Beyond Reality discussion

Nominations are now open for November 2017's Books of the Month!

Each group member can make one science fiction and/or one 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. A couple of suggestions to keep in mind:

1. Telling a little about the book and why you think it would make a good BOTM can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination.

2. To see if your nomination has already been read by the group, you can check: the Beyond Reality Previous Books of the Month, https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...


Or you may want to check these threads:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Books the group has read in the past two years are not eligible for current consideration. Being chosen as a past BotM prior to that time is not an automatic disqualification. But be aware that it may hinder your nomination's chances at the polls.

General guidelines:

Feel free to nominate a book which did not win in the polls in previous months.

For questions regarding specifics such as book formats, books in a series, self-nomination, and various rules for nominations, please see the group FAQs.

Seconding is not necessary.

Friendly discussion & debate is encouraged, but please keep things civil.

Polls Schedule:

Nominations will remain open until around Noon EST, Tuesday April 22.

The First Round of Polls will open after Noon EST on Tuesday August 22 and will remain open until midnight PST, Saturday April 26.

The Second round of Polls will open on Sunday August 27 and will remain open until midnight PST, Thursday August 31.

Nominate away!

Thanks!

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

SCIENCE FICTION --
Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon
Borne by Jeff VanderMeer
Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison
Revenger by Alastair Reynolds
Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock

FANTASY --
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble
The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling
Greenmantle by Charles de Lint

For fantasy, I'll try Good Omens again by Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett.

For science fiction, I'll propose Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon. It's a older classic, and I heard Robert Silverburg recommend it last week.

For fantasy, my nomination is Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley.

For SF, my nomination is Borne by Jeff VanderMeer.

For SF: Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer
- Very warm read, with very unlikable characters. Ends in the middle, though.

For Fantasy: The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
- Cthulhu Mythos novella, that is an alternate version of The Horror at Red Hook

For fantasy Sunshine by Robin McKinley, the drama of Sunshine when she's caught up in the wars of the vampires of her world

for SF, Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, drama in deep space

Let's read the recent Hugo winners:

SF: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
F: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan Maguire

Silvana, Shards of Honor was one I thought of too! I might end up just voting for yours instead:)

For Fantasy: The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble.

For Sci Fi: The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison.

Justine wrote: "Silvana, Shards of Honor was one I thought of too! I might end up just voting for yours instead:)"

Yes, please!

For fantasy, The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling. Detailed, complicated characters and some really fascinating examination of gender.

For SF, I'll nominate Revenger by Alastair Reynolds. I've read everything he's written and have always enjoyed each story. I would place this one at or near the top. An unusual space opera in a strange, distant future.

For SF, I'll nominate Behold the Man by the great Michael Moorcock


and for fantasy, Greenmantle, a great introduction to the work of Charles de Lint

Nominations are now closed!

The First Round of Polls for the November selections in Science Fiction and Fantasy are now up. Please slick on "Polls" in the upper right box of the home page, or go to this link:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Thanks everyone! Great nominations this go round!

The second and final rounds of voting for our November Books of the Month are now up. Please take time to go vote:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Voting ends at 11:59PM PST, August 31.

Yay, both of mine ended up the finals on my first nomination :D