SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Lexxi Kitty wrote: "John wrote: "Sarah Anne wrote: "John, this thread isn't for debating whether or not we read them. This is for collecting names."

Well then why did Lexxi Kitty think it imperitive that she listed t..."

Actually you didn't have to post them under the LGBT whatever heading at all as it wasn't relavent. And by posting it under said classification you basicly did state whom they were sleeping with per se

Hey, c'mon y'all. I'd like to leave this open for more lovely suggestions, but I'll close it if we're going to be acrimonious. John, Lexxi did precisely what I asked. I was in fact looking for authors who identify other than straight/cis, and she really took a lot of time to make an amazing list!

And you're right of course, it shouldn't matter who anyone loves. I'd like to show support for that mentality by making sure my reading doesn't just reflect people who love the opposite sex.

BTW, Lexxi, I'm sharing those suggestions with a friend who's been looking for some gay protagonists. I think they're really gonna be happy with the options! :)

While mentally tallying my books I thought of another: John Ridley.

He's primarily known for movies like Three Kings and 12 Years A Slave, but he's also written some superhero comics and the two superhero novels Those Who Walk in Darkness and What Fire Cannot Burn, which feature female police officer protagonists, one of whom is black and the other Asian. I vaguely recall one is gay, too.

Oo Trike, I like those titles, thanks!

And Seaby, you're right that self-promotion is on the hairy edge here, but as I am making an exception for Brenda as I'm counting Trike's response as an endorsement, I will also make an exception here! Share whatever you wish about yourself, know we see and value you!

Okay, I'm going to start deleting any post that goes off topic. I've been through many, many arguments in another thread over why people want to modify their reading. It's pointless, aggravating, and in this case, off the damn topic.

If you want to argue the why, take it elsewhere.

I *really* want to argue the “where” but no one ever wants to do that.

Me, it’s park benches.

Allison, have you checked out the Tiptree Awards?

Allison wrote: "Second question, would anyone be interested in doing a "more diverse side read" list next year?"

Yes please!!!!!! I am 200% interested. (Especially after reading your "why," which coincides with my "why", too.)

I've been working on this on my own for a while, but I also like to discuss books after I read them.

I'll see if I have anything to add to your already growing list, too :)

I am keeping track and presently 46% of the books I read are by women.
Although I am a white-ish straight woman I have always been more interested in being 'one of the guys' so it both is and isn't surprising to me that some of my favourite female characters are written by men.
Also I am Jewish so as much as I love Harry Potter I find myself asking 'Why Christmas?'.
Even Jewish-themed fiction often has an ashkenazi-american-eastern european slant while my ancestry is north african-sefardi.

As a result while asian/african scifi and fantasy may not be my point of view it makes a refreshing break.

Sarah Anne wrote: "Allison, have you checked out the Tiptree Awards?"

Not specifically, good idea. Although it looks like we captured many in-genre by pure happenstance!

I would also be interested in a diverse side read. I don't know how often I could participate, but I love reading with the group. :)

Kristin a bunch of us are getting ready to start reading Alanna: The First Adventure starting around the 11th and were talking of reading the series. If your interested your free to join in.

I thought he was on our group bookshelf but I don't see him and I don't see him mentioned here. I haven't gotten around to reading them yet but I think the blurbs sound really interesting:

Wesley Chu was born in Taiwan and his books are:

Lives of Tao, The
The Deaths of Tao
The Rebirths of Tao

Time Salvager
Time Siege

I just realized an author Sarah Anne recommended to me is Egyptian-American: Ramez Naam

Nexus
Crux
Apex

Thanks Sarah! Kristin, cool! I'm trying to decide if it should be a "game" or something like a side read group. Open to opinions on it, but also mulling over the schedule for next year with the other mods! We will definitely be doing something with this amazing collection :)

After reading the stats, I'd like to suggest that we have a challenge or event where we can read more female scifi authors.

Allison wrote: "Thanks Sarah! Kristin, cool! I'm trying to decide if it should be a "game" or something like a side read group. Open to opinions on it, but also mulling over the schedule for next year with the oth..."

I'd love to see a game made out of it!

I have trouble finding women sci-fi authors for the random polls. Anything you guys provide on here will be immensely helpful.

I went through my Science Fiction shelf, you might already know of all of these.

The ones I mentioned in my prior post (including Fletcher Delancey (Alsea series); Missouri Vaun (Return to Earth series); Sandra Barret; Elizabeth Moon - two science fiction series and one stand-alone science fiction work, if I recall correctly).

