Into the Forest discussion

Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or books set in the sky & celestial space.

The first book I thought of for this category was Martha Wells' The Cloud Roads

Here are some recs for this category.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar: YA contemporary fantasy, deeply embedded in Hindu constellation mythos, perfect for celestial space.

The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente: The third book in Valente's wonderful middle grade series takes place on the moon.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin: The first book in just a delightful middle grade fantasy series.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Probably a lot of us have heard/read this one! YA retelling of Cinderella set in space. Quite fun!

Robots vs. Fairies edited by Dominik Parisien. Not all of these are set in space, but several all, and most retell fairytales.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan: A lovely first book in a fantasy series set in the Celestial Kingdom, based on Chinese mythology.

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse: A fantasy novella about demons and angels. Most of it is set on Earth, but very wrapped up in celestial mythos.

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger: An Indigenous contemporary YA fantasy novel, one perspective is a snake in the heavenly realm.

I'm not sure what is meant to be included. Outer Space?

I'm including outer space and then "the heavens" or similar ideas for celestial space.

Would science fiction taking place on another planet count?
If so, The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin. Actually I guess all the books from this series could be read if “other planets” count, but The Dispossessed is the only one I read. I also liked Remnant Population
The Binti series by Nnedi Okorafor also takes place on another planet. I haven’t read it yet, but want to

The first Binti book actually does take place in space. I haven't read the others yet!

I think I'm going to count other planets?

Margaret wrote: "The first Binti book actually does take place in space. I haven't read the others yet!

I think I'm going to count other planets?"

Good to know! Binti might be my choice for this prompt. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Nnedi Okorafor

I just read Calypso and will count it. I only recommend it to a niche of readers though.

Cheryl wrote: "I just read Calypso and will count it. I only recommend it to a niche of readers though."

I have that one on my kindle and might read it.

I'm planning to read either Mortal Engines or The Cyberiad by Stanisław Lem. Both books are kind of fairy tales with robots :). Just a hint if someone likes to read books in translation :)

I might count Defiant for this prompt, though I feel a little bit like I'm cheating in using sci-fi... oh well...

Andy wrote: "I might count Defiant for this prompt, though I feel a little bit like I'm cheating in using sci-fi... oh well..."

Sci Fi is an easy way out, true. I read The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei but I'm hesitating to count it toward the challenge :)

Less obvious choice would be Chinese fantasy books in genre wuxia or xianxia :)

I am absolutely gonna read sci-fi lol

Maybe other stuff? I'm doing something weird and decided to read books based on the themes by month, and February is my sky/celestial space month. So I will have to make some decisions about what I'm reading for it soon.

Is anyone familiar with Aliette de Bodard's Universe of Xuya series? It's a collection of Vietnamese-tinged space opera filled with an empire at war with rebellious generals, sentient space stations that house the memories of revered ancestors, and poet-administrators gifted with ancestor implants. And that's just one book in the series.

https://www.goodreads.com/series/3068...

Do you guys think these books would be a good fit?

Netanella wrote: "Is anyone familiar with Aliette de Bodard's Universe of Xuya series? It's a collection of Vietnamese-tinged space opera filled with an empire at war with rebellious generals, sentient space station..."

I haven't read those, but I have read others of her books. I also see folklore or myths mentioned in some of them. They will likely work!

I might read her book Navigational Entanglements for this, though not sure if it has folklore elements.

Margaret wrote: "Netanella wrote: "Is anyone familiar with Aliette de Bodard's Universe of Xuya series? It's a collection of Vietnamese-tinged space opera filled with an empire at war with rebellious generals, sent..."

Thanks, Margaret! I'm going for it!

Here's what I read for this challenge (which I wanted to complete in February).

February: Sky & celestial space
-Little Moons by Jen Storm
-One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe by Dara Horn
-The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu
-Alliana, Girl of Dragons by Julie Abe

Here are the other sky/space books I read that didn't have any folkloric elements:
-Full Speed to a Crash Landing
-The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
-How To Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis
-Bird Nerd by Jennifer Ann Richter
-Billie Blaster and the Robot Army from Outer Space by Laini Taylor
-Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty
-Network Effect by Martha Wells
-Planet Earth Is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos

I enjoyed this theme! I'm not sure why, but I overall enjoyed the Artic/Tundra theme more. I felt more immersed in nature, which makes sense.

For March I'm reading Gardens/Farms books as one of my extra themed picks.

Margaret, I've been wondering if I should put The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport on my TBR. I think I'm gonna do it!

That's an impressive list, too!

I am reading Binti for this prompt but have got to be honest here, this is my least favourite book but Nnedi Okorafor. I normally love her books, but this one is basically like that 80s film Alien, where one sole survivor is on a spaceship which is invaded by a scary alien species that want to kill her. Not really my cup of tea, but fortunately it’s a very short novella, so I’ll still finish it. I think I will also read Heart of the Sun Warrior for this prompt. I really enjoyed the first in the series Daughter of the Moon Goddess and didn’t even know there was a second book out!

Jalilah wrote: "I am reading Binti for this prompt but have got to be honest here, this is my least favourite book but Nnedi Okorafor. I normally love her books, but this one is bas..."

Oh, I enjoyed Binti! But I also love Alien the movie, ha!

I still haven't read Heart of the Sun Warrior despite really enjoying Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I started it, but found I couldn't get into it at that time.

Ozsaur wrote: "Margaret, I've been wondering if I should put The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport on my TBR. I think I'm gonna do it!

That's an impressive list, too!"

I really enjoyed that one! And had no idea it was an Aladdin retelling until about halfway through, ha! I will say, while it takes place in space, it's nebulously space-themed. It's set in a city on a planet.

I went with Lukyanenko's Spectrum and Against All Gods by Miles Cameron for this prompt. I didn't enjoy both for various reasons, but I thought the setting in Cameron's book was interesting - Bronze Age with mix of Mesopotamian and Greek gods.

And I was supposed to read Stanisław Lem's robotic fairy tales....

I will be reading Heart of the Sun Warrior, the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess as the second book for this prompt

Jalilah wrote: "I will be reading Heart of the Sun Warrior, the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess as the second book for this prompt"

I think you will enjoy that book.

I read Axie Oh's The Floating World for this but in fact, much of the story is spent looking up at the floating world and living in its shadow before ever reaching it.

I really enjoyed Skysong, a re-imagining of The Nightingale. It was such a pleasure to read but not much of the story actually takes place in the sky despite the birds so I'm unsure if it truly fits the theme. Nonetheless, I recommend it as a gentle story with a touch of sorrow and enchantment.

The Other Side of the Sky, while not fairy tale/folkloric for this group, features a world above and below and mixes fantasy and sci-fi elements.

The Song of Six Realms could perhaps could as it takes place in the Celestial Realm.

Perhaps the tower in Strange the Dreamer is close enough to the sky?

ah I also just recalled The Surviving Sky in which a city floats above a dangerous jungle. Again I'd say its more sci fi but has some fantastical elements.