SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Former Introduction Thread
Hi, I'm Lisa, I'm here hoping to get some good leads on new books.
Easy to do here Lisa... We're all willing to suggest our favorites, welcome.
Older son has pretty much already devoured most of Roald Dahl, but I'll see if younger son might be ready now.I read The Mysterious Benedict Society. Older son didn't like it, and I didn't think to recommend it to the younger one. I'll check out the others you recommend.
Keep the ideas flowing!
I wasn't thrilled with B. Society but thought it wasn't bad. When my kids were young I introed them to Twain (but you have to explain the racial stuff), the Hobbit and so on. They kind of grew up before the later Potter books came out. I grew up on Oz and it's still there. Garth Nix has some good books but again they can get a bit dark. you might try John Bellairs' House with the Clock in its Walls, read it yourself first see what you think.Have you/they read The Chronicles of Prydain? Those are good. I'm assuming (and you know what they say about that LOL) that you're already aware of the Narnia books.
For a little Friday on Friday (today) check this out: I've been interviewed by Cassie McCown of Gathering Leaves Reviews. Read the extremely long Author Interview here.
Yes, it's an author interview but it's got WAY more personal information than your typical author interview. I think you might be surprised :)
-Friday
@phoenicianbooks
Author of Conditioned Response A SciFi Thriller to Remember - If You Can!
Dipping my toe into Goodreads to see what the water is like. Okay, okay, I'm an author but I promise I'm not going to promote myself here -- although thanks to all those who have rated or reviewed the work. Most of my pleasure reading comes from audiobooks. I knock down at least two a month and have been going through my backlist of things I've read to post reviews. I've read lots of fantasy and sf since I have to keep with what the competition is doing, but I also read a lot of crime and mystery. Oh, and I teach at a Creative Writing MFA program in Maine, so I read a lot of aspiring writers. My three favorite writers (other than the great god Shakespeare) in no particular order are F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cordwainer Smith and Raymond Chandler.
Oh, and where can I flog my books?
Greetings fellow sci-fians and fantasias (not boreno) excited to get your recomendations for what to read and participate in the months read, A Scanner Darkly won't dissapoint, intresting characters. Perhaps if i have time I will check out Ducks and universes. Side note- for snow white lovers doesn't Charlize look like a freakin boss as the Evil Queen?
Hi James, welcome. There's a thread for Goodreads Authors. Just go to the groups home page. Many groups have self promotion threads.
You know I'm glad you asked, James, and that Mike replied, because I could've sworn it was this group where I listed out all the authors I've read before/after posting the link to my interview (which lists out more about me than I really should have put in a public blog post *haha*) but now I see I didn't put any of that here. :-( I guess it was either the SciFi Aficionados group or the Apocalypse Whenever group. This group is so huge by comparison it just doesn't feel as personally inviting to chit chat. Not sure why.Definitely promote in the Authors folder here. Create a "new topic" (link is on the right just above the words "view last activity") for yourself/your book(s) and be sure to stick to the one thread (don't make 5 topics for one book but I just noticed the mods specifically said to make a separate topic for each book - he phrased it as "don't put more than one book per thread)
Nick (one of the mods) has posted a cautionary note to Authors here which it cannot hurt you to read before you post and of course he also put rulez into the Authors folder itself - read the rulez before you create your topic.
I think the general rule of this group or any other on Goodreads:
1) don't be obnoxious
2) don't just fly-by sales pitch -- that is showing up just to speak to people in the threads exclusively to shove your books down their throats -- and
3) don't be incessant about it
Keep to that general behavior and no one will mind if you mention your book in passing (just not a passing SALES pitch ;-) a passing mention "Oh I wrote about about that")
@B.P. - I don't know if I'll like the new Snow White movie because I seriously do NOT like the Twilight girl but Charlize Theron on screen can obliterate any negative that twit brings with her pity me pity me looks. It's the same as the whiny look Linda Hamilton had UNTIL she finally got serious about being a strong woman in T2 (haha).
Charlize is...unparalled. Princess Grace was the last lady of Charlize's caliber of beauty, elegance, class and raw acting ability. I could watch Charlize Theron perform in anything and like it. I simply could not believe it was really her in Monster until I saw her smile in the makeup. They had to put so much ugly onto her to make her just "plain" I'll never forget it but her personality comes through when she smiles.
I didn't know Charlize was in Prometheus until I saw her promoting Snow White and she mentioned it in passing (doing promo for both flicks at once) I wasn't going to see Prometheus b/c I hate the whole horror/scifi genre of film (the Aliens movies did nothing for me but make me like Sigourney Weaver LESS) but now that I know Charlize is in it, might at least Netflix it.
