Let the group pick your next book!

[Allan]

I finished Perdido Street Station, which I’ve focused on almost exclusively this week, so I’m picking up The Player of Games, Kalin’s pick for me. I’ll get to Z’s pick, The Dervish House, in October, as I have a couple library books I need to knock out.

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

I think I'll go with the safest bet, The Golem and the Jinni.

Thanks for all the inputs, I'll do the trilogies before the year is out, starting with Annihilation.

[Allan]

I’d join you for a buddy read on the other trilogy books after Annihilation. At least mid-October though.

[Kristenelle]

Kalin wrote: "IQ84 is one of the brickiest bricks that ever bricked! It's IT-sized!"

Lol, true. I listened to the audiobook and it was over 40 hours long.

[Kristenelle]

Art wrote: "I've already read two or three of his novels and I'm enjoying the time I spend in his universes. It's like a little vacation for me every time. The one I mentioned is the next on my reading list, I'm saving the best for last!
P.s. I've read Sputnik!."

Ah, didn't see a title listed in your post and assumed you were just interested in the author generally. I feel similarly about his books. They are very immersive worlds. :) Enjoy Golem!

[Kathryn]

I find Scalzi super valuable for when I want a read that is complex enough in terms of plot to hold my interest, but not terribly challenging in terms of world building and new ideas. Not saying they're bad books, just that the way they follow familiar tropes of setting and character make them easier to jump right into. As a result, they make very good sci-fi escapism reads. (Maybe similar to how I'll often turn to Pratchett for my fantasy escapism. I know exactly what I'm going to get there, and even when the story is new, it will follow some familiar patterns. Ideal comfort reading.)

[Kristenelle]

That was my impression of Scalzi and I’ve never read a whole book by him. 😛 I tried reading red shirts a couple years ago and hated it, but I read just a sample of collapsing empire and felt like that was going to shape up to be comfy, simple sci-fi. Planning on reading it eventually.

[Allan]

I’m with you, Kathryn, I like Scalzi for a quick, easy read, not mind-bending where I have to really focus but very interesting plots. Where I think he’s been falling down a bit is in his dialogue. While his sarcastic style was really good in the Old Man’s War series, I feel like he’s gone a bit over the top in the Collapsing Empire series. The vulgarity is fun for a while but it gets old. And everyone in the book talks that way! Other than that, though, the plot is great with unexpected twists and I’m still interested enough to find out what happens. I just started The Last Emperox on audio. Wil Wheaton is very well-suited to Scalzi’s material.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

I like some Scalzi books, dislike others. The first his novel I read was Old Man's War and I was "wow! That's Heinleinian writing in modern setting!" and I am a big fan of Heinlein. The second and third volumes I considered even better. At the same time the Collapsing Empire series doesn't work for me at all

[Warner]

Allan wrote: "I’m with you, Kathryn, I like Scalzi for a quick, easy read, not mind-bending where I have to really focus but very interesting plots. Where I think he’s been falling down a bit is in his dialogue...."
After having read all the Old Man's War books and Redshirts, I totally agree about the voices of all the characters were the same in The Collapsing Empire. That's when I decided I've read enough Scalzi and didn't need to read any more.

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Hi Kathryn, nice hearing from you again! And hi Warner and welcome to the group.

Looks like I won't be bothering with the whole trilogy, everything you are saying sounds very plausible, I barely made it through Redshirts due to everyone sounding the same. If CE trilogy is even worse then I won't waste time on that.

[Allan]

I don’t reject it out of hand as I like the plot of the CE series though. It goes in some unexpected directions and is pretty imaginative. The books are quick, easy reads, which I like. But I think if he’d taken more time and not dashed into sarcasm in his dialogue, it could have been much better.

[Allan]

Kalin wrote: "I'd say The Player of Games, since you'll never get to read it just following our group goals here. And apparently The Culture is fantastic."

