2025 Science Fiction Team Chat

[Melanie, the neutral party]

A place for members of the science fiction team to collaborate.

[Olga]

Hey team! I don't know why, but I'm so damn excited about this one :)

I thought it would be handy to have the list of prompts here as well.

Science Fiction Challenges

Aliens
1. Area 51: Read a book with an alien character.
2. Starry Night: Read a book with at least one star on the cover.

Alt History
1. Back in the Day: Read a book set 20+ years ago.
2. Historicity: Read a book with a time machine or historical figure on the cover.

Clones
1. DNA: Read a book with clones or twins in it.
2. Palindrome: Read a book with a mirrored cover (cover features a graphic that reads the same on both sides).

Dimensional Travel
1. AltDimension: Read a book set in more than 1 dimension.
2. Portal: Read a book with any kind of portal on the cover.

Space Travel
1. The Black: Read a book set in outer space.
2. Nebula: Read a book with a space scene on the cover.

Terraforming
1. Oxygen: Read a book that features terraforming.
2. Foliage: Read a book with any kind of flora on the cover.

Biological Engineering
1. Lab: Read a book with a character that is a biologist and/or engineer.
2. DNA: Read a book with a helix on the cover.

LitRPG
1. Game: Read any book classified as LitRPG or a novelized version of a video game.
2. Console: Read a book with any gaming console or DND dice on the cover.

Big Data
1. Arithmetic: Read a book with an accountant or mathematician as a main character.
2. Data: Read a book with numbers on the cover.

Mad Science
1. Scientist: Read a book with a scientist as a main character.
2. Gear: Read a book with anyone in a lab coat or lab beakers on the cover.

Artificial Intelligence
1. Intelligence: Read a book where AI is an important character or important to the plot.
2. Robot: Read a book with a computer or code on the cover.

Time Travel
1. Time Machine: Read a book where time travel is part of the plot.
2. Clock: Read a book with any kind of time keeping device on the cover.

[Olga]

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.

[CJ]

One edition of Dawn by Octavia Bulter has DNA on the cover, the edition with the gold, red and green ribbons surrounding a face--those are meant to represent DNA double helixes.

[Olga]

Found a helix (kind of) in January Sci-Fi poll!
The Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley

[Melanie]

Hi guys!

Thank you so much for putting the prompts here! I can't wait to start.

[CBRetriever]

I found a mirrored image one



I was going to give up and go with a solid colored book cover as that's the same on both halves

[CBRetriever]

these are going to be hard prompts for me

LitRPG
1. Game: Read any book classified as LitRPG or a novelized version of a video game.
2. Console: Read a book with any gaming console or DND dice on the cover.

as well as Helix

[Anna]

Melanie might disagree, but I'd personally count Forgotten Realms / Drizzt books for LitRPG and/or DnD, I think I remember you saying you were gonna read that series soon?

[CBRetriever]

Anna wrote: "Melanie might disagree, but I'd personally count Forgotten Realms / Drizzt books for LitRPG and/or DnD, I think I remember you saying you were gonna read that series soon?"

ooo, good idea. I don't play games like that much, so I wouldn't have thought of them.

Note: I am playing for Team Fantasy, but I intend to complete the challenges for Team Sci-Fi too. I'm a glutton for challenges

[CJ]

Oh if Drizzt counts towards that then, great! I have 10 more of those to get through (of the ones I own).

[Anna]

The one book that comes to mind that has DNA/helix on the cover is Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

the Leap Year Gene of Kit McKinley has both a helix and a clock on the cover. They're both relevant to the story!

[CBRetriever]

I just saw Ready Player One referred to as LitRPG so I'm going with that

[DivaDiane]

Hey everyone! I’m excited about the challenge, but I have nary a brain cell free to think about fulfilling the prompts.

Thanks CBR for reminding me of Ready Player One. That has been on my Kindle forever. Maybe 2025 will be the year it gets read!

Well, that’s my intention for all of these; to read books I already own.

[CJ]

Artificial Intelligence
1. Intelligence: Read a book where AI is an important character or important to the plot.
2. Robot: Read a book with a computer or code on the cover.

