2025 Science Fiction Team Chat

[CJ]

Netanella wrote: "CJ, Nancy Kress also wrote Yesterday's Kin with a double helix on the cover."


Ah, thanks! And my library has it. Not a fan of Kress but that one's short, and it won a Nebula.

[Ellen]

My library doesn't have The Pomegranate Gate. I'm going to get it from audible.

[CJ]

I started The Pomegranate Gate and am enjoying it so far. The audiobook is relatively easy to follow without the text, thankfully, I was a little worried when it started off with a dramatis personae list, lol.

The June prompts have arrived!

June Protagonist: Strong Female
1. Girl: Read a book where the main character is female.
2. Stamina: Read a book where a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort.

June Antagonist: Sociopath
1. No Empathy: Read a book where a character struggles to understand other people or doesn’t care about other people.
2. Manipulative: Read a book with a manipulative character.

[Sue]

Hi, everyone. I'm not playing, but I've been following along for a week trying to figure the combat rules out for next year. Too busy this year, or at least right now - it may get better in a couple of months. Do you all pick the books to be read as a group, or does everyone just find a book that fits a prompt, or do you all decide which prompt as a group and then everyone reads a book that fits that prompt? I read the instructions at the beginning of the thread and was a bit confused.

[CJ]

Everyone picks out their own books that fits the prompts and there's no order to which we each do the prompts. Only the monthly prompts need to be started and finished in that particular month, but for the original set of prompts, we read a book for whatever prompt when we want/have the time.

Sometimes we ask for recommendations when we can't find a book that fits a prompt on our own, but it's mostly individual choice.

The only time we have had to make a group decision was when we voted for the Object of Power bonus prompt after earning enough power points (from reading the SFFBC BotMs). That was to choose the bonus prompts we would do, but we all chose our own books to read.

If you see several of us talking about the same book, it's likely one the SFFBC's BotM, like The Pomegranate Gate, which is the fantasy BotM for June. We read those for the power points.

[Sue]

Thanks CJ.
That does clear up a number of questions. Am I right that between the original prompts and monthly prompts, plus whatever power bonus prompts, there are 24+ prompts for each player each year?

I like the idea of this game, but I think if I start, you all will be holding my hand for a few months :)

Am I also correct that this is a read and report structure, that we don't discuss the books or write reviews or anything (which would be ok with me wither way)?

I can start any time?

[CJ]

Am I right that between the original prompts and monthly prompts, plus whatever power bonus prompts, there are 24+ prompts for each player each year?

There are 24 original prompts, and then each month there are 4 prompts that need to be done during that month. But this is just for fun, so don't feel you are required to read that many books.

And no, we don't really discuss the books we read, but some of the books do have discussion threads already and you can post there if you want to talk about them.

I can start any time?

Yes! Feel free to join whenever you feel you have the time. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

[Sue]

Whew. 'Cause that's like over a book a week. I do read a lot, but that would be way out of my range. :)
I think I'll try to get this started on my 3rd quarter schedule. I'm one of those people who is highly susceptible to bing reading (and I'm mean like 30 books in a series plus spin-offs) and I need a nudge for variety greater than I get from my work.
Thanks for answering my questions - It's been a great help.
Sent you a friend request - no pressure.

[CBRetriever]

CJ wrote: "There are 24 original prompts, and then each month there are 4 prompts that need to be done during that month. But this is just for fun, so don't feel you are required to read that many books."

24 books for main challenge plus 48 for monthly prompts plus 2 for Objects of Power plus potentially 24 for Power Points (I'm only planning on 2 so far) = potentially 98+ books. I find some of my other challenges on this and another forum are lagging behind for this reason.

[CJ]

Ha! Yeah, I mentioned in my own challenge thread how I'm a month and half behind on my Shakespeare reading project (and I've cut a couple of other projects), and that's due in good part to me focusing on books for this challenge. But I'm enjoying this challenge and it's all for fun. I can totally understand if it's a bit too much for some folks, however.

[Ellen]

I'm enjoying the challenge but I have cut back on signing up for some of the challenges I usually do on another forum. I also understand It's a bit much for others.

[Roo]

I signed up for the challenge for funsies - I will admit I'm mostly just continuing my regular reading habits and whenever one happens to fit a prompt, I add it. Although I have been getting more into it lately for some reason and keeping better track!

I also just finished Dungeon Crawler Carl (it was so much fun! highly recommend the audiobook) and that book can count for a lot of different prompts. I'm going to use it for the May pet prompt (since that is time-sensitive) and use a future book in the series for LitRPG.

[Shawnie]

Moved this to the proper thread. Thanks!!

[CBRetriever]

Shawnie wrote: "Team Sci Fi / Darkly / May Protagonist: Friendly Creature / Pet / *the main character has a pet."

you need to put that in the Combat thread for it to count

[Shawnie]

CBRetriever wrote: "Shawnie wrote: "Team Sci Fi / Darkly / May Protagonist: Friendly Creature / Pet / *the main character has a pet."

you need to put that in the Combat thread for it to count"

Thank you! I keep doing this....

