The Challenge Factory discussion

I have another team challenge planned, but I'm not sure how many folks would participate. Would everyone please give me their opinion?

tentative title: Lost in Space



This challenge is designed to read books from the science fiction genre. But you're thinking, "I don't read science fiction stories!" Maybe you just don't realize you do.

(from Wikipedia) Science fiction elements include:
✪ Scenes in outer space, on other worlds, or subterranean earth
✪ A time setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history
✪ Characters that include aliens, mutants, androids, or humanoid robots and other types of characters arising from a future human evolution
✪ Futuristic or plausible technology, such as ray guns, teleportation machines, and humanoid computers
✪ Scientific principles that are new or that contradict accepted physical laws, such as time travel, wormholes, or faster-than-light travel or communication
✪ New and different political or social systems, such as utopian, dystopian, or post-apocalyptic
✪ Abilities such as mind control, telepathy, telekinesis, such as "The Force" in Star Wars
✪ Other universes or dimensions and travel between them

helpful lists: Best Science Fiction and Popular Science Fiction books

Here are a few particulars -
The challenge is designed to last 9 to 10 weeks (depending on if I count the sun as a part of our solar system; Pluto is not being left out :)

How to Play:
✪ Each team player must read at least 1 science fiction book each week.
✪ Each science fiction book will earn 5 points. More points will be added for page number and if the book meets the weekly task.
✪ Every Friday a task will be given based on a planet in our solar system. For the cover tasks, a cover from any edition will count.

Qualified Books:
✪ Books must be a 150 page minimum
✪ Re-reads are allowed
✪ Scifi books must be shelved with that genre a significant number of times.
✪ Graphic novels ARE NOT allowed.
✪ Anthologies are fine, but you must read the entire book.
✪ Non-Fiction is okay too but not poetry books.

Scoring:
✪ Each science fiction book is worth 5 points.
✪ 5 extra points will be given if a book meets the bonus weekly task.
✪ If you read a book that is not science fiction, you can still claim page points. These books can only be counted AFTER you have read your science fiction book for the week. Non science fiction books cannot earn the bonus weekly points.
✪ Page Points:
150-200 pages = 1 point
200-300 pages = 2 points
300-400 pages = 3 points
400-500 pages = 4 points
500+ pages = 5 points

This sounds like a good one!

Tiffany wrote: "This sounds like a good one!"

Thanks, Tiffany. Do you feel like you could read 9 or 10 science fiction books?
I included the lists hoping that people will realize that they might be reading sci-fi books without knowing it.

Nice idea!
I think I would do it. Sounds interesting and 1 SF book a week is doable.
I do have a question though: you have a broad range for SF, but this might bot be reflected in the MPG, so how would you handle that?

Lanelle wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "This sounds like a good one!"

Thanks, Tiffany. Do you feel like you could read 7 or 8 science fiction books?
I included the lists hoping that people will realize that they might be..."

7 or 8 in a year, yes. In a month? Maybe not. That would be a stretch for me as I like to mix my genres, authors, and series throughout the month to keep my reading "fresh".

Claire wrote: "Nice idea! I think I would do it. Sounds interesting and 1 SF book a week is doable.

I do have a question though: you have a broad range for SF, but this might bot be reflected in the MPG, so how would you handle that?"

I'm not sure what MPG is, but I think I've caught the gist of your question. You've thought of the trickiest part of the challenge. I know we tend to depend on lists and shelves here on Goodreads, but we also know that they are not reliable.

I'm thinking of gathering a team of judges to help me determine whether a book would be considered science fiction or fantasy, so it's not just my opinion. These 'judges' would be my family members who are ardent readers of all kinds of genres.

I could do it with rereads, YA Dystopian, and Steampunk ("alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history") but it would be hard for me to a lot of space/alien stuff because that usually isn't my thing.

I would definitely be interested in trying though.

Ashley wrote: "I could do it with rereads, YA Dystopian, and Steampunk ("alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history") but it would be hard for me to a lot of space/alien stuff because that usually isn't my thing.

I would definitely be interested in trying though."

Thanks, Ashley. I imagine many would choose to read dystopian and steampunk. Those seem to be the most popular types of science fiction books right now.

I would love to start a Listopia list of science fiction books for people who don't like science fiction :)

Lanelle wrote: "Claire wrote: "Nice idea! I think I would do it. Sounds interesting and 1 SF book a week is doable.

