What do you want to read in July?

[Rob, Roberator]

Per podcast #128 Tom announced that he would put July's pick to a vote. The nominees will start with the top 3 on the S&L Sci-Fi List.

So first and foremost: Go vote/update your picks on there if you haven't already.

The current top 5 are (as of this post):

 1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
 2. Redshirts
 3. Snow Crash
 4. The Martian Chronicles
 5. Ringworld

He didn't indicate he would omit any by authors we've already read which are represented in the current top 5. If you don't like the current choices submit your vote, rally your allies and change the list!

The other selections will be based on popular suggestions in the thread. So list your lets say top 3 Maximum. Don't forget to vote/add them to the list as well.

When making your suggestions, keep in mind the books the club has already read (wiki link). You can also view the group bookshelf

GO VOTE!
GO VOTE!
GO VOTE!
GO VOTE!

[Rob, Roberator]

Personally Snow Crash is one of my favorite books, so I wouldn't mind reading it again, but the group read Anathem in 2008.

I was previously pushing for Alif the Unseen, but while I LOVED this book, it's really a fantasy book (despite the protagonist being a computer hacker).

I've been meaning to read Fahrenheit 451 for a long time, and it doesn't look like S&L has read any Bradbury. Although it doesn't look this is one of the books finally coming to ebook. It's currently #8 on the list however.

[Michael]

I think we should prefer books by authors who haven't been read before by the group.

I'm hoping for a book by Peter F. Hamilton,
Pandora's Star (and Judas Unchained) would make for great summer reading.

Among Others is a book that will stoke interest in science fiction classics.

Great classics:
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny.

[Rob, Roberator]

Michael wrote: "I'm hoping for a book by Peter F. Hamilton,
Pandora's Star would make for great summer reading."

That's a good one too. I have that on my to read list as well.

[Sean]

We've never done an Alastair Reynolds novel. We've also never done a tie-in novel. In July we can do both with Reynolds' Doctor Who novel, Harvest of Time.

[Joseph]

How about something a little different? The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter (I saw it mentioned in a thread in a different group, which brought it back to mind for me.) It's a sort of sequel to The Time Machine by H.G. Wells but operates on a scale I don't think Wells could have imagined.

Or, for that matter, how about just about anything by Wells or by Jules Verne?

[Neil]

I went through that list and added my vote to anything on there that was on my to-read shelf or that I have read and would like to again and discuss with you lot.

Of those not in the top 5 my picks would be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Feed and The Long Earth.

EDIT: Also The Shining Girls as I saw it recommended by someone on here and have already bought it. :)

[Michael]

Neil wrote: "...and The Long Earth."
I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett and I have read almost all of this books. I was disappointed by The Long Earth. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Paul]

Only Forward

[Neil]

Michael wrote: "Neil wrote: "...and The Long Earth."
I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett and I have read almost all of this books. I was disappointed by The Long Earth. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Thanks for that. I am a big fan of the Discworld books and other things he has done like Good Omens and Nation and am interested to see how he does with something more Sci-Fi than fantasy. I've not read anything by Baxter before either so thought this might introduce me to him like Good Omens did for Gaiman.

[Sandi]

I'm listening to 2312 and think it would be a perfect laser pick. It's not easy to read by any means. It's a book that makes you work your brain. I'm 1/3 of the way through and it's worth the work so far.

[Kevin]

Rob wrote: "Personally Snow Crash is one of my favorite books, so I wouldn't mind reading it again, but the group read Anathem in 2008.

I was previously pushing for Alif the Unseen, but while I LOVED this boo..."

Don't forgot the group also read Reamde when it came out.

[Ryan]

Possible Laser Reads:

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
The Callahan Chronicles by Spider Robinson
14 by Peter Clines (does this count as a laser?)
Pushing Ice or Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds

With the exception of half or so of the stories in Callahan's, I haven't read these yet. They're just the non-series Lasers waiting to be listened to in my Audible library...

[Phil]

Riverworld (which includes the first 2 books of that series) by Philip Jose Farmer would be a good choice for generating discussions.
Other good picks would be Ringworld or Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven, or Callahan's Crosstime Saloon or Stardance by Spider Robinson.

[Buzz]

Apologies up front for my newbie ignorance... But can someone tell me how to vote on the books in the list? I am reading this on the iPad app and when I go to the list of books, I don't see any mechanism for voting. Is it a browser-only thing?

[Rob, Roberator]

Buzz wrote: "Apologies up front for my newbie ignorance... But can someone tell me how to vote on the books in the list? I am reading this on the iPad app and when I go to the list of books, I don't see any me..."

Probably. I just use chrome on my tablet for most of goodreads because the app is pretty basic on android anyways.

