Australian Women Writers Challenge discussion
Book Discussion
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Speculative fiction reviews
I should probably kick this off myself. My first review for the challenge was Power and Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts. You can find my review either here on Goodreads or on my website.-m
My second review was Bad Power by Deborah Biancotti. You can find my review either here on Goodreads or on my website.Excellent book - my favourite read of the summer so far.
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Next was The Courier's New Bicycle by Kim Westwood. You can find my review either here on Goodreads or on my website.-m
And finally (so far) - Above & Below by Stephanie Campisi and Ben Peek. You can find my review either here on Goodreads or on my website.Over to you all!
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Brenda wrote: "Sorry to ask an obscure question, but how do I know if I read speculative fiction? ;D"Now you know that if I try my own definition I'm going to get in trouble from all those excellent readers out there who are much more learned than I, so I'm going to take the coward's way out and quote Wikipedia.
"Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts"
Thank goodness there was no Wikipedia blackout today!
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Brenda wrote: "OH MY! That covers a lot!! And no, I don't read speculative fiction;D Thanks Mark..."It was a timely question - I should have been a bit more precise in my original post!
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I have Love and Romanpunk by Tansy Rayner Roberts but have taken note of some of the other titles you just mentioned. They sound interesting :)
Sally906 wrote: "I have Love and Romanpunk by Tansy Rayner Roberts but have taken note of some of the other titles you just mentioned. They sound interesting :)"
Hi Sally,
I thought Love and Romanpunk was excellent! It was the reason I selected Power and Majesty for this challenge. I wrote a bit about Love and Romanpunk last year here on Goodreads and on my website as well (not a challenge review though - read it last year!).
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Mark - there's a very good list on Elizabeth's Lhuede's Aust Women Writers Challenge website of spec fic by Aust Women Writers including the books nominated for this year's Aurealis SF awards.
Brenda wrote: "OH MY! That covers a lot!! And no, I don't read speculative fiction;D Thanks Mark..."Brenda- very sorry to see you don't read spec fic. There are lots of fab spec fic books around that appeal to readers who don't normally read it. Happy to suggest some if you tell me what you enjoy.
Claire wrote: "Brenda wrote: "OH MY! That covers a lot!! And no, I don't read speculative fiction;D Thanks Mark..."Brenda- very sorry to see you don't read spec fic. There are lots of fab spec fic books aroun..."
Claire, I do read lots of different genres, I have just never enjoyed science fiction, fantasy, supernatural...have a look at some of the books I've read on my shelves and I'd appreciate if there's anything you can suggest for me, as I love to get into different authors/genres. I have expanded my reading so much since joining GR!
Claire wrote: "Mark - there's a very good list on Elizabeth's Lhuede's Aust Women Writers Challenge website of spec fic by Aust Women Writers including the books nominated for this year's Aurealis SF awards."Thanks Claire - I'll check it out.
-m
p.s. When We Have Wings is almost at the top of my to-read pile (which seems to get larger every time I glance at it), very much looking forward to it.
Brenda wrote: "OH MY! That covers a lot!! And no, I don't read speculative fiction;D Thanks Mark..."Er...But Brenda, you have Treespeaker on your list of books to read.
Katie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "OH MY! That covers a lot!! And no, I don't read speculative fiction;D Thanks Mark..."Er...But Brenda, you have Treespeaker on your list of books to read."
Yes I do Katie...you're a new author I'm trying;D
Claire wrote: "Thanks for that, Mark. And Brenda, I will have a think once I look at your shelves..."Thanks Claire:) I have trouble identifying genres when they are obscure, so I could have read some of the above...haha!!
Make sure also you check out our group bookshelf here http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh... and feel free to add any you don't see!
Just posted a review for A Book of Endings by Deborah Biancotti. The review can be found here on Goodreads or on my website.An excellent collection of short stories - well worth the read.
-m
Also just posted a review of Debris by Jo Anderton. As always the review is both here on Goodreads and on my website.Keen to read more reviews of speculative titles - look forward to hearing from you all!
-m
Hi! I have read two books towards the challenge so far:
My review of Finnikin of the Rock is on Goodreads and on my blog.
My review of Froi of the Exiles is on Goodreads and on my blog.
Shaheen wrote: "Hi! I have read two books towards the challenge so far:
My review of Finnikin of the Rock is on Goodreads and on my blog.
My review of Froi of the Exiles is on Goodreads and on my blog.
Both great reviews - thanks Shaheen! I'm not really the target demographic for YA novels, but these two sound good.
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Hello. I hope it isn't naughty to suggest you might like to check out my own spec fic novel, which came out last year. I am definitely a woman, and semi-/officially Australian! (Have lived here for 16 years and have Aus citizenship, but still apparently "talk funny"...yes, a Kiwi.) You'll find a bunch of reviews on its Goodreads page. Thank you! (: Black Glass Meg Mundell
Meg wrote: "Hello. I hope it isn't naughty to suggest you might like to check out my own spec fic novel, which came out last year. I am definitely a woman, and semi-/officially Australian! (Have lived here for..."Thanks for that Meg! Just had a read of the blurb...it sounds really good. I've added it to my TBR list:)
Meg wrote: "Hello. I hope it isn't naughty to suggest you might like to check out my own spec fic novel, which came out last year. I am definitely a woman, and semi-/officially Australian! (Have lived here for..."Hi Meg,
Book looks great - I've also added it to my TBR list. I'm looking forward to reading it.
