Introduce Yourself

[Becca]

Hi, I'm Becca. I'm a university student from Canada, and I spend a lot of time reading with my Kobo Glo. I have pretty eclectic book tastes, but I've found recently that I mostly want to read science fiction and fantasy. Currently I'm reading the Wool prequel books and I just started The Passage.

[Jacqueline]

Hi, I'm Jacqueline. Obviously, I love scifi and fantasy. Live in the states, work as a medic. Got to meet John Scalzi last year during his book tour for 'Redshirts'. He's short. I'm 5'6" and he was about my height. LOL!

I also love reading any genre of fiction or non-fiction. I'm also a writer, which really cuts into my reading time unfortunately. Hence, I've made a 2013 resolution to read at least one new book/indie author a month.

I own a tablet, but do most of my ereader from my laptop or my phone. I hate committing to one ereader, so I have all the apps and publish in the all the formats too.

I own three parrots and am married. Happy to meet everyone!

[Marlene]

Hi Becca and Jacqueline! I'm a writer too, both SF and fantasy. Good luck with your writing, Jacqueline. I tend to read more than I write, which is why it takes me so long to finish a book.

Becca, I'd like to hear how you like Wool and The Passage. I should add them both to my list. At first, I thought you meant "Passages" by Connie Willis. That is a great book!

[Becca]

Marlene wrote: "Becca, I'd like to hear how you like Wool and The Passage. I should add them both to my list. At first, I thought you meant "Passages" by Connie Willis. That is a great book!."

I haven't made up my mind abou The Passage yet, but I really enjoyed Wool. I thought the world was really interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the prequel stories. I hadn't heard of Passages by Connie Willis, but I looked it up and it sounds really interesting!

[Jennifer]

Hello, my name is Jennifer. I'm a military brat and grew up all over, but we settled in the DC Metro area when my dad retired in 2003. I'm currently an accounting manager/HR manager/whatever they tell me to do for a small IT consulting/sales company. I read on my iPad mini, even though the backlight will totally destroy my eyes.

My family had always been a Star Trek family, and I suppose Captain Picard is the reason I love science fiction. I got my husband into the Trek a bit with the help of Captain Kirk, and my one year old loves to dance to the theme songs, so I'll consider him a junior Trekkie. Together with our two dogs, we will boldly be awesome nerds.

I grew up on Beverly Clearly and those other YA books, but moved on to Stephen King before my parents realized what I was doing and could stop me. My first science fiction novel was Dune, and Frank Herbert rocked my world. I found the series in my school library, and my life has never been the same since. I'll be honest, Herbert left a hole in my heart, and I thought I would never fill it until I got my Kindle and found out Sherlock Holmes was free. He is my secret lover. And then I met Elijah Bailey and I think I might be able to leave Sherlock. I discovered Asimov and Philip K Dick just a few years ago, and have started really branching out to discover the awesomeness that is science fiction.

I love the explorations into various possible cultures and societies for mankind. Predictions on how we will develop with technology, over population, and space exploration. I love that some science fiction authors have so eerily predicted the future so far. I just love sci fi. And you cannot keep me from a good mystery.

I've joined a group on Facebook with the challenge to read 50 books this year. I hope that this group will help me discover my next book should I falter.

[S.J.]

Hi all. I'm Sheila and I write as S.J. Hunter. I'm a biotech geek, a veterinarian actually, and I mainly write near future speculative fiction with a genetic engineering bent. So far, at least.

I've been fortunate to have been able to live all over the U.S., including DC (twice), Alaska, California, Miami, Maine, Hawaii, Oregon, Boston, Connecticut, and others. I enjoyed it; not sure the animals liked being dragged around.

My interests in science fiction are pretty broad but I'm behind because for a while I was buried in studying for my DVM and continuing education whenever I had time to read.

A few years ago I vowed to get back to it because I read The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis and then devoured most of the rest of her writings, because what I love about scifi is seeing what people do when put in different, sometimes extreme situations, whether the distant past, another world, the near future, a dystopian future, or wherever our imaginations can take us. Another world won't entirely enchant me unless it has real people on it (hey, they can be alien people) interacting with it.

I bought a Kindle Fire when they first came out then decided I needed a Touch so I could read in glaring light for hours on end. Then I decided I needed a Kindle Keyboard so I could lend it to my husband when he traveled.

