You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
Challenges: Monthly
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May 2013 Challenge - Don't Forget Your Towel
Roz wrote: "So far I'm looking at either 
(GR has it listed under Biopunk), or 
for Space Opera. Will those work?"Both would work. Windup Girl has Biopunk and steampunk elements, as well as the dystopia. As Janice said above, there is a lot of cross over but I am happy if you choose something from a genre you haven't read and it has a cross over into others. THings don't exist in a vacuum. Alistair Renoylds good for space opera too.
Roz wrote: "There's also 
that I think could either be Steampunk or Space Western.""Terrain, by Genevieve Valentine, is a steampunk western about six diverse people living and working together on a farm outside a small town in Wyoming"
Definately steampunk by it's own description. It says western but I don't see space, only Earth. Happy to be wrong, but that's my understanding from the reading of the page.
Almeta wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Almeta wrote: "Marnie wrote: "The Eyre AffairMy library has it and it's on a Goodreads list as Steampunk which I have never read before.. So I'm changing books."
I would call it a..."
Hah me too! I can't believe how much scifi i read, but I don't tend to do spaceships, so thats why I don't think I have.
I'm with you on the Steampunk and Thursday Next. But if anyone is looking for Alternate History choices, it's a favourite
Cathie wrote: "Is Flowers for Algernon considered soft sci fi? On it's page it is just listed as classics and sci fiIt's another option that I like but the option of soft sci fi isn't open for me."
Goodreads doesn't seem to classify "soft scifi" very well, just calls them scifi. Pinched this from wiki "The description "soft" science fiction may describe works based on social sciences such as psychology, economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology." Clear as mud?
Debra wrote: "I believe this one will qualify as biopunk because part of the premise works with DNA. Human Instincts. Hope so, because I just ordered it for my Nook! lol"Sounds good. Manipulation of DNA is a reasonable biopunk premise. May be close to the edge, but not having read letting it go through to the keeper.
Mariecg wrote: "I have looked around and here are the possibilities:For steampunk:
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack
Phoenix Rising
For alternate history
Darwinia
The Man in the High Castle
The Plot Agai..."
All look good!
Janice wrote: "I've been researching my options. And there are few! LOL! From looking at my Sci-Fi shelf, most of my choices were Apocalyptic, Distopian, Alternate History/Time Travel and Steampunk.So, I'm t..."
Starship troopers all good. Cinder... she is a cyborg. I guess i'm having my own issues of thinking fairytale princess as punk. Again, happy to let through to the keeper if no one protests (I know it's a well read book in here).
Deedee wrote: "Oh my, I'm a big SF/F fan, so I'm not sure I can find a book that fits this task! (because of the requirement: read a subgenre of Science Fiction you have never read before)Here's the list:
Hard..."
Yay another expert! Thanks for the suggestions Deedee. I was looking at 2312, it's getting rave reviews.
My reading of dieselpunk was "takes over where Steampunk leaves off. These are stories that take over as we usher in the machine-heavy eras of WWI and WWII. The use of diesel-powered machines plays heavily." The link to the goodreads genre site is here http://www.goodreads.com/genres/diese...
Not sure if either of these would be ok, had posted a few days ago but can't find a reply.I could go with Social/Soft SciFi -
Fahrenheit 451 as never read soft scifi before.
or superhuman - The Angel Experiment
Loving looking up and looking into what to read :)
Sorry Sharon, not ignoring. Sometimes the time difference can overload my processing power.Fahrenheit 451 is definately a dystopia. Could be social/soft scifi from my looking into it. Others who have read it? (Which seems to be everyone...I really need to get there)
And looks like The Angel Experiment fits the superhuman/superhero genre
Rusalka wrote: "Debra wrote: "I believe this one will qualify as biopunk because part of the premise works with DNA. Human Instincts. Hope so, because I just ordered it for my Nook! lol"Sounds good. Manipulat..."
Thanks so much, Rus. You rock!
Ick! Sci-fi? I never read Sci-fi! lolOkay, I perused my to-read list and found these three gems:
The Literary Conference by César Aira.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by
Robert Louis Stevenson, and
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.
Will they work?
First I am not sure on. Looks like it may fit into this possible "humoristic" scifi I was talking about last night.Dr Jekyll possibly would, but it's the classifying that gets me. Is it biopunk (manipulation of bodies and DNA)? Is it Steampunk? Or other... Help?!
Last one, definitely smack bang in the middle of dystopia.
Rusalka wrote: "Sorry Sharon, not ignoring. Sometimes the time difference can overload my processing power.Fahrenheit 451 is definately a dystopia. Could be social/soft scifi from my looking into it. Others who ..."
