Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for READER category for March 2024.

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 would like to nominate Matter by Iain M. Banks.

Its a "Culture" novel - what more needs to be said?

I nominate Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. We discussed this book back in 2019. It is part of the Liaden Universe, and starts a story arc that continues in Trader's Leap and then in Ribbon Dance (26) which is due out this summer. This is the story arc featuring Padi who is Shan’s heir and is a young trader. Whether this book is chosen as our Reader Pick or not, I’ll be rereading it before buying the eARC for Ribbon Dance. I expect that eARC to be available around April, since they are usually a few months before publication.

I want to nominate Transcendental by James E. Gunn. I read several of the prequel stories he published in Asimov's in the lead-up to the release of this metaphysical space opera, and it seems like an interesting world and premise.

My nomination goes to Planetfall, the first book in a series of 12 by Emily McCosh. Actually, the selection is meant for the complete series, but since one can only nominate a single book I chose the first one.
I've rarely read such a captivating and entertaining story. Not just Planetfall, the whole series is consistent in quality and literally got it all: space, action, humor, gravity and heartfelt human interaction. A true Sci-Fi gem.

I second Alliance of Equals. I wanted to read it again before Ribbon Dance is released.

Frank wrote: "My nomination goes to Planetfall, the first book in a series of 12 by Emily McCosh. Actually, the selection is meant for the complete series, but since one can onl..."

Since it's only 60-odd pages, and was less than £1 on Kindle, I felt this one was worth checking out - but I'd have to say I was disappointed, and gave it only two stars. (I also thought of removing one of those, just for the rubbish ending).

However, the series does seem to have a small number of fans who give the books high ratings, and Frank rates it highly, so maybe I'm in the minority here. It's cheap and quick to read, so you may want to give it a try.

John, give it a chance! It really gets quite entertaining and engaging. Grunted, the endings leave something to be desired, but these are more boolets than books and sometimes one gets the impression a good-sized novel was chopped up to fulfill the delivery demands of the publisher.

Anyway, the series is also written in the first person narrative, which is not to everyone's liking. Hope, though, you'll give it another shot.

Granted, not grunted... Sorry! (stupid auto corrections)

Frank wrote: "John, give it a chance! It really gets quite entertaining and engaging. Grunted, the endings leave something to be desired, but these are more boolets than books and sometimes one gets the impressi..."

Ok Frank, you've persuaded me to give the series another chance, and I've just downloaded book 2 of the series -Collision.

I've finished Collision, and it's another 2 stars from me I'm afraid. These aren't books - they are chopped up bits of a book, incapable of standing alone, with the sole intention of getting you to buy the next instalment. That would be sort of acceptable if the quality of the writing or plot encouraged you to buy the next book - that is most definitely not the case here in my opinion. I won't be reading any more of this series.

Summary so far:
Matter by Iain M. Banks. Nominated by John. Awaiting seconds.
Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Audrey.
Transcendental by James E. Gunn. Nominated by Caitlin. Awaiting seconds.
Planetfall by Emily McCosh. Nominated by Frank. Awaiting seconds. NOTE This one might fit better on the Limited thread.

We still have several days for nominations and seconds. If we don’t get any more seconds our Reader Pick will be Alliance of Equals.

I'd like to second Transcendental by James Gunn. Nominated by Caitlin.

Summary so far:
Matter by Iain M. Banks. Nominated by John. Awaiting seconds.
Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Audrey.
Transcendental by James E. Gunn. Nominated by Caitlin. Seconded by John.
Planetfall by Emily McCosh. Nominated by Frank. Awaiting seconds. NOTE This one might fit better on the Limited thread.

Nominations will close tomorrow. I’ll be rolling random numbers to chose among the seconded books.

Nominations are now closed. I count one second for each of two books. Rolling random numbers now.

The random numbers have spoken and our pick will be Transcendental.