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General SF&F Chat > 2019 SF/F BINGO Challenge

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message 1: by Andrea (last edited Dec 16, 2019 09:50AM) (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Since last year's thread was helpful planning out one's BINGO challenge and for getting recommendations for tough squares, starting a new one for this year!

B1: Award Winning SF/F - Two Hearts
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country or Culture - A Shadow in Summer
B3: Space Opera - The Warrior's Apprentice
B4: Fantasy in Modern World - Ariel
B5: SF/F Translated into English - Unicorn: Myth And Reality

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 - The Lore of the Unicorn
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - The Last Unicorn
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - The Unicorn Quest
I4: Lost Civilization Found - Dinotopia: The World Beneath
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - Hephaistos: God of Fire

N1: New to you Author - The Particolored Unicorn
N2: Hard SciFi - The Martian
N3: FREE - The Last Unicorn: The Lost Journey
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour - The Obelisk Gate
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds - Into the Land of the Unicorns

G1: SF/F Anthology - Unicorns!
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel - Unicorn Highway
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien - Acorna's Rebels
G4: Genre Blender SF/F - Summer of the Unicorn
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals - Tailchaser's Song

O1: Complete SF/F Series - The Last Hunt
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God - Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR - Glasshouse
O4: SF/F Humour - Unicorn on a Roll
O5: SF/F Alternate Form - Phoebe and Her Unicorn

Seems G33z3r did a good challenge when it comes to me and my existing reading plans. I can't do any of the columns yet and I've only got one row covered. Will need to stretch a bit to get the rest. Some won't be hard, but they just aren't on my radar just yet.


message 2: by Erin (last edited Jan 27, 2019 03:04PM) (new)

Erin (erinm31) Andrea wrote: "Since last year's thread was helpful planning out one's BINGO challenge and for getting recommendations for tough squares, starting a new one for this year!

Thank you for starting this thread, Andrea! :)

I will aim to get at least a row and a column this year and have started looking at where the sff I’ve planned to read this year might fit...

Does the O1 “Complete SF/F Series” mean reading a book from a series which the author has completed? Or does it mean that the reader must have read every book in the series?

B1: Award-winning SF/F - Perdido Street Station (Arthur C. Clarke Award)
B2: SF/F Not Set in Western Country or Culture - Descendant of the Crane
B3: Space Opera - Ninefox Gambit
B4: Fantasy in Modern World - American Gods
B5: SF/F Translated into English - The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 1

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 - Brave New World
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - Children of Time
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - Assassin's Apprentice
I4: Lost Civilization Found - TBD
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - The City in the Middle of the Night

N1: New to You Author - Ice
N2: Hard SciFi - The Left Hand of Darkness
N3: FREE - TBD
N4: SF/F by Author of Color - The Fifth Season
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds - The Man in the High Castle

G1: SF/F Anthology - Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation
G2: Author’s Debut SF/F Novel - Lud-in-the-Mist
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien - Fire Time
G4: Genre Blender SF/F - TBD
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals - TBD

O1: Complete SF/F Series - TBD
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God - The Arabian Nights: Alf Laylah Wa-Laylah
O3: Climate Fiction, Cyberpunk or VR - Neuromancer
O4: SF/F Humor - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
O5: SF/F Alternate Form - R.U.R.


message 3: by Andrea (last edited Jan 01, 2019 09:46AM) (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Erin wrote: "Does the O1 “Complete SF/F Series” mean reading a book from a series which the author has completed? Or does it mean that the reader must have read every book in the series?"

It's up to interpretation of whoever is doing the challenge. I decided to go with "Read a series from start to finish" since I've got more than two where I'm planning to do that anyway. But could also mean "Read the last book in a series", meaning you completed it this year even if you started it some other year. But your interpretation can work too, though that makes it a very easy challenge :)

Though if you were planning on joining in on the group Codex Alera read then you're covered in all ways it can be interpreted. And for your humour slot, the contemporary group read for January would fill it for you. The Last Unicorn would be the non-human protagonist, or Children of Time in which case you can use Warrior's Apprentice as your Space Opera. Just encouraging people to join the group reads ;)


message 4: by Rachel (new)

Rachel | 531 comments Thanks Andrea!!
I'll fill in more by editing later..

I have that question too Erin about the Complete Series prompt.

