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April, May, and June of 2025 I will be taking a turn at choosing something to read. Because I like Science Fiction I want to bring three short selections from the Science Fiction genre. That will be one a month. So this is the Upcoming Books thread for now.

I wanted to announce the May and June selections. In May I would like to read Mimsy Were The Borogoves by Lewis Padgett (1943). For June I would like to read the short novel Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke (1953)

This is the No Spoilers Thread. Realize that Mimsy is for next month and Childhood's End is two months away.

This early posting of the No Spoiler thread is to discuss any non-plot issues pertaining to the book.

Appropriate Posts can contain:
1. Information about the author.
2. Compare editions/translations.
3. Any historical or background information
4. Are you familiar with this author’s work? Do you have any expectations going into the book?
5. What made you decide to read this book?
6. Any fan fiction that you have read or would like to read? Just link the books.
7. If you loved the book and want others to share in that experience, use this thread to motivate others, again save plot specifics for the Spoiler thread
8. If you hated the book, it would be best to keep that for the spoiler page

The most important thing to remember is no plot discussion. Any post that contains plot information or spoilers will be deleted

Who is the author of Mimsy Were The Borogoves? Lewis Padgett Lewis Padgett was the joint pseudonym of the science fiction authors and spouses Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, taken from their mothers' maiden names. They also used the pseudonyms Lawrence O'Donnell and C. H. Liddell, as well as collaborating under their own names.

Writing as 'Lewis Padgett' they were the author of many humorous short stories of science fiction in the 1940s and 1950s.

Henry Kuttner wrote several things that I have read and enjoyed. He died at the age of 42 in 1958. His only award was a Retro Hugo Award, but he had over a dozen pen names. There was a convention that no single author should have more than one story at a time in the Pulp Magazines. He and his wife C.L. Moore either singly or together did just that by using pen names.

Why choose Mimsy Were The Borogoves? Although there are several of Kuttner's works I liked, this is one of his best known and it is nice that it is one of the collaboration stories. It is memorable and has been widely anthologized: The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume I, The Best of Henry Kuttner, or The Best of C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner. It also fits my chosen theme of What does it mean to be human? Science fiction often explores how new technology changes the experience of life for humans.

Oh and just for fun here's an audiobook version read by (of course) William Shatner.

Thanks for the heads up, Lynn. I will make sure to have them both in hand early. I don't usually do audio, but Shatner is a real temptation.

I just found a pdf copy, but I may listen to William Shatner, too! This sounds like an interesting story!
And I've read Childhood's End. Arthur C. Clarke is always good!

Good choices, Lynn!

Thanks Sara and Terris

Sara wrote: "Thanks for the heads up, Lynn. I will make sure to have them both in hand early. I don't usually do audio, but Shatner is a real temptation."

Agreed! I think I’ll listen to his reading as well! 😁

Thank you for the background information, Lynn! I like the theme you chose for your selections and plan to read all three.

Just found a copy of this online. This is one not to miss, imo.