Nominations for February 2012!

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Hi everyone,

It’s time to start taking nominations for our February 2012 Books of the Month. Each group member can make 1 science fiction and/or 1 fantasy nomination in this thread. If you would like to make a nomination, please reply to this post with the title and author of the book(s) you would like to put forward for the group’s consideration.

Telling us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination. You can also check the group bookshelves for previous Books of the Month to see if your nomination has already been read by the group. (If your nomination was a BotM in the past, it's not disqualified, but be aware that it may hinder your nomination’s chances at the polls.)

• Feel free to re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
• Seconding isn't necessary in this group, but feel free to assert your enthusiasm for any nomination all the same.
• Friendly discussion/debate is strongly encouraged, but let's please keep things civil.

Nominations will remain open through November 20, and the first round of polls will go up on November 21.

Thanks!

Stefan & Candiss (moderators)

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

FANTASY:

The Owl Service, by Alan Garner (shel)
Curse of the Spider King, by Wayna Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper (brian)
The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan (kevin)
Wildwood Dancing, by Julliet Marilier (maggie)
The Etched City, by K.J. Bishop (paul)
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman (nikita)
Jhereg, by Steven Brust (jim)
The Ten Thousand, by Paul Kearney (mike)

SCIENCE FICTION:

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson (shel)
Taken, by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim Lahaye (brian)
City of Golden Shadow, by Tad Williams (helen)
Madness Season, by C.S. Friedman (kevin)
2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke (jenny)
Darwin's Radio, by Greg Bear (paul)
Archangel, by Sharon Shinn (kerry)
The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell (nikita)
The Einstein Intersection, by Samuel R. Delany (jim)
Dauntless, by Jack Campbell (mike)

[Shel, Moderator]

For fantasy, I'll nominate The Owl Service by Alan Garner. I don't know much about it besides the fact that Guy Gavriel Kay recommended it on a book forum on his fan website (brightweavings.com, which is awesome and you all should check it out if you haven't already), but if Kay's a fan it must be good :)

SF I guess I'll nominate The Adoration of Jenna Fox one more time!

[[deleted user]]

For Science Fiction, I'll nominate Taken by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim Lahaye It is about teens who get left behind after the Rapture takes place.
For Fantasy, I will nominate Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. About Seven teens who find out that they're really elves from another world. They must battle the Spider King.

[Helen]

For Fantasy, City of Golden Shadow by Tad Williams. My main reason is that it's on my shelf and has been some time. Also, I think it would be good to start the year with a new series.

[Chris]

Helen wrote: "For Fantasy, City of Golden Shadow by Tad Williams. My main reason is that it's on my shelf and has been some time. Also, I think it would be good to start the year with a new series."

I've been wanting to read this since it came out.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I'm pretty sure that's actually SF, Helen. The first chapter may look like fantasy but actually takes place in a virtual reality setting, and most of the series has a strong near-future SF feel to it.

[Kevin]

I would like to nominate Eye of the World by Robert Jordan for fantasy, and Madness Season by C.S. Friedman for Science Fiction.

[Maggie]

I am going to go in two totally opposing places, and nominate Light for Sci-fi and Wildwood Dancing for fiction

[Jenny]

I'll second The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, I plan on reading the series next year. For SF I'd like to nominate 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. It's a classic that I've been wanting to read for a long time.

[Paul]

For fantasy I'll nominate The Etched City and for SF Darwin's Radio

[Kerry]

Ooooh, it's years since I've read The Owl Service. How tempting to vote for a reread. I think I'll skip a fantasy nomination as there are already things I could vote for.

I'd like to nominate Archangel by Sharon Shinn for SF.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Paul 'Pezter' wrote: "For fantasy I'll nominate The Etched City and for SF Darwin's Radio"

Come on 'Etched City'. You'll win some day!

[Paul]

± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ± wrote: "Come on 'Etched City'. You'll win some day!"

its time will come ;D

[Helen]

Stefan wrote: "I'm pretty sure that's actually SF, Helen. The first chapter may look like fantasy but actually takes place in a virtual reality setting, and most of the series has a strong near-future SF feel to it."

Okay, it looks rated pretty even on this site, can I have it for Sci-fi then, please.

[Candiss]

Helen wrote: "Stefan wrote: "I'm pretty sure that's actually SF, Helen. The first chapter may look like fantasy but actually takes place in a virtual reality setting, and most of the series has a strong near-fut..."

