Ellen's Challenges and reading plans: comments ok

[Ellen]

Read All the Books 2018 , 2019
Completed 27/24
(view spoiler)[Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee 1/3/2018
The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
The Snow Queen, Joan D. Vinge
The Calculating Stars, Mary Robinette Kowal
The Princess Bride, William Goldman
The Changeling, Victor LaValle
The Farthest Shore, Ursula K. Le Guin
Storm Front, Jim Butcher
The Mote in God's Eye, Larry Niven
Old Man's War, John Scalzi
Titus Groan, Mervyn Peake
Into the Drowning Deep, Mira Grant
The Martian, Andy Weir
The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead
Nimona, Noelle Stevenson
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Max Brooks
Perdido Street Station, China Miéville
Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
White Cat, Holly Black
The Invisible Library, Genevieve Cogman
Winter Tide, Ruthanna Emrys
Artemis, Andy Weir
Too Like the Lightning, Ada Palmer
Touch, Claire North
A Natural History of Dragons, Marie Brennan
Nexus, Ramez Naam, 12/12/18

All done, plus. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen]

Science Fiction Prompts: Completed 3/14/25

2025 Science Fiction & Fantasy Booklovers Combat-Team Sci-Fi
(view spoiler)[
✅ Aliens
1. Area 51: Read a book with an alien character.
Terminal Alliance, 1/25/25
2. Starry Night: Read a book with at least one star on the cover.
Gobbelino London & A Complication of Unicorns


✅ Alt History
1. Back in the Day: Read a book set 20+ years ago. The Last Year of the War
2. Historicity: Read a book with a historical figure on the cover. 1/31/25



✅ Clones
1. DNA: Read a book with clones or twins in it. 1/5/25
The Poet, 1/23/25
2. Palindrome: Read a book with a mirrored cover (cover features a graphic that reads the same on both sides).


✅ Dimensional Travel
1. AltDimension: Read a book set in more than 1 dimension.
InterWorld
2. Portal: Read a book with any kind of portal on the cover.


✅ Space Travel
1. The Black: Read a book set in outer space.
Project Hail Mary
2. Nebula: Read a book with a space scene on the cover.


✅ Terraforming
1. Oxygen: Read a book that features terraforming.
Farmer in the Sky, 1/20/25
2. Foliage: Read a book with any kind of flora on the cover.


✅ Biological Engineering
1. Lab: Read a book with a character that is a engineer.
Falling Free, 1/14/25
2. DNA: Read a book with a helix on the cover.


✅ LitRPG
1. Game: Read any book classified as LitRPG or a novelized version of a video game.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
2. Console: Read a book with DND dice on the cover. 1/28/25


✅ Big Data
1. Arithmetic: Read a book with an accountant or mathematician as a main character.
We, D-503 is a mathematician
2. Data: Read a book with numbers on the cover./ numbers on the wall clock



✅ Mad Science
1. Scientist: Read a book with a scientist as a main character.
The Trials of Koli
2. Gear: Read a book with anyone in a lab coat or lab beakers on the cover. 1/31/25


✅ Artificial Intelligence
1. Intelligence: Read a book where AI is an important character or important to the plot.
Gateway, 1/8/25
2. Robot: Read a book with a computer or code on the cover.


✅ Time Travel
1. Time Machine: Read a book where time travel is part of the plot.
Replay, 1/18/25
2. Clock: Read a book with any kind of time keeping device on the cover. 1/29/25
(hide spoiler)]

[Ellen]

First half of the monthly Antagonist and Protagonist- Jan-June

(view spoiler)[✅ January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength. Bookshops & Bonedust- Viv
2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence. The Memory Keeper's Daughter- character with Down's Syndrome
✅ January Antagonist: Monster
1. Huge: Read a book with a character that is extremely large. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms- Duncan
2. Ugly: Read a book with a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance. Lady of the Lake- Ciri has hideous facial scars

✅ February Protagonist: Love Interest
1. Pretty: Read a book where a main character is known for their good looks. Gobbolino the Witch's Cat 2/8/25 Everyone remark on how pretty Gobbolino is
2. Romance: Read a book with a romantic scene. Paladin's Grace
✅ February Antagonist: Rival
1. Better Than You: Read a book where a main character has a rival
These Burning Stars, Esek vs Six.
2. It’s Personal: Read a book where a character has a personal grievance that is significant to the plot.
The City in Glass

✅ March Protagonist: Sidekick
1. 2nd Best: Read a book with a sidekick character or where the main character is only the 2nd best at something.
Buttercream Bump Off, Angie is a sidekick
2. Helpful: Read a book where the ‘hero’ needs help accomplishing a goal.
Starter Villain / Charlie needs help
✅ March Antagonist: Assistant to the Villain
1. Sidekick: Read a book with a character who is a sidekick or a character who has a sidekick.
Hamlet / Hamlet and Horatio
2. Not In Charge: Read a book where the main character is not the person in charge at their organization.
The Atrocity Archives / Bob is an agent at Laundry

