/lit/ - Literature

TIME TO VOTE!

The nominees are as follows:

The Bear and the Nightingale,
by Katherine Arden. ~325 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25489134-the-bear-and-the-nightingale

Early Riser,
by Jasper Fforde. ~400 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23498264-early-riser

An Antarctic Mystery,
by Jules Verne. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/719181.An_Antarctic_Mystery

Pushing Ice,
by Alastair Reynolds. ~450 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89186.Pushing_Ice

Ice,
by Anna Kavan. ~150 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/636223.Ice

The Ice Schooner,
by Michael Moorcock. ~175 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60157.The_Ice_Schooner

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/19026702

While They Do the Same Things Different There seem like a great read, 6 books is enough so I disqualified it because it's not snow related.

Sorry I'm late, it's TIME TO VOTE.

Let the Right One In,
by John Ajvide Lindquist. ~500 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/943402.Let_the_Right_One_In

Early Riser,
by Jasper Fforde. ~400 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23498264-early-riser

Phantastes,
by George MacDonald. ~200 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174948.Phantastes

The City & the City,
by China Miéville. ~300 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4703581-the-city-the-city

Quarantine,
by Greg Egan. ~275 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156775.Quarantine

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/18890110

Fucks sake. Sorry I did not post yesterday, life got in the way.

VOTING TIME. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO READ NEXT?

Flowers For Algernon,
by Daniel Keyes. ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36576608-flowers-for-algernon

Awake in the Night Land,
by John C. Wright. ~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21911510-awake-in-the-night-land

The Circus of Dr. Lao,
by Charles G. Finney. ~150 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/315736.The_Circus_of_Dr_Lao

Dying Inside,
by Robert Silverberg. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/968902.Dying_Inside

The Quantum Thief,
by Hannu Rajaniemi. ~325 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7562764-the-quantum-thief

The Mirrorshades Anthology,
featuring William Gibson, Greg Bear, Bruce Sterling and others. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/302702.Mirrorshades

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/18732249

We had loads of nominees. Three books were disqualified, Tigana because it's too well known (and already recommended in the selected fantasy chart) and too long (~675 pages).
The Riddle Master of Hed because it ends on a cliffhanger, hardly suitable to read as a standalone. Cradle/Unsouled because reviews, the promoting material and the fact that it was recurrently nominated under the name of the series give the impression that it's not a standalone work. Do you disagree? Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong and try again next month.

It's time to vote for next months reading. SHORT STORY EDITION yo

Following are the nominees:
Thieves' World,
featuring Poul Anderson, Joe Haldeman, Marion Zimmer Bradley and others.
~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552357.Thieves_World

Rewired: The Post-Cyberpunk Anthology,
featuring Greg Egan, Paolo Bacigalupi, William Gibson, Charles Stross, Michael Swanwick, Christopher Rowe and others.
~425
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/948138.Rewired

Rogues,
featuring GRRM, Joe Abercrombie, Michael Swanwick, Scott Lynch, Garth Nix, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss and others.
~800 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20168816-rogues

McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales,
featuring Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Michael Moorcock, Harlan Ellison and others.
~500 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111088.McSweeney_s_Mammoth_Treasury_of_Thrilling_Tales

Novelties and Souvenirs: Collected Short Fiction,
featuring John Crowley and no others.
~350 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90623.Novelties_and_Souvenirs

Stories of Your Life and Others,
featuring Ted Chiang and no others.
~275 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/18585183

A fine thing with short story collection is that you don't have to read all of them to take part in discussion, which is why I allowed Rogues, at 800+ pages, in the poll.

TIME TO VOTE!

The nominees are:

In Other Worlds,
by A.A Attanasio. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552275.In_Other_Worlds

Castle in the Air,
by Diana Wynne Jones. ~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47520.Castle_in_the_Air

Dragon's Egg,
by Robert L. Forward. ~350 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/263466.Dragon_s_Egg

Nation,
by Terry Pratchett. ~375 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2855034-nation

Babel-17/Empire,
by Samuel R. Delany. ~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/145356.Babel_17_Empire_Star

An Unattractive Vampire,
by Jim McDoniel. ~300 pages.
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26494476-an-unattractive-vampire

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/18418110

I disqualified Lud-in-the-Mist and Neuromancer because they're simply to well known in the thread. If you want to discuss them, just do it. Snow Crash is to long (would undoubtedly have made it, however, if it were fewer nominees).

