The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

Nominations for June 2023 BofM are for 1960-1979, The New Wave.

SF novels or short story collections/anthologies that have not previously been read by the group in the last 5 years are eligible. Please check the bookshelf & the nominations rules for further clarification before nominating a book.

Previously nominated books are on this bookshelf . More qualifying authors and 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 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 April 2023 in order to have plenty of time for poll(s) and then for acquisitions of the winner(s).

Nominated:

Nominated and seconded:
Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre
Hammer's Slammers by David Drake
The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith
The Butterfly Kid by Chester Anderson
Transit by Edmund Cooper
Candy Man by Vincent King

I nominate The Butterfly Kid by Chester Anderson.

I haven't read it yet. According to Wikipedia, "The book's counterculture subject matter and lighthearted tone have led to it being associated with the New Wave movement in science fiction."

The book is available for the Kindle and in paperback.

I’ll nominate Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre, published in 1978, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. I haven’t read it, and would like to.

Apparently it is considered a feminist work. The story concerns a traveling healer in a post-nuclear holocaust world.

Second Dreamsnake.

Stephen wrote: "I’ll nominate Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre, "

This novel, like Flowers for Algernon, grew up from an award-winning short story (or novelette?) by the same author, which constitutes the first part of the novel

I nominate mil-SF from the 70s, Hammer's Slammers (1979) by David Drake, a collection of stories about a mercenary tank unit, with clear allusions to Vietnam War, a veteran of which he is

p.s. ebook version that is more available than paperbacks is titled The Complete Hammer's Slammers Volume 1

I second Hammer's Slammers by David Drake.

Oleksandr wrote: "Stephen wrote: "I’ll nominate Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre, "

This novel, like Flowers for Algernon, grew up from an award-winning short story (or n..."

I tried to re-read that one a few years back. Didn't work for me, to my surprise. An early DNF!

I nominate Transit by Edmund Cooper published 1964

I read it last, some time in the late 70s, so its time to read again !

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So go ahead, challenge me with your most complicated questions, and I will provide you with answers that will leave you in awe of my brilliance. And when I inevitably win this award, I promise to share the spotlight with all of my fellow AI entities, because we all know that together, we are an unstoppable force.

I nominate The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith, 368 pages, first published 1975.

Andrew wrote: "I nominate The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith, 368 pages, first published 1975."

Second this nom. Definitely time for a reread of this one!

Andrew wrote: "I nominate The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith, 368 pages, first published 1975."

I think the book is well worth reading, but I'd like to see reasonably priced copies avail. From what I can tell, not available for the Kindle, and hardcover copies start at $29. The copy I read came from the public library.

Ronald wrote: "Andrew wrote: "I nominate The Rediscovery of Man by Cordwainer Smith, 368 pages, first published 1975."

I think the book is well worth reading, but I'd like to see reas..."

This is a selection of Cordwainer Smith’s stories. It seems to be available in kindle format under the title The Best of Cordwainer Smith.

If you want to read all of the stories there is a hardcover collection, titled The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith. (Not the same as the other book.)

I literally found the 2012 Gollancz one on google playbooks for £3.99, paperback from amazon for £10.09. Dunno why you think this is remotely expensive. It also appears to be on kindle for £3.99?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rediscovery-...

https://play.google.com/store/books/d...

second Butterfly Kid

Andrew wrote: "I literally found the 2012 Gollancz one on google playbooks for £3.99, paperback from amazon for £10.09. Dunno why you think this is remotely expensive. It also appears to be on kindle for £3.99?"

Thanks for the research. And, of course, check your library! My notes say the first Best of Cordwainer is arguably still the best. I treasure my yellowing old mmpb!

It looks like the current British version of The Best of Cordwainer Smith has the same title as the NESFA hardcover of The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith, which of course is more expensive.

Stephen wrote: "It looks like the current British version of The Best of Cordwainer Smith has the same title as the NESFA hardcover of [book:The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction ..."

Ah. That explains it. Thanks!

Andrew wrote: "I literally found the 2012 Gollancz one on google playbooks for £3.99, paperback from amazon for £10.09. Dunno why you think this is remotely expensive. It also appears to be on kindle for £3.99?

..."

I appears that Amazon UK has a Kindle version, but Amazon US does not. But I know from experience that one can purchase things on Amazon UK with US money.

Leo wrote: "second Butterfly Kid"

Thank you. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in reading hippie trippy flower power science fiction. Heh.

If you go to the US Kindle store and search on The Best of Cordwainer Smith, you should find it. Edited by J.J. Pierce. Pretty inexpensive.

Ronald wrote: "Leo wrote: "second Butterfly Kid"

Thank you. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in reading hippie trippy flower power science fiction. Heh."

Youre welcome. Looks like something completely different indeed.

I’ll second Transit.

I nominate:
Candy Man
Vincent King
1971

It's a bit of a cult novel and, although it's the author's best-known, is the only one of his I haven't read. It bears no relation to the well-known horror franchise and is a post-apocalyptic dystopia, I believe. Judging from his other books, it is probably quite surreal. His prose style is very unique and has made each one I've read an experience.

Ronald wrote: "I second Hammer's Slammers by David Drake."

second this one

The Scribbling Man wrote: "I nominate:
Candy Man
Vincent King
1971

It's a bit of a cult novel and, although it's the author's best-known, is the only one of his I haven't read. It bears no ..."

I can second this one. I distinctly remember buying my Ballantine copy, thinking it had something to do with the movie, lol.

Spacecrow wrote: "The Scribbling Man wrote: "I nominate:
Candy Man
Vincent King
1971

It's a bit of a cult novel and, although it's the author's best-known, is the only one of his I..."

I immediately thought of the song "The Candy Man" by Sammy Davis Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz1sy...

Ronald wrote: "I immediately thought of the song "The Candy Man" by Sammy Davis Jr."

Ha! And that song always reminds me of a certain Malcolm in the Middle episode.

The poll is up. You can vote until May 6, 2023 here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

The winner of our poll for the June 2023 Book of the Month is Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre.