Defenders vs. West Coast Avengers 2018 Challenge Discussion Thread

[Vinca]

This was my second year doing it. The first year I mostly read what I wanted and fitted things in where I could. It gave me a chance to properly figure out how everything worked but meant I missed a lot of villains and didn't quite complete my base roster of heroes. This year I went for it a bit more seriously and tried to plan ahead each month to get my villains done before I read other things on my tbr pile. It's given me a more interesting year of reading and a really satisfying feeling of accomplishment. I keep a word document with all the tasks, books I think might fit and what I've already completed.

Next year I'll probably scale back a bit and read things I already have on my to read list. I'll pick a team based on how many tasks I can already complete from my own bookshelves.

Whatever way you choose to approach it and however seriously you decide to go for it, the whole thing is great fun and I can't wait for the release of next year's lists. It'll definitely be a highlight of my festive season! You have to remember that we're all bookaholics round here ;-)

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Amy wrote: "Really looking forward to joining this challenge next year. At first I didn't have clue what was going on, but I've been following the main thread for a few months now so I think (hope) I've got th..."

I pretty much plan them all out at the beginning of the year when I do the challenge.

[Melanie]

Amy wrote: "Really looking forward to joining this challenge next year. At first I didn't have clue what was going on, but I've been following the main thread for a few months now so I think (hope) I've got th..."

You should join the Defenders right now, and post all your books for the year that meet any hero challenges. Deus Ex. Machina!

[Amy]

Great, thanks for the tips guys. I have an ever-growing tbr list (like everyone) not helped by the fact I can't resist a 99p deal on the kindle. Can't wait till next year's list is out so I can start planning/justifying buying more :)

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

Amy- as soon as I post the main thread for next year (probably starting mid-December or so) people start requesting what team to be on. It takes a few days usually to get the full rosters up, since there are images (which hate me) and descriptions, which take time to write, and I have a full time job, a part time job, and a writing career.

But as soon as things start popping up, take a look, pick a side, and start planning if you like, or read what you want and see if it fits.

Also, since there is recurring confusion on this, you can read whatever fits the challenge criteria. It does NOT have to be sci fi/fantasy, although that tends to be the go to with this group, oddly enough. ;)

[Amy]

Thanks Wayland. I have no idea how you even start setting up everything for this challenge, it must take ages and lots of imagination. As well keeping down as three jobs!!! You must be superhero yourself, perhaps you should let us recruit you next year :)

Roll on December. I'm saving lots of my books up now just in case. Can't wait. Thanks again.

[Amy]

Melanie - I'm assuming you're team Defenders? Temping, but I can't remember what half the books I read were about so might struggle doing any hero challenges. New year for sure though.

[Audrey, Queen of the Potato People]

Amy wrote: “Really looking forward to joining this challenge next year. At first I didn’t have clue what was going on, but I’ve been following the main thread for a few months now so I think (hope) I’ve got th…”

You just pick a team at the beginning (or later, if you join late) and plan your own method of attack.

[Melanie]

I tell good reads every time I finish a book, and then I have a tally at the end of the year.

[Sandy]

I love this challenge - it has introduced me to so many great series and author's that I wouldn't have picked up otherwise. Of course it also drives me nuts because my tbr keeps growing and growing and I have to read things in order. Way better than Xmas to me too.

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

I'm glad everyone is enjoying.

For the newer folks, I will say/remind that I did not come up with this, I took over from MPauli when he couldn't do it anymore.

I'm still poking at next year's, filling in detail for the various characters, although NaNoWriMo is taking most of my time.

[Matthew]

If I read the same book a second time this year, can I count it again?

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

If you did an actual reread, yes.

[Matthew]

Thanks! I read a book that I loved so much that we're reading it as a family, now.

[Shawnie]

This is my 4th year on the challenge and honestly get giddy about planning out my next year! I love love love planning out my books for the year. I plan out my books but I always end up reading outside the plan to fit my mood as well. The challenge helps me stay out of reading stagnation.

[Wayland, Ernest Scribbler]

That's one of the ideas behind it as far as I'm concerned, Shawnie.

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Wayland wrote: "That's one of the ideas behind it as far as I'm concerned, Shawnie."