Firebreak has a cover with a QR code with the image of motherboard circuits in the background.

[CBRetriever]

for AI, I chose

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Chambers, Becky because robots use AI

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Anna wrote: "Melanie might disagree, but I'd personally count Forgotten Realms / Drizzt books for LitRPG and/or DnD, I think I remember you saying you were gonna read that series soon?"

They would count for DnD but not LitRPG. LitRPG in someway acknowledges a real-world from where at least some of the players have been sent or are connected to. Thus making it scifi.

In general it should be labeled LitRPG or gaming on GR.

[Cheryl L]

CBRetriever wrote: "for AI, I chose

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Chambers, Becky because robots use AI"

I've just finished up A Psalm for the Wild-Built and will read Prayer for my AI choice. Yay!

[Teddie]

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 second this - suggest the audiobook if you can - its a hoot

[Teddie]

I read a couple books by Max Berry this year that will work for a couple tasks:
- multiple dimensions:


- AI


I'm planning on reading his book Lexicon for Big Data number on the cover task:


Also planning to read the second book in the Bobiverse series by Dennis Taylor for the clone task - book 1 was great.

[Tina Reads]

The Sparrow has a clock on the cover.



Anyone else despairing over the Lit RPG prompt? I'm not a fan of the subgenre or video games so whatever I find needs to be short.

[Tina Reads]

Anna wrote: "The one book that comes to mind that has DNA/helix on the cover is Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress."

Great minds think alike! I picked that one for the DNA Helix as well.

[CBRetriever]

Tina Reads wrote: "The Sparrow has a clock on the cover.



Anyone else despairing over the Lit RPG prompt? I'm not a fan of the subgenre or video games so whatever I find needs to be s..."

Ready Player One is cited by lots of reviewers as being Lit RPG

[Sarah]

Okay. It's not LitRPG but it is a novelization of a video game that has not yet been released: Exodus: The Archimedes Engine. Hamilton is working with former Bioware developers to release it for PS5, Xbox, and PC.

NK Jemisin also wrote a novelization of mass effect Mass Effect: Initiation - if anyone is a Mass Effect fan.

[CJ]

Both the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and the He Who Fight with Monsters series are highly praised Lit RPG and both available on Kindle Unlimited. And per our mod upthread, any DnD/Forgotten Realms novel, of which there are many. I think the Legend of Drizzt series alone has 39 novels or so and the first one is a group read of this group next month.

There's actually a TON of Lit RPG out there, especially self-pub'd stuff on Amazon, because it's a popular subgenre right now. It's just a subgenre that's a little outside what more traditional SFF readers tend to read.

[Shawnie]

Team Science Fiction

Books of the Month: 4/24 -
Criteria Met: 3/12
Antagonists: 6/12
Protagonists: 7/12

Aliens 2/2 MET
**1. Area 51: Read a book with an alien character. Translation State
**2. Starry Night: Read a book with at least one star on the cover. Love and Other Conspiracies

Alt History 2/2 MET
**1. Back in the Day: Read a book set 20+ years ago. My Cousin Rachel
**2. Historicity: historical figure on the cover The Merchant of Venice

Clones 1/2
**1. DNA: *there are twins in it The Navajo Nightmare
2. Palindrome: Read a book with a mirrored cover (cover features a graphic that reads the same on both sides).

Dimensional Travel 2/2
**1. AltDimension: Read a book set in more than 1 dimension. The Paper Magician
**2. Portal: *any kind of portal on the cover. The River Has Roots *river is the portal

Space Travel 0/2
1. The Black: Read a book set in outer space.
2. Nebula: Read a book with a space scene on the cover.

Terraforming 2/2
**1. Oxygen: *features terraforming The Terraformers
**2. Foliage: Read a book with any kind of flora on the cover. A Good Day for Chardonnay

Biological Engineering 1/2
**1. Lab: Read a book with a character that is a biologist How High We Go in the Dark
2. DNA: Read a book with a helix on the cover.

LitRPG 0/2
1. Game: Read any book classified as LitRPG or a novelized version of a video game.
2. Console: Read a book with any gaming console or D&D dice on the cover.