I read it several years ago, and while it does have some fantasy elements, the fantasy is all technology-based, and computers and 'virtual reality' are central to the plot. I would also call it SF...and I'd love to re-read it, perhaps as prelude to my (finally) continuing on with the series. It was very ahead of its time, and I personally think Williams bests most other authors who have tried the virtual worlds thing.

[Helen]

I have the first two on the shelf and am determined to get to all these stock-piled books that are parts of finished series'

[Nikita]

I'll add my nominations. How about The Princess Bride by William Goldman for fantasy. I loved the movie and I think the book is even better.

And The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. I recently read it and I thought it was a great book about first contact with a lot of great underlying themes about religion and faith. I'm not religious, but first contact would definitely create a lot of those questions for humanity.

[Paul]

Nikita wrote: "I'll add my nominations. How about The Princess Bride by William Goldman for fantasy. I loved the movie and I think the book is even better."

At the risk of torpedoing my own nomination, I have to agree on both counts! Hallo, my name is Inigo Montoya...

[Shel, Moderator]

I love that Tad Williams series, and I would definitely call it SF.

[Banner]

Nikita wrote: "And The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. I recently read it and I thought it was a great book about first contact with a lot of great underlying themes about religion and faith. I'm not religious, but first contact would definitely create a lot of those questions for humanity...."

Hey I've been wanting to read this one!The Sparrow

[Althea]

I love Alan Garner. His books are aimed at younger readers, but I feel they are definitely stories that can be appreciated by all. They're very steeped in British mythology (a bit similar to Susan Cooper, I;'d say). I also particularly love 'Elidor' and 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.'

Shel wrote: "For fantasy, I'll nominate The Owl Service by Alan Garner. I don't know much about it besides the fact that Guy Gavriel Kay recommended it on a book forum on his fan we..."

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Guys, I'll update the first post later today with the nominations so far, but for now can I please ask all of you to do me a big favor and include the author name with your nominations? I am familiar with many of them, but it still takes time to look up the ones I'm not familiar with, so I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, and keep the nominations coming!

[Shel, Moderator]

Sure thing Stefan! Adoration of Jenna Fox is by Mary E. Pearson.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Okay folks, I updated the first post in this thread with all the nominations so far. Please take a look and let me know if I missed any - which is entirely possible as I'm doing this pre-caffeine...

One note: Light by M. John Harrison was our BotM relatively recently (July 2010). It's definitely eligible, but I'm not sure if it will get a lot of votes. If you want to change the nomination, let me know.

Nominations will close on November 20, so there's still plenty of time to add your own. (I'll be adding some myself later on, actuallly...)

[Jim]

For fantasy, I'd like to nominate Jhereg by Steven Brust.

For SF, I'd like to nominate The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany

Both oldies, but goodies.
;-)

[Jim]

Jim wrote: "For fantasy, I'd like to nominate Jhereg by Steven Brust.

For SF, I'd like to nominate The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany

Both oldies, but goodies.
;-)"

Both worthy nominations, and ones I've already read. Of the two, I would enjoy a discussion of the Delany the most, I think. Typical of the author's surrealistic approach and a distinct literary voice.

[Candiss]

Jim wrote: "For fantasy, I'd like to nominate Jhereg by Steven Brust.

For SF, I'd like to nominate The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany

Both..."

Ah, Jim...I thought I already knew which books I'd be voting for, but now you've given me a dilemna. I love Brust, and I'm even more fond of Mr. Delany (and haven't read this one.) Argh!

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Jhereg is the first book of one of my favorite fantasy series. We did read it already, but it was back in 2003, so I think it's been long enough. I think only the omnibus edition with Jhereg, Yendi and Teckla is in print right now, and it's under 500 pages, so did you want to nominate just the first book or all three?

[Maggie]

Stefan-I will remove my nomination of Light in that case and second The Einstein Intersection

[Jim]

With Jhereg, could we just do the first book & any of us that like could follow up with the others? There are quite a few copies of just "Jhereg" available on Paperbackswap & one on BookMooch, so the older, single copies of the books are readily & cheaply available. I'm game for reading all 3 too, though. Whatever the group thinks is best.

[Jim]

Candiss, The Einstein Intersection is one of my all time favorite books. I'd put it in the top 3. As the other Jim said, it is surrealistic & has a very distinctive voice. Kind of a "Dante's Inferno" crossed with an SF take on Greek mythology. I have never discussed it with anyone before & would really, really like to.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Jim wrote: "With Jhereg, could we just do the first book & any of us that like could follow up with the others? There are quite a few copies of just "Jhereg" available on Paperbackswap & one on BookMooch, s..."

