SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Would you rather have to move every 6 months, but your new home has a massive library stocked with treasures.

or

Have all the best books brought to you for free, but you could never leave the city you were in?

that one's tough. I've lived through the move every 6 months or less bit as I was an Air Force Brat (18 houses in 18 years with 4 in one year) and then I worked in the oil fields (new job/rig every 4-6 weeks.

I think I'll go with choice two as long as it's a nice place

That's not an easy one ;) If I didn't have a family, I would go with choice one. Since I do, choice two it is (that city had better be amazing!).

The second. I hate moving. Hopefully the neighbors would be decent!

That is a tough one.

But I too have done the move very often (not every six months but often enough) and one of the most traumatic aspects of moving is the book situation (how they get moved, how to shelve them and the damage they suffer). If that issue were removed… we’ll, and I’m not sure I would want to never leave my city, even on account of endless books.

I guess that makes option no. 1 for me.

Would you rather your favorite series be completed (or, if completed, get another life-altering standalone in the same world) BUT the villain from that series comes to power in the same way on Earth, OR never get another book in that series ever again and the world continues on the same path?

Allison wrote: "Would you rather your favorite series be completed (or, if completed, get another life-altering standalone in the same world) BUT the villain from that series comes to power in the same way on Eart..."

My favorite series is completed; I read it as a child and it prevented me from harming myself. I would do anything to live in that imaginary world again one last time.

books are so critical, so glad you found something when you needed it most!

Phillip wrote: "Would you rather have to move every 6 months, but your new home has a massive library stocked with treasures.

or

Have all the best books brought to you for free, but you could never leave the cit..."

As a fan of The Outskirter's Secret and having read most of the Jack Reacher series I'm going to go with option 1. It's in no way whatsoever how I live or have lived my life but living in a more migratory manner has a strong appeal. Following the Sun/comfortable weather conditions across the globe. Consuming my favourite foods and drinks without the reliance of global supply chains which is heavily reliant on fossil fuel consumption sounds great. My decision has nothing to do with reading because all of my reading is done digitally these days. I don't need a physical home library. Not for anything but textbooks and how to guides for if society collapses.

I really like completing a series and letting it rest. Seems like the longer sagas tend to loose surprise, intrigue, characters get stale or predictable. And bringing it to earth really doesn't make any sense for many the fantasy books I like -

Allison wrote: "Would you rather your favorite series be completed (or, if completed, get another life-altering standalone in the same world) BUT the villain from that series comes to power in the same way on Eart..."

On the same path? My favorite series is In Death by JD Robb, where guns are outlawed and moms have a salary. Sounds better than this world thank you very much!

Kirsten wrote: "My favorite series is In Death by JD Robb, where guns are outlawed and moms have a salary. Sounds better than this world thank you very much! ..."

I love that series too! And yes, Eve's world sounds a little better than ours, for sure.

Would you rather:

A. Understand and read every human language (including sign), but anything you speak or write will sound broken. Think drunk Yoda as a toddler with a significant stutter. Anyone who hears you (sees signs) or reads what you've written will consider you a tedious conversationalist.

B. Fully master one language (written, read, spoken, understood) all dialects, but have no hope of learning anything from a second language. Even simple words (e.g hello, one, love) are always forgotten immediately after hearing them, unless they are the same word in your chosen language.

Definitely B! Helps to make new friends

B as well! No question about it in my mind.

A. I don’t care with the foreign languages I already speak that they are broken, so I doubt I’d care that much if it were that way with all of them. And being like Yoda would be cool. I’d rather be able to communicate with everyone.

Would you rather be the person in the tower or the person fighting all known dangers to retrieve the person in the tower?

I'm lazy - I'll be the person in the tower but I might give advice to the person trying to retrieve me

I'll go with being the person trying to fight their way up. I guess I'd rather not have my fate depend on someone else fighting their way up.

Allison wrote: "Would you rather be the person in the tower or the person fighting all known dangers to retrieve the person in the tower?"

Of great doctrinal import: Are there books in the tower?

You're Snow White, or Rapunzel, or Briar Rose.

What's the wifi like in the tower? Is there Netflix? A wine cellar?

None internet XD

There might be beer or like calming amounts of alcohol but not lose track of time amounts

Allison wrote: "None internet XD

There might be beer or like calming amounts of alcohol but not lose track of time amounts"

Screw it, I'll fight demons or whatever then.

hahaha

I'd be the person fighting all known dangers. Not necessarily directly, with fisticuffs, but definitely engaging in some kind of conflict.

With a life comparable to what you have now (aka no super powers for you and an equivalent affluence), would you rather live on Tatooine or in Gotham City?

Phillip wrote: "With a life comparable to what you have now (aka no super powers for you and an equivalent affluence), would you rather live on Tatooine or in Gotham City?"

Gotham. I'm not a hot weather person and I've always wanted to try BBQ penguin.

Gotham, because I'm not a hot weather person either!

Gotham. I hate the beach and Tatooine seems hot and sandy/dusty. No thanks!

Oh, definitely Tatooine. I don't love heat but I dislike cities with a lot of people more. I'll be off exploring Sand People territory.

Phillip wrote: "With a life comparable to what you have now (aka no super powers for you and an equivalent affluence), would you rather live on Tatooine or in Gotham City?"

having been to Tatooine, I think I'll give Gotham a try.

Tatooine for me. I grew up in the Bronx; I don't need Gotham.

Gotham for sure. I don't like sand, it gets everywhere. No, but seriously. Tatooine is so unappealing to me. I hate the desert and I hate the sun even more.

Tatooine. Good bars, very few kidnappings, very sunny, may run into Harrison Ford.

lol Allison!

Option 2.
Even though I would love to travel occasionally, probably to explore bookstores and libraries, I am, myself, a cozy, simple person and would prefer getting lost in books in my favorite nook at one place that I can call home forever.

I've been a huge fan of Tolkien (for more decades than I care to admit!). I've often had dreams where I'm actually living in Middle earth. When the movies first came out, I was actually a little worried that they would pollute my image of that world that I had constructed in my mind. It didn't happen. Somehow the movies and books remain separate in my head.

So here's the question. Has anybody had the same concerns? In other words when a fantasy or scifi movie came out, were you afraid it might pollute a world you built in your mind for a favorite book? Were you able to see the movie and still keep your old image of the world/city/place etc...?

Don't get me started on the original Dune movie!

Jason wrote: "I've been a huge fan of Tolkien (for more decades than I care to admit!). I've often had dreams where I'm actually living in Middle earth. When the movies first came out, I was actually a little wo..."

I have felt that way, Jason. I was happy with the LOTR movies, though.

I’m afraid I do not have this problem as it pertains to visual aspects. When I read I only have vague visualizations of scenes and characters, etc. So, I tend to welcome a film maker’s vision in that respect. I take way bigger issue with illogical changes in plot or details and characters. Lately, though, with the advent of the TV (mini) series, I find I have fewer gripes.

I'd say magic and quests, just to see what it's like. Maybe magic can be entertaining to me. I would like to see who I am in a world without social media or endless distractions (cough cough, famous last words).

Then again, I might freak out within the first week.