Big Data 1/2
1. Arithmetic: Read a book with an accountant or mathematician as a main character. The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association
**2. Data: number on the cover. Building a Non-Anxious Life

Mad Science 1/2
**1. Scientist: a book with a scientist as a main character. The Salt Grows Heavy
2. Gear: Read a book with anyone in a lab coat or lab beakers on the cover.

Artificial Intelligence 0/2
1. Intelligence: Read a book where AI is an important character or important to the plot.
2. Robot: Read a book with a computer or code on the cover.

Time Travel 1/2
**1. Time Machine: *time travel is part of the plot The Artist of Blackberry Grange
2. Clock: Read a book with any kind of time keeping device on the cover.

==========
September Protagonist: Pollyanna
1. Optimistic: Read a book where a character presents as extremely optimistic.
2. Hopebringer: Read a book where a character receives hope after giving up.
September Antagonist: Mad Scientist
1. Dangerous Creation: Read a book where a scientist creates something dangerous.
2. Unintended Consequences: Read a book where a choice or action has unexpected, negative consequences

August Protagonist: Dynamic Leader
**1. In Charge: *the main character serves in any kind of leadership role A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
**2. Fan Club: *a character has a substantial fandom The Haunting of Room 904
August Antagonist: Gang-Boss
**1. Illegal Trade: *illegal trade is important to the plot Unfit to Print
**2. Recruiter: *the antagonist successfully recruits more minions Julie Chan Is Dead

July Protagonist: Orphan
**1. Child: Read a book where a main character is a child. Liberty's Daughter
**2. Parentless: *a parent dies in the story. Immaculate Conception
July Antagonist: Racist
**1. Racism: Read a book where racism is significant to the plot. The Splinter King
2. Aryan Looks: Read a book where a group of characters are expected to display a uniform trait or dress in identical uniforms.

June Protagonist: Strong Female
**1. Girl: *main character is female Alice Isn't Dead
**2. Stamina: *a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort. Patient Zero
June Antagonist: Sociopath
**1. No Empathy: *a character doesn’t care about other people. The Black Coast
**2. Manipulative: *a manipulative character The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

May Protagonist: Friendly Creature
**1. Pet: the main character is a pet or has a pet. Darkly
**2. Companion: *an animal that is friendly toward the main characters. Elatsoe
May Antagonist: Mother Nature
1. Weather: Read a book where a weather event is significant to the plot.
**2. You’re Edible Here: *main characters encounter a hostile environment. The Hanging City

April Protagonist: Mentor
**1. Aged: an older main character. You Are Fatally Invited
**2. Teacher: a main character formally learns skills. Only Bad Options
April Antagonist: Wicked Stepparent
**1. Not My Child: a character raises a child that is not theirs by birth. Victorian Psycho
**2. Envy: jealousy is important to the plot. The Dead Romantics

March Protagonist: Sidekick
**1. 2nd Best: Carl's Doomsday Scenario *a book with a sidekick character
**2. Helpful: Alien Clay the ‘hero’ needs help accomplishing a goal.
March Antagonist: Assistant to the Villain
**1. Sidekick: a character who is a sidekick or a character who has a sidekick. Scythe
**2. Not In Charge: the main character is not the person in charge at their organization. Once There Were Wolves

February Protagonist: Love Interest
**1. Pretty: *a main character is known for their good looks. Rules of Redemption
**2. Romance: *romantic scenes In His Hands
February Antagonist: Rival
**1. Better Than You: a main character has a rival. The Writing Retreat
**2. It’s Personal: *a character has a personal grievance that is significant to the plot. Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
**1. Strong: a character who possesses great physical strength. Dreams of Gods & Monsters
2. unBrainiac: with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence.
January Antagonist: Monster
**1. Huge: with a character that is extremely large. The Space Between Us
**2. Ugly: a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance. Dungeon Crawler Carl
===================================

Big Dumb Object 1/2
1. Big: Read a book where a character wields an oversized (for them) weapon.
**2. Object: *features an object (and not people) on the cover. The Warbler

============================
Summertime Settings
Multi-Cultural Alien Planet
**1. Alien Planet- *first part is set on an alien planet (a planet that has or once had a non-human species living on it). Shards of Honor
**2. Multiple Species- 3 or more species cohabitate. The Fourth Consort

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

Tech City
**1. Advanced Power Technology: *a non-electric technology powers a large population The Employees
2. Cyberpunk- Read any book classified as cyberpunk. Ghost of the Neon God

[Christina]

Science Fiction Challenges

Aliens
1. Area 51: Read a book with an alien character.
2. Starry Night: Read a book with at least one star on the cover.

