Beyond Reality discussion

Our current science fiction series group read & discussion (Hyperion Cantos) will end in mid-July and then we usually take a month off from reading and discussing a series, so I am opening nominations for a series to begin August 15, 2025. Since we alternate genres, this time we are accepting nominations for a FANTASY series. Please read the guidelines before making your nomination.

GUIDELINES:
—Each member can nominate one series.
—The series should be complete, as far as you can tell. I realize authors sometimes revisit a series years later, but as much as possible, we are looking to read a completed series.
—The series should be one we have not read and discussed as a group. Click HERE for a list of the past series we have read together.
—Please give the name of the series, the author, and how many books are in the series. Feel free to add the titles of the individual books, if you want.
—The series must be FANTASY..
—Nominations do NOT require a second.

Nominations will be open through June 29, 2025. We will have a preliminary round of polling to narrow the field starting June 30, 2025, and then a final poll starting July 7, 2025 to determine the winner. The series read itself will start August 15, 2025.

Please post nominations in this thread here on the group page, not by responding to the broadcast message sent to your Goodreads inbox.

Let’s go!
Kathi, for the mods

Nominations:
Return to Nevèrÿon, 4 books by Samuel R. Delany, starting with Tales of Nevèrÿon
Dark Tower, 7 books by Stephen King, starting with The Gunslinger
Sharing Knife/Wide Green World, 4 books by Lois McMaster Bujold, starting with Beguilement
Legacy, 3 books by Matthew Ward, starting with Legacy of Ash
Deathless, 3 books by Namina Forna, starting with The Gilded Ones

Nominated but disqualified:
Legendborn Cycle by Tracy Deonn, does not appear to be a completed series

Fantasy?
What about the Return to Nevèrÿon series by Samuel R. Delany? Four books, mostly short stories.

I've long wanted to delve into his production, and while I had my eyes set on his more extensive sci-fi output, his post-modern sword & sorcery makes me just as curious.

I have been dying to re-read Stephen King's Dark Tower series for ages, because I remember very little of it except that I loved it. I'll propose that one.

The Gunslinger
The Drawing of the Three
The Waste Lands
Wizard and Glass
Wolves of the Calla
Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Fantasy?
What about the Return to Nevèrÿon series by Samuel R. Delany? Four books, mostly short stories."

I am planning to read this series this summer or fall! Currently trying to decide if I need to invest in a physical copy or read it on the kindle... Usually I have a gut feeling about what's right but with these I'm really not sure! Anyway I know what I'll be casting my vote for :)

Shel wrote: "I have been dying to re-read Stephen King's Dark Tower series for ages, because I remember very little of it except that I loved it. I'll propose that one.


I have tried to read that first book The Gunslinger three times and I just cannot get through it. And I usually love Stephen King. Can I start with the second?

I'm been wanting to try a reread of the Dark Tower series but have been hesitant. I devoured that series in the 1990s, but I'm a very different person today, lol.

Those Delaney books are intriguing.

Would there be any interest in the Elric series by Michael Moorcock? Not a formal nomination, just feeling the waters.

Kateblue wrote: "I have tried to read that first book The Gunslinger three times and I just cannot get through it. And I usually love Stephen King. Can I start with the second?"

You certainly can jump into the series read at any point. Having said that, reading the first book with others might help you get through it—you can post questions, issues you’re having, frustrations you’re experiencing, etc.

CJ wrote: "Would there be any interest in the Elric series by Michael Moorcock? Not a formal nomination, just feeling the waters."

Unless there is another series you really want to nominate, the best way to gauge interest might be to nominate the Elric series and see how it does in the preliminary round of polling. Of course, people can feel free to jump into the discussion, too, and that might give you a sense of how much interest there would be. I can tell you that I read them ages ago and would not be interested in rereading them.

I will nominate The Sharing Knife/Wide Green World series by Lois McMaster Bujold, 4 books starting with Beguilement. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by Bujold and I have this series sitting on my shelf. It’s a fantasy romance and I would love to read something that’s not grim but still has depth.

Kathi wrote: "I will nominate The Sharing Knife/Wide Green World series by Lois McMaster Bujold, 4 books starting with Beguilement. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by Bujold and I..."

Don't forget Book 4.5 of the series, Knife Children. I have read them all, and I think that novella is the best one of all

I'd be curious about Moorcock. More sword and sorcery!

BJ wrote: "a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Fantasy?
What about the Return to Nevèrÿon series by Samuel R. Delany? Four books, mostly short stories."

