SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I'm just going to put this here.

Last September The Complete Cosmicomics were nominated but didn't win. So I'm here to propose a buddy read. I know that some of our girls (Aga, Olga, maybe Diane?) would be able to read the Italian original, and, I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to have the discussion in Italian. Or is that against group rules?

My reading schedule for the first quarter of 2025 is already packed, so maybe in the spring if anyone's interested. Including non Italian speakers obviously!

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "I'm just going to put this here.

Last September The Complete Cosmicomics were nominated but didn't win. So I'm here to propose a buddy read. I know that some of our girls (Aga, Olg..."

I'm definitely in :)

Anna wrote: " Remnant Population >> First impressions | Final thoughts"

Oops! thanks Anna

Let me clarify that the preposterous idea of having a discussion in a language other than English in this group was a joke. Mostly.

I’m definitely in, Ale and Olga. I was wondering about that. Sadly, I’m already pretty fully booked for January and February is looking similar. March?

Probably no sooner than April, if you ask me.
And I'm sure other selections will crop up in the meantime and cram my schedule further.
And the Complete Cosmicomics aren't a short book. On the other hand, since they are stories, we can decide to discuss them separately, with no need to rush to the end.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "I'm just going to put this here.

Last September The Complete Cosmicomics were nominated but didn't win. So I'm here to propose a buddy read. I know that some of our girls (Aga, Olg..."

I can't read this in the original Italian or have a discussion in Italian, but the book seems beloved among readers and I've added it to my TBR.

Cheryl, I would even ever dream of having a discussion in another language only if everybody felt comfortable with that — myself included.

You're welcome to join and read the English translation: that'll be an interesting perspective.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Cheryl, I would even ever dream of having a discussion in another language only if everybody felt comfortable with that — myself included.

You're welcome to join and read the English translation:..."

Will do, then! Are we thinking of scheduling for March?

Please no. April or later.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Cheryl, I would even ever dream of having a discussion in another language only if everybody felt comfortable with that — myself included.

You're welcome to join and read the English translation:..."

I'd be interested in joining also, and April or later should work for me. I'll need to read the English translation, too - it's all that's available in my library system. Plus my Italian is probably not good enough to read the original, though if I can find a copy in Italian, it might be an interesting challenge with the English translation as back-up.

My library has what must be first editions, from 1965 (Le cosmicomiche) and 1984 (Cosmicomiche vecchie e nuove) respectively.

Dual language reading is often an enlightening experience. I didn't know so many members practiced Italian! I don't expect the book to be challenging from a linguistic point of view.

I'm out of practice with buddy reads: can I open a thread, or will the mods do it? Should we do it now or wait until the spring?

April or later will work for me as well, and it looks like my library has The Complete Cosmicomics. I'll just need to put it on hold.

I'd like to join for April or later. Never read Calvino before. Looks interesting. Currently the English translation is available on KindleUnlimited and the audiobook is included with an Audible sub, for those who sub to those.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Dual language reading is often an enlightening experience. I didn't know so many members practiced Italian! I don't expect the book to be challenging from a linguistic point of view."

I agree, it's a very good way to practice a language you're learning, an approach I've used a lot. Sadly, Italian is not one of my languages.

Cool, more people joining!
I should probably try to get Aga's attention as well...

Alright, let's try to formalise a date.
I know buddy reads are discouraged from starting either on the 1st or the 15th of the month, which are reverved for BotMs and group rereads respectively. Let's say, 'round about the 20th or 22nd of April? Personally I'd be partial to the 18th, which is my birthday! (LOL)

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "I'm out of practice with buddy reads: can I open a thread, or will the mods do it? Should we do it now or wait until the spring?"

Whichever way you prefer. You can start it, or ask Mod to start it. If you already have things to discuss in the thread now, no reason why you couldn't start it now, but if you're planning on starting the chat closer to April, then might as well wait to start it.

Thanks, Anna.

I'm tempted to open it now, without pressing work commitments; however I'll wait until we settle on a date, or at least a week.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Thanks, Anna.

I'm tempted to open it now, without pressing work commitments; however I'll wait until we settle on a date, or at least a week."

I'm pretty flexible. I believe Olga and I will be reading A Desolation Called Peace at the end of March or in early April when her copy comes into her library.

The 18th of April works for me!

Late April works for me as well.

Cool, thanks.
Let's hear from Olga and Kaia.

I'm fine with whatever, will accommodate to what you choose, as I can plan my readings only a few weeks in advance :)

Several of us are thinking about BRs of Rogue Protocol and A Desolation Called Peace in the next few months as part of my Cheryl's 2025 SFF Series-palooza found here.

Rogue Protocol (158 pgs): End of January?
A Desolation Called Peace (494 pgs): Late March/early April

Is anyone else interested in joining in?

I will try for A Desolation of Peace.

Bonnie wrote: "I will try for A Desolation of Peace."

Lovely. We'll be waiting for Olga's copy to come into her library, which is ~14 weeks away.

Can I convince anyone on a buddy read of the Sprawl trilogy?

We have Neuromancer scheduled for the Ides of March as a group re-read and I'm eager to finally experience the trilogy from beginning to end.

Besides, any Radchaai interested in completing the cycle with Provenance? It will be the last remaining one following our buddy read for Translation State.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Besides, any Radchaai interested in completing the cycle with Provenance? It will be the last remaining one following our buddy read for Translation State."

