Beyond Reality discussion

Hi

David, Shel's husband. I've been lurking here for a while, meaning to read along but not finding time. But since I read Use of Weapons a few months ago, I've been dying to have someone with whom to discuss it, so now that it's the March SF book, I'm going to try to make the time.

I grew up on Tolkien, Bradbury, Asimov, and Frank Hebert. Since getting back to SF, I've been broadening the list of classic SF authors I've read, including Octavia Butler, Sturgeon, a little Samuel Delaney, myriad Clifford Simak short stories.

My reading list is a little too driven by the titles in my discount ebook subscriptions, which tend towards reprinted classics or first books in various unending series churned out in every genre, but I'm trying to read some more contemporary authors like Ken Liu, Pat Murphy, and Ian McDonald. Kristine Kathryn Rusch's Diving Universe and the Recovery Artist series are my current go-to quick reads.

Anyway, looking forward to joining the discussion...

David

Welcome Matt and David :)

David wrote: "Hi

David, Shel's husband. I've been lurking here for a while, meaning to read along but not finding time. But since I read Use of Weapons a few months ago, I've been dying to have someone with who..."

You all should be honored. Ten plus years together and this is the first time he's ever joined in on one of my online communities :D

Shel wrote: "You all should be honored.”

We are!! 👍🏻😊

David wrote: "Hi. David, Shel's husband. I've been lurking here for a while, ..."

[waves] Hi David! Kathi here! Longtime fellow book reader with Shel from various groups/boards. Welcome!

Hi!

I am 32, from Austria and totally into science fiction, fantasy, humor, nonfiction and science topics and always trying to widen my range.

Best regards

Mario wrote: "Hi!

I am 32, from Austria and totally into science fiction, fantasy, humor, nonfiction and science topics and always trying to widen my range.

Best regards"

Welcome, Mario!

Welcome Mario :)

Hi. My favorite science fiction authors are: Iain M. Banks, Philip K, Dick, and Neal Stephenson. My favorite fantasy authors are J.R.R. Tolkein, Alan Dean Foster, Roger Zelazny, and Charles DeLint. I don't read much fantasy anymore, and I need some new good science fiction authors since I have read most of the books of my favorite authors already. I also liked David Weber's Honor Harrington series, but I got burned out after about the fifth book or so.

Boradicus wrote: "Hi. My favorite science fiction authors are: Iain M. Banks, Philip K, Dick, and Neal Stephenson. My favorite fantasy authors are J.R.R. Tolkein, Alan Dean Foster, Roger Zelazny, and Charles DeLint...."

Hi, and welcome!

Thanks! :D

Hello, Tracy here. I recently joined this group when it appeared on the GR Groups page. I'm a long time fan of fantasy, and sci-fi newbie, and I wanted to join a group related to these genres. There are a lot of GR groups for fantasy and sci-fi! I'm glad I stumbled on this one. It seems to be an interesting group, and I'm looking forward to discovering new books/authors.

As for myself, I live in Oregon. I'm a mom of three boys. I love reading, writing and crafts such as cross-stitch and crochet. I haven't joined in any of the book discussions here yet, but I've added several books to my TBR.

My favorite authors include J. R. R. Tolkien, Tad Williams, Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Jim Butcher, Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo. I'm not as well read as I'd like, and I'm always looking for a new favorite.

T. wrote: "Hello, Tracy here. I recently joined this group when it appeared on the GR Groups page. I'm a long time fan of fantasy, and sci-fi newbie, and I wanted to join a group related to these genres. Ther..."

Welcome, Tracy, glad you joined us.

Kathi wrote: "T. wrote: "Hello, Tracy here. I recently joined this group when it appeared on the GR Groups page. I'm a long time fan of fantasy, and sci-fi newbie, and I wanted to join a group related to these g..."

Thank you! I'm excited to join in the conversation. Though, to be honest, I tend to be a bit more of a lurker.

Taylor wrote: "Hello everyone. My name is Taylor Williams. Although mostly an avid sci-fi reader, I have ventured into fantasy some years ago. Patrick Rothfuss is responsible for that. After reading his novels, I..."

Welcome, Taylor!

