The Hall Monitor is published every other week, the same day as the latest installment of the Black Library Readers’ Hall of Fame drops on Tabletop Battles (here’s today’s). A cross between a director’s cut and a backstage pass, it’s a look behind the scenes at the Hall of Fame project.
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Prior to 2010, the most books that entered the Hall in one year was six, which happened only twice. The first time was 2004, with early series work by Dan Abnett and Sandy Mitchell helping build a strong slate. The next time was 2006 with the advent of the Horus Heresy opening up a new category in the balloting.
That record wasn’t just broken, it was smashed by the incredible Class of 2010 putting nine books in the Hall. After a lull in 2011, we fell one book short of equaling the feat in 2012.
The simplest possible explanation for this is that, over time, the books just got better. As the Black Library grew in success, it could raise the standard of what it was looking for, offer more compensation1, and attract more talent.
Another consideration, though, is that we’re getting closer to the present day with each year. That means an increasing number of voters will be seeing books they’re more familiar with as time goes on. “Recency bias” certainly exists, but at the very least I’d like to think we’ll see a decrease in the proportion of “No Opinion/Abstain” votes in each poll.
I don’t have the answer to this, but it’s going to be interesting seeing if voting patterns change as we move into modernity. I might quibble with a book or two that missed out, but by and large I think the Hall’s gotten it right. It’s certainly been fun to watch! By the time we catch up to the current era later this year, we’ll have a much clearer picture of how things shook out.
The Vox Populi Top Twenties
So here are the updated Top Twenties for both halves of the Black Library.
Fantasy
No changes here again this week, 45% positive support seems to be a difficult threshold for Fantasy titles to hit right now, even if they’re still managing to find their way into the Hall. Remember, this number (the 45%) represents the percentage of public poll respondents that vote for the book to get in. It doesn’t have to get more than 50% support to be considered, it just needs to get more “yesses” than “noes.”
Still, it’s a good barometer of public awareness and enthusiasm for a particular title.
30K/40K
Some movement here this week, though, as three books climb aboard. The bottom of the table is fairly congested, and it won’t take much to see a large chunk of books fall off the table entirely.
Hall Winners Leaderboard
The top of the table continues to pull away from the middle, with Graham McNeill and Aaron Dembski-Bowden neck and neck. Abnett is nigh uncatchable, I’d wager, but it’s also a delight when we get to add new names to the table as well. Congrats again to Sarah Cawkwell (for Valkia the Bloody), and Josh Reynolds (for Neferata: The Blood of Nagash)!
Thanks for joining me on this look behind the curtains of the Hall, and if you haven’t already please make sure to vote your picks for the Class of 2013!
I’d assume.
A great set of lists!