I'll definitely be reading Neuromancer but I don't know that I'll get to the rest of them this year.

I'm in for Provenance though! It's on my 2025 Series-palooza list.

It sounds like we have a group that want to read Rogue Protocol at the end of January, perhaps January 25?

I know that some of us plan to read the entire Murderbot series so it might be simplest to have a discussion thread for the series rather than for individual books. Is this something the Mods set up for us?

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Can I convince anyone on a buddy read of the Sprawl trilogy?

We have Neuromancer scheduled for the Ides of March as a group re-read and I'm eager to finally experience the trilogy f..."

I read Neuromancer several years ago, so I'm not sure if I will reread it. However, somehow I have come to own both Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive, so I'd be interested to hop on a buddy read and finally finish up the trilogy.

Cheryl L wrote: "I know that some of us plan to read the entire Murderbot series so it might be simplest to have a discussion thread for the series rather than for individual books. Is this something the Mods set up for us?"

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

:)

Hi Meredith, I also own the trilogy! Although it was a deliberate purchase in my case.

In any case I think I'll put it off until sometime in April or May.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Cool, thanks.
Let's hear from Olga and Kaia."

Sorry for the delayed reply - I’m traveling right now. End of April works for me.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Hi Meredith, I also own the trilogy! Although it was a deliberate purchase in my case.

In any case I think I'll put it off until sometime in April or May."

I'll make a note to circle back closer to then about dates.

Anna wrote: "Cheryl L wrote: "I know that some of us plan to read the entire Murderbot series so it might be simplest to have a discussion thread for the series rather than for individual books. Is this somethi..."

Thanks, Anna!

@ a.g.e. montagner

We have a thread already for Provenance if you get a date, it can be added to the BR list.
Besides, any Radchaai interested in completing the cycle with Provenance?
Provenance - discussion

There is already a BR planned for Translation State.
It will be the last remaining one following our buddy read for Translation State.
January 10: Translation State - discussion

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Can I convince anyone on a buddy read of the Sprawl trilogy? ." We do not yet have a Sprawl series thread.

Thanks Melanie.

I knew about the buddy read for Translation State (I'm on it) but I was lazy and didn't link to it, but I don't think I was aware that we already had one for Provenance.

Meanwhile I've opened the thread for the Complete Cosmicomics buddy read.

Melanie wrote: "@ a.g.e. montagner

We have a thread already for Provenance if you get a date, it can be added to the BR list.
Besides, any Radchaai interested in completing the cycle with Provenance?

I'll also be reading Provenance this year and up for a buddy read. Also, while I was in my library yesterday, they had Lake of Souls: The Collected Short Fiction in the new SFF section so I checked that out. :-)

Hi Cheryl.
Let's update after the buddy read for Translation State, shall we?
I'm really trying to not bite more than I can chew this year!

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Hi Cheryl.
Let's update after the buddy read for Translation State, shall we?
I'm really trying to not bite more than I can chew this year!"

Absolutely! I have both Provenance and Translation State on my 2025 Series-palooza so I'll read both anyway.

Diane and I are going to read The Space Between Worlds starting around February 23. The book is also a good fit for Sci-fi team prompt:

Dimensional Travel
1. AltDimension: Read a book set in more than 1 dimension.

I'll see if we can use an existing thread and post a link later.

There's three of us that plan to read Ready Player One in mid March. We're reading it for the Sci-Fi Team prompt Lit-Rpg. Anyone else want to join in?

I didn't see the book on the BR master list.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Please no. April or later."

April works for me.

Hi Aga!
We've been waiting for you over here.

1000!

Tina Reads wrote: "There's three of us that plan to read Ready Player One in mid March. We're reading it for the Sci-Fi Team prompt Lit-Rpg. Anyone else want to join in?

I didn't see the book on the BR master list."

Ready Player One was an official group read. Typically we reuse the spoiler thread for buddy reads.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'll put the date as March 10 so it doesn't conflict with the official rereads if that's okay.

I'll be reading Poor Things by Alasdair Gray some time in the spring.

Reading Scottish literature while avoiding Gray is basically a funambolic performance, and I must be the only person who still hasn't read this one novel, at this point. Anyone else interested?

Silvana wrote: "Aga wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Anyone interested in reading these books around February-March next year?

Sargassa
The Jaguar Mask
Remnant Population
[bo..."

About [book:Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries|51177708] 21st of February works for me.

Sorry for the delay. I have no notifications from GR for quite a long time and I have problems with staying on track with my conversations here.

Aga wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Aga wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Anyone interested in reading these books around February-March next year?

Sargassa
The Jaguar Mask
[book:Remnant Popul..."

It's okay! Apparently February is already too full for me, how about early March for Gobbelino? I think some people also nominating it for the BOTM - though I don't think it would win - so we might have more buddies later.

Silvana wrote: "Aga wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Aga wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Anyone interested in reading these books around February-March next year?

Sargassa
The Jaguar Mask
[book:R..."

Early March is ok too.

Olga wrote: "Diane and I are going to read The Space Between Worlds starting around February 23. The book is also a good fit for Sci-fi team prompt:

Dimensional Travel
1. AltDimension: Read a b..."

I am planning on reading that for the Read all the Books by the Dozens challenge and since I own a copy I can start whenever. I however used Translation State for that particular prompt, so I'm good there.