Poll

January 2021 Matchmaker Mods: The Sci-Fi Setup


WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

The mods have turned matchmaker, and are going to set you up with the book of your dreams via a mystery dating poll! I'm also taking you on a musical journey through my brain!

This is a secret poll, which means you won't be able to see what the books are, who voted for which book, or even which book is winning. You'll find out when the poll closes!

PLEASE READ BEFORE VOTING

Check the next message for details about the books. Yes, this is all you get, just go with it! And yes, it's a lot! If you don't have time/interest to watch all the videos, I've tried to make the text a little bit indicative of what you can expect from the book.

I wouldn't recommend watching any of this at work or with children around.

Availability on major sites at the time of checking is listed under "Stats". If you want me to check a specific library/bookstore, to see which books they have, please give me the link(s). If you prefer not to post that information publicly, please send me a direct/private message.

PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING

Don't try to guess what the books are! If you think you know, you can send me a direct/private message with your guesses. I will not confirm them while the poll is open, but I'll give praise where it's due once it closes.

Do share other thoughts, though! I would love to know what you're getting out of the descriptions. What themes or subgenres might the characters represent?

Go here to guess other books using the same format.

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND

The books are represented by characters from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Don't expect the characters to represent the books with 100% accuracy! If you haven't seen the show, that's OK, you don't need to know anything about it. But if you're currently watching it, or planning on watching it, and don't want any spoilers, let me know where in the series you are, and I'll tell you which videos you should skip.

AGAIN, WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

Here is a music video that explains everything! ;)


Satan Anna Fiend (aka. Santa Ana Winds)

THE BOOKS


SHOWTIME!

Dr. Akopian = (view spoiler)[ Woman on the Edge of Time (hide spoiler)]
I'm a dark, emotional, hopeful, and reflective Dream Ghost, who's Tightrope walking Back to the Future. (Please know that Anti-Depressants Are So Not A Big Deal!)

-> (view spoiler)[ This is a book about Connie Ramos, a Mexican-American woman who is committed to a mental hospital because she thinks she can travel into the future. Dr. Akopian is a psychiatrist, but since that isn't evident in Dream Ghost, I added Anti-Depressants as a clue. I was worried that choosing both Dr. Akopian and Janelle would give the impression that the book is about or by a Black woman. The book does examine racial inequality, so I didn't feel like I was misleading you too much.

It's a difficult but rewarding read, and I really wanted to see this make it to the shelf. I thought this book was absolutely beautiful, and those who don't mind knowing a little bit more about where the story takes you, you should read the description on Marge Piercy's website. Not for the super spoiler averse.

I think my mind pulled the visual for the setting from Tightrope while I was reading, and the beginning of Dream Ghost fits very well:

You know the trope
In storytelling it's a norm
When a person's in trouble, a manifestation of
Their subconscious appears in the form of a

Dream Ghost!
Giving advice you kind of already knew
I'm a Dream Ghost!
I'm really just your mind working things through

It's not clear if I'm hallucinated
Or actually magic
Let's leave it vague
It's more interesting that way

I'm going to take you
On a journey through time and space
And in the end you'll realize
You knew the answer all along


(hide spoiler)]

Heather = (view spoiler)[ The Gate to Women's Country (hide spoiler)]
I'm a challenging, reflective, and tense Trojan Woman. I think Girls Run the World, although they tend to Generalize About Men.

-> (view spoiler)[ I don't think I even need to explain the links? The book is about a dystopian matriarchal society, and the characters are preparing to perform an adaptation of The Trojan Woman. Tepper is of course known as a feminist writer, and I thought this might've sparked interesting discussion? Yes, I had two books by Tepper on my list of twelve. I was very much hoping Nathaniel would make it to the poll over this, because it focuses on ecological themes, always close to my heart! Do I think this is worth reading? Yes. Would I prefer people know this is the book they're voting for? Also yes.


