SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Former Introduction Thread
Hi all. 40 something ubergeek from Virginia here. I have been a member of the Sword and Laser group for about a year now just making the jump over here for some more serious discussion (I hope).I mostly read sci-fi fantasy although my reading habits tend to be a bit eccentric. Like most others i see on these groups. I read a lot; a book every three days or so. Looking forward to seeing what the group has to offer.
Born in Louisiana in 1977, living on the Missippi Gulf Coast for nearly 10 years. New to GoodReads, but an active fan of reading for many many moons. I like all genres of novels, but tend to roll back to sci-fi fantasy more and more. I can't even keep up with the books I have read. I am currently in the process of finishing the Orson Scott Card Ender series. Having finished Xenocide today, I am really looking forward to Children of the Mind. If you have suggestions, I am more than willing to listen, seeing the Ender books were a suggestion by a friend.
Hi! I am Gerhard, born in South Africa but living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands for 25 years. Started out as a political scientist, then worked for 20 years as DBA and now beginning my third career in social work (my bleeding heart won out after all). In order to con myself into reading more I started a project in 2000 to read every novel ever nominated for a Hugo, Nebula, Clarke or BSFA award. By now it has evolved from a project into a passion. My favourite authors are: Samuel Delany, Philip K Dick, Ursula Le Guin, Ian McDonald etc. etc. I guess you can define it as scifi with a distict literary bent. Currently reading Jon Courtnenay Grimwood's Stamping Butterflies. New to Goodreads, but hope to meet lots of like-minded fans.
Welcome Gerhard :)
What's a DBA?
What's a DBA?
Ala wrote: "Welcome Gerhard :)What's a DBA?"
Database Administrator
Hello!My name is Mara, I was born and raised in Germany but am now living in Virginia, USA.
I registered here at goodreads not too long ago after I realized that shelfari did not hold my attention and I wanted a place to keep track of my reading easier than I used to in the past (adding titles and amazon links to a specific livejournal post).
Especially now that I have a Kindle (my fav Christmas present for my hubby and me to each other) and don't have to wait for my books to ship :)
I mostly read Fantasy, mixed in with some SF, mystery & thriller, and a tiny bit of historical fiction.
Favorite authors of the moment:
R.A. Salvatore, Robin Hobb, Patricia Briggs,George R.R. Martin,Brandon Sanderson,Jim Butcher,Terry Pratchett,Robert Jordan,Brent Weeks,Karen Chance
The books I read the most over my lifespan so far:
Lord of the Rings Trilogy - 13 times in German, 1 in English
Märchenmond (Magic Moon) - 10 times at least in German. This was my very first fantasy book
Icewind Dale Trilogy - 3 times in German, 4 times in English
The Farseer Series - somewhere around 5 timesThat's all I can think of right now, anything else a "proper" introduction post needs? :)
Nope, that about covers it Mara. Welcome to the group :)
Ala wrote: "Welcome Gerhard :)What's a DBA?"
"Data Base Administrator". A "super-computer-geek" to the rest of us in the business of working/programing around data bases.
My name is Tiffin, I'm almost 31 and live in Eastern WA with my BF and two dog. I'm a QA Analyst (I test websites) who works from home and whenever I don't have anything to do, I read. :)
As a kid I started with Sweet Valley High, Babysitters Club, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Then I discovered RL Stine and read all the books my school library had. Then one day on tv I saw a movie called Firestarter an realized it was made from a book. So of course I had to hit the library and read it for myself. Then I was hooked.
I own very Stephen King book in print and I don't bother waiting for his books to come out in paperback to get them. :)
One year I lived in the middle of nowhere (more than now) and decided to read all the "classics" like Verne and Asimov, etc. I realized just how much I enjoyed science fiction. Wells and Verne were my most go to authors as I hadn't heard of anyone else.
Then I was talking to my uncle one day about the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and he told me it was made after a book. So I checked it out and I was absolutely hooked!. I read all four books, all the Rama Books all the Time Odyssey books and I just can't get enough of Arthur C. Clarke. I'm currently reading Childhood's End...again, just because I liked it so much.
