It amazes me sometimes (ok, really quite often), how some books become big hits and others dwell in obscurity. The Da Vinci code was an alright book, but it is not all that much different than other books in that genre. The Twilight books are very mediocre and very much of its genre, but it struck a chord with so many people. The Harry Potter series (I am a big fan) I can understand, for I'm still amazed at Rowlings' breath of imagination and control of plot, but I still can't figure out why that series became so popular. Sure it's terrific, but my other examples here are decidedly not.
Not that Hardinge is wallowing in obscurity. I believe her books do well enough. It's just that I am such a big fan, I wish I could get more people interested in her work. She deserves a following right up there with the most popular of authors.
Plus, you will never read anything funnier than the antics of the homicidal goose, Saracen, in Fly By Night and Fly Trap. Hilarious.