How to select the January Laser pick

[Rick]

Meghan wrote: "I don't really care what we read, because odds are, I haven't read it. Maybe a poll should just be set up.
"

Megan - Something I didn't realize existed for a long time are the S&L Listopia lists for Fantasy and SF for the group where we can all vote for things we'd like to read. There are issues with that approach to selecting books (people who voted long ago might not even be here anymore, new people haven't voted yet, etc) but I can think of worse ways to select books than to go down those lists. There are very good books in the top 20 of each list and those 40 books represent over 3 years of selections.

In reality I think we'd want to intersperse other books in the selection - new authors who are doing cool things, etc. But even as a suggested reading list for yourself, you could do a lot worse than to start reading in those lists (or, if you're well-read in Fantasy but not SF, the SF list, etc).

FYI, here are links to the lists (maybe we could sticky a post with these?):

SF List: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/20...
Fantasy List: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/20...

What we've read: http://swordandlaser.wikia.com/wiki/B...

[Nick]

I know a lot of people didn't know about the listopia lists but if they read the FAQ they are listed right at the top. Moral of the story is please read the FAQ.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...

[Andrew]

Rick wrote: "Meghan wrote: "I don't really care what we read, because odds are, I haven't read it. Maybe a poll should just be set up.
"

Megan - Something I didn't realize existed for a long time are the S&L ..."

So, it's been decided then? Based on the book list in the Sword and Laser wiki, January's selection will be Old Man's War. Good to know.

[Matthew Anderson]

Ok then, OMW it is. What does everyone want to do for February?

[David(LA,CA)]

Matthew wrote: "Ok then, OMW it is. What does everyone want to do for February?"

I'd say someone goes in, cleans up the listopia fantasy list (it currently has Assassin's Apprentice and The Hobbit on the list of things we still want to read), and we do a vote from whatever is in the top 3 by then.

This is of course if our benevolent overlords don't just tell us what we're reading.

[Matthew Anderson]

If it's going to be a fantasy book, then I propose A Clash of Kings, mainly because I'm a selfish bastard and that's the Ice and Fire book I'm up to.

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

Rick wrote: "Some of my reaction is based on the fact that the last 5 or 6 books have been basic reading in the genres or very popular and highly exposed. The one that wasn't, Assassin's Apprentice, was a nice change. I'd like the Laser equivalent of that, hence some of my suggestions above. To me, book groups aren't just to get someone to read just the popular stuff but to expose its members to new/cool stuff in the topic area, especially things that can serve as the basis for discussions."

lol, the irony of this statement is that Assassin's Apprentice is the book we've read lately that I have been aware of and wanted to read for years! (I wanted to read Foundation too, but that was more on the list of books I thought I should get around to reading 'some day' than the list of books I'm really excited about reading) I'd never heard of the other books we read since the video show started, so there were lots of surprises there for me. Everyone is different, and what we have come across is different too. Not everyone pays attention to best-sellers etc. I haven't read Old Man's War, but the synopses reminds me of a short story I dimly remember reading years ago and enjoyed, so I really want to see what this book is like, and I think it's time to make Old Man's War the pick, just from the amount of talk I've heard about it since I joined this forum back when the video show started.

Of course, our lesser dictator, Tom, shall decide. :) The intro to this thread had me in stitches.

[Molly]

I'm on board with Old Man's War.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

Andrew wrote: "So, it's been decided then? Based on the book list in the Sword and Laser wiki, January's selection will be Old Man's War. Good to know. "

I added that to the list after listening to the latest podcast.
It was decided at the end of that show.

I'm cool with letting Veronica choose February's book.

As long as it's not from her other book club ;-)

[Dazerla]

I'd go for Old Man's War.

[Leesa]

I've listened to OMW twice and recently acquired the ebook from the Humble Bundle so I am going to revisit this one. I've already declared that in 2013 I will make room for some rereads: first Old Man's War, then revisit my favorite series, The Dark Tower and all the related books.

So excited!

Seriously, OMW got me re-interested in sci fi after I sorta forgot about the genre while I was reading thrillers/suspense/mysteries for the past several years.

Looking forward to the discussions!

[David Sven]

Leesa wrote: "then revisit my favorite series, The Dark Tower"

I think I'm going to be rereading that as well. I'm also hoping to do a group re read of Steven Erikson's Malazan series starting January.

[Craig]

Old Mans War gets my vote.

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

David Sven wrote: "Leesa wrote: "then revisit my favorite series, The Dark Tower"

I think I'm going to be rereading that as well."

I'm thinking of giving that series a second go too. I think I'm just about over the massive spoiler my mum gave me which stopped me from continuing after the first book, which I had quite enjoyed.

[Linguana]

Anything but Scalzi and I'm in.

[Rob, Roberator]

I have a friend who is on Wizard and Glass of his very first reading of the Dark Tower. I've read that book 4 or 5 times.

Talking to him about it has me really itching to re-read, but I have too new many books.

He's doing the audiobooks. So I may borrow the ones he's listened to already after I finish with Harry Potter, Dune (which I got for free thanks to S&L!) and Legion

[Jen]

I would like to add my vote for Old Man's War as well, so that I can finally read something from the humble bundle! Or humble bumble as I like to call it :)

[Tamahome]

OMW has been already picked.

[[deleted user]]

Tamahome wrote: "OMW has been already picked."

That's just what they want you to think.

[Ian]

Somehow I missed this thread but happy its Old mans war so then next time we think about a laser pick we can look at some other options

Personally I think the group should read one of the early iain m banks culture novels or Against A Dark Background which is standalone, they fit the criteria of being standalone books set in an overall setting ie no prior knowledge required, and honestly this is some of the best sci fi of the last 20 years, I would pitch this as the march laser pick

[Terri]

Old Man's War!

[AndrewP]

Looks like Old Man's War has been picked as it shows on the main Sword and Laser page now. I have already read it so I will be reading another in the series instead.

[Tamahome]

Ed wrote: "Besides Bujold is more well known for her Vorkosigan books than her fantasy, and they have proven to be very influential. She won two Hugo Awards and was nominated for two other Hugo Awards all for books in the Vorkosigan Saga. She also received two Locus Awards for books in the Vorkosigan Saga..."

Incomparable did a podcast on Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series:

http://www.theincomparable.com/2011/0...

It sounded like most of the books have been giving away by Baen on a cd that comes with Cryoburn.

The aac version of the podcast has chapter breaks so you can skip the spoilers, pretty cool.

[Christopher]

What about something in The Wheel Of Time in honor of its finale?

[Christopher]

Or how about Uglies by Scott Westerfeld? Future tech, metaphors on body immage, betrayal, death, falling governments. Sounds good to me :)

[Tamahome]

Christopher wrote: "Or how about Uglies by Scott Westerfeld? Future tech, metaphors on body immage, betrayal, death, falling governments. Sounds good to me :)"

And hover skateboards.

[Heather]

Unhelpfully, I'm good with any of Tom's suggestions for January. Could I make a suggestion for a future month? I'm almost finished with Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson and I think it would be a great pick for a future month. Among the pros: Beautifully written. Engaging characters and plot. Non-Western setting. Many, many possibilities for related discussion. Science and fantasy elements, so it could count as both a Sword and a Laser.