[Abby]

Hello peoples,
I'm Abby and I'm new to this site. I have only currently gone into the better novels in the past few years. I used to read a lot of fantasy but lately I read a lot of science fiction.

I love my kindle dearly, (I have a tendency to name my favorite electronics, her's is Kendra) and my kindle and my computer are my most prized possessions.

There isn't an upcoming holiday so have a good day! :)

[Robert C. Adams]

Hi everyone, I'm an big SciFi and Fantasy fan, books, manga, anime, comics, animation, tv shows, movies and games. I'm also a writer and just published my first SciFi book called Earth Force I.

Nice to meet everyone!

Oh yeah, here's my book. :)

[Dawn]

Greetings and salutations! My name is Dawn. I am a 38 year old mother of 3 beautiful daughters aged 14 mo to 17 years. I live in the beautiful state of Colorado. I love books and started reading at an early age. I have always preferred fiction. Science Fiction is my favorite. I am hoping to branch out a bit this year and read in other genres. Since I have very little space, I've started reading e-books. I have recently re-enrolled in college to finish my BS in Computer Science degree. I recently found myself with way to much time on my hands. Since that situation doesn't look to change I want to make the most of it. What better way is there to spend time than reading? Ok. Ok. I play computer games too. :P

[Robin]

Hello
My name is Robin and I love to read. I own a Nook tablet and read more now than ever before. I am 49 and married with a teenage son and four cats. The cats love to curl up with me as I read. I have been reading Sci Fi/Fantasy for over 35 years. I look forward to talking with others and finding new books to read.

[Craig]

Hi all I'm Craig, from Scotland. Pleased to meet you all!
I've always been an avid reader of fantasy/sci-fi books. My favourite book is 2001 A Space Odyssey (along with the movie of course), but also love the sweeping fantasy epics of Tolkien and Raymond E Feist, to name a few.
I'm a budding author myself. My first fantasy novel 'A Wizard's Tears' is available as a paperback or e-book via my own website or indeed, Amazon.
I'm in the middle of writing a supernatural horror book at the moment called 'The Black Tree' and also my second fantasy novel, 'The Dark Shores'.
I'm keen to meet new people and discuss the finer merits of all things fantasy!
All the best to you all.
C

[Vanessa]

Greetings from NY everyone. I read ebooks on the kindle mostly. I love classic sci-fi and high fantasy. I'm a Tolkien and Asimov fanatic.

[Craig]

Vanessa wrote: "Greetings from NY everyone. I read ebooks on the kindle mostly. I love classic sci-fi and high fantasy. I'm a Tolkien and Asimov fanatic."

Ah yes, I like Asimov as well!! The pioneer of robotics as we know it, in book form.

[Eric]

Hi! I'm Eric and live about thirty miles east of Pittsburgh, PA. I've had a Kindle for not quite a year and love it. I recently tripped over Michael R. Hicks "In Her Name" series and am now half-way through his prequel "From Chaos Born." I've read most of the Sci-Fi classics and some of Sara Douglass, who unfortunately passed of cancer not long ago. I also read historical fiction and other genres.

[Ian]

Greetings, everyone. My name is Ivan and I am working in the Middle East currently for at least a few more months.
I have a Kindle with many, many books on a variety of topics. I find myself reading much more now since I got an E-Reader than ever before.
I read mostly sci-fi and some classical literature.

[[deleted user]]

Hello from the great state of Kentucky. I'm a full-time author and husband. We spend most days writing and surfing the web for new ways to promote my latest works. We also enjoy long walks along the river and spending time with our grown children. Glad to be here.

[C.]

Hi!

My name is C. Just C. I am an adult Sci-Fi, Fantasy and YA lover. My love of reading was realized by everyone when I stole the book my mother was reading to my siblings and I at night, and finished it alone in my room with a flashlight. It was Matilda and to an 8 year old, that book was so enthralling! My siblings didn't care to hear the end of it and that was the end of our family reading nights.

My love of sci-fi, fantasy was aroused when I was forced to read Ender's Game in high school English. Forced is the wrong word. I was assigned to read it, and neglected all of my homework the night I started it because I just had to finish. What encouraged me to write my own book was reading Hunger Games and Divergent. I had creative ideas about the future. So I wrote a dystopian novel called Immunity. It's available on Kindle. Yay!

How I feel about GoodReads... People that read, yay! Why did I never know about this? Probably because I always had my nose in a book. I finally got a tablet and downloaded the Kindle app and now sometimes search around for things that might interest me.