B1: Award Winning SF/F -
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country/Culture -
B3: Space Opera - (The Warrior's Apprentice )
B4: Fantasy in Modern World -
B5: SF/F Translated into English -

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 - (
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - (
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - (Words of Radiance)
I4: Lost Civilization Found -
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 -

N1: New to you Author -
N2: Hard SciFi -
N3: FREE - (
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour - (
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds - (In an AbsentDream)

G1: SF/F Anthology - (
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel - ()
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien - (
G4: Genre Blender SF/F -
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals -

O1: Complete SF/F Series - (
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God -
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR -
O4: SF/F Humour - (
O5: SF/F Alternate Form - (


message 5: by Erin (new)

Erin (erinm31) Andrea wrote: "Erin wrote: "Does the O1 “Complete SF/F Series” mean reading a book from a series which the author has completed? Or does it mean that the reader must have read every book in the series?"

It's up ..."


Thank you for clarifying that! Maybe I shall be compelled to finish one of the trilogies I’m starting this year. :)

Definitely some group reads last year that I would have loved to participate in but for life stuff or too many things at once — but those I did I enjoyed very much! :) ‘The Last Unicorn’ is a favorite of mine — glad the group’s reading it! :D


message 6: by Mike (new)

Mike (mikekeating) I've been thinking of using Space Opera for space opera.


message 7: by Cat (last edited Sep 24, 2019 06:25PM) (new)

Cat | 344 comments So excited for this challenge again! Btw, I've decided to go for the 'complete whole series' definition because I am doing the series read, although if I don't manage it, I will definitely be going with 'book that completes a series' definition!

B1: Award Winning SF/F -
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country/Culture -
B3: Space Opera -
B4: Fantasy in Modern World - Soon I Will Be Invincible
B5: SF/F Translated into English -

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 -
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - The Last Unicorn
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - Crossroads of Twilight
I4: Lost Civilization Found - Strange the Dreamer
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - Nightchaser

N1: New to you Author - The Perilous Gard
N2: Hard SciFi -
N3: FREE -
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour - The Fifth Season
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds -

G1: SF/F Anthology -
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel - The Summer Tree
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien -
G4: Genre Blender SF/F - The Perilous Gard
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals - Outcast of Redwall

O1: Complete SF/F Series - Vardaesia
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God - Three Parts Dead
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR -
O4: SF/F Humour - Witches Abroad
O5: SF/F Alternate Form -


message 8: by Cat (new)

Cat | 344 comments Mike wrote: "I've been thinking of using Space Opera for space opera."

That sounds AMAZING!


message 9: by Rachel (new)

Rachel | 531 comments Hmm - maybe I'll try to use it to complete ALL my uncompleted series as of the start of this year! Now THAT would be a hard challenge....


message 10: by Angie (last edited Dec 31, 2019 05:10PM) (new)

Angie | 83 comments I'll be tinkering with this as we go, but I wanted to give myself some options.

B1: Award-Winning SF/F:
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1974 (01/08/2019) ★★★★★
B2: SF/F set in Non-Western Country or Culture:
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 - Egypt (05/31/2019) ★★★★
B3: Space Opera:
Foundation (09/02/2019) ★★★
B4: Fantasy in Modern World:
Magic for Liars (07/07/2019) ★★★★
B5: SF/F Translated into English:
The Dead Mountaineer's Inn (01/06/2019) ★★★
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark Foundation (Foundation #1) by Isaac Asimov Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey The Dead Mountaineer's Inn by Arkady Strugatsky

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950:
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (06/21/2019) ★★★★
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist:
All Systems Red (01/10/2019) ★★★★
I3: High/Epic Fantasy:
The Children of Húrin
I4: Lost Civilization Found:
Herland (08/06/2019) ★★
I5: SF/F First Published in 2019:
Call Down the Hawk (11/18/2019) ★★★★★
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight A New Verse Translation by Unknown All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries, #1) by Martha Wells The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Call Down the Hawk (Dreamer, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

N1: New-To-You-Author:
R.U.R. (06/01/2019) ★★★
N2: Hard Sci-Fi:
The Martian (11/22/2019) ★★★★
N3: Free:
The Stand (reading)
N4: SF/F by Author of Color:
A Dead Djinn in Cairo (08/12/2019) ★★★★
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds:
Every Heart a Doorway (12/20/2019) ★★★★★
R.U.R. by Karel Čapek The Martian by Andy Weir The Stand by Stephen King A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1) by Seanan McGuire