Sounds good. We'll just do book 1. If it wins, I'll put a note about the availability of the separate book vs. the omnibus. And I'll make a folder for discussion of the rest of the series as usual, so people can discuss further if they wish.

[Paul]

Dang, this is going to be a tough vote...

[Candiss]

Jim wrote: "Kind of a "Dante's Inferno" crossed with an SF take on Greek mythology...."

*swoon* Well, that certainly got my attention. I need to pick up this one ASAP.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I'd like to nominate two books, one fantasy one science fiction. Each take's it's inspiration from Xenophon's The Anabasis. The Anabasis (in short) tells the story of a force of professional warriors (mercenaries) that fights it's way deeply into enemy territory in support of Cyrus the Younger. They when through, win the last big battle to claim the throne only to have Cyrus killed. They are now trapped deeply in enemy territory and have to fight their way out. The work is also referred to as "the long march"

The first book is an epic fantasy (volume 1 of a series [trilogy?] of course) that I've had here (along with the book that follows it) and been planning to get to for some time...other books keep getting placed ahead of it. I've read quite a bit of urban fantasy and other types of alternate fantasy lately and an epic fantasy with swords, blood dirt and maybe some magic sounds pretty good.

It's The Ten Thousand


The second book is a science fiction that I've already read and like a great deal. It's also the first in a series and one of the better military/space navy novels I've read in a while. I picked it up because I'd burned out on Honor Harrington (and I do mean burned out/sick of) and found these (the Lost Fleet Series by Jack Campbell [pen name for John G. Hemry). Great fleet action, good story telling an imaginative fictional "universe" and mostly plausible (for the "hard science fiction" buffs among us). A little politics (running the fleet...rebellion in the ranks...who's in charge of which and so on.) not so much it overpowers the story. I like it.

The book (first in the series) is: [book:Dauntless|5095960]


So, Dauntless and The Ten Thousand

[Bill]

I'd like to nominate Sam Delany's newest novel (release 11/20), Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

What genre are you nominating it as? I can't figure it out from the description of the book.

[Candiss]

Stefan, I couldn't determine that book's genre either. I went to Wikipedia, which has this to say:

"Though it does move many decades into the future and off-handedly mentions fictional future events and technologies, the novel does not exactly fit within the realm of science fiction."

There is no other marker re: genre. However, this is notable, and while I don't think the group is prudish, I do think voters should be aware: "Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders has several highly pornographic scenes." The central plot of the book hinges on very open and flexible sexuality. There is some of this in several Delany books, but this is one of his few that are really quite extreme in that regard (at least from what I've read about this book...I have not read the book itself.)

Anyhow, I'm a Delany fangirl, but I personally am not sure this particular book is actually within the realm of SF OR fantasy. It may be one of his experimental litfic pieces.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Mmm. Okay, we'll put it as SF then, if it moves into the future and mentions fictional future events and technologies. As for the content, that's not a problem for this group, but it's good to know. Thanks Candiss.

[Bill]

Kernos wrote: "I'd like to nominate Sam Delany's newest novel (release 11/20), Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders"

I just checked on my order and publication has apparently been delayed and no date is given on Amazon or Alyson Books, so I will withdraw this nomination. Delany has said it is a cross between SF and porn (whatever that means)

[Hélène]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I'd like to nominate two books, one fantasy one science fiction. Each take's it's inspiration from Xenophon's The Anabasis. The Anabasis (in short) tells the story of a force of professional warrio..."

Now, that confrontation is interesting!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hélène, I went to your profile to look at your books. I love your kitties, my cats have always had a penchant for shoving books (or most anything else) off shelves to make sure they had just the right place to lay. One of the Toms (a large Russian Blue) always insists on being petted when he hears me start to type on the keyboard. I have to stop and pay attention to him and sometimes just lay everything aside and let him sit in my lap, LOL.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Nominations (and this topic) have been closed - please go vote!

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

The run-off polls are up. Please go vote!

Fantasy:

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/57...

SF:

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/57...

[Patricia]

Obviously, I'm a little late in getting in on this discussion, but I was surprised to see Archangel listed as sf. I read this, & the other 2 in the series, years ago & definitely considered it fantasy. A good read & I would like to reread it, but anyone tell me why it would be considered sf?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I forgot to close the thread, and this thread is obviously not the place to discuss the actual books, but the short answer is that the book was nominated as SF. Let's save the actual discussion for when we, you know, discuss the books, in February.