[CBRetriever]

Shawnie wrote: "Thank you! I keep doing this.... "

it's easy to do = confusing the three threads

[Sue]

Thanks for your help, CJ, CB Retriever, Ellen, and Roo for explanations. Joined Team Sci-Fi today. Jumping in with Murderbot :)

[Edwin]

CJ wrote: "I just DNF'd the book I had picked out for the double helix prompt, and will need to find something else "

I got stuck for a while on this too. I had a breakthrough of sorts when I realized that the prompt actually says "read a book with a helix on the cover" so I then felt that I was not limited to a DNA double helix and that anything spiral could count.

My choice was


I hope this helps you.

[Ellen]

Sue wrote: "Thanks for your help, CJ, CB Retriever, Ellen, and Roo for explanations. Joined Team Sci-Fi today. Jumping in with Murderbot :)"

Welcome to the team Sue.!
You can use books you've already read this year (since the challenge started in January ) to help fill the 24 SciFi Prompts. The Full Character Archetypes can only be read and counted in the month they are listed.

[Sue]

I can use my last five months of reading retroactively!?! Yay! Another project all in itself, but a good one. Thanks for that Ellen

[Roo]

Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure, neither of which really appeal to me much.

[Ellen]

Roo wrote: "Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure, neither of which really ..."

Here's a list

Terraforming And Making Uninhabitable Planets Habitable

Also Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

[Edwin]

Roo wrote: "Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure, neither of which really ..."

The Children of Time Series by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Children of Time, Children of Ruin and Children of Memory) all take place on a terraformed world.

[Ellen]

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson are all about terraforming Mars.

[Shawnie]

Roo wrote: "Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure, neither of which really ..."

I think Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shards of Earth fits as well since the Architects kind of terraform worlds.

[CJ]

Ellen wrote: "Roo wrote: "Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure, neither of w..."

oof, people are recommending some chunkers, lol. I read Red Mars for that prompt and found it very dull and long.

A couple that are under 300 pages, if length matters for you:

The 7th Murderbot book, System Collapse, takes place on a planet that is being terraformed. But you may not want to read it if you haven't read the 4 first novellas and the novel, Network Effect, as it takes place after the events of those books.

Heinlein's Farmer in the Sky is an early novel by him that is about colonializing Ganymede. It might not suit today's more informed notions of terraforming, being speculative fiction from the 1950s, but I think it ought fit the prompt.

Also, a little longer one is Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold which features terraforming. It is part of her Vorkosigan Saga series, but if I understand correctly, many of those books can be read in any order (someone who's read the series can feel free to correct me).

[CBRetriever]

CJ wrote: "Heinlein's Farmer in the Sky is an early novel by him that is about colonizing Ganymede. It might not suit today's more informed notions of terraforming, being speculative fiction from the 1950s, but I think it ought fit the prompt.."

and it's only 229 pages with a slight tilt towards YA which shoul make it a quick read

[Ellen]

CBRetriever wrote: "CJ wrote: "Heinlein's Farmer in the Sky is an early novel by him that is about colonizing Ganymede. It might not suit today's more informed notions of terraforming, being speculative fiction from t..."

Farmer in the Sky is what I read for that prompt. It does show its age a bit but not too bad. It was in my Hugo winners book shelf.

[Ellen]

CJ wrote: ".oof, people are recommending some chunkers, lol. I read Red Mars for that prompt and found it very dull and long."

I agree Red Mars is not exactly a page turner. I read it a few years ago for the Read All the Books challenge.

[CJ]

Ellen wrote: "I agree Red Mars is not exactly a page turner. I read it a few years ago for the Read All the Books challenge."

Glad I read it but I'm not sure I'll ever get to the rest of the series. I was trying to read something that I hadn't read before and it ended up taking too much of my time. In hindsight I could have reread Dune (which also would fit the prompt I think) in a fraction of the time, lol.

[Ellen]

CJ wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I agree Red Mars is not exactly a page turner. I read it a few years ago for the Read All the Books challenge."

Glad I read it but I'm not sure I'll ever get to the rest of the serie..."

I read Green Mars also but have never gotten motivated enough to read Blue Mars.

[Adeline]

Roo wrote: "Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure, neither of which really ..."

I plan to read Plutoshine for the prompt.

[Roo]

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations! I think I might give Plutoshine a read - it looks the most up my alley.

[Juliana]

CJ wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Roo wrote: "Does anyone have any recs for the Terraforming prompt? The ones I've seen in the challenge so far are The Terraformers and Cascade Failure..."

Good to know CJ that System Collapse works for terrraforming! I'm on the library waiting list for it. :)

[Ellen]

Looking for suggestions for this prompt : Stamina: Read a book where a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort.

[Shawnie]

Ellen wrote: "Looking for suggestions for this prompt : Stamina: Read a book where a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort."

I was thinking to try for mages, wizards, etc for prolonged mental effort. I will try for a shapeshifter or warrior for prolonged stamina.

[CJ]

Yes, I think this could cover a lot of types of stories, many kinds of struggles or fights that require the MC to endure. I used the YA SF novel The Sound of Stars where the female MC, who struggles with anxiety and hyperthyriodism, rebels against an invader aliens species that is a major part of the MC's story throughout the novel.