G1: SF/F Anthology:
The Draco Tavern
From a Certain Point of View
The New Space Opera
G2: Author’s Debut SF/F Novel:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (01/19/2019) ★★★★
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien:
The War of the Worlds
G4: Genre-Blender SF/F:
Lock In (01/06/2019) ★★★★★
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals:
The Magician's Nephew (12/31/2019) ★★★★
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke Lock In (Lock In, #1) by John Scalzi The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6) by C.S. Lewis

O1: Complete SF/F Series:
Head On (06/28/2019) ★★★★
O2: Featuring an Angel, Demon, or God:
Two Ravens and One Crow (11/10/2019) ★★★★
O3: Cli-Fi, Cyberpunk, or VR:
Neuromancer
O4: SF/F Humor:
The Canterville Ghost
O5: SF/F Alternate Form:
A Study in Emerald (09/21/2019) ★★★★
Head On (Lock In, #2) by John Scalzi Two Ravens and One Crow (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #4.5) by Kevin Hearne Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) by William Gibson The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman


For Alternate Form, I've been wanting to read more plays/screenplays, so I'll use the category for that. If anyone runs across more SF/F plays, let me know. I'd like to add to my list.


message 11: by Caitlin (last edited Apr 05, 2019 01:13PM) (new)

Caitlin (cait_coy) I'm thinking I'll try for blackout again and see how far I can get.

B1: Award Winning SF/F - The Fifth Season
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country/Culture - The City of Brass
B3: Space Opera - Leviathan Wakes
B4: Fantasy in Modern World - Nightlife
B5: SF/F Translated into English - The Last Wish

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 - Brave New World
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - The Golem and the Jinni
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - The Fellowship of the Ring
I4: Lost Civilization Found - At the Mountains of Madness
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - Middlegame

N1: New to you Author - Witchmark
N2: Hard SciFi - Ancillary Justice
N3: FREE
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour -Trail of Lightning
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds - The Calculating Stars

G1: SF/F Anthology - Snow White Learns Witchcraft: Stories and Poems
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel - The Bear and the Nightingale
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien - The Martian Chronicles
G4: Genre Blender SF/F - His Majesty's Dragon
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals - Redwall

O1: Complete SF/F Series - Winternight Trilogy
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God - The Winter of the Witch
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR -
O4: SF/F Humour - Lords and Ladies
O5: SF/F Alternate Form - Saga, Vol. 1


message 12: by Jaelle (last edited Dec 22, 2019 09:44AM) (new)

Jaelle Looking forward to another year and another Bingo card! Had some fun trying to figure out how to work in some series and searching for books to fill some of the harder categories.

Aiming for a blackout, but left a couple spaces to decide on as the year progresses. Maybe I will discover that some of my spaces with duplicates will fill in some of the other blocks.

B1: Award Winning SF/F - Autonomous
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country or Culture -
The Dragon Republic

B3: Space Opera -
Record of a Spaceborn Few
B4: Fantasy in Modern World - Gingerbread
B5: SF/F Translated into English - The Redemption of Time

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 -
Earth Abides

I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - All Systems Red
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - Age of Legend
I4: Lost Civilization Found - Off Armageddon Reef
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - Defy the Fates

N1: New to you Author -
A Darker Shade of Magic

N2: Hard SciFi - Rendezvous with Rama
N3: FREE - Crucible
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour -
How Long 'til Black Future Month?

N5: Involving Alternate Worlds -
A Gathering of Shadows


G1: SF/F Anthology -
The Future is Female! Women's Science Fiction Stories from the Pulp Era to the New Wave
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel -
Legendary Lex: An ODD Beginning

G3: Novel Featuring an Alien -
Fear Itself

G4: Genre Blender SF/F - Reincarnation Blues
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals - Barsk: The Elephants' Graveyard

O1: Complete SF/F Series -
A Conjuring of Light

O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God -
American Gods

O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR - The Calculating Stars
O4: SF/F Humour -
Soon I Will Be Invincible

O5: SF/F Alternate Form - Alternis


message 13: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Rachel wrote: "Hmm - maybe I'll try to use it to complete ALL my uncompleted series as of the start of this year! Now THAT would be a hard challenge...."