✅ April Protagonist: Mentor
1. Aged: Read a book with an older main character.- The Two Towers, Gandalf , 4/12/25
2. Teacher: Read a book where a main character formally learns (skills or book knowledge). The Will of the Many- Vis studies at the academy/ 4/12/23
✅ April Antagonist: Wicked Stepparent
1. Not My Child: Read a book where a character raises a child that is not theirs by birth.- Anne of Green Gables
2. Envy: Read a book where jealousy is important to the plot. - Othello--Othello is jealous

✅ May Protagonist: Friendly Creature
1. Pet: Read a book where the main character is a pet or has a pet.
We'll Prescribe You a Cat
2. Companion: Read a book with an animal that is friendly toward the main characters. - A Sorceress Comes to Call
✅ May Antagonist: Mother Nature
1. Weather: Read a book where a weather event is significant to the plot.- Tooth and Claw
2. You’re Edible Here: Read a book where the main characters encounter a hostile environment.-All Systems Red

✅ June Protagonist: Strong Female
1. Girl: Read a book where the main character is female.- Devil's Gun / Niko Larsen
2. Stamina: Read a book where a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort. Burn Bright


✅ June Antagonist: Sociopath
1. No Empathy: Read a book where a character struggles to understand other people or doesn’t care about other people.- Artificial Condition - Murderbot
2. Manipulative: Read a book with a manipulative character.
My Lady Jane: The Not Entirely True Story- Lord Dudley (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen]

2nd half of the monthly Antagonist and Protagonist

✅ July Protagonist: Orphan
1. Child: Read a book where a main character is a child.- Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook
2. Parentless: Read a book where a main character doesn’t know their parent or a parent dies in the story.I’m Glad My Mom Died

✅ July Antagonist: Racist
1. Racism: Read a book where racism is significant to the plot.- Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a LifetimeRon Stallworth
2. Aryan Looks: Read a book where a group of characters are expected to display a uniform trait or dress in identical uniforms. - Battle Royale

✅ August Protagonist: Dynamic Leader
1. In Charge: Read a book where the main character serves in any kind of leadership role. Dune Messiah
2. Fan Club: Read a book where a character has a substantial fandom. Followers

✅ August Antagonist: Gang-Boss
1. Illegal Trade: Read a book where illegal trade is important to the plot. Rumor Has It
2. Recruiter: Read a book where the antagonist successfully recruits more minions. Heir to the Empire

✅ September Protagonist: Pollyanna
1. Optimistic: Read a book where a character presents as extremely optimistic. The Return of the King
2. Hopebringer: Read a book where a character receives hope after giving up. A Psalm for the Wild-Built

✅ September Antagonist: Mad Scientist
1. Dangerous Creation: Read a book where a scientist creates something dangerous./Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
2. Unintended Consequences: Read a book where a choice or action has unexpected, negative consequences/ Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

October Protagonist: Anti-hero
✅ 1. Good?: Read a book where it is unclear whether a significant character is good or bad. Vicious, (view spoiler)[Victor : finished book and still don't know! (hide spoiler)]
2. Hero?: Read a book where the protagonist lacks conventional heroic attributes.

✅ October Antagonist: Tyrant
1. Authoritarian: Read a book where the antagonist demands total loyalty from their followers.-- Nineteen Eighty-Four , O'Brian/ The Party
2. Commander: Read a book where the main antagonist is any kind of leader. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / (view spoiler)[Quirrell is a teacher at Hogwarts (hide spoiler)]

November Protagonist: Rebel
✅ 1. Plucky: Read a book where a main character is willing to tackle an obstacle that seems above their skill level. Greenteeth / Threee main characters go on a very difficult quest
2. Anti-establishment: Read a book where the protagonists are in conflict with an established authority.

November Antagonist: Crazed-Hunter
✅ 1. Locked and Loaded: Read a book with any kind of weapon on the cover. - Crossroads of Ravens
2. Trophy Seeker: Read a book where something is hunted for sport. Hunting Party

[Ellen]

Sci-Fi Team Bonuses :

Objects Of Power
✅ Big Dumb Object
1. Big: Read a book where a character wields an oversized (for them) weapon.-Berserk Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1, 5/3/25- Guts wields an over large sword
2. Object: Read a Book that features an object (and not people) on the cover.- The Westing Game, 5/12/25- house on the cover

✅ Objects of Power
Religious Artifact
1. God(s): Read a book where religion is important to the story. / Eifelheim, (view spoiler)[Priest in 1340's Germany helps aliens who have crashed their space ship (hide spoiler)]
2. Priest: Read a book with any kind of religious official or priest on the cover, Queen of the Sea