I've had the first three Culture novels on my shelf for quite awhile, just never seemed to get to them. I finally read Consider Phlebas a couple months ago, and just completed The Player of Games last night, following Kalin's choice of that book for me. While Consider Phlebas at first seemed like James Bond in space, it moved away from that. The Player of Games also felt that way, like a sci-fi version of Casino Royale, but with a totally different character than Phlebas. The endings haven't quite panned out that way, but the feeling is there. In any case, I enjoyed Player immensely - I've been into strategy games all my life, including a stint as a junior player in US Chess Federation ratings tournaments. Thanks, Kalin!

I hope to get to Z's recommendation of The Dervish House this month, but I have a lot of books queued up in October for monthly reads and challenges.

[Allan]

With a new month starting soon, anyone else up for a book picked by someone else?

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

I'm still grinding through the Vorkosigan series.
Will try to finish as many times as possible before the year is out.

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Looking for a short sci-fi book, 200-300 pages that is a definite classic but not on our list. Nothing from the past two decades please.
Anybody have any ideas?

[Gabi]

One of Theodore Sturgeon's novels?

[Allan]

Those are tougher criteria than you would think, as newer books tend to be a little longer. I've got three on my TBR list that are non HN classics, close, not quite, but might appeal to you:

Ammonite - 1993, but about 400pp
Life During Wartime - 1987
Bring the Jubilee - 1953 (short but not even close on decade)

[Jemppu]

Art wrote: "Looking for a short sci-fi book, 200-300 pages that is a definite classic but not on our list. Nothing from the past two decades please.
Anybody have any ideas?"

The Illustrated Man?

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Art, I always have loved Highways in Hiding by George O. Smith, Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Opera ever since I read it as a kid. I've never reread it, and I see people find it dated and sexist, but it is free here. https://www.amazon.com/Highways-Hidin... It's just about 200 pages. 196, I think

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Allan wrote: "Those are tougher criteria than you would think, as newer books tend to be a little longer. I've got three on my TBR list that are non HN classics, close, not quite, but might appeal to you:

[book..."

Allan, that is perfect. I'm looking for anything BUT 2000_2020. Anything before that goes

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

[book:The Illustrated ..."

Somehow this sounds very familiar. I'll check it out for sure.

[Allan]

Oops, I misread what you said, but gave you what you wanted.

The Illustrated Man is a renowned early (1951) collection of Ray Bradbury stories, some of which have been adapted into other media: tv, movie, music. Any Bradbury collection is a good choice.

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

I've read some Crichton this year, The Lost World by A.C. Doyle.
I'm even considering getting my hands on some Verne.

[Antti]

If you haven't read Stanislav Lem yet, I would highly recommend his works. Solaris is the most natural starting point, but I would also recommend his lighter satirical works like The Cyberiad or The Futurological Congress. His Master's Voice is great, too, but I think it's a bit shorter than 200 pages.

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Antti wrote: "If you haven't read Stanislav Lem yet, I would highly recommend his works. Solaris is the most natural starting point, but I would also recommend his lighter satirical works like The Cyberiad or Th..."

Read Solaris and was pleasantly surprised. Good to know he has a bit of variety to his bibliography.

Anyways I'll start with the Illustrated Man and see if I have time left for anything else

Thanks all

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Thanks Jemppu, I went with The Illustrated Man and enjoyed it. I've already read about a quarter of the stories before

[Jemppu]

Nice 👍 Though of it since you seemed to have enjoyed Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, and these were some quite connected.

[Allan]

I'm tired of reading to my plan (for the most part), so I think it's time to go off the path and let the group pick a book for me. So I've created a "pick-'em" folder of 20 fairly random titles for anyone who wants to make a suggestion. Help me out!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Rebecca]

Oh how fun! I recommend the The Goblin Emperor, I have not read it but hear great things...so if you like it I may move it up my TBR. Obv I can't vouch for it so feel free to disregard if others have actual recommendations :)

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

The Sparrow, a first contact made by Jesuit priests

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

To Say Nothing of the Dog (Oxford Time Travel, #2) by Connie Willis

I loved this some years ago. I'm pretty sure it will hold up

[*Tau*]

Oleksandr wrote: "The Sparrow, a first contact made by Jesuit priests"

And more importantly, it learns you what it means to be human 😋

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

*Tau* wrote: "And more importantly, it learns you what it means to be human 😋"

True )))))

[Allan]

OMG, The Sparrow:
"In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet that will come to be known as Rakhat. While UN diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question what it means to be "human".

