Space Opera Fans discussion

It's that time of the month to nominate what space opera books we'd like to read as a group in June. Up this month we have the following categories:

READER PICK: Dead trees is where it's at for the Reader Pick, which should be widely available in both paperback and ebook at most chain bookstores and public libraries. Books can't be exclusive to Kindle Unlimited since we're a global community.

INDIE PICK: This is for those newer, edgier books where the author has to do it all. Books that have been published by a micropress that helps you upload the thing, but YOU otherwise do the work and marking are okay, or if you got your backlist back, still qualify.

YOUNG ADULT: This is for books targeted at young adults, age 13-18. They should be newer books, published since 2000, starring a person in the YA age range. I'm restarting this category because we do have some younger members and I don't want them to think we don't value them. However, I'm not very familiar with this market myself, so I need your help.

If you are an author, you may nominate your own book in any category, provided it meets the criteria for that category. But only if you're an otherwise active member of the group. Drive by spam will not be tolerated.

Drop your nomination into the thread below and, on the first of the month (or so), we'll spin it through Random.org to pick two brand new group reads.

Betsy

Indy: Milk Run by Nathan Lowell

YA: Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Reader Pick: Deathstalker by Simon Green

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Indy: Lucifer's Star by C.T. Phipps (me!)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Young Adult: Alexis Carew "Into the Dark" by J.A. Sutherland

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Deathstalker does not seem to be widely available in paperback or hardback, except for a few used copies from Amazon and Barnes & Noble online. Probably not in stores. Probably not still in print. Not available from my library except in e-book and episodes of audiobook. Remember, not everybody reads e-books.

Reader Pick: The January Dancer by Michael Flynn

Indie: Scout's Honor by Henry Vogel

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Indie : Nathan Lowell Milk Run

YA (but good for older) : Into the Dark by J.A. Sutherland

Betsy wrote: "Deathstalker does not seem to be widely available in paperback or hardback, except for a few used copies from Amazon and Barnes & Noble online. Probably not in stores. Probably not st..."

Oooo, my bad. Sorry! Have you done On Basilisk Station by David Weber yet? I'm still new to this really awesome list. I've wanted to expand my knowledge of Space Opera for awhile.

Mark wrote: "Indie : Nathan Lowell Milk Run

YA (but good for older) : Into the Dark by J.A. Sutherland"

Jinx!

Indie: I'll nominate my book, The Alliance - The Evox Chronicles, again. The Alliance

Reader Pick: The War of the Worlds (can't believe I've never actually read this)

Indie Pick: The Exodus Sequence (my own book - it's a collection of novelettes)

YA: Gods and Warriors (loved her other books so keen to try this one)

All picks have to be books published in english?

YA - Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray. It looks interesting! I've been wanting to read it but other books get in the way. This would be a good excuse ;)

Indie: Kantovan Vault . Pretty sure this group has read the first two books in this series already. I'm in the middle of this one at the moment and have just really enjoyed the characters.

YA: I'll second Defy the Stars . I read Claudia Gray's Lost Stars Star Wars book and enjoyed her writing, and this book sounds intriguing.

May be back later with a reader pick.

C.T. wrote: "Betsy wrote: "Deathstalker does not seem to be widely available in paperback or hardback, except for a few used copies from Amazon and Barnes & Noble online. Probably not in stores. P..."

Yes, we already read On Basilisk Station. But keep trying. :-)

Andrzej wrote: "All picks have to be books published in english?"

I think so, yes. Although our membership is international, the greatest majority read in English. Best would be books published in multiple languages, but I think that might restrict us too much.

Gods and Warriors does not seem to be space opera. From the blurb it looks like it's more fantasy and mythology. It ought to have at least something to do with space.

Here's what we have so far:


READER PICK:
The January Dancer by Michael Flynn
Operation: Outer Space by Murray Leinster
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

INDIE PICK:
Milk Run by Nathan Lowell - 2 nominations
Lucifer’s Star by C.T. Phipps
Scout's Honor by Henry Vogel
The Alliance by Chris G. Wright
The Exodus Sequence by Susannah J. Bell
Kantovan Vault by Joel Shepherd

YOUNG ADULT:
Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Into the Dark by J.A. Sutherland - 2 nominations
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray - 2 nominations

Then I vote for On Basilisk Station by David Weber. That should be readily available for everyone. Honor Harrington is a great series.

