January SF Book Club Interest / Nominations

[Starbreaker]

Would anyone be interested in a monthly science fiction book club / group discussion thread starting next year?

Rules:

1) The book should be either a stand-alone novel or the first of a series.

2) The book should be readily available as a mass market paperback to keep the price low.

3) No tie-in fiction / books based off of TV series or movies.(e.g. Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who). Book that have been turned into television series or movies is okay.

4) No "door stoppers" (e.g. Peter F. Hamilton) If it's over a few hundred pages, don't bother suggesting it. It shouldn't take more than a month to read for those of us who don't speed read or have a lot of free time.


If you're interested, make nominations (or second them) and I will put the most popular in a poll to vote. They can be classics or something you think everyone will enjoy. Post links if it's not a book you think everyone will be familiar with.

 

[Klaus]

I'm unsure if I'd have the time but it's an excellent idea! Perhaps...

 

[Starbreaker]

I agree... somebody? Anybody?

 

[label]

I'd be interested. Right I'm read Terry Pratchett's "Small Gods", which I'm not sure qualifies as "Sci-Fi". If it does, then that's been a good book. If not, then I'll have to come up with a different recommendation.

 

[timothy]

it sounds like a good idea. i am reading anita blake vampire hunter series which will be up 21 novels by next year . it's by laurell k hamilton.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

It's a very good idea. I'm game. Are you limiting this to SF or is fantasy in the mix, too? Participation might be higher if you concentrate more on novels that are a) well known and b) not door stoppers in length. Some suggestions: The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, and The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester.

 

[Starbreaker]

I don't really like fantasy, so I'm hoping to limit it to just science-fiction. It doesn't necessarily have to be spaceships and giant squid, but I don't really want to read anything about dragons and warlocks... no offense to anyone. Just not my thing.

And yeah, no doorstoppers, definitely. I'll add that to the list.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

I don't really like fantasy, so I'm hoping to limit it to just science-fiction. It doesn't necessarily have to be spaceships and giant squid, but I don't really want to read anything about dragons and warlocks... no offense to anyone. Just not my thing.

I like sci-fi and fantasy, but I have no problem sticking to sci-fi for a monthly book club. In fact that's probably best as fantasy novels tend to be lengthy and/or part of ongoing series. Sci-fi offers more standalone novels of manageable length.

 

[Mistral]

Good idea.

Might I suggest Callahan's Crosstime Saloon by Spider Robinson?

Or Santiago by Mike Resnick?

 

[Lapis Exilis]

I might be in from time to time (can't guarantee finishing books at this point in my life).

If anyone wants a classic, I'd suggest The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein. Very fun, easy read of about 300 pages. I've been wanting to revisit it.

 

[Tulaberry whine]

This is a great idea. Between uni and work, I can't say I'll be able to contribute as much as i would like, but I always enjoy threads about what sci fi people are reading as I'm horribly ignorant about it and they give me a few ideas about where to head next (I picked up the Slaughter House 5 just last week based on a recent thread).

Flowers for Algernon and The Forever War are two of my favourites that may be a good place to start.

 

[Canadave]

I do a hell of a lot of reading (and plow through every issue of Analog and Asimov's, so I've got the SF covered as well ) so I'd be in.

I'll nominate Robert J. Sawyer's Calculating God, as it's one of my favourite books.

 

[Mistral]

This is a great idea. Between uni and work, I can't say I'll be able to contribute as much as i would like, but I always enjoy threads about what sci fi people are reading as I'm horribly ignorant about it and they give me a few ideas about where to head next (I picked up the Slaughter House 5 just last week based on a recent thread).

Flowers for Algernon and The Forever War are two of my favourites that may be a good place to start.

Excellent suggestions, although it would be tough to re-read Flowers. That book has always disturbed me on a fundamental level.

 

[label]

Don't know if this book qualifies, but has anyone read the Hunger Games? Is it Sci-Fi'ish? Is it a good read? My youngest daughter (12) is reading it right now and says it's very good and it's gotten incredible ratings on Amazon?

 

[Lieut. Arex]

The Hunger Games is sf. I moderate a monthly book club at a local B&N and we read it a couple of months back. It received the highest rating we've given a book in seven years of grading them (9.29 out of 10).

 

[label]

The Hunger Games is sf. I moderate a monthly book club at a local B&N and we read it a couple of months back. It received the highest rating we've given a book in seven years of grading them (9.29 out of 10).

Alright. It's on my kindle and next in line to read for me.

 

[theenglish]

The Hunger Games was talked about positively on the NYT Book Review Podcast a while back. I think an ongoing monthly book club is something definitely missing from these boards and support the idea. I would like the voting to take place sooner rather than later for the upcoming book so we can have time to read it.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Cool idea. I have a few books on my to be read pile that people might be interested in reading:

Terminal Man by Michael Crichton
Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman (although it's a collection of short stories)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman (I've already read it before but I'm itching to read it again)

I think I had one or two others but I'm home for the holidays so I can't check.

 

[Starbreaker]

Everbody make your final nominations today if possible. I will post a poll with everyone's first nomination tomorrow.

 

[PsychoPere]

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman (I've already read it before but I'm itching to read it again).

I'd consider this more fantasy than sci-fi.