I do have a question though: you have a broad range for SF, but this might bot be reflected in t..."

MPG is main page genre - I struggled with this abbreviation in the beginning as well :-)

Since I'm not very reliable in my reading behavior right now I'm not committing to any kind of team challenges but could imagine to join an individual edition of this challenge if the time frame for each task would be two weeks.
This number of books itself wouldn't be an issue for me but the SF genre would be pretty tough - the only SF I have no issues to read are the In Death books and there I'm pretty dependent on the availability from my library. Sometimes I can get up to 3 of thoses a week - than there are streches I have to wait up to 6 weeks for the older books in series and up to 26 for the current German translations :-(
I have most likely a handful of other books I could 'force' myself to read but I don't think it would be realistic to complete those in one week.

My only hesitation is the one per week requirement - sometimes I can get in 2 books per week but if my home life explodes, I wouldn't want to feel pressured to get a book done so fast. The SF would I would be interesting in re-reading are longer books too that would likely take more than a week (currently starting to re-read Red Rising series, and want to re-read the Outlander series)

Agnieszka wrote: "MPG is main page genre - I struggled with this abbreviation in the beginning as well :-)"

Ah. *smacks forehead* I was afraid it was going to be something obvious that I should have guessed :)


Agnieszka wrote: "This number of books itself wouldn't be an issue for me but the SF genre would be pretty tough - the only SF I have no issues to read are the In Death books and there I'm pretty dependent on the availability from my library. Sometimes I can get up to 3 of thoses a week - than there are streches I have to wait up to 6 weeks for the older books in series and up to 26 for the current German translations :-(
I have most likely a handful of other books I could 'force' myself to read but I don't think it would be realistic to complete those in one week."

This challenge wouldn't happen until later in the year. Ezi needs a chance to have the SS/SSS team challenge.

Maybe instead of a Listopia list, I could start a thread way before the challenge started so that participants could share easy-to-read, enjoyable, short science fiction books.

Lanelle wrote: "...I would love to start a Listopia list of science fiction books for people who don't like science fiction :)"

That's a great idea and I could contribute three titles to it :-)
The Handmaid's Tale
I Am Number Four
The Emperor's Edge
In Death series

Rachel wrote: "My only hesitation is the one per week requirement - sometimes I can get in 2 books per week but if my home life explodes, I wouldn't want to feel pressured to get a book done so fast. The SF would..."

Most of the team challenges here on The Challenge Factory require you to read at least 1 book a week. (In the Super Speedy Series team challenge, you would have to read 2 books a week.) You would have to decide if reading 1 book a week for a certain period of time would be too much. And life does tend to get in the way sometimes :)

Whenever I have joined in a team challenge, I always search through my books before it ever starts, and find stories that are not too long.

Agnieszka wrote: "That's a great idea and I could contribute three titles to it :-)
The Handmaid's Tale
I Am Number Four
The Emperor's Edge
In Death series"

I read the I Am Number Four series for the last SS team challenge. I enjoyed them all. And one of my daughters has been after me to read The Emperor's Edge.

I'm a huge fan of Lindsay Buroker, and it started with The Emperor's Edge.

Those books are kind of a mix of SF/fantasy, which makes them interesting.

And I have argued with people about the In Death books, because they are clearly science fiction, but people who "don't read SF" like them so then they are confused.

I would definitely play. Well depending on when you did the game and what I had going on in life at the time. But I like the game idea.

I really like it when Team Challenges encourage the team mates to work together. So if the idea of reading a SF book every week is intimidating, maybe structure it on planets and the solar system (like in your picture).

Every week the team is filling in the solar system. Planets must be SF, either MPG or a decent number of tags (15? ). And once the team has filled in a planet, other teammates can fill in "moons" of that planet, where the moon books share a MPG tag with the planet book.

So if I read the The Martian and post it as a planet for my team, a team mate could read something marked "FICTION" and post it as a moon of The Martian.

Maybe planets could be worth more than moons? But it means that even if you can't find an SF that week you can still contribute.

On my shelves I mix up the SF and fantasy because a lot seem like both (hello Lindsay Buroker) so I can see myself grabbing the wrong book and then scrambling.

would books with ghost and vampire count I'm never sure about them I get confused when it comes to genres

I love dystopian books so I would join in and reading one a week I don't find hard. I have read a few time travel ones too but like it more if it doesn't go to much into the history or the science behind the traveling.

never read an Aileen book but would be up for trying one.

