Beyond Reality discussion

Hi everyone,

It's time to open nominations for our April 2015 Books of the Month. Each group member can make 1 science fiction and/or 1 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 us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read 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:

a. the group's bookshelf for Previous Books of the Month

and/or

b. these threads:
Master List of Previous Books of the Month 2012-Present
Master List of Previous Books of the Month 2006-2011

Books the group has read in the past 2 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 re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
• For questions regarding specifics such as book formats, books in series, self-nomination and various rules for nominations, please see the group FAQ.
• Seconding isn't necessary in this group.
• Friendly discussion & debate is strongly encouraged, but let's please keep things civil.

Poll schedule:
• Nominations will remain open through Wednesday, January 21.
• The first round of polls will open Thursday, January 22, and will run through 11:59 PM PST, Monday, January 26 (closing Midnight PST January 27.)
• The run-off polls go up Tuesday, January 27, and will be open through 11:59PM PST Friday, January 30 (closing Midnight PST January 31.)

Thanks!


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

FANTASY:
The Way Into Chaos by Harry Connolly (Lindsey)
Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lint (Paul 'Pezski')
The Incrementalists by Steven Brust (Ken)
The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham (Kurt)
Daggerspell by Katharine Kerr (Helen)
Watchmen by Alan Moore (Maggie)
Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist (Sumant)
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier (Kevin)


SCIENCE FICTION:
Footfall by Larry Niven (Lindsey)
The Light Ages by Ian R. MacLeod (Paul 'Pezski')
Red Planet Blues by Robert J. Sawyer (Ken)
Time and Again by Jack Finney (Pickle)
The Empress of Mars by Kage Baker (Jim)
A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias (Kurt)
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (Maggie)

For sci-fi, I'd like to nominate Footfall by Larry Niven, mostly because a friend recommended it to me years ago and it's been on my TBR shelf awhile. I'm always curious to see how other readers think an older story stacks up.

For fantasy, I'll nominate The Way Into Chaos by Harry Connolly. It's the first of a trilogy that I helped back on Kickstarter (it's available in print and ebook from major retailers now). The sample chapters are available on his website and it looked like a cool premise with a varied ensemble cast.

For fantasy I'd like to nominate Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lint. He is an extraordinary writer, one of the greats of modern fantasy. His Newford books are a series that are linked to a greater or lesser extent but can be read entirely independently. Set in the city of Newford where urban life intersects myth and magic.


In SF, I'll give another punt to The Light Ages. This steampunk novel is one I've been meaning to read for ages, from a writer for whom I have heard so many good things.

I nominate
Fantasy
The Incrementalists
SF
Red Planet Blues

sci-fi:Time and Again
had this on my tbr shelf for ages but it sounds quite good.


fantasy: still to pick

For SF, I'll nominate The Empress Of Mars by the late Kage Baker. While it is nominally advertised as a "Company" novel after her acclaimed series of stories, this tale really has absolutely nothing to do with those epics. What it does is tell the story of a bar and grill on Mars called The Empress of Mars which is run by gritty proprietress, Mary and is inhabited by a motley and fascinating group of customers who are at odds with the British Mars Company which ostensibly provides supply and logistics. Kage Baker's story-telling skills at their absolute best.

No fantasy nomination yet.

For Science Fiction I'll suggest A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias. It will be released in February 2015 so by April it should be available for everyone to read. I've read that people with ARCs enjoyed this book.

For Fantasy how about The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham. I've seen it on many best of Fantasy lists. I think it should be a a great addition to the bookshelf.

Kurt wrote: "For Science Fiction I'll suggest A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias. It will be released in February 2015 so by April it should be available for everyone to read. I'..."

Kurt - Everything I can find says this book came out in most major markets in physical and ebook form last January (2014) and that the February 2015 release is for the paperback printing. So you're good. :) (You could also probably track down a hardcover, new or used, if you want to read it RIGHT NOT, as it's been out a year.)

Candiss wrote: "Kurt wrote: "For Science Fiction I'll suggest A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias. It will be released in February 2015 so by April it should be available for everyon..."

Ok, I just saw on the Goodreads page about it that it was being released in lFebruary. I figured they must have had an Advanced Reader Copy for so many people to give it many positive reviews. I didn't realize I was looking at the paperback edition.

How about Daggerspell. The group have read it but back in 2003. I'm planning a series reread and it would be nice to have company to start me off ;)

Helen wrote: "How about Daggerspell. The group have read it but back in 2003. I'm planning a series reread and it would be nice to have company to start me off ;)"

Another good suggestion for a series read!

I would like to nominate:
Watchmen for fantasy and
Fahrenheit 451 for sci-fi

Would like to nominate Daughter of the empire for fantasy.

For fantasy I will nominate Daughter of the Forest.

Nominations for April are now closed, and the first polls will be up shortly.

The first-round polls are up and will be open through 11:59 PM PST, Monday, January 26 (closing Midnight PST January 27.)


Science Fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Fantasy: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

The run-off polls are open. You can vote through 11:59pm PST Saturday, January 31.

SF - https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

F - https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...