General Research Tools at the Library
Literature Research Tools - The library has a selection of subscription databases that can be used for general reader's advisory or more in-depth research. If you are not using the databases at one of our libraries, you'll be required to enter a valid library card number and PIN.
Links to Websites by Category
Below are some helpful links to book information by broad categories. The categories are listed in alphabetical order.
Author Information
Fantastic Fiction - Bibliographic information on authors of works in the following genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sagas, Science Fiction, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, and Western. Also includes synopses of new books in these genres. This site also includes series information for a large number of authors.
Best Sellers
Amazon Bestsellers
Barnes and Noble Bestsellers
New York Times Bestsellers
Publishers' Weekly Bestseller Lists
Book Discussion Information
African American Literature Book Club
Bookclub@ket
HarperCollins Reader's Guides
Louisville Book Meetup
Oprah's Book Club
ReadingGroupGuides.com - Contains over 1,500 book discussion guides
Start Your Own Mystery Discussion Group
Vintage Books Reading Groups Guides
Find out what Book Discussion Groups are available at the Louisville Free Library!
Book Reviews
Bookmarks Magazine
The New York Times Book Review - Reviews, online discussions, book news, and the first chapters of some current works.
Review of Books - Provides at least 3 objective reviews of a book.
Book Series
Fantastic Fiction - Bibliographic information on authors of works in the following genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sagas, Science Fiction, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, and Western. Also includes synopses of new books in these genres. This site also includes series information for a large number of authors.
Juvenile Series and Sequels - This is a good site to find juvenile series. Search by series title, series author, title or author. The Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence Missouri is the author of this website.
What's Next? - Search for series in this link from Kent District Library in Michigan
Readers' Advisory and General Reading Sites
AllReaders.com - Features book and movie reviews, fan insights, and lists of similar titles.
Book TV
Gnooks - Map of literature – enter an author’s name and see a cloud map of similar authors. Gnod’s Suggestion tool - enter authors you like and get a suggestion of another you should try.
Overbooked.org - A website for ravenous readers. Includes author web pages, annotated book lists, and a new feature called "Author Connections" in which authors offer reading suggestions to readers.
Readers Advice - Find new books to read in your favorite genres and subgenres.
Readers Club - Contains book reviews by editors, celebrities, and readers, author interviews, and Librarian's Choice Awards for book-related websites.
Links to Websites by Format
Below are some helpful links to book information by type of media. The categories are listed in alphabetical order.
Audiobooks
Downloadable Audiobooks - This page lets you know what you need to get started downloading and listening to audiobooks available from the library. There are links to web sites other than the library, plus a custom search engine for searching the web, where you can download audiobooks.
Comic Books/Graphic Novels
Ain’t It Cool News - A long-running blog that specializes in all things pop culture and geek. Here one can find comics and comic-themed movie news, reviews of various comics and comic-themed movies, as well as interviews with creators.
Collector Times - Billed also as The Magazine of Past and Future Collectibles, Collector Times has been online continuously since 1998 and maintains an archive of its older issues. The two areas that it focuses on are comic books and games that are collectible. There one can find reviews, art galleries, and information about conventions. There are also links to other sites about comics, gaming, and science fiction/fantasy.
The Collins Compendium of Free Online Comics - This site hosts over 300 completely legal comics online, available as full issues at absolutely no cost to the reader.
The Comic Book Database - This site is exactly what its title says, a database of comic books. It is searchable by cover date, title, creator, character, teams, story arcs, publishers, imprints, and awards. The covers of each issue are displayed prominently for visual verification.
Comic Book Movies
Comic Book Resources
Comic Shop News
Comic Vine
Comicon Pulse
Comics Bulletin
The Comics Journal - The print version of The Comics Journal was first published in 1976 by Fantagraphics Books. It covers comics from the perspective of comics as a fine art. There you will find news, interviews with various members of the comics industry, and comic reviews.
The Comics Reporter
Comics Worth Reading
ComicsResearch.org - A great site about comics scholarship with annotated bibliographies on book-length works about comic books and comic strips. There are also interesting links to many great sites about comics of all forms and places of origin.
Drawn and Quarterly
First Second: The Collection
Good Comics for Kids - School Library Journal's website for reviews of graphic novels and comics.
Graphic Novel Reporter
Grovel
Internet Public Library: Graphic Novels
Kids Love Comics - Reviews of age-appropriate graphic novels for children with an eye towards promoting literacy.
Louisville Cartoonists Society - LCS is a Louisville-based independent comics outfit, formed in 2009 by a group of artists who all shared the same goal…making comics.
