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While we're currently selecting a book for January I'd like to jump in early and ask for nominations for February books. If you want a theme to nominate under go with Grand Sweeping Plots. I'm talking large-scale, clever ideas, brilliant worlds or new takes on old ideas that blow your mind. Something like that...

Stories involving mytholgies that come to life

Like Hades Daughter or The Red Pyramid

Having come from the "indie" world (now traditionally published) I've met a lot of talented indie authors that struggle to get any notice. I think it would be worth having a poll with some "quality" titles from this group of people...it might introduce some fresh new talent that is being overlooked.

I don't have a problem with what Michael suggests provided the book is widely available...(not everybody wants to read e-books) so it would have to be available physically and quickly at a decent price.

Michael wrote: "Having come from the "indie" world (now traditionally published) I've met a lot of talented indie authors that struggle to get any notice. I think it would be worth having a poll with some "quality..."

That's a good idea provided we can do as Tyrone said.

How about:

All the comments put down can be considered of course for future topics for nomination if they're not selected.

I will nominate a new take on an old concept. Bernard Cornwell's "The Arthur Books" is an interesting take on the Arthurian legend. The story is told by one of Arthur's warriors Derfel, and it does a great job of introducing new ideas into the familar story. The series consists of three books: 1. Winter King 2. Enemy of god 3. Excalibur

The Drawing of the Dark by Tim Powers is a wonderful Historical Fantasy/Historical Fiction with an Aurthurian Theme.

I like the indie book idea.

The Mists of Avalon

Arthurian legend

Fire Bringer

The Mists of Avalon is one of our previously chosen books and I've already set up a discussion topic on it in this group's "book discussion" folder, though unfortunately nothing interesting has been posted there yet so if you like you can post your comments on TMOA there. This discussion topic might also be of interest.

So what should I make a poll for? Topics we nominate under or books for February?

can I nominate the silly sci-fi I wrote 3 years ago and published last year?: The Speed of Darkness

Jonathan wrote: "So what should I make a poll for? Topics we nominate under or books for February?"

I don't know, what's your idea? And I would suggest allow write-in answers this time like what we did in December.

May I enter my book for Feb? The Crystal Princess. Its a YA book with good reviews so far! Thank You. Kimberly Norton ( Author)

Being an indie author myself, I appreciate opening nominations to indie books, but that is like opening a can of worms, especially if you consider self nominations. I suggest limiting indie books (at least self nominated) to the first 2 or 3, and then cutting it off and letting the poll decide. With that, I'd like to nominate The Black Company by Glen Cook. I suggested this for the January read based on the world building theme, but it is also applicable for the grand sweeping plots theme. If you are unfamiliar with the series, to which The Black Company is the first installment, this is a gritty fantasy with a unique perspective of good and evil. And talk about grand sweeping plots... this started as a stand alone trilogy but turned into 3 trilogies and a few spin off books.

I wouldn't open this to self nominations. As Aiden said, that is a can of worms.

Tyrone wrote: "I wouldn't open this to self nominations. As Aiden said, that is a can of worms."

I agree. And sorry by "indie book" I wasn't thinking about self-publishing but reasonably well-known that cater niche genres or radical politics (e.g. Small Beer Press, which I especially like because it has published many good sf/f written by people like Maureen F. McHugh and Greer Gilman, and because it sells drm-free ebooks).

sorry, sorry
was just rushing through and wasn't trying to make things uncomfortable :P

No problem Sarah. I wasn't having a go.

In most other areas of GR I don't mind authors publicising their own work. I just think when it comes to nominations they should be made by people who have read and enjoyed a book and want others read it also. I may be alone in this but that's just how I feel.

Sarah wrote: "sorry, sorry
was just rushing through and wasn't trying to make things uncomfortable :P"

Sorry I didn't say we've decided not to allow self-nomination. I guess this topic is supposed to gather suggestions from all sides so any ideas/nominations are welcome:)

Tyrone wrote: "No problem Sarah. I wasn't having a go.

