The Sword and Laser discussion

After watching all the Dragon Con coverage I think that Alan Dean Foster's novelization of 'Alien' would be perfect for a Book Club selection.

Here are two book I'd like to offer as Book Club selections:
Sword
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (book 1 of The Gentleman Bastard series).
Excellent fantasy, complex world and characters, thrilling story.

Laser
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi (apparently also part 1 of a future trilogy by the same name)
Mind-bending Sci-Fi, fun characters, thrilling story.

Both books are about thief protagonists, no simple good vs. evil, more like the lesser of two evils.

Three suggestions from me:

Sword:

Kushiel's Dart, since Veronica speaks so highly of it (and I just started reading it)

Laser:

All You Need Is Kill. I mentioned this is another thread. It sounds great, and it's newly out in English.

The Foundation Trilogy. I'm 2/3rds of the way through rereading these. They hold up very well. Still some of the best sci-fi ever written.

Have they ever chosen one of our suggestions? >_>

Sodon wrote: "Have they ever chosen one of our suggestions? >_>"

Been a part of the book club since April and I have noticed T&V will take suggestions from time to time and put them in polls that they let us choose from.

I have a personal theory that most of the book selections involve Veronica's "to-read" list and a 20 sided die.

Regardless I've never been hugely disappointed with the picks. Most of the time I'm glad to be pushed to read a few good books I might not have picked for myself.

Is there a list somewhere of all the previous selections?

http://www.goodreads.com/group/booksh...

Thanks!

I could go for Foundation.

How about Ship of Magic, Silverlock, Acacia: The War with the Mein, The Paradise War, The Fairy Godmother, or The Godmother.

Obviously, I'm more of a sword person. :)

For laser, I'm more classic - Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Heinlein, etc. I could recommend Startide Rising or Dragon's Egg.

I would like to nominate Dragonflight in honor of the late Anne Mccaffrey.

Nick wrote: "Sodon wrote: "Have they ever chosen one of our suggestions? >_>"

Been a part of the book club since April and I have noticed T&V will take suggestions from time to time and put them in polls that ..."

I feel the same way.

The trouble I have with recommending a good book for a future selection, is that I like having the book club selection as a book I haven't read or better still an author I haven't tried.

But saying that, I think The Lies of Locke Lamora is a great book to read.

I like the suggestion of an Anne Mccaffrey book. Maybe one of her stand alone works.

Is there ever any possibility any of you would read the book of an obnoxious spammer?

I would not.

Also I agree, I loved "Lies" but I have already read it and I have entirely too many books to get to to be reading it again. I would second "The Quantum Thief"

Though I'm usually against all showings of ego, self-agrandisement and self-advertisment I do have to stand up for Steve here. As an unknown writer one of the hardest things you have to do is get your name known and your work an audience and that is all he is trying to do. Certainly his approach could have benefitted from a little extra tact here and there, but the fact that he's broadcasting at all is admirable in some way.


(This Message was paid for and broadcast by Steve Stone & Associates and may not reflect the thoughts or feelings of the vessel Viginti.)

Ed wrote: "Is there ever any possibility any of you would read the book of an obnoxious spammer?

I would not.

Also I agree, I loved "Lies" but I have already read it and I have entirely too many books to ge..."

I would third The Quantum Thief. It is a book that I want to read, plus I think it would be perfect for this group.

How about Zone One?

Years ago, a friend of mine gave me a copy of The Intuitionist, and although it didn't seem like a book I'd be remotely interested in (racism among elevator inspectors in New York?), I trusted his judgment. And he was right, it totally sucked me in, and I wound up really enjoying it a lot.

For those who look on a book club at least partly as a way of being introduced to new authors or stretching their boundaries, this one definitely falls into SF (a plague has lead to zombies nearly destroying civilization), but may be an author they haven't tried.

Fourth to The Quantum Thief. For the self-serving reason that it's been on my to-read list for a while!

Fifth The Quantum Thief, because I bought it and then had a really hard time getting going. This would be a good extra push.

I've never read Anne McCaffrey, so I'd also support one of her books.

I would suggest King's 11/22/63 but it's pretty long, so I'll throw Embassytown out there.

Town of Cats.

Cut it out, all of you reading 1Q84 know you'd want to.

Yes. What ever it is...
Like many people I'll be driving home for Christmas.
A long drive ideally suited to an audio book.
It would be nice if I knew what the next selection was going to be.

I'd like to suggest Q: A Novel by Evan Mandery. Seems interesting. It's about a guy who gets visited by himself on his wedding day, telling him not to get married.

Or possibly The Postmortal by Drew Magary. It's about a world where there's a cure for everything - except accidents, murder, etc.

music

movies

microcode and
high-speed pizza delivery

It is unlikely that the next selection will not be announced before Christmas. I believe that V & T said that they wouldn't be wrapping up Elantris (as the primary pick) until 2 January or so.

Personally, after we went democratic this past time, I hope V & T ignore this thread entirely and choose something that they want to read, without being swayed by our input...

terpkristin wrote: "Personally, after we went democratic this past time, I hope V & T ignore this thread entirely and choose something that they want to read, without being swayed by our input... "

Exactly, so don't be swayed by our input to not being swayed by the comment suggesting you not be swayed and someone pick a third book. :)

Dustin wrote: "Exactly, so don't be swayed by our input to not being swayed by the comment suggesting you not be swayed and someone pick a third book. :)

LOL.

