SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Current/Upcoming Buddy Reads
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Buddy Read Master List
Buddy Read account

2025
January 10: Translation State - discussion
January 15: Homeland - First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
January 15: The Poppy War - First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)

February 1: Remnant Population - discussion
February 15: The Last Unicorn - First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
February 15: The Stars My Destination - First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
February 23: The Space Between Wolds - discussion

March 4: Fahrenheit 451 >> First impressions | Final thoughts & More
March 10: Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries - discussion
March 10: Ready Player One - discussion
March 15: Neuromancer - First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
March 15: White Cat - First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
March 20: Space Unicorn Blues - discussion

April 15: Slaughterhouse-Five >> First impressions | Final thoughts & More (RR)
April 15: China Mountain Zhang >> First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
April 18: The Complete Cosmicomics - discussion

May 10: Unity - discussion
May 15: Ubik >> First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
May 15: The Traitor Baru Cormorant >> First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)

June 15: The Diamond Age >> First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)
June 15: The Once and Future King >> First impressions | Final thoughts (RR)

Series
04-2025: (Series: Sprawl) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

RR = official group reread

Use this thread to find friends to read books with!

When you start a new BR thread, please remember to ask people to use spoiler tags, chapter numbers and book names where applicable to keep discussion moving and spoiler free.

It is requested buddy reads not be started on the 1st or 15th of the month so people don't get overwhelmed with group (re)reads.

Series BRs are listed separately, with only one link to the series thread. All books in a series will use the same thread. All information about reading schedule etc. should be in the first post of the series thread. It's up to the person who starts the series thread to make sure all necessary information, including links to books, are added/updated. If you need help, the mods will naturally assist! The next upcoming book in a series, when known, is also added to the main BR list.

Buddy reads of previous group reads will use the existing spoiler thread. You can use spoiler tags like in regular buddy reads. BR links to spoilery threads will always point to the last spoiler post or first non-spoiler post when available at time of adding.

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Past Buddy Reads (current year)
Current BRs here

*spoilers* = link points to last spoilery post in the spoiler thread, or first non-spoilery post of the BR, if already available at time of adding to the list

Buddy Read Master List

Buddy Read Master List

Buddy Read Master List

*sniff*

To think in 2018 I was so proud of us for having 4 buddy reads. And now look at this beautiful madness <3

Haha yeah, 2018 <3

wasn't there some talk of The Chronicles of Tornor Trilogy: Watchtower, The Dancers of Arun, and The Northern Girl in January/February?

Yeah, that one is waiting for a start date! Unless I missed it? It's in the spreadsheet, waiting to go, but there's no date.

edit: Actually, sorry, there IS a date, but it's waiting for Diane to start the thread! :)

This is a good time to talk about series BRs again. It's all explained in the second post, but I only add series BRs once they have a thread, because otherwise it's just a text with the series name. All the info about dates and reading schedule, etc. will be in the thread, so there's no reason to add it to the list before the thread exists.

Is anyone interested in The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis? I just picked it up this morning at the Kindle Store for $1.99

Kirsten "keep calm there are only 21 days left" wrote: "Is anyone interested in The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis? I just picked it up this morning at the Kindle Store for $1.99"

I bought this one on sale as well, so I'd be up for a buddy read on it!

Oh, please!!

Since I’m slow, I started The Poppy Wars in time for the January 15 BR.

What's the sitch with Tornor? Anyone want to start the series thread? The proposed (but not confirmed?) start date is January 8th.

I'm ready to go if someone starts the thread

I believe Diane and the others have already read the first book in the Tornor series and plan to read the second book next month. This month is for me and any one else that wishes to join in to knock the first one out.

That may explain the lack of haste.

Ryan, do you want to start the thread? :)

I don't, but it seems that the lack of a thread is really bothering you so I will.

Haha, no it's not bothering me :P but I can't add it to the list until there's a thread.

(I *can* but I won't.)

Ah, sorry! I will just check to be sure Ryan hasn’t started the Tornor thread yet and then I start it!

Done :)

Thanks :)

Checking to see if anyone is interested in a BR for The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg. It's a trans epic fantasy novella with elderly protagonists. Maybe for late this month...

Travis wrote: "Checking to see if anyone is interested in a BR for The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg. It's a trans epic fantasy novella with elderly protagonists. Maybe for..."

I am definitely in! I haven't heard of it and now super excited!

That does sound intriguing. I have a lot to read, but I might be able to squeeze in a novella!

I'm in, Travis! It's been on my TBR since it came out.

I've heard very good things and it is on my TBR, so I might read it if I see others talking about it. I'll add it to the list, does anyone have date preferences?

Kirsten "keep calm there are only 15 days left" wrote: "Is anyone interested in The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis? I just picked it up this morning at the Kindle Store for $1.99"

This one's a hard fixture on my 2021 list so sign me up as well.

I'll add First Sister now, too, just tell me a start date! :)

Anna wrote: "I'll add First Sister now, too, just tell me a start date! :)"

I'm ready to go whenever but I'll defer to Kirsten and/or Jordan

Anna wrote: "I'll add First Sister now, too, just tell me a start date! :)"

I'm in for First Sister. Looks great!

