SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Flying to Vancouver at the end of April for a one week Alaska cruise. I thought it might be fun to bring a book relating to boats/ships/sailing or to Alaska/Canada. Doesn't have to be SciFy-Fantasy.

When I was younger I enjoyed Carry on Mr. Bowditch and Moby Dick which are both water oriented. More recently I read Call of the Wild which was a fun Alaska story. Maybe something like these?

Thanks!

Bobby

Bobby wrote: "Flying to Vancouver at the end of April for a one week Alaska cruise. I thought it might be fun to bring a book relating to boats/ships/sailing or to Alaska/Canada. Doesn't have to be SciFy-Fantasy..."

I'm going on an Alaskan cruise in May! I wonder if it's the same one.

How about Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg, Beartown by Fredrik Backman, or In the Land of the Salmon: A Novel of Alaska by Joshua Keil or Cold Storage, Alaska by John Straley?

Bobby wrote: "Flying to Vancouver at the end of April for a one week Alaska cruise. I thought it might be fun to bring a book relating to boats/ships/sailing or to Alaska/Canada. Doesn't have to be SciFy-Fantasy..."

Bobby, are you into historical fiction? Alexander Kent's Midshipman Bolotho series is a quick read. For heavier HF seafaring, there is always Patrick O'Brian.

There's a terrific YA series beginning with Inda. It's really the second book onward that deals with ships.

Thanks for the interesting suggestions. I might try to check several of these out to my Kindle. I'm leaving Vancouver April 30th on Princess if anyone else is going.

Sue Henry writes some fairly good mystery books about Alaska as does Dana Stabenow

here's a couple of links to books about Alaska:

https://www.tripfiction.com/ten-great...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/boo...

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy might be a good one. I don’t think any of it is in Alaska but there is a good chunk that takes place on a ship/at sea! (The MC is following the Arctic Terns on their migration paths.)

Bobby wrote: "Thanks for the interesting suggestions. I might try to check several of these out to my Kindle. I'm leaving Vancouver April 30th on Princess if anyone else is going."

I'm also going on Princess. Please let me know how it was when you get back. I've never been on a cruise before.

Kandice wrote: I'm also going on Princess. Please let me know how it was when you get back. I've never been on a cruise before.
..."

I bet you have a great time.

Bobby

CBRetriever wrote:

here's a couple of links to books about Alaska:

..."

The Guardian list might be the kind of thing I would enjoy. I enjoyed Into the Wild. I think I have read three Jon Krakauer books. I heard him speak at a computer conference years ago and he was very engaging. Funny to have this mountain climber/journalist trying to inspire us office chair bound computer nerds. Thanks for the links!

I live in Alaska! I hope you have a great time on your cruise. It's a beautiful place.

Below are a few nonfiction recommendations. I also second CB Retriever's recommendation of Sue Henry and Dana Stabenow if you like mysteries.

The Curve of Time: The Classic Memoir of a Woman and Her Children Who Explored the Coastal Waters of the Pacific Northwest by M. Wylie Blanchet - Memoir of a woman and her five children exploring the Inside Passage on a houseboat in 20s and 30s. Beautifully written - may be a little harder to find

Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich by Annie Boochever - YA history of Elizabeth Peratrovich, who was instrumental in the passage of Alaska's Civil Rights Act

Shadows on the Koyukuk: An Alaskan Native's Life Along the River by Sidney Huntington - this is one of my all-time favorite memoirs.

Kaia wrote: "I also second CB Retriever's recommendation of Sue Henry and Dana Stabenow ..."

My wife is a big reader of mysteries. I passed these two authors on to her. She is always looking for new authors.

I have been reading sci-fy fantasy lately but I enjoy classics and non-fiction. Might enjoy historical fiction as well. Lots of great options on this thread.

Thanks again,
Bobby

L. R. Wright used to be a pretty big name as a mystery writer, and at least some of her books were set in coastal B.C. I never read her myself.

To The Bright Edge of the World is by Alaskan author Eowyn Ivey. It's historical fiction with just a touch of fantasy about the first American expedition to explore the Alaskan interior and it's great. She also wrote The Snow Child, historical fiction based on the fairy tale but set in historical Alaska. Or you could read The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon which won the Hugo in 2008. It's alternate history about if Jrws had settled in Alaska instead of the Middle East post WWII ( which apparently was a possibility?).

I second To the Bright Edge of the World or The Snow Child. Both were excellent and had a very distinct sense of place in Alaska.

CBRetriever wrote: "Sue Henry writes some fairly good mystery books about Alaska..."

My wife is enjoying The End of The Road
Thanks!
Bobby

Just got back home from my cruise. Was a lot of fun and very educational. I have never been to Alaska, Vancouver, or Seattle before. Read The Snow Child which had description of Alaska weather and wildlife which corresponded to things I learned from the naturalist on our cruise ship. Am currently reading Travels in Alaska which is great if you are cruising the inside passage looking at glaciers. I saw two glaciers which was interesting since I do not know much about them. Thanks for the recommendations.

Kandice wrote: "... Please let me know how it was when you get back..."

We had a great time. The weather varied between wet and cloudy and sunny. Bring an umbrella! At times the boat moved with the waves and others it was quiet but we never felt sick or saw anyone who was sick. Saw two glaciers and several bald eagles. Ate too much. We enjoyed the naturalist presentations in the theater. Was PowerPoint with a speaker live. Didn't see as many whales as we hoped but there should be more later in May as it warms up I think. We had a nice two days in Vancouver prior to the cruise and that was also educational/international. My second time in Canada, first in Vancouver. Even Seattle was interesting after the cruise since I had not been there. Riding the light rail was an experience! Be sure to use the Princess app to get in the "green lane" and order your medallion ahead of time to make boarding faster.