SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
SciFi and Fantasy Book Challenge
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2022 TBR Cleanup Challenge
20/20✔ 1. Book with nine lives - The Marrow Thieves
✔ 2. Don't be suspicious - Strange Beasts of China
✔ 3. Dressed to the nines - The Dark Lord Clementine
✔ 4. Head in the clouds - The Book of Form and Emptiness
✔ 5. One for the clubhouse - Lonely Castle in the Mirror
✔ 6. Of its time - Ice
✔ 7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" - The City, Not Long After
✔ 8. Cover with distinct art style - Bitter
✔ 9. 9 or 22 - The Birthday of the World and Other Stories
✔ 10. Why not both? - Noor
✔ 11. Seasonal - What Moves the Dead
✔ 12. I need a nap! - The Day No One Woke Up
✔ 13. Thorns and roses - Nettle & Bone
✔ 14. A little slice of heaven - Heaven
✔ 15. Fluffy! - Tiger Honor
✔ 16. "Humans are doing the best they can" - Na Viro
✔ 17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - Queen of the Tiles
✔ 18. 240-270 pages - The Tangleroot Palace
✔ 19. Nein - Touch Not the Cat
✔ 20. ??? - Fever Dream
Reasons for choosing the books: (view spoiler)
your spoilers helped me with clarification those I suppose a book with nine lives could be about a cat
CBR, I always try to have mine ready to go for that exact reason, so that those who aren't sure how to interpret the prompts, but are also too shy to ask, have something to go on! But we do like it when people make their own interpretations, so that's why they're in spoiler tags. And yes, a cat was very much part of the inspiration for that prompt ^_^ But there are other ideas Allison and I had behind it, and I'm sure lots of others will fit that we didn't even think about.
Oh, and since there are a couple of quotes, and one is actually a quote without quotation marks (#2), because it works like that, anyone who wants to guess where they are from, please do! Or if you know you know :)(I guess I spoiled one of the quotes already.)
I'm in. Again. As always. And nice prompts, illustrious mods. Again. As always.Finished! 22/22
✔1. Book with nine lives - Cat's Eye
--This book has Cat in the title. Cats have nine lives. And voila! A book with nine lives. (Thanks CBRetriever)
✔2. Don't be suspicious - My Cousin Rachel
--A murder mystery. The plot premise: Ambrose marries Rachel, then suddenly dies. No, don't be suspicious.
✔3. Dressed to the nines - Gideon the Ninth
--"The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman." Get your sword and get dressed for the nines.
✔4. Head in the clouds - A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II
--Yup, these guys had their heads in the clouds for sure
✔5. One for the clubhouse - Shutter Island
--It takes place in a hospital for the criminally insane. Kind of like a clubhouse, right?
✔6. Of its time - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
--A serial killer at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, this was certainly a story of its time.
✔7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" - One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
--This one seems pretty self explanatory.
✔8. Cover with distinct art style - H is for Hawk
--Love the cover.
(Hopefully I will love the book too)✔9. 9 or 22 - Ordinary Grace
Anything greater than 4 is a good rating on GR, right? Well this is 4.22 as I write this.
10. Why not both? - The Dreamblood Duology:
✔The Killing Moon
✔The Shadowed Sun
--Well yeah, why not both?
✔11. Seasonal - Winter of the World
--Winter is a season. Or so I have been told.
✔12. I need a nap! - Edge of Eternity
--If I can get through this book, and ergo, the series, I will indeed need a nap.
✔13. Thorns and roses
✔Prince of Thorns, and
✔Rosewater
--A two-fer. And both first books in a series. What am I thinking?!? This is truly a thorny but perhaps also a rosy proposition.
✔14. A little slice of heaven - To The Bright Edge of the World
--Set in Alaska, a little slice of heaven
✔15. Fluffy! - Cujo
--I was told this is about a small fluffy dog
✔16. "Humans are doing the best they can" - And the Mountains Echoed
--Very much a story about humans doing the best they can
✔17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
--A tie in just for you, Allison, our Fairy Mod-Mother
✔18. 240-270 pages - The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
--261. Pages that is.
✔19. Nein - Ring Shout
--Just say nein to the KKK
✔20. ??? - The Mezzanine
--A novella about a guy riding down an elevator? That’s it???
