This is something that has come up in conversation a few times and I’m very curious about the practice. Now, I’ve noticed that every time I’ve had my book reviewed or critiqued, I inevitably get compared to Rowling, Tolkien, or Lewis. I understand the comparison between new writers of a genre and their predecessors, but I’ve seen it get taken to surprising extremes.
For example, my first book takes place in a warrior academy, which is where the Harry Potter comparisons come into play. I agree with the similar setting, but the stories and characters don’t match up. So, I can’t tell if the reader is spending more time looking for Harry Potter similarities or reading my story as a separate entity.
So, I’m wondering what the mentality behind this practice is and if it is something that might be getting abused lately. Also, is there a right way and a wrong way to use this type of review tool? I’m really curious.
Legends of Windemere 
I get Dion Fortune and Guy Gavriel Kay.. both are hugely complimentary from a reader, of course. But I understand where you are coming from here… and have lost track of the number of ‘next Tolkein’s that have been announced by reviewers over the years. It is a useful way of attracting attention to a certain style or genre, of course. And, to be fair, may even bring up a new writer’s book when one of hose masters is searched for online. But i think you are right, it does get overused and therefore risks becoming counterproductive.
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Thanks. I can see how the comparison can boost a new author. As much as I hate the new *insert famous author* label, it has it’s perks. You can your foot into an established fanbase who, hopefully, will accept you and support you. Yet, I think it also puts surprisingly high expectations on a new author if done too much. So, it does become a double-edged sword.
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Very much so, I think.
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I’m not sure how other people use these comparisons – I very rarely use them myself, but generally when I do it’s to compare writing styles. Awhile back I read a series of books that not everyone would enjoy because the writing was very silly with tongue-in-cheek world building and humor. It wasn’t really geared towards serious fantasy readers who would prefer things like tolkien, so I made the comparison that it was very piers-anthony-esque. Not because the world within the book was anything like Xanth, but because I knew people who enjoyed piers anthony would probably enjoy this series too – the writing styles were very similar in some respects. I would never compare a book by saying “it’s like harry potter” or “it’s like twilight” because I think comparing a plot of a book to another (even if they are similar) colors the view of the reader. Just because the plots are similar, doesn’t mean the books are anything a like outside the plot structure or setting. I don’t want the people I’m influencing with my reviews to avoid a book because of their negative associations with a different book – and I don’t want them to go into a book thinking they’re going to love it because of a comparison if there’s a change they’ll be disappointed. I’m very careful with how I throw around other book titles and authors, and only do so when I also explain WHY I mention that author/book.
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Thanks for your comment. That does clear up a lot of what I was wondering. The explanation of why does sound like it would change the use of it. As an author,I like knowing why a certain book was chosen as a comparison to mine. I especially like the mention of Piers Anthony for a silly, humorous fantasy because I write closer to that than serious. I like humor, so I try to include it when I can do it without hurting the story.
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I think it’s just a frame of reference thing. People like familiarity in concept. It’s probably more of a “you might like this if you like that” than a hardcore comparison.
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Makes sense and familiarity definitely makes a person more likely to read something. I can see this as the true reason behind the tactic and ignore those who take it too far. Thanks. This is really helping me get insight into critics and reviewers.
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