✅ Summer Bonus
__Science Fiction Settings
Multi-Cultural Alien Planet
✅ Saga, Volume 11. Alien Planet- Read a book set on an alien planet (a planet that has or once had a non-human species living on it).- Planet Cleave
✅ 2. Multiple Species- Read a book where 3 or more species cohabitate.-The Uplift War

Intergalactic Empire
✅ 1. Colonial Acquisition- Read a book where a government has acquired another political entity through force. Dune
✅ 2. Resistance Forces- Read a book where an organized (but less powerful) force actively tries to thwart the ‘lawful’ government.
Razor's Edge

Tech City
✅ 1. Advanced Power Technology- Read a book where a non-electric technology powers a city or a large population.- Fathomfolk
✅ 2. Cyberpunk- Read any book classified as cyberpunk. Stand on Zanzibar

✅ Halloween Bonus (October 1-October 31)
Know Thy Enemy
Science Fiction Challenge: Read any book classified as Fantasy Horror / What Moves the Dead

[Ellen]

Power Point /BOTM books

✅ Our Share of Night
✅ Our Wives Under the Sea
✅ Iron Widow
✅ Masquerade
✅ We Are All Ghosts in the Forest
✅The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant
✅Lost Ark Dreaming
✅ To Shape a Dragon's Breath
✅ Annie Bot
✅ Witch King
✅ You Sexy Thing
✅ The Pomegranate Gate
✅ Dead Silence
✅ One Hundred Years of Solitude
✅ The Teller of Small Fortunes
✅ Venomous Lumpsucker
✅ Dungeon Crawler Carl
✅ Of Monsters and Mainframes
✅ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
✅ Esperance
✅ Migrations
✅ Greenteeth - not used as a power point

[Ellen]

Just for fun after finishing SciFi challenges (the team I'm on)

Fantasy Challenges
(view spoiler)[
Shape Shifting
✅ 1. Change: Read a book with a character that changes shape or disguises themself. The City of Brass
2. Copy: Read a book with “shape” or “shift” in the title.

✅ Romantasy
1. Love: Read a book where a romantic relationship is central to the plot.
The Executioner's Song, Norman Mailer, 3/24/25 Gary and Nicole
2. Pairing: Read a book with a couple on the cover.


Angels and Devils
1. Ying: Read a book where a character has wings and/or horns.
2. Yang: Read a book with a black and white cover.

Magical Object
1. Powerful: Read a book where a magical object is central to the plot.
2. Thing: Read a book with the word “magic” in the title.

Poisoner
✅ 1. Sick: Read a book where a poisoning is a significant plot point.
Five Little Pigs, Agatha Christie, Someone is murdered by poisoning
2. Dangerous: Read a book with something poisonous on the cover.

DnD Party
✅ 1.Characters: Read a book with a rogue, mage, fighter, and/or wizard
2.Team: Read a book with 4 or more characters on cover or the word “party” in the title.

Mythology
✅ 1.Story: Read a book with a mythological character or that is considered a retelling of a myth. Circe ,Madeline Miller , 4/26/25
2. Alpha-Omega: Read a book with any greek letter on the cover or the word “myth” in the title.

✅ Undead
✅ 1. Alive?: Read a book with an undead character or a character that returns from the dead.
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs / vampires
✅ 2. Dead: Read a book the word “dead” or “death” in the title.
Death Masks

Bestiary
✅ 1. Not a Pet: Read a book with a character that would be considered a beast.
Snake Agent, Liz Williams / Badger
✅ 2. Risky: Read a book with any kind of beast on the cover.


Fantastic Flora
1. Greenery: Read a book where plants can be considered a character (protagonist or antagonist) in the book.
2. Anti-Human: Read a book with plants but no humans on the cover.

Magic Powers
✅ 1. Sorcerer: Read a book with a character that has any kind of magic.
The Kingdom of Gods, N.K. Jemisin, 3/26/25 Seih is a golding and can use magic
2. Magi: Read a book with any kind of magician on the cover.

Fairy Tales
1. Story: Read a book that is a collection of related stories.
✅ 2. Fae: Read a book with fairies on the cover or “tales” in the title.

(hide spoiler)]

[Ellen]

Caught up with the Booklovers Combat so far. (Do need to finish A Light in the Lonesome October for the antagonist prompt.)
Currently reading Migrations one of Nov books of the month. Reading it more for the Read All the Books challenge than the Power Point. Don't think the Sci-Fi team will get enough points before the fantasy team does or the challenge ends. Plus I've been wanting to read it for a while.
My other planned reads for November:
Greenteeth - botm

Weapon on the cover, Nov antagonist Locked and Loaded
.There Will Be Bears- possible November antagonist read : Hunting Party
undecided on November Protagonists
Stealing - Native American Heritage Month
Crazy Challenge Connection reads:
The Trouble with Time
Deception