COPE reading group discussion

I loaded the bookshelf up with some of my favorites. I'd suggest "Chaplain's War" by Brad Torgesen as a good first read, but i'm a heavy scifi/fantasy type.

It's not hard science fiction/space opera, but a very good emotional/spiritual novel that I enjoyed a lot, and would love to read again.

I'm open to other suggestions, however.

I got bogged down by other things and put my last book down midway through it (Battletech: Decision at Thunder Rift). I’ll finish that up and hit your rec.

I'm listening to Gulag Archipelago again, but I am willing to try some Sci-fi/fantasy. I loved Lathe of Heaven. I did not like Stranger in a Strange Land, if that helps guide the Sci-fi recommendations.

I am game for Chaplain's War.

Bear wrote: "I'm listening to Gulag Archipelago again, but I am willing to try some Sci-fi/fantasy. I loved Lathe of Heaven. I did not like Stranger in a Strange Land, if that helps guide the Sci-fi recommendat..."

It's a great story with a wonderful spiritual aspect that just happens to involve aliens and a scifi aspect.

Stranger in a Strange Land had aliens??

Well...I guess technically Valentine Michael Smith was a Martian. But after the initial discussion of his being raised by Martians, I don’t recall any further mention of them.

I love Heinlein, and I loved this book. I was taken aback by the cannibalism and the free-love polyamory stuff. But part of the enjoyment of some of Heinlein’s later works are the discomfort they bring as he explores possible states of future human interaction. Similarly, his “I Will Fear No Evil” put me sideways a bit, as did parts of “To Sail Beyond the Sunset.” Still, these are excellent reads.

Glenn

Chaplain's War was an amazing book. I'm down for that.

I'm good with Chaplain's War. I've been meaning to pick up so of Brad's stuff.

I will order Chaplains War today. Should we set up a time frame? How long is it?

Oh, I did love the name Jubal. Jubilee is one of my favorite words.

Jubal Harshaw was a wonderfully developed character.

Is The Chaplain’s War available digitally anywhere?

Disregard...helps if I spell correctly in the search bar on Amazon. 🙄

Chaplain's War ordered!

Still waiting for Chaplain's War. In the meantime, I would like to propose Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada. I want to re-read it, and it is one of the most intimate books I have ever read. (not sexy intimate, but where you read and feel like you are with the characters)

Started Chaplain’s War.

Any structure to the discussion? Should we wait until we’ve all read it? Spoiler alerts?

The idea of cyborg mantises kinda does it for my inner sci-fi nerd.

still waiting for f-ing delivery! Thanks Barnes & Noble.

Still waiting....

What a great book. Very much not what I expected. The short parts about Mormons were...weird? It seemed out of place and I didn't see the connection with the actual story. A bit of a slow beginning, but really picked up through the midsection.

I guess f-ing Barnes & Noble is counting on their college bookstore business, because I still have not received the book, and their website stopped working!

I have no idea how to actually run a book club discussion unfortunately. I just really liked the book, and I loved the spiritual emotional nature of it.

Bear wrote: "I guess f-ing Barnes & Noble is counting on their college bookstore business, because I still have not received the book, and their website stopped working!"
That was interesting. Though, I felt it was a bit lacking through the end. There really wasn't a full exploration of it. If you're looking for something a bit deeper, I'd recommend Summa Elvetica by Vox Day (yes, I think he's a shmuck, personally, but the dude can write)

I have begun Chaplain's War!

Chaplain’s War was thoroughly enjoyable. At first it felt a bit Orson Scott Card-ish (found myself rolling my eyes at first with the “humans-vs-sapient-insects” thing), but it took on a feel of its own quickly enough that I never gave it a second thought.

I liked that Barlow was mostly agnostic through the whole thing, while always respecting the need for others to participate in their chosen faith.