Beyond Reality discussion

It’s time to open nominations for our May 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 February 19th, and the first round of polls will go up on February 20th.

Thanks!


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:


FANTASY:

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (candiss)
Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny (jim)
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (kevin)
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente (ysmalan)
Greenmantle by Charles de Lint (paul)
The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan (helen)
Control Point by Myke Cole (stefan)

SCIENCE FICTION:

The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley (candiss)
Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny (jim)
Wild Cards by George R.R. Martin (kevin)
CryoBurn by Lois McMaster Bujold (shel)
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (ysmalan)
Embassytown by China Miéville (paul)
Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke (jenny)

For Science Fiction, I'll nominate an under-appreciated classic: The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley. I've not yet read it, but I've been told it holds up remarkably well and, especially for a 70s SF novel, features an intelligent and believable female protagonist - Lilo, an experimental geneticist and rebel targeted for execution. Brief summary: In 2050, a very alien race has decided to eliminate the dangers posed by the human race, which it sees as a threat to whales and dolphins which, as sea-dwellers, represent one of the few types of lifeform the alien race recognizes as sentient or important. Billions of humans starve to death, and we are reduced technologically to the stone age. Hope lies with rebellious scientists and enclaves living off-world on various moons and planets. Genetic engineering and cloning play an important role in humanity's chances for survival and renewal. (There is a lot of story packed into this relatively short transhumanist novel, and I've barely scratched the surface with this synopsis. It really seems ahead of its time in several aspects, such as Altered Carbon-esque "backing up" of consciousness.)

For Fantasy, I'll nominate Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor. Between a decent enough Goodreads synopsis and a lot of recent accolades and award nominations (including a World Fantasy Award win) and much positive press, I don't feel the need to go on and on about this one. I've wanted to read it since it came out, and it seems like it would spark some great discussion.

For Science Fiction, I'll nominate Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny. There isn't a lot of science in this, but there are some aliens. It is very much a tongue-in-cheek mystery thriller set in the near future. What makes it special is the way the book is laid out. Each chapter is chronological, but they begin in the middle of the action, go back to the beginning & then end on a cliff hanger. It's a little odd, not as confusing as it sounds, & a fantastic romp.

For fantasy, I'll nominate Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny again. It's a really interesting mix of SF & fantasy, with a really neat anti-hero, the Shadow Jack. It has a super ending, too.

Pretty sure I've read both of the Zelazny books, Jim (many years ago). But the one that sticks out in my mind is Jack of Shadows. A great mixture of science and magic that seems to have been an inspiration for a whole generation of fantasy writers. I'd be happy to read it again. Even now, Nine Princes in Amber is on my re-read list. What's one more, especially if it's by Zelazny.

Candiss wrote: "For Science Fiction, I'll nominate an under-appreciated classic: The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley. I've not yet read it, but I've been told it holds up remarkably w..."

I really liked
Who Fears Death - would love to discuss it with you all, so I won't make a fantasy nom :)

For SF, I'll nominate CryoBurn by Bujold, since it came out after our Vorkosigan series read finished!

I would like to nominate Wild Cards by George R.R. Martin once again for Science Fiction. One, it is the longest, maybe the only book of its kind left, a mosaic novel where many authors write bits and pieces. Second, one of the authors was Roger Zelazny.

It is written as a timeline from the end of World War II to the late 80s when it was written. The whole series is basically about how an alien virus infects the world making over 90% of the population died, while the remaining 9% turn into Jokers (deformed beings) and 1% into Aces (superheros), and the aftermath.

Third, it is one of the most inventive piece of work in superhero fiction, coming out around the same time as Watchmen and the Dark Knight Returns. It was nominated for the Hugo for the other category, but lost to Watchmen.

Fourth, it is basically this was what George R.R. Martin was known for before Song of Ice and Fire even came out. Its good for many readers who have only read his Song of Ice and Fire to try his other big series. And lastly, a movie has a been green lit for the book.

For fantasy, I would like to nominate Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami again. I feel like he is best writer that I discovered back in December of last year. I know that people who have discovered him may have only read his two big books, The Wild Bird Chronicles and 1Q84, so this might be good to read other more of his other works or its just good for others who have not read any of his work to be introduced.

Plus just the way he writes and tells his stories is magical, it always involved two plot lines twist together. He has a special way with words that nobody else I have ever read can do. Basically I feel like he one of the top three best living author that we have writing right now.

Basically the book is about a young 15 year old who runs away from home to a library in a near city, and discovers something about his past and future.

