Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels discussion

Time for August nominations. Use this thread to nominate titles from our selected bookshelf, Extremely Long Reads

https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

There's only 10 to choose from, so this could be easier than usual.

I forgot to say, let's nominate for a couple of weeks, say, until the 21st. Or if this isn't long enough--because this is being made up as I am writing--somebody say something and it can change

Excuse me for being so chatty, but I note that Seveneves is on that list. Please don't nominate it as we are reading it in July.

Also, I nominate Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell for two reasons.
1) I own it
2) I am fascinated by the fact that this author was a double nominee in 2003, actually winning the Hugo, but then never wrote anything again except for some stories related to the novel published a couple of years later

Very weirdly I have actually read 5 of these books! Amazing. I will need some time to decide which of the others I want to nominate and read next. I'll be back soon with my decision.

BTW a good friend whose taste I respect has been recommending Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell to me since shortly after it was published.

I nominate Glory Season by David Brin

A side note - quite a few of the longest are by Neal Stephenson and this year he has another door stopper, which I'm currently reading - it has its geek's pleasure but for a general public I guess it is so-so

I nominate Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.

I've wanted to read GR for quote some time, it sounds really fascinating. It has a reputation of being really hard, Ulysses-class hard, but in a postmodern way. People who have finished it say it's really really good, but to be honest many people abandon the book midway in frustration.

But when have we shied away from challenges? Hell, we chose to read Nova Express; Gravity's Rainbow should be a piece of cake compared to that!

In fact 3 of the 5 that I've already read are Neal Stephenson's. And I'm planning to read Seveneves in July. I'm kind of a Stephenson fan, though I have to admit that he has disappointed me more than once.
I have also read Glory Season, but it was so long ago that I wouldn't object to reading it again if it wins...although I've done that several times recently and I'd really like to check a book or two off my spreadsheet.

Cynthia wrote: "In fact 3 of the 5 that I've already read are Neal Stephenson's. And I'm planning to read Seveneves in July."

Seveneves is good, actually two stories in one book. His latest, Fall, or Dodge in Hell is in the same universe and with several returning characters from Cryptonomicon and Reamde, with allusions to The Baroque Cycle Collection

Antti wrote: "I nominate Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.

I've wanted to read GR for quote some time, it sounds really fascinating. It has a reputation of being really hard, Ulysses-..."

I liked Gravity's Rainbow and didn't find it all that hard to read. I was actually a bit disappointed, because I'd expected more of a challenge.
I think most people have difficulties with GR because it's not linearly told, Pynchon uses a lot of German without ever translating anything (I admit I have a bit of an advantage there), and he jumps between different perspectives, real historic events, made-up stuff and hallucinations in a way that's not always easy to keep track of. Also some weird sex, but that's basically a given with books from that period.

Someone was talking about Islandia awhile back, but I think I'd rather read Norrell. Got a hardback copy last fall for $2 at the HPB sale. It takes up a lot of space.

So, so far, the choices are

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Glory Season
Gravity's Rainbow

I want to nominate Islandia. It intrigued me. Currently sitting on my bookshelf begging to be read.

I notice that books in the 'long series' category are not also categorised as 'long reads'. Any particular reason for this? I have A Game of Thrones also waiting on my shelf, if it's possible to nominate that? Although I imagine most members have already read it.

Hi, Sarah. I am sorry that I don't know the answer to this. Art has categorized all the bookshelves, and I am sure he will be along soon and can answer your questions about categorization.

Sarah wrote: "I notice that books in the 'long series' category are not also categorised as 'long reads'. Any particular reason for this? "

Material found on the "Long Series" bookshelf belongs to series of at least 2,000 pages and more. The longest of those is The Wheel of Time and it's about 12k worth of pages.

Bookshelves "Long Reads"(550-700pg), "Very Long Reads"(700-800pg) and "Extremely Long Reads"(800pg+) on the other hand contain works that we can go through in a month.

It would be hardly reasonable mixing in all four together. Not to mention that series also contain works that won no awards, so we have to employ a different approach to every series we read.

Sarah, I am not sure if you checked out the Concerning Series thread , we talked about some of this there.

I am torn between Islandia and Johnathan Strange myself. First fascinates me, second I was curious to read because I already watched the miniseries version when it first came out and I feel that I sufficiently forgot the intricacies of the story to be able to enjoy reading the original.

So now we have

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Glory Season
Gravity's Rainbow
Islandia

Three of the four nominees are the books I was torn between nominating. The only one I have already read is Glory Season. When will we vote?

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

When will we vote? Cynthia asks.

I left nominations open (this thread) until the 21, and then I will put up the poll for actual voting on June 22, and I think we should decide by July 1st so everyone has a chance to get a copy of the chosen book by August 1st

I am not sure if I got the length of time exactly the same as in other months when I picked the 21st for an end date for this nominations thread. But I think it's enough time. If anyone has a problem with this, let me know.

