The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion
Group Reads 2021
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Nominations For BotM - Jan2021 - New Wave (1960-1979)
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Nominations:Nominated & Seconded so eligible for the poll:
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon nom by Oleksandr, 2d by mod Jim
Moderan by David R. Bunch nom by Ronald, 2d by RJ
Bolo by Keith Laumer nom by mod Jim, 2d by Leo
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin nom by Ed, 2d by Ronald
The Cloud Walker by Edmund Cooper nom by Adrian, 2d by Jim (the other one)
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany nom by Jim (the other one), 2d by Adrian
I'm not sure how I managed to forget to start a nomination topic or why someone didn't point it out until Ed finally did. Oh well, there's plenty of time. You might notice there are no restrictions on authors this time around. Earlier this year, we decided that after 5 years, the author's books don't count against their being read again. Both LeGuin & PKD had books we read back in 2014, so they're both available again. Not a book that we've previously read, just another one by them.
Mod
Not as well-known as Rosemary's Baby, The Boys from Brazil, or The Stepford Wives. But people who've read this Utopia/Dystopia story rate it highly.
Since the term "new age" is being used are we equating that to mean "New Wave" and should we limit our recommendation to novels that are generally considered to be "New Wave"? Or is that just a general description of that period and any novel written in that period is OK?
Jim wrote: "Since the term "new age" is being used are we equating that to mean "New Wave" and should we limit our recommendation to novels that are generally considered to be "New Wave"? Or is that just a gen..."Please. I goofed when writing it. I'll change what I can.
I'm not sure what you meant? Does that mean there wasn't any intention to concentrate on New Wave" novels? I went back and looked at the book list and while the 27 books listed seemed to be dominated by New Wave entries I do see many that are more traditional style from authors like Asimov, Clarke, Harrison, Heinlein, Niven and Pohl. I also have a slight problem with the 20 year span. Science fiction was continually expanding with new authors and the amount of novels being written then that I have to choose between many different styles and genres!!!
Mod
Thanks. i was just commenting on the huge number and type of good Sf novel to chose from in that 20 year time span. I would like to nominate Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany. Unfortunately i still haven't learned how to create a link to the novel. I think the idea concerning language and it's effect on a persons worldview looks interesting. I have recently seen some scientific articles concerning that concept among cultures here on Earth. Just as an aside, as I was browsing through a list of 1960's novels on Wikipedia it seemed that Philip K. dick seemed to be a dominant figure among the better, in my opinion, novels. But I have read most of them or they are on your book list already.
I nominate Moderan by David R. Bunch.I was lucky years ago to purchase a copy of Moderan from a second hand book store.
The book consists of short stories all set in Moderan, a world of cybernetic humans.
This threads seeks nominations from the New Wave period in science fiction. I consider this book New Wave in writing style.
The book was originally published in the 1971, and recently republished, available both in print and electronically:
https://www.amazon.com/Moderan-York-R...
comment #2 will continue to be the definitive list, but here's what we have so far:Nominations:
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin nom by Ed
The Cloud Walker by Edmund Cooper nom by Adrian
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany nom by Jim (the other one)
Moderan by David R. Bunch nom by Ronald
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon nom by Oleksandr
Nominated & Seconded so eligible for the poll:
none so far
I read this about 3 years ago. It was OK but I didn't like it as much as other Sturgeon novels I've read.
I'll second Venus Plus X. I've been meaning to read this for years, but never got around to it. Sturgeon has an odd way of looking at things. None of my libraries have it in audio, but Downpour.com does. Narrated by Stephen Rudniki, too. He's one of my favorites.
Ronald wrote: "I nominate Moderan by David R. Bunch...."I'll second this one since I happen to own a copy. But the one that interests me the most so far is Venus Plus X.
Mod
Nobody likes my nomination! Boo hoo!
I'll nominate Bolo by Keith Laumer. We haven't read anything by him & this first book of short stories inspired several other authors to write in the same universe. Bolos are basically tanks with artificial intelligence. It's interesting to look at what that means in 1977 & the stories are well done.