-Friday
@phoenicianbooks
Yes twilight twit is annoying and the only reason i would normally not see a movie is because she is never freaking sure what to do with her hands...but also bonus is that chris hemsworth has shown he can play a good action roll. On Alien I think you might be the only other person I have heard (besides me) say they don't like those movies (exception avp i don't know why but that movie was fun to me)
But the take off: 'Vampires Suck' is hilarious! Recommended for non-sparklies.
And yes, I agree, Charlize is a brilliant actress!
And yes, I agree, Charlize is a brilliant actress!
B.P. wrote: "On Alien I think you might be the only other person I have heard (besides me) say they don't like those movies (exception avp i don't know why but that movie was fun to me) "You meant "Alien versus Predator" by "avp" right? :) Amazing that I don't watch the movies yet I know the titles even in acronym (LOL) I think the reason I don't like them is that there's absolutely no scientific basis for anything. It's pure visual representation of some nightmare imagery that some special FX guys and animatronics crews thought up. And that's good--for something like PLANET OF THE APES :) I dunno, for aliens, I kind of want to see something that is either NOT anthropormophic or IS but the bugs who stand up on hind legs and walk and talk like humanoids and use fore "arms/legs/tentacles" like human arms is ridiculous -- evolutionarily speaking.
Other than the Apes franchises (of which I became a fan as a kid way back when Charlton Heston cursed the very first "damned dirty ape") I can't actually think of any current aliens that seem remotely plausible. Plus the Aliens and Predators movies are really just there for the slime factor, the splatterpunk shockers and the suspenseful tension that makes your heart skip a beat. I guess I've just been terrorized by real life terrors (you know, WAR, crime, that kind of stuff where people actually DIE and do not get up when someone says "cut!") enough that I don't really need to pay money to be terrorized. My heart does not need to race more than it does. Unless I'm on the elliptical machine (haha)
-Friday
@phoenicianbooks
Julie wrote: Most of the books I remember and would recommend, are really much more appropriate to middle-school (6th grade) and up. Anyone have a suggestion for books about a boy protagonist suitable for an 8 year old? Bonus points if there is a wizard around. ..."
J.D. Hallowell here. I'm another 1950's proto-nerd, and since I'm too old and beat up to do much real-life adventuring these days, if I'm not writing or spending too much time on line, I'm reading SF and Fantasy. I look forward to hanging out here and talking about books.
Julie, I'd agree with most of Mike's suggestions, and add L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time series, The Wind in the Willows, and the Redwall books. A lot of Isaac Asimov's stuff is fine for kids, and some of Heinlein's "juveniles" would work, too, although a few of them are probably better left until later. This list has some good suggestions, although I still recommend pre-reading if your child is very sensitive.
Hi Everyone,This group seemed to match my interests well. I have been a science fiction fan since I found Ray Bradbury my freshman year of high school. In college someone recommended Piers Anthony's science fiction work (Macroscope and his trilogy Orn, OX, and Omnivore)and I was hooked. Lately I mainly juggle between fantasy and science fiction books. I just finished 1Q84 and loved it. I hadn't read anything by Murakami before, but I may pick more of his work. I am also listening to audiobooks of David Farland's Runelord series.
I look forward to hearing what others are reading!
J.D. wrote: "Julie wrote: Most of the books I remember and would recommend, are really much more appropriate to middle-school (6th grade) and up. Anyone have a suggestion for books about a boy protagonist suita..."I would recommend Jenny Nimmo's work about a boy named Charlie Bone. It is a series and I think the first book is called Midnight for Charlie Bone. Similar to Harry Potter, but with different twists. These are kids who discover they are "gifted." The stories also has the element of good vs. evil. I read them and thoroughly enjoyed Nimmo's work.
Suzanna Collins has gotten tremendous attention for The Hunger Games, but she has been writing for awhile. Her earlier series is about Gregor, a boy living in New York City who discovers there is a whole world underneath the city in the book, Gregor, the Overlander. It is an outstanding series, better in my opinion than The Hunger Games series.
Kerry wrote: "Suzanna Collins has gotten tremendous attention for The Hunger Games, but she has been writing for awhile. Her earlier series is about Gregor, a boy living in New York City who discovers there is a whole world underneath the city in the book, Gregor, the Overlander. It is an outstanding series, better in my opinion than The Hunger Games series. "I don't have kids so I haven't really been involved in this whole thing but this caught my eye. I actually REMEMBER this series being profiled on a news show a few years ago. It sounded like such an interesting concept for a YA series. I had no idea it was the same author. She definitely has a wild imagination. I think the whole Hunger Games media blitz is more the media's doing than hers though that kind of publicity sure does sell books ;-)
-Friday
@phoenicianbooks
The Charlie Bone books are a sort of reverse on Harry Potter, the school and it's personal are in general a very negative force.