I actually created a shelf to track all the books in all (or most, might have missed some) series I have started over the years and not finished....it has 371 ones books in it!!!! I can blame the group for making that worse, hehe. After my goal of reading my unicorn books, my secondary goal is making a dent in those series. I have a few I want to finish (Wrinkle in Time, Narnia, Amber...noticeably those are all are made up of short books!), but others I'm just happy to make some progress.

I'm keeping an eye on what people are planning for some of their categories to give me inspiration for the ones I've left blank so far, if something shows up on multiple lists it would be a good candidate for a group read :)


message 14: by evofox (new)

evofox (brycereads) | 43 comments help would be nice to fill in blanks trying to read for as amny categories as i can
award winning sf/f
sf/f set in non western country or culture crooked kingdom
space opera calibans war
fantasy in modern world dead beat
sf/f translated into english: the rising of the shield hero
sf/f published pre 1950
novel with non human protagonist: a court of mist and fury
high/ epic fantasy eye of the world
lost civilisation found
sf/f first published in 2019: crescent city
new to you author
hard sci fi
free: knights shadow
sf/f by author of colour
involves alternate worlds: magical kingdom of landover volume 1
sf/f anthology
authors debut sf/f:
novel featuring alien:
genre bender sf/f: voyager
sf/f with talking animals: shadow black
complete sf/f series: great coats
featuring angel, demon or god:
cli fi, cyberpunk or vr:
sf/f humour:
sf/f alternative form: swamp thing the bronze age omnibus


message 15: by NekroRider (last edited Nov 22, 2019 07:50PM) (new)

NekroRider | 512 comments We'll see how this year's Bingo goes! Was not able to complete the whole card last year.

B1: Award Winning SF/F - The Marrow Thieves
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country or Culture - Possibly Who Fears Death
B3: Space Opera - Horus Rising
B4: Fantasy in Modern World - Trickster Drift
B5: SF/F Translated into English - Possibly Season of Storms

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 - Something from my H.G. Wells anthology, possibly The Island of Dr. Moreau
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - A Demon in the Desert
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - ?
I4: Lost Civilization Found - City of Dragons
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - Storm of Locusts

N1: New to you Author - I, Robot
N2: Hard SciFi - ?
N3: FREE - ?
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour - Fledgling
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds - Small Spaces

G1: SF/F Anthology - ?
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel - Sheepfarmer's Daughter
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien - The Flight of the Eisenstein
G4: Genre Blender SF/F - The Caves of Steel
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals - Fool's Errand

O 1: Complete SFF Series - The Silver Tide
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God - The Curse of Chalion
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR - ?
O4: SF/F Humour - Hogfather
O5: SF/F Alternate Form - ?


message 16: by Tony (new)

Tony Calder (tcsydney) | 1106 comments Interesting list. I don't tend to plan my reading to that extend, it's more what I feel like at the time. I'll keep track as I go and may surprise myself :)


message 17: by NekroRider (last edited Jan 11, 2019 03:03PM) (new)

NekroRider | 512 comments Two quick question: 1. Can someone enlighten me about what "Alternate Form" means? 2. I always find myself a bit confused by what constitutes "non-Western"? I assumed it meant any country/culture that is not in Europe/the Americas/Australia but have noticed some books counted in that category to be set in Caribbean or Indigenous cultures. So does non-Western in this context mean set in a country or culture that is not white-dominant? I know that "we set our own rules" and all, but I'm wondering about the original intent of the square since I try to stick to the original intent if I can.


message 18: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Alternate form means something other than a standard novel - like a poem, a graphic novel, an audio book, a screenplay


Not sure about the Western one, be interested in seeing that answer too. And where does Eastern Europe fit, is Russian culture not Western enough (I'm thinking of The Girl in the Tower which I'm thinking of reading this year)


message 19: by [deleted user] (last edited Jan 11, 2019 04:23PM) (new)

NekroRider wrote: "Two quick question: 1. Can someone enlighten me about what "Alternate Form" means? "

A poem, song, script, essay, graphic novel,... something that isn't the usual prose novel format...

Someone asked if going to a movie would count, and the answer is "you make your own rules" :) But personally, I'm not counting that I just binged Runaways season 2. (I would count reading Ellison's original script to The StarLost.)



NekroRider wrote: "2. I always find myself a bit confused by what constitutes "non-Western"? ..."

