ŷ������

2023 Challenge
I will read at least 10 each of SciFi books and 10 fantasy books.
So far planning:

SciFi
🧳 1. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler Read March 23 ⭐⭐��
🧳 2. The Blazing World and Other Writings by Margaret Cavendish read read Feb 28 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳 3. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne Read April 04 ⭐⭐��
🧳 4. Neom by Lavie Tidhar June 24 ⭐⭐��
🧳 5. Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang read March 11 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳 6. The White Mountains by John Christopher
🧳 7. The Island of Dr. Moreau July 26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳 8. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Sept 09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳 9. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells Oct 26 ⭐⭐��
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳10. Parable of the Talents Oct 31 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐��
🧳11. The Egg and Other Stories by Andy Weir Dec 02 ⭐⭐��
🧳12. The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler Dec 29 ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐��

Fantasy
🧳 1. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree read Jan 13 ⭐⭐��
🧳 2. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar read Jan 24 ⭐⭐��
🧳 3. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger read May 09 ⭐⭐
🧳 4. The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳 5. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien read July 19⭐⭐��
🧳6. Heap House by Edward Carey July 22 ⭐⭐
🧳7. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Oct 16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳8. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs ⭐⭐��
🧳 9. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
🧳10. Parable of the Talents Oct 31 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🧳11. [book:The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|78067. ⭐⭐��

March post

Last year I came here to expand my reading practice. I knew I would enjoy fantasy novels more than science fiction novels which I never expected to do any more than kinda enjoy.

Yet I find myself at the local library with my eyes stretching open when when I spot a copy of Exhalation by Ted Chiang.

Reading science fiction can be challenging. Yet I may come to enjoy an occasional book while still loving fantasy works.

Is this the way with many readers of science fiction--that fantasy was the door into science fiction appreciation?

I can foresee that next year I will be back to read both sci-fi and fantasy--and enjoy both.

Science fiction opening doors to fantasy? I can certainly see it happening. For me, it was the opposite :) I first fell in love with science fiction, while "fairy tales were for little kids". Then I read "The Hobbit" at the age of ten (I think) and wanted more.

I started with fantasy, too, and it just seemed to segue into science fiction as well. Maybe because these two genres are always lumped together in the book stores? Beats me!

Lovely. It is interesting to me how people become readers.

For me it was SF that was my first love. Well, that’s not entirely true, because a lot of my favorite books as a kid and Middle Grade reader were essentially Fantasy, but I thought of SF as more adult and my first introduction to it was The Tripod Trilogy by John Christopher (starting with The White Mountains). I think it’s mostly in my head that I prefer SF to Fantasy, because many of my favorite books are Fantasy. Haha!

DivaDiane, I went to look on ŷ������ at the Tripod Trilogy, more particularly The White Mountains. I can see how as a girl I could have fallen in love with this book and this trilogy. I kinda sorta wanna be a girl and read it myself :-)

The original trilogy holds up very well. I read them again (and the prequel) when I was about 26 and loved them all over again. I can still recommend them, except maybe the prequel, which isn’t as great. They are definitely Middle Grade though, not YA, but then I love middle grade books. They are what kindled my love of reading!

Since I am just learning how to read SF, the Tripod Trilogy may be on my 2024 list. I thought I might attempt Contact, but it is too hard science, especially after just reading and rereading and working out a personal understanding of Stories of Your Life and Others. So the Tripod Trilogy might just a more accessible option for me, contributing to a sense of success. Tripod Trilogy is an option. Thank you DivaDiane.

DivaDiane wrote: "The original trilogy holds up very well. I read them again (and the prequel) when I was about 26 and loved them all over again. I can still recommend them, except maybe the prequel, which isn’t as ..."

Cynda, if Contact was too hard science, I feel like Project Hail Mary is a great "hard science" book that makes it super approachable! The Martian is also a great intro to a more hard science type of book.

Jenny Haebtown wrote: "Cynda, if Contact was too hard science, I feel like Project Hail Mary is a great "hard science" book that makes it super approachable! The Martian is also a great intro to a more hard science type of book."

I second the recommendation for Project Hail Mary. I read Contact, and there are some similar themes in PHM, but I found PHM much more readable / accessible. (There are some interesting parallels with PHM and Stories of Your Life and Others, too.)

The Tripod Trilogy was also my entry into science fiction when I was a kid. DivaDiane, I'm excited to hear that it holds up - I may have to give it a re-read.

So if this year I don't read the first of the Tripod Trilogy or Project Hail Mary and maybe The Martian too, they will go in my 2023 list. I am see that I will continue to expand my reading practice---but then that is the danger of reading on ŷ������, no matter what genre. 😉

Thanks for your input ladies 🙂

It’s my pleasure entirely, Cynda! I’m glad I could inspire you to read the Tripod Trilogy. And, Kai, also excited to hear someone else had them as a gateway drug, I mean, book!

