SF Bookclub

Discussion Questions for  Death of the Author  by Okorafor Characters:  Zelu Chinvere Msizi Ankara    Discussion questions focused on the first half of Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author , diving into themes of disability, technology, Africanfuturism, and authorial agency. I. Body, Disability, and the Act of Creation 1. The Physical Cost of Art: How does Zelu's experience with physical disability and pain shape her drive to write? How does the novel portray the physical and emotional toll that storytelling takes on her body in the opening chapters? 2. Assistive Technology as an Extension of Self: How does the text frame the technology (e.g., neural/dictation tools, assistive interfaces) Zelu/Ankara use to write? Is technology presented purely as an empowering tool, or does it carry an underlying friction? 3. Physical Space vs. Mind Space: In the first half, how does the contrast between the protagonist’s physical confinement/limitations and the expansive n...

 I love M.R. Carey's writing, but this one kind of misses the mark for me. It is a retelling of the fairy tale "The Tinder Box." Mag, a soldier whose wounds have sent him home, goes to work for a widow, Jannae Mirchella. Mag discovers that Jannae is no ordinary widow when a demon falls from the sky and she badgers him to empty the demon's pockets. As directed, Mag hands over MOST of the artifacts from the body of the demon, but he keeps one item for himself-- a magical tinderbox that grants wishes. Jannae, as one might imagine, is most distressed by Mag's duplicity.   

 Each chapter in Jo Walton's Everybody's Perfect is told from a different perspective. Some of the events overlap and some are unique to the teller.  The setting is Venice, but not the Venice we know. Instead, this Venice is connected to the Serenissima, which serves as a way station and a connector between worlds. Here, we meet Tiry, a laborer who has an incurable skin condition that is treated (but not cured) via magic that is dispensed at a support group. The action begins when Tiry dreams that Serenissima will soon have an administrator (called a doge) who will marry the sea. Each teller encounters this information and does something different with it. The way Walton tells the story forces the reader to think about what "truth" means and how that truth varies according to who holds it. 

Set in the Imperial Radch universe, Radiant Star by Ann Leckie does not disappoint. The Imperial Radch have sent a new governor to  Aaa. And right after that, trade was cut off due to other conflicts. So we begin with a society in disarray. And in this society, there are two major religious factions that overlap, but each thinks they have the correct way of viewing the world. The conflict between the religious factions and the Radch and the residents of Ooioiaa, the capital of Aaa are the driving forces of the novel. But set against this backdrop, we have Jonr, the son of one of the important persons in one of the factions. Jonr was supposed to have been sent to a far off world to work, but was instead placed into suspended animation. In the time the novel is set, Jonr has been in suspended animation for 30 years, but is now awakened. I know this sounds complex, and it is, but the threads all end up working together and this novel is top-notch.   

The Dragon has some Complaints by John Wiswell Garradigh, a formerly 4 headed dragon (now reduced to 3), doesn’t get on well with his fellow wild dragons, so he hitches a ride to a new, floating city. There, he meets Raina who rehabilitates his injuries and gets permission to be his rider. Turns out, he doesn't get along with tame dragons very well, either. But with Raina, Garradigh, and specifically Centerhead, learn about kindness and the importance of belonging. Oh, and they must, together, defend their new city. The Dragon has Some Complaints is and adventure story with some romance. It is very different from Someone to Build a Nest In. There are still deaths, but no half digested body parts walking around on their own. Y'all, this book is so fun! It will certainly be on my Hugo nomination ballot next year.

 Jo Walton and Ada Palmer are experts in the field of science fiction and fantasy. Both have been nominated for multiple awards and both lean into the academic side of writing as well as the practice. Trace Elements explains history of SF, the role of publishers, and why so many SF novels were capped at around 80,000 words. This book is fascinating for anyone who likes to read SF as well as anyone who is interested in popular fiction or genre fiction as some of the same forces shaped those books as well. At 368 pages, this is not an exhaustive history of all things sf, but it provides enough context to enhance any fan's enjoyment of works published as SF.  What we think of as Science Fiction began to be published in the United States in the 1920s in pulp magazines, and books soon followed. Walton and Palmer call this "Imprint Science Fiction" to distinguish it from other genres, including dystopia written by authors of other genres (such as Atwood's Handmaid's Ta...

