SF/F Read Alongs discussion

Sci-Fi Month is coming around again, and so it's time to feature a special-edition SF/F Read Along!

Week 1: Friday 8th November, discussing Prologue & Part 1
Week 2: Friday 15th November, discussing Parts 2, 3 & 4
Week 3: Friday 22nd November, discussing Parts 5, 6 & 7

Discussion questions will be posted here on Tuesdays before the post dates (or as close to it as possible!)

I just started reading this one! I could pause and restart in a few weeks. Mind if I join in on the read-along?

Yay, join us!

Allison wrote: "I just started reading this one! I could pause and restart in a few weeks. Mind if I join in on the read-along?"

Please do! :D

Great! I'm planning on it!

Just joined. I have all 3 books in the series, but I haven't read any, so I'll race to read Book 1 & 2 so as to be ready for Book 3. (I don't yet have The Sparrow so I'll be lurking on that read along.) Point of info: I found this group from Dear Geek Place, which I discovered from The Little Red Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome! (Dear Geek Place is me, hi hi!)

And goodness, that's ambitious! :D If it helps, reading book 2 before book 3 isn't strictly necessary - the two books are set in the same story universe, but aren't connected by plot or character. Book 3's timeline follows from the events in Book 1 and mentions some of its plot though, so that's the only one you might HAVE to read first. Up to you, though! We're happy to have you. :D

Hi, Lisa! Thanks for the information; I'll endeavor to at least get Book 1 sorted this week, then, and start on Book 3.

OK! Week 1's questions are under the spoiler cut - sorry they're a bit late!

(view spoiler)[
1. As with the previous Wayfarer books, this one is driven more by characters and ideas than by high-energy/high-action plot, despite that prologue. If you're new to the series, is this approach one that surprised you, and what do you think of it so far? If you have read the books before, is it something you appreciate?

2. Sticking with first impressions a bit longer - what do you think of Exodan life (and all that history), and of the way Becky Chambers presents it to the reader, ie. specifically through the lenses of these characters?

3. In addition to the personal perspective on Exodan life, we do get some perspective from 'outside' sources, namely Sawyer and, to a lesser extent, Ghuh'loloan. How do you feel about their particular perspectives on the Exodan Fleet, and do you think these views in particular are important ones to share? If so, why? (Or why not?)

4. Politics, technology, gender identity... As before, this is a book that's all about relationships. How they begin, how they stand now, and how they might progress. There's a lot of today's unfurling potential in how Chambers writes her stories and builds her world(s), but notably without a lot of our conflict. Do you think this is a world we can build, or does it feel too good to be true?

We still have a lot of the book left to read, so I'll leave my questions there for now, but feel free to expand with anything else that fascinates you, points I might have missed, or just favourite bits in general so far!
(hide spoiler)]

I read Long Way on Monday and Tuesday, and commenced Record immediately after. Initially I was disappointed not to continue the voyages of the Wayfarer immediately, as I was so enthralled. But despite that, Record is also engrossing (just a little less so far, possibly because we are switching viewpoints really fast and there isn't yet (for me anyway) that foundational cord binding the storylines. I almost wish the Sawyer viewpoint had begun a little later. I quite like the Kip segments, though. (I still want to know what happened to the discordant Toremi who fired on the Wayfarer! And about the new improved Corbin, and the altered Ohan, and Rosemary & Sixitt.

My first post is up! https://deargeekplace.com/from-the-gr...

Here's my first post! https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...

And mine: https://onemore.org/2019/11/08/record...

OK, an update on this week's questions: Jorie and I had planned to switch hosting duties for this week but unfortunately Jorie has had to pull out of the read-along for personal reasons, so I am hoping to get through the reading and have some questions up by tomorrow, for posting/discussion over the weekend. Apologies for any inconvenience, and hopefully next week will go a bit more smoothly.

OK! Second week's questions below - sorry again for the delay!

(view spoiler)[
Sawyer's story comes to a rather abrupt end in these chapters... Were you surprised by his fate? And do you sympathise with his situation, or did he bring that on himself?

It seems as though Tessa is considering leaving the Fleet with her family. Do you think she will? If so, do you think it's the right call for her to make?

Kip takes a big step forward in his personal growth after the smash incident, by taking to heart the feelings and the dignity of others instead of only thinking of himself. How much of this change in him do you think will stick, and what are your feelings about Ras after their 'conversation' about what to do?

Isabel and Eyas have also been presented with the possibility of significant change, in their respective stories within this story. Isabel has an opportunity to open doors for the Fleet within the larger galactic community, while Eyas finds herself opening up emotionally in ways she perhaps had never done before (with Sunny, and later when she grieves for Sawyer). What further changes do you see all of this bringing for their own community on the Asteria, and for the Fleet in general?

Is there anything else you'd like to touch on? Particular scenes that moved you/made you think? Do share!
(hide spoiler)]

My week 2 post is up! https://deargeekplace.com/from-our-sh...

And mine: https://onemore.org/2019/11/17/record...

And my belated post: https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...

It has been a week, around here. Sorry again for how late this is, but here are the final week's read-along questions! Post at your leisure...

(view spoiler)[
Ghuh'loloan's offer of help to reach out to the galactic community in a different way speaks volumes about her thoughtfulness, and how well she's truly learned during her time on the Asteria. What do you think of her suggestions for how to help the Fleet thrive, going forward?

Tessa makes her decision, after receiving an unexpected gift of her own ... What are your thoughts on her choice, and on her relationship with George now that we've seen more of him?

Eyas and Sunny build a relationship of a different sort, first when she visits him at home and then when they come up with the outreach programme. How do you feel about this budding new relationship (yes this is a shipping question and no I'm not sorry), and would you visit somewhere like the Asteria if you knew that this help would be offered?

Time moves on, and Kip grows up, and my heart swells. What are your final thoughts about the changes in him, both before and after returning home to the Fleet?

That's it for the questions, and for this read-along - but as always, feel free to share any other thoughts you have! (hide spoiler)]

Here's my final post! https://deargeekplace.com/by-the-star...

And mine: https://onemore.org/2019/11/23/record...

I am incredibly late, but here's my last: https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...