I third the Rex of Project Hail Mary. Just loved it. The audio book is excellent.

I’m in the middle of Contact and enjoying it. I’m doing it in audio, which I think softens the blows of the dense info dumps.

I would also recommend both Project Hail Mary and The Martian. These are wonderful books, and probably a good gateway into reading more sci-fi.

That said, those books and Contact are all hard SF, where it’s about a Natural Science (Physics, Biology, Astronomy etc). I prefer soft SF, which is more social sciences, anthropology, psychology, etc.

Thank you DivaDiane for book recommendation!

Wow. The White Mountains (1) by John Christopher I am intrigued. The stprytelling craftnis sharp. The elements play well--such as the rural fairytale and the urban ruins.

I also bought the 2nd book of the trilogy. I will be reading it this year. Then I will read the 3rd as I can buy and read a copy.

I am buying so I can give the copies to young reading friend.

Alexandra, I am planning on starting with short stories of Andy Weir, reading both

graphic novel Cheshire Crossing (mostly because looks fun)

short story collection The Egg and Other Stories

If I follow the science of The Egg, I will continue on with Project Hail Mary.

Cynda wrote: "Alexandra, I am planning on starting with short stories of Andy Weir, reading both

graphic novel Cheshire Crossing (mostly because looks fun)

short story collecti..."

It sounds like a good plan! "The Egg" and "Annie's Day" in the short story collection are very different from his novels, including Project Hail Mary, just so that you know. I haven't read other stories in this collection, though - they might be more sci-fi.

Okay Alexandra. The non-linear can be enlightening in unexpected ways. . . . It begins with a journey. . . .

I’m glad you enjoyed The White Mountains, Cynda! The 3rd book is especially exciting. I don’t remember much about the 2nd one. Time for a reread?

If you are enjoying getting obscure Middle Grade book recommendations, I can also highly recommend the Fantasy series Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda. So good!

Oh my the end of the year comes on fast and faster, doesn't it! I will still read The Egg and Other Stories by Andy Weir in 2023. In 2024, I will have opportunity to read as slowly as I need Project Hail Mary. I am striving.

And in 2024,
I will complete one YA trilogy.
The Farthest Shore to complete the Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin

I will continue one with another
The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher

These books will keep me coming back next year in my effort to catchup now rather create an entirely new list 🐱

The Farthest Shore is, in fact, the 3rd of the original Trilogy, but there are a number of other books in the series, “Tehanu��, and “The Other Wind and other stories��.

Interested to hear what you think of both series!

Yes DivaDiane, yet I am choosing to read only the trilogy--for now. I want to read other works by LeGuin. I may return to the others if Earthsea.

I love your list, how you have it separated int genre, and put your stars behind the titles read.
Great idea!
Cynda wrote: "2023 Challenge
I will read at least 10 each of SciFi books and 10 fantasy books.
So far planning:

SciFi
🧳 1. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler Read March 23 ⭐⭐..."

Cynda wrote: "And in 2024,
I will complete one YA trilogy.
The Farthest Shore to complete the Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin

I will continue one with another
[book:The City ..."

I am very interested to see what you will think about The Farthest Shore and the trilogy as a whole. Your lists are great, by the way :)

Thanks Carolyn and Alexandra!

I am enjoying my time here.

Ah, I see!

You've made great progress so far this year and have added more to your lists. Cool!

Hahaha you have!
That was the whole point. Thanks for helping.

I see you've read a book by Lavie Tidhar. I'm curious what you liked and didn't like about it!

I read a book of this same author a couple of years back, but I really didn't like it, it was the book The Bookman. I wonder if we would have the same considerations.😅

For all the John Christopher fans, there is a fourth book - a prequel: When the Tripods Came

Tripods trilogy is one I occasionally re-read.

@ Nicky about Neom by Lavie Tidhar

I enjoyed the genre-busting aspects and the possibility that Lavie Tidhar wrote a story narratated by a computer, an AI. The more I considered the story, the more I realized that a human narrator likely would not choose the non-humans to be in so much control of then story. I found the ending to be a punctuation point or even the final point of the story.

I do not know that I did not like any aspect of story. I might have rated the story 4 stars, but I am not comfortable enough with technology which has personality to rate anything more closely that I did not like/I do like.

. . . . .Nicky what did you like/not like about the novel?

Adrian, numerous people have told me that they read and read the Tripods trilogy or that they reread time to time. I can feel the draw too. I do not know I will read and reread--but I suspect I might ;-)

Cynda wrote: ". . . . .Nicky what did you like/not like about the novel?"

The Bookman was simply too much. There were too many incohesive aspects of the story, and too many weird creatures and places, none of them properly fleshed out. It was as if Tidhar once had a wacky dream and wrote everything down, without filtering the relevant from the nonsense.
There was also a lack of consistency in the character, who abandoned his ideals, beliefs and values at the blink of an eye.

