Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for READER category for January 2025.

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 The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers please.

"Sunday Times best-selling author Becky Chambers returns to the Galactic Commons in the final instalment in her award-winning and critically acclaimed Wayfarers series.

With no water, no air and no native life, the planet Gora is unremarkable. The only thing it has going for it is a chance proximity to more popular worlds, making it a decent stopover for ships travelling between the wormholes that keep the Galactic Commons connected. If deep space is a highway, Gora is just your average truck stop.

One of the many establishments present is the Five-Hop One-Stop, a place where long-haul spacers can stretch their legs (if they have legs, that is) and pick up fuel, transit permits and assorted supplies. The Five-Hop is run by an enterprising alien and her occasionally helpful child, who both work hard to provide a little piece of home to everyone passing through.

When a freak technological failure halts traffic to and from Gora, three strangers are thrown together at the Five-Hop. Grounded and with nothing to do but wait, the trio - an exiled artist with an appointment to keep, a cargo runner at a personal crossroads and a mysterious individual doing her best to help those on the fringes - are compelled to confront where they've been, where they might go and what they might be to each other."

Bumping this thread. Any more nominations or seconds?

Thanks Teresa - we greatly appreciate the effort you put into these threads each month, motivating us to nominate and/or vote, and to discuss our choices. Being in this group has widened my SF reading, and I'm sure others find the same - and the more who participate, the more we all benefit from that exposure to new books and authors.

I’ll second The Galaxy, and the Ground Within. Read it last year about this time and loved it!

Thanks Caitlin - and I'm encouraged that you loved it. I'd read and enjoyed the first three "Wayfarers" books and I don't know why I didn't get round to this one.

I've read most of her books - and enjoyed them all, but I haven't read The Vela, where she was a co-author - have you read that one, and would you recommend it?

John wrote: "I would like to nominate The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers please.

"Sunday Times best-selling author Becky Chambers returns to the Galactic Comm..."

Sounds good I have also read the first three so this is an easy yes!

@John, I have not read or heard of The Vela before now. Looks like it’s a serialized story of some sort with various authors? I’m at least intrigued; maybe we can nominate it for a later month.

Caitlin wrote: "@John, I have not read or heard of The Vela before now. Looks like it’s a serialized story of some sort with various authors? I’m at least intrigued; maybe we can nominate it for a later month."

Good idea Caitlin, I'll nominate it for "Limited BOTM" in February.

Nominations are now closed. Our January 2025 pick is The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers