August SFF Book Study: Book Suggestions

brokenfingers · Jun 14, 2008

Okay, this is where we will all post our choices for books to study for the month of August.

I propose a week to make a suggestion, then a week for us to vote and choose a book, and then we’ll have the month of July to get it, by whatever means, and read it.

Then we’ll begin our study in August.

Please recommend a specific book and maybe tell us why you think it should be selected. If possible, show a link (Amazon or whatever) so we can all see what it’s about, the price and availability.

In order to learn as much as possible, we want to choose popular and acclaimed books. There are many in the Science Fiction field.

Also, we want them fairly recent. The publishing industry has changed drastically in the last twenty years, so books from the Golden Age won’t help us as much as books written within the past twenty years or so.

Remember you can suggest a book you already own. Plus if you’re friendly with a fast reader who is reading the book, you might possibly send it to each other. Or you can reserve it at your local library or ask them to get it from another branch.

I’ll start with my Science Fiction suggestion:

Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Here is a blurb:

On the eve of Armageddon, with the entire galaxy at war, seven pilgrims set forth on a final voyage to Hyperion seeking the answers to the unsolved riddles of their lives. Each carries a desperate hope--and a terrible secret. And one may hold the fate of humanity in his hands.

It’s a very good book, excellently written, and it won the Hugo Award. I loved the style, the story, the suspense and the worldbuilding.

It fits all the criteria: well written, popular, critically acclaimed, fairly recent.

Post away, folks!

brokenfingers · Jun 20, 2008

Well, looks like this one is dead in the water.

I'll bump it up and see if anybody's still interested. If not, then we'll let it slide down the line...

MattW · Jun 20, 2008

Sorry! I missed the original post. Hyperion is one I've heard of and never read, so it could be a new experience for me.

Let me see if I have any suggestions.

benbradley · Jun 20, 2008

Yeah, I didn't see this thread until just now (I do most my AW reading through "New Posts" so a thread usually has to stay recent for me to see it).

So with the guidelines of "popularly acclaimed" and "fairly recent" in mind, I nominate Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I finally read it last year after seeing so many AW posts saying how good it is. At worst, it's (in my opinion) worth reading - it doesn't push any envelopes as far as "Hard Science Fiction" but it's got story, story, story and action, action, action down. Ender Wiggins goes from being a boy in a family to saving the Human Race by ... <spoiler deleted>.

Or does anyone feel that one's already been discussed too much?

If so (can I nominated two?), another one to consider is Cryptomonicon by Neal Stephenson. I haven't read any of his work yet, but someone just recommended this to me, and I have a copy on the way to me through paperbackswap.com (there's at least one more copy available there). It appears to strongly involve mathematics/computer-science/cryptography, which appeals to my harder SF interests.

A. Hamilton · Jun 20, 2008

I can't offer any suggestions as I'm fairly new to this genre-just wanted to bump the thread.

Mr Flibble · Jun 20, 2008

Oh I missed this at first.

I'm more a fantasy girl -- so whatever you guys go with. All my Sci Fi is more *cough* mature. In fact looking at my shelves, the only ones younger than twelve years are Dan Abnett's Warhammer stuff ( the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series are great) I like action

SPMiller · Jun 20, 2008

Technically Hyperion is fantasy. I've ranted (POSSIBLE SPOILERS?) at least once about the categorization of that book as sci-fi.

MattW · Jun 21, 2008

I have Ender's Game (I think)

I tried reading one of the renaissance prequels to Cryptonomicon, but it was too laborious.

brokenfingers · Jun 22, 2008

SPMiller said:
Technically Hyperion is fantasy. I've ranted (POSSIBLE SPOILERS?) at least once about the categorization of that book as sci-fi.

Really? Hmmm, I'm curious as to why you think this is so.

Hyperion or Ender's Game - both seem like fine choices to begin with.

Any more nominations?

If there aren't in the next few days, we can vote on which book to begin with.

Smiling Ted · Jun 22, 2008

brokenfingers said:
Really? Hmmm, I'm curious as to why you think this is so.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. By his definition ("fits with science as we understood it in the late 80s"), the following books would be fantasy:

Foundation Trilogy, Asimov. (FTL travel, predicting the future of societies with mathematical accuracy, telepathy.)
Methuselah's Children, Heinlein. (FTL travel, inertialess drive, telepathy.)
Ringworld, Niven. (FTL travel, unbreakable objects, alternate theory of human evolution, manipulation of "luck".)
Sundiver and Startide Rising, David Brin. (FTL travel - different varieties! - psionic ability.)

Oh...and of course-

The Time Machine, H.G. Wells. (Backwards time travel.)

Hyperion is in good company. Let the discourse begin.

NicoleMD · Jun 22, 2008

I'll go with Ender's Game since it's already on my bookshelf and I've been meaning to read it anyway. Cryptonomicon is awesome, though I don't know if starting with a 1000 page novel is the right way to go...

Nicole

Smiling Ted · Jun 22, 2008

Cryptonomicon

NicoleMD said:
I'll go with Ender's Game since it's already on my bookshelf and I've been meaning to read it anyway. Cryptonomicon is awesome, though I don't know if starting with a 1000 page novel is the right way to go...

Nicole

It's a good book, and an elephantine effort.
But Gravity's Rainbow got there first, and did it better.
Science fiction in its most literal sense...fiction about science.

