Beyond Reality discussion

Hi everyone,

It’s time to open nominations for our August 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 Monday, May 20.
• The first round of polls will open Tuesday, May 21, and will run through 11:59PM PST, Saturday, May 25 (closing Midnight PST May 26.)
• The run-off polls go up Sunday, May 26, and will be open through 11:59PM PST Thursday, May 30 (closing Midnight PST May 31.)

Thanks!


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

FANTASY:
Dawnthief by James Barclay (Alex)
Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold (Kyle)
Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch (Paul 'Pezski')
Un Lun Dun by China Miéville (Pickle)
Colours in the Steel by K.J. Parker (Bev)
Cold Magic by Kate Elliott (Lindsey)

SCIENCE FICTION:
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card (Alex)
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Kyle)
The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner (Paul 'Pezski')
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (Pickle)
City of Pearl by Karen Traviss (Bev)
The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle (Kammera)

Fantasy: Dawnthief
James Barclay did a great job on this series in my opinion, and I think that his characters and world have a unique vitality that lets them come alive.

SF: Ender's Shadow
I loved this book for several reasons. The first was that it was just a great book, but also for those who have read Ender's Game, it provides a different perspective on the award winning events of that book.

Fantasy: Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold

Science Fiction: A Princess of Mars

Ooh! I love the SF nominations so far. A reason to continue with the Ender books and a chance to revisit the E R Burroughs tale.

For SF I'll nominate The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner, which has been called the first cyberpunk novel, although it's probably better to think of it as a precursor.

In fantasy I suggest Midnight Riot/Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, a superb urban fantasy and the first in a series.

Sci-Fi: Leviathan Wakes
i have this on my tbr shelf and i think it sounds really good.

Humanity has colonized the solar system - Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond - but the stars are still out of our reach.
Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, "The Scopuli," they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for - and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.

Fantasy
Some light reading with China Mieville's Un Lun Dun
Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book

Hi
Sci Fi
City of Pearl by Karen Traviss. This is about Shan Frankland a former Police Officer who goes with a group of scientists to explore the planet Cavanagh's Star. dealings with alien races ensues....... Great debut book by an author who also writes for the Star Wars franchise.
City of Pearl

Fantasy
Colours in the Steel by K J Parker. Tells of Bardas, a former soldier turned fencing law advocate. Epic fantasy with seige engines. A brilliant debut novel by Parker whose identity is a close kept secret. First in a trilogy.

Colours in the Steel

Whoa! You folks are quick this month! I'll get the (delightfully-varied) nominations updated later today.

No sci-fi nomination but for fantasy I would like to nominate Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. It's a fast moving book based in an alternate-history Earth where the mini-Ice Age never ended, set during the industrial revolution.

It's hard to encapsulate but the author's description is the best I've found: "an Afro-Celtic post-Roman icepunk Regency fantasy adventure with airships, Phoenician spies, the intelligent descendants of troodons, and a dash of steampunk whose gas lamps can be easily doused by the touch of a powerful cold mage."

Added bonus, it's the first in a trilogy that will be complete with the publication of the third book in June.

Lindsey wrote: "It's hard to encapsulate but the author's description is the best I've found: "an Afro-Celtic post-Roman icepunk Regency fantasy adventure with airships, Phoenician spies, the intelligent descendants of troodons, and a dash of steampunk whose gas lamps can be easily doused by the touch of a powerful cold mage."

Then I have the perfect sound track to listen to while reading it :) :

https://realworldrecords.com/artist/3...

Id like to revisit The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. First encounters of mankind to an alien race. Always remember loving this book! Been along time though!

This is the last day for nominations. We've got a healthy roster of 6 varied titles in each category, but there's room for more if anyone still has books they would like to suggest.

Nominations are now closed, and the polls are going up.

Edit: Polls are up and will be open through 11:59pm PST, Saturday May 25.

Science Fiction: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/84...

Fantasy: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/84...-

The run-off polls are now up. Votes will be counted until Friday, May 31 (aka through 11:59 PM PST, Thursday the 30th.)

Science Fiction: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/84...

Fantasy: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/84...