Pre-poll, December book study, fantasy

Fenika · Nov 3, 2009

Ya'll know the drill

KW has a good theme suggestion. If I weren't fried I might remember it. KW?

Hopefully with everything else going on, we all have time to read still. And remember, the thread doesn't have to die on Dec. 31st!

I'm still trying to pick up a copy of Knife of Never Letting Go, but I'll read it by the end of the November. Hopefully!

ELMontague · Nov 3, 2009

How about classic science fiction? You know, stuff written before 1900 or 1930.

We could also do genre creators. Steampunk, Cyberpunk (kinda did this one already), Space, NearScience, etc...

Something we haven't done is anthologies. A collection of shorts might make it attainable in bite size pieces for some.

Anyway, thoughts.

K_Woods · Nov 4, 2009

The idea was non-English-language fantasy authors (with English-language editions, natch). I think there was the suggestion for the following month to be non-English SF authors, too, but that's next month's worry.

Fenika · Nov 5, 2009

ELMontague said:
How about classic science fiction? You know, stuff written before 1900 or 1930.

We could also do genre creators. Steampunk, Cyberpunk (kinda did this one already), Space, NearScience, etc...

Something we haven't done is anthologies. A collection of shorts might make it attainable in bite size pieces for some.

Anyway, thoughts.

I like the idea of doing short stories. The classics/oldies we got away from because there were a few complaints. But if you get a few to back that idea, we can go for it, or at least split a poll with it. I'm sure there are plenty of people in both camps.

K_Woods said:
The idea was non-English-language fantasy authors (with English-language editions, natch). I think there was the suggestion for the following month to be non-English SF authors, too, but that's next month's worry.

Ah, yes. I know we've had some suggestions recently scattered around. Maybe I'll put a note in the cantina. Any ideas?

ELMontague · Nov 5, 2009

I like the idea of non-english books, but I don't know any.

Kitty Pryde · Nov 5, 2009

Monkey, translated by Arthur Waley--the adventures of the Monkey King--I lurrrrrve this book. And Neil Gaiman is writing a book about Monkey King, so don't you all want to read about him? Hilarious really old Chinese novel with gods and goddesses and rude drunken monkeys...
Brave Story, by Miyuki Miyabe--some kinda epic japanese fantasy, i'm about to read it.
Hardboiled Wonderland and the end of the world, by Haruki Murakami--this book is amazing and I cannot summarize it.
Nightwatch, by Sergei Lukyanenko--awesome russian atypical urban fantasy-LOVE!
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke-I'm almost certain the book is better than the movie, but i've not seen the movie!
Or Dragon Rider by the same author
Something by Italo Calvino--Cosmicomics, or maybe the book with the two novellas The Cloven Viscount and The Nonexistent Knight

Smiling Ted · Nov 5, 2009

You might consider The Cyberiad, Stanislaw Lem [Kandel translation].
It is...uncategorizable. And ridiculous fun.

eyeblink · Nov 5, 2009

I've mentioned Zoran Zivkovic before, though English-language editions of his work tend to be available from PS Publishing at limited-edition prices.

If we're counting Magic Realism as fantasy, how about a classic such as One Hundred Years of Solitude or Midnight's Children? (I've read both - long time ago though.)

Fenika · Nov 6, 2009

Wow, my reading list just got a lot longer.

Fenika · Nov 6, 2009

Bambi was originally published in German! I learned this at my NaNo write-in.

Actual poll coming tomorrow.

K_Woods · Nov 8, 2009

Gah, I was away all weekend, and didn't get my suggestions in beforehand. But I just wanted to go on record saying that Italo Calvino was one of the authors I had in mind - though I was thinking of Invisbile Cities in particular.

Also was thinking of Sea of Shadow, the first Twelve Kingdoms novel by Fuyumi Ono (it's YA, too) but I can see that one being...polarizing.

Fenika · Nov 9, 2009

Well, aren't you lucky I had an emergency over the weekend and didn't get to the poll. Since I have to sift though so many suggestions, I'm once again pulling a 'poll coming tomorrow' on ya'll. Sorry.

Fenika · Nov 10, 2009

Smiling Ted said:
You might consider The Cyberiad, Stanislaw Lem [Kandel translation].
It is...uncategorizable. And ridiculous fun.

Someone remind me of this next month plz

Fenika · Nov 10, 2009

...I'm gonna have to start flipping coins here oO

Fenika · Nov 10, 2009

Hardboiled wonderland looks SF, ya? Another for next month?

Fenika · Nov 10, 2009

Lastly, Invisible Cities got the last cut. Sorry to the books that didn't make it... Poll pending...

Kitty Pryde · Nov 10, 2009

Fenika said:
Hardboiled wonderland looks SF, ya? Another for next month?

Well, there's this guy who gets trapped in a mysterious realm of people who have no shadows...and he learns to read dreams out of unicorn skulls. But it has science too. It's not really more SF than F, about an equal mix.

maxmordon · Nov 10, 2009

Damn, Invisible Cities is one of those books I have always wanted to read.

About non-English fantasy authors:

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 100 years of Solitude.
Anatole France, Penguin Island.

lostwanderer5 · Nov 20, 2009

It's my first time on this thread - so how does this thing work? We just discuss the book here?

Some recommendations:
Dying Inside - Robert Silverberg
The Dancers at the End of Time - Michael Moorcock

Hmm..those are the only single tites I can think of right now. Everything else that comes to mind is part of a series.

Kitty Pryde · Nov 20, 2009

Hey lost wanderer!

Well, we voted in this thread over here: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161732
And people will continue to post there until December, when we will create a thread officially to discuss December's book, which will be 100 Years of Solitude. Please feel free to read along and discuss!

lostwanderer5 · Nov 20, 2009

Thanks Kitty

Looking forward to it.

Pre-poll, December book study, fantasy

Fenika

ELMontague

K_Woods

9 of 10 Overlords prefer Evil Pie!

Fenika

ELMontague

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!

eyeblink

Barbara says hi

Fenika

Fenika

K_Woods

9 of 10 Overlords prefer Evil Pie!

Fenika

Fenika

Fenika

Fenika

Fenika

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

maxmordon

Penúltimo

lostwanderer5

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

lostwanderer5