SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

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Members' Chat > Former Introduction Thread

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message 4951: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments There was a big resurgence of his work about the time he died, those are the editions I remember.


message 4952: by Parker (new)

Parker | 4 comments Hi Everyone!

I'm Parker. I'm mostly new to Goodreads, but not to science fiction. I'm a philosopher by profession and sci-fi author by hobby. My favorites are the Stapledon books "Last and First Men" and "Star Maker" and Miller's "A Canticle for Leibowitz" and all the regular classics that everyone else loves.

I love the genre and look forward to discussing it.


message 4953: by [deleted user] (new)

Parker wrote: "Hi Everyone!

I'm Parker. I'm mostly new to Goodreads, but not to science fiction. I'm a philosopher by profession and sci-fi author by hobby. My favorites are the Stapledon books..."


Welcome, Parker. This is a fun place to hang out, and I'm sure you'll have a great time here!


message 4954: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Dylan wrote: "Cool! So many suggestions so fast! Looks like I need to update my reading list lol!!"

I was exactly the same when I joined GR. My TBR exploded into an evergrowing mushroom cloud. I'm sure it will carry on doing so in the foreseeable future.


message 4955: by Robin (last edited Nov 15, 2014 07:10AM) (new)

Robin | 142 comments Parker wrote: "Hi Everyone!

I'm Parker. I'm mostly new to Goodreads, but not to science fiction. I'm a philosopher by profession and sci-fi author by hobby. My favorites are the Stapledon books "Last and First M..."


Hi and welcome. Looking forward to discussing the genre and other stuff with you.


message 4956: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi Parker. We'll do our best to recommend more books than you can possibly read in a single lifetime.


message 4957: by Louise (new)

Louise | 23 comments Parker wrote: "Hi Everyone!

I'm Parker. I'm mostly new to Goodreads, but not to science fiction. I'm a philosopher by profession and sci-fi author by hobby. My favorites are the Stapledon books "Last and First M..."


Hi Parker

I love Stapledon as well, and Star Maker is my absolute favourite of his. A truly astonishing book. Good to hear from other readers who still appreciate these wonderful old classics.


message 4958: by Parker (new)

Parker | 4 comments Louise wrote: "Parker wrote: "Hi Everyone!



There's no other book that I have read that makes the reader feel so insignificant. I first read it as part of sci-fi literature class in college and it is one of two books that I have read multiple times.


message 4959: by Louise (new)

Louise | 23 comments Parker wrote: "There's no other book that I have read that makes the reader feel so insignificant. I first read it as part of sci-fi literature class in college and i..."

Insignificant is a good word for it. The primary feelings I had while reading Star Maker were wonder and awe, and an overwhelming desire to go sit on a hill top somewhere and just stare at the stars!


message 4960: by J. (new)

J. (jdrew) | 17 comments Hello to the group,
I'm Jim and have been on Goodreads for a while just not part of this group. Seems strange because my favorite books are scifi and fantasy, though I read mysteries, and lots of other things as well. Not sure if I'll be able to contribute much as I am a slow reader and the rest of you will undoubtedly get done with group reads before I do. I also write as many Goodreads members do and some of my work is science fiction. Right now without reading tons of posts here I wonder if someone could point me to a really good Indie scifi or fantasy. I need to get a book to read and want to buy something that is not out by a bigger name. One other thing, it has to be available in a print version. I really like to hold the book in my hands while I'm reading and am forced to stare at a computer screen too much all day long to read digital for fun.


message 4961: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Hi and welcome to the group Jim.


message 4962: by Damien (last edited Nov 19, 2014 09:36AM) (new)

Damien Lake | 38 comments Louise wrote: "Parker wrote: "There's no other book that I have read that makes the reader feel so insignificant. I first read it as part of sci-fi literature class in college and i..."

Insignificant is a good w..."


Well, Louise and Parker, with reactions like that, I'm going to have to check this book out once I get more than a few minutes to spare. That's about the best review any author can ever have of their work. Oh, and welcome to the group, Parker! :)


message 4963: by K-le (new)

K-le | 1 comments Hi all,

K-le here, I'm new to the group. Star Maker is breathtaking. I read it a while ago. It is so old that is in the public domain in many countries. I downloaded it from The University of Adelaide library(Aus) but I think it is also in the EPub library. I love science fiction and fantasy. At the moment I'm re-reading Patrick Rothfuss "Kingkiller Chronicles" after reading the new story about Bast in the "Rogues" compilation. So I guess that I'm in the fantasy phase of my reading cycle.


message 4964: by J. (new)

J. (jdrew) | 17 comments Based on the posts here I've added Star Maker to my list of books to read and looking forward to it. Thanks for the heads up that it may be available in the public domain though I think I'll try to find it through one of the local bookstores as I try to give them my business first if possible.


message 4965: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi, welcome.

Listen if the dogs take over I good with it. When the dog uprising comes I'm joining their side.


message 4966: by Robin (last edited Nov 29, 2014 08:39AM) (new)

Robin | 142 comments K-le wrote: "Hi all,

K-le here, I'm new to the group. Star Maker is breathtaking. I read it a while ago. It is so old that is in the public domain in many countries. I downloaded it from The University of Adel..."


Yo K-le,welcome to the group. I like you go through reading cycles, at the moment I'm obsessed with all things martial arts. Fantasy will take it's turn soon.


message 4967: by Louise (new)

Louise | 23 comments J. wrote: "Based on the posts here I've added Star Maker to my list of books to read and looking forward to it. Thanks for the heads up that it may be available in the public domain though I think I'll try t..."

You can get Star Maker at Project Gutenberg. However if you are looking for a print copy it is available under the Gollancz SF Masterworks series. I recently purchased a new copy due to the fact my old copy had fallen to pieces.


message 4968: by Parker (new)

Parker | 4 comments Louise wrote: "J. wrote: "Based on the posts here I've added Star Maker to my list of books to read and looking forward to it. Thanks for the heads up that it may be available in the public domain though I think..."

I recommend a version with Last and First Men printed with it. They're out there and it'll get you reading this other excellent novel.


message 4969: by Robin (new)

Robin Bloom (loneraverss) Hi there.
Nothing much to introduce myself, i basically read, dance and make music, in no particular order.

I've read too much books to make reviews and add them all at once, so i'm just taking a clean start, i'm a newborn, and currently reading The Stand, waiting for your H2G2 reading from 1st December.

Hope to have fun in this group,

Cheers.


message 4970: by J. (new)

J. (jdrew) | 17 comments Hi again, Well I went to a local independent bookstore looking for Star Marker. They didn't have it but could order it packaged with Last & First Men. So, it's on the way. While I was there I bought a copy of a book called The Water Thief which appears to be an Indie published book that has gotten some good reviews. I'm always looking for good Indie books because I know they are out there just hard to find. I was kind of surprised to find a CreateSpace edition sitting on a bookstore shelf. And while I was there I bought Wizard of Earthsea. I've always meant to read that series and just never got started. Hope it's good.
Last comment, The Stand, was highly recommended by a friend so I read it a while back. Good but not what I'd call excellent. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Enjoy.


message 4971: by [deleted user] (new)

I'm not a big TV watcher, but I'm curious; are there any current TV shows based on books other than Game of Thrones?


message 4972: by Louise (new)

Louise | 23 comments Jack wrote: "I'm not a big TV watcher, but I'm curious; are there any current TV shows based on books other than Game of Thrones?"

The Walking Dead is based on a graphic novel. I guess you could include Sherlock in this category. True Blood - though I'm not sure if this is still going.


message 4973: by [deleted user] (new)

The Walking Dead is based on a graphic novel. I guess you could include Sherlock..."

Ah, thank you. Don't know how I overlooked those; I love Sherlock! Guess I could get all nitpicky and say Sherlock is short stories, but they're still in a book.


message 4974: by Charlie (new)

Charlie (cdtaylornats) | 20 comments Under the Dome is from a Stephen King book as is Haven (The Colorado Kid).


message 4975: by Matthew (new)

Matthew Pilkington | 47 comments Jack wrote: "I'm not a big TV watcher, but I'm curious; are there any current TV shows based on books other than Game of Thrones?"

First season has finished but The Strain is based on the first book by Benito del Toro 's series of books. He is involved in the TV series and they have a definite set number of seasons planned, not just keep going until the interest dies.


message 4976: by [deleted user] (new)

Thanks, everyone, this is choice! I may have to reorder my viewing schedule.


message 4977: by Charlie (last edited Nov 28, 2014 05:52AM) (new)

Charlie Lopez | 3 comments My name is Carlos Lopez Avery, I'm an IT professional that likes to dab into just about anything. I love books when I have time to read.
I am married and have a few kids running around, love to stay busy if not I walk around aimlessly blabbering and looking like a zombie, just ask my cats, it scares them LOL..
Some books I have had the pleasure or reading:

Peirs Anthony - Incarnations of Immortality All 7 books
Tim Dorsey - The whole Hurricane Punch Serial Killer series
John Sanford - Rules of Prey
David Morehouse - Psychic Warrior
to name a few..

