Book of the Month - August 2015 Suggestions

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Good morning fellow Dragons and Jetpackers! I was planning on doing this last night, but after a very busy week and two teeny glasses of wine I fell asleep!

As has been mentioned, the new format for voting etc. is to start earlier to give people a chance to track down books.

So, to business! Our August 2015 BotM is going to be a themed one: Colonisation and New Worlds.

Pretty self explanatory for Sci-fi though for Fantasy themes around magic portals, voyages of exploration and discovery and faerieland apply. Ideally we are looking for the discovery/colonisation to being happening in the books you suggest so it is not just 'set on a planet' etc.

Suggestions are open until each genre has 8 books, whichever comes first. Please read the rules before nominating!
- ONE nomination per person (EITHER sci-fi OR fantasy)
- No books nominated last month may be renominated for August, instead you must wait until September to nominate them again.
- If books are part of a series, they must be the first, unless the group has already read the previous book(s)
- No authors nominating their own works
- No self-published or ebook only books

I am looking forward to seeing what awesome suggestions your 'little grey cells' (thanks Poirot) will come up with!

Oh! There will also be an as of yet unspecified giveaway in August so keep your eyes peeled! I haven't been shopping in weeks so it's a great excuse ;)

Fantasy
1. Jingo by Terry Pratchett (nominated by Paul)
2.A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab(nominated by Kevin)
3.Sword in the Storm by David Gemmell (nominated by Andrew)
4.Quintessence by David Walton(nominated by Audrey)
5.Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist (nominated by Dilbert Paul)
6.Half the World by Joe Abercrombie (nominated by Matias)
7.Beneath London by James P. Blaylock (nominated by Christina)
8.Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard (nominated by Rick)

FANTASY NOMINATIONS CLOSED

Science Fiction
1.Ice Crown by Andre Norton (nominated by Mary)
2.Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor (nominated by Shannon)
3.Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh (nominated by Christopher)
4. Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold (nominated by Efrat)
5.The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton (nominated by Lancer)
6.Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (nominated by Mark)
7.Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon (nominated by Shawnie)
8. Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale (nominated by Kimberley)

SCI-FI NOMINATIONS CLOSED

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

For Fantasy can I nominate Jingo by Terry Pratchett. Its based around the discovery and attempted colonisation of an Island by two rival states. Its one of my favourite pratchetts and while technically part of a series nearly every Discworld book works as a standalone.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Don't forget to send a message out for nominations. I'm not at a computer otherwise I'd do it

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Thank you for starting us off with a great choice Paul! I will indeed message everyone but tomorrow night when I am back home at a computer instead of crouched over a charging phone with cup of tea in hand :D I only had time this morning to put the post together before heading out!

[Kevin]

Well I can't believe I was able to take a whole day to think over my nomination before all the spots with filled so I'd like to put forward A Darker Shade of Magic for fantasy. :)

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Well I'm being quite specific and this month's fantasy botm would have been perfect so I'm expecting it to take a little longer! I'll sort all the links out when at a computer :)

[Kevin]

Freya wrote: "Well I'm being quite specific and this month's fantasy botm would have been perfect so I'm expecting it to take a little longer! I'll sort all the links out when at a computer :)"

No complaints from my end Freya! :)

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

Would "forced colonization" or conquest count? I believe Queen of Fire by Anthony Ryan will be out by then and a big part of that series is one empire attacking another. Just throwing that out there

[Andrew]

Jingo sounds very good, adding it to my to-read list regardless of what wins!

A Darker Shade of Magic is very fun and different, I would be happy to see that win too :)

Similar to Lancer, the Rigante series by David Gemmel might fit this, from the reverse end. It is about the Keltoi (this world's equivalent to Scottish tribes), who get discovered by the people of Stone (equivalent to ancient Rome), who try to conquer them.

The first two books are about this struggle, and also involve some characters travelling to Stone to learn about their enemy. The following two books take place hundreds of years in the future, with musket-level technology, and involve the same area of land being long-colonized and conquered by the Varlish (English), and the harsh subjugation they place on the natives.

It's a really ineresting series for anyone interested in heroic-fantasy, and perhaps even by a huge stretch of the imagination "alternate history" (but not really lol).

If this fits the criteria, I suppose I nominate book 1, Sword in the Storm. If not, other people can keep it in mind if it has piqued their interest :)

[Audrey, Queen of the Potato People]

Quintessence is about English explorers during colonial times, when explorer fever was high. Only the earth is proven to be flat, so they're searching for the edge of the world.

It's a blend of sci fi and fantasy. If I had to push it into one, I think I'd lean toward fantasy.

[Mary]

SF. Ice Crown by Andre Norton. A colony world, where contact is forbidden, and a secret archeological dig on it.

(Available in print in the Ice and Shadow omnibus.)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Blood Song is the attempted conquest of the Empire by the King using Vaelin

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Lancer, does it have your elements of colonisation, such as learning about the new environment etc.? I'm kind of thinking conquest is a byproduct, though undoubtedly where there are 'natives' it will probably happen :) Also is it the first book of a series?

