Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

It's crazy to think that in only two months we will be in the 20s!! Just think one hundred years ago it was the Roaring 20s! A decade of jazz bands, flappers, bootleggers, raccoon coats, and more. What will these new 20s bring?

Well, one thing's for sure, we are in for some roaring reads!

Below, nominate a few of your favorite fantasy/sci-fi books that are packed with fun and adventure!

(The new publication date restriction for sci-fi/fantasy books would be on/before 1970)


2020

January-- A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller (1959)

February--Witch World by Andre Norton

March-- Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (1968)

April-- Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

May-- Perelandra by C.S. Lewis

June-- That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

July-- The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

August-- We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

September-- The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

October-- Foundation by Isaac Asimov

November--Metropolis by Thea von Harbou

December--Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney

Patrick, could we nominate fantasy / sci-fi classics on our TBR list? I would hop onto the website first to ensure the group has not already read a book I nominate.

Samantha wrote: "Patrick, could we nominate fantasy / sci-fi classics on our TBR list? I would hop onto the website first to ensure the group has not already read a book I nominate."

Yeah absolutely! As long as they follow the publication date restrictions the group follows :D

Of course! I have a whole personal bookshelf on here dedicated to classics that fall (99%) into our group’s dates.

Last year I did fairly well on my group challenges but failed my personal goodreads challenge. This year I have mastered my goodreads challenge but have been slacking off on classics. Starting at the library has resulted in my reading more contemporary books and less classics this year, because I am encouraged to find new books to add to the library’s collection. Next year I plan to balance my reading and solidly complete some challenges here. That definitely includes plenty of fantasy & sci-fi, which I love!

Awesome!! Hopefully I have a few of the one's you'll nominate too! Haha!

Yeah, I didn't do so well with the challenges this year either.

Better luck to both of us next year? Still two months left of this year, but idk if I’ll be able to clear out a challenge by then.

I’ll look over my classics TBR shelf and see what I can come up with based off which one have not already been group reads.

Ok, sounds good!! (The cut off date is on/before 1970) Sci-fi/Fantasy has a different cut off date then the rest of the group.

Have we read A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller?

Rosemarie wrote: "Have we read A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller?"

We have not! That is a great one!!

Would anyone be interested in any of these books?

Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson (1960)
Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov (1966)
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (1968)

Stand on Zanzibar is on my TBR list, actually! I’m for it.

February work for you?

I almost said yes, but that’s a long book. What about doing it on not the shortest month and one that gives us a couple more days? Note that I realize next year is a leap year. Just a suggestion. :)

Ok, March it is then!

Patrick
Not sure how long that book is but you could split the chapters between two months of reading. Just a thought.

It's okay, we can read a smaller book for February.

How about the C.S. Lewis space trilogy(not all in one month)?

I have the Lewis’s space trilogy on my list, too!

Patrick wrote: "Rosemarie wrote: "Have we read A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller?"

We have not! That is a great one!!"

I agree. I read it earlier this year and I loved it.

Tracey mentioned John Wyndham in another thread. I would love to read The Kraken Wakes.

I'm on the actual Goodreads website now and checking books from my TBR shelf to our group bookshelf!

I'd like to nominate from my TBR shelf:

A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle

Witch World by Andre Norton This one I need to recommend gets added to our group bookshelf. (Some books of hers have more than one novel in them, as I've found on my library's shelves.)

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Vampire Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle (Great for October, maybe???)

I second Witch World

Have we read A Wizard of Earthsea yet? I'd love to read that one.

We have not! Nominate away! 👍

Well then, I hereby nominate A Wizard of Earthsea. 🔮

The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

Blueberry, we read Bradbury’s Illustrated Man as a group earlier this year.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but these are the titles that have been brought up that need someone to second them:

C.S. Lewis Space Trilogy

Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. le Guin

I believe Rosemarie nominated the space trilogy by C S Lewis. I’ll second that.

Ok, I'll plan on covering three months with it :D

Good deal. I can’t second books I suggested, so now I’ll sit here and wait. … … :)

How about a book by John Wyndham?

Samantha wrote: "Blueberry, we read Bradbury’s Illustrated Man as a group earlier this year."

Darn, I knew one of my groups did.

Rosemarie wrote: "How about a book by John Wyndham?"

The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham sound good?

So, I needed a Russian Sci-fi to complete one of the challenges for this group and I found a very cool book that I thought you all might want to look into for next year. It was the inspiration for Orwell's 1984. It's called We by Yevgeny Zamyatin who lived during the Soviet Union.

The Kraken Wakes sounds really good!

I'll second The Man in the High Castle. I need to read more by Dick.

Patrick wrote: "So, I needed a Russian Sci-fi to complete one of the challenges for this group and I found a very cool book that I thought you all might want to look into for next year. It was the inspiration for ..."

We - Yevgeny Zamyatin
https://cdn.mises.org/We_2.pdf
This sounds good, so I'll second it! Many thanks, Patrick.

Updated!

Have I missed any nominations??

I will second The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

I wanted to read some of his works in 2020.

I would also like to nominate Foundation by Isaac Asimov

I have since read Wizard of Earthsea and would like to withraw my nomination (since it hasn't been seconded) - is that possible?

I'd like to second Foundation instead. :-)

Alright! I will fix it :D

Thank you so much, Patrick.

No problem 😁👍

I read A Canticle for Leibowitz earlier this year and I loved it. I’m looking forward to the discussion.

I would like to nominate
The Well at the World's End by William Morris

Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney

I don't know if I'm still able to nominate something, but if so I'd like to throw out a suggestion:

Metropolis by Thea von Harbou, the book which was the basis for the classic film of the same name

I’ll update when I get back home! 😁

Do I have any seconds for these nominations?

The Well at the World’s End by William Morris
Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
Metropolis by Thea von Harbou