I am also a new author, i published my first book a few days ago, you can find it on Amazon which is cool. I am learning the ropes of Online Authoring and marketing, fun stuff.
I hope to expand my mind by looking at recommendations for SciFi books I would like, and hopefully you will enjoy some of my comments from time to time.

Charlie (Carlos Lopez Avery)


message 4978: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Hi Charlie/Carlos, glad to have you in the group. Congratulations on publishing your book. What do you prefer Charlie or Carlos?


message 4979: by Charlie (new)

Charlie Lopez | 3 comments I guess for consistency I'll stick to Carlos LOL, thanks for asking Robin! :-)


message 4980: by Damien (new)

Damien Lake | 38 comments Welcome to the group Carlos! I read books all the time, but I also enjoy listening to them. I've spent the last two months listening to the entire Prey series while driving around in my car. I can't wait for the next one to come out...though, I might just be one volume behind already. Rrrrr! Time to recheck my library's audiobook collection.


message 4981: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments I listen to a huge number of audio books Damien. You can do "other stuff" as you listen.


message 4982: by Charlie (new)

Charlie Lopez | 3 comments I have listened to a few books, but I find to be a bit old fashion and like a real paperback. But driving to Orlando and back, audio books are awesome!


message 4983: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi, welcome.


message 4984: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments I'm Tony, and I live in Sedona, Arizona. I grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and moved away when I went to school in Colorado.

I've always loved space, even before there was a space program. I remember being laughed at in high school about being a space cadet—right up until Sputnik launched in 1957. I remember listening for it on my ham radio receiver, but never found it.

I've done a few things in my life that I'm very proud of. One of them was successfully graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1964, one of the toughest schools in the country to graduate from at that time, in my opinion. Another was flying combat as an Air Force fighter pilot in the Vietnam conflict. That formed the basis for one of my novels. Let me be clear: I was not enthusiastic about the war, and I was scared shitless for most of my 150 combat missions, but I treasure the experience as one of the most exciting of my life. I'm glad I did it, but I'd never do it again.

However, the thing I'm happiest about is my participation in the NASA space program, navigating unmanned spacecraft to every planet in the solar system—24 years at JPL and another 11 at KinetX Aerospace. I'm still doing refinement work part-time on the orbit of the MESSENGER spacecraft in orbit around Mercury. A lot of these experiences supported the writing of my other novel.

I started out as a kid reading science fiction exclusively (as befits a space cadet), then branched out in college reading books like Catch 22, Lord of the Flies, Catcher in the Rye, Crime and Punishment, and many others, but never abandoning science fiction completely. Now I seem to be coming back to it, at least to a degree, although my reading is still pretty eclectic.

My latest read, just finished, is James Bannon's "I2", which I liked a lot and highly recommend. I'll do a review on it in a week or two.


message 4985: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments J. wrote: "Hello to the group,
I'm Jim and have been on Goodreads for a while just not part of this group. Seems strange because my favorite books are scifi and fantasy, though I read mysteries, and lots of ..."


Hi Jim - You might try James Bannon's "I2" mentioned in my first post to the group (#5178). I found it riveting.


message 4986: by J. (new)

J. (jdrew) | 17 comments Hi Tony,
Thanks for the tip. I'll see about picking up a copy. I'm going to pickup my copy of Star Maker tomorrow as the bookstore where I ordered it called and it's in. Still glad to have other recommendations. I know there are good books out there that get overlooked and I'd rather not just do random reads because there are books that aren't so good.


message 4987: by Mike (the Paladin) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 874 comments Hi Tony, welcome.


message 4988: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Hi Tony, welcome."

Hi Mike, thanks for the greeting. I hope I can keep up on the group's activities, dialogues, etc.


message 4989: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments J. wrote: "Hi Tony,
Thanks for the tip. I'll see about picking up a copy. I'm going to pickup my copy of Star Maker tomorrow as the bookstore where I ordered it called and it's in. Still glad to have other..."


