Poll

Hyperion +1 ... about time I dug it out from the bookshelf for a re-read :-)

Player of Games also a good one.

AndrewP wrote: "@ P.Aaron - Player of Games is NOTHING like Ready Player One or Reamde. "

Nothing like Reamde? You mean its actually Science Fiction and not needlessly long!?

I voted for The City and the Stars, because any group that claims to be for sci-fi fans needs a Clarke pick.

Tyler wrote: "I voted for The City and the Stars, because any group that claims to be for sci-fi fans needs a Clarke pick."

As long as it's not an Arthur C. Clarke award winner.

Tom wrote: "I would love it if we could do ranked choice voting. "

But only if we use the Condorcet method, and none of that namby-pamby Borda count.

Tyler wrote: "I voted for The City and the Stars, because any group that claims to be for sci-fi fans needs a Clarke pick."

Good news then -- we already did Childhood's End.

Tough choice between Left Hand and Old Man's War. Decisions, decisions...

I've read Left Hand of Darkness before for a bookclub and absolutely love it, but it is too soon for a re-read for me. (It is awesome fodder for costumes though - being a pregnant gender-neutral alien is good times.)

With apologies to Nick, I am just unattracted to a book with the word war in the title.

Everyone always says Player of Games is Banks' best book, and I've read #1, so I'm game for that, I think.

While I have already read it, I threw my vote in for Player of Games. I went on a Banks bender a while back and Player of Games stood out for me as the most interesting and engaging. I wish more of the Culture novels were available on Kindle, but for some reason there are only a few.

I wouldn't mind reading The Left Hand of Darkness, either, since for some reason I have never picked it up even though it is on my bookshelf. And as much as I enjoyed Old Man's War, I would rather save a Scalzi pick for Red Shirts, which is coming out soon.

Old Man's War is one of the best books I read of the last few years, the concepts are amazing and his writing style enjoyable. But as I have just finished the set I thought I would pick The Player of Games. But as a group pick I cannot recommend Old Man's War high enough.

Player of Games was the first Banks novel I read and sent me off to read all the rest of his sci fi and non sci fi stuff - haven't re-read it for a while but would be a great choice, highly recommended.

I voted for Hyperion though because that series is up there with Dune as my favourite 'Epic' sci fi - when I read it first 5 years or so ago I was blown away and wondered how I had missed it for 15 years, would be completely happy to reread it and hopefully a few folks would feel the same about it. Although be warned its a little intense, I could see half of the group loving it and half 'Lem'ing it......

But the choice as a whole seems very strong this time, honestly would be happy with any of them - whichever ones miss out this time we should maybe pick the 2nd choice for the next laser in July

o man I want to see how the voting is going so far! grrrrr. whats it looking like

I've read Old Man's War and liked it but I've long wanted to read The Left Hand of Darkness which garnered the first Hugo win for Novel by a female author which was quite a feat in 1970.

I voted for The Left Hand of Darkness, mainly because I haven't read Le Guin since my early teens, when I read an Earthsea novel . I can't remember which one, but I do remember enjoying it, and I'm curious to see if that was just my tastes have changed.

I also have read too many action Scifi's recently, and am in the mood for a speculative Scifi novel.

The suspense is killing me. Reveal! Reveal!

Does the asterisk (*) next to The City and the Stars denote anything?
By the way, really sad it came in dead last.

Louie wrote: "Does the asterisk (*) next to The City and the Stars denote anything?
By the way, really sad it came in dead last."

I think it is the one you voted for. The one I voted for has an asterisk too.

Hogan wrote: "I think it is the one you voted for. The one I voted for has an asterisk too."

Ah, thanks. That makes sense.

Oh well (I was rooting for OMW). Hyperion is pretty good. You can treat as a short story collection and do one or two stories per episode. The first horrific one is one of my favorites. But the overall story doesn't finish until the second book, which I think wasn't as successful. It's a good choice though.

Btw, the Shrike has 4 arms. Ignore the cover!

Nick- it was a valiant fight. Press on brother. Press on.

Yay, one of the two that I have on my 'to read' pile won. Although, judging from Tom and Scott Lynch's comments, we should probably only read the first couple of 100 pages and then Lem this one.