Beyond Reality discussion

Hi everyone,

It's time to make your nominations for our August 2010 Books of the Month. As always, every member may nominate one SF and/or one fantasy novel by posting a reply to this message with the title and author of the novel. Please also let us know why you're nominating the novel - it may help motivate people to vote for it! Almost any SFF novel is eligible: an old favorite, something you've just read and would like to discuss, something on your to-read shelf. You can also re-nominate any book that was nominated before but didn't win. We'll take nominations until May 20th.

Stefan

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

FANTASY:
The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee(shel)
Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory (candiss)
Sarah Canary by Karen Joy Fowler (nick)
The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint (jon)
A Madness of Angels: Or The Resurrection of Matthew Swift by Kate Griffin (chris)
Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber (bryan)
Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake (anomander)

SCIENCE FICTION:

Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress (marty)
The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert (shel)
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm (candiss)
Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer (nick)
The Quiet Invasion by Sarah Zettel (jon)
Secret Passages by Paul Preuss (bryan)
The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry (anomander)

I nominate for scifi

Steal Across the Sky

because I just bought it since it is Nancy Kress.

I'd like to re-nominate The Gaslight Dogs for fantasy, since I just finished it and would love to discuss it.

I don't have another SF suggestion, so I guess I'll re-nominate The Dosadi Experiment too, since people did seem interested!

For SF, I'd like to nominate Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm. It won both the Hugo and Locus awards and is widely regarded as one of the finest novels written dealing with cloning and its sundry implications. Although it seems to have garnered nearly universal praise, I've met very few people who have read it, and I feel that is unfortunate. I've read that the story, despite the central theme, is very "human" and engaging. I've also read that the story holds up well and feels timely and poignant even today.

For fantasy, I'd like to nominate Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory. It looks like it would be a good book for sparking discussion and might appeal to a wide range of speculative readers. It seems to have particular appeal to fans of archetype in stories, and I believe that if one enjoyed something like American Gods by Gaiman, one would enjoy this.

I'd like to nominate for SciFi Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer. It's been sitting on my shelf for far too long -- even before the tv series (which I have not seen). I have wanted to give Sawyer a try for some time, and this, one of his more popular (if getting a tv series out of it is a measure of popularity) would be a good go I think.

I'll nominate for fantasy Sarah Canary by Karen Joy Fowler. Fowler released this novel during the first years of the Tiptree Awards, which she co-created. She made it ineligible for the win, as she was one of the founders of the award, but the panel insisted on shortlisting it. It's the story of a tall dark stranger who walks into a mining town of the old American West. Only the stranger is a woman, and she may have some mysterious fantastical powers. We've had two Tiptree winners among our scifi choices this year; it might be interesting to get a fantasy Tiptree honoree into the mix.

I nominate for the science fiction selection, The Quiet Invasion by Sarah Zettel.

Here's a synopsis for Quiet Invastion: When scientists discover an alien artifact on Venus, intrigues and conflicts proliferate. Dr. Helen Failia struggles to transform her disdained research station into a permanent Venus colony. Dr. Veronica Hatch fights to restore her lost reputation and communicate with the mysterious aliens. An ambitious chemist protects a dark secret by any means necessary. An incognito radical seeks to rekindle Mars's failed rebellion on Venus. The U.N. will do anything to control its space colonies. And the aliens have agendas of their own--not to mention far more advanced and dangerous technologies.

I nominate for fantasy The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint. Here are a couple of friends reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... and http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I am not going to nominate this month, because Shel's suggestion for fantasy, The Gaslight Dogs would be my pick, and for SF, Jon's nomination of the Sarah Zettel title, The Quiet Invasion was also fabulous.

I'd hate to vote against those two titles - both are quality authors, and Sarah Zettel is absolutely one of the few who can do hard SF and fantasy equally well.

I nominate for fantasy: A Madness of Angels: Or The Resurrection of Matthew Swift.

Janny wrote: "I am not going to nominate this month, because Shel's suggestion for fantasy, The Gaslight Dogs would be my pick, and for SF, Jon's nomination of the Sarah Zettel title, [book:The Qu..."

Also not nominating, I am just chiming in to say "The Quiet Invasion" is tremendous and I encourage people to pick it up BOTM or no.

Marty wrote: "I nominate for scifi

Steal Across the Sky

because I just bought it since it is Nancy Kress." I read Steal Across the Sky last fall and it is excellent! Just when you think you know what is going to happen next, Nancy Kress surprises you with a twist that makes absolutely great sense but is a surprise non-the-less.

I just added the nominations to the first post in the thread. If anyone else wants to add any, today's your last chance!

OK... new member, but I'll offer up some nominations.

SF: Secret Passages by Paul Preuss
I read this some years back, and was simply amazed by it. It's not your typical space opera SF. Highly recommended, and I'm ready for a re-read.

Fantasy: Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber.
I read this entire series at least 20 years ago, and was fascinated by the writing style and by the less-than-heroic nature of the heroes. I don't think this is necessarily the best book in the series, but they are all quite good.

For SF: The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry
Classic SF fun action-adventure.

For Fantasy: Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake

Thanks everyone! The first round of polls are up. The top 2 of each poll will move on to the run-off polls, which will start in 5 days.

The run-off polls are up now, and will be up until May 30th. Go vote!

Also, we're less than a week away from the start of our June discussions, so if you're looking for something to read, you still have time to read the upcoming Books of the Month and join the discussions:

SF: Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Fantasy: Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was by Barry Hughart

Stefan,
I feel almost but not quite compelled to not start the book until we start the month.....which makes your comment "you still have time" sound funny to me.....yes of course you always have time....

I guess I should have said "there's still to read the books before we officially start the discussions" or something like that. :)

Stefan wrote: "I guess I should have said "there's still to read the books before we officially start the discussions" or something like that. :)"

you can say whatever you want....just hit me funny because of my own cumpulsive nature. if I get ahead too much I will forget and not be able to discuss at all....brain like a seive. although I guess I should start looking for Agent of Change. I know I own it....