Mikel Midnight's Golden Age Directory
NBM Publishing
Newsarama - Since 1998, a major source for the latest news about the comic book industry. You can find information about graphic novels, comic books, comic strips, webcomics, cartoons, animation, and movies or TV with science fiction/fantasy themes.
No Flying, No Tights - Reviews of graphic novels for Teens.
Pantheon Graphic Novels
Sequential Tart
Strip Creator
Superhero Hype
The Webcomic List - The Webcomic List is designed to keep readers up to date with the titles they like. It has over 20,000 webcomics that are monitored daily and updated as frequently as possible.
Wizard World Digital Magazine - Formerly the printed Wizard Magazine, this site is always timely, lively, and full of previews for titles. It carries interviews with the movers and shakers of the comics industry on both current and upcoming projects.
eBooks
Did you know? - eBook titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees!
eBooks at the Library - This page lets you know what you need to get started reading eBooks, gives a description of how the check-out process for eBooks works, and lists compatible devices with instructions for each specific device.
Links to Websites by Genre
Below are some helpful links to book information by genre of fiction. The major genres are listed in alphabetical order.
Note: Science Fiction and Fantasy links are listed together.
Horror
Asian Horror Encyclopedia
Buried.com
Dark Echo Horror - Reviews of horror fiction and nonfiction, and interviews with those in the field.
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
The Eternal Night
Fangoria
First Fright
The Horror Librarian
Horror World - Contains reviews, over 100 message boards, the top 200 horror novels and the top 100 horror short stories.
Horror Writers Association
Horrorfind
Literary Gothic
Weird Fiction Review
Inspirational Fiction
FaithfulReader.com - "FaithfulReader.com is a non-affiliated, non-denominational website. Our purpose is to provide Internet-based content to the Christian community to raise their awareness of Christian books and authors through book reviews, author interviews and other book-related commentary
Focus on Fiction - "We offer in-depth monthly interviews with many of today's best Christian fiction authors, plus fiction book contests and giveaways, book reviews, and insider information about new and upcoming Christian fiction book releases."
Mystery Fiction
The Mystery Reader
Mystery Readers International
The Poisoned Pen Home Page - The website for a bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona that offers mystery recommendations and links.
Stop You're Killing Me - Lists over 2,200 authors for both series and non-series. A great resource if you like to read your mysteries in order. Cross-referenced by author name, character name, locations, jobs, diversity, etc.
Romance Fiction
All About Romance - The back-fence for lovers of romance novels
Harlequin - Home page of Harlequin Romances
The Romance Reader - The very latest news and views of romance novels
Romantic Times Book Reviews - The website for Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine offers ratings and short reviews of romance fiction
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Locus Online - Features the Locus Index to Science Fiction, the Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards, and the 2004 Recommended Reading List.
Scifan: Book & Links for the Science Fiction Fan - Features author biographies and bibliographies, as well as information on new and upcoming books, titles of books on particular themes, series information, lists of classics and award winners, and yearly publication information.
SFSite - Reviews of new science fiction literature.
Uchronia—The Alternate History List - A searchable annotated bibliography of alternate history fiction and essays. Contains over 2,500 items.
Westerns
The Seasoned Cowboy Western Reading List - This website has reading lists for western fans.
Western Writers of America - Features the Spur Awards, Roundup Magazine, and a list of Best Westerns
Young Adult Fiction
Favorite Teenage Angst Books - The reviewer for Grouchy.com has been reading Young Adult books for over 25 years. There must be a reason. Maybe because the books are good. Find out for yourself.
Guys Read - A literacy program from Jon Sciezka. Check it out! (Patron Suggestion).
Inspirational Fiction for Teens - One of many reading suggestion lists to be found on the Morton Grove web site. Good stuff here.
Reading Rants! - Out of the ordinary Teen Booklists. Are they ever!
teenreads.com - Lots of information about authors, reviews, information about new books in hardback and paperback, series, and features such as interviews and books-into-movies.
What's Next: Teen Series and Sequels - Put together by children's librarians at the Bettendorf (Iowa) Public Library, this page attempts to list as many series written for young adults as possible.
