FOFC Literature Draft - Picks Thread

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

You never heard of Ball Four?

I probably have at some point, but I don't remember it. I don't pay attention to baseball.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by sabotai

The Coleridge pick was good, but I would have picked Kubla Khan instead.

For personal preference, I would have too. I'd also have used Time Machine over War of the Worlds. But I'm basically going with the most recognizable ones I can find in an attempt to whore for votes.

Originally Posted by sabotai

There's still two poems out there that I'm a bit surprised have not gone yet.

There are a bunch. I think Poetry will be one of those categories that won't win you the draft, but can lose it for you.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by sabotai

Yes, and that's why I fucking hate it!

Other thoughts: Shogun is a great pick. One of my all-time favorite novels. I don't even recognize any of the sports picks, except Friday Night Lights which I never read. I don't read much sports related fiction.

The Coleridge pick was good, but I would have picked Kubla Khan instead. There's still two poems out there that I'm a bit surprised have not gone yet.

There is a lot of poetry I'm surprised to see still on the board. People are taking a lot of "generic" categories (fiction, non-fiction) before the more niche ones.

[Warhammer]

I think the niche ones are not as niche as you think. There is a ton of good children's lit out there as well as historical and non-fiction.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by cartman

Well, I am pleasantly surprised to be able to make my pick again. I thought maybe CR would have had this choice as his Poem entry, based on some of his other picks. This choice has ties to a couple of other already selected entries. He was the first American to translate Dante's "Divine Comedy", and he also had a lifelong feud with Poe after an unflattering review Poe gave one of his works.

Although far from historically accurate, it did increase the renown of the subject. Just about everyone can complete the first stanza of this poem after hearing the first line, which not many other lyrical works can claim:

"Listen my children and you shall hear..."

Paul Revere's Ride, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

cartman's list:

1. Fiction - 4.9 Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
2. Single Short Story - 3.2 The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe
3. Poem - 5.2 Paul Revere's Ride, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
4. Fantasy/Science Fiction - 2.9 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
5. Series (A set of books continuing the same story and intended to be read sequentially) - 1.2: The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King), J.R.R. Tolkein
6. Sport Related
7. Children's
8. Non-Fiction
9. Biography/Autobiography
10. History

sorry you can't pick him. he's MY ancestor, i get to pick him.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

For personal preference, I would have too. I'd also have used Time Machine over War of the Worlds. But I'm basically going with the most recognizable ones I can find in an attempt to whore for votes.


There are a bunch. I think Poetry will be one of those categories that won't win you the draft, but can lose it for you.

I guess that shows how much I don't know about poetry. I would have thought Kubla Khan was more recognizable than The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. And I'm sure there are a bunch of poems leftover, but I know shit about poetry, so I have two.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

I think the niche ones are not as niche as you think. There is a ton of good children's lit out there as well as historical and non-fiction.

I think you're right. But I think you hit a steal in the most shallow category. I think Sports will be like.. crap.. I forget what it was called.. the category in the Music draft for a seminal song (where I picked Rapper's Delight). There are a lot of "ho-hum" choices and only a few that float to the top as the best in the genre.

[Vince]

I think that if nothing else, this draft has shown that there is a TON of literature out there, and that we could probably expand this to a 20 person draft and still have pretty strong teams.

Maple Leafs is just on a tear...his Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a pick made of win. As for my already put forth judgements, I think that I may be undervaluing the Foundation Series. I think I'll stand by my "The Waste Land" description; there are just so many huge players at the position (The Iliad, The Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost) that I think it's a poor first round pick. Even though it may have been gone had you not picked it...I think that it looks weaker than at least two of the poems picked after it, as much as I like it.

And remember, I don't know crap, so take my criticism with a grain of salt

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Vince

I think that if nothing else, this draft has shown that there is a TON of literature out there, and that we could probably expand this to a 20 person draft and still have pretty strong teams.

