POLL: What should we read in July?

[Noomninam]

Any chance of a dark horse write-in candidate in The Quarry, the final book by Iain Banks, who died yesterday? Don't know whether it's an 'M' book (sci-fi) or lit-fic . . . or something else by him soon, please? It's high time, IMHO.

[Dara]

Damn. I'd get that if it were US.

[Geoff]

It kind of sucks that less than 3% of the group have voted in the poll.

[Christopher]

Geoff i don't think 3% is really all that bad. Figure that is probably most of the groups regular participants.

[Kim]

In any large group there is generally only a small amount who participate and a smaller group who actually comment regularly.

[Phil]

Since it looks like it's definitely going to be either Redshirts or Ringworld I wonder if anybody who voted for something else has changed their vote to one of those two.

[Neil]

Phil wrote: "Since it looks like it's definitely going to be either Redshirts or Ringworld I wonder if anybody who voted for something else has changed their vote to one of those two."

I did. Out of those two I went for Ringworld. I want to read Redshirts more but because of that I am going to be reading it sometime whether it is a group pick or not. Thought I would vote for something that I probably wouldn't get if it wasn't to read it for this.

[Geoff]

Phil wrote: "Since it looks like it's definitely going to be either Redshirts or Ringworld I wonder if anybody who voted for something else has changed their vote to one of those two."

That's really not how a poll works.

[Serendi]

That's really not how a poll works.

You can change your vote on this poll. I did, early on, because I decided I'd rather pick the book I knew I wanted to (re)read than the book I thought might be okay according to various people's recommendations. (The Peter Hamilton.)

So yeah, if someone knows it'll be one of the two and wants to improve the odds of one of them, why not?

[Neil]

Geoff wrote: "Phil wrote: "Since it looks like it's definitely going to be either Redshirts or Ringworld I wonder if anybody who voted for something else has changed their vote to one of those two."

That's real..."

It's a poll using the Alternative Vote system. My first choice didn't win so it went to my next choice. :)

[Alan]

I'm not changing my vote from the Sparrow because I've been meaning to read it for a while. Also, I'm not sure that Redshirts or Ringworld are complex enough texts for a ton of discussion.

The group has read a lot of Scalzi and I predict that some people will have similar problems with Ringworld that they did with Dragonflight.

[JRush]

I just finished The Sparrow last night and I was blown away. Very emotionally moving book that doesn't compromise on its sci-fi story line.

Its full of thought provoking ideas that span from first contact to free will that would translate easily into discussion threads.

I'll say it again, this book was written for this group! *steps down from soapbox*

[Mike]

I voted for Pandora's Star, having read both Ringworld and Redshirts.

Of course, I also have a lot of unread books on my Kindle... and Neil Gaiman's new novel comes out next week.

[Sandi]

JRush wrote: "I just finished The Sparrow last night and I was blown away. Very emotionally moving book that doesn't compromise on its sci-fi story line.

Its full of thought provoking ideas that span from firs..."

Hopefully, it will be a group read some day. It is one of my all-time favorite books.

[D. H.]

How about a runoff between the top three?

[Nico]

I initially voted for pandora, but changed my vote now to ringworld, because I just can't stand how John Scalzi writes his dialogs. It annoyed me so much in Ghost Brigades and from what I heard so far it is even worse in Red Shirts(X said after every sentence). How can an editor let this happen?
And also I'd like a book where you can actually have a discussion, with though provoking ideas in it and not some fluff story. I just read The Dispossessed and thought what an awesome pick this would have been.

[Noomninam]

Nico wrote: "I initially voted for pandora, but changed my vote now to ringworld, because I just can't stand how John Scalzi writes his dialogs. It annoyed me so much in Ghost Brigades and from what I heard so..."

Scalzi's dialog style probably looks stilted as all get out on the page, as many report. For me it works quite well in audio, as long as Wil Wheaton is reading it!

[Rick]

I like Scalzi, but isn't it about time that we stopped making him our go-to laser guy? I have Similar feelings about Wheaton as voice talent. They are both great, but this is Sword & Laser, not the freakin' Scalzi-Wheaton fan club.

[Sean]

Geoff wrote: "That's really not how a poll works."

Sure it is -- if my first choice is proving unpopular and something I'm not interested in is winning, I switch my support to something that's has a chance of pulling ahead.

We should really do a play-off system so we can get into real strategic voting, with bloc alliances and sniping. This simple plurality system is so boring.

[Tamahome]

I vote for Ron Paul.

[Rick]

Rick wrote: "I like Scalzi, but isn't it about time that we stopped making him our go-to laser guy? I have Similar feelings about Wheaton as voice talent. They are both great, but this is Sword & Laser, not th..."

Uh oh, there's two of us. ON the other hand, I am a Gemini and... TWIN!!!

[Christopher]

I honestly think there is more to think/talk about with Red Shirts then people are giving it credit for. It's only looks shallow on the surface. If you get down to it you have some thought provoking ideas regarding the nature of reality, fiction and humanity in general. And it's a lot of fun.

[Daran]

I've had a friend trying to get me to read Redshirts for months, because he says he hasn't looked at Space Opera the same since.

So, I would say it has some potential for discussion.

[Erik]

Is REDSHIRTS like the CABIN IN THE WOODS of sci-fi novels?

[D.J. Wilde]

I would read Doctor Who because I'm a Who Junkie. However, if you are looking for eloquent writing/story telling, you won't find it in Doctor Who. I've found it doesn't translate as well to book format as it should. I've read quite a few of the books, back when I couldn't get my Who fix on TV.

[Sandi]

D.J. wrote: "I would read Doctor Who because I'm a Who Junkie. However, if you are looking for eloquent writing/story telling, you won't find it in Doctor Who. I've found it doesn't translate as well to book fo..."