The best part is ahead of us! Picking the books, seeing what everyone else has picked and especially WHY, and of course stealing a book or two from someone's TBR.
Yay, my favorite challenge! There's something about matching books to prompts that really appeals to me. The prompts look extra interesting/thought-provoking this year.
I like your hint and reasoning for number 5, Anna!
here are my temporary ones with a large number of Humble Book Bundle books that have been languishing on my TBR pile for quite some time1. Book with nine lives
The Gate of the Cat by Andre NortonAndre Norton
has a cat and kittens
2. Don't be suspicious
Cash Crash Jubilee by Eli K.P. William
should have been suspicious
3. Dressed to the nines
Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green
Love interest dresses to the nines
4. Head in the clouds
Promises to Keep by Charles de Lint
the outlined figure's head is above the flying birds and is thus = in the clouds
5. One for the clubhouse
We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory
Therapy group dealing with their monsters
6. Of its time
This Is the Way the World Ends by James K. Morrow
from the blurb: The Gulliver's Travels of the nuclear age, the Alice in Wonderland of the arms race, this mordantly funny and visionary tale of the apocalypse was a Nebula finalist
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner
sounds like a revolution is coming
8. Cover with distinct art style
The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen
very different - almost a throwback style
9. 9 or 22 *
Rambunctious: Nine Tales of Determination by Rick Wilber
It has a Nine in the subtitle
10. Why not both?
The Secret City by Carol Emshwiller
these very-human aliens discover that neither world is truly their own.
11. Seasonal
The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein
Winter is a season
12. I need a nap!
Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
not everyone woke up from their nap
13. Thorns and roses
Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames
a rose is a rose
14. A little slice of heaven
Ingathering: The Complete People Stories by Zenna Henderson
The People have formed their own slice of heaven on earth
15. Fluffy!
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
has to have some sort of fluffy beast in it
16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
Starrigger by John DeChancie
humans and aliens and a space station
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
Snake Agent by Liz Williams
according to the blurb the main character is a wise Chinese cop
18. 240-270 pages
Juniper Wiles by Charles de Lint
249 pages
19. Nein
The Hanging Artist by Jon Steinhagen
not a book I would have normally chosen to read, but it was part of a Humble Bundle
20. ???
The Plutonium Blonde by John Zakour
want to get this one out of the way too
CBR, I also thought of a book I don't really want to read for #19, but didn't want to do that to myself.AMG wrote: "I'm sorry if I didn't take the prompts seriously enough."
I'm happy you didn't! XD I especially like your take on #2 and #3.
Anna wrote: "CBR, I also thought of a book I don't really want to read for #19, but didn't want to do that to myself."Well, it might surprise you. I didn't think I'd like Rats, Bats & Vats the year I read that for a TBR challenge, but I ended up really enjoying it.
I still get a chuckle from that title :D so I'm very happy you read it! ^_^
A varied list, quite a few of them non-genre.1. Book with nine lives - Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom. Subject of the book led a dangerous life but survived.✔️
2. Don't be suspicious - Gun, With Occasional Music. Detective story presumably involves suspicion, misplaced and otherwise✔️
3. Dressed to the nines - Wodehouse On Wodehouse. Wodehouse’s character Bertie Wooster contributed a column on “What the Well Dressed Man is Wearing” to his Aunt Dahlia’s publication, “Milady’s Boudoir”.✔️
4. Head in the clouds - On Wings of Song. Apparently involves achievement of flight by mental means.✔️
5. One for the clubhouse - The Poppy War. One from the group shelf.✔️
6. Of its time - An Age. I think of this as a very ‘60s book. It blew me away when I read it a few years after its initial publication.✔️
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" - Lenin's Brother: The Origins of the October Revolution. The formation of a revolutionary.✔️
8. Cover with distinct art style -
✔️9. 9 or 22 * - Icehenge. Apparently set on Pluto, then considered the 9th planet.✔️
10. Why not both? In the Pocket and Other S-F Stories / Gather in the Hall of the Planets. Ace double.✔️
11. Seasonal - Island on Fire: The Extraordinary Story of a Forgotten Volcano That Changed the World. Historical volcanic eruption that messed with weather and seasons. ✔️
12. I need a nap! - Beggars in Spain✔️
13. Thorns and roses - Selected Stories. Prompt reminds me of Sturgeon’s famous story “Thunder and Roses”✔️
14. A little slice of heaven - The Spire✔️
15. Fluffy! - The Bird Artist✔️
16. "Humans are doing the best they can" - Imaginary Friends. I Googled the source of the quotation. This is a novel I read many years ago that seems to have a vaguely similar premise.✔️
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - Farewell Victoria. The only T. H. White on my TBR shelf.✔️
18. 240-270 pages. Star Maker. My copy has 256 pages.✔️
19. Nein - Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party - Title character’s name is vaguely Germanic, and plot summary suggests a refusal to knuckle under is involved.✔️
20. ??? - A Mathematician's Apology✔️
Stephen wrote: "I Googled the source of the quotation."I'm not sure your source is the same as mine :D but that doesn't matter of course! We chose quotes that can be interpreted as widely as possible. I like what you've done with the prompts!