I like to do every other year. I have to read everything in the challenge, it feels wrong to not completed it all, and I tend to let that get in the way of what I actually want to read sometimes. It helped this year to not force myself to read all the energy cells, but it still gets in my way of what I want to read (like I still haven't even opened Skyward because I'm trying to read for Professor Power) so, after a year of doing that I like to spend the next year finishing the new series I started for teh challenge and reading whatever I want. I think it's a good compromise for me.

[Shawnie]

I really like your every other year idea, Roger. But the thought of skipping a challenge year... I don't think I can do it. LOL I'll try to plan series progress into my 2019 year.

[Lel]

As a very indecisive person this challenge is amazing at making me chose books to read. I always go through my TRP first and then branch out from there. The idea of missing a years challenge actually panics me.

[Sandy]

You know I say I am not going to worry about hitting the challenge but then I get involved and I feel the panic too!!! I feel like there is something missing if I don't do my challenges. Eeek!

[Vinca]

It's going to be pretty close as to whether I finish everything this year, I think I've got 7 books to read to get it all done, which is quite a lot, but I'll give it a go. However, there's one category where I'm stuck for ideas - can anyone help me out? It's this one:

Now You See It...- read a book with teleportation in the story or where something inexplicably disappears.

[Dawn]

Vinca, The Fold by Peter Clines is all about a teleportation machine and it was a pretty good book too. Oathbringer or Words of Radiance also qualify since the oathgates are teleportation devices but they have a 1000 plus page count so you'll need plenty of time to read either of these.

[Vinca]

Dawn wrote: "Vinca, The Fold by Peter Clines is all about a teleportation machine and it was a pretty good book too. Oathbringer or Words of Radiance also qualify since the oathgates are teleportation devices b..."


I loved The Fold, listened to the audiobook a few months ago. Do you know if anything similar crops up in 14? I saw something saying it was set in the same universe. Don't think I'll have time for a 1000+ page epic!

[Ben George]

@vinca does The Long Earth count?
It's a quick read and I loved it.

[Vinca]

Ben wrote: "@vinca does The Long Earth count?
It's a quick read and I loved it."
Hmm, interesting shout. I've read the first one but do have the second book on the tbr pile...

[Dawn]

Yes, there is a portal to another world in 14 as well so that book would also qualify for the challenge.

[Dawn]

14 was also a very good book. Some very intriguing ideas.

[Falynn - the TyGrammarSaurus Rex]

Gridlinked by Neal Asher has "runcibles" - basically teleporters controlled by AIs - in it. It's years since I read it, but I remember it as being quite good fun.

[Kirsty, Jedi Master]

Hawkeye

1. Trickshot- read a book where a bad guy teaches a hero or with a bow and arrow on the cover.
2. Ran Away and Joined the Circus- read a book with a circus on the cover, where a circus is one of the settings, or with “Circus” in the title.
3. Huh? What?- read a book where a character has a hearing impairment of any kind, or where sonic weapons are used.

Mockingbird

1. Bobbi Morse, PhD- read a book with a scientist on the cover or where a main character is a scientist.
2. Battle Staves- read a book with a staff or staves on the cover, or where a staff or staves are used as a weapon in the story.The Eye of the World
3. Agent of SHIELD- read a book where espionage is part of the plot or with a spy on the cover. Morning Star

Iron Man II

1. James Rhodes, USMC- read a book with a soldier on the cover or where a character is in any type or military.
2. Tony Stark’s pilot- read a book with any kind of aircraft on the cover, or where a character is a pilot.
3. War Machine- read a book where a character uses a heavy weapon, or has any kind of big gun on the cover.

Tigra

1. The Cat People- read a book with a hidden race or a hidden city in the story, or with some kind of feline on the cover.
2. World’s Smallest Costume- read a book with a woman in a bikini on the cover, or where a character spends a lot of time barely dressed/naked.
3. Camp Hammond- read a book with a training facility on the cover, or where the main character attends any kind of training. Skyward

Wonder Man

1. Embezzler!- Read a book where the main character steals something from someone that trusts him, where embezzlement is part of the plot, or with a thief on the cover.
2. The Unknown Stuntman- Read a book with a character who is part of the movie industry, or with some kind of camera on the cover.
3. Guardian of the Galaxy- Read a book with an immortal/extremely long-lived character, or where a character ends up in the future, or with a star on the cover.

