The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

Nominations for the February 2022 read are for books published from 1980-1999.

SF novels or short story collection/anthologies that have not previously been read by the group are eligible. Please check the bookshelf & the nomination rules for further clarification before nominating a book.

Previously nominated books are on this bookshelf. More qualifying authors & books can be found here.

Please add your nominated book title as a clickable link directly to the goodreads' book page, with author and year, so it looks like this:
Children of Time
Adrian Tchaikovsky
2015
(If you can't create book links, please include the URL to the book.)

Tell us why you chose the book that you're nominating. Remember that books require seconding now. We'll close this nomination thread on the 15th of December 2021 in order to have plenty of time for poll(s) and then for acquisitions of the winner(s).

Nominated


Nominated & Seconded
Armor by John Steakley, nom by Papaphilly, 2d by Leo
Blood Music by Greg Bear, nom by Ed, 2d by Papaphilly
Wild Cards edited by George R.R. Martin, nom by mod Jim, 2d by RJ

Armor by John Steakley.

It is a wonderful read. It is in the military Science Fiction, but it is really a comment on arrogance. I read this back in the late 1980's and never forgot it. I place this on the level of the The Forever War and Starship Troopers. A great commentary of the exhaustion of the front line soldier and the comparison of the ideal verse the reality.

A great read all around.

Papaphilly wrote: "Armor by John Steakley. ..."

I agree with all you wrote, but I think we read it a couple/few years ago. It's showing as read on our bookshelves, but Cheryl put it in there without a date or folder, so it could have been a goof. It's easy to do with group bookshelves. I recall discussing it, but I can't find the topic. I see where it was nominated for Feb2019, but didn't get picked, & some of us informally discussed it in the period topic, too. It's certainly eligible if we haven't formally discussed it.

Ed, can you look & see if you can find it, please? Everyone else is welcome to join in. Chime in if your memory is better than mine.

I do not think this group read Armor.
You did mention it once or twice Jim, as example of military SF, next to the important works of military SF: Starship Troopers, Forever War, Old Man's War.
As I liked them very much, I second Armor.

I've added it to the nominations. Thanks for checking. I'm sure I've mentioned it more than that. It's an old favorite & the different takes on the similar stories interesting.

nom by Papaphilly, 2d by Ed

Nope. that was Leo.

I nominate Blood Music by Greg Bear.

I've never read it, but it has been on my to-read shelf for a long time.

fixed & updated.

Ed wrote: "I nominate Blood Music by Greg Bear.

I've never read it, but it has been on my to-read shelf for a long time."

If I am allowed to second since I nominated, I will second. It is an excellent read.

Papaphilly wrote: "If I am allowed to second since I nominated,..."

Yes, you can nominate one & second one. I'll update now.

I'll nominate Wild Cards, a collection of short stories in a shared universe that spawned a bunch more both stories & novels. It's edited by George R.R. Martin & contains some great characters. In an alternate Earth, the Wild Card virus causes mutations among some folks after WWII. Some very well known & excellent authors have had a lot of fun writing these.

Jim wrote: "I'll nominate Wild Cards, a collection of short stories in a shared universe that spawned a bunch more both stories & novels. It's edited by George R.R. Martin & conta..."

second

We currently have 3 books Nominated & Seconded
Armor by John Steakley, nom by Papaphilly, 2d by Leo
Blood Music by Greg Bear, nom by Ed, 2d by Papaphilly
Wild Cards edited by George R.R. Martin, nom by mod Jim, 2d by RJ

The poll is up. You can find it here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...