I was considering not making up a list in advance this year since so few of my choices from a year ago survived to the end of the challenge. But... I couldn't resist. Aspirations are good, right?Completed: 20/20
✔︎ 1. Book with nine lives: Chaos on CatNet (More cat pictures)
✔︎ 2. Don't be suspicious: In Dog We Trust
✔︎ 3. Dressed to the nines: Gideon the Ninth
✔︎ 4. Head in the clouds: After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens
✔︎ 5. One for the clubhouse: Feeding Frenzy (Keeping it safe for all of us)
✔︎ 6. Of its time: Summer World: A Season of Bounty
✔︎ 7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit": Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet
✔︎ 8. Cover with distinct art style: Tidesong (All about the art)
✔︎ 9. 9 or 22: There and Back Again
✔︎ 10. Why not both?: Mother of Invention (And why either? Stories on creation, AI, and gender)
✔︎ 11. Seasonal: Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean (They're complicated - and seasonal)
✔︎ 12. I need a nap!: Preludes & Nocturnes ("Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream...")
✔︎ 13. Thorns and roses: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
✔︎ 14. A little slice of heaven: Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe (So many questions from looking up)
✔︎ 15. Fluffy!: The Babylon Eye (Deceptively fluffy dog is one of the primary characters)
✔︎ 16. "Humans are doing the best they can": Paladin's Hope
✔︎ 17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise": Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold ("Wisdom is in the eye of the beholder")
✔︎ 18. 240-270 pages: The Kaiju Preservation Society (268 pages in Kindle edition)
✔︎ 19. Nein: What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
✔︎ 20. ???: Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change
Used from original list: 7 of 18
Why these books?
(view spoiler)
20/20✔︎1. Book with nine lives: Project Hail Mary [Goodness Ryland Grace almost died a whole lot of times in this novel. I feel like this was a softball task with this book in mind]
✔︎2. Don't be suspicious: Razorblade Tears [It a mystery and a thriller. The very genre necessitates suspicion]
✔︎3. Dressed to the nines: Wolf Hall [Has won a ton of awards. That looks good on any author.]
✔︎4. Head in the clouds: The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself [A book of ideas about how we look at science and philosophy. Brilliant book perfect for this category]
✔︎5. One for the clubhouse: Pump Six and Other Stories [First and one of two sfbc club reads this year. Yes, I hang my head in shame, though I did read several sf/f books. They just didn't win the polls...yet]
✔︎6. Of its time: The Souls of Black Folk [a book of its time. It's very dated but brilliant]
✔︎7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit": Qualityland [In a crazy world of crass consumerism, commoditization, technology run amuck, and passive humanity; one man wages a battle against his society primarily because they are ignoring his desire to return a product.]
✔︎8. Cover with distinct art style:
[love this cover of a black woman w/ the American Flag painted on her face]✔︎9. 9 or 22 *: Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy [Published in 2022]
✔︎10. Why not both?: Dust Tracks on a Road [Hurston was both Anthropologist and Author]
✔︎11. Seasonal: Redeployment [Every year in November, I read a book about the military. This was this years pick]
✔︎12. I need a nap!: The Futurological Congress: From the Memoirs of Ijon Tichy [Society transforms as the protagonist succumbs to sleep during an attack. Not a great place to wake up. Let me continue to sleep...]
