Well, the winner of the Undead Poll is sure to be a big surprise. During the first week of polling, WHEN YOU REACH ME opened with a comfortable lead, FIRE was gaining ground, but then . . . the post. Scientist PZ Myers posted a glowing review of THE FROG SCIENTIST followed by a plug for Battle of the Books and a direct link to the Undead Poll ballot. Whether it was that direct link or the extraordinary passion of science advocates, votes for THE FROG SCIENTIST came in so fast and furiously that we first wondered what the heck was happening. FIRE did eventually overtake WHEN YOU REACH ME with THE LAST OLYMPIAN trailing in its wake, but it didn’t matter by then because THE FROG SCIENTIST had already run away with it. While this was a missed opportunity for THE LAST OLYMPIAN, WHEN YOU REACH ME, and FIRE, we can take away lessons on how to more actively and aggressively campaign for our favorites. Then, too, given the strength of the nonfiction this year, there is something fitting about having two of the final three books represent the genre. So . . . THE LOST CONSPIRACY vs. MARCHING FOR FREEDOM vs. THE FROG SCIENTIST. Place your bets!
– Commentator Jonathan Hunt
Winner of the Undead Poll
Well, the winner of the Undead Poll is sure to be a big surprise. During the first week of polling, WHEN YOU REACH ME opened with a comfortable lead, FIRE was gaining ground, but then . . . the post. Scientist PZ Myers posted a glowing review of THE FROG SCIENTIST followed by a plug for Battle of the Books and a direct link to the Undead Poll ballot. Whether it was that direct link or the extraordinary passion of science advocates, votes for THE FROG SCIENTIST came in so fast and furiously that we first wondered what the heck was happening. FIRE did eventually overtake WHEN YOU REACH ME with THE LAST OLYMPIAN trailing in its wake, but it didn’t matter by then because THE FROG SCIENTIST had already run away with it. While this was a missed opportunity for THE LAST OLYMPIAN, WHEN YOU REACH ME, and FIRE, we can take away lessons on how to more actively and aggressively campaign for our favorites. Then, too, given the strength of the nonfiction this year, there is something fitting about having two of the final three books represent the genre. So . . . THE LOST CONSPIRACY vs. MARCHING FOR FREEDOM vs. THE FROG SCIENTIST. Place your bets!
– Commentator Jonathan Hunt
Posted in 2010, Commentary | 23 Comments »