Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for READER category for April 2018.

READER books need to be currently in print in both paperback and ebook, and readily available through most of the normal places to get books. They must be Space Opera, which means a spaceship has to be involved in the story somewhere. If it is part of a series, it needs to be suitable to being read without having read other books in the series.

RULES:
* you may nominate one book on this thread.
* you may second as many nominations as you like on this thread.
* it is okay to nominate the same book on more than one nomination thread, as long as it meets the criteria
* don't nominate a book we already have on our bookshelf
* If a book you nominate or second is selected, you are expected to post at least one comment about it on the thread about the book.
* In about two weeks I will draw a book randomly, with each second being one raffle ticket for the book. That is, a book with three seconds (so four of us want it) will get three chances in the pool.

It is likely helpful if you know something about a book that has been nominated if you mention it in this thread, whether it is for or against the book.

Can I nominate Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds?

"Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just as it was on the verge of discovering space flight. Now one scientist, Dan Sylveste, will stop at nothing to solve the Amarantin riddle before ancient history repeats itself. With no other resources at his disposal, Sylveste forges a dangerous alliance with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity. But as he closes in on the secret, a killer closes in on him. Because the Amarantin were destroyed for a reason — and if that reason is uncovered, the universe—and reality itself — could be irrecoverably altered…"

Yes Renata, adding your nomination.

I'm nominating Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. This book is the second in publication order, but takes place a few years before Agent of Change. Main characters are Priscilla (Terran descent) and Shan (Liaden/Terran half breed. Priscilla had been working on another ship but gets stranded, and applies for a job on Shan's ship.

There's a lot of action both on and off ships, a few people with extreme prejudices, and quite a bit of culture clashing. There is also Priscilla learning the ropes on the new ship.

Book is currently in print as the omnibus The Dragon Variation. Ebook of the standalone book costs $2 less than the omnibus ebook, so I recommend getting the omnibus. Libraries may have it by either name, or in the omnibus Partners In Necessity.

I'll second Revelation Space!

I'll second Conflict of Honors. I've read this book a couple times and enjoyed it more the second time.

I will also second Conflict of Honors.

I'll nominate call to arms, 1st in manticore series within the honorverse.

Summary so far:
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. Nominated by Renata, seconded by Caitlin.

Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Betsy and Audrey.

A Call to Arms by David Weber. Nominated by Christian. Awaiting seconds.

I second A Call to Arms. I've read this and enjoyed it.

Christian and Betsy: A Call to Arms appears to be the second in the series, not the first. Can you verify that it can be read without the first, or do you want to swap the nomination for A Call to Duty?

I'll nominate A Call to Duty

I nominate Revelation Space as well.

Teresa wrote: "Christian and Betsy: A Call to Arms appears to be the second in the series, not the first. Can you verify that it can be read without the first, or do you want to swap the nomination for [book:A Ca..."

This is definitely a series and needs to be read in order

I will second a A Call to Duty

I second A Call to Arms by David Weber
I've read it before but want to read more of the series so need to start again

(Corrected) Summary so far:
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. Nominated by Renata, seconded by Caitlin and Jamar.

Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Betsy and Audrey.

A Call to Duty by David Weber and Timothy Zahn. Nominated by Dan. Seconded by Conal.

Disqualified (not first of series):
A Call to Arms by David Weber. NOTE: after we read the first, we can nominate this one.

My apologies, can I change my nomination to
A Call to Duty, as you say, book 1 in that series
Sorry 😐

Revelation Space is a favorite of mine. I'll second as well.

Teresa wrote: "Christian and Betsy: A Call to Arms appears to be the second in the series, not the first. Can you verify that it can be read without the first, or do you want to swap the nomination for [book:A Ca..."

Yes, I was thinking it was the first in the series. You can switch my second to Call to Duty.

I nominate:
Old Man's Warby John Scalzi

We read Old Man's War in 2014. You can nominate its sequel if you like.

Am I allowed to second two of the nominations at the same time?

If so, I’d like to second both Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds and the first book of the Honor Harrington series by David Weber (A Call to something- sorry in the UK it’s known as On Basilisk Station!).

If I am only allowed one, I vote for Honor Harrington.

Yes you can second multiple books. Please note that On Basilisk Station is the first Honor Harrington book, but A Call to Duty takes place long before HH was born, likely around the time of the series about Stephanie Harrington and the tree cats.

Summary so far:
Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. Nominated by Renata, seconded by Caitlin, Jamar, Mike, Arwen.

Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Betsy and Audrey.

A Call to Duty by David Weber and Timothy Zahn. Nominated by Dan. Seconded by Conal, Adrian, Betsy, Arwen.

We have about two days before nominations close.

Nominations are now closed. I count these seconds:
Revelation Space 4
Conflict of Honors 2
A Call to Duty 4

Wow, random draw chose Conflict of Honors! I wasn’t expecting that to happen....