SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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Series Project (Progress/Finish Your Series in 2021)
My choices for this challenge so far, which are subject to change. This may also change because I'm being extremely ambitious here :-).I will update this commentary as the next year goes on.
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My finished books and emoticons :
💃✔️Words of Radiance
🐞✔️ Edgedancer
🔪✔️Oathbringer - Name of Shardblade.
🛸✔️The Ghost Brigades
🕵️♂️🦄✔️Any Other Name
🕵️♂️🧛♂️✔️Stitches and Witches
🕵️♂️🧛♂️ ✔️Crochet and Cauldrons
🕵️♂️🦄✔️All is Fair
🕵️♂️🦄✔️A Little Knowledge
Gabi wrote: "Anybody knows of any lists with 4 volume series by chance? I'm just trying to find one, but don't know how to successfully look for it."I'll be reading the The Starfarers Quartet for this prompt.
Mod
Yes: I'm not a mod and didn't want to presume to set up an official group challenge. If one of the mods would like to move it or make it possible for people to add books to a challenge shelf to be counted for this, I'd be very happy and grateful, but I also understand that they're probably already very busy organizing their own challenges, so it's also fine if it just stays here. :-)In terms of your Peter Brett question: no, please feel free to finish the series you've already started with this challenge, no need to start new ones.
Mod
Eva wrote: "In terms of your Peter Brett question: no, please feel free to finish the series you've already started with this challenge, no need to start new ones."Thanks, that works for me
Does the series need to be finished to mark a box off? Or can you just have read all currently in existence? Some series seem like they'll never end....
Sorry if this has already been answered, but can we use the same book for multiple bonus challenges?
Rachel wrote: "Does the series need to be finished to mark a box off? Or can you just have read all currently in existence? Some series seem like they'll never end...."It's enough to be caught up with it! :-)
Kaa wrote: "Sorry if this has already been answered, but can we use the same book for multiple bonus challenges?"I'd say yes, unless you want to do this hard mode style. ;-)
New to you = Steven Stanton's Bloodlight Chronicles Fantasy = Peter Brett's Demon Cycle
Trilogy = The Chronicles of Tornor Trilogy: Watchtower, The Dancers of Arun, and The Northern Girl
Favorite Author = Adrian Tchaikovsky's Echoes of the Fall
Science Fiction = Bio of a Space Tyrant
Quartet = The Nicci Chronicles
Debut Author = Shatner's Tek War
Genre Bender = Lynn Hightower's Elaki series
Longer Series = Dragonback series or Night Threads series
I'm excited since I need to finish some series; I have ideas for New to You and Debut but will leave them open - this is what I have so far:Favorite Author: Wizards of Once
1. Twice Magic
2. Knock Three Times
3. Never and Forever
Fantasy: Hound Saga
1. The Princess and the Wolf
Science Fiction: Wayfarers
1. Record of a Spaceborn Few
2. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
Trilogy: The Folk of the Air
1. The Queen of Nothing
2. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
Quartet: Sidekick Squad
1. Not Your Backup
2. Not Your Hero
Genre-Bender: Wayward Children
1. Juice Like Wounds
2. Come Tumbling Down
3. Across the Green Grass Fields
Longer Series: Harry Dresden Files
1. Side Jobs
2. Brief Cases
3. Peace Talks
4. Battle Ground
Hey CBR, the Chronicles of Tornor are also on my list! You read way faster than I do, but it would be nice to discuss them. I’ve read the first and have all 3, just haven’t gotten around to it.
I would join the Chronicles of Tonor as well. I loved them in my youth, but as I re-read the first one last year (two years ago?), it didn't hold up that well. But I want to re-read all of them.
I seem to remember reading at least one of them in the past, but as I've never read them in Kindle format they are "new" for me. I have a Kindle book that contains all 3 and yes, I would be interested in discussing it while reading it. Let me know when as long as it's next year sometime.
Cool! I’ll put it up on the the BR thread and see if there are any more who want to join us. We’ve all (me, Chessie and Gabi) read the first one right? Or are you planning on rereading? I don’t think I will. I’ll just try to find a good synopsis or skim to remind myself. Depending if there are people wanting to read the first one or not, I’d say let’s not start before March. Sound good?
I'll be rereading since it was likely that I read the first one back in the 80s and I doubt I'll remember much about it
I was already very interested in this challenge, and now there are emoji prizes?! I had no idea I would be so motivated by those cute icons, but I'm here for it. Can't wait to get started!