As a kid I started with Sweet Valley High, Babysitters Club, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Then I discovered RL Stine and read all the books my school library had. Then one day on tv I saw a movie called Firestarter an realized it was made from a book. So of course I had to hit the library and read it for myself. Then I was hooked.
I own very Stephen King book in print and I don't bother waiting for his books to come out in paperback to get them. :)
One year I lived in the middle of nowhere (more than now) and decided to read all the "classics" like Verne and Asimov, etc. I realized just how much I enjoyed science fiction. Wells and Verne were my most go to authors as I hadn't heard of anyone else.
Then I was talking to my uncle one day about the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and he told me it was made after a book. So I checked it out and I was absolutely hooked!. I read all four books, all the Rama Books all the Time Odyssey books and I just can't get enough of Arthur C. Clarke. I'm currently reading Childhood's End...again, just because I liked it so much.
Welcome to the group, Tiffin :)
Hey!I run my own graphic design/web development business with clients located around the country. I graduated with degrees in Economics and Graphic Design/Illustration and minors in Management and English. I've lived in Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and Brazil.
I've always loved reading, especially science fiction. With the advent of eBooks, I've even started publishing my own titles, something I've always wanted to do but never thought I'd be able to do.
Some of my favorite authors include Orson Scott Card, Charles Sheffield, John Grisham, Stephen Gould, Gary K. Wolf, and Duane Swierczynski.
And I think the Kindle is the greatest invention since electricity. It has literally rekindled my love of reading and given me access to so many new stories I never knew existed.
Ala wrote: "Hi and welcome, Jeff :)"Thanks! Glad to be here.
Hi, I'm currently into Horror mostly. My first reading loves were Literature and Non-Fiction. In Literature, my favorites were Russian writers such as Nabakov and Dostoevsky. I like intense, darkly philosophical writers such as Kafka. In Non-Fiction, I read about Art, Physics and science in relation to metaphysical possibilities, Abnormal Psychology, Abnormal Genetics, The Holocaust, serial killers, anything aberrant. LOL I was briefly into Paranormal Romance, but can't read it anymore due to the strict parameters of the Romance genre. I hate repetition in my reading. I still co-moderate a secret PNR group purely by situational accident and made great friends there. I still hang there to talk about life and help moderate.
I used to be a member of this group, but left because I joined a great group called Fantasy Aficionados, in which a lot of my friends in Horror Aficionados are also a member of. I rejoined this group because I realized for the first time (after months of membership) that it's not also a SciFi group. "Fantasy" Aficionados, duh! I would like to read more SciFi, so here I am back again.
is my favorite SciFi of all time. I recently finished
and loved it!
Well, welcome back, whatever the circumstances. Given your self-described tastes, may I, with total immodesty, suggest you try one of my own books--
? It's dark and intense, and some people have called it a classic. At any rate, it's good to have you aboard.
Thanks, Stephen. I'll check out your book.
Well, welcome back Aloha :)
Islander?
Islander?
Thanks, Ala. Lived in Hawaii for 4 years. But now I'm in snowy CT.
Ah, so not polynesian eh? Well, can't all be perfect I suppose :P
Also: why would you make that move?
Also: why would you make that move?
Oh, I made many steps between Hawaii and CT. Long story.
Hello, all. I'm Bob, I was born in 1950 in Connecticut and have lived most of my life here. Married, two adult children, worked for an insurance company, then as a programmer, and am currently scrambling around trying to keep above water.I'm an obsessive reader and started with Edgar Rice Burroughs, then Asimov, Heinlein, Ian Fleming, Rex Stout, Zelazny, Keith Laumer, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Richard Stark, Donald Westlake, Lawrence Block, and am currently very fond of John Sandford's "Prey" novels and Neal Stephenson (I just finished re-reading "The System of the World."
I'm also writing: I have a novel out, "In the Blood" (9781452877501), a science fiction thriller about the hunt for a serial killer on a planet where humans are a minority. I've gotten positive feedback from the people who've read it.In the Blood
Hi, Hello and greetings.31 yo. norwegian who a while back rediscovered the joys of reading (about the same time that I got an e-reader)
I read most things, but mostly fond of the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres. Well suppose thats that, there is not much more to tell really if you are a nosy nelly and want to know more... well just ask me ;)
Happy reading to all from Norway.