I am planning to read this series this summer or ..."

I read these back when they first came out -- the first 3 anyway. Although Book 1 is short stories, books 2 and 3 are novels. I know nothing about 4. I remember the society as gritty and dystopian, though it might be pre-industrial. The novels are "Road" novels, and the characters do a lot of walking. I think it would be ineresting to read the books as a series.

Kateblue wrote: "I have tried to read that first book The Gunslinger three times and I just cannot get through it. And I usually love Stephen King. Can I start with the second?"

It's been a long time and I don't remember details, but I think you probably could. Also, I seem to remember the first book being the weakest of the series.

Nick wrote: "BJ wrote: "Although Book 1 is short stories, books 2 and 3 are novels."

Mumble, every book except Neveryóna (book II) is listed as containing stories or novellas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_...

Kateblue wrote: "Don't forget Book 4.5 of the series, Knife Children. I have read them all, and I think that novella is the best one of all"

Thanks for mentioning that—I was not aware of the additional novella. If that series happens to win, we can decide whether to include it or not (but I did just go and pick up a Kindle copy so I have it whether the group reads it or not!).

I would like to nominate the Legendborn Cycle by Tracy Deonn for our next fantasy series. It includes the following titles:

-Legendborn
-Bloodmarked
-Oathbound

I'm thinking Legendborn looks really good, but there are so many great options!

I read the first Legendborn and can highly recommend it. But it is definitely YA, if that matters to others.

I shall put The Legacy Trilogy by Matthew Ward up for vote.

Legacy of Ash
Legacy of Steel
Legacy of Light

Ruling families -- once protectors of justice and democracy -- now plot against one another with sharp words and sharper knives. Blinded by ambition, they remain heedless of the threat posed by the invading armies of the Hadari Empire.

Christopher wrote: "I would like to nominate the Legendborn Cycle by Tracy Deonn for our next fantasy series."

I took a look at the author’s website and saw nothing to indicate that the Legendborn Cycle is a completed series. Oathbound is described as the “third book” (not the conclusion or final book) and there are references to the currently published titles as “the first three books” in the Legendborn Cycle. Nowhere is it described as a trilogy.

So unless you can find something that indicates the series is completed, I am going to disqualify this nomination. (Please see the guidelines in the first post of this topic thread.) Please feel free to nominate something else.

Nominations are open for a few more days—what fantasy series would you like to read & discuss with the group?

Kathi wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I would like to nominate the Legendborn Cycle by Tracy Deonn for our next fantasy series."

I took a look at the author’s website and saw nothing to indicate t..."

Sorry about that. I though it was a finished series. I would like to substitute it with the Deathless trilogy by Namina Forna. It includes the following titles:
-The Gilded Ones
-The Merciless Ones
-The Eternal Ones

Last day for nominations for our next series! We have some great options but there’s always room for more!

I was just going to ask. Can't wait to discover the winner!
So nobody nominated Michael Moorcock? On the next turn, maybe.

a.g.e. montagner wrote: "I was just going to ask. Can't wait to discover the winner!
So nobody nominated Michael Moorcock? On the next turn, maybe."

CJ first mentioned Moorcock but did nominate a series by him, and neither did anyone else.

Nominations are closed and the preliminary round of polling is open. The preliminary poll will remain open through Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Please vote!
SERIES Preliminary Poll

Only a few more days to vote in the preliminary round for our next series! If you haven’t voted yet, or want to change your vote, now is the time!

The poll is open through Sunday, July 6.

Today and tomorrow are the last days to vote in the preliminary round, or change your vote. While the first place series has a bit of a lead, the rest are pretty close! Which series will make it to the final poll?

Thanks to everyone who voted for our next series in the preliminary round. The top 2 vote getters have moved on to the final round.

SERIES Final Poll

Please vote! The poll will be open through July 13.

You have a few more hours left to vote or change your vote!

Voting has closed. Thank you to everyone who voted!

Our next series will be The Dark Tower by Stephen King.

Here’s our schedule:
August 15, 2025: The Gunslinger
September 15, 2025: The Drawing of the Three
October 15, 2025: The Waste Lands
November 15, 2025: Wizard and Glass
December 15, 2025: Wolves of the Calla
January 15, 2026: Song of Susannah
February 15, 2026: The Dark Tower

There is also a novella that falls between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla, The Wind Through the Keyhole, if the group wants to throw that in as well.