(hide spoiler)]

Unikitty = (view spoiler)[ The Best of All Possible Worlds (hide spoiler)]
I'm a Super Cool, hopeful, and reflective Alien from Cloud Cuckoo Land, who needs a Makey Makeover.

Warning: (view spoiler)[

This book's gonna get stuck inside yo' head

'Cause it's so crazy, crazy
It's such a Crazy Book
Gonna make you happy, happy
Don't try to fight it, read along

This book's gonna get stuck inside you
Run but you can't hide, I'll find you
Shine so bright, my bling-bling blind you
Read this book, I must remind you

There's nothin' that you can do
There's nothin' that you can say
This book is stuck on replay
You better read it every single day

Even if you go insane
This book is now in your brain
And in your brain it will remain

This book is now stuck inside yo' head

(hide spoiler)] (no spoilers, tagged for length)

-> (view spoiler)[ It all starts when our protagonist's home is destroyed :( He has to travel to a new planet to find new friends. Their personalities aren't a perfect match, but they learn to work together as they travel the planet and meet space fairies ^_^

OK, I have no idea why everyone voted for this?! It was *clearly* the odd one out, not named after a CXG character, with a looooong warning about this book being hard to get rid of? I kept adding more and more layers of annoying to it, wanting to make it absolutely clear, that if you choose this one, it's on you! The Alien video actually does fit the plot of the book pretty well, but all the Lego nonsense refers to me trying to make you read this book. I've used it in a mod poll, and keep nominating it every single time it fits the theme. I can't believe I got it on the shelf in this magnificent manner!

🎵 And if you wonder who's to blame? Yeah, it's me! 🎵

Also, you've accidentally chosen the book with the most romance, but it's not exaaaactly a Kissing Book? *cackles*

I do actually like this book! :) I think? I keep wanting to read it again and again to find out!

🎵 I bet I’ll never forget it, cause once I read it, then I read it! 🎵

You Spin Me Round was initially a Unikitty song. I moved it because I didn't want to give a false impression about this having LGBTQIA+ rep. It does have one NB character, but that's really not in the center of the plot at all. The book just makes my head spin!

🎵 Open up your lovin' arms. Watch out, here I come! 🎵

Satan Anna Fiend was originally about Unikitty. I'd rewritten all the lyrics for the book, but it kept nagging at me how much better it would work if I just made it about *me*. So I decided to indulge in self-aggrandizement, and edited a whole video that's just about me?!

🎵 I'm mystical but also carry distressing plots. I bring whimsy and freakish fairies. 🎵


(hide spoiler)]

Darryl = (view spoiler)[ Unconquerable Sun (hide spoiler)]
I'm an adventurous and tense Gentleman Jack. I'm Gettin' Bi living on the Star Trek Voyager, although sometimes it makes me Spin Round (Like A Record).

-> (view spoiler)[ Oh Darryl! I feel like I betrayed both the book and y'all by forcing this through! I should've saved this book for a normal mod poll, where I'm sure it would've had an enthusiastic reception, and you'd have known what you were voting for. I listened to this on audiobook, and it just wasn't working. I had to listen to the first 30% three times, and I was still not taking in everything. I then listened to the other 70% without even trying to concentrate properly. It was the combination of a complex book on audio and 2020 completely fritzing my brain out. I'm sorry! I have no idea how well my links fit the book, because they were chosen based on what I knew before I started reading it. I was/am confident that many would enjoy the book despite my troubles, which is why I decided to use it.

So, it's a gender-bent (Gentleman Jack, You Spin Me Round) Alexander the Great (GJ for historical?!) space opera (Star Trek), about a woman in power (Voyager) in a society where everyone is bisexual (Gettin' Bi). I eventually learned that there are two other POV characters, who are actually much more interesting than what I was able to convey here, but alas I was so frustrated with my audio experience, that I didn't feel like I could accurately try to portray them. Again, I'm sorry!


