Beyond Reality discussion

Hi everyone,

It’s time to open nominations for our January 2012 (!) Books of the Month. Each group member can make 1 science fiction and/or 1 fantasy nomination in this thread. If you would like to make a nomination, please reply to this post with the title and author of the book(s) you would like to put forward for the group’s consideration.

Telling us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination. You can also check the group bookshelves for previous Books of the Month to see if your nomination has already been read by the group. (Being chosen as a past BotM does not necessarily disqualify a book from current consideration, but be aware that it may hinder your nomination’s chances at the polls.)

• Feel free to re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
• Seconding isn't necessary in this group, but feel free to assert your enthusiasm for any nomination all the same.
• Friendly discussion/debate is strongly encouraged, but let's please keep things civil.

Nominations will remain open through Thursday, October 20, and the first round of polls will go up on Friday, October 21.

Thanks!


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:


SCIENCE FICTION:
Undertow - Elizabeth Bear (Carolyn)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union - Michael Chabon (Maggie)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary E. Pearson (Shel)
Survival - Julie E. Czerneda (Hélène)
Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank (Richard)
House of Suns - Alastair Reynolds (Deedee)
Brightness Falls From The Air - James Tiptree Jr. (Nick)
Necropolis - Michael Dempsey (Stefan)
1632 - Eric Flint (Kevin)


FANTASY:
Cold Magic - Kate Elliott (Carolyn)
The Magician King - Lev Grossman (Helen)
The Magic of Recluce - L.E. Modesitt Jr. (Christine)
The Native Star - M.K. Hobson (Maggie)
The Cloud Roads - Martha Wells (Snoozerider)

For Fantasy, I'll nominate the first book in her new series: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott - not your typical magic system at all!

For Science Fiction, I'll nominate Undertow by Elizabeth Bear.

Magician King Lev Grossman. Then I'm giving up and reading it by myself!

Helen wrote: "Magician King Lev Grossman. Then I'm giving up and reading it by myself!"

I heartily support reading it youself! Because if it does win (this month or in future) you can lead the discussion! :)

If it doesn't win this month, I suggest the next nomination round simply include "MK-LG". ;) Mr. Grossman just can't catch a break with us, can he? :D

He's been so close so many times!

I'm really enjoying The Magic Engineerso am again going to nominate The Magic of Recluce in the fantasy category. These stories are very enjoyable (and I'd love to discuss why Recluce keeps sending their strongest/best people away)

Hmmm...I have been wanting to read The Yiddish Policemen's Union, so I will nominate that for sci-fi

and for fantasy-I don't know if this has been read yet, but maybe The Native Star?

Maggie wrote: "Hmmm...I have been wanting to read The Yiddish Policemen's Union, so I will nominate that for sci-fi

and for fantasy-I don't know if this has been read yet, but maybe [book:The Na..."

I tried to read that book, but I could never get through the book because of the style.

Christine wrote: "I'm really enjoying The Magic Engineerso am again going to nominate The Magic of Recluce in the fantasy category. These stories are very enjoyable (and I'd love to discu..."

I know a lot of people, I know will not read the series because it is not linear, not feeling connected to the story line at all.

Candiss wrote: "Helen wrote: "Magician King Lev Grossman. Then I'm giving up and reading it by myself!"

I heartily support reading it youself! Because if it does win (this month or in future) you can lead the di..."

I will actually vote for that this month. I found the story to be a lot better than the first book.

Maggie wrote: "Hmmm...I have been wanting to read The Yiddish Policemen's Union, so I will nominate that for sci-fi

and for fantasy-I don't know if this has been read yet, but maybe The Na..."</i>

I nominated Native Star once or twice and gave up when it didn't win...glad to see it back in contention ;) That'll get my fantasy vote, so I'll just nominate SF and try again with [book:The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Cheers Kevin! I've not read it yet but am looking forward to it, book 1 grew on me.

I'll second The Magic of Recluce. It's an excellent series & most of the books stand alone very well. There are a few that go together, but they're usually published in the correct order. Otherwise, it spans a very long period, so there isn't any real problem. Actually, it's really interesting. A legend mentioned in one book is the present in a later one & knowing how the actual events have been changed over time is really cool.

Modesitt recommends reading them in published, not chronological, order because of the way he develops the themes & system of magic. I agree for a first read, but we (my family) enjoyed reading them in chronological order a second time. They're worth it. A lot of fun.

I'll second Cold Magic by Kate Elliott for Fantasy and I'll stick to Julie E. Czerneda'Survival for SF. Some fun will be welcome!