C.T. wrote: "Then I vote for On Basilisk Station by David Weber. That should be readily available for everyone. Honor Harrington is a great series."

I'm sorry, I thought I messaged you; we already read this.

Betsy wrote: "C.T. wrote: "Then I vote for On Basilisk Station by David Weber. That should be readily available for everyone. Honor Harrington is a great series."

I'm sorry, I thought I messaged you; we already..."

No, it was just me being Lister on Red Dwarf. :) Me dumb caveman in space. ook ook.

Thanks again for managing such a great group.

Best character ever. Except maybe the toaster.

YA: Illuminae

For the Indie list, Procythian Reign by T. Allen Diaz. It's the first in a series of dark space opera.

"All right," said Jane, firmly, "This time I'll nominate it. The book is called Run From The Stars and it's about me. Specifically it's the first part of the story of how I, single handed, took on the two worst criminals in the galaxy. It'll make you laugh, cry, scream in terror and fall in love. There are spaceships, energy weapons, and some jolly good restaurants. And did I mention that it's about me?"

Indie category. Run from the Stars

Reader pick: The Dragon Variation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, because I wanted to nominate and the current paperback available that includes it is Dragon Variation.

Neptune Crossing

READER PICK: Jeffery carver's Neptune crossing. If you are into expansive science, this is for you. This is book1 of 5 and with each book in the series, the science and scope get HUGE.

Teresa wrote: "Reader pick: The Dragon Variation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, because I wanted to nominate and the cur..."

You can nominate the single work of Scout's Progress even though the paperback is only available in the omnibus edition. I'll go ahead and enter that nomination.

Here's what we have now:


READER PICK:
The January Dancer by Michael Flynn
Operation: Outer Space by Murray Leinster
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Neptune Crossing by Jeffrey A. Carver
Live Free or Die by John Ringo


INDIE PICK:
Milk Run by Nathan Lowell - 2 nominations
Lucifer’s Star by C.T. Phipps
Scout's Honor by Henry Vogel
The Alliance by Chris G. Wright
The Exodus Sequence by Susannah J. Bell
Kantovan Vault by Joel Shepherd
Procythian Reign by T. Allen Diaz
Run from the Stars by R. Billing


YOUNG ADULT:
Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Into the Dark by J.A. Sutherland - 2 nominations
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray - 2 nominations
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

Haven't been here all that long

have you read The Myriad ?

That would be for Reader Pick if it hasn't been read.

And for Indie Pick. Again I am not sure if this one has been read here or not

Derelict

Readers pick - Prador Moon , Neal Asher ?

The Collapsing Empire - John Scalzi

Fore readers choice, I'll nominate The Departure by Neal Asher

edit - I see I missed that an Asher book has already been nominated, so will instead go with:

Singularity Sky by the awesome Charlie Stross

Hmmm. Reader's Pick: Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon

Betsy wrote: "It's that time of the month to nominate what space opera books we'd like to read as a group in June. Up this month we have the following categories:

READER PICK: Dead trees is where it's at for th..."

I could offer my book Timberwolf to the group as a no-cost eBook. My publisher went out of business recently, so all the rights are mine now. Trying to make lemonade out of lousy lemons. Hope you guys enjoy it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

L.E. wrote: "And for Indie Pick. Again I am not sure if this one has been read here or not

Derelict"

Yes, we have read this one, in July 2015.

Our final selections:


READER PICK:
The January Dancer by Michael Flynn
Operation: Outer Space by Murray Leinster
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Neptune Crossing by Jeffrey A. Carver
Live Free or Die by John Ringo
The Myriad by R.M. Meluch
Prador Moon by Neal Asher
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
Singularity Sky by Charles Stross
Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon


INDIE PICK:
Milk Run by Nathan Lowell - 2 nominations
Lucifer’s Star by C.T. Phipps
Scout's Honor by Henry Vogel
The Alliance by Chris G. Wright
The Exodus Sequence by Susannah J. Bell
Kantovan Vault by Joel Shepherd
Procythian Reign by T. Allen Diaz
Run from the Stars by R. Billing
Timberwolf by Tom Julian


YOUNG ADULT:
Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Into the Dark by J.A. Sutherland - 2 nominations
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray - 2 nominations
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

Nominations are closed. I'll be running the randomization in the next day or two.