SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Congratulations!! And two months early! Amazing! I admire your ability to stay focused on the challenges.

Esrahaddon was good!

I really enjoyed Silver Metal Lover.

Fantasy Vs SciFi Challenge = Fantasy filled out:

Shape Shifting
1. Change: Read a book with a character that changes shape or disguises themself
✔️The Air War by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = because Esmail is a shapeshifter
2. Copy: Read a book with “shape” or “shift” in the title
The Shape of Dread by Marcia Muller
Reason = another mystery but Shape is in the title
replaced by
✔️The Shape of Things to Come by H.G. Wells
Reason = Shape is in the title

Romantasy
1. Love: Read a book where a romantic relationship is central to the plot
✔️Still the Sun by Charlie N. Holmberg|7801879]
Reason = blurb calls it the latest romantic fantasy adventure by Charlie N. Holmberg.
2. Pairing: Read a book with a couple on the cover
Scepters by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
replaced by
✔️The Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller
Reason = required couple on cover and the strong presence of the fictional Sherlock Holmes in the book



Angels and Devils
1. Ying: Read a book where a character has wings and/or horns
✔️Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
Reason = One main character has wings no matter how many times someone cuts them off
2. Yang: Read a book with a black and white cover
✔️Descending by C. Michelle Jefferies
Reason = defo B&W


Magical Object
1. Powerful: Read a book where a magical object is central to the plot
✔️The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V. Snyder
Reason = the main character's services are enlisted to find The Eyes of Tamburah: legendary gemstones that bestow great magic on their wielder.
2. Thing: Read a book with the word “magic” in the title
✔️The Book of Magic by Gardner Dozois
Reason = anthology of Magic stories with Magic in the book title

Poisoner
1. Sick: Read a book where a poisoning is a significant plot point
✔️The Study of Fire by Maria V. Snyder
Reason = a main character is a food taster for poisons
2. Dangerous: Read a book with something poisonous on the cover
✔️Pomodoro!: A History of the Tomato in Italy by David Gentilcore
Reason = tomatoes were originally considered poisonous.

DnD Party
1.Characters: Read a book with a rogue, mage, fighter, and/or wizard (classic DnD characters)
✔️No Return by Zachary Jernigan
Reason = main characters = male martial artist, woman warrior, and two of the Royal Outbound Mages
2.Team: Read a book with 4 or more characters on cover or the word “party” in the title
✔️By Blood We Live by John Joseph Adams
Reason = more than 4 characters (I'm presuming from the separate stories) on the cover


Mythology
1.Story: Read a book with a mythological character or that is considered a retelling of a myth
✔️The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Reason = Achilles story retelling
2. Alpha-Omega: Read a book with any greek letter on the cover or the word “myth” in the title
✔️Myth in Malmö: The Tenth Inspector Anita Sundström Mystery by Torquil MacLeod
Reason = mystery book set in Sweden with Myth in the title

Undead
1. Alive?: Read a book with an undead character or a character that returns from the dead
✔️Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
Reason = Vampire is an important character in this book - make that Vampires are
2. Dead: Read a book the word “dead” or “death” in the title
Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeerVandermeer, Jeff
Reason = Dead in the title
replaced by
✔️Dead And Gone by Dorothy Simpson
Reason = Dead in the title

Bestiary
1. Not a Pet: Read a book with a character that would be considered a beast
✔️Lyorn by Steven Brust
Reason = Loiosh, Vlad's familiar (not a pet) is a jherig (mini dragon/lizard with wings)
2. Risky: Read a book with any kind of beast on the cover
The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
Reason = wolf on the cover
replaced by
✔️Miss Percy's Definitive Guide to the Restoration of Dragons by Quenby Olson
Reason = Dragon on the cover


Fantastic Flora
1. Greenery: Read a book where plants can be considered a character (protagonist or antagonist) in the book
✔️Semiosis by Sue Burke
Reason = Intelligent plants
2. Anti-Human: Read a book with plants but no humans on the cover
✔️The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Reason = lots of plants on the cover but no humans


