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

Chris’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Post here if you are reading or planning to read Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. No spoilers please!

There are a lot of characters, and we cover a lot of territory. I certainly feel like we're exploring the world, and learning more about the different kinden, their Arts and weaknesses.

There are a lot of "down" aspects to this chapter in our overall story. While most everyone is coming to the realization that the wasps are an existential threat, few are willing to put aside their mistrust of old rivals and cooperate. Totho's collaboration with the wasps, at first reluctant, has now heartbreakingly become almost a passion.

There were some bright spots, such as the gentlemanly aerial duel (not all wasps are inherently evil). And some interesting new possibilities (cities at the bottom of the lake!).

I did feel that we spent too long looking for a box. And we still don't know much about the box. And we are still going to be looking for the box in the next book. I hope that we eventually find the box, and that it is worth all the fuss ....

Two books where nature plays a large part are Annihilation (where nature runs amok) and Semiosis (where nature is sentient).

Well, after a recent QOTW discussion about fluffy reads, I'm going to nominate A Bad Spell in Yurt for Fantasy. It looks like fun!

And I nominate Some Desperate Glory for SF. I just finished it; I liked it very much, and I think there's a lot to discuss.

Well, I just finished The Saint of Bright Doors, and I'm underwhelmed. It's a finalist for both the Nebula and Hugo awards, but this book is clearly not for me. Petty factional squabbles and an unlikeable protagonist with no clear purpose. An interesting world and good writing can't save us from a truly dreary story.

On the other hand, I'm flying through Some Desperate Glory ; just can't put it down!

Oh, "Yurt" looks like so much fun! Thanks for the recommendation!

I enjoyed this story. There's a reason that Hannah Kaner is nominate for the Astounding Award this year (for best new author, presented alongside the Hugos). She has managed to create a unique world with several memorable characters, and a surprising villain.

I think there were a few flaws in the narrative. The knights guarding Blenradon at first seem to try to prevent Elogast from entering the city -- then seem to mock him for not finishing his quest.

But on the whole, I'm looking forward to the second book to continue the story. I particularly want to learn more about Skedi -- where did he come from, and is he really a force for good? Why did Inara's mother keep her secret, and what are the extent of her powers? More to come ....

Post here to discuss Trouble on Triton: An Ambiguous Heterotopia by Samuel R. Delany. Spoilers ahead!

Post here to discuss Godkiller by Hannah Kaner . Spoilers ahead!

Post here if you are reading or planning to read Trouble on Triton: An Ambiguous Heterotopia. by Samuel R. Delany No spoilers please!

Post here if you are reading or planning to read Godkiller by Hannah Kaner. No spoilers please!

It's June in Texas, and it's starting to get HOT. But June is a good month to read by the pool, in the shade, or even in the air conditioning. Wherever you live, I hope you find a comfortable spot to sit with a good book. Let’s see what’s on tap for our group this month!

Books of the Month - For June, you selected:
—June 2024 Science Fiction: Trouble on Triton: An Ambiguous Heterotopia by Samuel R. Delany
—June 2024 Fantasy: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

There are (or soon will be) a couple of starter topics up for each book, but please feel free to start more.

We also have our schedule set for the next couple of months:

—July 2024 Science Fiction: Exhalation by Ted Chiang
—July Fantasy: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
—August 2024 Science Fiction: Binti: The Complete Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor
—August Fantasy: I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

Series news - we are continuing the Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky and are currently reading & discussing the second book, Dragonfly Falling. Mid-month, we will move on to the third book, Blood of the Mantis. Please join in!

Lastly - Don't forget to check out the Question of the Week (a new one posts each Sunday) and drop by the “What are you reading in June 2024?” topic to share your picks, pans, and progress for the month! All genres welcome in this topic!

Enjoy!

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "It is shocking to me how much of today’s science fiction was built on the foundation of “classic” writers’ stories like those by Van Vogt. These 4 short stories were printed orginally in 1939! They..."

The Cushing archive at Texas A&M University has a large science fiction collection, including Isaac Asimov's papers and George R. R. Martin's papers, as well as a large collection of fiction. They use the materials to support their engineering classes. Lots of scientists and engineers are scifi nerds - there's a huge overlap between imagining what might be, and then making it real.

Just finished Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. An artfully told story that just pulls you in. It's more horror than fantasy, in a chilling-but-not-gory way.

Just finished Perilous Times for another book group discussion. A book that we all liked!

Ooh, strong opinions here! I often highlight material in textbooks/study materials. I NEVER mark in physical books, otherwise.

But I do most of my reading in ebooks, and I do use the highlight feature rather often. Maybe there's a riddle that is supposed to provide a clue -- I highlight it so I can come back later. Maybe there's a funny or thoughtful turn of phrase that I admire, particularly if I'm reading a book for a group discussion. It's a useful feature!

Do you write in your books? Why or why not?

(I'll be traveling for the holiday weekend, so I'm posting a bit early)

I agree, Natalie, there were a lot of battle scenes. But I think the pace really picked up near the end.

Each kinden is coming into clearer view. Each has their art, or their strengths, but each also has weaknesses. The Ant races are formidable soldiers, for example, able to communicate and cooperate instantly, yet tribal and set in their ways. The Beetles -- oh, the beetles are wonderful. The defense of the Collegium was just brilliant! Not soldiers at heart, but through their ingenuity able to defend their home one invention at a time.

But we have to contrast the reactions of the inventors to the result of their inventions. The Master with the sandblaster, appalled by the result. The Master with the submersible, who attacked the ship in the harbor while knowing the risk. And Totho, who is drawn to invent and improve weapons of war, while still trying to distance himself from their outcome.

Cheryl, I take your point. But these are August books. I’m hoping the waiting lines will be shorter then!

I nominate The Deep Sky for SciFi. I just finished reading it, and I think there's a lot of opportunity for discussion of this mystery/deep space scifi story.

I heard an interview with Peter Beagle on NPR this morning, and I'd like to nominate his latest book I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons for Fantasy. It sounds delightful.