What does everyone want to read in May?

[Matthew Anderson]

Burning Chrome by William Gibson
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

I think we could get alot of good discussion out of any of these. Also I already own them and wouldn't have to go out and buy/borrow them.

[Rick]

I think the Brunner would freak out a lot of people (and some of it riffs on what were then current themes and concerns about the world). Burning Chrome is excellent. Not sure if folks are up for a short collection. The PK Dick is something I've never read.

However, I'd kind of like to do something recent and/or not by someone super-well known. Lauren Beukes Zoo City or Moxyland, Walter John Williams (This is Not A Game perhaps), Jeff Noon, etc. Perhaps Ken MacLeod's Cassini Division or Learning The World or a recent Alistair Reynolds (House of Suns?) I'd suggest The Quantum Thief but I don't know how well people take to post-singularity fiction and it's a bit dense with ideas and SF concepts. One of those books that assumes the reader is steeped in SF and so might not be as easy for folks from the fantasy side of the aisle.

It's not that I don't like the three you came up with but it feels like the last few months have, on both sides of the aisle, been about older 'classics' or books from well known authors or both. That has value, but there are a lot of good authors who either are newer (Beukes, Rajaniemi) or who have been working for a long time and aren't, for some reason, as well known as they might be (Noon, Macleod, Williams).

[Rob, Roberator]

Alif the Unseen, though Zoo City was part of the humble eBook bundle, so I haven't and haven't had a chance to read it.

[Sean]

I think it's about time we do some alternate history, but instead of Man in the High Castle (sorry, I've read too much alt.history about WWII) how about Lion's Blood by Steven Barnes -- set in a timeline where Carthage destroyed Rome and the Americas were colonized by Africans with Irish slaves.

[Rick]

Alif would be interesting. it's out in paper soon...

Is alt history Laser? Sword? Neither? Both?

[Pickle]

for PKD id rather nominate Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said

[Kristina]

A couple I have pegged on my to reads:
The Stars My Destination
Consider Phlebas
Nexus
The Many-Coloured Land

[Joyce]

A few suggestions:
Friday by Robert Heinlein
WebMage by Kelley McCullough
Night Train to Rigel by Timothy Zahn
Hunting Party by Elizabeth Moon
Light by M. John Harrison
The Eternity Artifact by L.E. Modesitt Jr
Parallelities by Alan Dean Foster
The Maker of Universes by Philip Jose Farmer

[Casey]

Lets see, it'll be a laser so why not Wool Omnibus or Pushing Ice?

But I suspect that if Tom and Veronica want our help, they'll ask for it.

[Brew]

I second Wool Omnibus.

[Camilla]

I still haven't gotten to Wool Omnibus, so I would love to have it as a pick, but I'm excited to see what Tom will come with, though.

[library_jim]

A Canticle for Leibowitz.
There was a lot of steam behind Martian Chronicles when Bradbury died and we still haven't got around to that.

Is Year Zero in paperback yet? That might be good.
Little Brother would be a fun discussion.

[Mike]

How about The Rook? I just finished it and several friends are now reading it based on my recommendation. Has a very Torchwood-y vibe.

[Karl]

If you are going to do a John Brunner book then I would suggest Shockwave Rider. I have tried three of his books and that is the only one I finished.

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is top on the voters list http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/20...

I like Alif the Unseen as an idea. I consider it to lean Laser (Tech) with a patina of Sword (1001 Nights). Very Neal Stephenson and William Gibson in that way.

Wool Omnibus seems good too.

[Casey]

Out of curiosity, would the group ever be interested in reading a "Best of.." or an anthology?
Something like The Best of Michael Swanwick perhaps? So far it's a damn good read.

[Geoff]

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

[Rob, Roberator]

Tom wrote: "I like Alif the Unseen as an idea. I consider it to lean Laser (Tech) with a patina of Sword (1001 Nights). Very Neal Stephenson and William Gibson in that way."