Beth wrote: "I'm a huge fan of Lindsay Buroker, and it started with The Emperor's Edge.

Those books are kind of a mix of SF/fantasy, which makes them interesting.

And I have argued with people about the In Death books, because they are clearly science fiction, but people who "don't read SF" like them so then they are confused."

I haven't read any of the In Death series. It's way past time for me to give the first book a chance.

I'm kind of hoping that this challenge would help dispel any stereotypes that the genre science fiction has.

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I would definitely play. Well depending on when you did the game and what I had going on in life at the time. But I like the game idea."

Thanks, Mary. The challenge might be later this year. Hopefully I'll get lots of people saying that they join in.

Beth wrote: "I really like it when Team Challenges encourage the team mates to work together. So if the idea of reading a SF book every week is intimidating, maybe structure it on planets and the solar system (..."

Beth, you're right about the challenge needing more teamwork and planning. And I like some of the ideas you've mentioned. Thank you!

I like the idea but I’m not sure I’d be able to contribute a book a week.

Jodie (JCT) wrote: "would books with ghost and vampire count I'm never sure about them I get confused when it comes to genres

I love dystopian books so I would join in and reading one a week I don't find hard. I have read a few time travel ones too but like it more if it doesn't go to much into the history or the science behind the traveling.

never read an Aileen book but would be up for trying one."

A very simple definition: Ghost, vampires and werewolves are paranormal books, and are generally considered to be impossible to happen. Science fiction books usually have advanced technology in them, and are considered to be improbable but possible. This definition can generate all kinds of debate! :)

Dystopian books seem to be popular YA stories right now. I love reading time travel books to see how the author can explain how the main character avoids changing history.

I think alien books can be really fun or dreadful.

Slytherpuff wrote: "I like the idea but I’m not sure I’d be able to contribute a book a week."

Because you don't read much science fiction?

I'm all caught up on the In Death series, and another isn't due out until September, I think. I'm not a huge fan of dystopian or steampunk, so I doubt I can read one SF book a week. I'm lucky if I average 1 per month! This is not a challenge I would be a good fit for.

⚜️Trea wrote: "I'm all caught up on the In Death series, and another isn't due out until September, I think. I'm not a huge fan of dystopian or steampunk, so I doubt I can read one SF book a week. I'm lucky if I ..."

Thank you, Trea. This is why I'm asking for feedback. I need to know if there enough folks interested in reading sci-fi to have the challenge.

I would probably NOT participate ... but to help you with outlining the challenge I do have these questions / observations:

✪ Scifi books must be shelved with that genre a significant number of times. .... You need your rules to be clear and unambiguous. If you don't want to rely solely on MPG ... Perhaps "must be on the first page of shelves" (when you click the "see top shelves" link under the main page genres) ... -or- ... Must be shelved by at least 50 people (tell the number)

✪ Non-Fiction is okay too but not poetry books. - How can non-fiction be "science fiction"?


✪ If you read a book that is not science fiction, you can still claim page points. These books can only be counted AFTER you have read your science fiction book for the week. Non science fiction books cannot earn the bonus weekly points. - If you really want to focus on science fiction, I would elimimate this entirely. Only the science fiction books would count for points.

I'm thinking of gathering a team of judges to help me determine whether a book would be considered science fiction or fantasy, so it's not just my opinion. These 'judges' would be my family members who are ardent readers of all kinds of genres. While this is a good idea to have a team decided if a book fits the challenge rather than just deciding on your own, I can see that this might be a nightmare. Will participants have to have the book approved in advance? If you are approving their choices after the fact (i.e. after the book has been read and recorded in t he challenge) ... Will they be able to proceed with the next phase of the challenge while waiting for approval? You might want to have a separate "approved titles" thread to have your judges approve a specific title that doesn't already meet the MPG or the "significant number of people shelving as science fiction" criteria. Then if someone really wants to read "ABC" but it doesn't have the MPG, they can ask for approval in that special approval thread, -AND- link to the approval when posting their read.

Just some thoughts. Have fun with this!

Book Concierge wrote: "I would probably NOT participate..."