I wonder if that will be the case with the one in question. After all, it's written by Alastair Reynolds. I think they're having a 50th Anniversary thing going on with books written by authors who normally wouldn't write Doctor Who books. Stephen Baxter and Patrick Ness have both released Doctor Who titles this year.

[Paul]

Erik wrote: "Is REDSHIRTS like the CABIN IN THE WOODS of sci-fi novels?"

It took me a second to understand what you were trying to say I first assumed you were slamming my beloved Cabin in the Woods...but to answer your question...Redshirts is in the same mode but not as good as Cabin :)

[Paul]

Erik wrote: "Is REDSHIRTS like the CABIN IN THE WOODS of sci-fi novels?"

Actually it reminds me more of Yahtzee Crenshaw's MOGWORLD...which is about characters inside an MMO game that become "self-Aware"

[D.J. Wilde]

Sandi wrote: "D.J. wrote: "I would read Doctor Who because I'm a Who Junkie. However, if you are looking for eloquent writing/story telling, you won't find it in Doctor Who. I've found it doesn't translate as we..."

YES it is the 50th Anniversary, and now I'm even more curious about the book, thanks :D On top of that, Matt Smith is leaving the show and they are currently seeking a new Doctor.

[Neil]

Paul wrote: "Erik wrote: "Is REDSHIRTS like the CABIN IN THE WOODS of sci-fi novels?"

Actually it reminds me more of Yahtzee Crenshaw's MOGWORLD...which is about characters inside an MMO game that become "self..."

Awesome. I loved Mogworld. Looking forward to reading Redshirts. I was intending to read it in August but wouldn't mind moving it up if it did win this poll. :)

[Tina]

Phil wrote: "Tina wrote: "So is Ringworld a YA book?"

I am curious why you ask that Tina. I find a lot of older books now get refered to as YA but they weren't when they were first published. Dragonflight and ..."

Actually I can't remember where I saw it now -- I did a search to find out if it was available as an ebook, and I thought I saw somewhere it was for ages 7-13. But now that I've tried searching again, I can't find where I saw that, so maybe I was mistaken.

[Daniel]

I picked 'Do androids...' but I won't be dissapointed if 'Ringworld' wins this poll.

[Vickstar]

I lemmed Ringworld a long time ago but strangely I wouldn't mind if it won as it might be a good opportunity to give it another chance. There are some really great options on the list and it was really hard to vote. Although I’ve already read it, I originally picked the Sparrow just because I felt the group discussion about this book would be absolutely amazing to follow. It’s fantastically written, tightly plotted and extremely thought-provoking so I would enjoy reading it again. However, the last few months have all been rereads for me so far, so I’d like to try something new. With that in mind, I changed my vote to Pandora’s Star. I have never read any Peter F. Hamilton before and the book description sounded intriguing.

[Jeff]

Went The Sparrow as it was something different by a new author. Thought about Snow Crash but didn't know how brain-taxing it would be especially since I'd most likely be doing the audiobook version.

Plus I'm voting for an underdog!!

[John]

I was glad to hear Tom endorse The Sparrow. I've had a copy for a few years and would love to read it as a group. The premise is so much more provocative for me, and I hear such great things about Mary Doria Russell.

[Alan]

Jeff wrote: "Thought about Snow Crash but didn't know how brain-taxing it would be especially since I'd most likely be doing the audiobook version..."

It's actually a very light and fluffy book. Early Stephenson is nothing like the dense tomes he started writing with Cryptonomicon and Quicksilver

[Tina]

Doc who books is quite interesting and i will also go in that book.

[Robert]

I'm doing a write in vote for "The Ocean at the End of the Lane"

[Walter]

Voted for Pandora's Star because I've already read it and I'm seriously behind on my reading. I'm in the middle of five different books right now.

[Paul]

Walter wrote: "Voted for Pandora's Star because I've already read it and I'm seriously behind on my reading. I'm in the middle of five different books right now."

Just five...lucky gent you are...I have so many started at every given time that I forget to add them to my currently reading here :)

[KWinks]

Oh, crud. Voted Ringworld thinking it was Riverworld. Whoops. I'll try to muddle through. Or raise my hopes that Redshirts wins.

[Rob, Roberator]

Kwinks wrote: "Oh, crud. Voted Ringworld thinking it was Riverworld. Whoops. I'll try to muddle through. Or raise my hopes that Redshirts wins."

You can change your vote.

[Casey]

John wrote: "I was glad to hear Tom endorse The Sparrow. I've had a copy for a few years and would love to read it as a group. The premise is so much more provocative for me, and I hear such great things about ..."

Agreed!

[Lainey]

I found super cheap used copies of ringworld on amazon. I paid $4.00 including shipping, supposedly it's in decent condition.

[Kevin]

The audio version of Ringworld is on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=....

[Sasha]

I have just finished reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and ringworld audiobook and i he already ready have read redshirts so looks like i have the winner read :D

[P. Aaron]

So do we have a decision yet? I'm a slow reader... gotta get cracking. Whiteboard ain't gonna draw itself...

On the other hand, three of the potential picks are re-reads for me, so maybe I'm in luck.

[Tina]

Kevin wrote: "The audio version of Ringworld is on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...."

The audio version is also available at Overdrive for quite a few libraries:
:
http://search.overdrive.com/classic/

[Sophie]

The poll closes tomorrow, so I assume they'll announce the book on Thursday...

[David(LA,CA)]

Sophie wrote: "The poll closes tomorrow, so I assume they'll announce the book on Thursday..."

Which means that today would be the last day to go back, see where your choice has landed in the voting, and maybe change your vote to one of the top contenders if there's no way your actual choice is going to get a come from behind victory.