Smiling Ted · Jun 22, 2008

Hmph.

Just to be a perverse cuss, I'll throw in one more suggestion:

A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge.

Hard science fiction that generates some interesting questions, and at least one vision of pure, genuine evil.

The only drawback - it's on the longish side.

Here's the Amazon link.

SPMiller · Jun 22, 2008

I want to clarify: I thought Hyperion was a very good book, well-deserving of its awards.

It just isn't sf

Mr Flibble · Jun 25, 2008

HAve we decided yet?

Cos I'm just off to the bookshop...

Nakhlasmoke · Jun 25, 2008

Yeah, I'm peeking in to see what to order from the shops. Choose already! *grins*

benbradley · Jun 25, 2008

That's another thing about "what SF is," often even telepathy "gets a pass" in SF.

NicoleMD said:
I'll go with Ender's Game since it's already on my bookshelf and I've been meaning to read it anyway. Cryptonomicon is awesome, though I don't know if starting with a 1000 page novel is the right way to go...

Nicole

Oh, it's that long? I didn't know that...

Smiling Ted said:
Hmph.

Just to be a perverse cuss, I'll throw in one more suggestion:

A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge.

Hard science fiction that generates some interesting questions, and at least one vision of pure, genuine evil.

The only drawback - it's on the longish side.

Here's the Amazon link.

Well, 792 pages is "more reasonable" than 1,000+. I read Vinge's "The Peace War" serialized in Analog way back when, and mostly enjoyed it. I'll read whatever we choose, but I lean toward the harder SF.

Nakhlasmoke said:
Yeah, I'm peeking in to see what to order from the shops. Choose already! *grins*

Where's the OP? We don't have a big crowd in this thread, but I say we make a poll in this thread of the titles listed so far, and see what happens.

Kitty Pryde · Jun 25, 2008

What about Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman? It won the Hugo and the Nebula and the Campbell Memorial Award. I haven't read it yet, but I read Forever War and it was incredible. Haldeman writes really strong hard sf battles, but at the same time has a strong grasp of intricate characterization and sociopolitical themes. Also, blowing stuff up FTW!

Others: Brasyl by Ian McDonald. Every chapter of an Ian McDonald has enough ideas for a trilogy of fat novels from a less-creative author. Everything I read by him blows my mind, and this is his latest.

Postsingular by Rudy Rucker. This book is amazing, the plot and ideas explode my head, the characterization is perfect. And, it's free to download from his website. The singularity is a really hot idea in sf right now (rucker, stross, vinge, etc).

I love Ender's Game, but it's not as sophisticated or good as these. Love Cryptonomicon but it's toooooooo long to study in depth. I also love everything Vernor Vinge has ever written-he also covers the singularity quite well.

TPCSWR · Jun 25, 2008

I'm hearing a lot of good stuff about Ender's Game so I'm just going to vote that to help the process along. I really want to see how this book study goes.

brokenfingers · Jun 28, 2008

Well, the squeaky wheel gets the grease around here, folks.

Ender's Game it is.

The book should be easy to find and you have all the way to August to find it and read it. Remember, you can also read along during August also, so there's no big sweat for those who are anxiety-prone.

Here's a link to copies of Ender's Game on Amazon but I'm sure you can probably find it at a local used book store also. Plus you can request a copy from your local library.

Fenika · Jun 28, 2008

Alright, I'm in. I'll wait to get the book though, so I don't have library issues

Does this mean I have to stop telling the folks in SYW SFF that I don't do SF?

Cheers,
Christina

kdnxdr · Jun 28, 2008

I want to play! Can non SF people jump in? If so, I'll pick up a copy.

kid

benbradley · Jun 28, 2008

Bahamutchild said:
Alright, I'm in. I'll wait to get the book though, so I don't have library issues

Does this mean I have to stop telling the folks in SYW SFF that I don't do SF?

Cheers,
Christina

You can say this is the exception that proves the rule. And I'm not totally sure I'd call it SF, but perhaps I should wait for the discussion to get into that.

kdnxdr said:
I want to play! Can non SF people jump in? If so, I'll pick up a copy.

kid

Oh, sure! The more the merrier. And we won't snitch on you, we promise.

brokenfingers · Jun 29, 2008

kdnxdr said:
I want to play! Can non SF people jump in? If so, I'll pick up a copy.

kid

Of course! Everyone's welcome! There are no genre restrictions for participation.

Alright, I'm in. I'll wait to get the book though, so I don't have library issues

Does this mean I have to stop telling the folks in SYW SFF that I don't do SF?

Don't worry - your secret's safe with us.

Nakhlasmoke · Jun 29, 2008

Cool. I've never read Ender's Game, even though I always see it mentioned. Now there's no excuse.

August SFF Book Study: Book Suggestions

Walkin' That Road

Walkin' That Road

Company Man

It's a doggy dog world

here for a minute...catch me?

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Prodigiously Hanged

Company Man

Walkin' That Road

Ah-HA!

Onomatopotamus

Ah-HA!

Ah-HA!

Prodigiously Hanged

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

yes

It's a doggy dog world

i luv you giant bear statue

Unashamed Play School Fan

Walkin' That Road

One of the most important people in the world

It's a doggy dog world

Walkin' That Road

yes