Potential reads:
Longer Series Hainish Cycle
The Dispossessed
The Word for World is Forest
Rocannon's World
Planet of Exile
City of Illusions
Trilogy Folk of the Air
The Queen of Nothing
Genre Bender The Broken Earth
The Obelisk Gate
The Stone Sky
Favorite Author Kate Elliott
Unconquerable Sun OR
Court of Fives
Poisoned Blade
Buried Heart
New to You Author Adrian Tchaikovsky
Children of Time
Children of Ruin
Debut Author Romina Garber
Lobizona
Fantasy Stormlight Archive
Oathbringer
Rhythm of War
OR
The Hero of Ages
Science Fiction Wayfarers
Record of a Spaceborn Few
Quartet TBD
I like this idea. As I'm trying to finish some series since years (with mixed results ...) this might be a good motivation. Especially the cute icons 8-)I'll edit this post later with more details.
Diane wrote: "Cool! I’ll put it up on the the BR thread and see if there are any more who want to join us. We’ve all (me, Chessie and Gabi) read the first one right? Or are you planning on rereading? I don’t thi..."I'm fine with both. I recall the book quite vividly (which is strange, cause I usually forget everything - but I guess my brain was a lot better in my youth), but I would join a re-read as well without problems.
Oh right ... I forgot to post my series:New to me Author: Green Man (read book 1 and 2 of 3)
Debut Author: Shadows of the Apts (read book 1 - 7 of 10)
Fantasy: Riddlemaster of Hed or Chronicles of Tonor (both read book 1 of 3)
Genre Bender: New Corbuzon (read book 1 of 3)
Quartet: Tales of the Apt (have to start yet)
Longer Series: The Wheel of Time (changed from "The Witcher")
For the icons I have to re-read the initial post when the time comes.
My non-ambitious series challenge:Fave author: The Age of Madness (2/3) - awaiting publication
SF: Planetfall (2/4)
Longer series: The Expanse (8/9) - awaiting publication
ETA: Assuming I can do diagonal....
Mod
Silvana, Ryan, is the Expanse series getting better later on? I read the first three books and found #3 so dragging that I yet have to muster the enthusiasm to pick up the next one.
Silvana wrote: "Assuming I can do diagonal...."You can! Your prize for a diagonal will be a hipster cat: 🐱👓
@Gabi: Yes. No 5 and 8 is my fave.@Eva: loving it!
Mod
At the end of book 2 the authors sat down with their publisher/editor/someone in the industry to discuss whether to make the series a trilogy or a longer series. So what you may have found with the third book was them laying the groundwork for what was then decided to be a ten book series. Some padding added as things were removed to be explored properly in a later novel.
It's no Planetfall, but The Expanse is up there amongst my favourite scifi series to date.
CBRetriever wrote: "and is there a reason this isn't in the Challenge section of the forum?"Yeah, I wondered that myself.
I figure it was just a "shelving error". Like going to a little bookstore and finding Le Guin in the "G" books and not the "L" books.
A few other quartets, in case anyone is still looking: The Inda series is an amazing epic fantasy.
(I keep bringing it up in threads hoping I can rally enough people to eventually do a BR.) (You probably won't like it if you don't like big casts of characters or confusing names. There's also a bit of head hopping, but I personally didn't find it too bothersome.)
Also Tamora Pierce writes lots of quartets! Her books are quick reads, too. The first books in a few of her quartets:
Alanna: The First Adventure
Wild Magic
First Test
It's better if you read them chronologically (starting with Alanna) but I think you can still enjoy them read out of order.
I'm not planning to set a specific goal, but I'll check back here at the end of 2021 with the plan to have progressed in some number of the series I have started.
CBRetriever, Gabi, Ryan, (Leticia) and I are planning to start the Chronicles of Tornor in the New Year. Is everyone ok starting in January with Watchtower, so those who’ve not read it or want to reread it can have a chance and then do one a month? What date should we start that’s not the 1st or the 15th? The 8th? Reposting this in the buddy read thread too.
Was there ever a decision, if a duology counts as a series?
Mike wrote: "Was there ever a decision, if a duology counts as a series?"There was, and it is :D.
DivaDiane wrote: "CBRetriever, Gabi, Ryan, (Leticia) and I are planning to start the Chronicles of Tornor in the New Year. Is everyone ok starting in January with Watchtower, so those who’ve not read it or want to r..."I wasn't starting the Chronicles of Tornor DivaDiane. I think you got confused because I'm reading the Starfarer's Quartet too.
Ok, yes, I confuse easily. That’s why I put your name in parentheses. Now worries!
Okay, setting some goals. I'm going to aim for a blackout bingo, but we'll see. I've got multiple options for many of the squares, but here's my most-likely-to-read selections.✔️1. Favorite author: Seanan McGuire, Across the Green Grass Fields Wayward Children (catch up)
in progress 2. New-to-you Author: Rosemary Kirstein, Steerswoman series, 2/4 read so far this year.
