Current book choice rotation thread

Apocryphal · February 9

👉*snooze*

clash_bowley · February 9

@Apocryphal said:
👉snooze

Hehehehehe!

RichardAbbott · February 10

Hi all, looks like chatter about Murderbot is dying down, though please feel free to carry on! This is a reminder, if such were needed, that February's read is Eversion by Alastair Reynolds, with discussion starters to be posted by yours truly just after the end of the month.

RichardAbbott · February 12

Discussion area for Emphyrio now set up

RichardAbbott · February 27

All: I'm hoping to set up the discussion starters for Eversion this weekend, provided everyone has either finished or decided they're not going to?

clash_bowley · February 27

I have finished!

Apocryphal · February 28

I’m about 1/3 in - still going. But don’t let that hold you back

kcaryths · March 1

I'm good to go.

kcaryths · March 1

I'll come up with some ideas this weekend for a book for April.

kcaryths · March 3

A couple ideas for April. Will be my first kick at this so not sure what are considered good choices for the group in general. If we want something a bit lighter I can do that too! Let me know. I don't think either of these have been read by the group yet.

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (2023)
Radix by A.A. Attanasio (1981)

RichardAbbott · March 3

@kcaryths said:
A couple ideas for April. Will be my first kick at this so not sure what are considered good choices for the group in general. If we want something a bit lighter I can do that too! Let me know. I don't think either of these have been read by the group yet.

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (2023)
Radix by A.A. Attanasio (1981)

I haven't read either so don't have strong views. Radix looks a lot longer (nearly 500pp), and also seems to be the first part of a very long series, so from a purely pragmatic point of view maybe The Saint of Bright Doors might be preferable? Also I like portal books as a general rule

Both look to be available in ebook, paperback or audio which would suit everyone's taste.

clash_bowley · March 3

I am fine with either. I believe I have read something by A. A. Attanasio - the name is familiar anyway, but a look at Radix tells me it wasn't that. I have not read anything by Chandrasekera.

BarnerCobblewood · March 3

I'd be happy to read the Saint of Bright Doors. Radix would also be okay. Slightly worried about the length and serialization aspect of the book, but as long as it doesn't just leave everything in the middle so we are supposed to read the next book I'll muddle through.

kcaryths · March 5

Sounds like Saint of Bright Doors would be a good choice - I'll track down a copy.

RichardAbbott · March 5

@kcaryths said:
Sounds like Saint of Bright Doors would be a good choice - I'll track down a copy.

I'll set up the discussion area in the next day or so

RichardAbbott · March 7

Discussion area for The Saint of Bright Doors now set up

Apocryphal · March 10

I missed this thread as I was avoiding the forum until finishing Eversion. Seems the decision is already made, but no preference on my part anyway - never heard of the first so I don't know anything about it. I do have a copy of Radix and want to read it, but I agree it's probably too long and (I've heard) maybe it bit challenging. We should not shy completely from longer or challenging works, but need to do them sparingly. Radix has sequels, but I think they came much later, so I suspect it stands alone.

As for picking a book, some rules of thumb (but not hard rules):
1. Mostly aim for 200 to 400 pages, but exceptions are ok.
2. New authors we haven't done usually generate more excitement.
3. Try not to pick books that are 'to be continued' in another book. The story should be a self contained story.
4. It's hard to pick a good book! If everyone likes it, it feels satisfying but generates very little discussion. If everyone doesn't like it, it feels bad but the discussions can be good. So aim for the middle!
5. We like lots of genres, so don't feel you need to stick to SF or fantasy.
6. We all have different reading likes and dislikes. Trying to pick books that take all those into account can frankly be maddening - so enjoy picking books for an audience you don't know while you still can. :-)

RichardAbbott · March 11

Still some discussion ongoing in the Eversion area, but this is also a reminder that March's read is Jack Vance's Emphyrio with discussion led by @clash_bowley

clash_bowley · March 11

I just finished reading it for the - tenth? - time.

kcaryths · March 11

@Apocryphal said:
I missed this thread as I was avoiding the forum until finishing Eversion. Seems the decision is already made, but no preference on my part anyway - never heard of the first so I don't know anything about it. I do have a copy of Radix and want to read it, but I agree it's probably too long and (I've heard) maybe it bit challenging. We should not shy completely from longer or challenging works, but need to do them sparingly. Radix has sequels, but I think they came much later, so I suspect it stands alone.

As for picking a book, some rules of thumb (but not hard rules):
1. Mostly aim for 200 to 400 pages, but exceptions are ok.
2. New authors we haven't done usually generate more excitement.
3. Try not to pick books that are 'to be continued' in another book. The story should be a self contained story.
4. It's hard to pick a good book! If everyone likes it, it feels satisfying but generates very little discussion. If everyone doesn't like it, it feels bad but the discussions can be good. So aim for the middle!
5. We like lots of genres, so don't feel you need to stick to SF or fantasy.
6. We all have different reading likes and dislikes. Trying to pick books that that all those into account can frankly be maddening - so enjoy picking books for an audience you don't know while you still can. :-)

Good tips! Seems like The Saint of Bright Doors is a better fit then.

RichardAbbott · March 30

How's everyone doing with Emphyrio? (I've finished it a little while ago). Is everyone ready for @clash_bowley to post some discussion starters?

NeilNjae · March 30

I also finished it a while ago. I actually managed to finish a club pick!

BarnerCobblewood · March 30

Will be ready tomorrow.

Apocryphal · March 31

Finished a while ago as well.

kcaryths · March 31

I also finished it this month.

RichardAbbott · April 1

I guess we're just waiting on @clash_bowley then

clash_bowley · April 1

Waiting no longer. It IS the first...

Apocryphal · April 13

Looks like I'm up in May

Here are two books I'm considering:

Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrrison
Or
The Terminal Experiment by Robert J. Sawyer

Both are SF set on Earth.
The first is a classic by Harry Harrison about overpopulation and the basis for Soylent Green, published in 1966 but available in current editions, including kindle.

The second is by Canadian author Robert J. Sawyer, described as a philosophical thriller, about an experiment gone wrong in which three digital versions of himself are released onto the internet after a life-after-death experiment. This book won the 1996 Nebula.

Let me know if anyone has a preference.

clash_bowley · April 14

I have read Make Room! Make Room!, which was good, but the other sounds interesting and will be totally new to me.

kcaryths · April 14

Good with either one. They both sound good.

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