SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
SciFi and Fantasy Book Challenge
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2025 Science Fiction Team Chat
The Italian edition of Le macchine infernali by K.W. Jeter (which I bought ages ago) had Big Ben on the cover, but I guess that's not much help. Further research into steampunk might be productive, though.
From StoryGraph:The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley has a clock.
The Memory Theater by Karen Tidbeck has an hourglass, as does Darkly by Marissa Peshl.
The Last Hour Between Worlds be Melissa Caruso
The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz
The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman
There’s a couple others listed there I didn’t include because I didn’t see a timekeeping device on those specific covers, but perhaps there are alternate versions that would apply.
Are there other prompts people are struggling with? Might help if we all put our heads together and keep an eye out!
I'm starting Translation State today and will use it for the AltDimention prompt.I'll see if I can fit Iron Widow in next month. I'm definitely do the reread of The Stars My Destination.
Sarah wrote: "From StoryGraph:The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley has a clock.
The Memory Theater by Karen Tidbeck has an hourglass, as does Darkly by Marissa Peshl.
The Last Hour Between Worlds be Melissa Car..."
Oh thanks! And an Annalee Newitz title!
a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Further research into steampunk might be productive, though."You're not wrong! I just came across a title I had long forgotten about: the 1923 proto-steampunk novella The Clockwork Man by E. V. Odle, which I need to add to my cyberpunk/biopunk list. It features time travel as well as covers with time pieces on it (including the current Kindle edition. which happens to have an intro by Annalee Newitz!)
I'm probably picking Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett for that prompt. I have the hardcover edition from Gollancz and that has a huge hourglass on it.
a.g.e. montagner wrote: "The Clockwork Man is indeed a good find in itself. So what's the Newitz connection?"
The current Kindle edition, published by MIT Press, has an introduction written by Newitz. That's how I came across it--I was looking up what my libraries had by Newitz in Libby, and The Clockwork Man was included in the results, due to their introduction.
https://mitpress.mit.edu/978026254343...
I've had this one Before Midnight in my tbr for a while. It will also work for numbers on the cover.
Terminal Peace is a book that could be used for a number of prompts:AI
Aliens
Set in Outer Space
Biologist character
That looks like a fun series, Leonie!If anyone is looking for recommendations for the "scientist as the main character" prompt I found this Reddit thread with many books mentioned in the replies.
https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comm...
The Fold is a book could be used for these prompts:Aliens:
Area 51: Read a book with an alien character
Dimensional Travel:
AltDimension: Read a book set in more than one dimension
Portal: Read a book with any portal on the cover
Pharmacdon wrote: "The Fold is a book could be used for these prompts:Aliens:
Area 51: Read a book with an alien character
Dimensional Travel:
AltDimension: Read a book set in more than one dimens..."
Yes, the portal on the cover is causing me dismay so thanks for suggesting this.
CJ wrote: "Does anyone have any books that fit the "Clock: Read a book with any kind of time keeping device on the cover" prompt?So far, I have only see someone recommend Jack McDevitt''s Time Travelers Nev..."
Agatha Christie's The Clocks if you like mysteries
Cheryl L wrote: "Yes, the portal on the cover is causing me dismay so thanks for suggesting this."The prompt says any kind of portal on the cover. I looked uo the definition and the Oxford dictionary says : a doorway, gate, or other entrance, especially a large and imposing one.
A book with a door or gate will work.
One of our team members used
It has a door on the cover
Ironically, the book cover for Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It, has the DND dice on the cover for the prompt:LitRPG: Console: Read a book with any gaming console or DND dice on the cover.
Clock on the coverThe Time Machine certain editions, The Night Circus, The Watchmaker's Daughter, The Chronothon, The Hand on the Wall, Time Chain A full list is at https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Pharmacdon wrote: "Clock on the coverThe Time Machine certain editions, The Night Circus, The Watchmaker's Daughter, The Chronothon, [book:The Hand on t..."
I've wanted to read The Night Circus.
Melanie's posted the February prompts in the main thread but I'll repost them here for our convenience:Finding the challenge too easy? January is wending to a close, so it's time to introduce the February Archetypes!
February Protagonist: Love Interest
1. Pretty: Read a book where a main character is known for their good looks.
2. Romance: Read a book with a romantic scene.
February Antagonist: Rival
1. Better Than You: Read a book where a main character has a rival.
2. It’s Personal: Read a book where a character has a personal grievance that is significant to the plot.
The books for completing these prompts must be started and finished in February. Happy Reading!
I hope I can find some books I want to read (and can finish during February) that fit these. Pity that I read Pride and Prejudice this month. I'll have to see if my next Austen read fits any of these.
Pride and Prejudice would count for a romantic scene!
Sarah wrote: "Pride and Prejudice would count for a romantic scene!"Yeah, but I read it this month. I'll need to find something else for February. I'm sure there's something on my February TBR that has some romantic stuff in it.
Ohhh sorry I totally read that wrong. 😂
CJ wrote: "Oh! Oh! I own this! Never read it, now I reason to! TY!(Honestly have never read that author before, despite her Earthchild being a frequent recommendation)"
Responding late, but yes! I hadn't read any of Doris Piserchia's/Curt Selby's work before, but now I'm interested in reading more by her.
Hi! I'm new to the team and excited to participate!I'll need a few days to catch up, but one of the books I read meets at least 2 chalenges, just need to choose one. :)
Olga wrote: "I can't find anything with computer/code, helix or mirrored picture on the cover. For those looking for LitRPG fit, I highly recommend giving Dungeon Crawler Carl a try."