Yes, I agree with that assumption. Also being gifted doesn't mean one is necessarily good. I like how Nimmo introduces character who are devious and "bad." Even Charlie's grandmother is a negative force in the story line. Harry Potter has the same sort of tension re: being a wizard or witch, however his family members all fight on the right side of things.
I read the first several J. Nimmo books,my wife was really into them, she'd also liked the Potter books.
Marjorie wrote: "B.P. wrote: "On Alien I think you might be the only other person I have heard (besides me) say they don't like those movies (exception avp i don't know why but that movie was fun to me) "You mean..."
If you find current alien characters implausible, then I suggest the alien character in The Metalmark Contract, my novel about a visit from an advanced life form to Earth. The alien's forms and life cycle are quite original and based on science. A review is at http://lnkd.in/5FrasD I hope you enjoy it!
Hi, I'm Al Philipson. I've been "lurking", but decided to come out in the open, so to speak.I'm actually an artificial person, created in the fevered imagination of a geek who's too timid to come out and face the light on his own. I'm also his pen name. Oh, the indignity, but I'm cursed with it and it's my burden to bear.
However, I'll press on and try to share my literary likes and dislikes while enjoying those of all y'all.
So...are you like plotting to take over and be an evil, genius, super-villain simply appearing to be the harmless nerd who thought you up?????Oh, welcome to the group, I think.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "So...are you like plotting to take over and be an evil, genius, super-villain simply appearing to be the harmless nerd who thought you up?????Oh, welcome to the group, I think."
Thank you.
No, if I take over the world, it will be as myself, not that wimp who dreamed me up. He hasn't the balls to pull something like that off.
But...isn't it his body you'll have to use??? Or do you have some way to steal bodies to? Even the Red Skull has to use the body of the guy he's in.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "But...isn't it his body you'll have to use??? Or do you have some way to steal bodies to? Even the Red Skull has to use the body of the guy he's in."Curses, foiled again!
I’ll have to figure some way to escape permanently. Perhaps grow my own body from scratch into one that’s just like me (6’ 4”, wall-to-wall muscles, full head of hair, square commanding jaw, and a smile that melts the hearts of the most georgious women around while demanding the respect of men). Then I’ll just take that body over and achieve my goals. Haaaahaaahaaaaaahahahahahaaaaa!
Oops! Sorry about that. Did I hurt anyone?
No...just your first Dark Overlord monologue. Better read the dark overlord list, just to be safe...We paladins need opponents.
By the way, have you read Heroes Die? There's a guy in it that takes his body and changes it into about what you want. Of course he seems to have had to get a bunch of magic items and then make some terrible magic deal...but hey, what self respecting aspiring Evil Overlord would flinch at that?
Al wrote: "I’ll have to figure some way to escape permanently. Perhaps grow my own body from scratch into one that’s just like me (6’ 4”, wall-to-wall muscles, full head of hair, square commanding jaw, and a smile that melts the hearts of the most georgious women around while demanding the respect of men). Then I’ll just take that body over and achieve my goals. Haaaahaaahaaaaaahahahahahaaaaa!Oops! Sorry about that. Did I hurt anyone?
"
No, it's cool. I knew from the description in your monologue that I'd be the obvious target in your plot to get a DNA sample to use for your body clone, so I was prepared for the attack. I may be left with a few minor scars, but they'll only serve to enhance my already commanding presence, and I destroyed all the tissue samples, even the ones you thought you'd hidden.
No harm, no foul.
Oh, and take Mike's advice, and read the Evil Overlord list, if you haven't yet.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/ove..."I've always loooooved that list, Mike :) the only thing "better" is "Dating Your Publisher." Spew alert before clicking. My favorite, though, might be getting a bit out of date now:
You say: 'I self-publish/post on the internet, and I've had some good feedback.'
Dating equivalent: 'The prostitutes I sleep with tell me I'm good in bed.'
ROTFLMAO, and if you're not also, you just haven't slept with the prostitutes I have--I mean read the books I have...erm, written? I forget, what was I supposed to say to you again? :-)
J.D. wrote: "Al wrote: "I’ll have to figure some way to escape permanently. Perhaps grow my own body from scratch into one that’s just like me (6’ 4”, wall-to-wall muscles, full head of hair, square commanding ...Oh, and take Mike's advice, and read the Evil Overlord list, if you haven't yet. "Sorry, haven't read the Evil Overlord list.
Never said I wanted to take over the world. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, officer.
That's the link I posted Al. The Evil Overlord list. There were other lists, side kicks, and so but this one hangs on.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "That's the link I posted Al. The Evil Overlord list. There were other lists, side kicks, and so but this one hangs on."And you should make absolutely sure that you aren't eating or drinking anything when you read it.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "That's the link I posted Al. The Evil Overlord list. There were other lists, side kicks, and so but this one hangs on."Inspired! Thanks. I'll take the suggestions to heart.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "That's the link I posted Al. The Evil Overlord list. There were other lists, side kicks, and so but this one hangs on."Mind if I post it on Facebook?