I cannot say much about "my" books, because I have not read them yet... But I'd very much like to, and it would be more fun as a group read!
For Fantasy, I'd like to nominate Deathless by Catherynne Valente. It is based on a tale of Russian folklore, set during the wars and revolutions of the 20th century. I'm very intrigued by this book because a) Russia!, b) Valente is said to be a powerful writer of whom I haven't read anything, c) Stalinist house elves?!, d) it's a fairytale retelling, ...... plus, look at the amazing cover. ;P

For SF, I'd like to nominate The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. It's a steampunk-y novel set in a dystopian Bangkok -- need I say any more? ;-)

The Ophiuchi Hotline is excellent, and I'm currently reading The Windup Girl, which I'm being completely blown away by. I think the steampunk label is misleading, it makes me think of early William Gibson and JG Ballard. 'Biopunk' might be a good definition.

Having now fatally undermined my own nominations, I'd like to offer:

Embassytown for SF, as I just got it as an early birthday present, and

Greenmantle for fantasy. I genuinely think Charles de Lint is one of the outstanding authors in the field of fantasy and beyond, and this is the book that introduced me to him.

I loved Embassytown and really enjoyed Deathless. Ah, the voting is always so tough with this group. :)

Oh, I thought this group had already read Embassytown! This is very high up on my list, as well! :)
(Re-undermining. ;-) )

I went and looked at the master list and loads that I want to read are on it! I guess it depends on how long ago they were read as to whether people will vote them in.

How about The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan. I've not read anything by her but she issupposed to be very good. This book comes before the Black Magician Trilogy. Fantasy

I think this month, I'm just going to vote. There's always great books to choose from and adding my own makes it even more difficult.

Hi guys, new here. I'm on the prowl for SF &F groups where people actually discuss these books. There's so many discussions re the classics, and I think SF &F have elements to discuss as well, so, I hope this group will be a good fit. :)

If I may, I'll second the nominations for Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Greenmantle by Charles de Lint

The first 2 are on my own shortlist. (Which is still a long list :P)

Traveller wrote: "The first 2 are on my own shortlist. (Which is still a long list :P) "

Hey there, welcome Traveller!

I find that 'short list' has become an increasingly relative concept...

For SF I would like to nominate Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. It's a classic that I haven't read yet. It's about mankind's first encounter with aliens which is always fun.

As you may know, I don't often do this, but I'm going to add a nomination myself this time. It's a debut novel called Control Point by Myke Cole, and it's the most entertaining book I've read so far this year. Here's the blurb:

Army Officer. Fugitive. Sorcerer.

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze.

Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military's Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one.

The SOC knows how to handle this kind of situation: hunt him down--and take him out. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he's ever known, and that his life isn't the only thing he's fighting for.

The novel reads somewhat like the X-Men combined with Black Hawk Down. It's very fast-paced and never boring. It's got a surprising amount of moral complexity hidden among all the action scenes, making it what I think will be an interesting book for discussion. This book is really a blast - I'm about 100 pages from the end, and if book two were out already, I'd read it next.

So Stefan. Fantasy or SF?

Fantasy! Magic abilities like pyromancy and necromancy are all part of the novel. It's set in what looks like a very near future version of our world, but I'd consider it fantasy.

Jenny wrote: "For SF I would like to nominate Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. It's a classic that I haven't read yet. It's about mankind's first encounter with aliens which is always fun."

My two "gee whiz" facts for the day:

(1) A movie has been discussed for this story for many years, but seems as elusive as smoke. Morgan Freeman is supposedly involved, but he doesn't know when it will happen either.

(2) There's been a computer game around for years. Quite old fashioned by today's standards. I used to have a copy: http://dimensionalarea.net/portal/ram...

Interesting and challenging book.

Stefan wrote: "As you may know, I don't often do this, but I'm going to add a nomination myself this time. It's a debut novel called Control Point by Myke Cole, and it's the most e..."

Well, I'm sold!

Last call for nominations. I'm setting up the polls in about 24 hours, so if you still want to add a nomination, this would be the time to do it!

Nominations are closed, and the first round of polls is up! Please go vote:

SF: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/61...

Fantasy: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/61...

The first round of polls will stay open through February 24th, and the run-off polls with the top two of each poll will start on the 25th.

The run-off polls are up! Please go vote:

SF: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/61...

Fantasy: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/61...

The run-off polls will be up through February 28th.

Nothing I was interested in made it to the run-off...

Kathi wrote: "Nothing I was interested in made it to the run-off..."

Yeah, I opted not to even vote in one of the polls.

Kathi wrote: "Nothing I was interested in made it to the run-off..."

I felt that way about the SF, but I'm looking forward to Jack of Shadows. That's a fantastic book. Can't wait to hear what others think of it.

I haven't read the fantasy selections, but I like Zelazny so I'd try it. The SF ones are by two of my favorite current authors - I thought The Windup Girl was excellent, and Embassytown is the only Mieville I haven't read yet. So, I thought it was a good set of choices.