I'm with the majority here, I'm ready for another. Though I'm enjoying 1Q84, it's a book that I have to read in chunks, then digest those, then go back to. So it's kinda slow for me.

Caliban's Hour by Tad Williams is $2.99 as an e-book till the end of the year. I really liked it. It is short by his standards, but very fun, especially if you like The Tempest (Shakespeare).

I'd like to suggest.
Sword- Black Horses of the King -Anne McCaffery
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Horses-Ma...
A young sailor finds his talent for horses leads him on an adventure with the Companions of the King.


OR
Laser- Nimisha's Ship
When Nimisha is marooned light years from home her only hope for rescue is her Daughter and the powerful ships she has designed.


http://www.amazon.com/Nimishas-Ship-A...


Although many people would be in favor of Ship who sang, Dragon Riders of Pern, Rowan, Powers that Be or a Doona book I would prefer one of the stand alone books. I feel that these books show here wide range of writing skills while keeping the read to something completable in a couple of weeks.

Dustin wrote: "terpkristin wrote: "Personally, after we went democratic this past time, I hope V & T ignore this thread entirely and choose something that they want to read, without being swayed by our input... "..."

I think I'm confused. How about we all just play a nice game of chess.

Internet chess. Pawn to D4.

You called my bluff. I'm no good at chess.

I'd suggest The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. It was the basis for the Witcher video game. It sounds interesting with good reviews and has somewhat of a cult following.

Pawn takes Queen.

Ed wrote: "I'd suggest The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. It was the basis for the Witcher video game. It sounds interesting with good reviews and has somewhat of a cult following.

Pawn takes Queen."

I second The Last Wish loved the game and I thought the short stories in the book were a really interesting mature take on the fantasy theme.

Any Ann McCaffrey is great - her Pern (Dragon) books are technically Laser but when I first read them I thought they were Sword...

My picks - Laser: David Brin, Sundiver was a great read and a crime novel to boot.

Sword: I have only read Tad Williams' Otherland series - so any of his sword stuff (I think I hear Veronica getting excited to reread Mr Williams!)

FWIW, I'm just happy to be reading on my new Kindle.

Alright T&V, I don't know if you read this thread, but I would take this as a challenge: Kate posted in the Epic Confusion - Detroit thread that, "Lies of Locke Lamore has been suggested for S&L so many times that I am moved to assume that either Tom or Veronica really doesn't want to read it." Is there any truth to this?!? :)

terpkristin wrote: "...Is there any truth to this?!?"
I sure hope not, I'm dying for this book to be picked!

I hope I don't get in trouble for this, it was pure speculation on my part.

Kate wrote: "I hope I don't get in trouble for this, it was pure speculation on my part."

I'm just hoping that by putting it here, it gets more attention and maybe IS selected for a future pick. But I'm totally up for a non-T&V-endorsed side read, like some of us did with
Stand on Zanzibar last year.

terpkristin wrote: I'm just hoping that by putting it here, it gets more attention and maybe IS selected for a future pick. But I'm totally up for a non-T&V-endorsed side read, like some of us did with
Stand on Zanzibar last year. "

As am I.
I just want to be clear that I'm not ragging on Tom and Veronica.

Feed is one of the most original Zombie novels I have ever read, full of political intrigue, witty humor and intense action. One of the few novels within this genre that actually provides a plausible background for the outbreak and a subsequent realistic representation of what the outcome of such an event could mean for human society.

Heh, I'm voting against The Lies of Locke Lamora because I just started it this week and don't want to repeat it! The Quantum Thief sounds good, though. It's been recommended to me by many people.

For those mentioning Anne McCaffrey books, The Tower and the Hive series is one of my favorites. So, maybe The Rowan?

How about Zoo City by Lauren Beukes - winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award...must have something good about it. :D

I also support The Lies of Locke Lamora as its my favourite series ever...and the 3rd is out this year (hopefully)

Kate wrote: " As am I. I just want to be clear that I'm not ragging on Tom and Veronica."

Oops! I never even read your comment as ragging on them so didn't think anyone else would take it that way, either! Sorry about that...

T&V, if you felt that way, it was my bad.

On a different note, I seem to remember reading/hearing that McCaffrey considered some other book, not a Pern book, to be her best work. Anybody know what that book was? That might be fun yo read, celebrate her writing. She is one of the reasons I got into fantasy and sci-fi. Andre Norton, Susan Cooper, and Madeleine L'Engle also played a large role in that...

@terpkristin: I think she wrote that The Ship Who Sang was her favorite, but I'm not sure. I read it when I was really young; I don't remember being as entranced with it as I was with all the Pern books. Then again, I was 12 and like the shiny dragons, haha.

With so many gamers in this group I think The Player of Games would be a great laser selection.

The Flame Alphabet looks like an interesting book.

I would suggest John Dies at the End as a great selection.

I think that Space Captain Smith would be worth considering at some point

For older books that would make great discussions, I would recommend The Martian Chronicles and The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes. For newer books, I would recommend Ship Breaker, Among Others, and Cinder

I'm wondering why Tom and Veronica for the last few selections had to be new books? People can't always go out and buy the book or sometimes even get it at their local library.