In most other areas of GR I don't mind authors publicising their own work. I just think when it comes to nominations they should be made by people who have..."

Oh I didn't know I can nominate books I've read before.

I don't know...rules vary between groups. Quite often when I've read a great book I'll plug it anywhere. But you're right, i'm as likely to nominate something i've been wanting to read just to give me the excuse.

Well this whole thread is going nowhere...
I'd like to put here that what I would like are some more book nominations for February so I can make an early poll. I've got enough indie books so far so I just want nominations regardless of topic.

Ok if I can nominate books I've read then I'll nominate:
because it has one of the most clever world-building I've ever seen in far-future sf and has lots of good ideas.
Or
It's a collection of short stories, some of them are quite good imo. It's also an indie book and is published under Creative Commons i.e. can be downloaded for free legally.

My nomination is just for the record: Dune or since I have it and want to read it at some point: The Way of Kings

Since I have a few indie nominations already I might make that into a separate post/vote?

Other nominations so far are the above, Hades Daughter The Red Pyramid, Goblin Quest, Winter King, The Drawing of the Dark, The Mists of Avalon, Fire Bringer.

If you're going with "grand sweeping plots" then I'll nomiate Game of Thrones by G.M.M. Martin.

Jon, did my nominations for The Black Company not make the cut?

Aiden wrote: "Jon, did my nominations for The Black Company not make the cut?"

Ah sorry I failed to see your nomination. Then we shall add that one to the list. I'll set up a poll now and add a write-in option.

Seeing as I ended up confused now about the indie books I recommend anyone put down the indie books as buddy reads or in the advertisement section. I'm simply sticking to the already put down ideas here. Sounds like a good poll.

Winter King by Bernard Cornwell sounds good. I love his books. Also, someone I've never tried is Rick Riordan. So Red Pyramid is my other choice.

Jessica wrote: "Winter King by Bernard Cornwell sounds good. I love his books. Also, someone I've never tried is Rick Riordan. So Red Pyramid is my other choice."

You should give Riordan's Percy Jackson series a try. As someone who reads all over the joint from adult thrillers to children's and YA it's one of the better series available.

Gage wrote: "The Mists of Avalon

Arthurian legend"

Always my favorite book in this category!

Mark wrote: "Stories involving mytholgies that come to life

Like Hades Daughter or The Red Pyramid"

The author that I work with is an Arthurian legend expert ... I'll have to ask her opinion on this. She'd have a lot to say. :>

Michael wrote: "Having come from the "indie" world (now traditionally published) I've met a lot of talented indie authors that struggle to get any notice. I think it would be worth having a poll with some "quality..."

Being a publicist for new authors (and friends with indie authors) I like this theme! All of the authors that I know or work with are in eBooks. Its the smart move for author's these days. And pricing should be low low low...

I just finished "Miss Peregrine's Home For Pecular Children" It was a pretty good read. Had flavors of Harry Potter set in 1940. Something to think about.

Jonathan wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Winter King by Bernard Cornwell sounds good. I love his books. Also, someone I've never tried is Rick Riordan. So Red Pyramid is my other choice."

You should give Riordan's Percy J..."


I have it on my list. But his books are so popular right now that they have a long waiting list. I don't buy books brand new that I haven't read before. So I'll just have to wait. :)

I just realized that almost all the sf/f I read in the last few years are written in industrialized, English-speaking countries like US/Canada/UK, and so are all the books nominated in our group up to now. How about we do a topic on sf/f books from other parts of the world (Latin America, India, Hong Kong etc.) some time?

That sounds really cool. All of the books I read come from places like Canada, the U.S etc so reading a book from other places in the world would be an interesting change.

Thatt would be great as it will give me some new authors to try out.

I know that there was a fairly new but interesting SF scene growing in SE Asia.

My other group I'm with,we choose Daughter of Smoke and Bone, looks like an interesting read.