Even though I never met any of you, I am glad to know you are here for me.

[Jim]

Hi, I'm Jim Webster, and I'm from Cumbria in the North of England. I've loved fantasy and sci fi all my life. I've still got Azimov paperbacks I bought in the early 1970s which gives you some idea of my age :-)

I've farmed and been a freelance writer all my life but have only recently taking to writing books (as opposed to articles) and am the author of

Swords for a Dead Lady and
Dead man riding East

They're fantasy set in a 'medieval' level world with some magic, but there's no elves or orcs and no Dark Lords were injured in the writing of these books :-)

[Marlene]

Good to meet you, Jim. Just added your book to my list. Good luck!

[Jim]

Thanks Marlene, hope you enjoy it.
I always like feedback. Reviews are fine, but actually, feedback is great because then I get to see incidents through other peoples eyes

[[deleted user]]

Jim wrote: "Hi, I'm Jim Webster, and I'm from Cumbria in the North of England. I've loved fantasy and sci fi all my life. I've still got Azimov paperbacks I bought in the early 1970s which gives you some idea ..."

Hi Jim. Glad to meet you. Your books sound great. I was also a farmer for most of my life, and like yourself, have just recently taken on the role as a published author. I write in the genres of Sci/Fi/ Fantasy. I have two novels at Amazon. Welcome to the group!

[Steven]

Hi! I'm Steven Lyle Jordan, from Germantown, MD, USA. I'm a lifelong sci-fi fan, and now I write futurist fiction of my own, ranging from serious SF to lighthearted sci-fi. I've been around Goodreads for awhile, but I'm only now trying to make good on my connections here.

Living during the Space Age, the Computer Age, the tail end of the Cold War and the beginnings of the Environmental Era have molded my views on science and technology, and their place in society and the natural world. I've officially given up on the flying car, but I do expect them to be self-driving before I'm too old to drive myself.

My books reflect these interests, but they also retain the sense of wonder that drew me to sci-fi in the first place. My work features strong and believable original characters and ideas, and well-researched science and tech.

My novels can be found at Steven Lyle Jordan Books; I can also be followed at rightbrane.wordpress.com/ and www.facebook.com/StevenLyleJordanBooks, as well as here at Goodreads. I hope you'll check them out.

[Jim]

Michael wrote: "Hi Jim. Glad to meet you. Your books sound great. I was also a farmer for most of my life, and like yourself, have just recently taken on the role as a published author. I write in the genres of Sci/Fi/ Fantasy. I have two novels at Amazon. Welcome to the group! ..."

Thanks Michael. I feel comfortable writing, it's like farming, you're not likely to make enough money to risk your amateur status :-)

[Joy]

Hello! I'm Joy, a forty-mumble year old married mother of 2 from Maryland and longtime sf/fantasy fan (ever since I cracked the Narnia books when I was 6...). I enjoy milsf with kickass heroines and doorstop epic fantasy series--also Bujold, Heinlein, Huff, Moon, Lee & Miller, S.M. Stirling, Scalzi, Bradley, Jordan/Sanderson, and many others. I'm always looking for the next good book! I read in other genres too, particularly romance. I've written some short stories in the past, one of which was published by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, which is really my only claim to fame in this world. I'm looking forward to reading and discussing with all of you!

[Marlene]

Hi Joy! I'm a BIG Lee & Miller fan. I could live in that universe and be quite happy. And congrats on having a story published, especially by Bradley. That's quite a coup!Can you tell us where we might find it?

Since you like SF/Fantasy AND romance, allow me to suggest that you check out my books. I have two SF and one fantasy, all with an element of romance in them. Even SF characters fall in love!

[Joy]

Thanks, Marlene! I'm checking your books out. The story is in the April 199 edition of MZB's now-defunct Fantasy magazine. I imagine it's hard to find.

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg...

[Marlene]

If it's no longer in print, perhaps you can get the rights back and publish it as an ebook. That would be cool.

Joy wrote: "Thanks, Marlene! I'm checking your books out. The story is in the April 199 edition of MZB's now-defunct Fantasy magazine. I imagine it's hard to find.

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?8..."

[Joy]

Heh. It was about 600 words, I don't think it really works as an ebook :)

[Reid]

Hi. My name is Reid. I'm a 55 yr/old widower. I've just written my first book which should be on the market in April. I am glad to find a large group of sci-fi lovers. I would love to ask some questions to help frame my next book. How would you react if during your daily routine, you see a 3 foot bird wearing a vest enter a store? Would you run, get a closer look? What if it were a 6 foot cat-like creature also wearing some type of clothing?

