Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2019 Challenge Prompts - Regular
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20 - a book set in space
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I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, so I was a little worried about this prompt. However, I've been making my way through a graphic novel series that takes place in space, so I was happy to find a spot for another volume of it! I read Saga, Vol. 5. This series is so amazing, even for a non-sci-fi person like me!
If you like middle grade novels, Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee is pretty good. It could be used for "A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore" too since there are elements of Korean folklore in it. I found it interesting how the author combined science fiction with traditional folklore.
I just finished The Stars Are Legion and it was fantastic. Recommended if you like any/all of:- complex, morally gray (but still likable!) characters
- all-female cast
- LGBT (and no discrimination/prejudice)
I really liked A Different Light about a man who chooses to leave his home despite the almost certainty that he will die of cancer if he does.
Drakeryn wrote: "I just finished The Stars Are Legion and it was fantastic. Recommended if you like any/all of:
- complex, morally gray (but still likable!) characters
- all-female cast
- LGBT (and ..."
that was a really weird book. the planet is a spaceship is a body is a mother is a machine is a planet and just WHOA
- complex, morally gray (but still likable!) characters
- all-female cast
- LGBT (and ..."
that was a really weird book. the planet is a spaceship is a body is a mother is a machine is a planet and just WHOA
Nadine wrote: "that was a really weird book. the planet is a spaceship is a body is a mother is a machine is a planet and just WHOA "yesss
I really liked the linguistic fact that "world" and "ship" are nearly the same in their language, so Zan is never quite sure which one someone is saying to her
This is not my favourite prompt and I feel I put in the time with the set on a different planet prompt last year, so I went for a short story recommended in this thread - The Lady Astronaut of Mars, by Mary Robinette Kowal.This is a great short story. It's heartbreaking, saying so much in so little time. I'm not a sci-fi reader, but Mars and space exploration are really just the stage for this story. This core of this story is about the difficult choice between two things you love, and about facing the end of life in a relationship, of someone you love becoming old and having to chose how to say goodbye. It's sensitive and beautifully told.
I had started Last Shot: A Han and Lando Novel last year, finished it this year so I'm counting it.First Star Wars novel I've read, I was curious as I've enjoyed Daniel Jose Older's books before and Han & Lando shenanigans sounded fun... It was ok. I think for me Star Wars works better on film, I enjoyed it well enough but probably won't be rushing to read any others.
For anyone debating Illuminae in print or audio, I just wanted to mention that the books are extremely visual, with a lot of design elements. I'd even recommend getting the hardcover if you can.
willaful wrote: "For anyone debating Illuminae in print or audio, I just wanted to mention that the books are extremely visual, with a lot of design elements. I'd even recommend getting the hardcove..."Yep, I loved it, but it was difficult to read on my kindle. The grays got very similar.
Frogli wrote: "I had started Last Shot: A Han and Lando Novel last year, finished it this year so I'm counting it.First Star Wars novel I've read, I was curious as I've enjoyed Daniel Jose Older..."
Last Shot was okay. From the current group of novels, Bloodline, Lost Stars, and Dark Disciple capture the spirit of Star Wars the best to me.
If any of you are just now getting to this prompt (as I am), I strongly recommend Alan Dean Foster's books if you're a fan of sci-fi. My favorites back from when I was a kid (and they still are) were the Pip and Flinx books. But he's written quite a variety.
Would you all count Packing for Mars by Mary Roach?Its non-fic, but I don't know if you could say it was 'set in space', I think a lot of the book is about preparations for space travel done here on earth. Also though, a lot of it is how humans survive and live in space too.
I absolutely love Mary Roachs other work, and this is one of her last books I've got to read.
Catherine wrote: "Would you all count Packing for Mars by Mary Roach?Its non-fic, but I don't know if you could say it was 'set in space', I think a lot of the book is about preparations for space travel done here..."
I would probably count it if it interests you more than books you could read for a strict literal interpretation of the prompt. Especially if at least part of it is about actual life in space. It's more of a stretch if it's JUST about preparations that take place on Earth.
Catherine wrote: "Would you all count Packing for Mars by Mary Roach?Its non-fic, but I don't know if you could say it was 'set in space', I think a lot of the book is about preparations for space travel done here..."
This book sounded interesting so I looked it up. BTW, I don't know if any of it takes place in actual space. Maybe if you have access to a physical copy you could do a quick visual scan.
Anyway, this part caught my eye
What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk?
I do not want the answer to that. I don't want to know that's a thing. LOL.
Katy wrote: "Anyway, this part caught my eye
What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk?
I do not want the answer to that. I don't want to know that's a thing. LOL..."
ok I have actually always wondered that!! so if someone reads it, tell me!
What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk?
I do not want the answer to that. I don't want to know that's a thing. LOL..."
ok I have actually always wondered that!! so if someone reads it, tell me!
I read Packing for Mars and loved it! Definitely a great choice if you like any of Mary Roach's other work. I'm not a big space nut by any means, but the book was hugely fascinating!
