Beyond Reality discussion

Hi everyone,

It’s once again time to open nominations -- this time for our March 2013 Books of the Month! Each group member can make 1 science fiction and/or 1 fantasy nomination in this thread. If you would like to make a nomination, please reply to this post with the title and author of the book(s) you would like to put forward for the group’s consideration.

Telling us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination. You can also check the group bookshelves for previous Books of the Month to see if your nomination has already been read by the group. (Being chosen as a past BotM does not necessarily disqualify a book from current consideration, but be aware that it may hinder your nomination’s chances at the polls.)

General guidelines:
• Feel free to re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
• For questions regarding specifics such as book formats, books in series, etc., please see the group FAQ.
• Seconding isn't necessary in this group.
• Friendly discussion & debate is strongly encouraged, but let's please keep things civil.

Poll schedule:
• Nominations will remain open through Thursday, Dec 20.
• The first round of polls will open Friday, December 21, and will run through 11:59PM PST, Wednesday, December 26 (closing Midnight PST December 27.)
• The run-off polls go up Wednesday, December 26, and will be open through 11:59PM PST Monday, December 31 (closing Midnight PST January 1, 2013.)

Thanks!


NOMINATIONS SO FAR

FANTASY
The Etched City by K.J. Bishop
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was by Barry Hughart
Control Point by Myke Cole


SCIENCE FICTION

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway
The Cross-Time Engineer by Leo A. Frankowski
Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress
Planesrunner by Ian McDonald

Hi all

I'll nominate Nick Harkaway's excellent debut novel, The Gone Away World. It's a superb, high octane adventure story about love, friendship and warped reality. But absolutely no ninjas.

What? Don't be crazy, why would I mention ninjas?

The Gone-Away World has more listings on its GR home page in Science Fiction than in Fantasy (though it has a significant number of both), so I'll put it down as a Sci-Fi nomination.

I would like to nominate Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was by Barry Hughart for fantasy because I hear it was an unique novel.

Nick wrote: "The Gone-Away World has more listings on its GR home page in Science Fiction than in Fantasy (though it has a significant number of both), so I'll put it down as a Sci-Fi nomination."

Sorry, meant to say that.

May I also nominate The Etched City for fantasy?

It's awfully quiet around here this month...

I would like to nominate The Cross-Time Engineer by Leo Frankowski for Science Fiction; and Mind Games by Carolyn Crane for Fantasy.

Kevin wrote: "I would like to nominate Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was by Barry Hughart for fantasy because I hear it was an unique novel."

Kevin, you may or may not have noticed, but Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was was our Fantasy BOTM in June of 2010. As that was 2 1/2 years ago, there's nothing wrong with re-nominating it. But sometimes re-nominated books don't do so well in the polls. I've added it to the list, though.

Oh, I forgot to check the bookshelf, soory about that Nick.

Kevin wrote: "Oh, I forgot to check the bookshelf, soory about that Nick."

I've still got it listed as a nominee. It has been known to happen that books from the bookshelf have won again. If you wish to nominate something else, though, I will replace it.

Looking at past nomination sites, Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress was a popular nominee last year which never made it as BOTM. It has a great blurb of a GR description, so I'll nominate it again. One never knows when....

Nick wrote: "Looking at past nomination sites, Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress was a popular nominee last year which never made it as BOTM. It has a great blurb of a GR description, so I'll nominate it agai..."

Kress is one of those authors I keep meaning to get around to, so I'm definitely interested.

I'm the one who nominated it last time. I'd be very glad to see it win this time. Some fascinating characters and situations. And Ms. Kress' narrative style keeps you turning pages.

I was thinking of making a nomination this time, as I expect to be back in the proverbial Goodreads saddle by the 1st of the year, (Hi!) but there are already multiple SF noms I want to vote for and read and more than one fantasy nom I'd be happy to discuss, so I'll just let things be.

Hi Candiss! Glad to see you back :)

No noms from me this month, I'm not feeling very inspired, but some of the books already mentioned sound interesting :)

We miss you, Candiss! :)

I'm going to renominate the book I've nominated a few times, for fantasy: Control Point by Myke Cole. Here's my review.

For SF, I'll nominate a wonderful YA novel by Ian McDonald called Planesrunner. Here's my review.

Nominations are now closed. Please go vote.

I neglected to put the link to the polls in the group message. Sorry about that. Please click on the Polls link in the upper RH corner of the Beyond Reality Page. Or go here:

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/16...

The Final Polls for the March 2013 Books of the Month are now open so go vote for one of the two top vote-getters in each category.

Here is a link: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/16...

The polls will be open through 11:59PM, Dec 31, 2012.

Then -- Happy New Year Everybody!