UK Book Club discussion

Well Sci fi/Dystopian was a clear winner in the poll for August.

I'll be starting with the Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? that led to the classic film Bladerunner starring Rutger Hauer and a very young Harrison Ford.

I started Fahrenheit 451 a little early on 31st July but got so engrossed that I finished it in one evening! So I've started my second dystopian novel The Postman by David Brin which I'm loving. I do love a good end of the world/life as we know it book!

I've read the Postman three or four times, Jayne, love it. It's unfortunate that they turned it into such a poor movie... I've started with Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks and I'm enjoying so far.

How about

Currently on with The Handmaid's Tale which I last read when I was a teenager. As thought provoking as ever :-)

Ian wrote: "Well Sci fi/Dystopian was a clear winner in the poll for August.

I'll be starting with the Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? that led to the classic film Bladerunner starring ..."

My timing's just off for this genre - our bookclub read your choice last month! Interested to hear what you think of it Ian?

Oh no! Another of my least favourite genres!! Have ordered Fahrenheit 451 so that will be it! Still not finished the Short Stories - life getting in the way.

Not a fan of sci-fi Jennifer so this will deffo get me out of the warm comfy blanket zone.

This is one of my favorite genres. Just finished The Postman as I had the day off work so decided to spend some time reading in the garden. Another one off my list of books I'd meant to read.

Finished Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend yesterday which can be classed as dystopian!

I quite enjoy Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We", and "The Handmaid's Tale"... Oh, and "Brave New World" is pretty good too...

Have started Brave New World and cannot think why I have not read this sooner.

Emma wrote: "I quite enjoy Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We", and "The Handmaid's Tale"... Oh, and "Brave New World" is pretty good too..."

Sci-Fi is definitely stretching away from my comfort zone so I've taken a recommendation from my brother which happens to be No idea what to expect really...glad to hear you enjoyed it Emma. Bodes well!

Still have to finish the short stories. And I don't really know what to read. I suppose I will be reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne which I read several decades ago.

And I'm wondering if 'alternate history fiction' could count for this challenge as well. In that case I can listen to Dominion by C.J. Sansom....

This is probably my favourite genre but typically all the books I have earmarked for this month are everything but sci-fi and dystopia. Hopefully, I can creep one it somewhere!

@Danielle - Alternate history is a sub-genre of Science Fiction so I'd go with Dominion!

I think I'm probably more drawn to dystopian literature rather than pure sci-fi but I'm happy to read either. Fahrenheit 451 was good, a dystopian world which is bound to strike fear into the hearts of all bookworms!

I'm a late convert to John Wyndham, should think his books would have appeal to non sci-fi people oh, Never Let Me Go is another good one - sci-fi for the unconverted.

I've started The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist.

This month should be interesting :) I'm going to look for a time travel book and a few dystopian ones.

I may get to finish Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) by Hugh Howey which I have by my bed and been reading on and off for weeks!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I may get to finish Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) by Hugh Howey which I have by my bed and been reading on and off for weeks!"

I have this on my kindle but I haven't got around to reading it yet. Are you enjoying it? I've heard a lot of good things about it!

I just finished a short prequel to the 'Breakers' series. It's about 90 pages long and it captured me instantly. It's about a virus that is spreading quickly and the main character thinks that it's the end of the world. Both Outcome and
are available for free on amazon in the Kindle store if anyone is interested =]

@Sarah, yes I am enjoying it but have been distracted since my move to Brixham! My reading has gone down hill!

Danielle wrote: "Still have to finish the short stories. And I don't really know what to read. I suppose I will be reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne which I read several decades ago.

And I..."

Dominion is 99p on Kindle at the moment on Amazon - cracking deal :)

Gemma wrote: "Danielle wrote: "Still have to finish the short stories. And I don't really know what to read. I suppose I will be reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne which I read several dec..."

Just downloaded it along with Bring Up the Bodies also only 99p.

Does Ursula LeGuin fall in this category? As a not-native speaker, I must admit I have no idea wat dystopian means...

Yes, I think Ursula LeGuin is in!

Sorry to have been off the radar for a while. My new term started today and so I've been trying to prep' classes (seriously getting in the way of my reading). One class down, only 65 to go! I'm already looking forward to the Xmas break..... ;)

Lynne, did I spot you saying 'Bring up the Bodies' is currently 99p? Now where's my kindle....?

Yes Liz it was last night when I downloaded it!

Helga wrote: "Does Ursula LeGuin fall in this category? As a not-native speaker, I must admit I have no idea wat dystopian means..."

Ursula LeGuin has written a couple of excellent SciFi novels, amongst many others; The Left Hand of Darkness(one of the most unique stories I've ever read) and The Dispossessed, which I want to read again to refresh my memories of it..

am going to go for do androids dream of electric sheep. the title fascinates me esp since the title of the film was so dark. Im also going to go for another margaret atwood book as a handmaids tale was an amazing read.