Al wrote: "Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "That's the link I posted Al. The Evil Overlord list. There were other lists, side kicks, and so but this one hangs on."Mind if I post it on Facebook?"
It's been floating around the internet for years, so I can't imagine that anyone at all would mind.
Just read the info on the list about use...it's been around a long time.
Hello. My name is Annika and I've just self-published my debut novel. I'm looking forward to having more time to read other books now that I'm not reading my own over and over again. I prefer fantasy and sci fi that has a weird edge to it - stuff that isn't always easy to define. I'm a massive fan of Mervyn Peake, especially.Nice to meet you all.
HI! My name is Sonja. I am WAY older than the vast majority of you. I am an Air Force brat that has lived all over and am currently settled in Atlanta with frequent trips to Kansas City. While I enjoy both Science Fiction and Fantasy, at this point in my life I find myself more drawn to fantasy novels. Though that is getting quite tough as I do NOT like vampires. (And I am sick to death of vampires and werewolves.) As I have started reading many, MANY of our beloved series when the writers were first published, I am now to the point of only desiring to read series that are completed. (I tired of waiting for the WoT books WAY before Mr. Jordan died. and that is just ONE example.
I also get very involved with the characters in books I read. Therefore, I tend to like books with more conversation than description (I can create my own pictures - but I crave people) (Ok so all my pictures look the same - but does that REALLY matter?)
I look forward to sharing adventures with y'all.
@Sonja - someone on another thread wanted leads on stories not involving vampires or werewolves, so I'll pass on the same recommendations.The work of Manly Wade Wellman, whose career spanned from the 1940s to the 1980. His stories starring the characters Judge Pursivant, John Thunstone and Silver John the Balladeer are a little hard to find but I think they're really great. I'm especially fond of the Silver John stories, since they're full of old-timey folk music and frequently based on Appalachian folklore.
Arthur Machen is the writer HP Lovecraft acknowledged as his biggest influence after Poe. Try THE GREAT GOD PAN or THE WHITE PEOPLE (AND OTHER STORIES).
Then there's Charles Williams, who did with horror and fantasy what CS Lewis did with kids' stories - use them as vehicles for Christian allegory. My favorites are ALL HALLOW'S EVE and WAR IN HEAVEN.
Oh - how could I forget Tanith Lee? She's British and her profile has sadly dimmed somewhat here in the USA, but you can still find her books used at sites like Alibris, AbeBooks and even Amazon. I really like NIGHT'S MASTER, DEATH'S MASTER, VOLKHAVAAR, and the short story collection RED AS BLOOD which compiles her twisted takes on some classic fairy tales. She also did a series called THE SECRET BOOKS OF PARADYS, collections of short stories and one novel set in a kind of nightmare 18th century Paris
Welcome to the group, Annika and Sonja. Sonja, it sounds like we might be contemporaries.
Hi Sonja...don't know how many years young you are, but I've been around a few months, so to speak. Welcome. Look forward to suggesting books and getting your suggestions.
Hi everybody! I'm a 30-something author (not of SciFi) living in the Great Lakes area. I'm married to an industrial scientist and we have a baby on the way (i.e., I'm pregnant). I write romantic erotica with a different twist (you can find my books on Goodreads/Amazon if you want), but I LOVE science fiction. My favorite authors are Iain Banks (his writing style is SO fantastic); David Brin; a new author, Keith Caserta (romantic SciFi with a philosophical theme); Peter Hamilton; Jack McDevitt; Harry Turtledove, etc.I've just finished Soul Searching by Keith Caserta. It's one of the best books I've ever read. It's what got me to join this group. I'm hoping for more like it, while waiting for the Soul Searching sequel. This book had great human characters, a brilliantly-conceived awakening computer, the Singularity, romance, a look at using technology to investigate the spiritual realm, and a plot that surprised me over and over again. It made me think about things in ways I never had. So if you have suggestions for anything like it PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
I took a break from SciFi because I don't know what to pick next. I'm currently reading a time travel romance (very light SciFi by comparison to the other book) called Threaded Through Time.
Hi all. I've been involved in SFF for longer than I care to remember, and still am. I read all kinds of genre, but speculative fiction remains my first love.
Miiiiii~~~! I'm Nipaporn and I'm an anime fan and gamer girl. I'm a hardcore gamer and I enjoy games like Resistance 1-3, the Halo series, Fallout 3, PROTOTYPE and just about any other game out there. I love the SciFi category, and i'm not too keen on Fantasy. I hope to make many friends in here.
Hi Milena, Nipaporn, welcome.
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SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
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The Fated Sky (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Varun Sayal (other topics)Stanley Schmidt (other topics)
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Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (other topics)
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They may have read some of those of course, but hope it helped. Welcome.