Art wrote: "Not to mention that series also contain works that won no awards, so we have to employ a different approach to every series we read.

This is a very good point. Thanks Art. I would personally overcategorise rather than undercategorise, but I can see the benefit of not duplicating works that are part of a series.

I wish the Goodreads bookshelf system was less clunky.

Just a warning re Islandia. It's not out as an ebook and neither of my librarys (e-library or regular books) has it. The cheapest I see it is on Amazon and that is $17. So I will be voting against it and hoping for its e-release sometime soon.

All the other books seem to be at my library (plus, I own Mr. Norrell)

Kateblue wrote: "Just a warning re Islandia. It's not out as an ebook and neither of my librarys (e-library or regular books) has it. The cheapest I see it is on Amazon and that is $17

Oof. That's probably going to be a problem with a lot of the older books. Too bad they aren't releasing anthologies for every new year of retro Hugo (there must be a market for that...)

I found a scan on the darknet, but I ain't sure it can be distributed: copyright seems to run out but I cannot be sure

Wright died in 1931 (11 years prior to the novel's release! That's very posthumously published!), so his works should be out of copyright: even at a maximum, the copyright is author's life plus 75 years. That would mean Islandia has been public domain for 13 years already.

We should be able to just get a copy for our group then.

Although, if there is an introduction or other materials added later, they might be still subject to copyright, which screws everything up

Here . . . https://openlibrary.org/people/Unseen...

but it looks like it is only one at a time, you have to wait, I guess. And I don't like reading online--even short things

I also found this in a Google search
Islandia Austin Tappan Wright - Book Library
stats-dev.rtb.cat/islandia-austin-tappan-wr...

which then sends me to
https://gottapdf.com/now.php?q=island...

But when I went there, they wanted my personal info. Does anyone know anything about these sites? I'm a little leery about them . . .

Then this one . . . https://ebookandbook.com/ -- actually, https://ebookandbook.com/1/?a=1&c...

Advice please.

Don't use these sites, they look phishy

That's what I thought, are they gonna get me somehow? So thanks for warning me.

I've downloaded stuff from epdf with no adverse consequences.

Hi Everybody I'm totally new. I joined five minutes ago. I nominate Dhalgren.

Welcome, Subrina! Great to see you getting involved straight off the bat.

Kate, I am almost thinking at this point you should just put everything in the poll :')

Subrina wrote: "Hi Everybody I'm totally new. I joined five minutes ago. I nominate Dhalgren."

Hi, Subrina! Welcome to the group!

Welcome, Subrina. Thanks for the nomination

I'm beginning to see why you are thinking I might as well just put them all up, Sarah. But so far only half are nominated, so I will probably just put them up.

Here's what we have:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Glory Season
Gravity's Rainbow
Islandia
Dhalgren

Did I miss any? I looked over this thread and didn't see any more

Kateblue wrote: "I'm beginning to see why you are thinking I might as well just put them all up, Sarah. But so far only half are nominated, so I will probably just put them up. "

You are right, I'm just being facetious. But there's still time :P

Interesting mix of nominations I'd say.

Hi Subrina, welcome! There's a thread where you can introduce yourself, tell us a little about you, what you like to read, etc.

Looks good, let's vote!

I'm putting the poll up tomorrow (the 21st), boys and girls, so nominate now or never

We have some aggressive goals this summer - Seveneves followed by (hopefully) Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, with the other two books of the Remembrance trilogy. That's something like 2700 pages. Not complaining, just that I don't recall a time when we have been so ambitious.

Oops! Well, have fun, boys and girls

Allan wrote: "We have some aggressive goals this summer - Seveneves followed by (hopefully) Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, with the other two books of the Remembrance trilogy. That's something like 2700 pages. ..."

I think that's a good thing! I haven't been able to take part in the monthly reads so far as I haven't had the books, or haven't been excited by particular titles, so I'd personally prefer to have more options.

I agree that's it's a good thing, I was just pointing it out. I read a handful of shorties every month, so I don't mind reading the long ones too. Two of these are on my shelf, two in the library, so I am prepped and ready to go. As soon as I finish the other four queued up in front, lol.

I have 8 books lined up for July 1. Eight. I must be nuts.

Welcome to the club, Kate!

Is there only 1 group read this month? Perhaps I'll have time for Seveneves after all!

Yes, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is very long, so it was decided that one was enough.

Ah that's a shame! I like having the choice, especially as we've only got one challenge going atm. Can't find this one in my library so I'll give it a miss. Thanks for the quick reply.

Strange & Norrell is very easy to find. I actually bought a dictionary-sized hardback version for $2 at a used book sale.