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As we are back to the beginning, we have decided to try a new approach to nominations. We have noticed that certain authors are selected each time and so this time round we are going to exclude any author from a nomination period where we have already read two or more of their books. The idea is, by trying other other authors we can get a broader view of the sci-fi the period.

Therefore for this period we will not be accepting any nominations for books by H G Wells or Jules Verne

We will accept any other nominations for sci-fi pre-1920 which has not previously been read by the group. Please check out the pre-1920 bookshelf before nominating. One nomination per person please.

One of our members, posted a list of sci-fi from the 19th century in another thread which is very helpful if you need any ideas of what to nominate

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I'll nominate Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott.

I recently got a dead tree copy from BN.com for about $3 and they have the ebook for $4. Of course, I believe it is also posted at Project Gutenberg.

I nominate Etidorhpa
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It's one of the strangest novels I've read. First published in 1895, its a psychedelic Hollow Earth novel.

Well, I have to admit that I only recently learned that there are sequels to Doyle's Lost World, so I nominate The Poison Belt. It is on Project Gutenberg.

I took a look in Wiki to check possible nominants and they note J.-H. Rosny (aîné), whom I never read, but who sounds interestuing. Which novel depends on availability

I suggest "Etidorpha".
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Me and Goreti back Editorpha.

This is my three star goodreads review of Etidorpha:

I bought a used paperback version of this book at the Printer's Row Book Fair, held in Chicago, one summer.

This a quite a unique novel. It first came out in 1895, and it clearly falls within the "Hollow Earth" sub genre of fantastic fiction. But it is not only that. The author, who was trained in science and taught and practiced pharmacy, expounds in this novel his views on science, philosophy, and the occult. For example, Chapter XXX is about an experiment where one can observe a small portion of one's own brain.

The book also gives a New Agey vibe, sort of like a late 19th century _Mutant Message Down Under_ or _The Celestine Prophecy._

The main narrative is wildly fantastical--think _Alice in Wonderland_ mixed with hallucingens. Jumping from a cliff yet falling slowly to the ground; a forest of colossal fungi; a great variety of stony figures; monstrous cubical crystals; beings with distorted body parts.

Neal Wilgus, in his introduction to this edition, thinks that this novel was based on Lloyd's own experience, for his life long pharmaceutical research must have brought him in contact with hallucinogenic substances. If so, I want what he had!

I would like to nominate The Scarlet Plague by Jack London. published 1912

Cordelia wrote: "I would like to nominate The Scarlet Plague by Jack London. published 1912"

Seconded.

Oleksandr wrote: "I took a look in Wiki to check possible nominants and they note J.-H. Rosny (aîné), whom I never read, but who sounds interesting. Which novel depends on availability"

I not planning to nominate him, but I just posted about him on this discussion for important authors (pre 1920). There I list 7 books by him currently-available in English, all from Black Coat Press (aka Hollywood Comics). Other than those books, he is hard to find in English.

On Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, you'll find more under J.H. Rosny Aîné with J.H. rather than the French spelling with J.-H. J.-H. Rosny (aîné).

I wish I was a better librarian & knew how to fix him showing up as 2 authors. I don't know what the rules are for that, though.

No need to second, Cheryl. Only one nomination needed & if we get more than 8 books, we just do 2 polls with 2 winners, plus we can read any as a side-read. Those don't go on the 'read' bookshelf, though.

Jim wrote: "I wish I was a better librarian & knew how to fix him showing up as 2 authors. I don't know what the rules are for that, though."

To add to the confusion, J-H Rosny is 2 people. Brothers. But the older one, calling himself Aîné (the elder) is better known. And that isn't even their real name anyway, which was Boex.

oops wrong group... but tx for info

2 people. Right. I'm not touching that one with a 10' pole then. Librarian wars over odd things like that can get ugly.

No worries, Cheryl. It's tough to keep all the rules straight.

Jim wrote: "...if we get more than 8 books, we just do 2 polls with 2 winners..."

I didn't realize that. Interesting. By the way, how do you decide which books go in which polls? Is it random? Or in order of nomination?

Depends. It's only come up a couple of times, so no hard & fast rules.

Jim wrote: "2 people. Right. I'm not touching that one with a 10' pole then. Librarian wars over odd things like that can get ugly."

LOL