Magic Powers
1. Sorcerer: Read a book with a character that has any kind of magic
✔️Raven's Strike by Patricia Briggs
Reason = Raven Mage is main character
2. Magi: Read a book with any kind of magician on the cover
✔️Raven's Shadow by Patricia Briggs
Reason = Mage on front cover


Fairy Tales
1. Story: Read a book that is a collection of related stories
✔️Muse and Reverie by Charles de Lint
Reason = same setting and same author for all the stories in this collection
2. Fae: Read a book with fairies on the cover or “tales” in the title
✔️The Coyote Road: Trickster Tales by [author:Ellen Datlow|
Reason = Tales in the title

Full Character Archetypes List

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength
✔️Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Reason = Viv is big and strong
2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer
replaced by
✔️Beyond the Blue Moon by Simon R. Green
Reason = one of main characters, Tiffany, appears to be a bit of a simple soul (ditzy clueless teenage type)

January Antagonist: Monster
1. Huge: Read a book with a character that is extremely large
Seal of the Worm by Adrian Tchaikovsky
replaced by
✔️For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel
Reason = Saa is an 8 foot tall alien that looks human but has two hearts
2. Ugly: Read a book with a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance
✔️Homeland - The Dark Elf Trilogy #1 of 3 by R.A. Salvatore
Reason = The Faceless man has an acid disfigured face

✔️Neuromancer by William Gibson
✔️I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis = I just purchased this book this year and this will be my first digital read of the book
✔️ Foundation by Isaac Asimov = ditto
✔️Homeland by R.A. Salvatore
✔️Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
✔️The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
✔️Semiosis by Sue Burke
✔️The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
✔️Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
✔️The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
✔️The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
✔️Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
The Path of Thorns by A.G. Slatter
✔️Ubik by Philip K. Dick
✔️Witch King by Martha Wells
✔️The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson
✔️To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
✔️[One Hundred Years of Solitude|320] by Gabriel García Márquez
✔️The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
✔️The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
✔️Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman


up to 22 total with 20 Read for the list now

2025 TBR Cleanup Challenge

1. Welcome to the Red Carpet = ✔️The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
Reason =stars of the TV series made from this book walked the red carpet for the Emmys (won 6)
2. Suit Up = ✔️Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = special suits required to survive in the Zone
3. All That Glitters = ✔️Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
Reason = fighting over a discovery of jewels
4. Let Your Hair Down = ✔️Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Reason = I could say it's because Bald (in the author's name) is the opposite of hair, but Viv needs to let her hair down and relax after being injured
5. Special Effects = ✔️I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Reason =won an Oscar for Visual Effects for the movie based on this book
6. Six of One … Half a Dozen of the Other = Finder Replaced by ✔️ Bone Dance by Emma Bull
Reason =main character is male or female depending on the people interacting with them
7. Strike a Pose = ✔️The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu
Reason = 12 figures on the cover striking poses
8. Bohemian = ✔️Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
Reason = the main character is a middle-aged entrepreneur who moves to a bohemian neighborhood of Toronto.
9. Global Inspiration = Radicalized by Cory Doctorow
Reason = four science fiction novellas connected by social, technological, and economic visions of today and what America could be in the near, near future.
10. Dime a Dozen = ✔️Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = disposable convicts are a dime a dozen
11. Slay = Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Reason = slay = kill and they're killing gods in this book
12. Twelfth = ✔️Fledgling by Sharon Lee
Reason = couldn't find anything else with a 12 and it's the 12th book in the series plus it has the title of Fledgling (Theo Waitley, #1; Liaden Universe, #12) in my Goodreads listing
13. Cottagecore = ✔️The Green Man's War by Juliet E. McKenna
Reason = Main character is a proponent of cottagecore
14. Oh! the Horrors = ✔️Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
Reason = If you're Clayton, and you fail with manipulating people who are alive you turn to killing them and manipulating their bodies
15. Punk vs Prep = ✔️Don't Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd
Reason = Goth pre-teen vs "regular" pre-teen
16. Organic vs Synthetic = ✔️Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = Organic (human) vs Synthetic (robot or robots)
17. Modern vs Traditional = ✔️The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow
Reason = Modern Youth against their MAGA elders
18. Avant-garde = Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson Replaced by ✔️The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Reason = comes up on several lists of avant-garde books
19. Bold Look = ✔️Dressed for Death by Donna Leon
Reason = corpse (male) is dressed in a rather bold red dress and shoes
20. Loungewear = ✔️Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Reason = suggestion was made to go for a cozy book here and this looks to be one

