Group Reads Book 8

The group discussion has been going for three weeks already, and the vote takes a month to sort out...

I'm going to start by nominating "V For Vendetta", a graphic novel by Alan Moore.

I'll nominate an old, a middle and a newer.

Earth Abides by George R Stewart

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

and
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.

I recently read China Mieville's The City and the city and think that would be very ripe for discussion by a group, but I won't nominate it since it was a recent read.

Here's my five suggestions:

White Queen, Gwyneth Jones
Roadside Picnic, Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Hello Summer, Goodbye, Michael G Coney
The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester
Engine Summer, John Crowley

I'll nominate Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Magical realism.

Here's three from me:

The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny - psychotherapists and dream therapy
Time Future by Maxine McArthur - http://www.librarything.com/work/150678/book/28802364 - murder mystery on a multi-species deep space station
A Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski - a world of pacifist women invaded...

I'm new to this group.

My TBR list of science fiction is over 400 titles long, so I went to http://www.random.org/integers/ to narrow it down to a certain letter. Sixteen was my number so here are my nominations for titles that start with the letter "P":

Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge

My nominations:
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones

You appear to have passed over my nominations.

Here, I'll post the complete list:

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
A Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
Time Future by Maxine McArthur
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones

WELL...i'll nominate the city and the city, anathem and the alchemy of stone
Admittedly anathem would be a major project - i spent 6 months of stopping and starting..but once i got past the first 70 or so pages it turned into something strange and quite engrossing...but defn. SF.

Update:

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Alchemny of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
City and the City by China Mieville
Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
Dream Master by Roger Zelazny
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
Time Future by Maxine McArthur
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones

I'll nominate a few

City by Clifford Simak
Earth by David Brin
The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Leguin

I'll also SUGGEST Hyperion, but I've read it twice. I will recommend it to anyone who wants to vote for it or just to read on your own, but don't count this as a nomination from me. It would make a great group read, with it being a sci-fi Canterbury Tales. There is lots of ground for discussion in this masterpiece, and the entire tetrad with the Empyrion books is one of the truly great series that I've ever had the privilege to read.

I'll second The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester - I've wanted to read it for years and have never found it in a bookstore - and now I see how the voting rules are set up.

#12

You can't vote for two books already on the list (the Bester book and the Asimov book). You get to nominate up to five books, and second one book already voted for by someone else (not you).

I would have to second "Stars My Destination". I was planning to read it sometime next month in any case.

The Stars My Destination can be found in A Treasury of Great Science Fiction by Anthony Boucher which I imagine just about every member got from the Science Fiction Book Club back in those thrilling days of yesteryear. I almost never see the set for sale anymore in the used bookshops.

I'll second Cabinet of Curiosities . My wife enjoyed it a lot and has been encouraging me to read it.

I'm going to second Hello Summer, Goodbye

Currently:
(2) Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
(2) Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
(2) Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Alchemny of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
Anathem by Neal Stephenson
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
City by Clifford Simak
City and the City by China Mieville
Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
Dream Master by Roger Zelazny
Earth by David Brin
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Time Future by Maxine McArthur
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones
Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Leguin

I'd like to second The Door Into Ocean.

I will nominate:

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Gray Apocalypse by James Murdoch
Watchmen by Alan Moore
1984 by George Orwell
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem

I will second Anathem.
--BJ

Currently:
(2) Anathem by Neal Stephenson
(2) Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
(2) Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
(2) Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
(2) Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

1984 by George Orwell
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Alchemny of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
City by Clifford Simak
City and the City by China Mieville
Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Dream Master by Roger Zelazny
Earth by David Brin
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Gray Apocalypse by James Murdoch
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
Time Future by Maxine McArthur
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
Watchmen by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones
Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Leguin

#19
I nominated "V For Vendetta", a graphic novel also by Alan Moore.

I would like to second Watchmen, but I read that about two months ago, and while it was an excellent book, I don't want to read something I already read so recently.

I nominate Engine Summer by John Crowley. I read AEgypt a few years ago and his lyrical, poetical prose, the rhythm of his story, like breathing in and out, impressed me as few books ever have. Used copies are still obtainable at reasonable prices.

I second Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood because the reviews sound like I'd like it.

#22

Engine Summer and "Oryx and Crake" have both been nominated already. You get to pick one.

I second Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia.

Currently:
(2) Alchemny of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
(2) Anathem by Neal Stephenson
(2) Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
(2) Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
(2) Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
(2) Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

1984 by George Orwell
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
City by Clifford Simak
City and the City by China Mieville
Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Dream Master by Roger Zelazny
Earth by David Brin
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Gray Apocalypse by James Murdoch
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
Time Future by Maxine McArthur
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
Watchmen by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones
Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Leguin

I'll second A Door into Ocean. That's one I haven't read yet.

(3) Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski
(2) Alchemny of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
(2) Anathem by Neal Stephenson
(2) Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston
(2) Hello Summer, Goodbye by Michael G Coney
(2) Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

1984 by George Orwell
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
City by Clifford Simak
City and the City by China Mieville
Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Dream Master by Roger Zelazny
Earth by David Brin
Earth Abides by George R Stewart
Engine Summer by John Crowley
Gray Apocalypse by James Murdoch
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Paradox by John Meaney
Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Phases of Gravity by Dan Simmons
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
Time Future by Maxine McArthur
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore
Watchmen by Alan Moore
White Queen by Gwyneth Jones
Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Leguin

rojse, thank you for explaining the how to.

so, I would like to vote for Door into Ocean.