(hide spoiler)]

Valencia = (view spoiler)[ Amatka (hide spoiler)]
I'm a challenging, dark, mysterious, and sad Triceratops, whose life motto is Don't Give Up! I enjoy learning the everchanging Word of the Day.

-> (view spoiler)[ I couldn't trick you into voting for Amatka :( It was so hard to try to describe this book with music videos! I'm not sure I can describe it with words, either, which is sad, considering that the book is very much about words and language. A bleak dystopian, it also has glimpses of hope, and you really should read it. It's so weird and wonderful!


(hide spoiler)]

If nothing else, this assists in my ongoing project to confuse the living hell out of the Y*uT*be algorithm. :D

Tough decision, for real. There's only one of these that doesn't have a lot of appeal, either on a "it's so me" or "it's so not me but I like it" level.

Hmm, want to share which one doesn't appeal and why? I'd be happy to see people comment on how they interpret the clues, ie. what type of books these might be. If everyone is 100% wrong about everything, I might have to do something about it! If you don't want to reveal your innermost thoughts, no pressure!

It's very much allowed to talk about any impressions, just no title guesses for these five!

Interestingly, this morning when I added this month's BOTMs to StoryGraph, I also looked at their recommendations for the group, based on what we've previously read. They present them in order of what is most likely to appeal, and out of these five, the current leader was the highest! So it seems like the group is able to vote for "an SFFBC book" even in a secret poll :D It's even better on the fantasy side, I'll go spill the beans over there!

I am also hoping people will explain why they chose the book they did

I went with Unikitty. I'm hoping that the Alien part is meaning that the main character is an actual alien and not a metaphor, but that's just me. I also like that "hopeful" was a descriptor. My impression is that this is more character focused.

I think my second pick would be Darryl, although I'm a bit confused by the Gentleman Jack thing. Honestly what drew me to it were the Voyager bit and the word "adventurous." I get from this that it might have a good bit of action and takes place on a space ship, which are both positives for me.

Interesting, interesting. No comment :)

Oh gosh. I'll try not to get too personal on this, this is everybody's show not just mine

Dr Akopian: every adjective in the first sentence is appealing. as is a story or character dealing with mental illness. (writing this out I have a guess as to the book, but will follow the boss' wishes and not say)

Heather: this was the semi-unappealing one. has a 2nd wave feminism feeling to it

Unikitty: the manic pixie might have a dark or lonely side, depths that they hide from others under the mania.

Darryl: gender fluidity, yeah!

Valencia: adjective string is, again appealing. climbing out of the darkness? drugs? what's the word of the day all about though?

voted for Unikitty with their decent number of attractive, Beth-orthogonal traits. the Dr in 2nd place is more "like me" I think.

Ooh, thanks Beth, that's very in depth!

If you think you know, send me a msg and if you're correct, you'll get all the glory when I reveal the books :)

This is too much work for me. I just want to vote for a book for which I can read the blurb :/

Ryan wrote: "This is too much work for me. I just want to vote for a book for which I can read the blurb :/"

Come back next month :)

I voted for Unikitty partly because I had a guess for it (but the stats rule it out) and because it looks like it would be a lot of fun. I am still tempted by Darryl (star trek reference and gender aspects are interesting). I agree with Beth about Heather even though I supported Heather originally.

Ryan, I would like to challenge you to find a way to say positive things every now and then! We spent dozens of hours working on these, and we knew they wouldn't be for everyone because nothing is! But as this is a OUR hobby, too, we also like being built up, or at least not torn down.

Examples: "This is too much work for me" --> "This must have taken forever!"
"I just want to vote for a book I can read the blurb for" --> "Can you please message me if any of these are on my shelf so I can vote for those?"

Thanks for keeping this in mind in the future!

Meredith, I wonder what your guess could’ve been 🤔 I kind of want to read that book!

Meredith wrote: "I voted for Unikitty partly because I had a guess for it (but the stats rule it out) and because it looks like it would be a lot of fun. I am still tempted by Darryl (star trek reference and gender..."