Fantasy Vs SciFi Challenge = SciFi filled out but none of the books here will count as I'm team Fantasy

Aliens =
1. Area 51: Read a book with an alien character
Becoming Alien by Rebecca Ore
Reason = alien character is central to the story
2. Starry Night: Read a book with at least one star on the cover
Barbarians of the Beyond by Matthew Hughes
Reason = lots of stars on the cover

Alt History =
1. Back in the Day: Read a book set 20+ years ago
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Reason = set in the 50s?
2. Historicity: Read a book with a time machine or historical figure on the cover
The Disfavored Hero by Jessica Amanda Salmonson
Reason = historical female samurai warrior

Clones =
1. DNA: Read a book with clones or twins in it
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Reason = lots of mentions of clones in this one
2. Palindrome: Read a book with a mirrored cover (cover features a graphic that reads the same on both sides)
Green Darkness by Anya Seton
Reason = hard to find - seems people don't like to do mirrored covers


Dimensional Travel
1. AltDimension: Read a book set in more than 1 dimension
Max and the Multiverse by Zachry Wheeler
Reason = kid wakes up in a different universe every day
2. Portal: Read a book with any kind of portal on the cover
Recluce Tales: Stories from the World of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Reason = door (portal) on cover of bookAnnalee Newitz


Space Travel
1. The Black: Read a book set in outer space
Falling Dark by Tom Lloyd
Reason = spaceship crew finds abandoned ship
2. Nebula: Read a book with a space scene on the cover
Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh
Reason = star and planets on cover


Terraforming
1. Oxygen: Read a book that features terraforming
The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
Reason = title says it all
2. Foliage: Read a book with any kind of flora on the cover
The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan
Reason = tree on the cover


Biological Engineering
1. Lab: Read a book with a character that is a biologist and/or engineer
Taylor's Ark by Jody Lynn Nye
Reason = main character is a doctor who runs a lab
2. DNA: Read a book with a helix on the cover
Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress
Reason = helix on cover


LitRPG
1. Game: Read any book classified as LitRPG or a novelized version of a video game
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Reason = people playing a game or in the game
2. Console: Read a book with any gaming console or DND dice on the cover
Don't Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd
Reason = two players are using game controls on the cover


Big Data
1. Arithmetic: Read a book with an accountant or mathematician as a main character
Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee
Reason = whole culture is based on mathematics - I didn't like book one, but own books 2 & 3, so this is a way to knock one off my TBR pile
2. Data: Read a book with numbers on the cover
Games to Keep the Dark Away by Marcia Muller
Reason = mystery with 17 reversed on the cover


Mad Science
1. Scientist: Read a book with a scientist as a main character
Of Cinder and Bone by Kyoko M.
Reason = scientists bring a dragon to life then it's stolen
2. Gear: Read a book with anyone in a lab coat or lab beakers on the cover
House of Open Wounds by Adrian TchaikovskyTchaikovsky, Adrian
Reason = looks to be both a boiling beaker (bottle) and a lab coat on the cover


Artificial Intelligence
1. Intelligence: Read a book where AI is an important character or important to the plot
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
Reason = robots use AI
2. Robot: Read a book with a computer or code on the cover
Danged Black Thing by Eugen Bacon
Reason = computer in the background


Time Travel
1. Time Machine:Read a book where time travel is part of the plot
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Reason = time travel is the main theme of the book
2. Clock: Read a book with any kind of time keeping device on the cover
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Reason = pocket watch on the cover

would a mod please delete posts 1, 6, 7 & 8 to clear out last year's comments? Tyia

January Protagonist: Big Dumb Hero
1. Strong: Read a book with a character who possesses great physical strength.
✔️Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Reason = Viv is big and strong
2. unBrianiac: Read a book with a character that is noted for their lack of intelligence.
✔️Beyond the Blue Moon by Simon R. Green
Reason = one main character appears to be a bit of a simple soul

