Poll

I'm torn..I've heard a lot of good things about The Sparrow, but I've been wanting to read Battle Royale for awhile.

Interesting choices, some we have seen before as non-winners in previous polls. I voted for th one I not want to read but will be happy with any of the choices.

I'm voting for Dooms Day Book just because I love Connie Willis.

It's called Doomsday Book because when you finish, you'll want to kill the characters in it.

Connie Willis's humor is on the level of Three's Company. The book would be ten pages if any character had an IQ over 50.

I adored The Sparrow, but its basic premise is intrinsically linked with Christian theology, which may not appeal to everyone. The Snow Queen was also incredible. I keep meaning to read the sequel, which I only learned about recently.

I'm voting for The Snow Queen because it fits in with my quest to read Hugo winning scifi novels.

Hmm, apparently Snow Queen has some scene that might have "inspired" a major scene in one of the Star Wars movies. But I think it's more of a slow burn of a book.

Doomsday book would be great for discussion. Although it does crack me up how they have the tech to send someone back in time but haven't gotten phone tech past the mid 20th century.

Also torn. I've already read Battle Royale (also a great movie by Takashi Miike, one of his tamer movies...he's getting soft in his old age!) but The Sparrow sounds interesting.

How offensive are The Sparrow's ties to Christian theology?

We should all read the kindle samples and vote on them, heh.

Tamahome wrote: "We should all read the kindle samples and vote on them, heh."

That is way too reasonable. I just vote on how much i like the cover art and how catchy the title is.

That's probably the majority of sales.

Ooo... The Snow Queen for sure. My wife read it and loved it.

Also, Geoff, high five, because I am also trying to read all of the Hugo books!

Since this seems to be the more active thread, reposting what Sean said in the other thread

Sean wrote: "How are we supposed to read The Snow Queen if it wins, seeing as it's kinda out of print? I mean, there's an Audible version, but not everybody likes audiobooks, and Amazon only has 42 used copies ..."

There is also no Kindle edition as far as I can tell, and I bet a small portion of the audience will accidentally read The Snow Queen

Yeah, I made that other thread just so people who haven't listened to the podcast don't miss the vote, especially given the very sort voting window.

Sky wrote: "Also torn. I've already read Battle Royale (also a great movie by Takashi Miike, one of his tamer movies...he's getting soft in his old age!) but The Sparrow sounds inte..."

I didn't find the Sparrow's Christian themes offensive at all – rather well-explored. Even the priest character struggles with his faith, which is a central struggle in the book. And other characters are atheists, and they are far from straw men. I am not a Christian, and I loved this book. All of its themes were deftly handled. Would love to hear S&L discuss!

I'm voting for The Sparrow!

Erik wrote: "Ooo... The Snow Queen for sure. My wife read it and loved it.

Also, Geoff, high five, because I am also trying to read all of the Hugo books!"

Not sure if I'm reading them all. But I'm starting with a few from the late 70s to early 90s era

I'm not sure I want to read any of these, so I'm just voting for the 1st one

The Snow Queen is the best read, plus best alternate pick is her 'Heaven chronicles' series. especially its fall in vain of leviathan wake( James S. A. Corey ).

The Snow Queen and Doomsday both look interesting. I think I'd be happiest with Snow Queen.

Sky wrote: "Also torn. I've already read Battle Royale (also a great movie by Takashi Miike, one of his tamer movies...he's getting soft in his old age!) but The Sparrow sounds inte..."

I'm not a particularly religious person, so I wouldn't be the most sensitive to it, but I did not find the Sparrow offensive at all. I found it much more about personal faith and what that drives you to do than specifically pro or con the church.

That being said, it's a phenomenal book, but it is not for the faint of heart. It deals with some deep and heavy issues, and I had to take a break a few times because my soul just hurt.

Oh my -- this is a bit unusual. I have read and really like them all. Reread time perhaps?

Doomsday Book. Connie Willis is one of my favourite authors, and the book is fantastic!

Sidenote: Doomsday book is also a Hugo winner.

It should be noted that the author of the Sparrow was not Christian, just found Christian and specifically Catholic themes/characters interesting.

I'd love to read Doomsday Book! I love what I've read already by Connie Willis. I wouldn't mind reading The Snow Queen either, if it wasn't out of print. The fact that it's out of print would probably make it hard for me to be able to read, since I have trouble concentrating on audiobooks. The other two don't sound like books that I'd enjoy.

Regarding the Snow Queen being out of print. There are many used copies available. The only format unavailable is eBook.

Okay, I'm convinced! Just ordered used copies of both The Snow Queen and Doomsday Book, just in case one of them wins the poll. I want to read them both anyway, since they are both Hugo winners for best novel. I'll probably read Battle Royale if it wins too, but it's a little more expensive, so I'm going to wait to order it if it actually wins.

The sparrow already had my vote but all this talk about it has made me want to read it soon even if it doesn't win.

The only book I'm not sure I would pick up is Battle Royale because of the issue of different translations plus I'm not sure I want to read anything that dark atm

Tom wrote: "Regarding the Snow Queen being out of print. There are many used copies available. The only format unavailable is eBook."

Amazon has about a hundred copies in all formats (including some that cost over $20 and a few that are over $100). Is that enough for the entire group?

Sean wrote: "Tom wrote: "Regarding the Snow Queen being out of print. There are many used copies available. The only format unavailable is eBook."

Amazon has about a hundred copies in all formats (including so..."

I would probably spring for the mass market paperback version for one cent.

Tom wrote: "Sean wrote: "Tom wrote: "Regarding the Snow Queen being out of print. There are many used copies available. The only format unavailable is eBook."

Amazon has about a hundred copies in all formats ..."

Oh and there's also ABE books. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc... And your local used bookstore. And libraries.

Tom wrote: "I would probably spring for the mass market paperback version for one cent..."
Oh and there's also ABE books. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc... And your local used bookstore. And libraries.

lol. But Tooooom! I can't pick it up at the grocery store!

Also, where's the directions to my local library, dude? I need you to either personally provide me with the book or hold my hand through this whole distressing process or I cannot be held responsible for the inevitable, epic hissyfit that WILL ensue.

Really though, I am NOT looking forward to picking up a used copy of any of these books as the best place for me to go is my local comic book shop. Which I have been horribly neglectful of lately... I fear the disapproving glare of my Comicbookguy and the back-breaking weight of my uncollected comics...

Man, the Sparrow sounds like such an interesting concept to begin with. I wonder if the Jesuit connection will give it shades of Canticle for Leibowitz.

I've read all four--that's an eclectic group of novels. My first thought is that Battle Royale is the odd man out for its violence, but then I think that Doomsday kills a bunch of people, and Sparrow has those painful scenes too...But Snow Queen is the one I'd most like to reread. With the Whelan cover.

I picked Doomsday since I loved To Say Nothing of the Dog although I know it's supposed to have a completely different feel to it.