Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for READER category for September 2023.

READER books need to be
* currently in print in either hardback or paperback (or both). Requiring a special order from a store or website counts, but not if the book is only available used.
* currently available in multiple ebook formats, from multiple vendors
* Space Opera, which means a spaceship has to be involved in the story somewhere.
* If it is part of a series, it needs to be suitable to being read without having read other books in the series.
* Please no blatantly erotic books, as some of our members are not full adults yet.

RULES:
* you may nominate one book on this thread.
* you may second as many nominations as you like on this thread.
* it is okay to nominate the same book on more than one nomination thread, as long as it meets the criteria
* books we already have on our bookshelf will be disqualified if they were added less than two years ago
* If a book you nominate or second is selected, you are expected to post at least one comment about it on the thread about the book.
* On the 22nd I will draw a book randomly, with each second being one raffle ticket for the book. That is, a book with three seconds (so four of us want it) will get three chances in the pool.

It is likely helpful if you know something about a book that has been nominated if you mention it in this thread, whether it is for or against the book.

I nominate Columbus Day by Craig Alanson which is the first book of Expeditionary Force Saga

Once again (I am persistent at times) I shall nominate Skylark of Space by E. E. "Doc" Smith.

Is Skylark in print in paperback? All I’m seeing are ebooks and old copies either used or at outrageous prices. Probably best to nominate it on the Limited thread.

I have found paperback editions on both Chapters and Amazon. Chapters might not be doable for a lot of people as it is a Canadian company

Okay after more searching I found new paperback editions at reasonable paperback prices. Accepting this nomination for Reader.

I noticed those $30 paperbacks on both sites, thought that was a bit high and took a look. Turns out they are from a small publisher and are actually the version of the story as it appeared in Amazing Stories. Smith rewrote it for book publication.

Summary so far:
Columbus Day by Craig Alanson. Nominated by LuisPatricio. Awaiting seconds.
The Skylark of Space by E.E. "Doc" Smith. Nominated by C. John. Awaiting seconds

It's early yet but I am curious. What happens if no book receives seconds?

When no book gets a second, the nomination thread goes into sudden death mode. First book to get a second is picked, to last for about a month, but it won’t necessarily be starting on the first of a month. I just leave the current pick of that type going until we get a new pick.

We used to just not have that kind of pick for a month. This way our group home page always lists us as reading two books.

Nominations will close on the 22nd. So far no book has been seconded so we may end up extending the current Reader Pick.

Has this ever happened before where no book qualifies.

Yes it has.

I would nominate The Ascendant Wars 1: Hellfire: A Military Sci-fi Series by Rhett C. Bruno

(Not sure if the group read it, I had trouble looking it up)

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Heck, I’ll second The Ascendant Wars:Hellfire. Been meaning to read something by Rhett C. Bruno.

We have a book seconded. We haven’t read it before. I’m feeling lazy so I’m going to accept it in this category without checking for availability. Still have a few days before nominations close.

Nominations will close tomorrow. The only second we have is for The Ascendant Wars 1: Hellfire: A Military Sci-fi Series by Rhett C. Bruno. If there are no other seconds, this will be our pick for September.

Nominations are now closed. Ascendant Wars is the pick.