(I still don't think think I have this system down yet, but I do know I'd like to Door into Ocean.)

May a thin book win!

do thin books still exist?

Yes, they're called "novellas"...

fwiw - of the newer books, the city and the city isn't too long and the alchemy of stone is positively brief by current standards.

#32

So, it would be under six hundred pages, then.

Seeing as no more votes were coming. . .

http://www.vizu.com/poll-vote.html?n=180984

I've put in all six books with two or more votes. Have at it!

#33 - actually down to a svelte 304 in my paperback copy (Alchemy) and City is 336 - though i would've thought it a bit longer.

i totally missed a misspelling on one of my nominees..Alchemy, sorry.

#36

Well, how do you think I feel, having missed it three times, put it in a poll, and finally realised it was spelt wrong when I posted an update on this group for the Science Fiction Fans group?

but really it was on me, as i suggested it and should have seen the misspelling. And then, of course, it's just cut/paste w/ the mistake carried over.

At least you got the author's name right...

rojse and I wipe brows in partial relief ;-).
A very different, and touching approach to high end steampunk.
Just as a thought...what about trying to come up with writers whose origins, at least, are in new countries each time?

#40 - without making it a rule, you could still add a note about the country of origin when you nominate a book. Then, if the idea intrigues people, they might vote for it. I know I might take that into consideration when I voted.

#40

Selecting for different countries is an interesting idea, but consider how much of the output in SF comes from either the UK or America - it might be difficult to find authors published outside of this that are reasonably available to participants in both America and the UK.

It looks like the winner of our poll is "Door into Ocean", by Joan Slonczewski.

And in posting this, I have no doubt that some people will now decide to vote for a different author.

#43 - I didn't notice the poll was up until your recent post. I just now voted, but guess what? I voted for "Door into Ocean".

#44

My constant badgering on polls both here and on the Science Fiction Fans forum isn't enough?

As this is my first group read, is there a deadline to have the book read?

MEStaton, we are remarkably free and easy. You could even go and read or finish an previous group book and find the thread and add to the discussion. There are always some fast people, some slower people, some who have trouble getting the book and get a late start, some who's schedules dictate their read time, etc.

On another matter, I have limited internet access for a bit, so I'm going to assume the book is Door into Ocean as it sounds like it was tentatively deemed the winner. If that turns out not to be the case the next time I log on, no biggie. I go with the new flow.

#47 thanks Gwen.

As for me Door Into Oceans is fine as it on my wishlist anyway so hopefully be able to get it from the Library asap.

In a strange coincidence I had purchased and started reading the previous group read First and Last Men earlier this month

#48

Feel free to tell us what you think in the "Last and First Men" thread.

The praise for Alchemy of Stone has been so good I had to track it down and buy (none of the local libraries carried it). I hope it makes it to a group read before long. My TBR pile has gotten ridiculous thanks to LibraryThing. ;)

Has anyone here started to read Joan Slonczewski's Door Into Ocean?

Yes.

I actually forgot about this for a few weeks because I thought the book was more in the YA category but that must have been some other nomination. My problem is that I finally started the Uplift series by D. Brin after a long and winding search for Sundiver, the first book. I do plan on getting it through my local library from Saginaw in the next few weeks. According to her wikipedia page she's quite a scientist in her own right and those types usually make good SF writers, like Brin, Benford, Clarke, and Asimov. Plus the book sounds different with the feminist twist, as I have actually read few female writers. Off the top of my head I can only think of Morgan Llywellyn and Mary Stewart and a few quick glances only reveal Margaret Weis and Ursula LeGuin. There's a few Andre Nortons. Yikes! What a sausage fest.

I want to try and balance between starting the thread too soon, when few people have read it, and too late, when everyone has read it and has already forgotten about it.

#51 I began Door Into Ocean about a week ago, but then Word Freak fell into my lap and I haven't been able to put it down. Grrrrr.

#54 Haven't gotten it from the library yet, sorry

I'm about a quarter of the way into Door Into Ocean and will probably finish it next week. It's interesting thus far! The only reason it's not a faster read for me is the level of busy my life is right now.

I got it. I like the fishy humans--not very far in, up to Part 2, I think.

Rojse, I think it is interesting to see peoples reactions when they are early into the book, so I'd think its better to start the thread earlier rather than later.

#59

I've just created the new group read thread.

If anyone feels that something should be done to help keep this group going, or wishes to start a new part of the group read selection process, feel free to do it. I don't run this group, after all.

#55 - everyone in our household (well, there ARE only 3 of us) very much enjoyed word freak.

Somewhat related is the documentary film, Wordplay, about x-word puzzle savants and the annual American X-words championship. The dvd has some nice extras about the principals involved. (this has particular resonance w/ our household as my dad used to compose x-words and acrostics that every now and again would get published in the NYTimes (in the pre-Will Shortz era)). There are interviews interspersed w/ celeb puzzlers, but the the guts and glory of the film are the participants and the contest.