3. Debut Author: DJ Older, Bone Street Rumba (need to read 2 to finish), read Midnight Taxi Tango,
reading 4. Fantasy another: Mur Lafferty, Shambling Guides (finish)
✔️5. Science Fiction: Mary Robinette Kowal, Lady Astronaut (catch up) The Relentless Moon
6. Genre-bender: Justina Ireland, Dread Nation (finish)
7. Trilogy: Fonda Lee, Jade Bone Saga (third to be published in 2021)
8. Quartet: Wayfarers, Beckie Chambers (finish)
✔️9. Longer series: Seanan McGuire, A Calculated RiskIncryptid (catch up)
X23
4X6
78X
I get a diagonal hipster cat: 🐱👓 (April)
Bonus challenges:
✔️2) has a weapon (or the name of a weapon) on the cover: you collect the knife 🔪 Midnight Taxi Tango,
✔️3) has a person on the cover: you collect the dancer 💃 The Relentless Moon
✔️4) has a landscape on the cover: you collect the flower 🌺 across the green grass fields
✔️8) features a murder investigation: you collect the detective 🕵️♂️ - Moonflower Murders
✔️ 10) features a love story/couple/some romantic elements: you collect the hearts 💕 A Hope Divided
✔️11) features space travel: you collect the UFO 🛸 This Virtual Night
currently reading:
7) has a real animal/name of one on the cover: you collect that animal's emoji 🐰🐒🐅🦅🦚🐟 etc. (repeatable) Raven Stratagem
9) features an alien/vampire/zombie/ghost: you collect the 👽or 🧛♂️ or 🧟♀️ or 👻 (repeatable), Midnight train to New Orleans, vampires
Calculated Risks 🐞
Fugitive Telemetry 🐞
Outskirter's Secret 🐞
emojis earned so far: 🌺💃🔪🐞🛸🕵️♂️🐞🐞💕
Options
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I hate to break it to you, but there are actually more than just 4 in the Earthsea series. :-) Well, the 4 you are referring to are novels (barely), but then there's a short novel The Other Wind and a bunch of short stories usually published together with the Other wind as Tales From Earthsea & The Other Wind plus there's another short story called The Daughter of Odren, which is set in Earthsea.
I know, that one's a bit shaky, though the first 4 are referred to as the Earthsea Quartet. I might just have to stick my fingers in my ears and go "la la la la la, I can't hear you Diane!"
I think that might be warranted!! 😂
Ok, I'll try to finish some series and catch up with some others next year. Ahhh, there are so many to choose from! I think I'll start with this:Favorite Author: Terry Pratchett "Discworld" (but it's going to be so sad... :( I've read most of the books and finishing the last one will be heartwrenching).
New to me Author: "The Poppy War" by R.F. Kuang if I decide to read the series after the first book.
Debut Author: no idea. I think I'll look at what you guys are reading and see if it matches something I have to finish or want to read.
Fantasy: Oh, a looot to choose from. I think I'll choose "Luck in the Shadows" or "Dancing Gods". I've read only the first books in both series.
Science Fiction: "The Expanse". I'm rereading the first one at the moment.
Genre Bender: Kate Elliott's "Crown of Stars" fantasy/alternative history.
Trilogy: I think I'll pick some Polish fantasy.
Quartet: Duology of duologies: Hyperion/Endymion by Dan Simmons. I have both Endymion books to go.
Longer Series: Andre Norton's "The Witch World" (all settings and all short stories) that's a project!
Longer Series: Andre Norton's "The Witch World" (all settings and all short stories) that's a project! It sure is. If you need to shorten it at any time, you could always leave out the co-written books. They're not as good as far as I'm concerned (or not in quite the same style) and I'm not sure if it's just her name on them and someone else's writing inside
CBRetriever wrote: "Longer Series: Andre Norton's "The Witch World" (all settings and all short stories) that's a project! It sure is. If you need to shorten it at any time, you could always leave out the co-written..."
Yes, there are some books by Lyn McConchie. I decided I'll try one or two. I can always cut them out.
I noticed this thread just in time to add it to my list of challenges. It looks fun, and it is similar to something I was already doing. The ones I was reading were long series, but I've got so many others that will work for this. I'll have to go through my read books to figure out what I'll use for this.
I have recently finished Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, which is comprised of 21 novels and several short stories. It was really, really enjoyable.
Michelle wrote: "I have recently finished Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, which is comprised of 21 novels and several short stories. It was really, really enjoyable."have you watched the BBC series of Sharpe? Sean Bean is Sharpe and the supporting caste is quite good.
No, I haven't. I'm really not a tv watcher. The books certainly worked for me, though ;)
They're more like movies than a "series". I bought the DVDs from amazon.co.uk
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Here's the quartet:
The Tower of Babel Series by Josiah Bancroft
Senlin Ascends 2013
The Arm of the Sphinx 2014
The Hod King 2019
The Fall of Babel 2021?