else is really interesting me right now but excited to see how it shakes out.

I am glad "Blue Bear" made it into the bracket even if it doesn't stand a chance :-)

Jan wrote: "I am glad "Blue Bear" made it into the bracket even if it doesn't stand a chance :-)"

Already going for the pity votes Jan 😉 😜

I voted for it and think it will get through this round and possibly beat Kiki's Delivery Service in the next round.

My record of picking winners in March Madness is pretty poor. 😉

Tassie Dave wrote: "We will probably end up reading a ¼ of these books for S&L

We are averaging right on 4 books per March Madness:

2016: 4
2017: 4
2018: 4
2019: 5
2020: 3"

How can we have only read 3 books in 2020 when 2020 is Still. Going. On?!

Tassie Dave wrote: "Already going for the pity votes Jan 😉 😜

Well, I am known as a master manipulator .... 😉

(To be honest, I am just preparing myself emotionally --- last year my favorites all lost in the first round)

I'm so pleased Legendborn made it to this stage. I've been voting in March Madness for a couple of years but haven't nominated before. Excited to see which book comes out on top!

I've read a couple before and have a few others on my TBR, plus some I'm now interested in reading.

Mark wrote: "So, The Lesson is a science fiction title hidden among the March Madness fantasy contenders."

Kind of sad to only have one SF title, and to have it up against what I'd assume is one of the strongest titles in the list is pretty rough. I'd be surprised if it survives Round 1.

I have done my duty and voted.

Some great selections, and I have added a few to my TBR list.

Two of the match ups were especially tough decisions but as always :

2 books enter, 1 book leave

Finished my voting today with the match-ups that weren't instant decisions. Well ... except for one pairing that was so unappealing I couldn't bring myself to support either book. I won't say which, to avoid offending those who nominated them!

Definitely some good options in there. Fingers crossed that they progress.

This is a great list. I've read four already and there are a few I've never heard of, which is my kind of list.

So excited that my nomination, Enchanted, made it into the competition. I think it is a great book and is one your 'non-sff' friends can be coaxed into reading and enjoying. I got my neighborhood book club of ladies that don't typically read sff to read it and they also enjoyed it. I hope some of you will read it on your own it really is wonderful. (imho)
I am saddened that it ended up against Rivers of London which I would have seconded if I hadn't decided to nominate my own this year. There is always next year.

Mark wrote: "Which books do you already have?

/list/show/1..."

I've read four and own a fifth.




source/larger"

Lucy wrote: "I'm so pleased Legendborn made it to this stage. "

It's the only title that's interesting to me but I am not sure about its chance of winning.

@Silvana, it's a great read!

Lucy wrote: "@Silvana, it's a great read!"

School books are not really my cup of tea, but a 4.5 average rating from over 14, 000 ratings is significant; including a 5 star rating and a very good review from Rebecca Roanhorse whose sword and laser read ( Trail of Lightning ) I enjoyed a lot.

You gotta love Coyote the trickster :-)

Jan wrote: "I am glad "Blue Bear" made it into the bracket even if it doesn't stand a chance :-)"

I had never heard of 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear but it sounds like a fun read.

I had only heard of 4 of the books and two were against each other. What to choose?

there are a number of interesting reads here that I had never heard of before.

A few blow outs in the voting only 1 close contest


Gods of Jade and Shadow 134 votes
The Cloud Roads 75 votes

Middlegame 125 votes
The Eyes of the Dragon 84 votes

Rivers of London 159 votes
Enchanted 56 votes

Green Rider 108 votes
The Blue Sword 84 votes

The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry 129 votes
The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear 64 votes

Kiki's Delivery Service 104 votes
Legendborn 94 votes

The Priory of the Orange Tree 122 votes
The Lesson 76 votes

The House in the Cerulean Sea 168 votes
Lud-in-the-Mist 36 votes

Brackets 4 looks like it could be the hardest to call in the next round.

Both popular books.

Tassie Dave wrote:

"The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry 129 votes
The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear 64 votes

Called it! ;-)

Dave is trying to steal my thunder I guess (or just couldn't wait for me to wake up and get settled into a computer). I will not be DETERED from doing my end of round summary post!

Participation was way down this year, about 115 fewer people participated in round 1 of this year compared to last. Those people are missing out!

Results from Round 1:

View the full bracket


Round 1 Statistics
Total Votes Cast: 1,618
Average Votes Cast: 202
Book With Most Votes: The House in the Cerulean Sea - (168 Votes)
Match-up With Most Votes: Rivers of London vs. Enchanted (215 Votes)
Largest Win: The House in the Cerulean Sea (132 Votes)
Smallest Win: Kiki's Delivery Service - (10 Votes)
Average Win: 60 votes

Match 1:

(1) Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - 134 Votes

vs.

(16) The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells - 75 Votes

Winner: Gods of Jade and Shadow
Total Votes: 209
Margin of Victory: 59

---------------------------------

Match 2:

(8) Middlegame by Seanan McGuire - 125 Votes

vs.

(9) The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King - 84 Votes

Winner: Middlegame
Total Votes: 209
Margin of Victory: 41

---------------------------------

Match 3:

(4) Rivers of London / Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch - 159 Votes

vs.

(13) Enchanted by Alethea Kontis - 56 Votes

Winner: Rivers of London / Midnight Riot
Total Votes: 215
Margin of Victory: 103

---------------------------------

Match 4:

(5) Green Rider by Kristen Britain - 108 Votes

vs.

(12) The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley - 84 Votes

Winner: Green Rider
Total Votes: 192
Margin of Victory: 24

---------------------------------

Match 5:

(2) The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear by Walter Moers - 64 Votes

vs.

(15) The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner - 129 Votes

Winner: The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry
Total Votes: 193
Margin of Victory: 65

---------------------------------

Match 6:

(7) Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono - 104 Votes

vs.

(10) Legendborn by Tracy Deonn - 94 Votes

Winner: Kiki's Delivery Service
Total Votes: 198
Margin of Victory: 10

---------------------------------

Match 7:

(3) The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon - 122 Votes

vs.

(14) The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull - 76 Votes

Winner: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Total Votes: 198
Margin of Victory: 46

---------------------------------

Match 8:

(6) The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune - 168 Votes

vs.

(11) Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees - 36 Votes

Winner: The House in the Cerulean Sea
Total Votes: 204
Margin of Victory: 132

---------------------------------

I went 4-4 in round 1.

I may end up reading Legendborn. It barely lost in this round, though I'm not sure I'd have liked it's chances against The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry, which we seem to have badly underseeded.

I'll probably also read The Cloud Roads, which I thought was a bit under seeded, but apparently not..

I’m kind of surprised King got the boot (you have the wrong book title, Rob, not that it matters), as I assumed name recognition would carry him through.

Interesting results yet again. These are fun!

Trike wrote: "(you have the wrong book title, Rob, not that it matters),"

Oh it matters! Thanks for the heads up. Too much copy/paste this morning.

Only 3 of my picks won in round 1, but I would have done a little better if I was voting how I guessed the majority would vote.

I did pretty good in round one 6-2. But most of my books will probably drop off in round 2