Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for READER category for March 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'd like to nominate Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson please.

"Mars – the barren, forbidding planet that epitomises mankind’s dreams of space conquest.

From the first pioneers who looked back at Earth and saw a small blue star, to the first colonists – hand-picked scientists with the skills necessary to create life from cold desert – Red Mars is the story of a new genesis. It is also the story of how Man must struggle against his own self-destructive mechanisms to achieve his dreams: before he even sets foot on the red planet, factions are forming, tensions are rising and violence is brewing… for civilization can be very uncivilized."

I will second Red Mars.

Audrey wrote: "I will second Red Mars."

Thanks Audrey.

I initially wasn't sure that Red Mars had spaceships, so I checked.

Red Mars starts in 2026 with the first colonial voyage to Mars aboard the Ares, a giant spacecraft - the largest interplanetary spacecraft ever built and home to a crew who are to be the first hundred Martian colonists. The Ares is apparently built from space shuttle fuel tanks that were boosted into orbit, and the mission is a joint American and Russian collaboration.

Summary so far:
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Nominated by John. Seconded by Audrey.

I'd like to nominate Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I've been curious about the Liaden Universe but overwhelmed with where to start. Picked this up at my bookstore and it seems like a good entry point. It doesn't look like it's been recently discussed.

Agent of Change is the best entry point for readers who like action, and the ebook is permafree, as well as it being part of an omnibus.

Seconded.

I second Red Mars

Summary so far:
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Nominated by John. Seconded by Audrey and Cordelia
Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Nominated by Caitlin. Seconded by Teresa.

On the 22nd I’ll choose random numbers. Whichever book doesn’t get picked, please consider nominating on next month’s thread.

Cordelia wrote: "I second Red Mars"

Thank you Cordelia - it's excellent that there are choices in both the LIMITED and READER threads this month! And we're almost at the deadline - hopefully other group members will be motivated to join in and second their favourites - or even add new nominations.

Nominations are now closed. I count two seconds for Red Mars and one for Agent of Change. Rolling random numbers now.

The random number was 3 so our pick will be Agent of Change.

Please consider nominating Red Mars in two weeks.