Mira Grant, specifically her Parasitology series, though her Newsflesh series is (or was at some point, I forget what year first book starts) near-future, and apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic science fiction.

Gail Carriger's various steampunk series (Steampunk is a subgenre of Science Fiction, right?) - though there's a lot of fantasy elements mixed into the main steampunk series.

James Tiptree Jr. (aka Alice Bradley Sheldon)

Maureen F. McHugh (specifically China Mountain Zhang)

R.J. Anderson (specifically the Ultraviolet series)

E.J. Fisch (specifically Ziva Payvan series)

Tanya Huff (military science fiction, specifically Confederation series)

Lois McMaster Bujold

Cherie Priest (specifically The Clockwork Century)

Own stuff by but haven't read yet:
Jo Walton

Octavia E. Butler

Jo Clayton

Andre Norton

I didn't include those who I've only read media-tie books by (i.e., Star Trek etc. - though many of them have science fiction books not connected to media-tie-in land, I just haven't read them), and/or those who seem to only write Young Adult books (like Meg Cabot who explored the concept of stuffing someone's brain into someone else's body (Airhead series)).

I’m down to do a “more diverse” side group/challenge/game/whatever! I haven’t heard of most of the authors in this thread but from Allison’s list I’ve got Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin, Octavia E. Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, and Nicola Griffith in my TBR already and I’ve been itching to try them all. Especially Buter. Every single one of her books appeals to me.

I think the whole point of this is to discover more diverse perspectives, and I’m excited to do just that!

I'm half-white, so I'm not sure that I qualify...but the characters in my book are Asian/female and African-American/male.

My other half is black and I was adopted into an African-American family when I was a baby and I've lived half my life in Taiwan.

You write what you know, right? I guess that's the point. Differing perspectives.

Sarah Anne wrote: "I have trouble finding women sci-fi authors for the random polls. Anything you guys provide on here will be immensely helpful."

Women SF authors whose SF I've enjoyed: Rachel Bach, Pat Cadigan, Carol Emshwiller, Karen Joy Fowler (Sarah Canary), Carolyn Ives Gilman, Diana Wynne Jones (Hexwood), Nancy Kress, Maureen F. McHugh, Vonda N. McIntyre, Katherine MacLean, Judith Merril, Tanith Lee, Karin Lowachee, Susan R. Matthews, Andre Norton, Joanna Russ, James Tiptree Jr., Jo Walton

Women SF authors whom I recommend based on having enjoyed their non-SF books: Patricia Anthony, Kage Baker, Tanya Huff, R. A. MacAvoy (The Third Eagle), Melissa Scott, Liz Williams

Women SF authors I've been meaning to try: Naomi Alderman (The Power), Eleanor Arnason, Madeline Ashby, Leigh Brackett, Suzy McKee Charnas, Julie E. Czerneda, Suzette Haden Elgin, Kelley Eskridge, Jaine Fenn, C. S. Friedman, Kathleen Ann Goonan, Nicola Griffith, Cecelia Holland, S. L. Huang, Rosemary Kirstein, M. J. Locke, Karen Lord, Elizabeth A. Lynn, Julian May, Chris Moriarty, Pat Murphy, Linda Nagata, Marge Piercy, Marta Randall, Justina Robson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Joan Slonczewski, Kristine Smith, Tricia Sullivan, Judith Tarr, Amy Thomson, Karen Traviss, K. B. Wagers

John wrote: "Kristin a bunch of us are getting ready to start reading Alanna: The First Adventure starting around the 11th and were talking of reading the series. If your interested your free to jo..."

That sounds interesting. If I can fit it in this month I'll join in. I have a ton on my list trying to finish a challenge this month. Either way it's now on my TBR. Thanks!


Allison, I'd be happy with whatever you choose! I love book discussions, but I also really like games and challenges. (I know, I'm super helpful with helping you make this decision. ;) )

Kristin B. wrote: "John wrote: "Kristin a bunch of us are getting ready to start reading Alanna: The First Adventure starting around the 11th and were talking of reading the series. If your interested yo..."

Haha! I think I have a solution that will appease both! Stay tuned...

John wrote: "Kristin a bunch of us are getting ready to start reading Alanna: The First Adventure starting around the 11th and were talking of reading the series. If your interested your free to jo..."

OMG! I grew up on that series and love it to pieces!!!!! LOVE Alanna.

