SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

This month we're looking for books that are "Mythologically Based."

These can be books that include Gods, Monsters or Legends, so long as they are based in real world mythology. Or they can be stories that are clearly based on some earthly mythology (albeit in an altered form).

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

--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):
The Saga of the Volsungs, by Jesse L. Byock

Our current list of nominees:
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
Inferno by Larry Niven
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan
Lord of Light by Roger Zelanzy
Rusalka, by C.J. Cherryh
The Once and Future King, T.H. White

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

I nominate Rusalka by C.J. Cherryh. (Note that in addition to the treeware editions there's a revised ebook).

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

I nominate The Last of the Renshai by Mickey Zucker Reichert.

i think this would count so, what the hell... my nomination
Inferno by Larry Niven

The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

I've not read the Robert Jordan books at all, so perhaps I am missing something, but I've been looking around tonight and I can't see any connections to direct, real world mythology that would qualify Eye of the World for our theme this month, Kevin.

All the rest are valid nominations, and they all sound awesome. I don't know which one to second myself, so I will probably wait for some of you to second them, and then I'll throw my second to whatever's left.

Sorry about that Brad. I thought The Wheel of Time concept was borrowed from the Hindu mythology with the same name, but as I found out, the only thing it has in common with it is the title.

Terry wrote: "Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente"

I will second this book

Tam Lin by Pamela Dean

Tom wrote: "i think this would count so, what the hell... my nomination
Inferno by Larry Niven"

I will second the inferno and add Lord of Light

Michelle wrote: "The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley"

This is one of my favorite books of all time, so I second it. :)

Second Tam Lin.

Second Lord of Light and add Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan

I'll second Wolfsangel

I'm seconding The Once and Future King and nominating Forests of the Heart.

No sweat, Kevin. I can see how that would happen. Lord of Light has the Indian gods, though, so there's still one on the list for you.

I am going to second Rusalka, by C.J. Cherryh

For the record, Lord of Light and Inferno are generally considered Sci-Fi by their authors and peers. The former is pretty clearly based in tech, on a far away planet, but the godlike elements and mythology are so fantastical, I decided to let it into contention. The latter is less clearly Sci-Fi, but it still contains the possibility of Sci-Fi, and its narrator is a Sci-Fi author. Again, it's a journey through hell, with djinni bottles and plenty of other fantastic elements, so I let it in too. That leaves us looking for one nominee.

Julia popped in while I was writing my message and beat me to it, so that means we are done. Once and Future King scores the final spot. Thanks for joining the voting everyone. Debate time over at the poll.