BC, I really appreciate the time you took to give me your insights and suggestions. They have helped clarify some points for me.

Can you tell me why you would probably not participate in the challenge?

Book Concierge wrote: "...
✪ If you read a book that is not science fiction, you can still claim page points. These books can only be counted AFTER you have read your science fiction book for the week. Non science fiction books cannot earn the bonus weekly points. - If you really want to focus on science fiction, I would elimimate this entirely. Only the science fiction books would count for points..."

Please not - that would be for the only reason I'd join the challenge at all. Even if it wouldn't be easy for me I think I can somehow manage to read a SF book a week if it's not longer than 8 weeks in all and still have some fun reading my usual stuff and enjoing reading and be able to contribute to the challenge as much as I can.

I checked the books I want read/re-read/re-start (books I started somethime in the past but either lost interest or got distracted by other more 'fun' books - I have an entire shelf of those - I decided to clear it as much as possible this year and start those from the beginning again) this year and noticed it would be possible to do and even likely I could enjoy it :-)

I'm usually not reading this genre but here some books I really want to read or need for challenges. Since I've already done this work I decided to list them - so I don't have to do it again should the challenge start - feel free to borrow the ideas or disreagard my list. (view spoiler)[

Possible Reads
= see = or #2 in series & = =
Less than 100 pages


If approved
*
only in German available - the creator of a cyber reality universe has to save it against his archenemy who usurped the rule over it

Not sure yet
=
(hide spoiler)]

Really enjoyed the last challenge. In general I do not read much sci fi, although I love star wars on the screen just not on paper.

I could probably manage one book a week but as it is not my favourite genre I will be honest I would probable struggle and end up not enjoying the challenge, which is the whole point.

It would probably depend how strict the rules were for me, If I could get away with historical fiction perhaps where that character time travels....but then again, numerous on the same topic would be a struggle for me.

I bet sci fi fans on here will love it!!

Jade, thanks for letting know your thoughts. Time travel is science fiction, so you could get away with reading it :)

And I'm hoping the sci-fi fans here on TCF will give us their thoughts!

I love the sound of this. It would depend on when it was though as later in the year I may have problems reading more than one book a week (or even just one book a week) when I'm back at uni again.

I would definitely want to be a part of this, I *LOVE* sci-fi, but don't get chance to read much of it. Seriously, if this becomes an actual challenge then I am all over it.

I am a little worried about people not having the same opinion of what Sci-Fi is though. For example, there are a number of Stephen King books that are considered science fiction, but most people see them as horror. The Hunger Games books can be considered sci-fi because of the setting, but most people would call them YA fantasy.
You could use the themes mentioned in your fist comment (the Wikipedia quote bit) and ask for 'proof' like with the mystery date challenge?

I do like the 'must be shelved as sci-fi 50+ times' idea that someone else mentioned too, but a lot of people don't shelve things as sci-fi, they shelve as sci-fi - dystopia etc so this might be difficult for some books.

Non-Fiction is okay too but not poetry books. - This is kind of confusing. So we can read non-fiction science fiction? I don't know what this means... Do you mean non fiction books about science? If so, would Human Anatomy books count? I always have a lot of those to work through.

I hope this happens, I would really love a sci-fi challenge. I know I will be able to read a lot of books that I have been meaning to read for years

I’ve been reading a lot of sci-fi lately, and I love this idea! My only hesitation is in the 1 book per week department. I’m usually reading a few different books at a time but I don’t know if I actually finish 1 book per week. Sometimes I finish two in a week sometimes I finish 1, sometimes I finish none. I’d only hesitate because I wouldn’t want to hold my team back.

If it was an individual challenge I’d definitely like to join. Or if it was more of a race to the finish type deal.

I’ll also check my list and see if I have any more mainstream sci-fi on my shelves for your suggestions list.

Lith wrote: "...I do like the 'must be shelved as sci-fi 50+ times' idea that someone else mentioned too, but a lot of people don't shelve things as sci-fi, they shelve as sci-fi - dystopia etc so this might be difficult for some books."

Usually I would second this since I prefer nice easy to find or check tasks but as I went through my books I noticed I have several German SF books that were not even read/shelved by 10 people and so you won't be able to find any shelves at all.
I think this idea is great for well known or older books but rather difficult for new/foreign/rather unknown books.