It's more a culture thing, not necessarily setting, but not derived from Western Europe (which includes post-colonization America) So in my mind, a pre-colonization indiginous culture would count. Also, e.g. de Bodard's Xuya scifi, though set in future space, it's a space dominated by Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures. A unique, invented culture could also count if you like, but the intent was more toward an Earth culture that isn't the usual derived from medieval European fantasy, Americans in space, or werewolves in London.


message 20: by Andrea (last edited Jan 11, 2019 05:42PM) (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments G33z3r wrote: "It's more a culture thing, not necessarily setting, but not derived from Western Europe "

Perfect, adding The Girl in the Tower for now. Maybe I'll find something even more less European as I go along but at least I've got something in mind. I mean there's a lot of Asian themed fantasy and there's a good chance I'll come across something (hmm...wonder I can find something featuring a Kirin!)

*edit* Just looked through everyone's plans again and the Winternight Trilogy shows up several times :) Interestingly in different categories.


message 21: by Rachel (new)

Rachel | 531 comments I would do Winter of the Witch for either talking animals or God/Demon (I’m assuming it will track with the first two ...)


message 22: by NekroRider (new)

NekroRider | 512 comments G33z3r wrote: "NekroRider wrote: "Two quick question: 1. Can someone enlighten me about what "Alternate Form" means? "

A poem, song, script, essay, graphic novel,... something that isn't the usual prose novel fo..."


Great thanks for the response! Much appreciated. Will have to start thinking of some Alternate Form possibilities


message 23: by NekroRider (new)

NekroRider | 512 comments Another question just in general opinion here. I don't read a ton of sci-fi compared to fantasy so sometimes don't feel I have a full grasp of sub-genre deliniations. Am currently reading I, Robot and would personally call it Hard Sci-Fi...but then have seen some make the differentiation between "Robot Sci-Fi" and Hard Sci-Fi. Was hoping to use it for Hard Sci-Fi square but would you folks call it that?


message 24: by [deleted user] (new)

NekroRider wrote: "Another question just in general opinion here. I ... sometimes don't feel I have a full grasp of sub-genre delineations. Am currently reading I, Robot..."

The definition of "hard SF" can be a little fuzzy around the edges. Mostly it's considered extrapolated science fiction that uses and puts at least some emphasis on technology that's plausible based on current science and technology.

I, Robot is an interesting case, in that it certainly wasn't hard SF when it was written, since electronic computers didn't exist at the time, much less artificial intelligence. Positron brains were essentially magic. Today however, the technologies there seem quite achievable, and Asimov certainly talks enough about those technologies that it could qualify. I suppose it depends on whether you consider authorial intent in making the judgment? :)

Back in 1886 a Frenchman with a ridiculously long name wrote a novel, Tomorrow's Eve (translated), about Thomas Edison creating an android (a word which he first coined in that novel.) It was clearly intended to be hard SF because he spent so much time describing how the technology would work (I was particularly fond of the pumps moving reservoirs of mercury around the body as a way of maintaining balance. Of course, he ignored all the aspects he didn't have technology for, such as how does it understand what you're saying?)


message 25: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments G33z3r wrote: "I, Robot is an interesting case, in that it certainly wasn't hard SF when it was written"

Well it wouldn't be science *fiction* if they didn't have to make up some stuff. I sort of consider hard SF anything where the author the author focuses on explaining the science and a lot of the focus of the story is on the technology.

Kind of the opposite of the space opera where sure they have advanced tech but it's just there, the story really focuses on the characters and the plot.

I decided last year that Ball Lightning was hard SF since it focused on the science behind ball lightning, even though when I looked up the current theories of what ball lightning is, none of them seem to be what Liu Cixin came up with a decade or more ago. So with Ball Lightning he lost plausibility over time while Asimov gained it? Kind of interesting.


message 26: by [deleted user] (new)

Andrea wrote: "G33z3r wrote: "I, Robot is an interesting case, in that it certainly wasn't hard SF when it was written"
Well it wouldn't be science *fiction* if they didn't have to make up some stuff. I sort of ..."


I;m going to re-direct my anwser to another topic, so we don't hopelessly clog the BINGO topic up a What is Hard Sf? discussion :)


message 27: by Hillary (last edited Jan 17, 2019 11:14AM) (new)

Hillary Major | 436 comments I'll probably read some graphic novels this year, but two other possibilities I'm considering for alternate form are the Harry Potter & the Cursed Child script and Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow, which is apparently a novel in verse. I enjoyed Barlow's Babayaga, a (prose) spies-and-witches in 1950s Paris story with a splash of Kafka.


message 28: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Hillary wrote: "Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow"

Huh, werewolf poetry, that's certainly unique!


message 29: by Caitlin (new)

Caitlin (cait_coy) Rachel wrote: "I would do Winter of the Witch for either talking animals or God/Demon (I’m assuming it will track with the first two ...)"

