CLOSED: Nominate books for Challenges.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

If you have read any dystopian books recently, here you can suggest books for future readings.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Well, I picked out some books. Please feel free to suggest more or say what you think about the books picked out so far.
Thank you. :)

Books in Serries:


Standalones:


Omnibus:

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

I have only read the first book in the "Across The Universe" series but would love to re-read it and the next two as well

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Also would like to read which I havent read yet.and there is book 3 coming out soon as well.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "I have only read the first book in the "Across The Universe" series but would love to re-read it and the next two as well [bookcover:Across the Universe..."

Thank you for the suggestions. Have you seen the free novella from the series?

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Yes,but I dont own an kindle ereader:(

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Yes,but I dont own an kindle ereader:("

Me too, but it is a PDF file and is not big, so I figured, I can always read on my smartphone.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~*]

Ellie wrote: "Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Yes,but I dont own an kindle ereader:("

Me too, but it is a PDF file and is not big, so I figured, I can always read on my smartphone."

Dont have one of those either LOL!

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Ahaha, I like you! Btw I have NO intention of getting kindle anytime soon!

[Michelle]

Can I nominate Downbelow Station by CJ Cherryh?

[Kapil]

1984 by orwell
The handmaid's tale by Atwood
Brave new world by Huxley

[[deleted user]]

I think this book counts for this category and I think it's fantastic. I'm nominating

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Well, the VOTE is on

I didn't choose much books, so I apologize that not ALL suggested books are on it. The group still has a few people, not very active, and if there is no much voters I don't see the point for bigger choice. Anyway If you've already read the book, or you are on a book 2 or 3 on a series, I think you can still enter the challenge and discussions. So, if we have any readers, next time - bigger choise

I guess I didn't wanted to scare the few people in the group :D

And check out Sherry S. Tepper challenge that is on the groups homepage. I really liked the book, and it's a 'classical' (if there is such a thing) dystopian literature.


Good night!

[Loren]

I recently listened to Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell on audiobook while working the soil on my homestead for crops. Simultaneously two other things happened. I also read The Host by Stephenie Meyer to ward of my insomnia every night with its mediocrity and watched a documentary by Ken Burns on the Dust Bowl. I started thinking about what makes an environment a dystopia and about the dystopia which is often my life and the lives of so very many people. Why do people readily read make believe but shy away from the recollections of actual reality? Oftentimes I find the real nightmares of actual life way more frightening and interesting. And then I was reminded by something Hitchcock once said, how people love the rollercoaster ride of his stories simply because they know they can always step off of them again. The adventurer will dip their toe in the pool, but only their toe. Something along those lines. For the life of me I have struggled to tell stories in such a way that people can actual relate to them and I just don't get why Forever War & Slaughterhouse-Five can be swallowed, but not the Vietnam War? Or how Jack Kerouac living vicariously through his crazy friends in On The Road makes sense, but he can never be his own Dean Moriatti? This obsession with zombie flicks when we are already the walking dead? Is it about denial more than anything? This condition called life? Born to slave? Born to die? To be aware of such a mortality and yet be so reckless with our precious moments is such a pitiful thing. Why do we treasure fake dystopian stories and not relish the lessons from the real ones?

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Loren wrote: "I recently listened to Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell on audiobook while working the soil on my homestead for crops. Simultaneously two other things happened. I also read The Host by Stephenie Meyer..."

I love what you've written. I think it is all about personal philosophy. I would separate dystopian literature in two main genres: classic dystopian literature and the modern young adult which has romantic nuances. I think they appeal to two different audiences.

Now all I can give is my own statement. I love science fiction. I love it for the fact that it does not talk about current events and yet while it is fiction, it ain't so far from reality. Fiction tackles topics like what is consciousness, reprogramming of the mind, social structures, morale and psychology. For me it is most interesting to read about all of this in a setting totally different from reality. So is it about escapism? Yes! Will I start paying attention to the current events? No! Is it denial? Only by choice!