Plus it supports a former guest! Not that I'm trying to influence your decision. o.O

[Dharmakirti]

Alif the Unseen was one of my favorite books of 2012 and I would love to read it again. For me, the presence of djinn puts the book pretty firmly in the Sword category.

A few sci-fi books I would love the book club to read are:
The Dervish House
The Quantum Thief
A Fire Upon the Deep
The Madness Season
Embassytown

[Dharmakirti]

Casey wrote: "Lets see, it'll be a laser so why not Wool Omnibus or Pushing Ice?

But I suspect that if Tom and Veronica want our help, they'll ask for it."

Regarding Wool Omnibus, the Goodreads group Alternative Worlds will be reading it starting April 1. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...

[Jason]

Brew wrote: "I second Wool Omnibus."

I third.

[Derek]

I'd go with The Handmaid's Tale. It is number 22 on the S&L list, you can never go wrong with dystopian sci-fi and it has recently been released on Audible. Whispersync ready and everything. Oh dear, this reads like an Amazon ad. But its still a good pick.

[AndrewP]

Now that T&V are not under such strict time restraints Pandora's Star.

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Derek wrote: "I'd go with The Handmaid's Tale. It is number 22 on the S&L list, you can never go wrong with dystopian sci-fi and it has recently been released on Audible. Whispersync ready and everything. Oh dea..."

I could *swear* we read this but maybe I'm confusing it with the book club I was in with Josh Lawrence before Sword and Laser was a thing.

[Dara]

Wool would be cool. Been sitting on my kindle for a few months.

[Casey]

The Left Hand of Darkness would also be a really good choice.

[Jlawrence, S&L Moderator]

Tom wrote: "Derek wrote: "I'd go with The Handmaid's Tale. It is number 22 on the S&L list, you can never go wrong with dystopian sci-fi and it has recently been released on Audible. Whispersync ready and everything. Oh dear..."

I could *swear* we read this but maybe I'm confusing it with the book club I was in with Josh Lawrence before Sword and Laser was a thing. "

Ah, yes! It was that pre-S&L book club, Tom. I remember we all planned to watch the movie, too, and compare it with the book, but were too lazy. As a S&L pick I think it'd provoke some good discussion.

Of ones mentioned so far, I'm also in favor of A Fire Upon the Deep (been lobbying for it forever), The Left Hand of Darkness, and The Stars My Destination.

[library_jim]

I second A Fire Upon the Deep.

[Daryl]

Although perhaps many have read this (still in my To-read!) but still worth discussing - William Gibson's Neuromancer.

[Buzz]

How about Peter F. Hamilton's new book Great North Road, since they just did an interview with him on S& L?

[Jlawrence, S&L Moderator]

Daryl wrote: "Although perhaps many have read this (still in my To-read!) but still worth discussing - William Gibson's Neuromancer."

Daryl, that is an great, all-time classic, but has been read by S&L before - in fact it was the first S&L book! Travel back in time to S&L Episode 1.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

Jlawrence wrote: "Daryl wrote: "Although perhaps many have read this (still in my To-read!) but still worth discussing - William Gibson's Neuromancer."

Daryl, that is an great, all-time classic, but has been read before - in fact it was the first S&L book! Travel back in time to S&L Episode 1. ."

It was the 4th S&L book. It was the 1st after the podcast started.

The first book was The Golden Compass.

http://swordandlaser.com/home/2007/10...

[Rik]

Wool Omnibus for many reasons:

1. Its a huge hit
2. Its a great example of the new publishing dynamic in that it started out as an indie book, got popular, and then got published in dead tree format. While Hugh Howey is not the first self published author to hit it big he may well be the first sci fi one to do so.
3. Its now available in hard dead tree, soft dead tree, and original e-book flavorings.
4. Its just a great book.
5. It breaks a standard rule in storytelling to great effect. This is minorly spoilerish for the beginning so . . (view spoiler)[ you don't actually meet the protagonist of the book til about 1/3rd of the way through (hide spoiler)]
6. Your jaw will be on the floor after the events of the first part which is fairly short because you don't expect what happens to happen. This sort of relates back to point #5.

[Sabrina's]

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85... this also a self published book. It sings to the gamer, and takes them to a future they can envision and then takes them further.

[Jlawrence, S&L Moderator]

Tassie Dave wrote: "Jlawrence wrote: "Daryl, that is an great, all-time classic, but has been read before - in fact it was the first S&L book..."

It was the 4th S&L book. It was the 1st after the podcast started.

The first book was The Golden Compass.

Oops, I had forgotten that! Even though I was part of the S&L meet-up to watch the pretty but disappointing movie adaptation of Golden Compass. Off to Bolvangar with me!

[[deleted user]]

Casey wrote: "The Left Hand of Darkness would also be a really good choice."

I agree.

[Daryl]

Jlawrence wrote: "Daryl wrote: "Although perhaps many have read this (still in my To-read!) but still worth discussing - William Gibson's Neuromancer."

Daryl, that is an great, all-time classic, but has been read b..."

Doh, was going off of the S&L Read bookshelf. Will be fun listening to the first S&L podcast!

[Matthew Anderson]

Daryl wrote: "Although perhaps many have read this (still in my To-read!) but still worth discussing - William Gibson's Neuromancer."

Read Burning Chrome first. I did, and it made it that much more awesome.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Dharmakirti wrote: "Alif the Unseen was one of my favorite books of 2012 and I would love to read it again. For me, the presence of djinn puts the book pretty firmly in the Sword category.

A few sci-fi books I would love the book club to read are:
The Dervish House
The Quantum Thief
A Fire Upon the Deep
The Madness Season
Embassytown "

I loved The Dervish House, The Quantum Thief, and Alif the Unseen (which was also just longlisted for the Womens Prize for Fiction!). But I've read all these, so I'd vote for something like Wool.

[AndrewP]

Derek wrote: "... you can never go wrong with dystopian sci-fi..."

Neal Stephenson would disagree with that statement as discussed last year.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...

[Dazerla]

I'd go for either Left Hand of Darkness or Handmaid's Tale.

[Buzz]

C'mon. Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton.

Here's why:
1. Great interview on S&L this month.
2. It's a on-off so we don't have to read any other books for context or conclusion
3. We haven't read a Peter F Hamilton book yet
4. To quote one of the other members "It's Peter Effing Hamilton"! :-)

[Dharmakirti]

Buzz wrote: "C'mon. Great North Road by Peter F Hamilton.
Here's why:
1. Great interview on S&L this month.
2. It's a on-off so we don't have to read any other books for context or conclusion
3. We haven't r..."

I would be down for reading something by Mr. Hamilton. I've had his Night's Dawn trilogy on my radar for quite a while and wouldn't mind the group tackling The Reality Dysfunction. I'm also open to reading Great North Road.

[Liudvikas]

Geoff wrote: "House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds"

I second this, it's my all time favorite sci-fi story.

Also if I might add, Redshirts by John Scalzi seems interesting and it's second on the voters list.

[Kurt]

A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt
or
Gun Machine by Warren Ellis

[Casey]

Liudvikas wrote: "Also if I might add, Redshirts by John Scalzi seems interesting and it's second on the voters list."

That's a great book and an awesome audiobook but the group has already read Scalzi.

[David(LA,CA)]

Something without politics? I'm starting to get tired of books where all the characters are in a giant "one-upmanship/ who's the biggest d-bag" contest.

[Rick]

Gun Machine is a great book. I like McDevitt though i started with Polaris which I still think is one of his best in that series.

[Dharmakirti]

I didn't realize Warren Ellis had a new book out. I very much enjoyed Crooked Little Vein. I look forward to reading his newest.

[Kevin]

How about his Peter F. Hamilton's first book, Mindstar Rising or The Dreaming Void, which I never hear people discuss or read.