✔︎13. Thorns and roses: Chouette [a fantastical treatise on motherhood when the child is outside the norm in terms of their behavior and perception. Pricks and scratches abound before the beautiful flower emerges]
✔︎14. A little slice of heaven: The Hidden Palace [this for me doesn't pertain to the setting of the book, but the skill of the author to transport me to another place. Wecker is amazing and reading (or listening) is truly something special.]
✔︎15. Fluffy!: American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West [beautiful animals with fluffy, warm fur. Wouldn't advise touching their coats to verify though...]
✔︎16. "Humans are doing the best they can": People Person [5 siblings (same father different mother) manage to come together and be a family in London 21st century]
✔︎17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise": Way Station [man runs a galactic way station and has to act wisely to keep the earth safe and mankind moving forward.]
✔︎18. 240-270 pages: Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting 264 pgs
✔︎19. Nein: Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow [the marketing of white supremacy after the reconstruction. No, nope nein, never again...]
✔︎20. ???: Borne [I finished going what the heck did I just read?!? But I loved it!! caveat: Bahni Turpin was the audiobook narrator and she can elevate a novel.]
Raucous, I was going to pick Tidesong for #8! But my library doesn't have it ordered :( I might request it, but not sure yet. And nice job on #16! ;)Monica, I will make sure to come back to see what you picked! ^_^
Stephen wrote: "A varied list, quite a few of them non-genre.1. Book with nine lives - Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom. Subject of the book led a dangerous life but survived.
2. Don't be suspi..."
I love that title, Gun with occasional music. I have heard of Gun Swords, a truly funny concept, but a Gun Flute, now that would be amusing.
1. Book with nine livesGideon the ninth
From what I can tell so far those of the Ninth house are pretty much dead already so there is no telling how many 'lives' they might have.
2. Don't be suspicious
The Gospel of Loki
Good News from the Trickster god, what could go wrong?
3. Dressed to the nines
Where they stand: The American Presidents in the Eyes of Voters and Historians
Politicians always dressed to the nines for the public
4. Head in the clouds
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
In the Lord of the Rings there is no character that has their head in the clouds more than Tom Bombadil.
5. One for the clubhouse
Unscientific America
Okay, I admit it, it is a strange clubhouse
6. Of its time
The Anead
Poet writing about the founding of Rome from a Trojan Prince.
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
Zodiac
A eco-warrior compared to Sam Spade?
8. Cover with distinct art style.
Ametsapolis Rising
I thought the style was distinct at any rate.
9. 9 or 22 *
The Campaign in Norway
1939 was a bad year for the Allies
10. Why not both?
The Wars of the Roses
White and Red Roses and they just couldn't seem to share the Garden.
11. Seasonal
A Christmas Carol
Hard to get more Seasonal then a boom with a Holiday in the title.
12. I need a nap!
Wages of Destruction
Mostly because I am likely to take a lot of naps while reading this one
13. Thorns and roses
The Briar King
14. A little slice of heaven
A Vindication of the Rights of Women
The Mother of the Author of Frankenstein writing about Women's Rights at a time where they didn't really have any.
15. Fluffy!
Circle of Heroes
Familiars unite to save the Kingdom
16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
The Humans
Seems like an obvious title
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
The Wit and Wisdome of Discworld
Well it seems like there might be some wisdom in this.
18. 240-270 pages
The Dragon and the Solider
This was a hard one to work on, but finally got one
19. Nein
Operation Drumbeat
Well it is World War II and they are German and it would have been best to say no.
20. ???
The Algebraist
Question Marks, that is what comes to mind when I see this title.
Dj wrote: "In the Lord of the Rings there is no character that has their head in the clouds more than Tom Bombadil."Hey, Bombadillo!
Anna wrote: "Dj wrote: "In the Lord of the Rings there is no character that has their head in the clouds more than Tom Bombadil."Hey, Bombadillo!"
Absolutely. Wonder if Goldberry will show up
Yay! I saw this before April! Yay!1. Book with nine lives Ive been meaning to read this for so long! Nine Hundred Grandmothers
2. Don't be suspicious
3. Dressed to the nines
4. Head in the clouds
5. One for the clubhouse
6. Of its time
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" it's a good excuse to finish City of Illusions
8. Cover with distinct art style
9. 9 or 22 *
10. Why not both?
11. Seasonal
12. I need a nap!
13. Thorns and roses
14. A little slice of heaven
15. Fluffy!
16. "Humans are doing the best they can" I am not into body-snatching themes, so I will just go more for an alien encounter type thing and say The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" I guess this means I can finally read The Once and Future King
18. 240-270 pages
19. Nein
20. ???