But keep in mind there's no limit on what genre of book you read, only that it's 100 pages or longer. So you can look outsider of SFF for something that appeals to you.

[Mike]

For me: The Maze Runner, Project Hail Mary

[Ellen]

CJ wrote: "Yes, I think this could cover a lot of types of stories, many kinds of struggles or fights that require the MC to endure. I used the YA SF novel The Sound of Stars where the female ..."

I saw when you posted that and have it down as a possibility if I can't find something already on my TBR. It is also library available in all formats. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Ellen]

Mike wrote: "For me: The Maze Runner, Project Hail Mary"

Those are both good suggestions but I've already read them and I used Project Hail Mary for one of the Space travel promtpts.

[Edwin]

Ellen wrote: "Looking for suggestions for this prompt : Stamina: Read a book where a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort."

From your shelf: Anything from Martha Wells' Murderbot series would probably work as Murderbot can certainly sustain prolonged physical effort. Likewise, Abercrobmie's The First Law Series features Logen Ninefingers who does so during his beserker phase.

Finally, there is a little known character driven sci-fi book called Singer Distance that features a brilliant mathematician who becomes obsessed with trying to solve math equations while trying to communicate with aliens. It is pretty good.

[Ellen]

Edwin wrote: "
From your shelf: Anything from Martha Wells' Murderbot series would probably work as Murderbot can certainly sustain prolonged physical effort. Likewise, Abercrobmie's The First Law Series features Logen Ninefingers who does so during his beserker phase."

Thanks Edwin. Those are some good suggestions. I was wondering if Murderbot would work.

[CJ]

yeah, it would seem Murderbot would fit. I was thinking of female MCs because of the theme, but that prompt doesn't specifically call for a female MC, so I think that'll work.

[Gypsy]

This list is awesome. I am taking the plunge, starting with LitRPG, a genre I have not explored before.

[CJ]

New prompts! (Mod's original post in the main combat thread is here)

Summer Bonus! (June 20 - September 22)
Booklovers, you all are tackling the challenges so well, I’ve decided to give you a new (temporary) bonus opportunity. Thus the Summer Bonus! (Or if you live south of the equator, a winter bonus.) These bonus prompts can be acquired during the months of astrological summer June 20 – September 22. The books must be read entirely in the assigned time frame, and the opportunity disappears when the season changes.

Let’s pay homage to some classic Fantasy and Science Fiction settings. Happy reading!

Science Fiction Settings
Multi-Cultural Alien Planet
1. Alien Planet- Read a book set on an alien planet (a planet that has or once had a non-human species living on it).
2. Multiple Species- Read a book where 3 or more species cohabitate.

Intergalactic Empire
1. Colonial Acquisition- Read a book where a government has acquired another political entity through force.
2. Resistance Forces- Read a book where an organized (but less powerful) force actively tries to thwart the ‘lawful’ government.

Tech City
1. Advanced Power Technology- Read a book where a non-electric technology powers a city or a large population.
2. Cyberpunk- Read any book classified as cyberpunk

[Juliana]

Hi team! I finished To Be Taught, If Fortunate last week and really enjoyed. It is interesting and short. And works for a variety of challenges, such as:
- female main character
- engineer and biology character
- it is set in 4 diferent planets
- character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort with the help of bioengineering humans
- space scene on the cover on some editions

Hope it helps. :)

[Peter]

Juliana wrote: "Hi team! I finished To Be Taught, If Fortunate last week and really enjoyed. It is interesting and short. And works for a variety of challenges, such as:
- female main character
- ..."

I love that book for its hopeful message. For lovers of mirror life and the mysteries of chirality :)

[CJ]

I am assuming the Summer prompts are meant to be read between June 20 and September 22 (astronomical summer), so I am holding off on starting my picks.

Until then, if people need any suggestions for any of the prompts, feel free to ask.

If the alternative energy generation prompt seems intimidating, remember that many SF TV series have tie-in books or were based on books. The Expanse uses fusion energy (the Epstein drive) in that universe, Stargate Atlantis uses zero point energy technology (the ZPMs), and Star Trek uses antimatter.

[CJ]

Boy, this thread has been quiet. I hope folks are enjoying their summer breaks and vacations and are otherwise doing well.

The July prompts are here! And they're hot! 🌶️

July Protagonist: Orphan
1. Child: Read a book where a main character is a child.
2. Parentless: Read a book where a main character doesn’t know their parent or a parent dies in the story.

July Antagonist: Racist
1. Racism: Read a book where racism is significant to the plot.
2. Aryan Looks: Read a book where a group of characters are expected to display a uniform trait or dress in identical uniforms.

SFFBC Mod's original post

[Shawnie]

CJ wrote: "Boy, this thread has been quiet. I hope folks are enjoying their summer breaks and vacations and are otherwise doing well.

The July prompts are here! And they're hot! 🌶️

July Protagonist: Orphan..."

Thanks, CJ! I've been listening to audiobooks all weekend while doing chores and am almost done with the June prompts. :)