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Paul, are you suggesting Blood Song for someone else to nominate, seeing as you've already nominated yourself? :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Sorry Freya, thats the first in the series Lancer mentioned

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Ahhhh! this all makes sense now :) In which case I think I will include it as I've heard others mention it when I came up with this theme :)

[Shannon]

Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor has essentially aliens coming to colonize Earth, so if that counts it would fit for Sci-Fi.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I thought Scifi was going to fill quicker this month

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Likewise! I can think of a few :)

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

I think it was actually the thousand names someone had mentioned rather than Blood Song, so although I've included it, I'm a little uncertain if it is only colonialisation rather than colonisation if you get my meaning!

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I'm thinking blood song might not fit well enough since the majority of the book is an origin story in a of the training of Vaelin in a Kick ass teach me to be the bad ass of all bad asses school, more so that being focused on colonization

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Ahh ok, well for this month I think I will remove it, but do nominate it another month as I think it sounds really good :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Lancer , have you gotten Queen of Fire yet. I have a special edition ordered so probably won"t see it til the end of the month but will be reading it straight away then

[Christopher]

I would like to nominate Foreigner by C J Cherryh! :D

[Wade]

F: LowTown
SF: A Red Sun Also Rises

[Rinn, Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Sorry Wade, just one choice please - fantasy OR sci-fi.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Wade , you can only make one nomination a month so oick a scifi or a fantasy. I'm not quite sure either option fits Freyas theme either so worth having a think.

[Rinn, Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Haha Paul, looks like we both saw that at the same time :P

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

That one sounds intetesting Christopher

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Great minds Rinn ;-)

[Paul]

Daughter of the Empire for fantasy

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Daughter of the Empire is an interesting one as Feist's site says that the Riftwar Saga should be read first, but other sites say that it is contemporary with the Riftwar Saga with character cross over and so could be read at the same time.

What do you think? Have you read them all before?

http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/r...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_...

[Efrat]

for fantasy I guess
Shards of Honor

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Would you class that as fantasy. The blurb states its scifi as do most of the reviews. Just checking to clarify.

[Paul]

Freya wrote: "Daughter of the Empire is an interesting one as Feist's site says that the Riftwar Saga should be read first, but other sites say that it is contemporary with the Riftwar Saga with character cross ..."

I would say that they are contemporary with Magician, but they do stand alone too

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

Paul - Unfortunately I don't have it yet. I'm going to quickly read the two Riyria prequels and then see if the chapters near me has it. that's the only book store relatively close to me so if it's not there I will have to order it online. It is on my most anticipated for this year and will read it ad soon as I get it :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Cool. I'll let you know what I think If I get to it first.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I'm not sure if it has been nominated/read before but I would like to nominate The reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton for sci-fi if it has not. A very big portion of the plot deals with the settlement and and colonization of a new planet. The results of this are a major driving force to the plot.

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

Paul - just preordered the ebook, available July 7. Will begin as soon as I finish the one I'm one :)

[Mark]

I would like to nominate Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson for sci fi please.

[Shawnie]

How about Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon for Sci Fi?

Another month of good picks. I also really want to read Foreigner and A Darker Shade of Magic. :)

[Matías]

Well, the group has already read Half a King, so I nominate Half the World, since it definitely carries the theme of "voyages of exploration and discovery" that Freya suggested.

[Kimberly]

I'd like to nominate Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale. It's alternative history, where the Roman Legion pushes into the New World and comes up against the Iroquois and other native peoples. Probably in SciFi, though whichever side you'd rather put alternative history in works just fine.

[Lel]

Ringworld, would this count for Sci-fi. They are off to explore an structure in an unknown part of space?

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

I'd like to recommend Red Rising.
I've already read it but it's one of the ones I try to get everyone to read it's so good. ;)

[Lancer, Warden of the Slums]

I was totally gonna nominate Red Rising but wasn't sure it fit the criteria. It gets my vote :)

[Kevin]

I'll second Foreigner, not enough people read that series.

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Efrat, I've put Shards of Honour as sci-fi - looks good with survey crews :D

Nice choice Lancer - seems great for the theme and I've been meaning to read more Hamilton.

Matias - I haven't read any of Joe Abercrombie's books yet (shameful I know - they are on my shelves), but I do love some voyages of exploration and discovery!

Kimberley - alternate history is sci-fi really, and a nice suggestion, Romans in the New World!

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

Well, judging by these nominations -- I'm going to have a hard time voting. Mostly in groups lately it seems like only one or two nominations look interesting (or I'm at a completely different point in the series).

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

I'm afraid that sci-fi is now full - sorry Lel and Hybrid, just pipped to the post there!

However there are still 2 spots left for our themed fantasy selection, so if you just missed out on a sci-fi slot or haven't nominated anything yet, now is your chance to add to the amazing array of nominations we have for August's BotMs! :)