I tell you, working in a bookstore and the scifi/fan section being one of the areas I'm responsible for stocking...it's all the same thing. There is an original idea that pops out on occasion, then it's consumed by authors that want to jump on the band wagon. Case in point...look at all the demon-fighter books that are out now. Most of those have been published within the last year, one after another, bangbangbang! Rob Thurman has a more unique track, but I can't help thinking "Supernatural" when I read those books (though time wise this is a mere coincidence and not a copy-issue, especially as SPN started out more as an urban-myth type show, which they've strayed a bit from). I have to wonder if Mercedes Lackey has any more originality in her work, I haven't even bothered to check because the covers all look the same. And that's another thing, the covers either have the standard art work, or it's dark with people dressed in leather. Two genres.

Course then you have David Weber, which shows more promise for some originality. The classics like Asimov and Clarke still stand. And there is an Oroti (sp)series that looks compelling. But mostly? I've gone over to non-fiction.

Tried getting into the Dresden Files books, and I think if I read those without seeing the series I'd of had better luck. Because I didn't like Dresden in the show, and I think that was mainly due to the actor. I liked Bob, but he's not "semi material" in the book, only a voice, so no use for it. This is the one case where the show ruined the books for me. Feel free to convince me otherwise because there's a big promo on them right now and I keep staring. And the new series? Haven't bothered with it, seeing as how I can't get into Dresden, and now I'm even more leery.