I'll keep it simple as possible

• Do you like a chronological order story or a novel that has many short stories that cross one another? , for example it starts with a young character and ends up with them being old, or it starts with different characters in different timelines and the more you read about those characters the more some other chapters make sense
• Do you like a "POV character" storyline or third person narration type?
• Do you like a "Protagonist/Antagonist" type (like Harry Potter) of structure or more focus on the world itself (like Song of ice and fire)
• Do you -and especially in SCIFI- like that the author goes into deep detail in things like ship brands and weapon types? , things that doesn't really relate to the story just make it more immersive for example "She picked up the device there was an "IFruit" logo etched on it, it was a cellular device made by a company called Pear and not long ago it was heavily marketed toward a rather trendy audience, with it's over the top design and flashy looks, it is no wonder that every one in the far corners of the earth owns one of these, but to Jane she prefered the more advanced Robo, another cellular device made by Gagwell" or "She picked up the device there was an "iFruit" logo etched on it, she stood up and did the hoedown"
• Do you like when every device or item the characters use / find is detailed? for example in borderlands every weapon you find is manufacted by a company and these companies compete with each other, same with Armored Core.
• Do you like the Aliens vs Humans storyline? or Humans vs Humans (no aliens whatsoever)?
• Do you like Scifi that is over the top (Star Wars) or Dues Ex-like believable ?
• Do you like Wheel Of Time or Song of Ice and Fire?

1. Chronological, the alternative formats are great, but they shouldn't be the norm.
2. Ambivalent
3. Great world builders have some awesome stuff, but it just isn't entertaining in the usual sense of the word. I read the world builders stuff.on wiki type websites, and get finished with that in 30 min, or less.
4. No, detail isn't really the same thing as technique.
5. Same
6. Ambivalent, although human vs human allows the possibility of identifying with both sides, so as to pull the reader in
7. Ambivalent, like both
8. Never read either
sweetie

I highly recommend The Wheel of time, its just so enjoyable and easy to read.

Thats a good series as well, I think they made a show out of it, got to check it out.

1 - Depends. I've read and liked both. Some of my favorite novels have multiple characters that weave in and out of a greater tapestry. At the same time, some of my favorite novels also follow once character from beginning to end. I will say, however, that the former takes more skill and dedication from the author.

2 - Third person, I think, is superior for telling complex stories.

3 - Either is fine, though I find that novels with nebulous characters have the potential to be more intriguing. Especially in fantasy, formulaic good guys/bad guys plots can get a bit tiresome.

4 - Inconsequential details don't really appeal to me. I don't care to know about brand names unless there is a point. In Donaldson's Gap Cycle, there are company names used but it's really an indirect way of reinforcing the idea that there are a few mega-corporations that run things.

5 - Technology branding depends on the story and what it's trying to say.

6 - Humans vs. Aliens is mostly played out, unless it's orchestrated in a new and unique way. Human vs. Human is almost always more compelling. It's even better when layered, though. Again using the Gap Cycle as an example, the author uses the greater alien threat as a backdrop to a story that is 90% humans trying to kill or use one another.

7 - I usually prefer more realistic science fiction, though it completely depends. The skill and talent of the author is more important.

8 - Song of Ice and Fire. I've only read a little of the Wheel of Time stuff but it felt too fluffy.

1 - Most of the time I prefer chronological order. Simple is best most of the time. Another structure I like are unrelated books from the same author in a similar background/universe. "Robots" books from Asimov, books from Philip K. Dick, novels in Martian chronicles.

2 - I prefer 3rd person, it makes every character written the same way. I dont really need to read "I" to feel interested.

3 - I prefer focus on the world, it's richer than a focus on 2 persons, especially the bad/good antagonism (which is a little childish). For example, I like Song of Ice and Fire, Foundation, the Black Company. For example Dune has an antagonism with the Harkonnen (especially Vladimir Harkonnen) but the background is rich enough to survive them (him).

4 - No details. When I switch on my microwave oven, I only have a vague idea of how it works and I don't really care. It's a lot more immersive to have this feeling that for people of the future it's very common. If I have a few details, it's more about what would know/feel someone from the future. Also science explanations age very fast (Foundation for example where even an ashtray is atomic). Also a description fell flat compared to the image you will build, it leaves more room for dream. It's not just for science explanation, but also for explanations. Starwars is build like that, it start directly with a fight, you don't even know who or what, and there are not so many explanations. Everyone is doing what he has to do, no one is impressed to see a robot or needs complex explanations about them.

5 - Same as 4.

6 - I'm OK with both combination of human/alien. Alien as to be a little better than "the bad aliens" to avoid a one sided story. I love mars chronicle for that. Another combination I like is that there are no difference, just the same way they are white or black humans, groups will be mix of human/alien.

7 - I love both over the top and realistic. The only problem with the "over the top" genre it tends to be sub-starwars. There are other patterns also, extremely light SF element (flower for Algernon), uchronies (Fatherland) and extreme mix (mostly Hyperyon with deus-ex like plot and universe, wars, horror element, hard SF)

8 - I don't know wheel of time, I'm not so much into fantasy. I loved Song of Ice and Fire, it's extremely well written, complex, rich, with a lot of interesting plots and characters, but I could not really get into it when the last book came. In about 2 years, I forgot about everything, and the plot/character I was the more into died or where slow paced.

Wheel of Time is a lot like Lord Of The Rings, even the "fellowship" thing, I liked Ice and Fire at first but after a bit I felt it was really forced, as if its trying to be gritty for the sake of being gritty, I guess I just like the more "Magical" side of fantasy, same for Scifi, I love the novels where its a living breathing world where characters do things that are not about fighting rather than a gritty and dead world, where everything is very serious in tone.

Yeah i compared those two because they're very different

Wheel of time makes me go :3 , while ice and fire make me go >:( the show even more gritty than the book lacking the more colorful world and characters.

I cant get enough of Tolkien's stuff so yah that dounds like a great recommendation

if you did, do start with Book 1 instead of Book 0 (prequel) , Book 0 explains a lot of backgrounds about the series but if you read in publishing order you'll find the story more enjoyable as it adds more sense of mystery.