Ooh, hadn't thought of this, thanks! Definitely gonna use it for my God/Demon category.


message 30: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments I've got a kind of BINGO. I've got one book in each row but they are scattered amongst the columns. It's interesting because it's exactly 5 books exactly one in each row. That feels kind of special considering I was reading the books at random and didn't aim for this :)


message 31: by Karen (last edited Oct 05, 2019 01:03PM) (new)

Karen | 74 comments I'm so happy to find a thread like this! I have so many questions, and need ideas. I put 15 books as my challenge, so hoping to get at least 3 bingos out of this card.

B1: Award Winning SFF
B2: SFF set in non-Western country or culture Empire of Sand
B3: Space Opera The Consuming Fire
B4: Fantasy in Modern World
B5: SFF Translated into English

I1: SFF Published pre-1950
I2: Novel with a non-human protagonist
I3: High/Epic Fantasy Furies of Calderon
I4: Lost Civilisation Found
I5: SFF first published in 2019

N1: New to You Author
N2: Hard Sci-Fi Tau Zero
N3: FREE
N4: SFF by Author of Color Dread Nation
N5: Involving alternate worlds Dark Matter

G1: SFF anthology
G2: Author's debut SFF novel Mortal Engines
G3: Novel featuring an alien
G4: Genre blender SFF Head On
G5: SFF with talking animals Midnight Crossroad

O1: Complete SFF series
O2: Featuring an angel, demon or god Trapped
O3: Cli-fi, cyberpunk or VR
O4: SFF humor
O5: SFF alternate form Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two


message 32: by [deleted user] (last edited Feb 11, 2019 06:17PM) (new)

BINGO!

Filling in the whole card is going to take some effort yet...


message 33: by Cat (new)

Cat | 344 comments Oh my gosh! That's so quick! Well done!!!


message 34: by evofox (new)

evofox (brycereads) | 43 comments finished one prompt. i feel really behind. will update challenge tracker when i have finished more.


message 35: by NekroRider (new)

NekroRider | 512 comments Question to creators of the Bingo, curious to you what constitutes Lost Civilization for that square. I get the impression it's more on the Indiana Jones side of exploratory things but I'm curious if stuff like Realm of the Elderlings and discoveries of Elderlings cities would qualify even if it isn't the main plot focus but has certain segments of the book wherein a character discovers ruins belonging to a now extinct people/civilisation?


message 36: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Since I was equally stumped I put up a thread to ask for suggestions. I'm not familiar with Realm of the Elderlings so I can't help with that one, maybe someone else can

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

In the end I realized I had a Dinotopia related novel so I'll probably be reading that, but I'm still open to alternatives or group read nominations.

Probably anything involving Atlantis would work too.


message 37: by evofox (new)

evofox (brycereads) | 43 comments finished a few prompts over the last two months just havent updated yet:
space opera Caliban's War
sf/f translated into english: 問題児たちが異世界から来るそうですよ YES  ウサギが呼びました]
free: Knight's Shadow
sf/f with talking animals: Shadowblack
4]
sf/f alternative form: Bleach (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 1: Includes vols. 1, 2 & 3


message 38: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Added Acorna's Rebels for featuring an Alien (a unicorn one as a bonus). Still no BINGO yet, I'm missing one for a row and one for a column, close but not there yet...


message 39: by Jaelle (last edited Apr 15, 2019 09:27AM) (new)

Jaelle Woooo! Double BINGO. I just finished Off Armageddon's Reef, which I was using as a Lost Civilization Found type of book. That gets me the 4th column and the N row. Still got a good many spaces left until I reach a blackout though.

B4: Fantasy in Modern World - Gingerbread
I4: Lost Civilization Found - Off Armageddon Reef
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour - How Long 'til Black Future Month?
G4: Genre Blender SF/F - Reincarnation Blues
O4: SF/F Humour - Soon I Will Be Invincible

N1: New to you Author - A Darker Shade of Magic
N2: Hard SciFi - Rendezvous with Rama
N3: FREE - Crucible
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour - How Long 'til Black Future Month?
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds - A Gathering of Shadows


message 40: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Jaelle wrote: "Woooo! Double BINGO. I just finished Off Armageddon's Reef, which I was using as a Lost Civilization Found type of book. That gets me the 4th column and the N row. Still got a good many spaces left..."