[Warren]

Buzz wrote: "Apologies up front for my newbie ignorance... But can someone tell me how to vote on the books in the list? I am reading this on the iPad app and when I go to the list of books, I don't see any me..."

They're not listed under "polls" (Thats just what they'd be expecting)
Go to the "S&L Sci-Fi List" in the first post (top of the page).
Click on "vote for this book"

[Casey]

* The Sparrow
* The Left Hand of Darkness
* Pushing Ice

[Joe Informatico]

Michael wrote: "I'm hoping for a book by Peter F. Hamilton, Pandora's Star would make for great summer reading"

I'm inclined to vote for it, considering I've had a copy lying around for months unopened. But man, is it huge.

Also, we did Scalzi's Old Man's War in January. Much as I love the guy, maybe we should drop him from consideration.

[Pouria]

Read Snow Crash just a month or so ago, and absolutely loved it, would be fun to see the discussions about it here, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is on my to-read list so would be a good one for me also, and same with Redshirts.
The Martian Chronicles and Ringworld haven't really been on my radar, so would be fun to try something I have no real expectations of (though, did the same with Dragonflight, and that was a snooze).

So any of the five would work for me. Hmm, long post just to say, I'll leave the decision up to everyone else :).

/P

[Katy]

Sean wrote: "We've never done an Alastair Reynolds novel. We've also never done a tie-in novel. In July we can do both with Reynolds' Doctor Who novel, Harvest of Time."

I like everyone's suggestions (my to-read list just got a lot longer!) but this one especially.

[library_jim]

I don't think we should necessarily drop Snow Crash or Redshirts from consideration just because we've done books by those authors in the past. Those books are much different that the other books we've read. Now I'll grant that we just did a Scalzi this year, so maybe put Redshirts on the back burner, but there seem to be a LOT of new Sword&Laserites who have joined since the video shows went online and I don't think we've done any Stephenson since then have we? Just sayin.

[Casey]

I don't know about anyone else but I like the "one book by one author" approach. There's no way we are going to be able to hit all the worthy writers to begin with, reading multiple books by the same author (for the group) seems an unnecessary redundancy, a misallocation of time, an inessential reading, a...

[Neil]

Casey wrote: "I don't know about anyone else but I like the "one book by one author" approach. There's no way we are going to be able to hit all the worthy writers to begin with, reading multiple books by the s..."

There are times when it might be interesting to go back to an author. Perhaps reading an authors early work and then later a newer one to see how they have developed their writing. There are some authors who write in both Sci-Fi and Fantasy and different sub-genres so it might be interesting to read one of each from the same author to see how they approach each differently.

If the authors writings are varied enough it could be good to revisit them.

[Noomninam]

Michael wrote: "Neil wrote: "...and The Long Earth."
I'm a big fan of Terry Pratchett and I have read almost all of this books. I was disappointed by The Long Earth. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Lemmed the audiobook myself about halfway in -- but I may get back to it one of these days.

[Noomninam]

Ryan wrote: "Possible Laser Reads:

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
The Callahan Chronicles by Spider Robinson
14 by Peter Clines (does this count as a laser?)
Pushing Ice or Centur..."

Just finished the audiobook version of Century Rain. Excellent -- with the perfect British reader.

[Rick]

library_jim wrote: "I don't think we should necessarily drop Snow Crash or Redshirts from consideration just because we've done books by those authors in the past. Those books are much different that the other books ..."
Yes we should, at least in the case of Redshirts. We've recently read both Fuzzy Nation and OMW. I like me some Scalzi, but we get 6 Laser picks a year and having 3 of the last 12 picks go to any one author is just overkill.

Snow Crash is different to me since it's a bit of a classic SF book, but we DID just read REAMDE.

This is actually a bit of a sore point with me though. This group is big enough for the readership to matter to a lot of midlist and emerging authors so I'd like to see it spread the love around (so to speak) and not dogpile on a few authors.

[library_jim]

Oh, see I've only been here for a year or so and haven't looked closely at the archives. I didn't know we'd done Fuzzy Nation as well.

I don't know if there should be a "one book per author" rule or not, but I agree I'd rather see more authors than the same few again and again.

[Michele]

I'll throw in Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog because I love it, any Octavia Butler, John Varley's Titan. And what about Michael Crichton almost anything?

[Rick]

Library_jim: I'm not necessarily for a 1book/author thing as a hard rule, but I'd like to see a minimum time pass before we do another book by an author we've read, say 2 years. That sounds like a lot, but it's not really - it's 12 Sword or Laser choices.

Let's face it, there are FAR more worthy books out there than we can ever read, even if we did a Sword and a Laser every month.

[library_jim]

Rick wrote: "Library_jim: I'm not necessarily for a 1book/author thing as a hard rule, but I'd like to see a minimum time pass before we do another book by an author we've read, say 2 years. That sounds like a ..."

