The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

Nominations for December 2020 BotM are for books published during the Golden Age of SF, 1940-1959.

SF novels or short story collection/anthologies that have not previously been read by the group are eligible. Please check the bookshelf & the nomination rules for further clarification before nominating a book.

Previously nominated books are on this bookshelf. More qualifying authors & books can be found here.

Please add your nominated book title as a clickable link directly to the goodreads' book page, with author and year, so it looks like this:
Children of Time
Adrian Tchaikovsky
2015
(If you can't create book links, please include the URL to the book.)

Tell us why you chose the book that you're nominating. Remember that books require seconding now. Each member is allowed to make one nomination & second one other book other than their own.

We'll close this nomination thread on the 15th of October, in order to have plenty of time for poll(s) and then for acquisitions of the winner(s).

Nominations
They Shall Have Stars by James Blish, nom by Adrian


Seconded & eligible for the poll
The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov, nom by Rafael, 2d by Adrian
What Mad Universe by Fredric Brown, nom by Ronald, 2d by Leo
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson nom by Leo, 2d by Rafael
Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein nom by Mod Jim, 2d by Ed

I nominate The Caves of Steel. The group have not read it, me neither. I want to know if it's good.

Rafael wrote: "I nominate The Caves of Steel. The group have not read it, me neither. I want to know if it's good."

Do you mean The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov? It really helps if you put in a link to the book.

IMO, it was worth reading a couple of times. I gave it 3 stars the last time. It's a SF-mystery, but some parts are laughably dated. They didn't detract too much, though.

I'd like to (re-) nominate They Shall Have Stars (Cities in flight number1) by James Blish 1956
One of my all time favourite series of books, I remember reading back in the early/mid 70s, and even now when I read them I can hear music from the time, that I was listening to .

Rafael wrote: "I nominate The Caves of Steel. The group have not read it, me neither. I want to know if it's good."

I'll second The Caves of Steel

I nominate What Mad Universe by Fredric Brown.

I haven't read the novel but from I can tell from reviews its a humorous homage to pulp science fiction. Its available for the Kindle too and its goodreads rating is 3.97 stars.

I've read two short stories by Fredric Brown and found them amusing.

I was also thinking Frederic Brown might be a fun choice, but I was leaning towards Martians, Go Home because I've already read Mad Universe. Or maybe one of his short-story collections.

Now I'm undecided....

Jim wrote: "Rafael wrote: "I nominate The Caves of Steel. The group have not read it, me neither. I want to know if it's good."

Do you mean The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov? It r..."

Yes, I mean it. Sorry for forget to put the link. I don't know why I forgot to say the author's name.

I want to nominate I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. Don't know if it's allowed since more readers classify it as horror, sf second. I liked the movie and apparantly, of course, the book is better.

I second What Mad Universe

Leo wrote: "I want to nominate I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. Don't know if it's allowed since more readers classify it as horror, sf second. I liked the movie and apparantly, o..."

If I can I second it.

I Am Legend is certainly SF. We generally go by how the book is shelved on GR & SF is second only to horror. I shelved it as both. I've updated post #2 with the info.

I Am Legend was 2nd by Rafael, not by me. Nevertheless, I have no problem with the book being on the ballot.

I read the book, and I consider it science fiction too.

Ronald wrote: " I Am Legend was 2nd by Rafael, not by me. Nevertheless, I have no problem with the book being on the ballot.

I read the book, and I consider it science fiction too."

Sorry about that. Fixed.

I'll nominate Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein. It's one of the first books to introduce a main character of color, although the hints are pretty subtle, & a fun adventure.

I second Tunnel in the Sky.

OK, here is the latest:

Nominations
They Shall Have Stars by James Blish, nom by Adrian


Seconded & eligible for the poll
The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov, nom by Rafael, 2d by Adrian
What Mad Universe by Fredric Brown, nom by Ronald, 2d by Leo
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson nom by Leo, 2d by Rafael
Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein nom by Mod Jim, 2d by Ed

Last day for nominations.

The poll is up. You can find it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson won the poll, so we'll be reading it in December. It is often published with some other stories such as in I Am Legend and Other Stories. I believe they vary a bit by edition, but it obviously means the novel is short so if anyone wants to discuss the short stories in addition, that's fine with me. Most of the stories are probably available in multiple other books. His stories have been reprinted a lot since they're so good.

There are also 3 movies that were made based on this book:
The Last Man on Earth (1964) starring Vincent Price
The Omega Man (1971) starring Charlton Heston
I Am Legend (2007) starring Wil Smith

The first one is the closest to the book. The other two just use the basic idea & go off on their own. I recently watched the first two & enjoyed them. I've watched the last one including the alternate ending & thought it sucked, so I might not watch it again.

Jim wrote: "I Am Legend by Richard Matheson won the poll, so we'll be reading it in December. It is often published with some other stories such as in [book:I Am Legend and Other ..."

Excellent, I did not vote but I'll join in on this one.