Oooh, I was thinking Rendezvous with Rama for my hard SF but wasn't sure it qualified. Maybe that will be my next classic nomination :)


message 41: by Jaelle (new)

Jaelle Andrea wrote: "Oooh, I was thinking Rendezvous with Rama for my hard SF but wasn't sure it qualified. Maybe that will be my next classic nomination :) "

I was originally going to use it for Lost Civilization Found, but after reading it I decided it was a good fit for Hard SciFi. It's got a lot of science in it, and it didn't feel too terribly out of date either. I think it would make a good classic for us all to discuss!


message 42: by Book Nerd (last edited May 09, 2019 08:04PM) (new)

Book Nerd (book_nerd_1) | 154 comments Not sure how many I can do this year but I'll go for fifteen.
What does "Alternate Form mean"?

B1: Award Winning SF/F - Starship Troopers
B2: SF/F not set in Western Country or Culture - Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Rift
B3: Space Opera - Jedi Under Siege
B4: Fantasy in Modern World -
B5: SF/F Translated into English -

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 -
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist -
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - A Storm of Swords
I4: Lost Civilization Found -
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 -

N1: New to you Author - The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Library Edition
N2: Hard SciFi -
N3: FREE
N4: SF/F by Author of Colour -
N5: Involving Alternate Worlds -

G1: SF/F Anthology -
G2: Author's Debut SF/F Novel -
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien -
G4: Genre Blender SF/F -
G5: SF/F with Talking Animals -

O1: Complete SF/F Series -
O2: Featuring an Angel/Demon/God -
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR -
O4: SF/F Humour -
O5: SF/F Alternate Form -


message 43: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Alternate form is something other than a novel. For example poetry, a play, a graphic novel...maybe audiobook too.


message 44: by John (new)

John Looks like fun to find and fill in and I am reading a bunch of SF and Fantasy for other group challenges. Have read/listened several novels this year that I think will qualify. Will review, fill-in and post a list like above.


message 45: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments BINGO!

B3: Space Opera - The Warrior's Apprentice
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - The Unicorn Quest
N3: FREE - The Last Unicorn: The Lost Journey
G3: Novel Featuring an Alien - Acorna's Rebels
O3: Cli-fi, Cyberpunk or VR - Glasshouse

And I also filled in the tricky Lost Civilization Found with a book that not only takes place in a lost civilization, but they themselves find yet another, older, lost civilization. I mean how more perfect a match could it be!


message 46: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments And just a few days later, my second BINGO, this time a column instead of a row

I1: SF/F Published Pre-1950 - The Lore of the Unicorn
I2: Novel with Non-Human Protagonist - The Last Unicorn
I3: High/Epic Fantasy - The Unicorn Quest
I4: Lost Civilization Found - Dinotopia: The World Beneath
I5: SF/F First Published 2019 - Hephaistos: God of Fire


message 47: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Filled in my slot for Complete SF/F Series, I had a different series pegged for that slot and still intend to finish that series this year, but decided The Last Hunt deserved it more since I didn't think I would *ever* finish reading that series. The Last Hunt went out of print very fast so it's near impossible to get a copy. But I found one at a library and was able to complete what seemed the impossible :)

And that gave me a BINGO for column O in the process!!

I also filled in Alternate Worlds with another book from the same series The Last Hunt came from, I was going to do Prince Caspian but looks like my Narnia re-read is going to spill over to next year so had to pick something else.

So that leaves 8 books, with only 1 where I have no idea what I'm going to read for it...


message 48: by Angie (new)

Angie | 83 comments Does finishing a duology count as finishing a series? Or is that stretching the prompt too much?


message 49: by L.A. (new)

L.A. Pontes (goodreadscomlapontes) | 55 comments By God! Thats a lot of unicorns. Does it has something to do with you? Lol


message 50: by Andrea (new)

Andrea | 3592 comments Lupon wrote: "By God! Thats a lot of unicorns. Does it has something to do with you? Lol"

Last year I did dragons, this year unicorns. I'm not sure yet about next year. Considered fairies but I think I might just keep it simple and try to work on completing series I've already started, regardless of the magical creature they feature.


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