SFF Hot from Printers: New Releases discussion

In this voting we'll try new rules: each member up to two nominations of 2022 works in SFFH genres, then 2 identical polls with all nominees, and you select your first and second choice. Let's see will it fly

Hmmm... looks like the stuff I really want is better suited for march, so for the moment I'll go with:

Lost in the Moment and Found
Hell Bent

I guess I'm nominating for this round:

Children of Memory
High Times in the Low Parliament

I second Children of Memory and nominate Mage of Fools.

I second High Times in the Low Parliament.

I have to apologize, the polls are a little late this month, but here they are
Poll #1
Poll #2

Both Polls have the same options?

Leticia wrote: "Both Polls have the same options?"

yes, we decided to test this variant b/c more members like SF than fantasy, so no two nominations in two genres and make your 1st and 2nd choice on the same list

So it looks like my nominations, Children of Memory and High Times in the Low Parliament, both won?

Kalin wrote: "So it looks like my nominations, Children of Memory and High Times in the Low Parliament, both won?"

Seems yes, are you ready to read both in a month?

Yep!

Kalin wrote: "Yep!"

Great!

I didn't realize this because the release date was slated for November (a month ago) but the hardcover publication of Children of Memory was cancelled (wtf??). The North American release is slated for end of January now, so it might be hard for some of you to find it.

Kalin wrote: "I didn't realize this because the release date was slated for November (a month ago) but the hardcover publication of Children of Memory was cancelled (wtf??). The North American release is slated ..."

It is available right now on amazon.co.uk and audio non their audible. Just in case

I got an audio copy from my local library - New Zealand

It’s not at my library yet but I just requested the kindle edition.

I will probably not be reading with you in Feb because for Children of Memory, I would have to read the first two books first, and I was a DNF on the first.

As for High Times in the Low Parliament, it looks interesting, but I am not sure I can get it from the library in time. I'm not in the hold queue (they allow so few holds) and it's too expensive. but I will try

Kateblue wrote: "I will probably not be reading with you in Feb because for Children of Memory, I would have to read the first two books first, and I was a DNF on the first. "

If you DNFed at the very start with the ship and a crazy head scientist then next time try to read a bit further, it gets interesting soon after

Kate. I liked the first book. Didn't like the second book and couldn't get into it. Had differenr characterss from first and didn't really continue. I believe the third book is different again - doesnt really continue on. So maybe yoy can read it as a one-off,

Kateblue wrote: "I will probably not be reading with you in Feb because for Children of Memory, I would have to read the first two books first, and I was a DNF on the first."

This is slated for February group read already! :)

High Times I read earlier in the year. I didn’t care for it. Looking forward to seeing the discussion though.

I too dnf’d Children of Time around 30%. I just found the writing style very dry and way to detailed for my taste. I don’t find the drama of evolution to be as riveting as ….people? Other stuff? I think I would have liked it better if the evolution part was left out and we just focused on the humans.

Oleksandr wrote: "Kateblue wrote: "I will probably not be reading with you in Feb because for Children of Memory, I would have to read the first two books first, and I was a DNF on the first. "

If you DNFed at the very start with the ship and a crazy head scientist then next time try to read a bit further, it gets interesting soon after"

that's probably a little ahead of where I DNF'ed but it was one of the things I didn't like

Maybe I will join, but I am really off of Adrian Tchaikovsky right now after slogging through Spiderlight. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sometimes I like his stuff, but more often not. For example, when I was just reading Ogres, I really wanted it to be over even though it was short. And yes, I gave it 4 stars, but I probably shouldn't have.

I’m really into AT at the moment, but I can also sympathize with Kate and Kristenelle re Children of Time. It really reminded me to To Sleep in a Sea of Stars - I knew I liked the author, the premise was wildly cool, the storyline was really interesting but they were both sooo hard to get through, real struggles to finish. At the end I felt accomplished and happy I read them, but didn’t want to have a read like that anytime soon. That’s why I put off reading Children of Ruin. It takes a lot out of me.

I think Adrian Tchaikovsky is an author for readers who love the old school emphasis on science in science fiction. He brings this idea with a modern writing. Most nowadays authors have their topic more on social and cultural themes. That's why he is perfect for me who came to SF through natural science concepts which I'm missing a lot in younger authors.

I like the science part of sci-fi. If I want to focus on the human elements I would often go to other genres and I really like Tchaikovsky's writing style, he is one of my favorite authors atm.

On the other hand I often like to balance reading Tchaikovsky with softer sci-fi from other authors that focus more on the people like Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Valerie Valdes.

Gabi wrote: "I think Adrian Tchaikovsky is an author for readers who love the old school emphasis on science in science fiction. He brings this idea with a modern writing."

I fully agree, and he is quite different in his fantasy

I like some hard sci-fi such as Three Body Problem. I just don’t have patience for tons of description. And in the case of Tchaikovsky, you’re either engaged by his long descriptions of evolutionary development or you’re not. Im just not. :-/

Leticia wrote: "like to balance reading Tchaikovsky with softer sci-fi from other authors that focus more on the people"

This is probably why I am not overly fond of AT. It's the people I like, and my only favorite character by AT was that dog guy. None of his other characters have made me like them. And I think that this can be done well in hard SF, I just think he doesn't. Either he doesn't know how, or he doesn't care to.

Children of Time was a 5 star read for me - I was easily invested in characters- so much so that I actually shed a tear for a spider!! Crazy thing. Sometimes his work does drag a bit but he is packing one of the biggest punches of current SFF writers

Rachel wrote: "Children of Time was a 5 star read for me - I was easily invested in characters- so much so that I actually shed a tear for a spider!! Crazy thing. Sometimes his work does drag a bit but he is pack..."

Well, it's probably just me, then

Rachel wrote: "Sometimes his work does drag a bit but he is packing one of the biggest punches of current SFF writers"

Agreed, he usually balances classic and current SF quite well.