I agree. One author per sword/laser "year" of 12 picks. At least spread them out. It's not like these will be the only SF/F books we'll be reading. I know I read others on my own. Those that loved a previous Stephenson or Scalzi will now go on to read more of them. Those that didn't don't need a third or fourth pick from one of them.

Earlier I just meant that if all we had done from say, Scalzi, was OMW (and it had been longer ago), Redshirts is a very different book. Same with Stephenson and Snow Crash and Anathem. But, yeah, there are just SO MANY great books and authors that I'm surprised they've doubled up at all.

[Samus5678]

I'm going to suggest a couple books that are tie-ins since I could swear that I heard a couple times on the podcast that the pick should help you see what you like. Anyway, I'm going to suggest Horus Rising by Dan Abbnet and EVE Empyrean Age my Tony Gonzalez. Horus Rising is the first book of Black Library's Horus Heresy series and EVE Empyrean Age is a stand alone stage setting book for the MMO EVE Online.

[Shaina]

I don't mind revisiting authors, as long as the books are different examples of that author's work. If the group wants to read something we shouldn't be limited by what has and hasn't been read before. I've only been reading along for a little over a year, so I haven't read most of the old group picks. While I'd like to get to them all eventually, it's going to be a while ;-)

[Sandi]

Alex wrote: "I've heard good things about A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge."

That's a really good one.

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Since its a vote, there are no restrictions. Tie-ins, the 50th Scalzi book? Bring it! If you're against it, then I assume you will not vote for it.

That said, we do try to at least put some space between repeat authors, AND Redshirts was an alt pick on release, so I may use vice-emperor powers to delay that one. Otherwise all comers.

I vote The Great North Road by Hamilton since I may be able to finish it by the end of July. Although expect Veronica to murder me if it wins. (Long)

[Michael]

Tom wrote: "I vote The Great North Road by Hamilton since I may be able to finish it by the end of July. Although expect Veronica to murder me if it wins. (Long) "

IMO "The Great North Road" is lesser Peter F. Hamilton compared to Pandora's Star (and Judas Unchained).
Sydney Hurst is not as kickass as Paula Mayo and the St Libra alien has nothing on MorningLightMountain just to name two examples. :)

[Tamahome]

I liked Great North Road, but it's a big commitment. Maybe his short story collection Manhattan in Reverse would be an easier intro. It has two good novellas (not the title story).

I also think Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon would be a good choice. It has some sexy time too, so you can cross read it on Vaginal Fantasy!

[Michael]

Tamahome wrote: "I also think Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon would be a good choice. It has some sexy time too, so you can cross read it on Vaginal Fantasy! "

IIRC Altered Carbon has less sexy time than Pandora's Star (and Judas Unchained).

[Tamahome]

Alrighty then!

[Misti]

Sean wrote: "We've never done an Alastair Reynolds novel. We've also never done a tie-in novel. In July we can do both with Reynolds' Doctor Who novel, Harvest of Time."

Yes! We have to get Veronica hooked on Doctor Who!

[Mathew]

I agree Great North Road would be great :D

[Louie]

Since my first two picks from the S&L wishlist are from Arthur C. Clarke and we've already had a main pick from him, I will go with my third choice- Idlewild by Nick Sagan.

[Will]

I will continue to promote an Alastair Reynolds novel. A good stand alone would be Pushing Ice.

[Sandi]

Will wrote: "I will continue to promote an Alastair Reynolds novel. A good stand alone would be Pushing Ice."

I think Alastair Reynolds is an excellent choice.

[Tamahome]

I think anyone would enjoy Reynolds's The Prefect

[Michael]

Sandi wrote: "I think Alastair Reynolds is an excellent choice."
Agreed.

Will wrote: "I will continue to promote an Alastair Reynolds novel. A good stand alone would be Pushing Ice."
It seems you are quite fond of detective fiction.

I really enjoyed Chasm City, a psychological thriller about identity, memory, and immortality.

[Sandi]

Tamahome wrote: "I think anyone would enjoy Reynolds's The Prefect"

Since I've already read The Prefect, House of Suns, and Blue Remembered Earth; I'm going to put in a vote for Revelation Space. I've had it on my iPod forever. I want to read it, but new shiny books keep dragging me away.

[Buzz]

I am still lobbying for The Great North Road by Peter F. Hamilton. I read it a couple months ago (while I was promoting it for May's laser pick) and I think the book is fantastic. I would love to discuss it with S&L's readers.

My second choice would be Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K.Dick. I am a huge Blade Runner fan and would love to read the book that inspired it, even if (especially if) it is a completely different story.

[Dara]

I vote for 2312.

[AndrewP]

I have Revelation Space sitting on my bookshelf so that gets my vote!