Sci-Fi Romance discussion

Your nominations for the April group read are welcome at any time. We'll be accepting nominations until the 19th, and then we'll poll the group, and announce the winner on the 25th, thanks!

Nominations


1.Merchanter's Luck by CJ Cherryh
2.Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
3. Endurance by S.L. Viehl
4.

Merchanter's Luck by CJ. Cherryh.

AnnaM wrote: "Merchanter's Luck by CJ. Cherryh."

That one sounds really good. Have you read the other books in the series?

Nope. I've actually never read anything by CJ Cherryh, though I think I have at least one other.

I think I'll nominate Shards of Honour (or Cordelia's Honor, which is the book with the first two books of that series).

I need a reason to finally start the Vorkosigan Saga. The sheer amount of books in that series is making me stall it all the time, but they are supposed to be really, really good.

Jan wrote: "I think I'll nominate Shards of Honour (or Cordelia's Honor, which is the book with the first two books of that series).

I need a reason to finally start the Vorkosigan S..."

Cordelia Honor seems really good too. I'm already planning on buying both books that have been nominated so far.

I'm reading Beyond Varallan next and just found a bunch of the books in this series at a thrift store, so I vote for the Endurance, because it's next in line.

Start Shards of Honor because it ROCKS! I love, love that book. That one and Barrayar (two halves of the same story that are compiled in Cordelia's Honor) became my second favorite story ever as soon as I read them. They are terrific. Aral is my favorite hero.

My first love will probably always be Dune because I fell in love with Paul Atreides when I was 11 or 12 and first read Dune. Didn't understand it all, but read it all the way through.

You're right about the Vorkosigan series, though. Once I started I felt compelled to read as much of the series as I could immediately. And couldn't find all of them. I had to force myself to parcel them out so I still have a few left. :-)

Re: Endurance, I have the whole Star Doc series but I don't think I've read that one yet.

I assume Merchanter's Luck can be read as a stand alone? I don't want to jump into the middle of a series if understanding the plot depends on previous books. It looks interesting.

My husband just read Shards of Honor and then started Barrayar. He loved the first book, but for some reason Barrayar didn't grab him. He stopped part way through which is unusual for him. I've been hesitant to start them since then. Any thoughts on why it might not have worked for him. (He's an avid sci-fi fan, even sci-fi rom.)

I've heard that Barrayar was written years after Shards of Honor and that the writing style is slightly different. I didn't notice it when I read them back to back, myself. Shards did have more space battles/world-hopping type sf while Barrayar was mostly on-planet with a slightly regency Europe feel and had more to do with relationship-building and politics to me.

Maybe that's why? I don't know why he wouldn't finish.

For me, it was like Anna said. The characters and tone of the story were much different than the first book. It was written after the Miles' books, and the images of Cordelia and Aral in those books populate Barrayar, not the Cordelia and Aral that we meet in Shards of Honor.

Otherwise, it might have been the kind of conflict. I felt that Aral and Cordelia were much more in competition in the second book than the first, where they were like the perfect couple. That rubbed me the wrong way.

Carolyn F. wrote: "I'm reading Beyond Varallan next and just found a bunch of the books in this series at a thrift store, so I vote for the Endurance, because it's next in line."

I recently read Stardoc and I loved it! I plan on buying the rest of the series really soon. I'll have to start Beyond Varallan soon.

NU, I didn't even realize it, but yes, you're correct about them being in competition a bit. I did like the way they would wordlessly understand each other or reach agreements, though. I also didn't notice that C and A were more like they were in later books because I read Cordelia's Honor before any of the Miles books. If I go back now I might notice more of a difference between Shards and Barrayar.

Yeah, I did like that wordless understanding. So nice to see close relationships like that.

Carrie wrote: "I assume Merchanter's Luck can be read as a stand alone? I don't want to jump into the middle of a series if understanding the plot depends on previous books. It looks interesting."

Merchanter's Luck is a stand alone novel set in Cherryh's Union/Alliance world. It's my favorite book.

Any more nominations before the poll goes up?

The poll is up.

Edited: I got the answer to my question. Thank you.

Yep, apparently it can be read as a standalone. For anyone else reading. :)

And the winner is.....

Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold!

YAY. I'll start as soon as possible :D

Jan wrote: "YAY. I'll start as soon as possible :D"

I just ordered my copy!

Awesome! It's a great book!

I ordered Cordelia's Honor so I could have books 1 & 2 in the series, and my copy was lost. So, amazon will be sending another copy asap. So, I should be good to start this one at the beginning of the month after all :)

It arrived for me in the library today. *Happy Dances*

Jan wrote: "It arrived for me in the library today. *Happy Dances*"

I am happy for you! I can't wait to start reading this one. I'm sitting by the window waiting for the UPS delivery person now.

I wasn't able to get to the library today. So it'll have to wait until monday probably. *Less Happy Dances*

Jan wrote: "I wasn't able to get to the library today. So it'll have to wait until monday probably. *Less Happy Dances*"

Well, Monday isn't too far away.... do you have it on hold?

I have my copy, but I'm going to finish my current non-sfr read first, and then I'll get started on it.

Finally starting! Got my copy on Monday, but didn't found time until now. Booyah!

Jan wrote: "Finally starting! Got my copy on Monday, but didn't found time until now. Booyah!"

LOL, Michelle.

Ok finished it in a long sleepless night :)
It was quite awesome! Wish I hadn't waited so long. Anyway, don't know what the spoiler policy is on these threads, so I'll start by pointing out my favorite scene:

I really loved it when they both tell a story about their friends, which are really stories about themselves. I hadn't figured that out until Cordelia pointed it out, but I found it a quite touching scene.

Both stories are quite sad in a very different way, and are really important to see what kind of persons they are and how they became them. But most of all, it was a pivotal point in their relationship I think.

Now I have to ponder about that review!

I think I remember that scene, Jan, and I really liked that Cordelia got an insight into Aral's culture when he told that story.

I thought that one a great scene, as well. I also loved the proposal scene. In fact, the dialog is wonderful throughout the book.

I'm not quite finished. I still have part of Ch 15 and Ch 16. (About an hour or so on audio.)

I agree that the dialogue is great. Normally I like my romance with a little more body contact, but it reminds me of Jane Austen in this, it's a romance of minds and spirits.

I liked those insights into Aral's culture as well, but now that I think of it, I wish we'd had more insights in the Betan culture, we're probably supposed to assume it's more like ours, but I think a little more exposition wouldn't be bad.

I have a lot more to say, but I'll wait until a bit more people are finished.

I really liked how they seemed to understand each other after a while, despite different upbringings.

Yes, that was fantastic, Anna. They both had a dim view of the other.

I finished the book, and loved it, although I have to say I didn't really get the last chapter. I look forward to getting other perspectives once everyone is done.

@Anna and @new_user, I think Cordelia reflects upon that at then end, when she explains to the Emperor (I think) why she fell for him, that they were both persons striving to do the right thing, she because of her religion, and he because he strives to be honorable.