October Book Study- See Post #23

Fenika · Sep 19, 2008

***And we have a winner. Please see post 23 for more info***

Alright, I had to narrow it down three times and get really picky, but here's what I've got-

Crystal Rain by Buckell
Shards of Honor by Bujold
Spin by Wilson
Either A Deepness in the Sky or A Fire Upon the Deep by Vinge (To be determined by a re-vote. May be good to read the other in a future study as they apparently compliment each other.)

Four choices may be pushing it, but hopefully there is a clear winner.

Voting closes at ~~noon~~ 4:20PM EST Monday. If we need to revote for the Vinge books or for a close race, that poll will only run till Tuesday night (so check back in on Monday!)

Now, the fun- Feel free to sway the vote. Mud sling, promote a favorite, anything to help us decide.

Cheers,
Christina

PS- Any feedback on the book study is welcome. Is four (five) choices too many? Anything making it difficult to participate? Etc...

PPS- The discussion thread for October will likely be opened on the 3rd, and thereafter we will go to the 1st.

Fenika · Sep 19, 2008

I also wanted to say, since it bears mention, that we are switching between SF and F each month so that people who avoid one will read outside their comfort zone. So if this intimidates you, you're in the right place. Please take a moment to see what might appeal to you and vote. (And join the discussion, ofc)

Thank you

Mr Flibble · Sep 19, 2008

Actually it looks like I'm going to be out for this month. Books to read to find comparable titles, betaing, trying to get my word count in....

I look forward to reading the discussion though

Pthom · Sep 19, 2008

FYI: "A Deepness in the Sky" was written prior to "A Fire Upon the Deep" but "Fire" actually takes place some long time before "Sky" (in Vinge's universe).

Fenika · Sep 19, 2008

Yep, thanks Pthom. Extensive research (reading the amazon reviews) indicates that the books have very little in common (over all) but set up a contrasting story.

They are also really really long.

Dale Emery · Sep 19, 2008

Shards of Honor is next on my Bujold pile.

18 months ago I read Paladin of Souls (the first book I read as part of my project to read every book that won both the Nebula and the Hugo). I gushed so much about it that a friend bought that and the other two related fantasies. She read them in half a week, then devoured the whole Vorkosigan series, which she has now gushed to me about for 17.2 months.

I've read Free Fall, the earliest book (story-wise) in the Vorkosigan saga, and Shards of Honor is next on my list. So there.

Dale

Gray Rose · Sep 19, 2008

Dale - Shards of Honor is amazing. IMHO.
Amazing.
My copies of the Vorkosigan books are so tattered they are falling apart.

L M Ashton · Sep 19, 2008

Dale Emery said:
18 months ago I read Paladin of Souls (the first book I read as part of my project to read every book that won both the Nebula and the Hugo). I gushed so much about it that a friend bought that and the other two related fantasies. She read them in half a week, then devoured the whole Vorkosigan series, which she has now gushed to me about for 17.2 months.

Sounds like you've got a smart friend. I love her books.

L M Ashton · Sep 19, 2008

I'm really not sure how to vote. I love Bujold and pretty much anything she writes, and I haven't read the others, but I read voraciously enough that reading something new is not a problem, and I need to find more excellent authors, so something new isn't a problem. So...

Fenika · Sep 19, 2008

Don't worry, I haven't voted yet either. I'm waiting for more opinions to help sway me

Neurotic · Sep 19, 2008

I can vote if you like but I haven't read any of them (that I remember) so it'll be my super scientific way of choosing what to vote for. Heads it's one of the first two, tails it's one of the second two...

Fenika · Sep 20, 2008

Well, you just gotta decide which you want to read, silly Euro

The blurbs on Amazon are pretty helpful. Also the fact that the 2nd and 4th choice are the big players right now. (See 'View poll results' if you've yet to vote)

I'm still unswayed.

Ageless Stranger · Sep 21, 2008

Bumped.

But only because Bahamut was whining about it.

Fenika · Sep 21, 2008

(Silly Ageless and his unsubtle approach)

Alright folks! Just a few more hours and the race is neck and neck! Vote! VOTEEEEEEEEEE!

(meh, subtle is overrated)

L M Ashton · Sep 21, 2008

A Deepness in the Sky has a 4.5 rating with 202 reviews on Amazon. That, to me, is impressive. Shards of Honor I've read and loved, but there's this nagging bit about discovering new authors who I might love, so I'm tempted - very tempted - to go with Vinge to break the tie vote.

Convince me!

Fenika · Sep 21, 2008

Isaac Espriu said:
Hmmm - probably shouldn't have said that out loud, should i?

Gives you the evil eye. I won't be around tomorrow afternoon, when the poll closes. This should be adventurous...

L M Ashton said:
A Deepness in the Sky has a 4.5 rating with 202 reviews on Amazon. That, to me, is impressive. Shards of Honor I've read and loved, but there's this nagging bit about discovering new authors who I might love, so I'm tempted - very tempted - to go with Vinge to break the tie vote.

Convince me!

Well, that 4.5 star rating is why the book is up there to be honest. Not sure I wanna read a 700 page book atm, but that's impressive. The only debate is which order we read the books in, but I don't think it matters.

I'm saving my vote to maybe tip the scales at this point :tongue

L M Ashton · Sep 21, 2008

Isaac Espriu said:
I think you've pretty much convinced yourself, Laurie .

The writing's a bit thicker than any of the Miles impossible-to-spell-last-name books, but the story is very, very good.

Vorkosigan. See? Not so difficult.

L M Ashton · Sep 21, 2008

Bahamutchild said:
I'm saving my vote to maybe tip the scales at this point

Stinker!

L M Ashton · Sep 21, 2008

Fine. I voted.

Fenika · Sep 22, 2008

Gah, what have I done?

Bbl...

Fenika · Sep 22, 2008

Alright, let's go with A Deepness in the Sky

It is a big book, so do try and get it soon. Again, don't panic if you don't have it read by the 3rd- you can jump into the discussion when you are ready.

Sources tell me there are some lovely (ha) infodumps at the opening, so at least we'll have something to pick apart

Lastly, does anyone want to read the other Deep book for a future study?

Cheers,
Christina

Kitty Pryde · Sep 23, 2008

Woo-hoo! A Deepness in the Sky is way better than Fire upon the Deep, IMNSHO. Fire has some neat aliens, but suffers from the universe's least believable precocious child characters. The connection between the two books is tenuous at best (they share a not-too-interesting character).

I can't wait to get into this one! There's lots of interesting world-building that affects the plot, but the characters don't know about. Thus the info-dumping, perhaps?

Fenika · Sep 27, 2008

Alright, I ordered the book via ILL. Is anyone having trouble getting a hold of a copy?

Fenika · Sep 30, 2008

Wow, it's nearly Oct 3rd! My book's at the library, but I've yet to pick it up. I either need to power read or just roll with it...

(bump!)

Fenika · Nov 26, 2008

Bumping. Anyone wanna see any of these books in the next book study and/or should I dig deeper? Cheers

October Book Study- See Post #23

Which SF book would you like to read and discuss for October?

Crystal Rain

Shards of Honor

Spin

Either: A Deepness in the Sky or A Fire Upon the Deep

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Word butcher

is way off topic

Beware of the Thorns!

crazy spec fic writer

crazy spec fic writer

Militant apathist

Dave Brubeck kicks your ass.

crazy spec fic writer

crazy spec fic writer

crazy spec fic writer

crazy spec fic writer

i luv you giant bear statue