Chris’s Comments (group member since Feb 25, 2011)

Chris’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Final polls are now open! What would you like to read in December 2025?

Please vote! Polls close Tuesday September 30 2025.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll
(there was a tie for second place, so three options are included)

I read this quite some time ago. I am always impressed by KSR's meticulous, thoughtful approach to the science, but somewhat less impressed by his character development. I've found other of his books to be more enjoyable reads, but it was interesting to imagine this scenario.

Preliminary polls are now open! What would you like to read in December 2025?

Please vote! Polls close Tuesday September 23 2025.

Preliminary Fantasy Poll

Preliminary SF Poll

Kathi wrote: "For fantasy: The Master of Whitestorm by Janny Wurts, one of her early novels, a stand-alone. An author who always delivers, IMO.

For SF: Axis by [autho..."

Axis is book 2 in the Spin series. We last read [book:Spin|910863] in December 2011, so this sequel is allowed.

I'll throw in a couple, from a panel discussing recommended reads from a convention this past weekend.

Fantasy: Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey - a dark historical fantasy from a predictably good author

SciFi: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs - a twisty space opera

I liked the Raven Scholar quite a bit. I didn't particularly like our main characters, either, so I see the point that others made above. But the twistiness of the plot, and the inclusion of the Ravens (I'm kind of a bird nut) made the book work for me.

I read this with another group a couple of months ago and they were similarly divided ....

Dawn wrote: "I did consider that when I was nominating it. But while the trilogies seem to build on each other a little, I do think they are standalone. Different POVs, different generations, different politics..."

Thanks, Dawn, I'll leave it as is!

Dawn wrote: "For Fantasy Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey

For Science Fiction Emissaries from the Dead by Adam-Troy Castro"

Dawn, while Kushiel's Scion is Book 1 of a trilogy, it appears that this is actually the second trilogy in Kushiel's Universe. The first trilogy begins with Kushiel's Dart. I wonder if the back story from the first trilogy would be necessary to understanding the second - what do you think? Let me know if you would like to change your nomination to the first book of the first trilogy instead.

Chris wrote: "Forrest wrote: "Science Fiction: The Shadow of the Torturer

It is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing t..."

Sorry, I was too quick to reply. We use the Goodread tags to identify books as Scifi or Fantasy, and this is more often considered Fantasy. Forrest, that means that you have suggested two Fantasy books for December.

I've put the Bear and the Nightengale on the nominations list for Fantasy, but I could switch for Shadow of the Torturer if you'd prefer. And let me know if you have another SciFi choice,

Forrest wrote: "Science Fiction: The Shadow of the Torturer

It is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin ..."

The group read this in May 2013, quite some time ago, definitely more than 2 years! This is a valid choice.

Forrest wrote: "Fantasy: The Bear and the Nightingale

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind—she..."

The group read this in December 2017 and February 2020. That's more than 2 years, though, so it's a valid choice.

Hello everyone!
It's time to open nominations for our December 2025 Books of the Month. What do you want to be reading during the holidays?

Each group member may make 1 science fiction and/or 1 fantasy nomination in this thread. If you would like to make a nomination, please reply to this post with the title and author of the book(s) you would like to put forward for the group’s consideration. A couple of suggestions to keep in mind:

1. Telling us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination. If possible, please use a link to the book and author in your nomination post. Click on “add book/author" for an easy way to do that.

2. To see if your nomination has already been read by the group, you can check:

a. the group's bookshelf for Previous Books of the Month

and/or

b. these threads:
Master list of Previous Books of the Month 2018 - Present
Master list of Previous Books of the Month (Apr-Dec 2017)
Master list of Previous Books of the Month 2012 - 2017
Master list of Previous Books of the Month 2006 - 2011

Books the group has read in the past 2 years are not eligible for current consideration. Being chosen as a past BotM prior to that time is not an automatic disqualification, but be aware that it may hinder your nomination’s chances at the polls.

General guidelines:
• Feel free to re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
• For questions regarding specifics such as book formats, books in series, self-nomination and various rules for nominations, please see the group FAQ.
• Seconding isn't necessary in this group.
• Friendly discussion & debate is strongly encouraged, but let's please keep things civil.

Poll schedule:
• Nominations will remain open through Tuesday September 16.
• The first (preliminary) round of polls will open Wednesday September 17 and will run through Tuesday September 23.
• The final run-off polls go up Wednesday September 24 and will be open through Tuesday September 30.

Thanks!
Chris, Moderator

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:
SCIENCE FICTION:
Faller
Emissaries from the Dead
These Burning Stars
Bagombo Snuff Box
Remember You Will Die
Axis

FANTASY:
Kushiel's Scion
The Bear and the Nightingale
Once Was Willem
The Master of Whitestorm
Stone Blind

Our final polls are tight this month! Please take the opportunity to vote before polls close on August 31.

Final polls are now open! What would you like to read in November 2025?

Please vote! Polls close Sunday August 31 2025.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll

Preliminary polls are now open! We have lots of interesting choices this month. What would you like to read in November 2025?

Please vote! Polls close Sunday August 24 2025.

Preliminary Fantasy Poll

Preliminary SF Poll

Kateblue wrote: "For Fantasy, Katabasis. I loved Babel, so I have high hopes for this

For SF Shroud. Adrian Tchaikovsky is finally beginning to get the recognitio..."
We have already selected Shroud as a BOTM for October. Would you like to make another suggestion for scifi?

Hello everyone!
It's time to open nominations for our November 2025 Books of the Month. What do you want to be reading late this year?

Each group member may make 1 science fiction and/or 1 fantasy nomination in this thread. If you would like to make a nomination, please reply to this post with the title and author of the book(s) you would like to put forward for the group’s consideration. A couple of suggestions to keep in mind:

1. Telling us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination. If possible, please use a link to the book and author in your nomination post. Click on “add book/author" for an easy way to do that.

2. To see if your nomination has already been read by the group, you can check:

a. the group's bookshelf for Previous Books of the Month

and/or

b. these threads:
Master list of Previous Books of the Month 2018 - Present
Master list of Previous Books of the Month (Apr-Dec 2017)
Master list of Previous Books of the Month 2012 - 2017
Master list of Previous Books of the Month 2006 - 2011

Books the group has read in the past 2 years are not eligible for current consideration. Being chosen as a past BotM prior to that time is not an automatic disqualification, but be aware that it may hinder your nomination’s chances at the polls.

General guidelines:
• Feel free to re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
• For questions regarding specifics such as book formats, books in series, self-nomination and various rules for nominations, please see the group FAQ.
• Seconding isn't necessary in this group.
• Friendly discussion & debate is strongly encouraged, but let's please keep things civil.

Poll schedule:
• Nominations will remain open through Sunday August 17.
• The first (preliminary) round of polls will open Monday August 18 and will run through Sunday August 24.
• The final run-off polls go up Monday August 25 and will be open through Sunday August 31.

Thanks!
Chris, Moderator

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:
SCIENCE FICTION:
Neuromancer
Camp Zero
Those Beyond the Wall
Empire of Silence
Esperance
The Disappeared

FANTASY:
Comfort Me with Apples
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Katabasis
Red Sister
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
The Devils

Final polls are now open! We have lots of interesting choices this month. What would you like to read in October 2025?

Please vote! Polls close Thursday July 31 2025.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll

Preliminary polls are now open! We have lots of interesting choices this month. What would you like to read in October 2025?

Please vote! Polls close Thursday July 24 2025.

Preliminary Fantasy Poll

Preliminary SF Poll

I'll add a couple by two dependable authors

The Waking of Angantyr by Marie Brennan for Fantasy

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky for SciFi