2025 Science Fiction Team Chat

[Ellen]

I'm leaning towards the Big Dumb Object prompt also.
CJ when I was googling for books with large weapons the Elric series was mentioned in one of the lists I found so I think it would work for this prompt too. (Plus I need to check out that series!)
(I've changed my mind see post 347)

[Ines, Resident Vampire]

There was another voice for Big Dumb Object instead of Powerful Weapon on StoryGraph as well.

[Sarah]

Thanks Ines!

[CJ]

Ellen wrote: "I'm leaning towards the Big Dumb Object prompt also.
CJ when I was googling for books with large weapons the Elric series was mentioned in one of the lists I found so I think it would work for thi..."

I don't recall Stormbringer being excessively large--it's a greatsword so it's a big weapon but not necessarily oversize, but in a spiritual, magical and malevolent sense it definitely is excessive and unwieldy. So I guess it depends on how literally the mods expect us to interpret that prompt.

[CBRetriever]

seems like this would be the easiest: 2. Object: Read a Book that features an object (and not people) on the cover.

[Adeline]

I'm fine with anything as long as it isn't the MacGuffin prompt. All the other prompts I'd consider half easy/half difficult to fill, tbh.

[a.g.e. montagner]

Hi everybody, looking for suggestions for prompts for The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (Terraforming / Foliage already used) and Romeo and Juliet.

The Deep, which I'm reading now, can be easily used for the April Mentor / Teacher prompt.

Thanks in advance!

[Sarah]

The only thing I can think for Romeo and Juliet is set more than 20 years ago.

Maaayyybeee… something for the envy prompt? I can’t remember if that’s one of the themes at all. Been awhile since I read it.

Have not read The Bloody Chamber so I’m not much help there (sorry!)

[Ellen]

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Hi everybody, looking for suggestions for prompts for The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories (Terraforming / Foliage already used) and Romeo and Juliet.

[book:The Deep..."

Romeo and Juliet could be used for Dimensional Travel : Portal. It has balconies on the cover.

[a.g.e. montagner]

True... not my edition, though.

[Ellen]

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "True... not my edition, though."

Romeo and Juliet is set more than 20 years ago so it would work for alt history back in the day.

[Megan]

I'm in the middle of To Shape a Dragon's Breath, and my library hold on Lost Ark Dreaming just came in! I'm hoping to have both finished by the end of this weekend.

I don't have a strong preference for which Objects of Power prompt we should pick--though, like Adeline, I think MacGuffin would be the most difficult, and hope we don't pick that one (at least not first)!

And I definitely don't mind going on a book scavenger hunt, but I am curious about suggestions for books that would fit the oversized weapon prompt. I've been looking through my TBR and not finding anything that would obviously fit.

[Adeline]

The only oversized weapons I can think of are Ice (6 feet long) from Game of Thrones and Dragnipur (6 and a half feet long) from the Malazan series.

[Ines, Resident Vampire]

Iron Widow could also fit, because the Mechas are the weapons used by the pilots, are they not? Or scifi with a death star-style weapon system.

Personally, I would prefer Big Dumb Object or Charged Jewellery.

[Banshee]

I would go for Powerful Weapon first. I think it might be easier to find books with famous/named weapons than specifically oversized ones.

[Ellen]

Prompt #2 for powerful weapons is Ouch: Read a book with someone injured or dead on the cover. Suggestions for that?

[Sarah]

The Daughter’s war is the one that comes to mind right off the bat.

[Ellen]

Sarah wrote: "The Daughter’s war is the one that comes to mind right off the bat."

Thank you Sarah.

[Sarah]

(I realize that’s just one book and doesn’t give any options, I’ll look at my TBR today and see what else I can dig up, lol.)

[Adeline]

Ellen wrote: "Prompt #2 for powerful weapons is Ouch: Read a book with someone injured or dead on the cover. Suggestions for that?"

Depends on how we interpret "someone dead". Do skeletons count? Then there should be quite a few options, for example:

[Ellen]

Thanks Sarah. A skeleton is dead. Plus would Vampires and Zombies count?
Looked again on my tbr. The Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence all have bodies on the cover. Book one Prince of Thorns is on the SciFi bookshelf.

[Sarah]

I was thinking that too. Vampires, zombies or ghosts. Would even just a skull count? Lots of my books have the skull only.

[a.g.e. montagner]

If we're going with Powerful Weapon, I can't help thinking that there's a re-read of The Once and Future King coming up which will probably feature a certain famous sword.