Reading is international...if not interplanetary.
Sindre wrote: "Hi, Hello and greetings.31 yo. norwegian who a while back rediscovered the joys of reading (about the same time that I got an e-reader)
I read most things, but mostly fond of the Sci-Fi and Fant..."
Welcome to this world on the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy. Your English is excellent, by the way. I couldn't even learn German in school (just not cut out for linguistics).
Do you prefer "hard" science fiction or fantasy?
Hello, I'm Ray in Burlington, Vermont. Since everyone seems to be into age, 1950 was a good year. Don't worry, I'm not indulging in a second childhood. I haven't quite finished my first one yet. Lifelong sf/fantasy reading keeps that sense of wonder alive and well.I'm new to this group and groups in general. This one seems to have a good selection and I hope to be exposed to books I might not pick up on my own.
Hey Ray, welcome to the group :)
Hey all, I'm Devon,recently I had to join something called 'Goodreads' to enter an ARC contest. I did actually win the contest, but even cooler, I found Goodreads! I love this place, I catch myself on here several times a day. It's also helping keep my feet to the fire in reading more, a "lifting" coach of sorts. Feel free to friend me or whatever. I love Sci-fi/ Fantasy obviously, and read when time allows, ..well I'm making more time now. Anyhow, great site with like minded book lovers, even if we don't like the same books.
Welcome, Devon. I've met so many interesting like-minded people at Goodreads. I wish I could say the same for off-line. That's where I reserve talking about the weather, work, and Justin Bieber for.
ya, two little girls in my house..chock-full of Bieber
Hey everyone :DI'm Denis from Croatia.
I just found this site and it's amazing...joined this group 'cuz fantasy is my favourite genre...currently reading Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
Welcome, Denis! If you like fantasy, another group you might want to join is Fantasy Aficionados. It's great for fantasy lovers.
Heyas Devon and Denis. Glad to have you here :)
My name is Rachel and I’m currently doing work experience at Harper Voyager UK. I’m an MA Publishing student and the staff at Voyager have been a huge help with gathering information for my dissertation. I’m researching the stigma that still surrounds the SFF genres and looking at ways to dispel it for good (I admit, it’s a little ambitious). If you want to help, it would be great if you can do the short questionnaire below. Stand up to stigma!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T3T77PZ
Best of luck with your project, Rachel. As an sff writer myself, I'd love to break down the stigma and prejudices.
I've only recently heard of stigma regarding fantasy or sci-fi. It doesn't make sense to me. I wouldn't be ashamed to have their covers exposed while reading. It's not like erotica or romance.
In Fantasy Aficionados, they were talking about getting beaten up for reading Fantasy. Even pretty girls and jocks. WTF? I was picked on for being a geek with thick glasses, not because I was carrying around books on abnormal psychology.
Unfortunately, Aloha and Ala, there still is a prejudice against "that stuff" in the outside world. Most newspapers and magazines don't bother to review it, the Oscars and Emmys generally won't consider it except for special effects. It's not considered "serious" except for a few breakthrough authors like Bradbury or Leguin. It's "kid stuff." This is why I hate the label "sci fi." It's used to dismiss something as being less than legitimate.
I've never had anyone get on my case about reading/watching SciFi or Fantasy.
Sure, the occasional "nerd/geek" thrown my way, but usually in jest. When it wasn't said playfully, I didn't really care. It's what I enjoy, so screw 'em.
Same goes for newspapers, magazines and lame ass award shows.
Sure, the occasional "nerd/geek" thrown my way, but usually in jest. When it wasn't said playfully, I didn't really care. It's what I enjoy, so screw 'em.
Same goes for newspapers, magazines and lame ass award shows.
I'd love to keep up with this discussion but unfortunately today was my last day with Voyager - thank you so much for getting involved. If you want to comment more, you can always comment on the Voyager post: http://www.voyagerbooks.com/2011/02/1...
Thanks again,
Rachel
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SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
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Completely with you on this. I think Robson wrote some of the best hard SF around, and it's really disappointing that she seems to have changed genres. I'm sure the Lila Black books are fun to write, and unfortunately probably sell better, but I wish she'd at least alternate between fluff and quality. Maybe when the Lila Black series is finished...