Jim, here's Paul Goat Allen's list of unsung gems dotting the universe of self-published novels: Ten “Must Read” Self-Published Science Fiction Novels. I plan to work through them myself. Bannon's is the second one I've read:

http://blueinkreview.com/blog/2014/11...


message 4990: by J. (new)

J. (jdrew) | 17 comments Tony,
Great list. Thanks. As slow as I am reading that should carry me for a long time. I'll have to read what each is about and pick a few that look the most interesting to me. Glad to see someone is doing this for indie books. How did you come across it?


message 4991: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments J. wrote: "Tony,
... Glad to see someone is doing this for indie books. How did you come across it?"


Paul tweeted it to me. I'm on the list (blush). That was the 1st one I read.


message 4992: by J. (new)

J. (jdrew) | 17 comments Hey Tony,
Congrats on being on that list, guessing you are number 2, The Darkest Side of Saturn, since I don't see any other Tonys on the list.
I'll have to add that to my "to read" list. Went back and read your intro and sounds like you've had a lot of really good connections to space exploration. Any thoughts on terra-forming Mars? That's been a hot topic in some circles but seems to me that the weak gravity really makes things difficult.
Oops, a bit off topic.
Have a good day.


message 4993: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Charlie wrote: "I guess for consistency I'll stick to Carlos LOL, thanks for asking Robin! :-)"

No worries mate. Haven't been on this thread for a while so missed your response.


message 4994: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Welcome john, a bit late I know but ah well. Looking forward to chatting with you.


message 4995: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Tony wrote: "I'm Tony, and I live in Sedona, Arizona. I grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and moved away when I went to school in Colorado.

I've always loved space, even before there was a space program. I..."


Hiya and welcome mate, you've had an exciting life, must be cool to draw upon those experiences for material for your novel. Anyway looking forward to future discussions.


message 4996: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments Robin wrote: "draw upon those experiences for material for your novel...

Thanks Robin -

I worry that I've used up all my life experiences in my two novels and will run dry for another one.

Looking forward to more conversations.

Until then, g'day mate!

- Tony


message 4997: by Tony (last edited Dec 04, 2014 12:13PM) (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments J. wrote: "Hey Tony,
Any thoughts on terra-forming Mars?"


Not really, but I did tackle Mars in my first novel, Rainbow's End (unpublished), which will mercifully never see the light of day. I think the best writing on that topic was probably Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars series (Red, Green, Blue), with some really astounding and credible sounding terraforming ideas which I have mostly forgot.

I sent him a little ditty about a Mars calendar from my Mars book that I was rather proud of at the time, and which he graciously acknowledged:

MarsMonths

Fifty-five sols hath September,
April, June, and November;
Fifty-six have all the rest,
Including February, subject to test:
Fifty-six sols comprise the norm,
But each fifth rev, three more's the form.

That, with the February leap days, gets you a pretty good 12 month calendar.


message 4998: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Tony wrote: "Robin wrote: "draw upon those experiences for material for your novel...

Thanks Robin -

I worry that I've used up all my life experiences in my two novels and will run dry for another one.

Looki..."


How dare you, I'll have you know I'm English not AUSTRALIAN! *shakes head* LOL Just as a reference, there's a thing about English and Aussies taking every opportunity to annoy and needle each other when ever we can. I'm sure there's some Aussies who're glaring at you now for "daring to confuse Australia and the UK. But you know because I'm not an Aussie and therefore magnanimous I'll let it go.


message 4999: by Tony (new)

Tony Taylor (tonytaylor) | 8 comments Robin wrote: "Tony wrote: "Robin wrote: "I'm not an Aussie and therefore magnanimous I'll let it go..."
My apologies for an unintended insult, but hey, I like both Australians AND English folk, I think they're both neat, so I hope you can somehow, in the immortal words of Rodney King, find your way clear to "just get along."

It was the "mate" that threw me off.


message 5000: by Robin (new)

Robin | 142 comments Tony wrote: "Robin wrote: "Tony wrote: "Robin wrote: "I'm not an Aussie and therefore magnanimous I'll let it go..."
My apologies for an unintended insult, but hey, I like both Australians AND English folk, I t..."


Your not the first to get thrown off with the "mate". But I don't think the ribbing will ever stop, we take too much pleasure from a bit of harmless needling. We see it as a national duty to irritate Australians to death.


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