SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

This month we're looking for books that have "Detectives in their Sci-Fi."

These can be books that include Private Investigators, Detectives of officialdom or Detectives by happenstance.

So here's the way it's going to work:

--I will be opening this thread for discussion and nominations tomorrow at 2:00pm Sydney, Australia time to make sure we spread the nomination joy around.

--we need seven nominees. Nominations are confirmed by a first nomination and a second. Goodreads authors can nominate their own book (but they have to stick around for the discussion if they win).

--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 as judged by me, already read by the group, the author is already represented in our nominees, etc.).

--nominations should appear as follows; please include the book and author links (and this is my nomination):

A Fire in the Sun, by George Alec Effinger

Our list of official nominees, which I will update as we go:

Spin State, by Chris Moriarty
A Fire in the Sun, by George Alec Effinger
The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
The Yiddish Policemen's Union, by Michael Chabon
Flashback, by Dan Simmons
Rule 34, by Charles Stross

Game on, folks. Sorry I was ten minutes late. I got all caught up in writing a review.

I like this theme. I'll second your nomination, might finally get around to reading it :P

I haven't read it yet, but I really want to: Flashback by Dan Simmons. It sounds interesting, and the writing style, from the first few pages I flipped through, is good.

I nominate one of my all-rime favorites Spin State by Chris Moriarty. That book blew me away when I first read it, and after a very long wait the third book in the trilogy is coming out this month, so this would be a good time to get into her series. It's hard sci-fI with a lot to think about, smart and still fun to read.

As a corollary to this group read, I started a Listopia list Science Fiction Detective Novels (since, upon searching, there did not seem to be a similar list yet). To help me get started, I referred to
this io9 story, listing the titles from there that appealed to me. I'm adding to the list the titles
mentioned here so far, and I'm encouraging other group members to help develop the list. Thanks!

I will second the nomination for Spin State.

You can nominate your own book, Steve. Is it available in hard copy as well as electronic editions? We still have plenty of members who prefer to read or only read books, so a book needs to be available in classic form and not just an electronic form.

I nominate The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. I read this over a decade ago and have been looking for an excuse to pick it up again.

I would like to nominate The Eyre Affair. I think it fits the bill perfectly!

Second The Demolished Man. Sadly, all the things I would like to nominate are second or third in a series, and I don't care much for the previous volumes. (Or they are not detective stories, or fantasy rather than SF, or whatever.)

Demolished Man is in.

I will nominate Passion Play by Sean Stewart.

I nominate The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. (Or, have we already read that here?)

Julia wrote: "I nominate The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. (Or, have we already read that here?)"

It does not appear that we have. If so, I will second it.

Brad, should you not go and nominate first book in the series, even though it does not really matter, When Gravity Fails?

I would like to nominate The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov, starting the greatest Robot of all time, Daneel Olivaw.

Kevin wrote: "Brad, should you not go and nominate first book in the series, even though it does not really matter, When Gravity Fails?"

The group read it in February this year.

Kim wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Brad, should you not go and nominate first book in the series, even though it does not really matter, When Gravity Fails?"

The group read it in February this year."

Oh, that is why I thought I heard the series from somewhere. Thanks for clear up Kim!

Nice start to the list, Sue. I am going to go back and add some stuff when the kids hit the sack.

Nice choice of Caves of Steel and The Eyre Affair. I hope both get seconds. And Kev, what Kim said ;)

I second The Caves of Steel. Haven't read it since high school, but I still remember it.

Done, Mike.

Brad you forgot to add The Yiddish Policemen's Union

How about Rule 34 by Charles Stross? It's the second book in a shared universe, but as I understand it, not really a sequel.

Thank you, Kim. I did indeed.

Only two spots left everyone, and we're still waiting on a second for Flashback, by Dan Simmons; The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde; & Passion Play, by Sean Stewart.

Any supporters?

And can we make your nomination Halting State, by Charles Stross instead, Jim. It's the first of the series.

I'll go ahead and second Flashback.

Also, Brad, Halting State and Rule 34 share the same universe but they aren't an actual series. One can be read without the other.

Really. Thanks for the tip, Ala. I did not know that. So ignore what I said Jim. Rule 34 is your nomination.

I'll second Rule 34.

Done and done, which means this nominations thread is done. So I will shut it down, and set up the poll in about an hour. Thanks for the awesome list everyone. Nicely done.