Maggie wrote: "Yay! I saw this before April!"You can use the extra months to add more books to your TBR before picking which ones to read for the challenge! :D
Edwin wrote: "a hospital for the criminally insane. Kind of like a clubhouse, right?"🤔
Anna wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Yay! I saw this before April!"You can use the extra months to add more books to your TBR before picking which ones to read for the challenge! :D"
Exactly!
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"Zodiac
A eco-warrior compared to Sam Spade?
I so loved Zodiac...I just might go this same route
Anna wrote: "🤔"Yeah, what can I say. You did say that these prompts "can be interpreted as widely as possible."
I'm in and now promising myself that I will finish this.1. Book with nine lives: The Cat Who Saved Books 04/30/22
2. Don't be suspicious
3. Dressed to the nines
4. Head in the clouds
5. One for the clubhouse
6. Of its time
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
8. Cover with distinct art style
9. 9 or 22 *: Het sneeuwmeisje 05/08/22
10. Why not both?
11. Seasonal
12. I need a nap!
13. Thorns and roses
14. A little slice of heaven
15. Fluffy!
16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
18. 240-270 pages
19. Nein: Welterusten, mama 07/27/22
20. ???
AMG wrote: "2. Don't be suspicious - To Say Nothing of the Dog" ... Also, they're trying not to make people suspicious because they're time travelling.One of my all time favorites! And yes, this reason is apt for #2!
Anna wrote: "Edwin wrote: "a hospital for the criminally insane. Kind of like a clubhouse, right?"🤔"
I vote yes. because clubs = friends, right? ... right?!
Yes, although I do sincerely hope that none of us in *this* clubhouse are *criminally* insane!
Oh, I love flexible prompts like this. It's like a puzzle. I will have to have a nice think about possibilities. [Update: Possibilities thought. Nothing is ever final!]☐1. Book with nine lives - Oz: The Complete Collection
☐2. Don't be suspicious - Magic for Liars
☐3. Dressed to the nines - The Nine Tailors
☐4. Head in the clouds - The Woman Who Married a Cloud
☐5. One for the clubhouse - The Chosen and the Beautiful or perhaps The Club Dumas
☐6. Of its time - The Great Gatsby
☐7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" - The Crown Ain't Worth Much
✔8. Cover with distinct art style - Where the Drowned Girls Go
☐9. 9 or 22 * - September: A Map
☐10. Why not both? - The Echo Wife
☐11. Seasonal - Winter Tide
☐12. I need a nap! - Sleeping In Flame
☐13. Thorns and roses - Once Broken Faith
☐14. A little slice of heaven - Infinite Jest
☐15. Fluffy! - The Kaiju Preservation Society
☐16. "Humans are doing the best they can" - This Is How You Lose the Time War
☐17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi
☐18. 240-270 pages - Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
☐19. Nein - Never Have I Ever
☐20. ??? - What Moves the Dead
(view spoiler)
2022 TBR CleanupGoal: 20/20, 100.00%
Options/Reasoning: (view spoiler)
I think, for a change, I will jump on the bandwagon and begin a master-list here! To wit:☐1. Book with nine lives
☐2. Don't be suspicious
☐3. Dressed to the nines
☐4. Head in the clouds
☐5. One for the clubhouse
☐6. Of its time
☐7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
☐8. Cover with distinct art style
☐9. 9 or 22 *
☐10. Why not both?
☐11. Seasonal
☐12. I need a nap!
☐13. Thorns and roses
☐14. A little slice of heaven
☐15. Fluffy!
☐16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
☐17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
☐18. 240-270 pages
☐19. Nein
☐20. ???
Long-winded notes: (view spoiler)
(Claiming my space).1. Book with nine lives
2. Don't be suspicious
3. Dressed to the nines
4. Head in the clouds
5. One for the clubhouse
6. Of its time
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
8. Cover with distinct art style
9. 9 or 22 *
10. Why not both?
11. Seasonal
12. I need a nap!
13. Thorns and roses
14. A little slice of heaven
15. Fluffy!
16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
18. 240-270 pages
19. Nein
20. ???
