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

Chris’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Hello everyone!
It's time to open nominations for our June 2025 Books of the Month. What do you want to be reading when summer begins?

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 March 16.
• The first (preliminary) round of polls will open Monday March 17 and will run through Sunday March 23.
• The final run-off polls go up Monday March 24 and will be open through Monday March 31.

Thanks!
Chris, Moderator

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:
SCIENCE FICTION:
Station Eternity
Mockingbird
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
Big Time
Norstrilia
New York 2140

FANTASY:
City of Dancing Gargoyles
Quicksilver
Age of Ash
The Princess Bride
The Waking of Angantyr

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

Please vote! Polls close Friday February 28 2025.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll

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

Please vote! Polls close Saturday February 22 2025.

Preliminary Fantasy Poll

Preliminary SF Poll

Shel wrote: "I'm going to suggest some new/upcoming releases this month.

For fantasy, I propose Toto by A.J. Hackwith. It's a retelling of the Wizard of Oz...from Toto's pers..."

Normally I would disallow books that are not yet published -- too many things can go wrong with release dates! But it looks like both books are available now, so no problem.

Kathi wrote: "Chris wrote: "Hello everyone!
It's time to open nominations for our May 2025 Books of the Month. What do you want to be reading then?”

Chris, could you update the dates for when nominations close..."

So sorry, updated now!!

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

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 Saturday February 15.
• The first (preliminary) round of polls will open Sunday February 16 and will run through Saturday February 22.
• The final run-off polls go up Sunday February 23 and will be open through Friday February 28.

Thanks!
Chris, Moderator

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:
SCIENCE FICTION:
Change Agent
Solar Express
The Last Murder at the End of the World
In the Company of Others
Blue Remembered Earth

FANTASY:
I Am Not a Serial Killer
Toto
Hard Magic
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men
Three Days to Never

Kathi wrote: "And apparently I’m a sleepy bat. Who knew? 😁🦇"

I'm a sleepy bat, too!

I have been totally thrown by not receiving email digests of the discussions. I don't log on to Goodreads daily, and there are too many notifications to be useful. But I don't see a better alternative tool, and I'm unlikely to change my habits. I'm still reading most of the selected books, but I'm much less likely to join discussions. I think this is a GREAT group, but the mechanics of staying engaged have made it more of a chore than a delight. So sad.

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

Please vote! Polls close Thursday January 31 2025.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll

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

Please vote! Polls close Thursday January 23 2025.

Preliminary Fantasy Poll

Preliminary SF Poll

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Then I can switch my nomination to Neuromancer if members are interested."

It's your choice! I'll leave it as is, though, unless you specifically request a change.

I am a big fan of Jack McDevitt's other work, but this book is just not for me. Two unlikeable men playing with a magic box. On the one hand, they are apparently knowledgeable fans of profound historical moments (Selma, the Library of Alexandria, Thomas Paine) as they embark on their scavenger hunt. But they are too casual, too cavalier with the possibilities of time travel, and make no effort other than costumes to try to fit in the periods (showing photographs! to historical figures). Maybe it's supposed to be funny and I just don't get it. Perhaps if I could like either character .... but no, not for me.

We read
* Neuromancer in December 2001
* The Fifth Season in August 2016
* Children of Time in February 2018

All are long enough ago that they are eligible for consideration this time around.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "I'll nominate The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang for fantasy.

And Count Zero by William Gibson for sci-fi, if sequels are allowed."

Sequels are allowed, although they may deter voters who have not read the first book. The first book in Gibson's Sprawl trilogy is Neuromancer, which has not been a group read. But I have gathered from reviews of the trilogy that each book is standalone, although they take place in the same world.

Hello everyone, and happy New Year!
It's time to open nominations for our April 2025 Books of the Month. What do you want to be reading then?

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 Thursday January 16.
• The first (preliminary) round of polls will open Friday January 17 and will run through Thursday January 23.
• The final run-off polls go up Friday January 24 and will be open through Friday January 31.

Thanks!
Chris, Moderator

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:
SCIENCE FICTION:
Mal Goes to War
Count Zero
Children of Time
Victories Greater Than Death
Carnival

FANTASY:
The Water Outlaws
The Last Hour Between Worlds
The Fifth Season
The Golem of Brooklyn
The Hanging City

I'm not really a fan of short stories. I do find Chiang something of an exception to this rule, though; he explores so many disparate concepts from unique angles. And many of his stories are not really short ....

I liked Story of Your Life and the Tower of Babel story. I didn't care for the golem story, just too long and drawn out.

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

Please vote! Polls close Tuesday December 31 2024.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll

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

Please vote! Polls close Tuesday December 24 2024.

Preliminary Fantasy Poll

Preliminary SF Poll

Hello everyone, and happy holidays!
It's time to open nominations for our March 2025 Books of the Month. What do you want to be reading then?

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 December 17.
• The first (preliminary) round of polls will open Wednesday December 18 and will run through Tuesday December 24.
• The final run-off polls go up Wednesday December 25 and will be open through Tuesday December 31.

Thanks!
Chris, Moderator

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:
SCIENCE FICTION:
I Who Have Never Known Men
Hell Divers
Sarah Canary
The Other Valley

FANTASY:
The Broken Sword
Witches Be Crazy: A Tale That Happened Once Upon a Time in the Middle of Nowhere
The Tainted Cup
The Golem of Brooklyn

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

Please vote! Polls close Saturday November 30.

Final Fantasy Poll

Final SF Poll