Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

Please use this topic to nominate a Classic Science Fiction or Fantasy novel you wish to discuss as a group in June (beginning June 1.)

(A Classic novel would typically have been published prior to 2000 and be considered a popular, trailblazing or important work of science fiction or fantasy. Presumably, any actual "classic" is still in print!)

You need not have read the title you are nominating; after all, you'll be reading along. Feel free to say why you are making the nomination, if you care to. If your nomination is selected by the group, you'll be expected to take the lead in the discussion.

We read two different SF/F novels and one short SF/F work each month: One is a "Classic" SF/F novel which was written before 2000; that discussion starts on the 1st of each month. One is a "Contemporary" SF/F novel, which was written after 2000; that discussion starts on the 21st of each month. We also read one or more short stories each month; that discussion starts the 11th of each month. You can always check on our upcoming SF/F Novel discussion topics by scrolling down on the Group Homepage to the "Upcoming Reads” section.

You can review past group selections in the "read" section of our Group's BookShelf. If you wish to continue a discussion of one of those past selections, all those discussion topics are still open in our Book Discussions area.

Note that this is our discussion selection for June. Shadow & Claw has already been selected as our May Classic Novel discussion topic.

Nominations will be open through Saturday, April 15, when I'll collect the nominees and post a poll so members can choose among them.

I'll renominate The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle.

(waiting for somebody to renominate We)

:D

There's this new TV series called "Time after Time" (or something like that), based on The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and while the show itself didn't really catch me, it did inspire me to want to catch up on those SF classics I haven't read yet.

Andrea wrote: "There's this new TV series called "Time after Time" (or something like that), based on The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and while the show itself didn't really catch me, i..."

The TV series didn't really catch anyone, and has abruptly disappeared. So it's now this old TV series :)

Just so you're not disappointed, Time After Time the TV series was based on a much better movie from 1979, but the only relationship they have to HG Wells' The Time Machine is that the movie & TV show presume HG Wells invented the time machine, conflating him with the unnamed "Time Traveler" of his novel, and borrow him as a character. The plot is totally different from The Time Machine: no Jack the Ripper, no 2016 New York (or 1979 San Fransisco per the movie.)

I was pretty sure the plots had no connection to each other, which is why I want to read the book. The TV series was simply a reminder that I haven't read this actual classic :)

I think the TV show Time After Time is based on the book Time After Time by Karl Alexander. The original movie version was directed by Nicholas "Wrath of Khan" Meyer who I like to call "The Man Who Saved Star Trek."

Is it too soon to do A Canticle for Leibowitz again? Says 2014..... I like to do classics that check off my Hugo award winners boxes

Rachel wrote: "Is it too soon to do A Canticle for Leibowitz again? Says 2014..... I like to do classics that check off my Hugo award winners boxes"

I also want to discuss Watership Down (the group read it in 2010) and Flowers for Algernon (2012).

We did discuss The Dying Earth twice, in 2013 and a few months ago.

I read Watership Down back in December for a second time, and think it deserves a second round given the original discussion wasn't all that active. There's an anthology of short stories related to it, though I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.

I've also already read Flowers for Algernon multiple times (such a sad story...), didn't know there was already a discussion for that one, I should go see what people said

So far, once again, all the entries are good and would be hard to choose between them

Nominating Rocannon's World

Rachel wrote: "Is it too soon to do A Canticle for Leibowitz again? Says 2014..... I like to do classics that check off my Hugo award winners boxes"

Well, it's only been 2½ yers since we discussed A Canticle for Leibowitz; many of the participants in that discussion are still with the group, though we also have a nmber of new members since. I think the easiest thing is to go ahead and put it on the poll and see.

Shall I, Rachel?

Watership Down is an easy call to re-visit; its previous discussion was 7 years ago and none of the participants are active in the group lately.

Flowers for Algernon is similaryly a discussion from 5 years ago (though I did give it a poke just 1½ years ago when I read it.)

So, do you want to pick one of those to nominate, Silvana?

A related note: If you happen to read one of the novels we've discussed in the past, it doesn't have to be scheduled as a new & formal group discussion for you to add your own comments to past discussion topics; that often stirs an old topic back to life. It's not quite the same as organizing a new discussion, but especially with the Classics, many members have already read them anyway.

Thanks, Geez.

Yes, I'd like to nominate Watership Down.

Yes please Old One (hope that's not too impertinent)

  Reminder: Today (Saturday) is the final day to nominate a Classic Fantasy or Science Fiction novel for our June group read and discussion.

So far I have recorded: The Lost World, The Time Machine , Rocannon's World, Watership Down & A Canticle for Leibowitz

I'll nominate Earthblood by Keith Laumer. We haven't read anything by this author, an underrated one, IMO. He's best known for his Retief (starting with Retief: Envoy to New Worlds ) & Bolo stories, but none been republished as ebooks. There are a lot of cheap copies of Earthblood available, though.

Thank you for the nominations. A poll to select our Classic Science Fiction / Fantasy Novel discussion topic for June is now open. If you're interested in participating in the discussion of one of our nominees, you can vote here for your choice.

Please vote only if you plan on participating in the discussion of that book.

Note that this is our discussion selection for June. Shadow & Claw has already been selected as our May Classic Novel discussion topic.

This poll will be open through Saturday, April 22.

  Reminder: Today (Saturday) is the final day to vote for a Classic Fantasy or Science Fiction novel for our June group read and discussion.

Our selected group classic novel discussion topic for June is...

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The discussion will begin June 1.

G33z3r wrote: "
Our selected group classic novel discussion topic for June is...

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The discussion will begin June 1."

This book is free on Audible today (4/23) for World Book Day

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Wat...

Conal wrote: "This book is free on Audible today (4/23) for World Book Day.."

Oh, thanks for the heads up. Free is excellent. It's an omen!

G33z3r wrote: "
Our selected group classic novel discussion topic for June is...

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The discussion will begin June 1."

I'm looking forward to this read as I read this book about a decade ago, and I'm interested in seeing how the story changes with all the changes in my life in the last ten years.

I've just listened to this on audible (before I realised it was BOTM).
I adore this story, I must have l read it dozens of times and I still cry;)