Msg #2 is still the definitive list, but this is the current standings:Nominations:
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin nom by Ed
The Cloud Walker by Edmund Cooper nom by Adrian
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany nom by Jim (the other one)
Bolo by Keith Laumer nom by mod Jim
Nominated & Seconded so eligible for the poll:
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon nom by Oleksandr, 2d by mod Jim
Moderan by David R. Bunch nom by Ronald, 2d by RJ
Of course, as a boy, I wanted to be a fighter pilot. Not that I had the skills or wanted to go to war, but I adored fighter planes as beautiful machines. I still do. When the government decided that it was time for me to do my military service, they gave me ... a tank. A real big ugly one. And my tank was specially designed to shoot ... fighter planes.
In the end, I loved being a tank commander. Only in peace time of course. Tanks are ugly but they are great toys, packed with technique. Too bad they are invented for war.
There's my motivation for seconding Bolo.
Leo wrote: "...Tanks are ugly but they are great toys, packed with technique...."There's something invigorating about driving heavy equipment. It's fun playing with a dozer, backhoe, or even just my tractor with a front end loader. Armed heavy equipment must be intoxicating.
Jim wrote: "Armed heavy equipment must be intoxicating."O yes, very much. I hated it that military service existed and I had no choice but to spend 16 months in the army. But apart from that I was very lucky to get this task and I had a great time.
Ed wrote: "Oh dear. I dislike Moderan even though I like David R. Bunch. I think he is easier to like in short stories rather than in this novel (which is a bunch of short stories smashed together.)Nobody l..."
I second This Perfect Day.
Here are the current stats:Nominations:
The Cloud Walker by Edmund Cooper nom by Adrian
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany nom by Jim (the other one)
Nominated & Seconded so eligible for the poll:
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon nom by Oleksandr, 2d by mod Jim
Moderan by David R. Bunch nom by Ronald, 2d by RJ
Bolo by Keith Laumer nom by mod Jim, 2d by Leo
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin nom by Ed, 2d by Ronald
Well despite my book being the only one (now) not seconded, I shall second Babel-17. I'm sure I read it some years ago.
Thank's Adrian for seconding my book. I looked again at the description and reviews for The Cloud Walker and while I won't be voting for it it does seem to have a reasonably good rating of 3.75 stars. It's ironic that I am currently reading an earlier dystopian novel concerning a religious based rule of the surviving human race by an English author. It's John Lyndham's "Re-Birth" (aka "The Chrysalids").
This strange coincidence makes me feel that I have been destined to second "The Cloud Walker" and I will do so.
If it is chosen as the BOM I will be able to compare two different takes by two different British authors on a similar topic.
OK, here's the latest:Nominations:
Nominated & Seconded so eligible for the poll:
Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon nom by Oleksandr, 2d by mod Jim
Moderan by David R. Bunch nom by Ronald, 2d by RJ
Bolo by Keith Laumer nom by mod Jim, 2d by Leo
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin nom by Ed, 2d by Ronald
The Cloud Walker by Edmund Cooper nom by Adrian, 2d by Jim (the other one)
Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany nom by Jim (the other one), 2d by Adrian
Thanks Jim for seconding. Strangely enough, I will be starting The Chrysalids next, for another Group’s read.
Jim wrote: "Is that a different goodreads group?"Ha ha, yes it is. I have read it before as he is one of my favourite authors, but I'm looking forward to a re-read.
The Evolution of Science Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
Babel-17 (other topics)Venus Plus X (other topics)
Moderan (other topics)
This Perfect Day (other topics)
Bolo (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Theodore Sturgeon (other topics)Edmund Cooper (other topics)
Ira Levin (other topics)
Keith Laumer (other topics)
David R. Bunch (other topics)
More...
SF novels or short story collection/anthologies that have not previously been read by the group are eligible. Please check the bookshelf & the nomination rules for further clarification before nominating a book.
Previously nominated books are on this bookshelf. More qualifying authors & books can be found here.
Please add your nominated book title as a clickable link directly to the goodreads' book page, with author and year, so it looks like this:
Children of Time
Adrian Tchaikovsky
2015
(If you can't create book links, please include the URL to the book.)
Tell us why you chose the book that you're nominating. Remember that books require seconding now. Each member is allowed to make one nomination & second one other book other than their own.
We'll close this nomination thread on the 20th of November, in order to have plenty of time for poll(s) and then for acquisitions of the winner(s).