Not sure about this genre but I will give it a try so I've borrowed Make Room! Make Room! from the library and downloaded Dominion to my kindle.

Em wrote: "I'm a late convert to John Wyndham, should think his books would have appeal to non sci-fi people "

If you like Wyndham's stuff you should give John Christopher a go. The Death of Grass and A Wrinkle in the Skin are a pair of fantastic post-apocalyptic tales about how quickly society would collapse and how you and your morals would survive in the new world.

Also going to try and .

Helga wrote: "Does Ursula LeGuin fall in this category? As a not-native speaker, I must admit I have no idea wat dystopian means..."

Below is a link to the GR definition of Dystopia, as a sub genre to Science Fiction. It's not that easy to follow, but hope it helps Helga.

http://www.goodreads.com/genres/dystopia

I've just finished 2 quick reads and .

It's a good introduction to the Culture books, Mel. They are worth the read at some point. I've enjoyed the ones I've read so far. On the whole I liked State of the Art, glad to see you're enjoying too.

Jumped in with Excession think I should have read some others first - bit lost!

After a bumpy start, I'm really enjoying .

I am just home from a weeks hols in Ireland where i read which i enjoyed as a good holiday read although very similar from what i recollect of The Standbut will go with the journey and try the next one, hope to try before the end of the month, def out of my comfort zone.

I've just finished and I'm glad to see the back of it! Not my cup of tea at all! Moving on to Journey to the Center of the Earth although I think this is this more fantasy than Sci-Fi? Anyway, We more than covered the genre! Jules Verne is going to get me a useful V in A-Z and if I can wangle it I'll grab Iceland for round the world at the same time! :)

Andrew wrote: "I am just home from a weeks hols in Ireland where i read which i enjoyed as a good holiday read although very similar from what i recollect of The Standbut will go wi..."

The Passage looks good - I've added it to my TBR - I've not heard of it before. I have Oryx and Crake on my kindle - I must get around to reading it soon.

I'm going to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for this challenge, towards the end of the month. It's been on my shelf for years and I've never read it.

Sarah wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I am just home from a weeks hols in Ireland where i read which i enjoyed as a good holiday read although very similar from what i recollect of The Stan..."

You are in for a treat if you like the humour

I've just finished The Handmaid's Tale. Atwood creates a chilling dystopia that is hauntingly plausible. I gave it 5* and would really recommend it :)

Finished Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison. It was not a comfortable read but I shall try another one of this genre soon.

Just finished The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. It was good - I gave it 3*.

Previously, I'd read Fahrenheit 451, which I thoroughly recommend. As with that book, so here; the writing is great and there is a very strong (melancholy) atmosphere that runs throughout. Rather than a novel, it's really a collection of short stories, covering a period of about thirty years, exploring the theme of the colonisation of Mars.

It's an interesting read; writing in the 50's, he's projecting a future that is now (mostly) past - the bulk of the book takes place in the 90's and 00's, but his observations of human failings & foolishness still ring true. The stories are varied and some I found more engaging than others. I'm still wondering whether it deserved another star, but I'm just not that into sci-fi!

I'm turning to dystopia next with The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist. So far, so good. I'm feeling echoes of The Handmaid's Tale and Never Let Me Go.

Definitely reminiscent of both those books Liz, I hope you enjoy it. I thought it was good.

Just finished



Having not read the previous Culture series I can't say it took me in. The other issue for me is that I'm not inclined to read the earlier parts in the series, which is a shame because there are some interesting plot lines. Coming to it this late it was far too complex tale as a standalone book.

Liz wrote: "Just finished The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. It was good - I gave it 3*.

Previously, I'd read Fahrenheit 451, which I thoroughly recommend. As with that book, so here; the writing is gre..."

I read Farenheit 451 a few years ago liz and enjoyed it, quite ominous the burning of books. In fantasy month I readSomething Wicked This Way Comesand like you was struck by how brilliant his writing was yet engaging as a good read with a real presence of creepiness!

Trojanhorse wrote: "I've just finished and I'm glad to see the back of it! Not my cup of tea at all! Moving on to Journey to the Center of the Earth although I think this is this more fantasy than..."

Will be good for Iceland Kate.....as long as they went straight down or in a spiral lol. Though you must play Rick Wakeman's concept album as accompaniment. Great narration by David Hemmings, as I remember from my 1970's pre Sex Pistols teenage years.

Ian wrote: "Trojanhorse wrote: "I've just finished and I'm glad to see the back of it! Not my cup of tea at all! Moving on to Journey to the Center of the Earth although I think this is th..."

I think I still have that album, Ian.. coooool.. :0)

lol Can you lend it to me Bill?

Funnily enough Ian the sentence I just read says "We were, in fact, descending a spiral, something like those winding staircases in use in modern houses" so I'm guessing it's all good for Iceland! :)