Maple Leafs is just on a tear...his Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a pick made of win. As for my already put forth judgements, I think that I may be undervaluing the Foundation Series. I think I'll stand by my "The Waste Land" description; there are just so many huge players at the position (The Iliad, The Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost) that I think it's a poor first round pick. Even though it may have been gone had you not picked it...I think that it looks weaker than at least two of the poems picked after it, as much as I like it.

And remember, I don't know crap, so take my criticism with a grain of salt

bah. wait till i bust out my poem

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Vince

I think that if nothing else, this draft has shown that there is a TON of literature out there, and that we could probably expand this to a 20 person draft and still have pretty strong teams.

Maple Leafs is just on a tear...his Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a pick made of win. As for my already put forth judgements, I think that I may be undervaluing the Foundation Series. I think I'll stand by my "The Waste Land" description; there are just so many huge players at the position (The Iliad, The Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost) that I think it's a poor first round pick. Even though it may have been gone had you not picked it...I think that it looks weaker than at least two of the poems picked after it, as much as I like it.

And remember, I don't know crap, so take my criticism with a grain of salt

Yeah. There are two reasons I didn't just leave Logan and Wade on the list:
1) Tradition
2) Time (we don't need it to take 20% longer than it already does )

[st.cronin]

Fiction
Single Short Story - 1.3, The Dead, James Joyce
Poem
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 2.8, 1984, George Orwell
Series - 3.3, Dune, Frank Herbert
Sport Related - 4.8, Rabbit, Run, John Updike
Children's
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography - 5.3 The Diary of Anais Nin, Anais Nin
History

[wade moore]

I was just reviewing the lists and didn't realize how well WH has been doing.

My top 3 right now:

1. Warhammer
2. Maple Leafs
3. larrymcg421

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I think you're right. But I think you hit a steal in the most shallow category. I think Sports will be like.. crap.. I forget what it was called.. the category in the Music draft for a seminal song (where I picked Rapper's Delight). There are a lot of "ho-hum" choices and only a few that float to the top as the best in the genre.

That's exactly why I picked it there. I figured someone had to pick it. Plus, the impact that it had on every other sports book since it was written cannot be discounted.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Fiction
Single Short Story - 1.3, The Dead, James Joyce
Poem
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 2.8, 1984, George Orwell
Series - 3.3, Dune, Frank Herbert
Sport Related - 4.8, Rabbit, Run, John Updike
Children's
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography - 5.3 The Diary of Anais Nin, Anais Nin
History

wha?

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Fiction
Single Short Story - 1.3, The Dead, James Joyce
Poem
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 2.8, 1984, George Orwell
Series - 3.3, Dune, Frank Herbert
Sport Related - 4.8, Rabbit, Run, John Updike
Children's
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography - 5.3 The Diary of Anais Nin, Anais Nin
History

OK, I have to say it even if it makes me look like a moron.

Who?

[Izulde]

Wow, st. cronin totally did not go where I expected in the Bio/Auto category.

[st.cronin]

I needed some porn on my team.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Fiction - 1.4 Hamlet, by William Shakespeare
Single Short Story
Poem - 4.7 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 3.4 War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
Series
Sport Related
Children's
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography
History - 2.7 The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

Fantastic pick.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Fiction
Single Short Story - 1.3, The Dead, James Joyce
Poem
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 2.8, 1984, George Orwell
Series - 3.3, Dune, Frank Herbert
Sport Related - 4.8, Rabbit, Run, John Updike
Children's
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography
History

I was considering taking Updike's A & P for Short Story, but that's negated now.

Not that big a deal, as I've got tons of other quality choices there.

[st.cronin]

From the wikipedia page:

The published version of her diary would be very popular among young women, making Anaïs Nin a feminist icon in the 1960s.

After the Updike pick, I needed to pander to the voting women.

The novel Henry and June, made into a movie with Uma Thurman and Maria de Medeiros, was part of the Diary.

[wade moore]

Not sure that pick is going to help you in the eyes of a majority of voters, but more power to you .