Alt History
1. Back in the Day: Read a book set 20+ years ago. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
2. Historicity: Read a book with a time machine or historical figure on the cover.

Clones
1. DNA: Read a book with clones or twins in it.
2. Palindrome: Read a book with a mirrored cover (cover features a graphic that reads the same on both sides).

Dimensional Travel
1. AltDimension: Read a book set in more than 1 dimension.
2. Portal: Read a book with any kind of portal on the cover.

Space Travel
1. The Black: Read a book set in outer space.
2. Nebula: Read a book with a space scene on the cover.

Terraforming
1. Oxygen: Read a book that features terraforming.
2. Foliage: Read a book with any kind of flora on the cover.

Biological Engineering
1. Lab: Read a book with a character that is a biologist and/or engineer.
2. DNA: Read a book with a helix on the cover.

LitRPG
1. Game: Read any book classified as LitRPG or a novelized version of a video game.
2. Console: Read a book with any gaming console or DND dice on the cover.

Big Data
1. Arithmetic: Read a book with an accountant or mathematician as a main character.
2. Data: Read a book with numbers on the cover.

Mad Science
1. Scientist: Read a book with a scientist as a main character.
2. Gear: Read a book with anyone in a lab coat or lab beakers on the cover.

Artificial Intelligence
1. Intelligence: Read a book where AI is an important character or important to the plot.
2. Robot: Read a book with a computer or code on the cover.

Time Travel
1. Time Machine: Read a book where time travel is part of the plot.
2. Clock: Read a book with any kind of time keeping device on the cover.

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero 0/2
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength.
2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence.

January Antagonist: Monster 1/2
1. Huge: Read a book with a character that is extremely large.
2. Ugly: Read a book with a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance Dreams of Gods and Monsters

[Olga]

By the way, TSG offers a very handy tracker where you can add your options to the challenge and also easily see other players' options if you need inspiration.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading...

Don't forget that you should report your completed reads only on one platform though.

[Olga]

Also, I'm confounded by January bonus prompts. Any ideas on any of these?

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength.
2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence.

January Antagonist: Monster
1. Huge: Read a book with a character that is extremely large.
2. Ugly: Read a book with a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance.

[Shawnie]

Olga wrote: "Also, I'm confounded by January bonus prompts. Any ideas on any of these?

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength.
2. unBr..."

I'm reading T. Kingfisher's Nine Goblins now and it would fit any of the January categories and is about 140 pages. I'm really enjoying the lighthearted humor. Sadly, I didn't wait for January to read it!

[Olga]

Shawnie wrote: "I'm reading T. Kingfisher's Nine Goblins now and it would fit any of the January categories and is about 140 pages. "

Great! Noted. Thanks!
Just three more left )))

[CBRetriever]

remember that the books can be in any genre - here's what I chose

Full Character Archetypes List

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Reason = Viv is big and strong
2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer
Reason = main character appears to be a bit of a simple soul

January Antagonist: Monster
1. Huge: Read a book with a character that is extremely large
Seal of the Worm by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = the Worm (Centipede Kinden) is enormous
2. Ugly: Read a book with a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance
War Master's Gate by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = Gjegevey is old, hunch-backed wood-louse Kinden and Empress Seda's advisor

[Olga]

CBRetriever wrote: "remember that the books can be in any genre - here's what I chose"

My problem is that I don't know enough about the books out there that I haven't read yet, even those on my TBR.

Viv! YES! Thanks!
Well, all of your choices look great, I might pick up some of those.