I'm okay with some suspension of disbelief, but this went way too far.

I do see just from the GR blurb of The Bookman how too much can be going on--oh yeah. It is definitely not a wise selection for me to read when learning about SFF. I am not worried I will commit to such a sophisticated book.

The Neom book is different from The Bookman--and different from everything else I have read. My overall opinion: If you are still willing to read Tidman's work, give Neom a try.

I enjoyed Neom quite a lot.

The Tripod Trilogy prequel, is not nearly as good as the original 3 and IMHO not at all necessary. I read the original trilogy as a kid around age 10. My intro to real SF and on rereading them in my late 20/ I was so happy that they stood the rest of time.

I enjoyed it. Different (of course) from the original trilogy but very gripping.

I'm late to your 2023 journey, but I will follow closely the 2024 one. You've read some good books, and I'll get some inspiration as my goal is to read more sci-fi in the upcoming year. I'd love to read more fantasy too, but that's hit-or-miss for me...we'll see.
Happy holidays!

Ioana always good to see you :-) Thanks for stopping by.

2024 Personal Challenge: Ten & Ten
Same plan: To read at least 10 SciFi and 10 Fantasy.

Science Fiction
Jules Verne Microstudy
🤖 1. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea May 08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤖 2.Facing the Flag June 27 ⭐⭐��
🤖 3. From the Earth to the Moon July 23 ⭐⭐��
🤖 4. A Floating City Sept 08 ⭐⭐��
🤖 5. All Around the Moon by Jules Verne Oct 31 ⭐⭐��
🤖 6. Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne Nov 10 ⭐⭐��

🤖 7. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin June 01 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤖 8. Slaughterhouse-Five Sept 19 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🤖 9. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein Nov 25 �� �� �� ��
🤖10. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Dec 10 �� �� ��
🤖11. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher Dec 30 ⭐⭐��


12. The Female Man by Joanna Russ
13. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
14. Metropolis by Thea von Harbou


Fantasy

🦄 1. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin Aug 02 ⭐⭐��
🦄 2. A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger June 1st ⭐⭐��
🦄 3. Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott Fwb 14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦄 4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame July 12 ⭐⭐��
🦄 5. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt July 27 ⭐⭐��
🦄 6. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown Aug 24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦄 7. The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown Sept 13 ⭐⭐��
🦄 8. Green Angel by Alice Hoffman Oct 26 ⭐⭐��
🦄 9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Oct 27 ⭐⭐��
🦄10. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Nov 08 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🦄 11. The Phantom Tollbooth Nov 24 ⭐⭐��
🦄 12. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente Dec 26 ⭐⭐��

13. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
14. The Winter Sisters by Tim Westover
15. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
16. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Cynda is on the return 2024 wrote: "2024 Personal Challenge: Ten & Ten
Same plan: To read at least 10 SciFi and 10 Fantasy.

Science Fiction

📡 1. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin ⭐⭐��
2. [b..."

I like your selection very much, Cynda! Good luck and happy reading!

Did you read The White Mountains? I actually can’t recommend reading the prequel first. It was published after the whole trilogy - much later, actually and IMHO is not as good. I’d hate to have you give up on those 3 if you don’t like “When the Tripods Come��. Ignore me if you have read The White Mountains, but you didn’t give it a star rating in your first post, so I got worried.

Yes I read it. . . .It intriguing, so at least.A 3-star rating. . . I would like to read the others of the trilogy before I rate that one book. Just a feeling I have. . . Thanks for stopping by Diane :-)

Thanks Alexandra! I am looking forward to lots of good reading this year.

Oh, I’m glad you read and liked it. The next 2 are even better, especially the City of Gold and Lead.

I’m interested to hear what you think of The Female Man.

Alexandra, I finally read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Another example of things aligning just right: Another GR friend of mine was reading Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military by Neil deGrasse Tyson a writer I make too little time for. Because read Accessory to War, I understood the science enough to understand Project Hail Mary. Worked out well.

Thanks for the suggestion. This makes possible my reading The Martian also by Andy Weir :)

DivaDiane, I hope to start and perhaps finish The City of Gold and Lead by the end of the year. I will start this weekend.

The Female Man by Joanna Russ will be rolled over onto next years' list--early in the year.

In 2025 I will be reading Vonnegut--5 or 6 novels. Any suggestions.

I have read/am reading

* Welcome to the Monkey House
* Slaughterhouse-Five
* Cat’s Cradle

My first Vonnegut was Jailbird and I loved it. It’s wacky and brilliant.

I have the graphic adaptation of Slaughterhouse-Five to read if you want to buddy read.

I hope you enjoy City of Gold and Lead. I thought it was the most exciting of the 3.