[DaddyTorgo]

my list for my next pick is at home, so i won't be able to pick until like...after 6pm EST, even if NoMyths picks. didn't think we'd get back around again. guess i learned my lesson.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

From the wikipedia page:


After the Updike pick, I needed to pander to the voting women.

The novel Henry and June, made into a movie with Uma Thurman and Maria de Medeiros, was part of the Diary.

Who?

Benny and Joon?

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

my list for my next pick is at home, so i won't be able to pick until like...after 6pm EST, even if NoMyths picks. didn't think we'd get back around again. guess i learned my lesson.

...

You didn't figure that out when you took several hours yesterday.. or this afternoon?

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

Who?

Benny and Joon?



...

You didn't figure that out when you took several hours yesterday.. or this afternoon?

last night i needed hours to think and compose my lists. this afternoon i waited till lunchtime cuz i'm working

[Maple Leafs]

Fiction - 1.4 Hamlet, by William Shakespeare
Single Short Story
Poem - 4.7 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 3.4 War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
Series
Sport Related
Children's - 5.4 The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography
History - 2.7 The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

[Warhammer]

Nice pick, but I would have gone with Green Eggs and Ham.

[cartman]

Or "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". A lot to choose from from Dr. Seuss.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Fiction - 1.4 Hamlet, by William Shakespeare
Single Short Story
Poem - 4.7 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Fantasy/Science Fiction - 3.4 War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
Series
Sport Related
Children's - 5.4 The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss
Non-Fiction
Biography/Autobiography
History - 2.7 The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

I am amazed Dr. Seuss fell so far. He was on 4 of the pre-draft lists I got.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

Nice pick, but I would have gone with Green Eggs and Ham.

Originally Posted by cartman

Or "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". A lot to choose from from Dr. Seuss.

This may be why it has fallen so far. Sometimes it is worse to pick the wrong book by an author than to pick a lesser author.

[NoMyths]

Yep, I was hoping for Seuss next round myself. Also prefer the Grinch to the Cat, but it's a good pickup.

[NoMyths]

Now I get to wait until after 6 pm, right? :P

[Warhammer]

dang it...

[ntndeacon]

I am shocked ole Teddy Geisel fell that far. I have a feeling that Poetry will be great from everyone. certainly all of the poet choices have been very good.

[Lathum]

I am also amazed Dr. Suess fell so far.
Mapleleafs is crushing this draft right now

[sabotai]

I wasn't even thinking of Dr. Suess...nice pick. My top children's book hasn't been taken yet.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by ntndeacon

I am shocked ole Teddy Geisel fell that far. I have a feeling that Poetry will be great from everyone. certainly all of the poet choices have been very good.

No.



cartman inched backed up to the upper brackets with his last 2 picks.

[Buccaneer]

My rankings thus far.

The contenders for the championship:

1. Axxon (nice recovery)
2. Maple Leafs
3. cartman
4. Warhammer

Have a chance but need help:

5. Chief Rum
6. larrymcg
7. Izulde (nice job in moving from last to the middle bracket)

Won't win unless there are miracles:

8. DaddyTorgo
9. NoMyths
10. st.cronin

[Sublime 2]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

My rankings thus far.

The contenders for the championship:

1. Axxon (nice recovery)
2. Maple Leafs
3. cartman
4. Warhammer

Have a chance but need help:

5. Chief Rum
6. larrymcg
7. Izulde (nice job in moving from last to the middle bracket)

Won't win unless there are miracles:

8. DaddyTorgo
9. NoMyths
10. st.cronin

Just to throw my top 4 out there as of now:
1. Maple Leafs
2. larrymcg
3. Chief Rum
4. Axxon

[NoMyths]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

My rankings thus far.

The contenders for the championship:

1. Axxon (nice recovery)
2. Maple Leafs
3. cartman
4. Warhammer

Have a chance but need help:

5. Chief Rum
6. larrymcg
7. Izulde (nice job in moving from last to the middle bracket)

Won't win unless there are miracles:

8. DaddyTorgo
9. NoMyths
10. st.cronin

Second to last? And yet I've actually had all of my books in the correct categories?