Moon Knight

1. Fist of Khonshu- read a book where a character serves a god/goddess, or with a temple or shrine on the cover.
2. Marc Spector- read a book with a mercenary as a major character, or with weapons on the cover. The Great Hunt
3. Give Him Hell, Frenchie!- read a book with an armed flying craft of some kind in it, or with a helicopter on the cover.

Hank Pym

1. The Man In The Ant Hill- read a book with insects on the cover, or where insects play a part in the story.
2. Ant-Man I, Giant Man I, Goliath I, Yellowjacket I- read a book where a character starts something that is later carried on by someone else, or where someone changes their name.
3. Here Comes Your 19th Nervous Breakdown- read a book where the main character has mental issues, or where an asylum is one of the settings. Lies of the Beholder

Scarlet Witch

1. Child of Magneto- read a book where the main character has a criminal parent, with a father and daughter on the cover, or where a character grows up without a mother. A Pocketful of Crows
2. Scarlet- read a book with a mostly red cover, or any variation of red, scarlet, etc in the title.
3. Twins- read a book with twins in it somewhere, with “Twin” in the title, or with Twins on the cover. Golden Son

Human Torch I

1. But He’s An Android... read a book with an android on the cover, an android in the story, or any variation or “robot” “droid” etc in the title. A Closed and Common Orbit
2. Firepower- read a book with a fire on the cover, where something burns down, or with “Fire” in the title.
3. The Invaders- read a book that has a team of elite fighters during a war in it, or where the main character spends most of the book out of their own country.

Firebird

1. The Rangers- read a book set in the American Southwest, or with a desert on the cover.
2. Espirita- read a book where a character is prevented from committing suicide, or with someone praying on the cover.
3. Bonita Juarez- read a book with a social worker in it, or where a character is involved with social causes

US Agent

1. Captain America V- read a book where someone steps in to replace a more famous character, or with a country’s flag on the cover.
2. STARS- read a book where a character works for a government law enforcement agency (not local), or with a badge of some kind on the cover.
3. Warden of the Raft- read a book where a prison is one of the settings, with a major character in a wheelchair, or where a character refuses treatment for a serious medical problem.

Quicksilver

1. Over-Protective Brother- read a book where a brother looks out for his sister whether she wants him to or not, or with a brother and sister on the cover.
2. Crystal- read a book where someone marries into a royal family, gets a divorce during the story, or has a redhead on the cover.
3. Brotherhood of Evil Avengers?- read a book where someone works for two opposing sides at some point in the story, or with opposing characters on the cover.

[Vinca]

Help! I've got one book left to read for Popinjay to complete the whole set but don't have a book lined up for it. The one I thought would work didn't so I'm scrabbling to find something. Does anyone have any suggestions?

3. “Might As Well, Can’t Dance”- read a book with a character that has a catchphrase, or where a saying is repeated many times in the story, or has a slogan from the story (not advertising the
book) on the cover

Thanks in advance and hope everyone is having a lovely festive season :-)

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Vinca wrote: "Help! I've got one book left to read for Popinjay to complete the whole set but don't have a book lined up for it. The one I thought would work didn't so I'm scrabbling to find something. Does anyo..."

I used Screw The Galaxy, the MC has a a motto in it.

[Audrey, Queen of the Potato People]

Vinca wrote: “Help! I’ve got one book left to read for Popinjay to complete the whole set but don’t have a book lined up for it. The one I thought would work didn’t so I’m scrabbling to find something. Does anyo…”

Skyward, any Harry Dresden, Six of Crows, Alice in Wonderland

[Shawnie]

Vinca wrote: "Help! I've got one book left to read for Popinjay to complete the whole set but don't have a book lined up for it. The one I thought would work didn't so I'm scrabbling to find something. Does anyo..."

I see others on your team used The Changeling and We Are Legion.

[Vinca]

Thanks all. Picked up a copy of Screw The Galaxy and am really enjoying it. Back on track to get things completed by the end of the year :-D