I've forgotten what I've nominated over the last few months so please forgive me if I'm flogging a dead horse here.

Could we please try Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank for SF.

It's one of only two novels in David Pringle's Best 100 SF list that I haven't read, it's also regarded as a classic by some, but that could just be because it's old.
The other one is too big and heavy to carry around with me, so won't get read for quite a while.

I'll leave Fantasy to those who are much better versed in the genre than me.

For Science Fiction, I'd like to nominate:

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds. It was nominated for the 2009 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Novel. As far as I can tell, it is a stand-alone novel.

For Fantasy: I have all the current nominees on my TBR, so I'll be voting for one of those rather adding to the list of nominees.

Deedee wrote: "For Science Fiction, I'd like to nominate:

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds. It was nominated for the 2009 Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Novel. As far as I can tell, it is a stand-alone novel."

It is. And a very good one at that. However, there is a prequel novella in Thousandth Night and Minla's Flowers. It's the first of the two in the title and is also very good. But not at all essential to enjoyment of House of Suns. Good choice.

There are 3 nominees as of now on the SF list I've wanted to read for a while, and I want to read all 4 of the current Fantasy noms, so I'm conflicted enough and won't be making a nomination this time around.

Darn you all with your great suggestions! ;)

I'll nominate for SF Brightness Falls From The Air by James Tiptree Jr.. It's a not-so-well-known novel by a classic short story writer -- and it's my favorite murder mystery in the sci fi world.

Hello, I'm new here *waves* but will be joining in with next months' reads so hope to get to know my way around.

I would like to nominate The Cloud Roadsfor fantasy (recommended on NK Jemisin's blog) I notice there are already lots of suggestions for sci-fi and I there are a few there I would like to read, so won't nominate.

Snoozerider wrote: "Hello, I'm new here *waves* but will be joining in with next months' reads so hope to get to know my way around.

I would like to nominate The Cloud Roadsfor fantasy (recommended on ..."

Snoozerider,
Welcome to the group! On another note: Did you notice that next month's fantasy Book of the Month, City of Bones, is by the same author? (I don't know that Ms. Jemisin has talked about this particular title, but I know she's a Martha Wells fan.) I searched your shelves and didn't find it, so I thought I'd give you a heads-up that we are reading one of her books for November, in case you missed that and want to be involved. :)

Candiss wrote: "Snoozerider wrote: "Hello, I'm new here *waves* but will be joining in with next months' reads so hope to get to know my way around.

I would like to nominate The Cloud Roadsfor fant..."

Thanks for the welcome!

I did notice City of Bones, but can't get hold of a copy in time here in the UK - none in my county's library system & only sellers are in the US so shipping is an issue.

Have got Ringworld though!

It's available on Amazon uk. £2.83 kindle and from £2 used Hardback.

Thanks Helen - I just found it and ordered, and already had email saying it's shipped ?!? (sadly don't have Kindle - tho dropping some serious hints for Christmas lol)

Wow, fast. Glad to be of help. I just happened to have Amazon up on the other page.

I'll throw in a science fiction nomination: Necropolis by Michael Dempsey, a book I just reviewed for Tor.com. It's the story of Paul Donner, a murdered NYPD officer who is revived after the Shift, a viral attack that causes dead people to come back to life and gradually grow younger. He tries to solve his own murder and, in the process, discovers far-reaching secrets about the Shift. The novel is an entertaining mix of wildly different elements, from noir to humor to retro-futurism to traditional whodunit, and I had a blast with it.

I'm not adding a fantasy nomination because I hope the 845th try may be the charm for The Magician King :)

Go MK by LG!! See Candiss, I do listen.

Helen wrote: "Go MK by LG!! See Candiss, I do listen."

:D

I never once doubted you, Helen. ;)

Lol!

Today is the last day for nominations, so if anyone who has not submitted a nom for SF and/or Fantasy, please do so soon! The polls go up tomorrow, October 21. (morning-ish, PST)

I can still nominate something? If I can I would like to nominate 1632 by Eric Flint for science fiction, which is a book and author I don't hear talked about at all on Goodread.

Kevin wrote: "I can still nominate something? If I can I would like to nominate 1632 by Eric Flint for science fiction, which is a book and author I don't hear talked about at all on Goodread."

You made the deadline, Kevin. I feel that if I haven't put up the polls yet, then nominations are still open. :)

NOW I'm putting up the polls and closing this thread. Let's all move any discussion and debate over the nominees to the poll threads.

Edit to add: Polls are up. Go vote!