SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I'm looking to make some new connections on goodreads. I usually read sci fi, fantasy, horror, thriller, and occasionally self-help books. Reading everday is a new habit for me and i'm addicted to it! Hope to meet some cool people here with similar interests!

I plan on participating in the group's December reading, "Gideon The Ninth" and "The Humans". Seems like interesting books with good reviews!

Thanks in advance :)

Hi Ricky,

This is a great group of people and I have read so many authors I wouldn't have read before joining this group. All the people here are so nice and I love the threads and conversations. Everyone is very welcoming.

Nice to meet you, Sandy! I haven't explored the group that much so far, but I'll get there.

Let's make this more interesting. I'd like to get to know more about everyone.

What are you favourite hobbies?
What would be your favourite book of all time?

Here's mine:

Hobbies: reading, fitness, watching tv shows & movies, occasionally play some video games with friends, and eating!

Favourite Book: Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang

Nice to meet you all.

Ricky wrote: "I'd like to get to know more about everyone."

Check out the Introduction thread :)

Anna wrote: "Ricky wrote: "I'd like to get to know more about everyone."

Check out the Introduction thread :)"

Sorry Anna. My eyes must be getting worse haha

No worries, Ricky! We try to herd people because it's in my name but also to help folks find starting grounds in this sometimes overwhelming club, but our central tenet is there's no wrong way to love"genre fiction", so welcome! I hope you find friends to challenge and encourage you :)

Allison Herd, honestly your name makes so much more sense now, bookclub mom 😁

right?? my family name actually is related to a very dramatic legend, but herd and heard seem way more appropriate for my interests ;)

Ricky, I can heartily recommend all responders as gr friends, as long as you don't mind mild, affectionate teasing

Ya’ Heard? With Allie and Perd!

I really want to know that dramatic legend now?!

And I've already sent Ricky a friends request because I felt forward. Hi, Ricky 👋

good job, extrovert friend!

perhaps I'll reveal my dark family history some day. ..

*sips brandy from a lightning-lit garrett window*

hobbies include creating unnecessary mysteries and book club monitoring. I don't friend people because I don't want anyone to feel obligated to friend my loudmouth self, but I haven't turned any club members away if they friend me!

Hey! Since you asked, Hobbies include reading and GR, podcasting, poet herding, tv/movie watching, walking, and coffee drinking.

Favorite books? Can’t choose. I’ve been rereading a lot of kids books (aloud) with my son. I am still enchanted. Favorite book so earth is year might be The Fifth Season or Embassytown.

Nice to meet Ya!

Allison wrote: "right?? my family name actually is related to a very dramatic legend, but herd and heard seem way more appropriate for my interests ;)

Ricky, I can heartily recommend all responders as gr friends..."

Haha I don't mind those types of people at all! I do fancy pleasant people.

Dawn wrote: "I really want to know that dramatic legend now?!

And I've already sent Ricky a friends request because I felt forward. Hi, Ricky 👋"

Hey Dawn. Nice to meet you! Thanks for the friend request. I appreciate it.

Allison wrote: "hobbies include creating unnecessary mysteries and book club monitoring. I don't friend people because I don't want anyone to feel obligated to friend my loudmouth self, but I haven't turned any cl..."

On that note, i'll just send a quick friend request.... :D

Diane wrote: "Hey! Since you asked, Hobbies include reading and GR, podcasting, poet herding, tv/movie watching, walking, and coffee drinking.

Favorite books? Can’t choose. I’ve been rereading a lot of kids bo..."

Hey Diane! I am also an avid coffee drinker. Depending on the day, I might be an addict! I think today is an addict type of day haha.

Aw that's sweet! My storytelling skills suck haha. I did see "The Fifth Season" on sale somewhere! "Embassytown" seems like something I'd like. Gonna add that to my list!

Thanks and nice to meet you, Diane.

@Allison Haha, I'm decidedly not an extrovert, but I'm a social introvert, especially online where it's safe and I'm among like-minded people :P

Ricky wrote: "Nice to meet you, Sandy! I haven't explored the group that much so far, but I'll get there.

Let's make this more interesting. I'd like to get to know more about everyone.

What are you favourite..."

Sending you a friends request for Exhalation. ;)

Hobbies: reading, writing reviews, discussing books, organizing book lists, hosting the Children's bookclub here on GR, visiting Little Free Libraries & thrift stores & used bookstores, road trips (with stops in libraries), board & family games, some geocaching, some daily walking with audiobooks.