January Antagonist: Monster
1. Huge: Read a book with a character that is extremely large.
✔️For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel
Reason = Saa is an 8 foot tall alien that looks human but has two hearts
2. Ugly: Read a book with a character that is noted for an unpleasant appearance.
✔️Homeland - The Dark Elf Trilogy #1 of 3 by R.A. Salvatore
Reason = The Faceless man has an acid disfigured face

February Protagonist: Love Interest
1. Pretty: Read a book where a main character is known for their good looks
✔️Green Darkness by Anya Seton
Reason = Celia is considered very beautiful
2. Romance: Read a book with a romantic scene
✔️Spirits in the Wires by Charles de Lint
Reason = Nice romantic scene between Bojo & Holly

February Antagonist: Rival
1. Better Than You: Read a book where a main character has a rival
✔️Once in a Blue Moon by Simon R. Green
Reason = a romantic triangle between Catherine, Richard and Malcom
2. It’s Personal: Read a book where a character has a personal grievance that is significant to the plot
✔️The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
Reason = Tau is consumed by revenge for his father's death

March Protagonist: Sidekick
1. 2nd Best: Read a book with a sidekick character or where the main character is only the 2nd best at something.
✔️Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason: Professor Arton Daghdev seems to be and feels like he is second best to Professor Ylse Rasmussen and Vertegio Keev

2. Helpful: Read a book where the ‘hero’ needs help accomplishing a goal.
✔️The Night House by Jo Nesbø
Reason: Harry Hole has to get together a team to help him with his goal

March Antagonist: Assistant to the Villain
1. Sidekick: Read a book with a character who is a sidekick or a character who has a sidekick.
✔️Neuromancer by William Gibson
Reason: Armitage is a sidekick/works for Wintermute
2. Not In Charge: Read a book where the main character is not the person in charge at their organization
✔️The Mongrel Mage by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Main character is working for lots of people and is most definitely not in charge of anything

April Protagonist

April Protagonist: Mentor
1. Aged: Read a book with an older main character.
✔️The Violent Century by Lavie Tidhar
Reason: One of the main characters is named The Old Man and he is one
2. Teacher: Read a book where a main character formally learns (skills or book knowledge).
✔️Blitz by Daniel O'Malley
Reason = Lynette goes to Chequy School

April Antagonist: Wicked Stepparent
1. Not My Child: Read a book where a character raises a child that is not theirs by birth.
✔️Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian
Rabbit is a girl child being raised by Old Tom
2. Envy: Read a book where jealousy is important to the plot.
✔️Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Reason: Jack was jealous of Ralph's leadership role and this colored the struggle to win control of the "tribe"

May Bonus

May Protagonist: Friendly Creature
1. Pet: Read a book where the main character is a pet or has a pet.
✔️Miss Percy's Travel Guide to Welsh Moors and Feral Dragons by Quenby Olson
Reason = Fitz = a "pet" dragon
2. Companion: Read a book with an animal that is friendly toward the main characters.
✔️The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa
Reason = The cat helps the main character save books = unusual friendship

May Antagonist: Mother Nature
1. Weather: Read a book where a weather event is significant to the plot.
✔️Tooth and Claw by Craig Johnson
Reason = big storm in Alaska traps main characters and wrecks their plane - add in a 14 foot polar bear and it's horrendous
2. You’re Edible Here: Read a book where the main characters encounter a hostile environment
✔️Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = planet is a killer and the main character is being sent back to it

Note: The Weather prompt book could be used for the You're Edible Here prompt as people do get eaten. This book is kinda a modern day take on The Terror by Dan Simmons

Objects of Power

Charged Jewelry

1. Jewels: Read a book where a piece of jewelry is important to the plot.
✔️Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey
Reason = a magical amulet allows instantaneous travel to rescue the princess. This doesn't appear until near the end of the book, and it's a gold rose made of gold and the baby princess' hair

2. Pretty: Read a book with something sparkly on the cover.
✔️Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh
Reason = looks like fireworks exploding on cover

June Protagonist: Strong Female.
1. Girl: Read a book where the main character is female.
The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis Replaced by ✔️Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason: Main character is a woman