Another year, another round of wonderful prompts! I'll say it again - the mods for this group have the best annual prompts. (thank you, mods!) Even my partner got into it this year and pulled TBRs from his mystery book collection to match up. :D. Looking forward to 2022! May it be a better year for all things, but most importantly for me, my reading habits. 1. Book with nine lives: Sorcery Rising, Jude Fisher - there's a cat. ::pretend there's a shrug emoji::
2. Don't be suspicious: Meddling Kids, Edgar Cantero - something you would say to meddling kids.
3. Dressed to the nines: Moonshine, Jasmine Gower - "Daisy Dell is a Modern Girl - stylish, educated and independent..."
4. Head in the clouds: The Man Who Fell to Earth, Walter Tevis - play on the prompt wording.
5. One for the clubhouse: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Cory Doctorow - character whose greatest desire was to join the mickey mouse club, i.e. live in disney world. Hat tip to Annette and the red team.
6. Of its time: Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table, Thomas Malory - I will finally read this!
8. Cover with distinct art style: Amberlough, Lara Elena Donnelly - Yet again, "I will finally read this!"
9. 9 or 22 *: All Clear, Connie Willis - I have a Willis book for #66 (a multiple of 22) on my TBR list, but I really want to read this sequel to Blackout.
10. Why not both?: City of Dark Magic, Magnus Flyte - Magnus Flyte is a pen name for two authors.
12. I need a nap!: The Serpent of Venice, Christopher Moore - I thought "that's cheeky!" then I thought of Christopher Moore.
13. Thorns and roses: Strange Magic, Syd Moore - there are roses on the cover!
14. A little slice of heaven: Angelology, Danielle Trussoni - angels. or rather, nephilim, descendants of angels.
15. Fluffy!: Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly - if one could have a pet dragon, I would name mine Fluffy.
16. "Humans are doing the best they can": Embassytown, China Miéville - human settlement on a far away planet.
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise": The Steerswoman, Rosemary Kirstein - a friend rec'd this to me so I made it work. Only book on this list that i don't have a physical copy of.
18. 240-270 pages: Ten Billion Days and One Hundred Billion Nights, Ryu Mitsuse - the story starts on page 9 and ends on page 277, therefore it is 268 pages. Ha! This prompt was a challenge for an SFF collection.
20. ???: The Starless Sea, Erin Morgenstern - "Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks." and in the summary, the main character essentially goes 'wtf?'
Kristin wrote: "Even my partner got into it this year and pulled TBRs from his mystery book collection to match up."Yay!
Kristin wrote: "9 or 22 *: All Clear, Connie Willis - I have a Willis book for #66 (a multiple of 22) on my TBR list, but I really want to read this sequel to Blackout."
This year I gave Blackout/All Clear as a birthday present to someone whose birthday is on September 22nd, so it's a perfect match! :D
Kristin wrote: "Nein: Dark Lord of Derkholm, Diana Wynne Jones - people in a high fantasy world say 'enough is enough' to invading tourists in a dramatic way."
This fits so well, and I'm happy someone has a DWJ book on their list! I usually always have one, but didn't include one this year. I still have time to sneek one in, but I have to decide which one :)
Anna wrote: "Mike, I like your spoiler :D"Thank you, thank you. Shows every hour, please tip your server!
I fully intend on doing this challenge again in 2022. I just have no time at all at the moment to chose books and post. So, like @Jemppu I’m simply claiming my place and hoping it’s still on the first page of posts!
I feel pretty good about my choices, though they are always subject to change.20/20 12/23
✔️1. Book with nine lives - Charmed Life/The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1, Some of the characters apparently have nine lives.
✔️2. Don't be suspicious - Blood Rites, Harry Dresden is always suspicious.
✔️3. Dressed to the nines - Changed pick to Soulless because they actually said some characters were dressed to the nines.
✔️ 4. Head in the clouds - Tongues of Serpents, flying dragons have their heads in the clouds.
✔️5. One for the clubhouse - I Am Legend, sffbc shelf book, and MC has to hide out during day in his (club)house.
✔️6. Of its time - Longbourn, historical fiction
✔️7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" - A Song for a New Day, the quote seems hope-punky, like the book.