Have any more thoughts about last months book? Feel free to voice them. I personally feel like it suffered from to many "good" ideas. Like the author came up with a bunch of cool stuff and then could not bring himself to leave anything out, leaving us with malplaced stuff like the lion rescue and the hardass Erwin becoming cozy and cuddly with the president.

It's time to vote on what we're going to read in July! Reading of Lord of Light proceed as usual and discussion with start during the weekend. The nominees for July are:

Sign of the Labrys,
by Margaret St. Clair. ~150 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/992344.Sign_of_the_Labrys

Shades of Grey,
by Jasper Fforde. ~400 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2113260.Shades_of_Grey

Heroes Die,
by Matthew Woodring Stover. ~550 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/311864.Heroes_Die

In Other Worlds,
by A.A. Attanasio. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552275.In_Other_Worlds

Bayne's Climb,
by Ty Johnston. ~125 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9717483-bayne-s-climb

The Library at Mount Char,
by Scott Hawkins. ~400 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26892110-the-library-at-mount-char

Shogun and Dhalgren were disqualified because they're simply to long, 1200 and 800 pages respectively.

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/18221313

Voting time! These are the nominees:

Lord of Light,
by Roger Zelazny. ~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13821.Lord_of_Light

Good Omens,
by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. ~400 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12067.Good_Omens

Vermilion Sands,
by J.G Ballard. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70238.Vermilion_Sands

Exhalation: Stories,
by Ted Chiang. ~350 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41160292-exhalation

Her Smoke Rose up Forever,
by James Tiptree Jr. ~500 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27059.Her_Smoke_Rose_Up_Forever

In Other Worlds,
by A.A Attanasio. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552275.In_Other_Worlds

I excluded Tigana because it is long as fuck, already frequently discussed and recommended in the selected fantasy chart.

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/18106910

Feel free to keep discussing the last book, There Are Doors by Wolfe. It seems like even seasoned Wolfe readers found the book somewhat confusing and without clear focus, have you read any other of Wolfe's stand alone books? How are they compared to There Are Doors?

Next month is Gene Wolfe month, what are we going to read?

Peace, ~275 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60213.Peace

The Devil in a Forest, 250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/463361.The_Devil_in_a_Forest

Free Live Free, ~425 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/755010.Free_Live_Free

The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories, ~375 pages (short story collection)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/271587.The_Island_of_Dr_Death_and_Other_Stories_and_Other_Stories

There Are Doors, ~325 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/666601.There_Are_Doors

Innocents Aboard, ~300 pages (short story collection)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/344946.Innocents_Aboard

Pirate Freedom, ~325 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/703026.Pirate_Freedom

The Land Across, ~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17332287-the-land-across

A Borrowed Man, ~300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848252-a-borrowed-man

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/17910286
Lets hope the voting works better today, I actually contacted Strawpoll support (the shit I do for free) and they said they had technical problems that caused a delay but that no votes were actually lost.

Cast your vote now!

Engine Summer,
by John Crowley. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1335568.Engine_Summer

We,
by Yevgeny Zamyatin. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76171.We

Flowers for Algernon,
by Daniel Keyes. ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36576608-flowers-for-algernon

Godsfire,
by Cynthia Felice. 250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/967895.Godsfire

Tooth and Claw,
by Jo Walton. 300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/344623.Tooth_and_Claw

Strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/17723621


Disqualified:
>The Host
You cheeky fuck.
>The Once and Future King
Too long.
>The Shadow of What Was Lost
Marketed as first part of a trilogy, too long.
>The Black Prism
Too long and also >Brent Weeks.
>Seveneves
Too long.
>Starfish
Not stand-alone enough.
>Ringworld
Not stand-alone enough.
>Blood Song
Too long.
>Wool Omnibus
Too long, part of a series.
>The Wandering Inn
Way too long.

Now this is a long ass list of disqualified books. Partly because I decided to experiment and be anal about it and partly because the list of nominations is long. I'll write some guidelines and add them to the image before the next round.