Rusalka, its not a problem - just getting excited about choosing what to read LOL :)
I believe I have read every genre but Military SciFi. I will be looking for something there.
Sharon75uk wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Sorry Sharon, not ignoring. Sometimes the time difference can overload my processing power.Fahrenheit 451 is definately a dystopia. Could be social/soft scifi from my looking into..."
Completely understand :)
Naomi wrote: "I believe I have read every genre but Military SciFi. I will be looking for something there."I hadn't read any either but am reading
Ender's Game for my E read. There are some other good ideas in this thread for that genre.
Well I have read some after looking at the suggested list. I will have to pick a sub-genre that I've read the least of. I have read Ender's Gamemany, many moons ago. I remember liking it because I went on to read the other 2 that follow it.
I will stay with Military Sci-Fi. This looks to be the least read sub-genre after I looked at a suggested title list.
I read a fair amount of Dystopia, Utopia, Apocalyptic and Cyberpunk. Out of the genres that are left, I've decided to go for Steampunk and
Emily wrote: "Hmm. This is tough. I seem to read a lot of 'time travel,' 'apocalyptic,' and 'dystopian' sci-fi novels and lots of sci-fi fantasy as well. I don't think that I have read 'steampunk' before an..."
I am ROFL laughing. I read steampunk and then saw your book title. I never would have thought of the two together, but thinking about it, I guess it makes sense. Maybe this was the very 1st steampunk SciFi! Can't wait to see what you think about it.
Rusalka wrote: "Time travel Marnie?Also, throwing this open to the group. I'm having a really hard time classifying The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which I really should have bloody thought about before mak..."
I think The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is definately SciFi, maybe "Soft SciFi", if you have to give it a label. Time travel, yes. Alternative History - streaching it (with a smile). When I think of Science Fiction, it is in my list.
Since you came up with the towel quote and name of the challenge, Rusalka - you have to allow this one - for all those out there who have not read it yet.
Marnie wrote: "Flowers for Algernon- seems like a less iffy choice. So I will read both and report on Flowers. Researching Science Fiction has made me aware of sooo many more books I want to read!"Marnie, Flowers for Algernon is a beautiful book and worth the read. I do not think of it as Science Fiction, but what they are able to do in medicine today was like science fiction when it was written.
Ok- I have both The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Flowers for AlgernonIn my possession. I was going to listen to Hitchhiker's just for fun because I have never read it and read Flowers for the challenge.BUT- I can switch the order to meet the challenge requirements if Flowers is not considered Science Fiction. I will go back to my alphabet book until I have a final ruling.
Rusalka- which should I read for this challenge?
Marnie - I personally think Flowers counts. Soft scifi.Re: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy It definitely counts. It definitely falls into soft scifi. I could claim space opera as well as it does read like a Gilbert and Sullivan in outer space and spaceships and space travel and whatnot. I can't remember time travel in the first book, but Cherie, if you are sure, then it fits in there too.
And I stumbled upon this earlier today that may be useful. I think from my reading of it before I would accept anything on it to the right of the infograph, so nothing that comes off the Fantasy green circle. http://kosmosaicbooks.com/wp-content/...
Whomever I was looking at Year Zero for. It's soft scifi. I cannot for the life of me work out if there is an outer space/space opera element, or if it is soley on earth. Without reading it, I don't know if I can add another subgenre to it.
Cooool Flow chart!!! Really coool Flow Chart!
Rusalka wrote: "Marnie - I personally think Flowers counts. Soft scifi.Re: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy It definitely counts. It definitely falls into soft scifi. I could claim space opera as well as it ..."
I really like that chart! Even tough in my mind, Pern is SF not fantasy. But it certainly is a good tool to add titles to a TBR.
Year Zero was for me Rusalka. Ok, I can't use it as it's soft sci fi. Thanks for your time in looking into this.
Thanks for the wonderful and amusing flowchart link...still as clear as mud to me, but now I can feel where I'm going :-)
Interesting chart, but I do not agree with some of the books shown. Hyperion is on the fantisy side and I also think of the Pern books as SF and not fantasy.I have not read The Hitchhiker's Guide in some time, but I think I remember some kind of time travel. AmyK can quote parts of the book, so you can check with her on that.
I think I'll read a First Reads book I won and have been meaning to get through:
. I believe it falls under Military SF.BTW, I am very happy for this category as SF has been one of my favorite categories since childhood.
The flow chart looks great, but it was too small to read on my screen. Wish I could get a paper copy of it as I might find MORE books to add to my TBR list. On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing I can't read it!
Debra wrote: "The flow chart looks great, but it was too small to read on my screen. Wish I could get a paper copy of it as I might find MORE books to add to my TBR list. On the other hand, maybe it's a good t..."Are you using Chrome? I just went to the top and zoomed to 400% to read it.
Debra wrote: "The flow chart looks great, but it was too small to read on my screen. Wish I could get a paper copy of it as I might find MORE books to add to my TBR list. On the other hand, maybe it's a good t..."I just clicked on the screen and it was enlarged to a readable size.
And you are correct, your "to read" shelf will increase. BE WARNED!
Cherie wrote: "Interesting chart, but I do not agree with some of the books shown. Hyperion is on the fantisy side and I also think of the Pern books as SF and not fantasy.I have not read The Hitchhiker's Guid..."
I had the same thought about Hyperion but if you follow the arrows though, it doesn't come from the fantasy section.
Debra wrote: "The flow chart looks great, but it was too small to read on my screen. Wish I could get a paper copy of it as I might find MORE books to add to my TBR list. On the other hand, maybe it's a good t..."Click on it to make it bigger!
Pern is the Dragonflight books? I guess they are being simplistic (which you kinda have to do do fit 100 books in) and go Dragons = magic = fantasy. Anne McCaffrey has never appealed to me before. I had a friend in high school who devoured her books. But I wasn't a fan when I tried.
There seems to be a lot of crossover in these sub genres. I have read quite a bit of Dystopia, Apocalyptic, Alternate History, Time Travel and Space Opera.I have three books on my TBR list which are Steampunk. If it meets the moderators approval I would like to read Shades of Milk and Honey because I already have it. : ) If not, I can read Boneshaker.
Thanks!
Hi Lori. That one looks rather fantasy-esq instead of scifi (I do see that 24 people listed it at alt history, but it's the magic that makes me go fantasy). Other options?
Rusalka wrote: "Hi Lori. That one looks rather fantasy-esq instead of scifi (I do see that 24 people listed it at alt history, but it's the magic that makes me go fantasy). Other options?"
How about Boneshaker?
Lori wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Hi Lori. That one looks rather fantasy-esq instead of scifi (I do see that 24 people listed it at alt history, but it's the magic that makes me go fantasy). Other options?"
How a..."
Perfect!
I've read mostly dystopian/post-apocalyptic sci-fi so I am going to give Time Travel a go. After checking out the genre tool here at GR it suggests Life After Life, which is perfect because I've just bought it - however I am not convinced it fits?I may also give some HG Wells a shot.
NB - my folder name is Esta - to avoid confusion ;)
Esther wrote: "I've read mostly dystopian/post-apocalyptic sci-fi so I am going to give Time Travel a go. After checking out the genre tool here at GR it suggests Life After Life, which is perfect because I've ju..."Cheers Esther. That's really helpful you pointed it out :)
I'm not particularly convinced it fits either. It seems more like reincarnation than time travel. She definitely doesn't seem to have a machine or a device to make it scifi-ish it seems. Again, other options?
(Please all do not think I take any glee in telling you things don't fit. Mainly because they all look like really good books!!)
Thank you for your patience Rusalka. Four days ago I couldn't have told you the difference between soft sci Fi/ cyberpunk. These back and forth about books has opened up a whole new reading world for me.
Esther wrote: "I've read mostly dystopian/post-apocalyptic sci-fi so I am going to give Time Travel a go. After checking out the genre tool here at GR it suggests Life After Life, which is perfect because I've ju..."I do not know about you, but 2 Esther is not a commun occurence for me. I do not mind changing to my handle (nyctale) if you want to use Esther. :)
Esther wrote: "Esther wrote: "I've read mostly dystopian/post-apocalyptic sci-fi so I am going to give Time Travel a go. After checking out the genre tool here at GR it suggests Life After Life, which is perfect ..."It's not a normal occurrence for me either, I kinda like the novelty of it! And no, it's totally fine, I don't want to confuse everyone else :-)
Rusalka wrote: "Esther wrote: "I've read mostly dystopian/post-apocalyptic sci-fi so I am going to give Time Travel a go. After checking out the genre tool here at GR it suggests Life After Life, which is perfect ..."You are right, I thought it would be too good to be true :) I am going with HG Wells' The Time Machine instead. Thanks for getting back to me about it so quickly.
Well, duh! I just clicked on the flow chart screen, and voila, it became bigger. Watch out TBR list, here I come!
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
The Time Machine (other topics)Cinder (other topics)
11/22/63 (other topics)
11/22/63 (other topics)
The Martian Chronicles (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Arthur C. Clarke (other topics)Isaac Asimov (other topics)
Isaac Asimov (other topics)
Ray Bradbury (other topics)
Robert A. Heinlein (other topics)
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I'm glad you found something while I was sleeping. It's supposed to be brilliant!