Meredith, your top 2 in both polls are the same as mine, so you obviously have good taste. I'd like to hear your guess for Unikitty after the poll is over.

I liked the sound of Heather, Unikitty and Valencia.

Valencia not available on kindle UK, so that’s out.

I’m way too insensitive to pick up on any 2nd wave feminism vibe but I’ll trust the instincts of those more clued in than me, so sorry Heather got to say goodbye to you as well.

So Cilla I’d like to choose contestant number 3, the kooky alien sounds like a fun Blind Date. Hello Unikitty.

Bobby wrote: "Meredith, your top 2 in both polls are the same as mine, so you obviously have good taste. I'd like to hear your guess for Unikitty after the poll is over. ."

You got it!

Sorry! Didn't mean to come across as rude. I appreciate the effort you put in and hope other people enjoy it. It's just not for me. I guess I'm a cantankerous old man at heart (emoji)

Thanks for saying! Let us know if you'd like any help picking. Otherwise, I hope you like whatever gets selected! At least this time we've read/started all of them, so we can guarantee they're all whole entire books with words written in a clear manner and topics that have wide appeal. I guess that's the trade off, since it's so rare we have any idea about the books in the polls.

Thank you for the time and the work! Awwww, of course it has to be Unikitty🐾🐾

I didn't intend to put people on an anti-Heather track! She also seems energetic, funny, self-aware.

Don't worry about it Beth! If people choose to vote based on someone's interpretation of what I was going for, I think that's as good a reason as any other!

Nice to see you back, Wen! ^_^

Beth wrote: "Oh gosh. I'll try not to get too personal on this, this is everybody's show not just mine

Dr Akopian: every adjective in the first sentence is appealing. as is a story or character dealing with me..."



Yesss. I completely agree with this. This is why I am voting Dr. A

On a side note, as a resident of California I had a great appreciation for the Santa Ana winds song. Had not heard of an increased suicide rate being associated with it. :| One thing I can say, with some relief, is that they've never caused anything like what they did to the character in the video. lol.

Heather? Do you mean Rebecca, the girl in the SAF video? I cut out the really spoilery parts, because well, spoilers, so I'm not sure if you mean what happens in that episode, or something else?

edit: I've never been to California, so I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Santa Ana :)

Beth wrote: "I didn't intend to put people on an anti-Heather track! She also seems energetic, funny, self-aware."

No worries, it's just more that I'd need to be in the right mood for feminist-infused sci-fi and my current mood is UNIKITTY. >^.^<

I edited it the post slightly to eliminate the character name. I think I put the wrong person. (Have not watched anything of the show except the "research material" in the first post, and the full version of the song about the winds.)

I've met the guy a number of times. He really is kind of a pest. :D

I probably wouldn't enjoy meeting the real Mr. Santa Ana, but I like the fictional one!

For those who don't mind spoilers for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, you can see what happens here. I'd originally planned on using this video, but I decided to cut out the spoilery parts AND make it shorter, because I thought over two hours of videos was probably enough XD

He heard us talking about him.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/los...

What a creative game! Thanks for putting it together.

I binge-watched the first season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and some of the second season. I really, really liked the character Heather, so I voted for that one.

I have no idea what any of the books are!

😄

I added a couple of things to the Stats under each character! Maybe it'll help you choose, if the unconventional clues are making your head spin? Or maybe it'll just make it harder? Either way, take a look at the new stats, and again, if you want me to check the availability on any site not listed there, let me know and I'm happy to do it!

The CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND nearly put me off but I decided to devote a chunk of my weekend and dive in!!

