Fantasy Aficionados discussion

Any suggestions on how to liven up April's read? Would you like a theme read? Off-genre? Chapter by chapter discussion? Recent release in a series? Taking suggestions for ideas (but not book titles--those will come afterwards).

I tend to read too fast for a chapter by chapter discussion. That being said, it might help for a slow, but awesome, book to push the novel along. If we do a recent release, which is fine, I would want time to catch up on the series.

I liked the idea we did one month of questions to answer (pretty sure that was the only book I finished 2 months late). . . It is hard to keep discussions alive when everyone is reading at different paces. Also when we hide spoilers . . . Maybe 2 discussion threads?

As an aside, Carol, I really appreciate that you take the time to respond to every single comment someone makes on the BotM. It makes me feel like I am not discussing in a vacuum. Which I have felt elsewhere.

I think it would be fun to vote for fantasy books written pre-something. Maybe pre-1900 or pre-1930.

I'd like to suggest that you look at the fantasy novels written by James Branch Cabell. 'Jurgen' would be a good place to start. He wrote most of his books in the 1920s and 1930s.

I have a few ideas....

1. Stand Alone Fantasy Novel
2. Author of the Month
3. New Release (Last 6 months) ~ Must be the first book if a series.

Those are all great ideas.

And Sonja is right, Carol is fabulous!

Aww, thanks! I love talking books!

I like the idea of a stand alone fantasy. Those seem like rare beasts these days, so it would be nice to have a decent pool of choices to source from.

Carol wrote: "Aww, thanks! I love talking books!"


:-D

Sophie wrote: "I like the idea of a stand alone fantasy. Those seem like rare beasts these days, so it would be nice to have a decent pool of choices to source from."

I do, too.

Now, we need a committee to go out and find stand alones, lol.

Here's a question.


What about anthologies?

Hm. I'd like to suggest either 'The High Crusade' or 'Operation Chaos', both by Poul Anderson. They're both stand-alone. 'The High Crusade' mixes Medieval technology with science fiction. 'Operation Chaos' mixes magic and technology. Both are good reads.

I would like to also read more self-published fantasy works.

My only requirement would be professional editing and the ability for all members to have access to the book.

Would anyone be interested in that?

S.J. wrote: "Hm. I'd like to suggest either 'The High Crusade' or 'Operation Chaos', both by Poul Anderson. They're both stand-alone. 'The High Crusade' mixes Medieval technology with science fiction. 'Operatio..."

Great suggestions, SJ. I've read some Poul Anderson colabs before. Good stuff.

Found a little bit of something:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19...

The expected names are on there, but there are some I've never heard of. Shall hunt for more.

I've never been disappointed in a Poul Anderson book.

Sophie wrote: "Found a little bit of something:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/19...

The expected names are on there, but there are some I've never heard of. Shall hunt for more."

Great list!

There are a few series on that list...but the others are unfamiliar to me. *exciting*


And, sadly...even though I haven't been reading much...I've barely slowed down my book buying. I have issues, lol.

MrsJoseph wrote: "And, sadly...even though I haven't been reading much...I've barely slowed down my book buying. I have issues, lol. "

Oh, I sympathize. I suffer from the same disorder ;)

:-D

It's so horrible and SO great.

Reminder: *Not* a book suggestion thread. It's an *Idea* thread. When we pick a topic--which is starting to sound like stand-alone--then we'll start a new thread with suggestions.

So far we have for suggestions:
1. Stand-alone fantasy
2. Anthology
3. Author read (will likely use this for May or June--want to prepare farther in advance).
4. Self-published fantasy
5. "Early" fantasy (pre-some year)
6. New release--if it is first
Any other ideas?

April is notable for April Fool's Day--so maybe comic fantasy?

I like it. But since we're going nutty with suggestions, how about Young Adult as well? I'll take suggestions tomorrow (Tuesday) then throw it up in a poll.

Hmm, what about series reads? Like with do with some of the buddy reads? But that would have to be run concurrent with other monthly reads.

Maybe nevermind, lol.

I second young adult. I also like the idea of the stand-alone fantasy.

Oh, there's no irony here--the non-reader throwing in the suggestions that take the most reading /eyeroll

;)

Carol wrote: "Oh, there's no irony here--the non-reader throwing in the suggestions that take the most reading /eyeroll

;)"



:-D Whhha? Who? Moi?

Fantasy-mystery, anyone? Some time ago, I read Randall Garrett - his stories about a magic detective, Lord Darcy. The stories are funny and light, they were written in the 1960s and 1970s, but they recently were reissued in one volume: Lord Darcy.

I know we just started 2013 but, I have an idea for a year long challenge for next year - A through Z. We would have to decide Book Title, Series Title, or Author's last name. It would be 2 books a month but we'd have to exclude 2 letters, most notably "X" and one other.

Or it could be a 2-year challenge. Sounds like fun searching for the books to make up the challenge.

I like the self published choice but I also like the A thru Z idea too....but new releases sounds good as well. I'll have a tough time choosing which to vote for. :)

Well, we can certainly try a new angle with the group--we can vote for monthly themes, so if one idea doesn't win one month, it can be tried again. We could set up a longer A through Z as a challenge read.

I agree what others have already suggested regarding:

Stand Alone novel (aren’t some of the best works stand alone?)

First in a series (I hate that when a group chooses #10 in a series I have not even started!)

A Goodreads author discussion. I am sure there are quite a few who might be willing to join in.

The only other thing I might suggest is choosing a few classic “must read” type of fantasy books.

Reading Among Others really made me aware of how few I know. I am glad a few months back we read Ray Bradbury. I never would have chosen him on my own but I am certainly glad I did!

Poll is up. Let me see if I can link it.
http://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/35...

Speaking of front pages (I'm still getting the hang of this formatting), I want to delete the old challenge, but it appears if I do, I also delete it for anyone that has been participating. MrsJ, can you figure out how to retire but not make it go away entirely?

Carol wrote: "Speaking of front pages (I'm still getting the hang of this formatting), I want to delete the old challenge, but it appears if I do, I also delete it for anyone that has been participating. MrsJ, c..."

GR being GR...they are not responding to the comments on group challenges. I'll ask again.

Poll is up! Vote for the next theme for the monthly read!

Poll Closed! Stand-alone fantasy is the winner by a landslide! Please go to suggestion thread to nominate. I'll close nominations about March 7th, open the poll for a week, and that should give us plenty of time to get the book for April.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Poll for book choice is up!

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/35...