SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

So here's the way it works.

We need seven nominees (I have found that more than seven becomes far too unruly). Nominations are confirmed by a first and second. Everyone has one nomination and one second. The first seven qualifying nominations will make up our list of books (some nominations could be disqualified for a number of reasons: inappropriate for the theme, already read by the group, the author is already represented in our nominees, etc.).

Nominations should appear as follows (and this is my nomination): The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson.

The list of qualified books will appear in this first post, and I will update it as the day goes on. That's it, friends. Go to it.

The nominees are:

The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick
Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Ruled Britanniaby Harry Turtledove
Bitter Seeds, by Ian Tregillis
Weapons of Choice, by John Birmingham

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

I'm totally seconding The Years of Rice and Salt -- not sure what happened with your link & title up there, Brad.

I do prefer The Man in the High Castle because as much as I love Kim Stanley Robinson's novels, I do not like The Years of Rice and Salt. I have tried reading it at least five times, and never got past the middle of the novel. It is fascinating to read about the cultural aspects of the novel, but the interminable descriptions make it a very slow going novel, bordering in boring and pointless. This is only my opinion. I am sure others have read it and loved it.

I nominate Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove. This is set in London 10 years after the Spanish Armada successfully invaded and conquered England.

Belisarius series by David Drake and Eric Flint, starting with An Oblique Approach, available in free Baen CD's. Although I am not sure if it can be said to be alternate history, and its more fantasy than science-fiction.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest.

Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate fits in alternate history as an allegorical tale, perhaps?

I haven't read it yet, but I've been very curious about Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson. People keep recommending it to me, so I'd like to nominate it for the group.

Belisarius series by David Drake and Eric Flint, starting with An Oblique Approach, available in free Baen CD's. Although I am not sure if it can be said to be alternate history, and its more fantasy than science-fiction

Seconded (if it qualifies). It's also available in the Baen free library here

Donna wrote: "I haven't read it yet, but I've been very curious about Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson. People keep recommending it to me, so I'd like to no..."

This has been sitting on my kindle unread and gathering edust for over a year, so I'll second this nomination.

Christiane wrote: "I do prefer The Man in the High Castle because as much as I love Kim Stanley Robinson's novels..." Is that a second for The Man in the High Castle, Christiane?

2nd "Man in the High Castle". Do parallel universe stories count?

Karey wrote: "Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate fits in alternate history as an allegorical tale, perhaps?"

I can't find a great deal about Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate, but what I can find suggests that it is more fantasy than Sci-Fi, and that KSR Kingworth is considered a young fantasy author. So that kinda disqualifies it for the Sci-Fi theme. Sorry, Karey.

Docd wrote: "2nd "Man in the High Castle". Do parallel universe stories count?" Let's say...maybe. I would usually say that's a theme unto itself, but some cases may still fit, so I'll judge them on a case by case basis. How's that sound, Docd?

Cindy wrote: "I'm totally seconding The Years of Rice and Salt -- not sure what happened with your link & title up there, Brad." I can't spell apparently ;) Fixed it now. Thanks for the heads up, Cindy.

Steve wrote: "Boneshaker by Cherie Priest."

Seconded!

I seconded Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson ... :)

I nominate Farthing, by Jo Walton.

Caitrin wrote: "Steve wrote: "Boneshaker by Cherie Priest.""
Gotcha.

Geoffrey wrote: "I seconded Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson ... :)" You did indeed.

I nominate The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

I second The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon.

edifanob wrote: "I nominate The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon"

Check.

I nominate Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis.

I second Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregillis

I second Ruled Britanniaby Harry Turtledove

I see why you're taking a crack at Bitter Seeds, Joel and edinafob, but Bitter Seeds is a particularly tough call. It has many comic book elements that are connected to Sci-Fi, such as the psychic elements and superpowers, and it certainly fills the alternate history category, but it also contains an abundance of fantasy elements, like the British Warlocks. Now, I'd consider a Doctor Strange comic a fantasy graphic novel, even if he fought a more Sci-Fi oriented super villain, and I am feeling much the same way about Bitter Seeds.

But before I go ahead and just say no, I'd like to hear some debate on this subject. Anyone have a case for or against they'd like to present?

Nikki wrote: "I nominate Farthing, by Jo Walton."

"...her parents were both leading figures in the group that overthrew Churchill and negotiated peace with Herr Hitler eight years before."

Farthing certainly sounds like a worthy candidate; I'll second it.

Brad wrote: "I see why you're taking a crack at Bitter Seeds, Joel and edinafob, but Bitter Seeds is a particularly tough call. It has many comic book elements that are connected to Sci-Fi, such ..."

Based on the book description, I'd say include it. Yeah, there's some cross-over, but every one outta seven shouldn't need to toe the line? Don't stress it, IMHO.

Bitter Seeds is a tough call. Alternate History is so hard to keep solely within the realm of Science Fiction anyway - it's a sub-genre but it crossed over into so many other areas. From the description though, it seems to cross into a sort of Dieselpunk. It does, however, talk about magic ... so it's sci-fi with fantasy elements. What the heck, I say to include it.

I still think Bitter Seed is a good choice. You should read the review of Bitter Seeds by Elizabeth Bear which delivers some arguments to add the book to the list.

Brad wrote: "Christiane wrote: "I do prefer The Man in the High Castle because as much as I love Kim Stanley Robinson's novels..." Is that a second for The Man in the High Castle, Christiane?"

Yes, it is a second for The Man in the High Castle.

Well edifanob, Geoffrey and Richard, you're doing much in the way of convincing me, but I don't want to say yea just yet in case a compelling argument comes from the other direction. So I am going to wait for a little while to see if anyone comes in with an opposing voice that is equally compelling, especially since it will be our seventh official nominee, and it will close off the discussion. But I am leaning in your direction. Thanks for your input.

Brad, I understand and I agree with you how you want to manage the seventh nomination. So let's wait and see what will happen in the next minutes.

The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson :)

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

Weapons of Choice by John Birmingham part of the Axis of Time trilogy, great mix of male and female characters and entertaining.

As I came here with the intention of nominating The Years of Rice and Salt, and it has already been both nominated and seconded, I find that there is little for me to do but wait for the vote. (I've been staring at the book sitting on my shelf for months.)

I would like to nominate Firestar by Michael Flynn. The best thing about this process is that no matter what you pick, I'm gonna read 'em all!

If you read Firestar and its sequels starting now then they might seem like alternate history ... but I think they were written more as near future SF.

Oh, and Bitter Seeds seems like it could really go either way, even with the demons. I am not finding enough detail about how the Germans created their superpowered folk. I would expect there to be science in there somewhere, but I haven't found any clear indications either way.

I feel a bit of the same way, Nikki, but I think I'm going to go ahead and say yes to Bitter Seeds anyway; however, I am going to use my own second to add Weapons of Choice to the list, stretching our nominations to eight.

So that's it for our nominations. I am going to set up the poll now. We'll be moving our discussion over to the poll too. Head on over and make the case for the book you want to read, or weigh in on our Bitter Seeds discussion.

Thanks for all the input everyone.