SF Bookclub

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.

 Let me begin by saying that I *loved* Space Opera , which was the first book in the series. I was eager to learn more about Decibel Jones, Mira Wonderful Star, and Oort Saint Ultraviolet. And, if you enjoyed Space Opera , you might enjoy this direct sequel. It continues the adventures of Decibel Jones, Mira Wonderful Star, and Oort Saint Ultraviolet. In her breezy, clever style Valente fills us in on every species from the Intergalactic Grand Prix. The result is like a cross between Douglas Adams and James Joyce. Sometimes it's brilliant, and sometimes it's a chore. I really enjoyed parts of it and parts of it I just trudged through. I had hoped it would be more about Dess, Mira, and Oort, but most of the book seemed to be about the politics of the universe and the purpose of all this was not clear, even at the end. Only a few of the species/factions were relevant to the plot. I have to wonder what Valente's editor was thinking in approving this for press. I did genuinely ...

Veycosi, a historian and musician in training, is impulsive and prone to making gaffes and mistakes. He is sincere and earnest, but can't quite manage to be successful. He is engaged, but his fiancees are not willing to go through with the marriage until he successfully completes his education. Unfortunately, he pursues a bold idea to solve a problem, and creates more problems as a result, which derails his education and his status in the community. While all this is happening to Veycosi personally, his island is being invaded by a larger, better armed group of people, and Veycosi continues to try to solve problems with clever ideas and shortcuts and keeps causing greater problems.  Hopkinson weaves a complex plot and keeps all the threads going throughout the novel. It's carefully plotted and satisfying.  I will say that the mix of English with the other language used was sometimes confusing. The words could eventually be figured out from context, but to be honest, the mix of...