[Banshee]

SFF with war/battles/revolutions sometimes have dead/bloodied people on covers. Examples: Promise of Blood by Brian Mcclellan, Red Country by Joe Abercrombie.

[Adeline]

I haven't read that particular Arthurian retelling yet and it's been on my shelf for ages.

If we count skulls as well then I'd probably read The Devils. It's out in three weeks.

[Tina Reads]

Since there's no Consensus, maybe we should post our top choice and the one with the most votes wins?

[Edwin]

Tina Reads wrote: "Since there's no Consensus, maybe we should post our top choice and the one with the most votes wins?"

Makes sense to me. I get the sense the two prompts we are mostly considering are Big Dumb Object and Powerful Weapon. Maybe we just a vote on these two?

[Ellen]

There are a couple of questions we need verified by a Mod.
Does a Great sword count as an oversized weapon?
Would a skeleton on the cover or part of one like a skull count as a body?

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Does a Great sword count as an oversized weapon?
That would depend on who is weilding it. The prompt states " oversized (for them)"

?Would a skeleton on the cover or part of one like a skull count as a body?"
I suppose a skull could represent a dead body, but not a different bone like a femur as a person can be alive minus that limb.

In general, you are encourage to interpret the prompts in good faith to meet the challenge in way that is fun for all.

[Ellen]

Thanks Melanie

[Brandon Harris]

Hey guys are we still doing the contest at the bottom of the page I'm new trying to figure out how this works

[Brandon Harris]

The Area 51 one

[CJ]

I don't have a strong preference and am happy to work with what the group decides on. Have we unlocked the object of power yet or how close are we?

[Sarah]

As best I can tell we have 5 power points left. My copy of Lost Ark Dreaming. Came in to the library. I am hoping to pick it up and read it this weekend which would get us to 46/50.

[CJ]

If I thought I could do it, I would try to finish Our Share of Night but no...don't think I can do it.

Both of next month's BotM will be rereads for me, and I have copies of them so can start whenever, but I don't know if we're allowed to read them before May if for counting for power points.

[Ellen]

CJ wrote: "Both of next month's BotM will be rereads for me, and I have copies of them so can start whenever, but I don't know if we're allowed to read them before May if for counting for power points."

Someone on TSG posted Annie Bot for a Power Point and it was counted in the totals. So I think I'm going to start on the May botms

[CJ]

Ah, Ok. Thanks!

[Sarah]

Annie Bot is a relatively quick read too! I’m going to try and get through Lost Ark Dreaming today. (Meant to do it this weekend but was busy with Easter.) then we’d just need 1 more to unlock an Object of Power it looks like.

[Ellen]

We only need one more power point! Way to go Sarah.

I've started Annie Bot. 10% in and I can understand the reluctance of those who have already read it to do a reread.
Taking notes for the group discussion when it opens.

[Netanella]

Ellen wrote: "We only need one more power point! Way to go Sarah.

I've started Annie Bot. 10% in and I can understand the reluctance of those who have already read it to do a reread.
Taking notes for the group ..."

😂😂

[Sarah]

Yeah, i read Annie Bot a year ago unfortunately and really don’t have much desire to read it again. 😔

[CJ]

Netanella wrote: "😂😂"

?

Given the very serious topics addressed in Annie Bot and that some people have RL experiences with them, it's perfectly understandable for people to not want to subject themselves to a repeat of that book.

[Ellen]

CJ wrote: "Netanella wrote: "😂😂"

?

Given the very serious topics addressed in Annie Bot and that some people have RL experiences with them, it's perfectly understandable for people to not want to subject th..."

CJ, : Netanella was posting on the fantasy team chat that she would reread it for her team but didn't really want to. She and you were who I was specifically thinking about.

[Sarah]

I think we’ve officially hit 50 Power Points, thanks CJ for the AnnieBot reread!

Does everyone here want to chime in with their official choice for the Object of Power they’d like?

I’m going to cast my vote for Big Dumb Object.

[Banshee]

I vote for Powerful Weapon.

[Edwin]

Big Dumb Object for me.

[Ellen]

I vote for Powerful Weapon

[Shawnie]

I vote Big Dumb Object. :)

[Ines, Resident Vampire]

Big Dumb Object for me

and there is another vote for Big Dumb Object by a team member on StoryGraph.

[Adeline]

I'd prefer Powerful Weapon.