I’ve decided to update the way I rate fiction. The “read again factor” has started to feel strained, so I want to try to give a little more nuanced approach a try. The idea is to use a 10 point scale, with five categories. (When I do an external review (pretty rare) I figure dividing the 10 point score by 2 or 2.5 and rounding would create 4 or 5 star equivalents.)
Smirk index:
This is named for the use of “smirk” as an all-purpose noun or verb used in lieu of the author taking the time to figure out what specifically a character’s demeanor means and actually working out how to describe it. Additionally, it’ll capture a couple of related annoyances:
words that are non-specific (“the scene was striking”--no further information);
mistaken or out of place (effect instead of affect, someone diffusing a bomb or dangerous situation which needs defusing, etc); or,
just lazy--to include bad punctuation when it intrudes on my reading pleasure.
All clear: 0-5 instances -- 2 pts; acceptable: 6-10 instances -- 1 pt; 0verdone: >10 instances -- 0 pts
Immersion factor:
How easy was it for me to suspend disbelief and stay, well, immersed in the story.
Full-body: 2 pts; shallow: 1 pt; bone dry: 0 pts
Writing quality:
A very general gauge of how much effort appeared to have gone into crafting something pleasant to read. A common reason to give a zero (judging from a lot of multi-volume self-published SF) would be the impression the story was proofread but not edited. That is, everything is spelled right, but it drags, is tedious, or has plot holes.
High: 2 pts; Average: 1 pt; Needs work: 0 pts.
Plot/character development: I’ve complained at least a couple of times that characters, and sometimes entire books, seem to be at cartoon level--oversimplified or forumulaic plots, characters with the verve of cardboard. Was I surprised, pleased, or intrigued by the action or the characters, or was it formulaic?
High: 2 pts; Average: 1 pt; Needs work: 0 pts
Interest/innovation factor: Was the overall effect pleasing, striking, challenging, or somehow new or different? A middle of the road result isn’t always bad: sometimes a nice, comfortable story is what you want. The danger point is when you find yourself wondering why you keep turning pages.
High: 2pts; Average: 1 pt; Low: 0 pts
We’ll see how it works out….