Hello there, I stumbled across you guys when I was looking for Robin Hobb discussions. I just read Royal Assassin and loved it even more than Assassin's Apprentice, but have been trying to find folks with whom I could talk about them.

I was a very avid reader as a youngster but slowed way down as an adult and have been trying to make up for lost time, going on a significant and rewarding binge, getting caught up with decades’ worth of work I had missed. Hence only recently discovering the magnificent Robin Hobb.

I look forward to getting involved in the Realm of the Elderlings discussion and checking out the group reads as well.

Anthony wrote: "Hello there, I stumbled across you guys when I was looking for Robin Hobb discussions."

Welcome, Anthony! I am a relative latecomer to Robin Hobb as well, but glad I found her. Better late than never!

Hi everyone,

I've been a member of this group for a while, but not super active at joining in on the discussions. A friend told me that goodreads would be the best place to chat about obscure books, so here I am.

I'm a scifi author and put my first book out a little while ago. Looking forward to discussing Way Station once I finish it.

Tim

Timothy wrote: "Hi everyone,

I've been a member of this group for a while, but not super active at joining in on the discussions. A friend told me that goodreads would be the best place to chat about obscure book..."

Welcome, Timothy!

Hi everyone,

I'm Gabi from Germany (so look forward to some strange verbalizations ;-) )

I was an avid SF reader in the 80ies, but somehow stopped reading (couldn't even say why). Only this July I discovered my love for SF and Fantasy again and since became a bit of a reading maniac (90 books so far).

Both of the December reads are on my TBR list, so I decided that this is the perfect time to join.

I'm looking forward to loads of group reads.

Hi all, I'm Kirsten. I found this group because I'm friends with several other folks in the group (hi Gabi and Anthony!) and the March polls showed up in my Recent Updates feed. A couple of the books are on my TBR, so I decided to join.

I've been getting back into more brain-intensive reading this year after spending three years in grad school, and I'm really enjoying the groups and book discussions here on GR.

Welcome Kirsten! Jump on in! And feel free to browse our past discussions and chime in after the fact.

Hello! I'm Kari, and I've been looking for a good book club but struggled to find one that focused on my preferred genres (sci-fi/fantasy/horror) in my area. I found Goodreads at the beginning of this month and then found out I could join one of the online groups to fill my book discussion needs. After I finished Illuminae about a week ago, I saw this group was discussing it for Feb, as well as one that I'm planning to start soon, Sorcerer to the Crown, and thought that might be a sign I should dive in. I'm really looking forward to it!

Welcome, Kari! Feel free to dive into any and all of our discussions, including the old ones in our archives. Glad you found us!

Hi All, My name is Nyssa.

I was a member a few years ago (2014) but took a break when life felt a bit overwhelming. Life never entirely stopped being overwhelming, but I am back now and looking forward to sharing my love of all things speculative fiction (except most horror) with the group. :)

Nyssa wrote: "Hi All, My name is Nyssa.

I was a member a few years ago (2014) but took a break when life felt a bit overwhelming. Life never entirely stopped being overwhelming, but I am back now and looking fo..."

Welcome back, Nyssa! Sometimes books are just what I need when life seems overwhelming!

Kathi wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Hi All, My name is Nyssa.

I was a member a few years ago (2014) but took a break when life felt a bit overwhelming. Life never entirely stopped being overwhelming, but I am back now ..."

Thanks, Kathi!

I'm glad to be back. :)

Hi, I'm Lars who stumbled across this group while looking for unread Octavia Butler. I like your past reading and think I might enjoy following and participating in your discussions. Hopefully it won't be too much a bother for you guys either. I'm mostly a science fiction reader these days, I think I had my urge for fantasy beaten out of me by Robert Jordan some years back. I try to keep up with new stuff, but have a list of older works I go back to every now and then (Hyperion and Starmaker top of that list right now.)

Carry on.

Lars wrote: "Hi, I'm Lars who stumbled across this group while looking for unread Octavia Butler. I like your past reading and think I might enjoy following and participating in your discussions. Hopefully it w..."

Welcome, Lars! It's always nice to have different perspectives join in on the discussions. I look forward to chatting with you!