Well, I guess I asked for it, and I have a physical copy, so I'll have to read it. I'll also take on The Goblin Emperor at Rebecca suggested, as I discovered that my library now has an audio copy. That way I can read both in the same time frame.

I will keep To Say Nothing of the Dog in mind, next month or October. I want to read it before I take on Blackout/All Clear, the last double H/N winner I need to read.

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Actually, I am not sure but what you should read Blackout/All Clear first, before To Say Nothing of the Dog. That is what I have been told. But I didn't. I still have not read Blackout/All Clear! So whatever you think.

[Allan]

I just thought that was the order of the series. I read Doomsday Book already.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Allan wrote: "I just thought that was the order of the series. I read Doomsday Book already."

They are loosely related, so choose any order

[Allan]

I started The Goblin Emperor, per Rebecca's suggestion. Initial impression 5% in is that I'm going to like it a lot. So far it has a good feel to it, the young goblin becoming emperor when his father and brothers are wiped out.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Allan wrote: "I started The Goblin Emperor, per Rebecca's suggestion. Initial impression 5% in is that I'm going to like it a lot. So far it has a good feel to it, the young goblin becoming emper..."

There is a sequel this year if I don't err

[Allan]

Yes, I saw that. GR says it was released in June. I’ll mark it TBR but won’t tackle it for awhile.

[Allan]

Finished The Goblin Emperor last night. Loved it, thought it was a really good example of the "unexpected heir comes to the throne" type of story. It was somewhat predictable, but very enjoyable & I will probably take up the sequel at some point. Thanks, Rebecca!

[Rebecca]

Awesome! I suggested it to see if I should read it too :)

[Allan]

I think that you would like it. The only knock I have on it are the names - they’re long and incomprehensible. I listened to the audio version, which was excellent, and I don’t know how the reader said them so smoothly and flawlessly. I found myself grabbing some key sound of the name to keep them straight. Solid story & enjoyable writing made that minor though.

[Allan]

Time for a group book choice again! I need a book to fill in the end of January and can't decide. Pick your top three from the "Pick 'Em" shelf I've set up with 17 books from my 2022 TBRs. Most mentioned book will win, as long as it has a #1. Otherwise, I'll just choose #1's from the earliest entries. Help me out!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Allan wrote: "Time for a group book choice again! "

If you go with The Midwich Cuckoos I'll join you so we made buddy read it

[Allan]

@Z: I accept your proposal of a buddy read of The Midwich Cuckoos. I’ll still keep my group pick offer open for the next book. I can start any time, let me know when you’re ready to go.

Anyone else want to join in?

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Allan wrote: "I can start any time, let me know when you’re ready to go.."

If I say mid-March - would it be too far away? Recall that March 15th is a deadline for Hugo noms and it'll be nice to have a good list to nominate. In early Feb Locus will publish its reading list and I planned to plow thru shorter works from there to finalize my list and maybe persuade others

[Allan]

No, that’s fine for me. There’s no shortage of things to read & I’m still looking for other picks from my list.

[Antti]

You have a nice list: many titles are in my TBR, as well. I've only read two books out of your list (Kiln People and Triplanetary), but I'm not sure if I would exactly recommend either one of them.

Well, not Triplanetary, at least: plotwise it was just bad, a horrible mess of the worst pulp-era shoddiness, but if you're interested in the history of SF, there were some points of interest. For example, the characters were more developed that one might expect, especially the antagonists.

Kiln People had the potential to be quite good, even very good, but I felt like it wasted some of that potential. The plot suffered from a serious overreach that became almost ridiculous by the end of the book. Your mileage might of course vary, so perhaps I can half-recommend this one.