Lanelle wrote: "BC, I really appreciate the time you took to give me your insights and suggestions. They have helped clarify some points for me.

Can you tell me why you would probably not participate in the challenge? ..."

I read maybe 5 sci-fi books in a year ... wouldn't enjoy reading 8 in a row. And as others have mentioned, the point of these challenges is to have fun, and that wouldn't be fun for me.

I would love a sci-fi challenge!

✿Claire✿ (Tiny Owl) wrote: "I love the sound of this. It would depend on when it was though as later in the year I may have problems reading more than one book a week (or even just one book a week) when I'm back at uni again."

Thanks for letting me know, Claire. I need to discuss when to fit the challenge into the yearly schedule with my fellow moderators.

Lith wrote: "I would definitely want to be a part of this, I *LOVE* sci-fi, but don't get chance to read much of it. Seriously, if this becomes an actual challenge then I am all over it. "

Awesome, Lith. If you know of any other sci-fi readers, please point them this way.

Sarah wrote: "I’ll also check my list and see if I have any more mainstream sci-fi on my shelves for your suggestions list. "

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of having a thread devoted to mainstream sci-fi books. I imagine people read sci-fi books without realizing it, such as time travel, steampunk, utopian, dystopian, and post-apocalyptic books.

Not all science fiction take place in outer space.

Definitely not Lanelle!

I was thinking over this and I think a good place to start with “mainstream” science fiction would be to look to the movies. Michael Crichton is one that comes to mind.

Jurassic Park is Science Fiction but it’s not in space and it’s so much fun! I’m reading through Lost World now and it’s also a blast (much better than its movie counterpart).

There’s also Andy Weir and his book: The Martian (though this does take place in space I think a lot of people loved it even if they don’t love sci-fi.)

Another place to look might be the classics. Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea qualifies as sci-fi too IIRC (and again, not in space).

Here are some tentative suggestions for a list to get us started:

From the movies:
Jurassic Park
The Lost World
The Martian
I Am Legend
The 5th Wave

From TV:
The Girl With All the Gifts
The Handmaid's Tale
Pines
The Man in the High Castle

Classics:
The Time Machine
1984
Brave New World
Fahrenheit 451
A Clockwork Orange
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Ender's Game

Mystery/Thrillers:
The Silent Corner - this is written by Dean Koontz so I think it has some mass appeal and I believe qualifies in the Cyberpunk subgenre of sci-fi.
The Last Policeman - A pre-apocalyptic mystery. Read as a group read for Sci-Fi detective story for a SFF book club I belong to but very accessible and light on the science.
Dark Matter - a thriller by Blake Crouch and so good. You really don't need to love sci-fi to love this.

Literary Sci-fi:
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - basically an alternate history. Heavy on the historical setting but includes clockwork/steam punk elements.
The Book of Strange New Things - Does take place in space, but the running theme of the novel is how physical distance can also create emotional distance between spouses/partners.
Too Like the Lightning - I'm adding this here with a very large grain of salt. It is extremely literary which is why I was thinking non sci-fi readers might appreciate it. The world is built by immersion and there are no info dumps. But it poses many interesting theories on how the world might someday become a Utopia. Extremely thought provoking and my favorite read of last year. However: many people found it a difficult to follow/read book and ended up not liking or not finishing as a result.

Romance:
The Diabolic - It's YA and it's set in Space, but the main plot here is romance and it was a good read.
Outlander - It has time travel! I think this qualifies for the Science fiction and general reception has been very positive.

Other:
Artemis - Also written by Andy Weir. A fun heist/caper style novel set on the moon.
Red Rising - The Hunger Games on Mars.
Ready Player One - Some love it for it's 80's nostalgia. It's a dystopian novel about a boy who must find something in the virtual world, Oasis. Oasis is a significant structural aspect of this future society.
Otherworld - Similar to Ready Player One. Written by Jason Segel (the actor!). He's also searching for answers in a virtual world.

There are still a lot of classics and I'm sure movies out there that I've missed but I haven't included anything too heavy on the science part of science fiction (Michael Crichton might be the exception, oddly, his books are very scientific).

Lanelle wrote: "Slytherpuff wrote: "I like the idea but I’m not sure I’d be able to contribute a book a week."

Because you don't read much science fiction?"

I do read science fiction. I just don’t have the time to finish a book in the week. The other issue is that I have already read most of the books.