Hi Lars, glad you found us! Please feel free to jump right in. Current reads are posted in the books of the month folders, but we have a huge archive of old threads, so feel free to chime in at any time on any of our previous reads - I'm sure some of our longtime members will be happy to revisit the discussions!

Captain Quark and the Time CheatersWilliam Shatspeare is a pen name that Tim McGettigan invented as the nom de guerre for his first science fiction novel, Captain Quark and the Time Cheaters.

Tim McGettigan, PhD, is a professor of sociology at CSU-Pueblo who has been writing nonfiction for thirty years. Prof Tim views writing as a way of constructing new architectures of thinking that can transform fantasies into reality.

Consider, for example, Jules Verne, the greatest imagineer of the 19th century. Verne introduced his readers to steampunk wonders that blew their minds. Although Verne did not include assembly instructions for the ships, aircraft and rockets that he imagined, Verne did equip his readers with the expanded headspace that they needed to transform his fantasies into bold new realities. In the 19th century, Verne fantasized about the Nautilus, a wondrously-advanced nuclear submarine that conquered the north pole by brashly cruising beneath it. In the 20th century, the US Navy built the very first nuclear-powered submarine, named it the Nautilus and replicated Captain Nemo’s audacious feat by cruising beneath the northern ice cap--only this time they did it for real. Clearly, the engineers who built the USS Nautilus were inspired by Jules Verne. Through their writing, imagineers like Verne demolish the limitations of conventional thinking and inspire freshly-enlightened minds to create the wonders of tomorrow.

In Captain Quark and the Time Cheaters, I have taken the liberty of drawing characters and inspiration from a wide range of science fiction universes. Just as it took every hero in the Marvel Universe to defeat Thanos, it will require a big tent of beloved superheroes to defeat Captain Quark’s arch-nemesis: the evil, orange-skinned menace, Uranus Blowhard. My hope is that, by searching for new ways to work together, puny humans will find the hope and strength that they need to make the future a better place.

Live long and perspire!

- Starbard

Hi. I am Kate, and I probably won't have enough time to participate, but it looks as if you guys read the exact kind of books that I like. So I hope you won't mind if I lurk around and get suggestions even if I have no time to participate.

Later! (I hope)

The best way to introduce myself, is through the description on my profile:

Reading the following word cloud will allow
To discover more about the person behind *Tau*
The number of items isn't chosen randomly, you know
If you count them up and do it right, tadaaa … my age will show ;-)

* art journaling * beautiful colours * Belgium *blanket * blogging * board games * bubbles * bucket list * calm * challenges * collector * creative * culture * dark chocolate * discover * English * fantasy * fiction * Français * hsp * humour * hygge * inspiration * list maker * movies * my word of the year 2020: oasis * nature * Nederlands * non-fiction * paper books * photography * pizza * Português * series * single (malt) * strawberries * travel * water * wine * woman *


As a kid I read at least 4 books a week. But when I grew older and had to read much for school, I started to read less and less 'for fun'. Until I read only a few books a year.

A few years ago I read 'Le Comte de Monte Cristo' and rediscovered my love of books.
On a Dutch book forum I met Hoid who is a fervent SFF-reader and who introduced me to the fascinating world of fantasy and sci-fi. Though I always thought these genres wouldn't be my cup of tea, I had to adjust my opinion.

Although I have a very broad reading taste, the last few months it has became clear to me that my favourite genres are definitely fantasy, science-fiction and non-fiction.
If two years ago someone would have said I would like robots, I would have laughed. But now Marvin (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and ART (from Artificial Condition) are some of my favourite SF-characters ;-)
What appeals most to me in a story is originality (both in plot as in form, f.e. extensive footnotes in Nevernight-chronicle) and humour (I lóve the books of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Jon Hollins, Jay Kristoff, …).

If you have any questions: shoot!

*Tau* wrote: "The best way to introduce myself, is through the description on my profile:

Reading the following word cloud will allow
To discover more about the person behind *Tau*
The number of items isn't cho..."

Welcome! Your word cloud is fascinating!

Kathi wrote: "Welcome! Your word cloud is fascinating!"

Thanks for the welcoming and for your compliment, Kathi ;-)

I am not new. I am a returning member. I was with the group on yahoo. I have been away due to changes in my health, job, living situation. But now I am going part time. My life is in such a good place I have time to read.