Early voting today, yay! I'll post this in the next thread once I wake up.

Engine Summer,
by John Crowley. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1335568.Engine_Summer

We,
by Yevgeny Zamyatin. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76171.We

Flowers for Algernon,
by Daniel Keyes. ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36576608-flowers-for-algernon

Godsfire,
by Cynthia Felice. 250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/967895.Godsfire

Tooth and Claw,
by Jo Walton. 300 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/344623.Tooth_and_Claw

Strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/17723621


Disqualified:
>The Host
You cheeky fuck.
>The Once and Future King
Too long.
>The Shadow of What Was Lost
Marketed as first part of a trilogy, too long.
>The Black Prism
Too long and also >Brent Weeks.
>Seveneves
Too long.
>Starfish
Not stand-alone enough.
>Ringworld
Not stand-alone enough.
>Blood Song
Too long.
>Wool Omnibus
Too long, part of a series.
>The Wandering Inn
Way too long.

Now this is a long ass list of disqualified books. Partly because I decided to experiment and be anal about it and partly because the list of nominations is long. I'll write some guidelines and add them to the image before the next round.

It's voting time! Here follow the nominees:

City,
by Clifford D. Simak. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222093.City

In Other Worlds,
by A.A. Attanasio. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552275.In_Other_Worlds

The Iron Dream,
by Norman Spinrad. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/633177.The_Iron_Dream


Space Viking,
by H. Beam Piper. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/676237.Space_Viking

The Black Company,
by Glen Cook. ~325 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/140671.The_Black_Company

West of January,
by Dave Duncan. ~325 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57694.West_of_January

Strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/17537820

TIME TO VOTE!

Nominees:

The Iron Dream,
by Norman Spinrad. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/633177.The_Iron_Dream

The Demolished Man,
by our guy Alfred Bester. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76740.The_Demolished_Man

The Fifth Head of Cerberus,
by our guy Gene Wolfe. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/845501.The_Fifth_Head_of_Cerberus

Stories of Your Life and Others,
by Ted Chiang
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223380.Stories_of_Your_Life_and_Others

Vote here: https://www.strawpoll.me/17377553

I disqualified two nominees, Stormbringer for being the sixth installation in a series and Radix for being to long (feel free to nominate it again next month however). Reply to this post and call me a retard if you disagree.

It's polling time! Here follow the nominees:

Hawkwood's Voyage,
by Paul Kearney. ~375 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1251979.Hawkwood_s_Voyage

Watership Down,
by Richard Adams. ~475 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76620.Watership_Down

A Scanner Darkly,
by our dick Philip K. Dick. ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14817.A_Scanner_Darkly

Earth Abides,
by George R. Stewart. ~350 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93269.Earth_Abides

In Other Worlds,
by A.A Attanasio. ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/552275.In_Other_Worlds

The City and the Stars,
by our guy Arthur C. Clarke. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250024.The_City_and_the_Stars

Gather, Darkness!,
by Fritz Leiber
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/561311.Gather_Darkness

Strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/17124554

Keep on voting! Deadline for voting is at the end of this thread, as usual.

The Man in the High Castle,
by Philip K. Dick. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216363.The_Man_in_the_High_Castle

Doomtime,
by Doris Piserchia. ~175 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2190918.Doomtime

Bridge of Birds,
by Barry Hughart. ~275 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15177.Bridge_of_Birds

A Scanner Darkly,
by Philip K. Dick. ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14817.A_Scanner_Darkly

The Dying Earth,
by Jack Vance. ~150 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/951749.The_Dying_Earth

Strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/16954229

Time to vote! I'm posting this early as I feel we've gathered enough nominations and because I will potentially be busy and unable to post when the new thread is created. Deadline for voting is at the end of the next thread, as usual. I'll post this again in the next thread as soon as I return.

The Man in the High Castle,
by Philip K. Dick. ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216363.The_Man_in_the_High_Castle

Doomtime,
by Doris Piserchia. ~175 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2190918.Doomtime

Bridge of Birds,
by Barry Hughart. ~275 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15177.Bridge_of_Birds

A Scanner Darkly,
by Philip K. Dick. ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14817.A_Scanner_Darkly

The Dying Earth,
by Jack Vance. ~150 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/951749.The_Dying_Earth

Strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/16954229

More important than the American midterms, the monthly reading election!