Awards & Prizes
African-American
BCALA Awards - recognizes outstanding works of Fiction and Nonfiction by African American authors for adult audiences
The Coretta Scott King Award - honors African American authors and illustrators for outstanding contributions to children's and young adult literature that promote understanding and appreciation of the culture and contribution of all people to the realization of the American Dream
AudioBooks
The Audie Awards – This is the premier awards program in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. Awards are bestowed for thirty separate categories, including Biography/Memoir, Business, History, Non-Fiction, Audiobook of the Year, and Distinguished Achievement in Production
Odyssey Award - awarded annually to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States
Children/Young Adult
Alex Awards - Top Ten adult books for teens
The Bluegrass Award - There are four grade divisions to the Bluegrass Award: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12
Caldecott Medal - awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal - honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children
Margaret A. Edwards Award - honors an author's lifetime achievement for writing books that have been popular over a period of time
Mildred L. Batchelder Award - awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and then translated into English
Newbery Medal - awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
Michael L. Prinz Award - Award for excellence in Young Adult Literature
Pura Belpre Award - presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth
Robert F. Sibert Information Book Award - awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year
Scott O'Dell Award – awarded annually to a children's or young adult book for distinguished work in historical fiction set in North, Central, or South America
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award - given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States
Comic Books/Graphic Novels
Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing - Each year, the awards committee selects two recipients—one living and one deceased—who have produced a significant body of work in the comics field
Glyph Awards - awarded annually to recognize the best in comics made by, for, and about people of color
Icon Award - presented to individuals or organizations who have been instrumental in bringing comics and/or the popular arts to a wider audience
Inkpot Award - given to individuals for their contributions to the worlds of comics, science fiction/fantasy, film, television, animation, and fandom services
National Cartoonists Society Awards - There are two major awards awarded: The Reuben Award for outstanding cartoonist of the year and the Canniff Award for lifetime achievement in the field of cartooning
Russ Manning Award - presented to a comics artist who, early in his or her career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics
Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards - These are the “Oscars” of comics, the most prestigious of the industry’s awards, and are given in multiple categories
Cookbooks
IACP Cookbook Awards - award annually celebrates the year's most outstanding food and beverage publications
The James Beard Foundation Awards – these awards are highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America, including cookbooks and works of food journalism
Horror
Bram Stoker Awards – awarded annually for “superior achievement” in the genre
Shirley Jackson Awards - awarded annually for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic
Inspirational Fiction
Christian Book Awards - awards are given to recognize excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution to the field of Christian fiction
Christy Awards - annual awards for Christian fiction in the following categories: contemporary, fantasy, first novel, futuristic, historical, romance, and suspense
Literary
Book Sense Book of the Year Award - given each year to the "hidden treasures" in the adult and children's book categories that ABA bookstore members most enjoyed recommending to their customers during the previous year
The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest - a whimsical literary competition that challenges entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels
Costa Book Awards - recognises some of the most enjoyable books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland in the following categories: first novel, novel, short story, biography, poetry, and children's book
Man Booker Prize - commonly known as the Booker Prize, this award aims to reward the best English language novel of the year written by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Republic of Ireland, or Zimbabwe
National Book Awards - given to recognize achievements in four genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature
The Nobel Prize in Literature – dedicated to “the person who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction”
National Book Awards - given to recognize achievements in four genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature.
PEN/Faulkner Awards - the largest juried award for fiction in the United States
Pulitzer Prizes – awarded annually for excellence in the fields of Journalism, Literature, Drama, and Music
Mystery
Agatha Awards – given for the Best Novel, First Mystery Novel, Short Story, and Nonfiction work of Mystery fiction
Edgar Awards - awarded to authors of distinguished work in various categories of the genre
Romance
Golden Heart Awards – given annually for outstanding unpublished romance fiction manuscripts
RITA Awards – given annually for outstanding published romance fiction novels
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Arthur C. Clarke Award - given to the best SF novel published each year in the UK (this novel does not have to be by a British writer)
Hugo Awards - given annually for over 50 years in over a dozen categories, including best books, stories, dramatic works, professional and fan activities
James Tiptree, Jr. Award - annual literary prize for "science fiction or fantasy that explores and expands the roles of women and men for work by both women and men"
John W. Campbell Memorial Award – given annual for or the best science-fiction novel of the year
The Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards - This is a comprehensive database of awards in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It includes awards for other countries other than the US or UK and also archives awards that are defunct
Mythopoeic Awards - given to the fantasy novel, multi-volume novel, or single-author story collection for adults published during the previous year that best exemplifies “the spirit of the Inklings (J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams)”
Nebula Award – given annually for the best novel, novella, novelette, short story, and screenplay
Phillip K. Dick Award – given annually for the best original science fiction paperback of the year
Rhysling Award - awarded annually for best poems with science fiction, fantasy, or horror themes
Robert A. Heinlein Award - given to honor outstanding published works in hard science fiction or technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award – given annually for the best short science fiction of the year
Westerns
Spur Awards – given for distinguished writing about the American west
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