Anna wrote: "I've heard very good things and it is on my TBR, so I might read it if I see others talking about it. I'll add it to the list, does anyone have date preferences?"

What about 1/25 for The Four Profound Weaves?

Travis wrote: "Checking to see if anyone is interested in a BR for The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg. It's a trans epic fantasy novella with elderly protagonists. Maybe for..."

Apparently this story is set in the same world:
"Grandmother Nai-Leylit's Cloth of Winds"

Also available in these anthologies:
-The Long List Anthology Volume 2: More Stories From the Hugo Award Nomination List
-Heiresses of Russ 2016: The Year's Best Lesbian Speculative Fiction

Travis wrote: "What about 1/25"

Added! (I can always change it if people don't agree.)

Travis wrote: "Checking to see if anyone is interested in a BR for The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg. It's a trans epic fantasy novella with elderly protagonists. Maybe for..."

It's eligible for the Hugo, so I'd be interested as well.

Eye if the world is on my read all the books list so I’d be interested in that. But maybe starting early February? I’ve committed to too many books this month already. 😞

Joon wrote: "Anna wrote: "I'll add First Sister now, too, just tell me a start date! :)"

I'm ready to go whenever but I'll defer to Kirsten and/or Jordan"

I'm good pretty much anytime for First Sister. :)

Nicol wrote: "Eye if the world is on my read all the books list so I’d be interested in that. But maybe starting early February? I’ve committed to too many books this month already. 😞"

Honestly, coming into this thread is so dangerous because I really do want to say yes to everything.

Travis, 1/25 works for me!

@Bonnie and others: Four Profound Weaves is part of a whole universe of stories, which the author calls the Birdverse. More info here: http://rblemberg.net/?page_id=319

Alan wrote: "Is anyone interested in buddy reading Game of Thrones by George RR Martin with me :)
If you are not interested in buddy reading Martin, we can read the first book (prequel) of The Witcher series by..."

Alan, you could also jump in for any of the upcoming buddy reads: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

Anna does a great job keeping this list up to date.

Alan wrote: "Joon wrote: "Nicol wrote: "Eye if the world is on my read all the books list so I’d be interested in that. But maybe starting early February? I’ve committed to too many books this month already. 😞"..."

I was wavering over the Witcher book, which I had considered for this year, but I just couldn't squeeze in any of the others. If that ends up happening I might give it a shot but I definitely can't commit. I grossly overbooked this year as it is. (Get it? "OVERBOOKED!")

I reserved the Witcher prequel in November and it arrived one day before our lockdown light inDecember and libraries haven’t opened since fire me to pick it up. Who knows when I’ll be able to get it!! Otherwise, yeah, I’d buddy read it with you, Alan.

are your libraries doing drive by pickup? Ours are

CBRetriever wrote: "are your libraries doing drive by pickup? Ours are"

Ours here too. But returned books have a 7-day quarantine, and reserves from regional libraries outside the three in the county have a 7-day quarantine, and inter-library loans seem to take at least 21 days to get through the mail and quarantine, so there can be huge delays in getting books here.

ebooks? You don't have to buy a Kindle, you can use a free Kindle Reading app on a computer or tablet or Android/IOS phone

Alan wrote: "If you are not interested in buddy reading Martin, we can read the first book (prequel) of The Witcher series by Sapkowski - The Last Wish. Also, if those don't sparkle your interest, I am in it for Hobbit by Tolkien, Steelheart by Sanderson (first book of Reckoners), and Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (first book of WoT series)"

Good news, the group has read all but one of these, and even if you don't find buddies to read them at the same time with you, I'm sure people are happy to talk to you about them! Here are all the discussions :)

A Game of Thrones >> First impressions | Final thoughts & More
A Clash of Kings >> First impressions | Final thoughts

The Last Wish >> First impressions | Final thoughts

The Hobbit >> First impressions | Final thoughts

The Eye of the World >> First impressions | Final thoughts & Series

Kirsten/Jordan/Joon/Travis, The First Sister is in the spreadsheet, so I'll add it as soon as you've decided the date!

(Just reposting because there's a new page and lots of chatter in between.)

CBRetriever wrote: "ebooks? You don't have to buy a Kindle, you can use a free Kindle Reading app on a computer or tablet or Android/IOS phone"

Our library supports hoopla and Overdrive. But hoopla is limited to six titles each month for 21 days each; and Overdrive has huge waitlists if you are addicted to the good stuff.

With a kid in law school and two more college-bound, I won't have a lot of disposable income until I am too old to spend it... although I do keep an Audible account...

Anna wrote: "Kirsten/Jordan/Joon/Travis, The First Sister is in the spreadsheet, so I'll add it as soon as you've decided the date!."

As soon as possible! My audio version came in from the library and I maybe just listened to the first two chapters and (a) am finding it difficult to stop and (b) have so many questions I want to ask about its representations of, ummmm, things.