Via Andrew Wheeler.
Science fiction, fantasy, or horror?
I try to alternate SF and fantasy whenever possible, with a leavening of NF and other stuff.
Hardback, trade paperback, or mass market paperback?
For economic reasons (I buy a lot of books) I tend toward the MMP whenever possible. There are few authors who get a hardback. I will buy a TPB if there is no other choice and the book is really appealing.
Heinlein or Asimov?
Yes. I read them both when I was younger and still would, although its been longer that I've read an Asimov (aside from SS) than Heinlein.
Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
Amazon is cheaper and I do a lot of buying there, I buy mortar when I want to do an impulse or have a coupon or gift card. I use Amazon as a research for saving lists of books I want.
Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Borders, mainly because this is stronger Borders country...and I have a dear friend who works for Borders.
Hitchhiker or Discworld?
I read the Hitchhikers novels first...but now am slowly working through the larger and probably better Discworld canon.
Bookmark or dogear?
Bookmark. My set of bookmarks are slowly dying and my source the Metropolitan Museum of Art doesn't make half the ones they used to.
Magazine: Asimov's Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction?
I never really have gotten into F&SF. I have had an Asimov's subscription in the past.
Alphabetize by author, by title, or random?
My books are disorganized in my apartment, so "Random"
Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep, keep way too much, although I've donated some, and sold to a UBS in some cases.
Year's Best Science Fiction series (edited by Gardner Dozois) or Year's Best SF Series (edited by David G. Hartwell)?
No offense to David, but Dozois is still "the standard". I haven't bought either of them in a couple of years though. Need to change that. I have friends and acquaintances who are likely to have stories in them this year.
Keep dustjacket or toss it?
There are people who toss them??
Read with dustjacket or remove it?
Again, this removal of the dustjacket baffles me.
Short story or novel?
I used to read a lot more SS than I do now, so novels.
Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
I only read the HP canon last year and haven't read Snicket at all. I liked the movie though.
Stop reading when tired or chapter breaks?
I stop reading when the bus on the way to work has reached downtown and its time to get off, or when the bus has reached the P&R and its time to go home, or the plane has landed...I do most of my reading in travel mode.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"
In your wildest dreams?
Buy or borrow?
Buy. I hate to borrow for fear of not returning, and I am reluctant to lend. I'd rather buy a copy for you if possible.
Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse?
Friends recommendations are always the strongest factor, with book reviews from reputable sources also important. Browsing a book at random...unless I am feeling impulsive, I usually want to know more about it, unless its a new or not-yet-owned book by a favored author.
Lewis or Tolkien?
Tolkien, although I should re-read Lewis.
Hard SF or space opera?
I appreciate both, but if you told me I had to buy one book, odds are I would lean toward the Space Opera.
Collection (single author) or anthology (multiple authors)?
Depends on the author. Both can be mixed bags...although the last one I bought is a Collection.
Hugo or Nebula?
Hugo, although novels which manage to win both, or win one and the Locus Award move up in my list of possible reads.
Golden Age SF or New Wave SF?
Some New Wave stuff leaves me enh. I came of age just before Cyberpunk, and at the time was reading older stuff, so I guess Golden Age.
We're in a great period NOW, though. Seriously.
Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Life isn't tidy endings...but I like *some* closure
Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading
Most of my reading takes place on the bus ride to work (early morning) and ride home (afternoon).
Standalone or series?
Standalone...because following through on a series can be a pain. I do have several series "in progress" or abandoned.
Urban fantasy or high fantasy?
I haven't read a lot of UF, although I am reading one at the time of this writing. HF, I suppose.
New or used?
New, if possible.
Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Tricky. Maybe "The Coming of the Quantum Cats" by Frederik Pohl. Its a quantum-many universes sort of novel.
Top 5 favorite genre books read last year?
In No Order:
Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson. It won a Hugo and deservedly so.
The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Stross. Every bit as good as the Family Trade novels.
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik. A Wonderful Debut.
The Sky People, by S.M. Stirling. Another author I heavily read this year. I ate this short novel up.
Blood and Iron, by Elizabeth Bear. Not just because she's a personal friend, either.
Top 5 favorite genre books of all time?
Tougher. And this is only "today". Ask me tomorrow, get a different answer. And I eschewed compilations.
Silverlock, John Myers Myers
Nine Princes in Amber, Zelazny
The Dying Earth, Vance
Foundation, Asimov
Hyperion, Dan Simmons
5 favorite genre series?
The Amber Chronicles, Roger Zelazny
A Song of Ice and Fire, George RR Martin
The Tschai Novels, Jack Vance
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Tolkien
The Dragaera novels, Steven Brust
Top 5 favorite genre short stories?
"The Last Question", Issac Asimov
"Wheels of If", L Sprague De Camp
"Think Like a Dinosaur", James Patrick Kelly
"The Moon Moth", Jack Vance
"I have No Mouth and I must Scream" Harlan Ellison