[Joy]

I would totally try to stay unobtrusive but start video recording on my phone!

[D.W.]

hi all love fantasy that its about me lol

[Marlene]

I'd probably duck behind a wall so I could peek out in safety.

[D.W.]

Reid wrote: "Hi. My name is Reid. I'm a 55 yr/old widower. I've just written my first book which should be on the market in April. I am glad to find a large group of sci-fi lovers. I would love to ask some ques..."

im an okie reid id get my gun and clear a space on my wall or mantle for my new trophy

[Kenny]

D.W. wrote: "im an okie reid id get my gun and clear a space on my wall or mantle for my new trophy "

:)

[[deleted user]]

Jim wrote: "Michael wrote: "Hi Jim. Glad to meet you. Your books sound great. I was also a farmer for most of my life, and like yourself, have just recently taken on the role as a published author. I write in ..."

I've never thought of it that way, Jim, but I believe your right.

[[deleted user]]

Reid wrote: "Hi. My name is Reid. I'm a 55 yr/old widower. I've just written my first book which should be on the market in April. I am glad to find a large group of sci-fi lovers. I would love to ask some ques..."

If I was at Walmart I wouldn't have much of a reaction, Reid.

[Chai and Pakoras]

Hi Mary,

I'm a Robin McKinley fan too. If you like fantasy with a strong female lead, you might want to try the Sheepfarmer's Daughter series. I recently started reading it after a recommendation from a friend.

Mary C. wrote: "Hello all,

I'm primarily a fantasy geek, love me some Robin McKinnley and Patricia A. McKillip. I grew up on Anne McCaffrey and Tamara Pierce, strong female main characters are gold to me.

I'm a..."

[Clay]

Wow Lots of new people. (waves at all) I really am starting to think I need to get a score card here...to determine the ratio of authors to non-authors in this group! LOL.

Oh, and Aminah? Sheepfarmer's Daughter just happens to be this month's Fantasy Read :)

[Bev]

Hi I am Bev. 40 something married with 3 kids and from Yorkshire in the UK.

Been reading for donkey's years and especially fantasy and sci fi. Seems like you guys read my kind of thing......

[Jim]

Bev wrote: "Hi I am Bev. 40 something married with 3 kids and from Yorkshire in the UK.

Been reading for donkey's years and especially fantasy and sci fi. Seems like you guys read my kind of thing......"

read it, write it and live it :-)
Which part of Yorkshire?

[Bev]

The south. I take it you are from the UK too?

[Jim]

Bev wrote: "The south. I take it you are from the UK too?"

Yes, South Cumbria, the bit that used to be North Lancashire.

[Marlene]

Hi to all the newbies!

[Charles]

Clay wrote: "Wow Lots of new people. (waves at all) I really am starting to think I need to get a score card here...to determine the ratio of authors to non-authors in this group! LOL.

Oh, and Aminah? Sheep..."

At least based on active members in this and many other book-related forums, seems like the authors out-number us. ;-)

[Marlene]

I'll admit that the authors are hoping you'll buy their (our) books, but we're all readers, too.

[Jim]

Marlene wrote: "I'll admit that the authors are hoping you'll buy their (our) books, but we're all readers, too."

Yes, you have to remember that authors are also readers looking for something interesting and new to read





or plagiarise ;-)

[Deonna]

I'm a newbie, just joined today. I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I love to read,but have been slow lately! Hope to discuss books with everyone. I'm a grandma from Utah.

[Jim]

Deonna wrote: "I'm a newbie, just joined today. I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I love to read,but have been slow lately! Hope to discuss books with everyone. I'm a grandma from Utah."

Welcome aboard, make yourself at home. How are you liking the Kindle Fire, my daughter is muttering about wanting a Kindle for her birthday, so I'm having to become 'an expert' :-)

[Kenny]

Welcome Deonna. Enjoy your Kindle Fire. I love mine, use it daily. :)

Jim if you have questions just ask. I've been using eReaders for years.

[Jim]

Kenny wrote: "Welcome Deonna. Enjoy your Kindle Fire. I love mine, use it daily. :)

Jim if you have questions just ask. I've been using eReaders for years."

Thanks for that, I'll wait until my daughter drops hints as to which particular model and I need to appear wise :-)