2. Stamina: Read a book where a character can sustain a prolonged physical or mental effort.
✔️The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman
Long prolonged war

June Antagonist: Sociopath.
1. No Empathy: Read a book where a character struggles to understand other people or doesn’t care about other people.
✔️Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason: main character is a robot with no feelings and struggles to understand both humans (kills their owner) and other robots

2. Manipulative: Read a book with a manipulative character.
✔️Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
Reason: If you're Clayton, and you fail with manipulating people who are alive you turn to killing them and manipulating their bodies

Summer Bonus - June 20th - September 22nd - Fantasy Settings

Pseudo-Medieval
1. Feudal Government- Read a book where the ruling government is any kind of feudal system or the book’s main character possesses a noble title.
✔️The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
Reason = loosely based on the period of Moorish conquest of Spain with three conflicting entities in a feudal setting
2. Enchanted Forest- Read a book where a forest is a significant setting (even better, but not required, if that forest is magical).
✔️The Waking of Angantyr by Marie Brennan
Reason = significant parts of the story are set in forests and there's a witch in one of them

Expansive Empire
1. Colonial Acquisition- Read a book where a government has acquired another political entity through force.
✔️War Master's Gate by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Reason = Wasps conquering the rest of the world
2. Resistance Forces- Read a book where an organized (but less powerful) force actively tries to thwart the ‘lawful’ government.
✔️The City of Zirdai by Maria V. Snyder
Reason = Continuation of a revolt to free an underground city

Magical City
1. Urban Fantasy- Read any book classified as urban fantasy.
✔️Mulengro by Charles de Lint
Reason = from one of the masters/creators of urban fantasy
2. Underground Magic- Read a book where magic exists, but most people are not aware of its existence.
✔️The Painted Boy by Charles de Lint
Reason = main character has magic but as it's set in modern America, most people are not aware that he has it

July Bonus

July Protagonist: Orphan
1. Child: Read a book where a main character is a child.
✔️The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
Reason = main character starts out as a child of eight and both parents are killed
2. Parentless: Read a book where a main character doesn’t know their parent or a parent dies in the story.
✔️Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
Reason = main character goes on a search for her birth mother

July Antagonist: Racist
1. Racism: Read a book where racism is significant to the plot.
✔️Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
Reason = people from the skyscrapers look down upon the fathomfolk (lower class citizens of various races)
2. Aryan Looks: Read a book where a group of characters are expected to display a uniform trait or dress in identical uniforms.
✔️Midshipman's Hope by David Feintuch
Reason = rigid military ship based on british ship hierarchies and uniforms

Objects of Power

Powerful Weapon

1. Wow: Read a book with a legendary weapon (A weapon of myth, sung of in songs and spoken of in whispers. Old, powerful, and possessing a name).
✔️The King of Koraha by Maria V. Snyder
Reason: the Eyes of Tamburah in the eye sockets of Shyla go to aid the King against a dread enemy. These are the eyes of a long dead king that can work magic

2. Ouch: Read a book with someone injured or dead on the cover.
✔️Trophies and Dead Things by Marcia Muller
Reason: Skull on the cover = a dead person somewhere and as this is a mystery novel, I'd expect dead people

August Bonus
August Protagonist: Dynamic Leader

1. In Charge: Read a book where the main character serves in any kind of leadership role.
✔️Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi
Reason = main character is expected to take over and become head of the family and lead
2. Fan Club: Read a book where a character has a substantial fandom.
✔️Cannonbridge by Jonathan Barnes
Reason = a character that shouldn't exist with a huge fan club

August Antagonist: Gang-Boss

1. Illegal Trade: Read a book where illegal trade is important to the plot.
✔️Pirate Utopia by Bruce Sterling
Reason = Anarcho-Syndicalist Union, full of free love, art, poetry, high-ideals, and most of all, Rebellion. They even called themselves Pirates! Lots of trade disruptions
2. Recruiter: Read a book where the antagonist successfully recruits more minions.
✔️The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu
Reason = the Genjix are always trying to recruit more supports to help defeat the Prophus - the Genjix method will mean the destruction of the human race.