-m
Hi Mark - ace, thank you. And just saw your note above about YA; mine's *not* a YA novel, but apparently has some "crossover" into that "market" (not a big fan of the marketing lingo, but there we go...) To me, all that means is that some young people are reading it. But so are some grandparents. Hope you enjoy. Thank you! (:
Hey guys! I finally got around to reading another book for this challenge:
: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman. I really liked this book! Dragons, Chinese mythology and a wonderful cast of characters. I totally recommend this book to everyone who loves Spec Fic :)
Meg wrote: "Hi Mark - ace, thank you. And just saw your note above about YA; mine's *not* a YA novel, but apparently has some "crossover" into that "market" (not a big fan of the marketing lingo, but there we ..."Marketing - the curse of the modern author!
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Shaheen wrote: "Oh, forgot to link to my reviews: on Goodreads and on my blog."Great review Shaheen - thanks for sharing it. I've seen a couple of people review Eon/Eona - I'll have to add it to my list.
-m
Thanks Mark :-) This challenge is awesome, and has introduced me to some really great bodies of work, so I'm glad that my work has a similar affect for others.Meg - I've added your book into my TBR pile :-) Sounds awesome.
I've already posted this on the media thread, but for those speculative fiction lovers who look at this thread I recently submitted an article to Antipodean SF about the AWWC. Nuke (the editor) was kind enough to agree to publish it. You can read the article here.
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Hi Mark and everyone. I can't believe this whole thread has been going and this is the first time I've seen!I really enjoyed your article in Antipodean SF, thanks, Mark.
Meg, have you introduced yourself on the page for Author introductions? I've seen your book reviewed for the challenge (and I'm pretty sure you're mentioned on the AWW website lists) so for the purposes of the challenge - you're an Aussie through and through!! (Maybe next year we can rope in more Kiwis and make it "Australasian Women Writers challenge?")
Looking forward to my own dabbling in Spec Fic, starting with Claire Corbett's When We have Wings.
Elizabeth wrote: "Hi Mark and everyone. I can't believe this whole thread has been going and this is the first time I've seen!I really enjoyed your article in Antipodean SF, thanks, Mark..."
Glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth, it was fun to write. All credit to Nuke at Antipodean SF though - he was very keen to publish something about the challenge.
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Marg wrote: "I completely forgot to add my link for Black Juice by Margo Lanagan.My review is here"
Hi Marg,
Really enjoyed your review. I have Sea Hearts (or The Brides of Rollrock Island
) by Margo Lanagan on my upcoming reading list as well. I've read some of her short stories in anthologies (the latest being Anywhere but Earth
), but haven't tried any of her collections. Look forward to doing so!
-m
Mark wrote: "Marg wrote: "I completely forgot to add my link for Black Juice by Margo Lanagan.My review is here"
Hi Marg,
Really enjoyed your review. I have Sea Hearts (or The Brides of ..."</i>
Thanks Mark. I have Sea Hearts here to get to too. I have I think one more collection to read, and then I will have to start hunting down the short stories I haven't read yet. Oh, and read [book:Tender Morsels
Marg wrote: "Thanks Mark. I have Sea Hearts here to get to too..."Taking a tangental segue, I saw Margo Lanagan doing laps at one of the local pools the other day. I couldn't quite bring myself to disturb her, but it did lead me to have a conversation with my 3 year old daughter about the fact that writing was a career, with tangible proof sitting at the side of the pool only meters away.
That was cool,
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Meg wrote: "Hi Elizabeth - thanks for the tip! I will check out how to do an Author introduction now (:"You're very welcome!
Mark wrote: "Marg wrote: "Thanks Mark. I have Sea Hearts here to get to too..."Taking a tangental segue, I saw Margo Lanagan doing laps at one of the local pools the other day. I couldn't quite bring myself t..."
That was very cool!
Hi there, great to find this thread as I am currently writing my first speculative fiction so am really keen to see what's going on in this genre.I've reviewed 2 spec-fiction titles for the challenge:
Black Glass by Meg Mundell
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
When We Have Wings by Claire Corbett
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
They're both good reads, compelling and original and I'd definititly recommend to others interested in spec-fiction.
Annabel wrote: "Hi there, great to find this thread as I am currently writing my first speculative fiction so am really keen to see what's going on in this genre..."Hi Annabel
Great to have you here in the speculative thread.
You might be interested in hearing that When We Have Wings recently made the short list for the Barbara Jefferis prize and Black Glass was highly commended for the same prize!
Claire's website has an interesting blog entry about her short listing.
Welcome again,
-m
I'm not counting it officially towards my AWCC challenge count, but I just finished the anthology Sprawl edited by Alisa Krasnostein. Over half the authors in the anthology are Australian women - I'd certainly recommend reading it.You find find my more detailed review either here on Goodreads or on my website.
-m
Mark wrote: "Annabel wrote: "Hi there, great to find this thread as I am currently writing my first speculative fiction so am really keen to see what's going on in this genre..."Hi Annabel
Great to have you ..."
Thanks Mark, I saw that and was very pleased. It's great to see that speculative fiction is not being sidelined in prizes such as this.
Australian Women Writers Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Power and Majesty (other topics)Bad Power (other topics)
The Courier's New Bicycle (other topics)
Above & Below (other topics)
Love and Romanpunk (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Tansy Rayner Roberts (other topics)Deborah Biancotti (other topics)
Kim Westwood (other topics)
Stephanie Campisi (other topics)
Ben Peek (other topics)
More...
Unlike the well rounded individuals that went into the Dabbler or Devoted Eclectic categories, I've pushed myself down a purist speculative fiction channel (I know, I know - very one dimensional of me!).
With the list of reviews growing so fast over on the AWWC website, I'm starting to get a bit worried that I might miss some speculative fiction reviews (it's not always obvious from the title). I'd love to see anyone who has reviewed a speculative fiction novel add a comment here with a link to the review either on Goodreads or your blog/website.
Looking forward to being introduced to more excellent spec fiction!
-m