Methinks there may be some bias in your critique.

[MrDNA]

My wholy subjective rankings

1. larrymcg (bold autobio pick, a non-fic that changed the world and great fiction)
2. Izulde (musketeers was weak, but everything else is near the top of its category)
3. Maple Leafs (all doubles and triples on every pick, but no homeruns)
4. Axxon (on strength of series and sci-fi alone)
5. cartman (love the poe, carroll and tolkein - Rand seems a weak fiction pick, but that's me)

[Groundhog]

Given the numerous historical and cultural errors and stereotypes (not to mention the murdering of the Japanese language used in the book), I'd definately disagree with Shogun being a "historical" book.

One of my favourite books, but definately a fiction.

[MrDNA]

Originally Posted by NoMyths

Second to last? And yet I've actually had all of my books in the correct categories?

Methinks there may be some bias in your critique.

I think right now you're not in the lead - at all - but you're set up to win. You got, IMO, the last of only 3 good series choices. Series books might kill people in this. A good fiction pick and you could jump to the top of my list.

[Buccaneer]

In comparing the three preliminary rankings of wade, sublime and mine, it seems that larrymcg's two controversal picks were gutsy and that I am viewing cartman higher than average. Overall, I don't think anyone is scoring about an average of 7 because some of the most obvious picks are still out there (hint: think like a popular reader).

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

9. NoMyths

Interesting. I still have NoMyths very much in the running. Chief Rum's last couple picks really helped him and Warhammer is putting together a very nice collection but NoMyths and Maple Leafs are my top two right now.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by NoMyths

Second to last? And yet I've actually had all of my books in the correct categories?

Methinks there may be some bias in your critique.

Not really, no one else thinks you're in the top bracket either.

But it is true that I have not looked at the categories, I am going off of lists (unless someone pulls an Imagine).

It is probably incorrect to say that the bottom won't win (sorry) because the rankings are fairly close together and if what MrDNA says it's true about nailing the remaining categories, then anyone could win.

[timmynausea]

It's still super close for me top to bottom. I really think one especially good or bad pick could swing anyone from first to last or vice versa.

[timmynausea]

Originally Posted by MrDNA

Rand seems a weak fiction pick, but that's me

I agree, though it's more about the stuff that is still out there than anything else. Rand was a reach at this point, in my opinion, but it may not matter depending on how the rest of the picks shake out.

[Izulde]

I love how my board is looking right now... I just hope the books I have slated as my next picks stay unchosen.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by MrDNA

My wholy subjective rankings

1. larrymcg (bold autobio pick, a non-fic that changed the world and great fiction)
2. Izulde (musketeers was weak, but everything else is near the top of its category)
3. Maple Leafs (all doubles and triples on every pick, but no homeruns)
4. Axxon (on strength of series and sci-fi alone)
5. cartman (love the poe, carroll and tolkein - Rand seems a weak fiction pick, but that's me)

To be fair, the Musketeers Saga was in part a defensive ploy, because I knew if I left it hanging there, somebody was likely to grab The Count of Monte Cristo for their fiction choice, which would've gotten a lot of voter interest.

[Buccaneer]

NoMyths, to be more specific (which is what I didn't do in putting together my preliminary ranking), your Sports pick is a little too contemporary and niched. I'm looking for sports title that transcends the genre to where non-sports readers would know or heard of. As far as Poem, this is a pick where nearly everyone (except for 2) falls for me, so it didn't hurt you. While I like the Hitchhiker pick, it is a surprise that it was picked in this category and that will hurt you among some voters. For me, it was a good pick but of the Series picked so far, this was the weakest one (going up against Potter or Tolkien or Narnia will be tough). Your Non-Fiction, while an important historical document, is not one that is read. But so far it's not bad, just that there are non-fiction picks yet out there that will blow this one away.