It asks all the right questions about life in space. Like how do astronauts poop without gravity? Where does that poop go? What happens if the astronauts hate each other one day in? Haha, all the not-too-sciencey questions you wonder about life in space. Though there is science too...
And the question about what happens if you vomit in your helmet is a good one as it's actually really dangerous if they choke on it while wearing the suit! Plus they have no easy way of whipping the helmet off to clean it out.
Oh, and lots of Packing for Mars takes place in space. It definitely met the definition after reading it.
Catherine wrote: "I read Packing for Mars and loved it! Definitely a great choice if you like any of Mary Roach's other work.
I'm not a big space nut by any means, but the book was hugely fascinating!
It asks all..."
So what is their plan for vomiting in the helmet??? I've always wondered! I know I would puke, and I know it's dangerous. I also know I could never be an astronaut, so this is purely hypothetical.
I wasn't crazy about Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - I liked the fact that she tried to make it factual AND funny, but it didn't really make me laugh the way other readers seemed to, so I have never been interested in reading another by Roach. But I have to admit this book looks really super-duper interesting.
I'm not a big space nut by any means, but the book was hugely fascinating!
It asks all..."
So what is their plan for vomiting in the helmet??? I've always wondered! I know I would puke, and I know it's dangerous. I also know I could never be an astronaut, so this is purely hypothetical.
I wasn't crazy about Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - I liked the fact that she tried to make it factual AND funny, but it didn't really make me laugh the way other readers seemed to, so I have never been interested in reading another by Roach. But I have to admit this book looks really super-duper interesting.
I'm wondering if "Midnight at the Electric" would work for this one Midnight at the Electric.. I already have the book and would love to knock it off my long TBR list! has anyone read this and think it would fit?
Cassandra wrote: "I'm wondering if "Midnight at the Electric" would work for this one Midnight at the Electric.. I already have the book and would love to knock it off my long TBR list! has anyone re..."
I haven't read it - it looks interesting, but it does not look like it's set in space.
I haven't read it - it looks interesting, but it does not look like it's set in space.
Cassandra wrote: "I'm wondering if "Midnight at the Electric" would work for this one Midnight at the Electric.. I already have the book and would love to knock it off my long TBR list! has anyone re..."If you haven't done a prompt from a prior year yet, you could use last year's book with a time of day in the title.
Would A Thousand Pieces of You work for this? It says in the description that she jumps through different Universes. Anyone read it?
Kelsey wrote: "Would A Thousand Pieces of You work for this? It says in the description that she jumps through different Universes. Anyone read it?"
I have not read this, but it looks like she travels through alternate realities (a la the "multiverse" that has become popularized thanks to Spiderman, but is a common trope in SFF), not in space.
I have not read this, but it looks like she travels through alternate realities (a la the "multiverse" that has become popularized thanks to Spiderman, but is a common trope in SFF), not in space.
The college I work at just announced their summer read - Spaceman of Bohemia for the incoming first year class. I'm hoping this will fit this prompt!
Kelsey,Nadine has it right. They travel to different dimensions, not to space. There is some futuristic technology in at least one of the dimensions in the trilogy plus the dimension-hopping devices themselves.
I was thinking I'd have a hard time with this one, because while I don't mind watching shows or movies set in space, for some reason, reading about space isn't as enjoyable for me. I thought I might go with Hitchhiker's Guide (because it's also a 1001 book to read before you die), but then someone above mentioned Firefly, and I realized I own but haven't yet read Firefly: Legacy Edition Book One. Whee!
Jennifer W wrote: "I was thinking I'd have a hard time with this one, because while I don't mind watching shows or movies set in space, for some reason, reading about space isn't as enjoyable for me. I thought I migh..."Shiny! :D
I was thinking of reading Becky Chambers' "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" for this one. Anyone read it or know if it's good? Does it fit the category OK?The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Sarah wrote: "I was thinking of reading Becky Chambers' "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" for this one. Anyone read it or know if it's good? Does it fit the category OK?
[book:The Long Way to a Small, Ang..."
It does fit and it is the Popsugar Monthly Challenge read this month! Feel free to join in the discussion!
[book:The Long Way to a Small, Ang..."
It does fit and it is the Popsugar Monthly Challenge read this month! Feel free to join in the discussion!
I'm reading Illuminae for this prompt and while I usually read on kindle only, I bought the physical book for this and it's so beautiful!
Finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
by Becky ChambersMy Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I really enjoyed Do You Dream of Terra-Two?I ended up using it for a book with a question in the title and I read Artemis for this prompt, but I didn't like it as well.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)Do You Dream of Terra-Two? (other topics)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)
Illuminae (other topics)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Becky Chambers (other topics)Becky Chambers (other topics)
Mary Robinette Kowal (other topics)
Yoon Ha Lee (other topics)
Ruth Ann Nordin (other topics)
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It is a beautiful book about love. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Michael Faber is an amazing writer.
For a..."
Yea! I have this book tagged for this specific prompt - and I am not the biggest Sci-Fi fan. So I'm glad to see your recommendation :)