[CBRetriever]

the last two are books 9 & 10 in a series, so unless you want to read 8 more books beforehand, I'd steer clear of them

[Sarah]

I feel like the Witcher books could work for the ugly character. Isn’t that a running joke, poor old Geralt the Mutant?

ETA: Also Yennefer is supposed to be ugly under all her glamour.

[CBRetriever]

Tina Reads wrote: "Anna wrote: "The one book that comes to mind that has DNA/helix on the cover is Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress."

Great minds think alike! I picked that one for the DNA..."

and it's on the Daily Deal today for $3.99

[CJ]

2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence

The MC for The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester isn't a smart guy and his lack of education and smarts is commented on in the story. I know a few people here have wanted to read that novel and it's one of this group's bookshelf rereads for February.

1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength.

For those wanting to read classic SFF, CL Moore's Jirel of Joiry fits this prompt. The first story with her as a character is Black God's Kiss and it's a pretty quick read, available if various anthologies. I'll probably reread it as it's an old fav and I have like a half dozen books with it in them.

2. Palindrome: Read a book with a mirrored cover (cover features a graphic that reads the same on both sides).

Would the cover for Frankenstein: The 1818 Text count toward this? If not I can read it for the Ugly prompt. (Technically The Stars My Destination could count toward the Ugly prompt as well)

[CJ]

Sarah wrote: "I feel like the Witcher books could work for the ugly character. Isn’t that a running joke, poor old Geralt the Mutant?

ETA: Also Yennefer is supposed to be ugly under all her glamour."

The TV series and video games kind of yassified Geralt but yes, his mutant appearance is a cause for him to stand out and be shunned and he does various things to hide his appearance and to avoid normal people, so I think it would fit the prompt.

[Sarah]

@CJ - yeah that’s definitely true (I am cracking up at Yassified Geralt) but I agree I think at least on paper and the original intent of the author, Geralt was meant to be “ugly”. I don’t know if I’ll end up getting to the next Witcher book in January but it was the only one I could think of for it.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

CJ wrote: "Would the cover for Frankenstein: The 1818 Text count toward this? If not I can read it for the Ugly prompt. (Technically The Stars My Destination could count toward the Ugly prompt as well)."

It does not mirror fully enough.

[Aga]

Sarah wrote: "@CJ - yeah that’s definitely true (I am cracking up at Yassified Geralt) but I agree I think at least on paper and the original intent of the author, Geralt was meant to be “ugly”. I don’t know if ..."

And he is famous for his ugly smile.

The new book with Geralt’s first adventures Rozdroże kruków is out in Poland. The translation release date should be known soon. Who knows maybe it will be released in January.

[CJ]

Melanie wrote: "It does not mirror fully enough.
."

OK. But Frankenstein ought to fit either the Strong or Ugly prompts. I'll read it for Ugly since I want to read Black God's Kiss for Strong.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Definitely. Yes.

[Edwin]

I plan to jump on the sci-fi team soon but dang, a number of these prompts are hard, especially some of the "on the cover" ones.

I did find a good one for "helix on the cover" Upgrade by Blake Crouch

[CJ]

Edwin, in case you didn't see it in the combat thread, mods have said we can read any book, not just books specifically in our chosen genre. So if you're having trouble with some prompts you can look at other genres as well.

I did find a book I'm planning to read that ought to fit the Mirror prompt: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. The original hardback and audiobook (which I'll be using) have this cover and there's a paperback edition with mirrored rabbits as well.

[CBRetriever]

what are people thinking of for:

2. Console: Read a book with any gaming console or D&D dice on the cover.

[DivaDiane]

Once I make it past Christmas I will give these prompts some thought. Or maybe next week.

[Edwin]

CJ wrote: "Edwin, in case you didn't see it in the combat thread, mods have said we can read any book, not just books specifically in our chosen genre. So if you're having trouble with some prompts you can lo..."

Yes, thanks. I did see that.

Even so, some of these are real stumpers. Like "read a book with anyone in a lab coat or lab beakers on the cover."

[CBRetriever]

House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky has what looks like a beaker spewing fumes in the lower part of the image and the blurb mentions "an alchemical tincture".