I also want to say I want to hug this thread. There are just SO MANY names and books to try.

I do want to note, however, Mt. TBR is high enough as it is. Why y'all gotta throw fuel on the fire??

MrsJoseph wrote: "I also want to say I want to hug this thread. There are just SO MANY names and books to try.

I do want to note, however, Mt. TBR is high enough as it is. Why y'all gotta throw fuel on the fire??"

heehee! We're just mean like that ;-) Looks like we have a lot of great options to make next year a fantastic book year!

Sarah Anne wrote: "I have trouble finding women sci-fi authors for the random polls. Anything you guys provide on here will be immensely helpful."

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

She might even get bonus points for being a Priest.

If anyone's looking for Middle East recommendations, this is an interesting list - all new to me - "Five Books to Take You Beyond One Thousand & One Nights":

https://www.tor.com/2017/11/14/five-b...

(I have heard of Naguib Mahfouz of course, but only for The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street which is still on my tbr)

MrsJoseph wrote: "John wrote: "Kristin a bunch of us are getting ready to start reading Alanna: The First Adventure starting around the 11th and were talking of reading the series. If your interested yo..."

Well, your welcome to join in with us if you like. After all the more the merrier when it comes to the reads. I've never read this series so it will be a new one for me Personally. Even though it is a YA I figure why not. As for the TBR, I won't argue that there as mine keeps growing instead of shrinking.

Allison Ok I'm staying tuned to see what you got up your sleeve.

In terms of female sci-fi authors:

C.A. Higgins
Amy Tintera
Martha Wells

I don't know if anyone is interested in YA:
S.J. Kincaid
Amie Kaufman

I've had good intentions of reading more diversely, and I look back on the past two years' reading to see that it's 86% straight cis white folk. Shameful. So I'd love to join a challenge like this!

My greedy suggestion is Michelle West who also writes as Michelle Sagara and Michelle Sagara West. An author who I've had on TBR for years and never got around to... As West, she writes doorstopper fantasies, as Sagara urban fantasy.

Beth wrote: "I've had good intentions of reading more diversely, and I look back on the past two years' reading to see that it's 86% straight cis white folk. Shameful. So I'd love to join a challenge like this!..."

*compulsively adds to TBR*

Sarah Anne wrote: "I have trouble finding women sci-fi authors for the random polls. Anything you guys provide on here will be immensely helpful."

I don't think these ladies have been mentioned yet:

Marina J. Lostetter (Noumenon)
Annalee Newitz (Autonomous)
Meg Howrey (The Wanderers)
Gwyneth Jones (Proof of Concept)
Emma Newman (Planetfall)
Karin Tidbeck (Amatka)
Mishell Baker (Borderline)
Mary Robinette Kowal (The Lady Astronaut of Mars is becoming a series)
Madeline Ashby (Company Town)
Malorie Blackman (Noughts & Crosses)
Corinne Duyvis (On the Edge of Gone)

The most recent posts aren't in the digest, so I missed Jain's post 'til now. That's a great list, and there are bunches of them on my own "want to try"!

I followed SF Mistressworks diligently when they were posting frequently; while there hasn't been any new content for several months, it's still out there and is a great resource with hundreds of reviews of women's SF covering the whole lifespan of the genre.

Beth wrote: "The most recent posts aren't in the digest, so I missed Jain's post 'til now. That's a great list, and there are bunches of them on my own "want to try"!

I followed SF Mistressworks diligently wh..."

Interestingly enough, I am reading a book right now that is written in sections. One by a Frenchman, one by an Italian, one by an Englishman, one by a Japanese, one by an American and the last section by a Russian.

It is outside the scope of the group though, due to the fact that it is on WWII navies, but I looked through my read list and it would seem that most of the foreign authors I have read fall into the WWII history category. Of course, they are on a don't ask don't tell vibe about their sexual orientation.

So I might have to join in on a challenge for Sci-Fi/Fantasy that involves Non-White authors.

Dj wrote: "Beth wrote: "The most recent posts aren't in the digest, so I missed Jain's post 'til now. That's a great list, and there are bunches of them on my own "want to try"!

I followed SF Mistressworks ..."

That does sound like an interesting format for a book! I hope you do join in with our challenge next year. :)

Allison wrote: "Dj wrote: "Beth wrote: "The most recent posts aren't in the digest, so I missed Jain's post 'til now. That's a great list, and there are bunches of them on my own "want to try"!

I followed SF Mis..."


Well after that comment it would be churlish of me not to.