I really enjoyed this one! And will soon read the newest installment to the series.
I just submitted my first two books for the challenge: Terraforming: Foliage - The Pumpkin Spice Café
January Protagonist: Strong - The House in the Cerulean Sea
Anyone knows if for the numbers on the cover challenge it must be in the numeric form (1, 100, ...), or could it be spelled (one, two, ...)?
Juliana wrote: "Anyone knows if for the numbers on the cover challenge it must be in the numeric form (1, 100, ...), or could it be spelled (one, two, ...)?"If it's vague, I think it's safe to be either. :)
Juliana wrote: "Hi! I'm new to the team and excited to participate!I'll need a few days to catch up, but one of the books I read meets at least 2 chalenges, just need to choose one. :)"
Welcome to the team, Juliana!
Juliana wrote: "Anyone knows if for the numbers on the cover challenge it must be in the numeric form (1, 100, ...), or could it be spelled (one, two, ...)?"Mods have the final say, but I think if the cover art includes numbers that are spelled out (as opposed to be part of the title) then it's likely OK.
Hey team!Starting tomorrow we'll be able to earn new bonus points
February Protagonist: Love Interest
1. Pretty: Read a book where a main character is known for their good looks.
2. Romance: Read a book with a romantic scene.
February Antagonist: Rival
1. Better Than You: Read a book where a main character has a rival.
2. It’s Personal: Read a book where a character has a personal grievance that is significant to the plot.
Does anyone have any ideas? I'm at a loss, mostly because I don't know such details about the books I haven't read before.
If you can recommend anything that's already on the group shelf, I'll be extra grateful.
The Book of Doors would fit both Rival options.A Sorceress Comes to Call would work for both Rival options and Love Interest.
I'm hoping others pop up while reading from my tbr in Feb. :) Service Model for grievance maybe? And Scythe for rival, I hope. I have two fantasy romance in mind for the other two. :)
Ah, if I hadn't finished Translation State just a few days ago, I would have used it as the Love Interest, romantic scene. :-)
works for the "Better Than You" prompt and I strongly recommend for everyone to read the book, if you haven't already since it's on the bookshelf. :)
work for the "It's Personal" prompt, IMO.
Adeline wrote: " works for the "Better Than You" prompt and I strongly recommend for everyone to read the book, if you haven't already since it's on the bookshelf. :)[book..."
That's on my Books by the Dozen challenge list but I don't know if I can fit it in. But since we can read any book of any genre, and I'm already reading some Shakespeare plays in February that can fit a couple of these prompts, I'll probably go with those: Much Ado About Nothing for Better Than You (Beatrice and Benedict!) and Timons of Athens for It's Personal (Timons is SO aggrieved, at everyone and everything). I'll be reading If Beale Street Could Talk with another group, and that fits the Romance prompt. I just need something that fits the Pretty prompt.
Cheryl L wrote: "I'm going to finish up [book:The Will of the Many|58416952] for the It's Personal prompt."
Have you already started it? Melanie said the book needs to be started and finished in the month of February for these prompts.
.
CJ wrote: "Adeline wrote: " works for the "Better Than You" prompt and I strongly recommend for everyone to read the book, if you haven't already since it's on the book..."I'm about 230 pages in so about 400 to go. That should be ok with my other reads for Feb.
Cheryl L wrote: "CJ wrote: "Adeline wrote: " works for the "Better Than You" prompt and I strongly recommend for everyone to read the book, if you haven't already since it's ..."It doesn't count since you started it in January. :)
CJ wrote: "But since we can read any book of any genre, and I'm already reading some Shakespeare plays in February that can fit a couple of these prompts, I'll probably go with those: Much Ado About Nothing for Better Than You (Beatrice and Benedict!) and Timons of Athens for It's Personal (Timons is SO aggrieved, at everyone and everything)."Books need to be at least 100 pages long in order to count for the prompts. I'm afraid one play is not enough. Unless I'm mistaken.
Timon of Athens = a bit over 100 pages in most Kindle versionsMuch Ado About Nothing = 100 -> 400 in Kindle versions
CBRetriever wrote: "Timon of Athens = a bit over 100 pages in most Kindle versionsMuch Ado About Nothing = 100 -> 400 in Kindle versions"
Oh, wow... I always thought plays are much shorter.
This depends on the edition, especially re: Shakespeare. Many critical editions have many times the length of the actual text due to in-depth criticism; some actually distinct versions of the entire source text.
I've been reading the RSC/Modern Library editions, which include additional reading about the play and performance (I'm reading through all of Shakespeare's play over the year and am using the Modern Library editions). The Much Ado About Nothing edition is 178 pages. Timons of Athens is actually combined with Titus Andronicus in the Modern Library edition, which may be an issue. I can gladly find another title for that prompt.
CJ wrote: "I've been reading the RSC/Modern Library editions, which include additional reading about the play and performance (I'm reading through all of Shakespeare's play over the year and am using the Mode..."Timons will work - go here and look at the page numbers on the version (DTB or Kindle) you will be reading and judge for yourself
Timon of Athens
I need some suggestions for the February Protagonist : Pretty.I've got the other three covered but haven't a clue for this one.
Ellen wrote: "I need some suggestions for the February Protagonist : Pretty.I've got the other three covered but haven't a clue for this one."
In The Ninth Rain Tormalin is quite a good-looking elf, if I remember correctly.
Also, Adolin is very handsome, although The Way of Kings is the boss of doorstoppers.
I LOVED Ninth Rain. Just saying. I’m on book 3 and it’s so good.
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Alt Dimension might be the one.