I can talk much more, for my reasons and motives, but I will not. My reasons are just very personal. I have my own opinion about the world today, why is it like that, what I want reality to be and how to do it. I don't claim I know anything though. Reality is uncertain. Anyone who claims to know the answers is delusional.

I'm not sure if any of this makes sense. I guess reading about things that are distant from my life makes me happy. Looking into my future is even more depressing then looking into my past.

P.S. Slaughterhouse-Five is awful book in my opinion. I barely read it.

[Tom]

Aww..come on Ellie the future is what you make it. You didn't have a group in your past and now there's one in your present/future...things are already looking up. :o)

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Tom wrote: "Aww..come on Ellie the future is what you make it. You didn't have a group in your past and now there's one in your present/future...things are already looking up. :o)"

I am not complaining ;)

[[deleted user]]

Loren wrote: "I recently listened to Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell on audiobook while working the soil on my homestead for crops. Simultaneously two other things happened. I also read The Host by Stephenie Meyer..."

I think that we embrace and are influenced by the dystopian books, rather than by lessons derived from the real-life dystopias because we can SEE the "lessons" in a book, which hopefully is ordered, crafted and which ends. It's much harder to understand and to see the lessons in life, which is disordered, complex and ongoing...It's a small step in the right direction if we can apply any lesson learned from a dystopian novel to our lives...

[Chris]

Deleted.

[Chris]

I actually started reading Wool the other day and so far it's really damn good.

[Robert]

I'd like to ask the group to consider reading the first book in my dystopian vampire series, SHINING IN CRIMSON: EMPIRE OF BLOOD BOOK ONE. Here's the description for it:

Set in a dystopian, religiously-demented American Empire, the city of Las Vegas is no longer a city of sin. Now called Necropolis, it is a city that eats sin. The vampires of Necropolis wait patiently for the Empire's weekly drop off of guilty Penitents; sinners and criminals full of fresh blood.

Hank Evans is one of those Penitents and he would gladly let the vampires take every drop of his blood if it weren't for one detail: Toby. Toby is Hank's only son. Now, Hank must do whatever it takes to escape the city of the dead and save his son from an Empire as bloodthirsty as the vampires it uses to keep its people in line.

Praise for Shining in Crimson:

"A big-scale vampire thriller that changes the rules."--Scott Nicholson, bestselling Kindle author of Liquid Fear, The Red Church, and They Hunger

"One of the best surprises I've had in a long while. Writing with a smart, self-assured ease, Robert S. Wilson has given us a gift with Shining in Crimson. Part Underworld, part Escape From New York, Shining in Crimson is genuinely frightening, genuinely thrilling, but above all, first-rate storytelling. I'm a Robert S. Wilson fan from now on!"--Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Apocalypse of the Dead

"Robert S. Wilson shows a lot of promise here with this debut novel. Now it's time to see where that promise will take him."--Ray Wallace, The Chiaroscuro

"You'll not find some glistening torsos and smouldering eyes in this book. What you will find is a brilliantly thought out society of Vampires."--Jim Mcleod, Ginger Nuts of Horror

"The Mesh of Religious symbolism and political commentary tucked neatly between pure horror and suspense is superb."--Lisa Lane, The Cerebral Writer

"With well-fleshed characters, multiple storylines and a vampire history that makes sense, Shining in Crimson: (Empire of Blood #1) is a well-written horror novel. I am anticipating the second and third books in the series."--Trembles Horror Magazine

[Jackie - Fire & Ice Book Reviews]

it sounds good

[Robert]

Thanks, Jackie. :-)

[Michelle]

Robert wrote: "I'd like to ask the group to consider reading the first book in my dystopian vampire series, SHINING IN CRIMSON: EMPIRE OF BLOOD BOOK ONE. Here's the descrip..."

That sounds excellent!

[Sean]

im requesting the group read The Fallen Book 1 Dark Genesis- 3 words to describe- hell wins armageddon

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

It's nominated :} ALl suggested books are nominated (I took my slipping pill so I might sound weird) Therefore I am closing this topic. Which I should have done when we opened the new one. Sean you are like a tornado! :]