The October Book Study- Sci Fi

Fenika · Sep 16, 2008

***ETA: Please see other thread***

Alright, the book study torch has been officially passed to me. I will try not to let the power go to my head.

First, another thank you to Broken Fingers for setting up the book study. He did a wonderful job getting the project off to a running start and will still be around to participate.

Now, September is quickly passing, so check in early and often please. I think we'll start the specific book voting on Friday (depending on how fast the suggestions roll in). I will try to provide 3 or 4 choices. As per this month, we may not start the discussion thread until a week into October. By November we should be on a more stable schedule.

Now that that house cleaning is outta the way. What SciFi book would we like to read and discuss in October? Please provide a link to amazon or similar so we can ~~judge the book by its cover~~ read the description. You may also put why you loved the book (or what you heard about it)

Guidelines- It must be a popular book that helps us study SF from a writer's perspective. It should also be readily available at bookstores and libraries which loathe stocking SF

Let the fun begin!

Cheers,
Christina

L M Ashton · Sep 16, 2008

I haven't done this before, I have no suggestions, but it looks interesting, so if we have the book/can get the ebook, I might just join y'all.

EriRae · Sep 17, 2008

Ah, Dune. Wouldn't mind reading that again.

L M Ashton · Sep 17, 2008

It's been so long since I've read Dune that I don't actually remember much of it. And we have a copy, so it's definitely doable for me, which is a plus. For me, anyway.

So, yeah, I can get behind that.

Mr Flibble · Sep 17, 2008

Could we go for something a little more recent? 40 years old might be pushing it lol. I'd like a book younger than I am.

Not because I'm not sure I'll have enough time to reread Dune. Well OK, it might be that

It's not a short book after all.

L M Ashton · Sep 17, 2008

Do you have a suggestion?

Fenika · Sep 17, 2008

Oooo, that's a shame Dune's so aged. I've not seen the TV stuff or read the book(s).

Wait, I have a suggestion. No, wait, that's horror. Bugger. (I am Legend)

Mr Flibble · Sep 17, 2008

L M Ashton said:
Do you have a suggestion?

Well I haven't read much recent sci fi - I was hoping for a good recommendation

Fenika · Sep 17, 2008

Maybe we should pillage the Hard SF thread for some ideas... or if we're lucky, those folks will come to us

Mr Flibble · Sep 17, 2008

Maybe if we leave a trail of alcohol and chocolate?

Fenika · Sep 17, 2008

Or space ships and particle generators?

NicoleMD · Sep 17, 2008

Maybe Alistair Reynolds?

The Prefect

or maybe

Pushing Ice, which I've already read and loved. Good Hard SF, but has deep interpersonal relationships also.

Nicole

stephenf · Sep 17, 2008

Here is my suggestion ,sorry both are a bit old ,but still good

More Than Human ,By Theodore Sturgeon
or maybe
The Fifth Head of Cerberus ,by Gene Wolfe

Kitty Pryde · Sep 17, 2008

I'd vote for something newish and hot (yet available in paperback) in SF right now:

Tobias Buckell-I love his stuff, and I think it would appeal to both SF and fantasy fans.
John Scalzi-funny military SF in the tradition of Heinlein and Haldeman
Charles Stross-he's huge right now, but I'm not that into his books. Lots of stuff about the singularity. I'd give him another try for sure.
Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge-fairly literary but also hard SF, with modern political themes too. I have much love for this book.
World War Z by Max Brooks-I thought this would be silly/stupid, but it's actually engaging, inventive, hilarious, adventurous, and heart-breaking. Plus I thought the narrative technique is interesting (the plot is made up of different episodes in the history of a war that a documentary maker is learning about in various spots around the world, yet it forms a cohesive whole). Plus, Mel Brooks' kid!

benbradley · Sep 17, 2008

stephenf said:
Here is my suggestion ,sorry both are a bit old ,but still good

More Than Human ,By Theodore Sturgeon

I read that long ago but remember it well, I thought it was excellent, though I wonder what to call it. It's not quite fantasy, and it seems it only sort-of fits into SF.

Kitty Pryde said:
I'd vote for something newish and hot (yet available in paperback) in SF right now:

...Rainbow's End by Vernor Vinge-fairly literary but also hard SF, with modern political themes too. I have much love for this book.

I read Vinge's "The Peace War" serialized in Analog (maybe a quarter century ago), and had mixed feelings about it. I suppose if my arm was twisted I could read more of Vinge's fiction. He is, after all, the one who first used the term singularity for an alleged future event for humanity (and as analogous to a black hole's signularity, progress will accelerate so fast we can't see into the future).

I recall in some recent (last few years) SF mag editorial that virtually all SF stories are about the Singularity and/or nanotechnology, but I don't know if that's true, I've read very little recent SF.

A book we choose doesn't have to have these aspects as main points, but I presume a recent book would at least mention these things...

Fenika · Sep 17, 2008

All right.

Now that we have a few suggestions rolling in, anyone wanna second or third a nomination? Anything to make my job easier

And let's keep those suggestions going too!

Cheers,
Christina

Fenika · Sep 17, 2008

Also, I'd really like to read something that has amazing characters. Ones you feel like you're standing right beside them the whole way through and get wrapped up emotionally with. Anyone got a book like that?

Ken · Sep 17, 2008

classic from 1920: "We," Yevgeny Zamyatin.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0380633132/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

L M Ashton · Sep 17, 2008

Any of the Harry Dresden's by Jim Butcher. I enjoyed all of them, honestly, but most people seem to think that the eighth book is the best. Oh wait, that's fantasy. Hang on.

Miles Vorkosigan's books by Lois McMaster Bujold. Not too heavy, a fun read, entertaining.

Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. Old, yes, but still entertaining and good.

Um. I'll think...

L M Ashton · Sep 17, 2008

I have no idea what's been done here, nor do I know really what anyone's looking for, so I'm just taking stabs in the dark. Personally, I prefer character-based sci-fi, not hard sci-fi.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

L M Ashton · Sep 17, 2008

I love David Brin...

Fenika · Sep 17, 2008

If you go to the Book Study thread that is currently stickied, you can find a link to the Ender's Game thread.

I enjoyed comparing Ender to Locke as I read this month's book... and then they went on separate paths (Locke grew up, as one AWer put it. IRU, I think)

Judg · Sep 17, 2008

As requested, I would suggest Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. Winner of the Hugo, touted as a hybrid of hard SF and literary sensibilities. Very impressive book.

Inarticulate Babbler · Sep 17, 2008

There's always Steven Gould's Jumper (considering they mangled it with a movie).

Or Steve Perry's The Man Who Never Missed.

Kitty Pryde · Sep 18, 2008

Bahamutchild said:
Also, I'd really like to read something that has amazing characters. Ones you feel like you're standing right beside them the whole way through and get wrapped up emotionally with. Anyone got a book like that?

Postsingular by Rudy Rucker has really amazing characterization. Another cool thing about that book is that it's available in hardback and also FREE online. The author also has a huge document online that chronicles how he developed the plot and characters, which is really interesting if folks want to delve into the process of creating the novel. Also it's awesome!

The October Book Study- Sci Fi

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