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 nomination and a 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.).

--also, these seven books are disqualified because they were our nominees for the May 2010 Alternate History theme. This is one of our group's favourite themes (we've done this same theme two Mays in a row ... fascinating), but by disqualifying these I hope to mix it up as much as possible. The disqualified are:

The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick (our eventual winner)
Into the Storm: Destroyermen Book I by Taylor Anderson
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (a winner in another month)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (always the bridesmaid?)
Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove
Bitter Seeds, by Ian Tregillis
Weapons of Choice, by John Birmingham

--nominations should appear as follows (and this is my nomination): Bring the Jubilee, by Ward Moore

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.

A Secret History, by Mary Gentle
Pashazade, by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken
Farthing, by Jo Walton
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack, by Mark Hodder
Bring the Jubilee, by Ward Moore
Opening Atlantis, by Harry Turtledove
West of Eden, by Harry Harrison (for Qylie and Aloha ;))

Here we go.

i nominate:
Ash A Secret History by Mary Gentle

(excellent timing, i was just about to get up from my pc!)

I nominate
Farthing by Jo Walton.
Excellent alt-history set in post-WWII Britain in which Hitler rules the rest of Europe.

My first thought was The Iron Dream by Norman Spinrad, but it appears not to be available used as widely as I thought ... so if that disqualifies it as an entry (although there is a recent Kindle release), I would like to suggest a book that has been in my TBR for a long while, 1632 by Eric Flint, which is in print and available from the Baen Free Library.

Paul CH wrote: "i nominate:
Ash A Secret History by Mary Gentle

(excellent timing, i was just about to get up from my pc!)"

Paul, do you mean the first volume of Ash, or the first four collected? Your link looks like it is to the latter, which is a 1000 + page behemoth.
I have the first book, and have been meaning to read it at some point.

Sarah Pi wrote: "Paul, do you mean the first volume of Ash, or the first four collected?"

Either one; probably best to nominate the first of four, A Secret History, as it is shorter, and if people already have or want to get the full thing they can just read the first part, if they wish.

stormhawk wrote: "My first thought was The Iron Dream by Norman Spinrad, but it appears not to be available used as widely as I thought ... so if that disqualifies it as an entry (althou..."

I would love to do The Iron Dream, but even with the Kindle it is very, very hard to find. So let's go with 1632 as your nomination, stormhawk.

Thanks, Brad.

I'd like to nominate World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks, but I'm not sure if it's sci-fi enough, having not read it myself. What do people think?

- I would like to nominate Pashazade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood. The premise looks intriguing, and it's still running around new in paperback, used in multiple formats, and is available on both Kindle and Nook. (The Ottoman Empire never fell, with elements of both cyberpunk and noir.)

- I would also like to second A Secret History - the first book of a series in the US that was originally published as a huge one-volume novel in the UK. (Ash: A Secret History). (Sarah Pi - I couldn't determine if you were formally seconding.)

I have the big volume (I actually got it for my birthday this year from my son.) and I'm really wanting to dive in.

I nominate Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

Candiss wrote: "- I would also like to second A Secret History - the first book of a series in the US that was originally published as a huge one-volume novel in the UK - Ash: A Secret History). (Sarah Pi - I couldn't determine if you were formally seconding.)."

I meant to, but I got distracted. Thanks!

I think i'll have to return the favour, Candiss, and second Pashazade; the first of Grimwood's i read, absolutely blew me away

I'll second Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.

I nominate Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken.

This is book 2 in a series, but can be read without book 1 (the weaker The Wolves of Willoughby Chase). An absolutely fascinating alternate England displaying the grim cruelty of the times, but also introducing one of the best heroines of literature ever: Dido Twite.

I nominate Ilium by Dan Simmons
While Dan Simmons Ilium is not labeled (in goodreads) as historical fiction/fantasy I think it fits this category perfectly because it includes a very accurate retelling of the Trojan war. The book includes all the major characters of the Trojan war.

Andrea wrote: "I nominate Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken.

This is book 2 in a series, but can be read without book 1 (the weaker The Wolves of Willoughby Chase..."

damn, i knew i was getting in a bit early with my second. years since i read this, i loved all of them

Ash: A Secret History and Pashazade are in. But I'm disqualifying two others.

First is World War Z, Cindy. Sorry. The reason is not that it doesn't fit the Sci-Fi bill -- because I think it does that, albeit loosely -- but because it is not really an "alternate history" novel since it isn't dealing with some altered historical moment or giving us an alternative future or present based on a such an alteration of known history. It is more a post-apocalyptic future.

Also disqualified is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell. While it definitely fits the "alternate history" bill, it is more a fantasy (along the lines of other alternate histories like Romanitas or Soulless) than a Sci-Fi. Sorry Aloha and stormhawk.

But the good news is that Cindy and Aloha get their nominations back and stormhawk gets her second back.

Anybody willing to second Farthing? Pretty please?

Darn, those are the two I really like, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

I'll second Farthing - it was the eighth book nominated and seconded the last time we did this theme.

Black Hearts in Battersea is in, but I don't know if the case for Ilium being in this category is all that compelling, Qylie (and you know this is a book I want an excuse to read). It's definitely a retelling of history, but there is no real "alternate history" going on.

Oh, and I nominate The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.

Ilium would have been my next choice. I'm striking out left and right.

Farthing is in too.

Oh bollocks!

Nikki wrote: "I'll second Farthing - it was the eighth book nominated and seconded the last time we did this theme."

Thanks, Nikki. I absolutely loved the book and would enjoy discussing it.

Aloha wrote: "Ilium would have been my next choice. I'm striking out left and right."

i'm with Brad; i really want to read Ilium, but it's more a re-setting than a history. (on a personal note, i've also got the rest of the Hyperion Cantos set up, and there's a distinct danger of Simmons burn-out!)

I nominate West of Eden. I'm in the mood for dinosaurs and weird things. This is somewhat SciFi with the dinosaurs the ones using the technologies.

Paul, you would enjoy the Hyperion Cantos. Great series so far.

Okay strike me out again?
A Canticle for Leibowitz
OR OR Hominids

Nikki wrote: "Oh, and I nominate The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack."

I second this.

Ah, well -- thanks for the reasoned explanation, Brad. I'd rather have our books fit with the theme and be proper sci-fi. :)

Qylie wrote: "Okay strike me out again?
A Canticle for Leibowitz
OR OR Hominids"

A Canticle for Leibowitz is great. Hope it fits the category

Aloha wrote: "I have The Iron Dream in eBook that I found. Send me a private ping if you're interested...."

I may need to do that if I ever get an e-reader, Aloha.

Qylie, Qylie, Qylie ... you're going to hate me. But Hominids is more an alternate universe/alternate earth series. And Canticle for Leibowitz is, like World War Z a post apocalyptic book. Sorry.

Also, The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack is in, and we have only two more nominees to lock down. Plus, the following are all approved and waiting for seconds.

Bring the Jubilee, by Ward Moore
West of Eden, by Harry Harrison
Opening Atlantis, by Harry Turtledove
1632, by Eric Flint

I'll second Bring the Jubilee.

Throwing the old Tsar a bone. Sweet. Thanks, Cindy. One to go.

I've been on a Civil War kick lately, and it's on the SF Masterworks list... so, yeah, throwing the tsar a bone. ;)

I"ll second Opening Atlantis. Haven't heard of it, but Turtledove is good.

And with that we have our nominees.

We'll move this discussion over to the poll later today. Thanks for diving in, y'all.

I'll second the dino book west of eden