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Hi everyone,

It’s time to open nominations for our May 2013 Books of the Month. We're running a little late this month, and February is a short month, so we're going to just have a 4 day period to make nominations, then 4 days for each round of polls so we can get it all done by February 28th.

Each group member can make 1 science fiction and/or 1 fantasy nomination in this thread. If you would like to make a nomination, please reply to this post with the title and author of the book(s) you would like to put forward for the group’s consideration.

Telling us a little about the book and why you think it would be a good group read can help get other members interested in reading (and voting for) your nomination. You can also check the group bookshelves for previous Books of the Month to see if your nomination has already been read by the group. (Being chosen as a past BotM does not necessarily disqualify a book from current consideration, but be aware that it may hinder your nomination’s chances at the polls.)

General guidelines:

� Feel free to re-nominate a book that didn’t win in the polls in previous months!
� For questions regarding specifics such as book formats, books in series, etc., please see the group FAQ.
� Seconding isn't necessary in this group.

We'll take nominations until February 20th, then set up the first round of polls, which will run until February 24th. The run-offs will then start on the 25th and end on the 28th.

Thanks!

NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

FANTASY:

The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (pickle)
God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell (brenda)
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (nick)
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (nyssa)
The Light Ages by Ian R. MacLeod (paul)
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (maggie)

SF:

Mockingbird by Walter Tevis (pickle)
Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress (marty)
The Faded Sun: Kesrith by C.J. Cherryh (brenda)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (nyssa)
Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls by Jane Lindskold (kerry)
Dust by Elizabeth Bear (maggie)

i would like to nominate The Shadow of the Torturer for fantasy if possible (read back in 2003)

and for sci-fi the amazing Mockingbird

Sf steal across the sky kress please

The Faded Sun: Kesrith
For science fiction.

And

God Stalk
For fantasy.

For FANTASY:

I mentioned in the "What are U reading this month?" thread that I had started The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley and got a lot of "ooh's" and "aaaah's" in reply. So I'll nominate it for Fantasy.

For SCI FI:

I am once again going to vote for Steal Across the Sky which Marty nominated above. Maybe this time....

Fantasy: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Science Fiction: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I don't really have a "sales pitch" other than their both catching my attention courtesy of a couple other groups/book clubs.

I'll nominate The Light Ages by Ian R MacLeod for fantasy, and second Steal Across The Sky for SF.

For SF: Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls.

I don't have a fantasy nomination at this point.

Kerry wrote: "For SF: Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls.

I don't have a fantasy nomination at this point."

Thought for a second you were nominating Charles Sheffield's award winning Brother To Dragons. Published twenty years ago, but a fine novel. If it hasn't already been a discussion title (and I don't see that it has), I might be inclined to nominate it.

Is Landskold's book SF or fantasy?

Jim - It's SF but does read a bit like fantasy at times.

I'm going to add a fantasy nomination myself this time: the excellent Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay. It's a novel set in a fantasy version of China during the Tang Dynasty. River of Stars, which is Kay's second novel set in ancient China (four centuries later than Under Heaven, so they're really stand-alones) is due out in April. Both are absolutely gorgeous.

I guess I'm holding out hope that Steal Across The Sky wins this time. I enjoyed reading it and have my copy existing in limbo as an incipient donation to my local Friends Of The Library. But I'll quickly snatch it back if it comes out on top. Nancy Kress' style of writing leans heavily on good character development and this work is no exception. But the twists and turns in the story make for interesting challenges for the cast of characters.

Jim wrote: "I guess I'm holding out hope that Steal Across The Sky wins this time. I enjoyed reading it and have my copy existing in limbo as an incipient donation to my local Friends Of The Library. But I'll ..."

i cant help thinking of Iron Sky when i read the description :)

Pickle wrote: "Jim wrote: "I guess I'm holding out hope that Steal Across The Sky wins this time. I enjoyed reading it and have my copy existing in limbo as an incipient donation to my local Friends Of The Librar..."

i cant help thinking of Iron Sky when i read the description :)

Haven't seen it yet, but the trailer tells me there's really no resemblance to the Kress novel.:)

We did Under Heaven when it first came out, but I certainly wouldn't object to reading it again, it's a gorgeous book :)

You know, as a moderator I should know these things, right? For some reason it's not on the group's shelves, but I did list it in the "previous BotM" file. Hm. I'll withdraw this because I'd rather see us discuss something new.

Last day for nominations, by the way. If anyone wants to add something, please do so in the next 24 hours or so!

I do!

I will nominate The Eyre Affair in fantasy. A fantastical comedy/mystery sounds like a fun mishmash!

For Sci-fi, I have been dying to check out Elizabeth Bear, so I will nominate Dust

Maggie, I really love both of those books - great choices!

Alright folks, nominations are closed and the first round of the polls is up! Please go vote:

Fantasy: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/79...

SF: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/79...

The winner of each poll will move on the run-off polls, which we'll set up on February 25th.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

The run-off polls for our May Books of the Month are up! Please go vote:

SF: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/79...

Fantasy: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/79...

These polls will remain open through February 28th.

Thanks!

ARGH! Too many books, too little time. I suggest that next month we are only allowed to nominate books which are already on my to-read shelf ;)

Ooh Random, seconded on condition we compare tbr shelves.