Here are the nominees:
A Night in the Lonesome October,
by Roger Zelazny. ~280 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62005.A_Night_in_the_Lonesome_October

Who Goes There?,
by John W. Campbell. ~160 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6468870-who-goes-there

Perdido Street Station,
by China Miéville. ~620 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68494.Perdido_Street_Station

Circe,
by Madeline Miller. ~390 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35959740-circe

The Dragon Masters,
by Jack Vance. ~140 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1467740.The_Dragon_Masters

Vote here: https://www.strawpoll.me/16761289

Time to vote on what to read next! Keep in mind that regardless of the length of the book the deadline will be October 31th, which is 4 weeks from now. Here are the nominees:

City,
by Clifford D. Simak (~250 pages)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222093.City

Frankenstein,
by Mary Wollstonecraft (~275 pages)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35031085-frankenstein

Lord of Light,
by Roger Zelazny (~300 pages)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13821.Lord_of_Light

Sword in the Storm,
by David Gemmell (~450 pages)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62292.Sword_in_the_Storm

Poll: https://www.strawpoll.me/16579443

What are we going to read next?
>https://www.strawpoll.me/16366275

Titus Groan,
by Mervyn Peake
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39063.Titus_Groan

Lord of Light,
by Roger Zelazny
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13821.Lord_of_Light

The Night Land,
by William Hope Hodgson
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/970602.The_Night_Land

Blood Music,
by Greg Bear
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/340819.Blood_Music

City,
by Clifford D. Simack
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222093.City

The Lifecycle of Software Objects,
by Ted Chiang
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7886338-the-lifecycle-of-software-objects

Ok, what are we going to read next? We're doing this monthly now meaning the deadline will be September 30th regardless of length. I'd recommend a length between 100 and 300 pages, give or take a few. Since we read both top voted books last round no book is automatically nominated.

What are we going to read next?
https://www.strawpoll.me/15903366

Roadside Picnic,
by the Strugatsky brothers (whose name I don't even have to spellcheck any more)
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331256.Roadside_Picnic

Brave New World,
by Aldous Huxley
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5129.Brave_New_World

The Stars My Destination,
by Alfred Bester
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/333867.The_Stars_My_Destination

The City and the Stars,
by our boy Arthur C. Clarke
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250024.The_City_and_the_Stars

We,
by Yevgeny Zamyatin
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76171.We

The Genocides,
by Thomas M. Disch
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/743672.The_Genocides

A Night in the Lonesome October,
by Roger Zelazny
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62005.A_Night_in_the_Lonesome_October

>literally no nominations in the last thread
F. Guess we'll try again! Keep it good and around or below 200 pages!

Time to vote on what to read next!
https://www.strawpoll.me/15659062

Roadside Picnic,
by the Strugatsky brothers
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331256.Roadside_Picnic

Solaris,
by Stanisław Lem
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95558.Solaris

The Dying Earth,
by Jack Vance
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/951749.The_Dying_Earth

Elric of Melniboné,
by Michael Moorcock
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30036.Elric_of_Melnibon_

Poll time!
https://www.strawpoll.me/15430993

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said,
by PKD:
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22584.Flow_My_Tears_the_Policeman_Said

Roadside Picnic,
by the Strugatsky brothers:
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/331256.Roadside_Picnic

A Night in the Lonesome October,
by Roger Zelazny:
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62005.A_Night_in_the_Lonesome_October

Slan,
by A.E. van Vogt:
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/643792.Slan

The Throne of Bones,
by Brian McNaughton:
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/101991.The_Throne_of_Bones

Floornight,
by nostalgebraist (is this someones OC?):
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26218192-floornight

What will we read next month?
https://www.strawpoll.me/15147445

The candidates are:
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison, ~150 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6803522-i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke, ~225 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/414999.Childhood_s_End
Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick, ~200 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22584.Flow_My_Tears_the_Policeman_Said
The City of the Singing Flame by Clark Ashton Smith, ~250 pages
>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1914713.The_City_of_the_Singing_Flame

We read the winner, second place is automatically entered into next months poll and the rest are banned from next months poll.