Favorite books - too many,
Authors that immediately come to mind are in the "thankful" thread.
Genres are children's, SF, science, and the best examples of just about everything else except best-sellers and thrillers.

Cheryl wrote: "Hobbies: reading, writing reviews, discussing books, organizing book lists, hosting the Children's bookclub here on GR, visiting Little Free Libraries & thrift stores & used bookstores, road trips ..."

Hey Cheryl!

I wish Ted Chiang wrote some more :(

I like your selection of hobbies. They aren't as basic as mine haha. I'll just stalk your list to see your favourite books.

I wanted to add some text to my reviews but have no clue where to start :( any tips for beginners?

I feel kinda cool having a top reviewer as my friend :)

Nice to meet you!

Well, since you asked, I do host a (quiet) group for ppl who are interested in writing reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/....

The first two tips on the thread for beginners are perfect:

Darkpool
The thing that made me start writing more reviews (but I'm still not very good at doing so) is the thought "who cares what anyone else thinks of what I write?" Instead, I started writing my reviews for myself, what I thought, and stopped worrying about what I 'should' think of a particular book. I find it a very important thought when I hated a book that is considered literary genius, or if I love a book that is widely scorned.

Elizabeth (Alaska)
The one thing I would tell a beginner is to not be afraid to say something - anything - more than just your star rating.

Even as little as "This book kept me up all night" or "I hated the main character" can help someone decide whether or not to read a book. And believe it or not, once you've cut your teeth on writing one or two sentences on a book or two, writing a bit more the next time will get easier and easier.

(btw, I believe I'm a top reviewer just because I write so very many reviews, because I read so very many books... I write reviews idiosyncratically and usually concisely, so, nothing special...)

Hey Ricky, thanks for accepting my friend request! And I saw you put Embassytown on your Want to Read list. I found the linguistics and the concept that language shapes consciousness to be utterly fascinating. I suppose language would be a hobby of mine too. I’m a classical singer and sing in many languages so what they sound like is important to me, and to no end interesting. Trying to wrap my mind around the language of the indigenous life there was nearly impossible. I hear the audio book is great in that respect.

I don’t read massive amounts, but I do review everything I read. I don’t do synopses, because anyone can read a blurb, but I do try to express what I liked/loved about a book as well as anything that diminished my enjoyment. They are not usually long or deep or analytical, but they are mine.

Cheryl wrote: "Well, since you asked, I do host a (quiet) group for ppl who are interested in writing reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/....

The first two tips on the thread..."

Wow, this is amazing! The first two tips are really good and can help me get started. Well I think reading so many books and writing many reviews are amazing. Hopefully, it's something I can do. Guess it depends on your viewpoint.

Diane wrote: "Hey Ricky, thanks for accepting my friend request! And I saw you put Embassytown on your Want to Read list. I found the linguistics and the concept that language shapes consciousness to be utterly ..."

No worries, Diane. I'm always up for new friends :)
Yes! I've heard of "Embassytown" through a recommendation and it sounded like something I'd like.

Thanks for your input on the book. You're making me want to read it even more now, but I've got so many to read before haha.

I like the confidence! I wish I had confidence to express my thoughts like that. Hopefully Cheryl's group will help with that!

This community has been really welcoming and helpful to me so far. I appreciate everyone going the extra mile to provide me with resources and advice/thoughts!

Thanks a bunch everyone.

i so understand the want to find someone who shares common intersts . I am in Australia so we would have a few different ideas.

I like books, music, computers and science

i am 70 and therefore out of the age group of many people on this site. BUt really enjoy reading different peoples ideas of each book read.

since i retired after working for 44 years i find my time is taken up with teaching older people how to use a computer, reading books and music

so how i understand where you are coming from is that it is hard to find someone who shares your hobbies.

good luck finding people

Kateb wrote: "i so understand the want to find someone who shares common intersts . I am in Australia so we would have a few different ideas.

I like books, music, computers and science

i am 70 and therefore ..."

Hello Kateb. Thanks for replying!
Age is just a number! We're all friends here.
I believe it's good to have friends that are different ages. You can learn a lot from people with different hobbies or experiences.
It's nice to see you're helping the community after retiring!

Nice to meet ya.