I hope some of you remember me. If not I hope its fun getting to know me again. Oh my that sounded so something. LOL

Renee wrote: "I am not new. I am a returning member. I was with the group on yahoo. I have been away due to changes in my health, job, living situation. But now I am going part time. My life is in such a good pl..."

Welcome back! I was in the group back on Yahoo, too. I’m happy you’ve re-found us!

I was not with the group when it was on Yahoo, but I'll second the welcome back anyway! I'm glad you've been able to find time to read again! :)

thank you. I hope to join in for next months book. I havent decide which yet. Right now my issue is my library has limited service d/t covid

Hi everyone, I'm Melissa from Japan.

I picked up The Power, and saw that it's one of the books of the month, so came by to chat. I grew up on SF/F and they are still my bread and butter comfort reads, so hopefully some future picks will catch my eye as well. I also read my share of historical fiction, romance, and manga, with a smattering of non-fiction and classics.

Favorite reads so far this year:
(SF) Network Effect, (F) Spinning Silver, (Short Story) Galatea

Melissa wrote: "Hi everyone, I'm Melissa from Japan.

I picked up The Power, and saw that it's one of the books of the month, so came by to chat. I grew up on SF/F and they are still my bread and butter comfort re..."

Welcome, Melissa!

In addition to our Books of the Month discussions, we have topics where members can discuss other SF/F books and in our “what are you reading this month” topic, all genres are welcome.

Thanks Kathi :)
I'll be sure to poke my head around then. I'm a rather incurable mood reader, so it's nice to have a space to chat even when I pass on the books of the month.

Greetings!

I'm Jutta from Germany. I've found this group by accident and thought the reading choices were neat. I haven't participated in any groups here on Goodreads until now and am a bit nervous about challenging my reading habits even more.

I've always been an avid reader. Instead of saying 'I want to be a marine biologist/firefighter etc.' as a child I've told everyone I just wanna read all the books there are. Well, now I know that's a bit over the top, but I still love to read.

Sadly due to life just happening I haven't had the energy and time to read as much as I wanted in the last few years. But since the birth of my baby son I've again started reading regularly and am happily and successfully participating in the yearly Reading Challenge on Goodreads.

My favorite SF books this year have probably been Caliban's War by James Corey and Provenance by Ann Leckie. My favorite Fantasy book has been Successor's Promise by Trudi Canavan.

Welcome Jutta! I'm glad you've found us! Feel free to jump right in on the discussions, including anything in the archives - we never close old threads!

The group read the Expanse books together a while ago - I know we are all eagerly anticipating book 9's publication later this year. Have you watched any of the TV show? They've done an excellent job with it!

Thanks and hi Shel!

I haven't watched the TV show and I don't think I will. I think it's probably too violent for me (I'm HSP). If I read a book I can blend out blood and gore fairly well.

I will however take a look at the old Expanse threads, should be interesting. Thanks for pointing that out.

Hello, I've been lurking for a couple months and thought I should introduce myself before I start posting. Seems only polite.

I'm Dawn, I am from Southern BC, Canada. I have a wide range of book interests and I am a mood reader. So I tend to go on genre binges and then drop them until the next time the mood strikes me. But fantasy and science fiction consistently come back around.

I just finished Golden State by Ben H. Winters and thought it was fantastic. And I am working my way through the Paladin's Legacy series by Elizabeth Moon which I am very much enjoying.

Welcome Dawn! There are several active members from BC here. I’m from Victoria :) Where are you?

I love Victoria, I'm heading over for Canada Day this year. To see the fireworks. :)
I'm located in Chilliwack.

Hi Dawn, glad you decided to let us know you are here! Jump in anywhere and let us know what you have to say!

I have only been to BC once en route to Alaska, but one of these days I'd like to go spend more time there! I'm way over on the other coast in Boston.

BC is a beautiful place. I like the whole West Coast, it makes a great road trip to go from BC to California.
I don't make it to the East Coast often, closest to Boston I've been is New York. :)

Hi all! I'm Abbie and I saw this group and just had to join! I'm from England and love all things Fantasy. I've also been dipping my toes in the waters of SciFi. I'm hoping to join in future monthly discussions :)