First of all I loved the musical intro.
But to the books:
Dr. Akopian - I love the Tightrope walking but it is a bit old for my taste.
Heather - Girls Run the World definitely appeals but again a little old.
(And yes, I realise I am even older than these books but I like to be 'hip with the kids' OK! :0)

Darryl - I'm a big Star Trek fan and Spin Round envelopes me in teen nostalgia. Also the fabulous Gentleman Jack - though I doubt the book will have any connection with the delicious historical costuming accuracy of this series.
However a 'brick' that is part of an incomplete series - I don't need that kind of heartbreak.
Valencia a challenging, dark, mysterious, and mopey dinosaur so not to my taste it might actually be the wild card.

And so to my choice:
Unikitty
The right age, the right size, The Lego Movie and dog loving Aliens - what's not to like?

Mopey dinosaur :D

I still have absolutely no idea what's happening with this poll even after the explanation! I watched the video, and I'm more confused. That said, Darryl because Star Trek? I am confused.

J.W. wrote: "I am confused."

Don't worry, so am I :)

This is where we are right now:

I voted Darryl, why? Star Trek.

We're halfway through voting, so I'm going to tell you a little bit about the song/video selection process for these characters :)

Dr. Akopian was pretty easy for me to put together. I knew immediately that these were the songs I wanted to use. Together Dream Ghost and Tightrope look/feel exactly the same as the book does in my mind. I can only think of one very tiny tweak I'd make, but I don't think it's a gamechanger.

Heather was even easier. I can confidently say that you could copy my text and use it as the blurb for the book. You get exactly what it says on the tin. I wouldn't change a thing.

Unikitty is a special little baby, who went through a couple of different forms before settling into this one. Two of her original songs were rudely ripped from her claws and used to shine a light on other characters. Of all the links, Alien is the one you should focus on. It's obviously not a 100% plot match, but I feel that it's surprisingly close.

Darryl was both easy and difficult. I picked the songs/videos before I read the book, based on the blurb and what I'd heard from people who'd read it. I got attached to the vision I had, and I couldn't let it go, even though it didn't necessarily match the book when I read it. Of the original 12, only Rebecca is more loosely based on facts, since that's the only book I haven't read.

Valencia is in part absolutely spot on, but I'm still not happy with Triceratops. I struggled trying to force one of the CXG songs to fit, and this was the one that was the least wrong, maybe? I could confuse everyone by posting all the other ones I considered, but that wouldn't be helpful, so I won't. Focus on Don't Give Up for what I feel best represents the book.

That didn't help at all, did it? :) Next I'll tell you what color socks I was wearing when I read each book!

I voted for Unikitty because I think this is the Exact Right Way for that book to get a shot at the shelf.

I'm leaning towards Dr. Akopian for the feels, and to Darryl for the fun.

Dr. Akopian - I like the tone of emotional, hopeful, and reflective. Plus time travel!
Heather - Matriarchal societies! Sounds like something that could be on my feminist TBR, but that I've been putting off due to the age.
Unikitty - Also like the hopeful and reflective tone, but the supercool pop-culture aspect isn't my style.
Darryl - Gender-bending adventure! Bi representation! Sounds progressive and exciting.
Valencia - The poignant feel, with a don't give up attitude might otherwise be up my feels alley, but lately I've been keeping things light. I do like the Word A Day hint of linguistic interest though.

The difference between first and second place is under five votes in both polls!

One more piece of useless information! On Monday, I'll give you REREAD or RATING, whichever has more "votes". So do you want to know:

REREAD: Have/Would I reread this book?
RATING: How does my rating compare to the Goodreads average rating for this book?

This "vote within a vote" (how deep will the rabbit hole go?) is tough. My choice is your rating vs GR average!

Beth wrote: "how deep will the rabbit hole go?"

How long is forever? What color is madness? When is now?

I'm interested to know if you would/have reread them.

I changed my vote from Unikitty to Darryl. These were always a close call for me, but I have a guess for Darryl of a book on my TBR, and I like to vote for my TBR books.

Thanks for spending time on my brainchild! ^_^

I've had a couple of the songs on mental loop ever since. Influential!

I go to the theater about 90 minutes late, skip the whole dang movie 'cause the credits are great :D