 Green City Wars is the story of Scotch, a genetically engineered racoon who has left the corporation that made him so he can go freelance as an investigator,. The story has a noir feel, but Scotch is more Jim Rockford than Sam Spade. The twists, turns, shifting alliances and double crosses are on par with _The Sting_. Along the way, we meet a saint, a technology adept turtle, a vengeful possum, and a pigeon who craves stories, Green City Wars doesn't take itself too seriously; it is a lot of fun to read. I loved this book and would read a sequel if Tchaikovsky wrote one.

  Some Desperate Glory, winner of the 2024 Hugo for Best Novel was our pick for April and May.  A good set of discussion questions can be found here . My favorite question is the first one:   "Many stories, especially space operas, are told from the perspective of a likable underdog. How did it feel to be so deep in the head of a protagonist who was cruel to others? " And Tesh actually addresses the question of Kyr's likability.  Book Key has chapter-by-chapter questions. Questions from Super Summary . Nerds of a Feather blog interviews Tesh .  The most interesting thing I learned in preparing for book club was the existence of the "Humanity, F*ck Yeah!" trope. Read about it here  and  here . 

Image: Book Cover The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt was uneven. It had some clever concepts; I loved the chapter titles. But the execution was not always effective. The first half, particularly, reminds me of a 1970s/80s romance novel where Stockholm syndrome seems to be the drive that pushes the heroine to the hero. The second half was filled with VERY explicit sex that seemed pointless. And, no real spoiler, but it seems to be the first in a series as there were MANY unresolved plot points. It is like the story just stopped half way through. I don't know that I care enough about anyone (but Vex, the Dark Lord's assistant) to pick up the sequel. That said, it was entirely readable and fine for a beach read.

I've read most of Rebecca Roanhouse's novels, and have enjoyed them all. So I was looking forward to Roanhouse's _River of Bones and Other Stories_ and was not disappointed. In this excellent collection, she infuses Native American mythology and concerns. The collection opens with Roanhorse's first published short story, “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™" which explores the commodification of Indigenous People's identity for entertainment and self-aggrandizement. Other highlights include "The Boys from Blood River" about cowboy vampires and "A Harvest of Beating Hearts" about a sapphic serial killer. "White Hills" made me deeply uncomfortable, but I think that was the point. How much "Indian" blood/identity is "too much" to pass for white? To BE white? To be white ENOUGH for the White Hills Country Club? Overall, this is an excellent collection about identity and the supernatural, which is where Rebe...

  Constituent Service by John Scalzi was just what I needed to chase off the winter blahs. Imagine being a civil servant working for a city government addressing concerns in your district. Now imagine that your constituents are aliens, with vastly different needs and preferences from the human standard. Ashley, who is new in her position, must figure out how to navigate the problems (both important and trivial) brought by her constituents.  Coming in at 154 pages, this novella is the perfect way to spend a dreary afternoon.  It reminds me a bit of Agent to the Stars.

     Brigands and Breadknive s is a continuation of the world introduced in  Legends & Lattes. However, it is a sequel to Bookshops & Bonedust and continues the story of the bookseller, Fern. I read the books out of order [the chronological order of the series is (0) Bookshops & Bonedust (1) Legends & Lattes (2) Brigands & Breadknives], which did not give me the full experience for this book, but I still enjoyed it. It does feel a bit like being in an RPG, though. (I just saw that Baldree is a former game designer, which explains it.) Maybe the descriptions push it that way for me?   Baldree is a good narrator & I found his reading to be enjoyable. In fact, I enjoyed him so much that I listened to Bookshops & Bonedust (which he also reads) instead of reading the print version. All in all, I've enjoyed this whole series. The sequels lack the surprise and originality of the original, but they are still quite a nice way to spend ...

  Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell Themes:  monstrosity, identity, love, family, and trauma . Monstrosity and Humanity How does the novel challenge the traditional definition of a "monster"? In what ways is Shesheshen more human than some of the actual human characters, and vice versa? Shesheshen often describes humanity and human customs from a confused, alien perspective. What did these observations reveal about everyday human life and behavior? The narrative centers on a creature that eats people. How did the book successfully make Shesheshen a sympathetic protagonist despite her monstrous biology? Did you ever struggle to root for her? Do you believe Shesheshen has a moral code? If so, what is it based on, and how does it compare to the morality of the human characters? What purpose does the body horror serve in the story? Is it just for shock, or does it contribute to the broader themes of identity and connection? Identity, Shape, and Truth Shesheshen...

  Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold by P. Djèlí Clark Pub Date: Apr 29 2025 This is a middle grade book, but was still enjoyable for me, a cantankerous adult. Clark does not oversimplify the story nor provide obvious and cliched lessons. I did not realize that Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold was the second book in a series when I picked it up. However, that fact did not diminish my enjoyment. The important information from the previous book was woven in in a way that did not overwhelm the story, but provided vital information for a newcomer or a nice refresher for a returning reader. Abeni is resourceful, brave and empathic. She encounters strange creatures, some of whom wish her harm, but she continues to be open to new acquaintances and willing to ask for and receive guidance and help. She is empathetic and forgiving without being naively taken advantage of. In short, she is the kind of leader that I...

We are reading Babel by R.F. Kuang for April and May. We typically choose Hugo nominees and winners, but it seems obvious by this point that Babel should have been nominated if it weren't for the hanky-panky . A lot of people seem to have felt the same way, because there are several pretty good resources for book club questions:  Teatime Reads Duranoco Bookclubs.com Worlds Smallest Bookclub And there was a very lively discussion on Reddit

Book Club Discussion Questions for Translation Slate by Leckie.  1. The Presger Translators are a VERY alien type of alien even though they have altered DNA and human mannerisms. What did you like about them? What did you find difficult to believe? 2. There are a number of very alien things in this book, from children eating one another to ship intelligences using humans as ancillaries, was there anything in particular that grossed you out or disturbed you? Anything you found particularly fascinating? 3. There are a lot of different pronouns used in the book and each group of people seem to use them differently; the Radch use “she” as a universal pronoun, the Presger Translators as a group seem to not consider gender at all and use “they” for everyone, etc. Did you find any of the ways pronouns were used to be interesting or jarring? 4. There are three Point of View characters, Enae, Reet, and Qven. Which do you find most interesting? Why? Were there other characters you ...

Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey (who also writes as Mike Carey) is excellent. I've read some of Carey's works in comics, but never one of his novels. While it starts off a little slow, when the story begins to unfold it is riveting. The setting is a medieval village, but I didn't recognize the historic period. (I'm not a historian, so it may just be that I didn't recognize it.) Once-Was-Willem is the protagonist and narrator, and this is the story of how he fought his maker to try to save the people of his village. He is joined by shapeshifters Anna and Kel and elemental spirit Peter (and others, but to name them would give spoilers). This is the first novel I've read by Carey, but it won't be the last.

  January's Selection:  Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein.  Reactor Magazine features a review . This one is an old favorite, and for better or worse, has influenced my political beliefs and voting choices. The terrible idea that really stands out to me, though, on this re-read is the defense of capital punishment. Heinlein overlooks so many problems with capital punishment, including, but not limited to the fact that not all murder cases are completely obvious to all who know the victims. Somehow, without a surveillance state, all authorities instantly know who is guilty. And this guilt has nothing to do with accents, race, ethnicity, or religious background.

A good critique of Double Star can be found on Reddit. The AI responses are popping up before I can even go looking for them. This is from Gemini (edited for clarity and accuracy).  For a book club discussing "Double Star" by Robert A. Heinlein, some key questions to consider could be: Character and Identity: How does Lawrence Smith's identity as actor shape his perspective and actions throughout the story? What are your thoughts on the concept of "doubling" and how it relates to Lawrence's role as a substitute for Bonforte? How does the story explore the idea of self-worth and personal agency, particularly through Lawrence's transformation into  Bonforte ? Plot and Themes: What are the key elements of the political intrigue in the story, and how does it influence the plot? How does Heinlein use humor and satire to explore the themes of political manipulation and the power of public perception? How does the nar...

  Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer This prequel is a must read for fans of the Southern Reach trilogy.  It establishes the origin of Area X and fills in the stories of some of the people referenced in the writings found there in the trilogy. This book (or the first 2/3 of it) follows Old Jim as he tries to piece together what happened to an earlier expedition of biologists, while the last third follows a different character in a team of scientists who follow up a year after the first part of the book. The story incorporates (probably) extraterrestrials, science, magic, psychics, mind control and spies, but to explain how would cause spoilers. I don't think this stands alone without being familiar with the Southern Reach trilogy, though. But having read SR, I enjoyed this.