Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for THEMED category for Dec 2024 (yes more than a month away).

THEMED books need to be currently in print on at least one platform, and fit the theme for the month. If there is no spaceship involved, then it must take place on another planet with a technological society. If it is part of a series, it needs to be suitable to being read without having read other books in the series. Frequently books in this category will be those from major publishers that are no longer in print as paperback (or haven't yet made it to paperback), but Kindle Exclusive books are allowed too. It is perfectly fine to nominate a book here that would qualify for one of our other categories.

CURRENT THEME: First Contact to Friends. Books nominated must involve a First Contact with an alien race, and by the end of the book a friendship exists between at least some of the characters on each side.

See this thread for examples:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

RULES:
* you may nominate one book on this thread.
* you may second as many nominations as you like on this thread.
* it is okay to nominate the same book on more than one nomination thread, as long as it meets the criteria
* don't nominate a book we already read RECENTLY (more than two years ago is fair game for Themed)
* If a book you nominate or second is selected, you are expected to post at least one comment about it on the thread about the book.
* On the 22nd of November, I will draw a book randomly, with each second being one raffle ticket for the book. That is, a book with three seconds (so four of us want it) will get three chances in the pool.

It is likely helpful if you know something about a book that has been nominated if you mention it in this thread, whether it is for or against the book.

I saw on the First Contact to Friends discussion thread Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster. I'll get this started by nominating this book as I have liked a number of Foster's books over the years.

I nominate Dawn by Octavia E. Butler

I nominate Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon. It made a profound impact on me when I read it a long time ago, and I’m overdue to reread it.

Summary so far:
Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster. Nominated by Audrey. Awaiting seconds.
Dawn by Octavia E. Butler. Nominated by John. Awaiting seconds.
Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon. Nominated by Teresa. Awaiting seconds.

Note: we discussed Remnant Population in 2015. The other two books above have not been discussed by this group yet.

I’ll second Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon.

I'd also like to second Remnant Population please. I've never read anything by Elizabeth Moon - and that looks like an omission I should correct. Although my local libraries have a number of her books, none of them have Remnant Population, so I've just bought a copy for my kindle.

Summary so far:
Nor Crystal Tears by Alan Dean Foster. Nominated by Audrey. Awaiting seconds.
Dawn by Octavia E. Butler. Nominated by John. Awaiting seconds.
Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Caitlin and John.

Note: we discussed Remnant Population in 2015. The other two books above have not been discussed by this group yet.

I will second Remnant Population. it's been a long time since I last read it.

Nominations are now closed. Our Themed Pick is Remnant Population