✔️ 8. Cover with distinct art style - The Boy Who Lost Fairyland, the covers and chapter illustrations in this series are fun
✔️ 9. 9 or 22 * - Laughter at the Academy, collection has 22 stories
✔️10. Why not both? - Tooth and Claw
✔️11. Seasonal - The War Against Miss Winter, winter is a season (DNF'd but it's off my TBR)
✔️ 12. I need a nap! -Ashes of Honor, Toby invariably needs a nap (and it's kind of mentioned in the blurb)
✔️13. Thorns and roses - The Sentence is Death, main character is named Hawthorne and the book cover is red like a rose
✔️ 14. A little slice of heaven - Small Gods
✔️15. Fluffy!- The Persian Always Meows Twice, Persian cats= super fluffy
✔️16. "Humans are doing the best they can" -Severance, people persisting after pandemic/apocalypse
✔️ 17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" - Sorcerer to the Crown, seems descriptive of someone in that position.
✔️18. 240-270 pages - Assassination Vacation, 258 pages.
✔️19. Nein - Never Let Me Go
✔️20. ??? - The Green Man's Heir, I just want to read this and couldn't make it fit any of the other prompts.
Done! With some adjustments, but all TBRs, so I'm content. Read: 20 (at 9/28/22)
✔️1. Book with nine lives Nine Princes in Amber
✔️2. Don't be suspicious The Quantum Magician
✔️3. Dressed to the nines Mrs. Dalloway **change**
✔️4. Head in the clouds To Sleep in a Sea of Stars **change**
✔️5. One for the clubhouse Kindred - the SFF clubhouse!
✔️6. Of its time Death Comes for the Archbishop Cather was so current...in her time
✔️7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit" The Dispossessed
✔️8. Cover with distinct art style
Dream Country ✔️9. 9 or 22 * No Quest For The Wicked (my #9 on my TBR list)
✔️10. Why not both? (this was my #22 on my TBR)Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption 22 on the TBR list
✔️11. Seasonal A Midsummer Night's Dream
✔️12. I need a nap! Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits: 14 New Behaviors That Will Energize Your Life - sadly, this is exactly the type of book that will likely put me to sleep
✔️13. Thorns and roses Walden
✔️14. A little slice of heaven Call Us What We Carry
✔️15. Fluffy! Remnant Population**change**
✔️16. "Humans are doing the best they can"An American Tragedy **change**
✔️17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise" The Once and Future King
✔️18. 240-270 pages Marvel 1602
✔️19. Nein Gravity's Rainbow|415] - I cut out at 61% & call this DONE
✔️20. ??? so many choices, so little time... In a Dark Wood Wandering: A Novel of the Middle Ages **change**
Helloooo new prompts!!!! *grabs pen and paper to write down thoughts*
Mod
Kristin wrote: "Another year, another round of wonderful prompts! I'll say it again - the mods for this group have the best annual prompts. (thank you, mods!) Even my partner got into it this year and pulled TBRs ..."Some fun choices there.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Paladin's Grace (other topics)Paladin's Grace (other topics)
The Map: Finding the Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your Life (other topics)
Living the Hero's Journey: Exploring Your Role in the Action-Adventure of a Lifetime (other topics)
A Song of Shadow (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Maurice Druon (other topics)Simon R. Green (other topics)
Simon R. Green (other topics)
Simon R. Green (other topics)
Nicholas Eames (other topics)
More...
Why does it keep growing?!
Will I ever finish?!
If you've got questions about your TBR, we've got answers! Or rather, we've got prompts which, like any good mod knows, leads you to your own answers! And our general amusement! Warm those brains up, here's the 2022 TBR Challenge!
1. Book with nine lives
2. Don't be suspicious
3. Dressed to the nines
4. Head in the clouds
5. One for the clubhouse
6. Of its time
7. "Revolution is in the individual spirit"
8. Cover with distinct art style
9. 9 or 22 *
10. Why not both?
11. Seasonal
12. I need a nap!
13. Thorns and roses
14. A little slice of heaven
15. Fluffy!
16. "Humans are doing the best they can"
17. "Such conduct is the prerogative of the truly wise"
18. 240-270 pages
19. Nein
20. ???
* Also this is Frodo/Bilbo Bagginssesssessssseeessss birthday, precious!
Sign up for the challenge here on January 1st.
Personal challenge threads here.
Other challenges in Current Events.
Challenge on TSG: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading...