The Sword and Laser discussion
How to select the January Laser pick
I think it's time Nick was given his reward for faithful service.
Old Mans War!
Old Mans War!
I have not read a lot of sci-fi, so I'm really glad the January pick is going to be a laser book!
I would love to read Burning Chrome because it would be something different. Old Man's War has been read by other groups.
Well, we've read Scalzi too... Fuzzy Nation. My personal preference is to read things that might be new to people who are dipping into the subgenre (Laser or Sword) and that:
a) Aren't widely read/popular already. I get reading The Hobbit and even Cloud Atlas, but both of those books were going to already be in peoples' faces due to the movies for each. I love discovering new things and exploring them here (Robin Hobb was an example for me)
b) aren't the start of a series arc* (episodic series are fine)
c) Bring attention to an author that people might not already know. I like Scalzi a lot, but he's someone who any SF Laser fan will know of even if a given book in his ouvré might not be widely known. I think it would be cool if we introduced lesser known authors to the S&L group.
We're also big enough that we could potentially help get a talented writer some meaningful sales. This doesn't necessarily mean a new author... Lem would be one as would someone like Walter John Williams. On the Sword side Robin Hobb might be well known to dedicated fantasy fans but wasn't familiar to me at all.
Examples on the Laser side :
Moxyland or Zoo CIty by Lauren Beukes
The Quantum Thief, Hannu Rajaniemi
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
Vurt or Channel Sk1n by Jeff Noon.
This Is Not A Game, Walter John Williams
On the Sword side:
Sixty One Nails, Mike Shevdon
Servant of the Underworld, Aliette de Bodard
Child of Fire, Harry Connelly
Hounded, Kevin Hearne
*by series arc I mean where the story spans the volumes of the series vs something episodic where each novel is self-contained even if they take place in the same universe. First books where the story spans the series or most of it seem to have pacing issues for some people.
I'm flexible.Any book that involves people dropping out of space craft
and blowing things up would be fine.
Everitt wrote: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"I second this nomination, if only to perhaps encourage it to be included in some kind of vote between top contenders.
Tom wrote: "Less Democratically I -- er-- me--- er-- WE want to read more Philip K. Dick or Stanisław Lem"I'm currently reading a rather Lem-like book about the Cold War as seen through the eyes of the Soviet space-dogs and their descendents.
I vote for Old Man's War too. Just finished reading it last month and I think everyone should have a chance to read it, since it's awesome.André
@Sean, I was fortunate to get that same book at CapClave this year. Nick Mamatas was recommending it. I look forward to reading it.
I vote for Stanislaw Lem this time around!
Mod
January's my birthday month, and I request we read PKD. (Lemme guess - Nick's is January too, right?)
Tassie Dave wrote: "We haven't read any Philip K Dick, so he gets my vote."PKD gets my vote
Would love to read Old Mans War.
Andrew wrote: "I would also like to throw a vote in for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"id like to see a different PKD being read...my choice would be Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said or Martian Time-Slip
January I'll be ready to jump back in to a group read/discussion, and I recently picked up some sale priced PKD on Kindle - A Scanner Darkly, Ubik, and The Man in the High Castle. Any one of which would be a fine choice.
I have to go with Old Man's War - for the entirely mercenary reason of it being a book I have but have not read yet.
Ether Old Man's War (never read and Scalzi myself) or The Man in the High Castle since its been sitting on my shelf for over a year and then I'd be forced to pick it up.
Dara wrote: "Ether Old Man's War (never read and Scalzi myself) or The Man in the High Castle since its been sitting on my shelf for over a year and then I'd be forced to pick it up."I have the same problem with The Man in the High Castle. I'm definitely hoping for a PKD pick for January.
Either Old Man's War or PKD's Do androids ... are ok with me, since I've already read both recently, so I can join the discussion without adding another book to my already way to busy reading schedule for the winter.
Old Man's War as I got it in the Humble Bundle and haven't read it yet.If PKD then The Man in the High Castle gets my vote.
I suggest you make a spinning wheel that has a bunch of books you want (or maybe multiple instances of a handful of titles), give it a spin and that is the pick.And here I was thinking that based on this thread, you might pick Burning Chrome...
Edit to add: I have no real preference. I haven't read much PKD, never read Old Man's War (or Starship Troopers or previous S&L pick The Forever War which apparently inspired it), and the only Lem I've read is Solaris: The Definitive Edition. So I figure that no matter what gets selected, it will be something new to me. Though I do have a copy of Old Man's War from the Humble Bundle.
Alex wrote: "terpkristin wrote: "I suggest you make a spinning wheel that has a bunch of books you want (or maybe multiple instances of a handful of titles), give it a spin and that is the pick."This should happen on the video show! "
Totally. :)
Put all the books on a dartboard, blindfold Veronica, and have her throw darts at them.
Pickle wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I would also like to throw a vote in for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"id like to see a different PKD being read...my choice would be Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said or Ma..."
Me too. Too many people read Blade Runner. He has written many other books, so just don't limit to that book just because of the movie.
What author can you get on the show during January? I like having an author on whose book we've read recently. It makes it easier to ask questions. I guess that leave out Lem or PKD.
Tamahome wrote: "Isn't there a robot PKD?"I thought his head got lost.
If it's down to Scalzi or PKD, I'd rather read PKD's, The Man in the High Castle. It's a great book, and not discussed enough in my opinion. Just the story of how it was written is fascinating.
Tamahome wrote: "Put all the books on a dartboard, blindfold Veronica, and have her throw darts at them."I like the idea of a spinning wheel of book choices.
Could at some point the dragon set fire to it, giving us a flaming spinning wheel of S&L selection? (Not the books, never the books!)
I imagine though that V will favor assassin throwing knifes to darts.
Tom wrote: "Empress Veronica has bestowed upon me right and title to dictate the book pick for January.While we are pleased with this power, we also wish to at least nod in acknowledgement to the wishes of t..."
Well we've read Lem already. Have we already read Dick? I'd vote for that, great discussion potential. There have also been loads of newly released audiobook versions of much of his work.
Any fans of the Miles Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold? Most people start with The Warrior's Apprentice. It's the most AMAZING series!
It doesn't matter what you pick because everybody's going to go read Memory of Light, probably ;)
Scalzi is always great but my vote goes to PKD.
Tom wrote: "Empress Veronica has bestowed upon me right and title to dictate the book pick for January.While we are pleased with this power, we also wish to at least nod in acknowledgement to the wishes of t..."
ah tom that made me laugh my socks off! I vote for old mans war as I seem to have heard its name rather a lot!!
Difficult....Should it be something new and allow people to investigate or old and allow folks to discover.
I loved Old Mans War, remarkable book. I'd vote for that just for the excuse to read it again.
Laurel wrote: "Any fans of the Miles Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold? Most people start with The Warrior's Apprentice. It's the most AMAZING series!"I would second it.
My favourite book from this year was The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, which was actually recommended in one of the Sword and Laser vids by a viewer. I simply could not put this book down, and months later, I still find myself thinking about the characters and excited for the next in the series!
I'd rather see a novel for pick, since Burning Chrome is a collection of short stories. No problem with Old Man's War. If PDK, then I'd opt for Androids- both of those are at the top of the list.But I'm still hoping for future sci-fi picks by Ursula K. Le Guin The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, Octavia Butler Lilith's Brood, James Tiptree Jr. or Brightness Falls from the Air
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
Against a Dark Background (other topics)Wizard and Glass (other topics)
Dune (other topics)
Legion (other topics)
Assassin's Apprentice (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
C.J. Cherryh (other topics)Lois McMaster Bujold (other topics)
Philip K. Dick (other topics)
Stanisław Lem (other topics)
While we are pleased with this power, we also wish to at least nod in acknowledgement to the wishes of the people.
We have come to understand that a conspiracy has developed to petition for Burning Chrome to be selected. In its favor, we note that it is a selection of short stories which is new and interesting. To its deteriment it is written by an author we have read before. Repeating authors, while it can be done, causes rage and anger to rise in the humors of our Empress and is not advised without careful consultation.
Democratically, Old Man's War is at the top of our Listopia - http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/20... and has been petitioned on its own by the Nick-ites.
Less Democratically I -- er-- me--- er-- WE want to read more Philip K. Dick or Stanisław Lem
What say you, people of Swordlaseria? Let your voices be heard-- or written-- or rather typed --- HERE and we shall consider and rule.