It's been quite some time since my last post. Some of you might have thought that I fell victim to an alien abduction or some other type of dastardly deed. No need to worry. I'm perfectly fine. The reason for my absence is due to my participation in the South African Book Lover's Science Fiction Reading challenge.
The aim of the challenge is to complete the following tasks within a year (starting from 1 November 2010):
1. Sci fi based on mythology
2. Biopunk
3. Read a book classified as Steampunk
4. Read a Sci-Fi Thriller
5. Read some Space Opera
6. Read something by Isaac Asimov
7. Read a book that has a Alien or Aliens
8. Cyberpunk
9. Short stories. SF is a big short story genre, with some of the most exciting, inventive tales out there, so read a collection of sf short stories.
10. Read a Sci-Fi dystopia
11. Read hard sci-fi: Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy, or on both
12. Read military sci-fi
13. Read a sci-fi that a prominent movie was based on
14. Read Romance and Sexuality in sci-fi
15. Read a sci-fi published between 2000-2010
16. Read a sci-fi that has Robots/Companion bots etc. in them
17. Read a Sci-fi that has a authoritarian state/government
18. Read a Sci-Fi set on both Earth and another planet
19. Read a YA Sci-Fi
20. Sci fi about an ecological disaster (on Earth or any other planet)
21. Read sci fi that's won either the Hugo or the Nebula award
22. Read a sci-fi book which involves or includes elements of nature (i.e. plants or animals)
23. Read a sci-fi book which involves or includes time travel
24. Read an alternate history novel
25. Read any Golden Age Sci-fi author (excluding Asimov)
Since I'm also attempting to finish reading 100 novels for the year I'm spending all my free time reading like crazy. I've still got 11 novels to go to meet the 100 novel deadline and I'm trying to see how far I can get on the Sci-Fi challenge by the end of December.
That leaves very little time to actually sit down and compose blog entries. Hopefully once everything settles down I'll be able to put up some reviews of books I've finished for the various challenges. If not I'll have to resort to posting some brief ratings as a last resort.
Now I need to get back to some reading...
Exploring the wonderful worlds locked away in books! Science fiction, fantasy and other book reviews.
Good grief, 100 novels in a year-I'm lucky to make 50!
ReplyDeleteHeres my breakdown:
1. Sci fi based on mythology, errr, I'm not sure I have but would need an example!
2. Biopunk, err, as above!(never heard of biopunk, tho a Neal Asher story might count)
3. Read a book classified as Steampunk
Not yet but got one on my TBR pile by Baxter
4. Read a Sci-Fi Thriller
by thriller do you mean spy thriller a la James Bond? if so I'm reading one now by Neal Asher! Also a few Asimov robot books are kind of thrillers.
5. Read some Space Opera
Oh yes, probably my favourite brand of SF-check out Ian M Banks's Consider Phlebas
6. Read something by Isaac Asimov
Have read lots of Asimov and enjoyed it, apart from his Foundation series.
7. Read a book that has a Alien or Aliens
Hard not to read SF without encountering Aliens! From Asimov to Clarke to Zelazny teyre there. ;)Want some examples, email me
8. Cyberpunk
Hmmm, the enfant terrible of SF, not read any yet but have Gibson's Neuromancer on my TBR pile-will possibly read it next. Also some count Greg Bear's Blood Music as cyberpunk,not sure I agree.
9. Short stories. SF is a big short story genre, with some of the most exciting, inventive tales out there, so read a collection of sf short stories
Oh yea! I ued to get Interzone, full of short stories. Theyre ideal for those with little time. I love Asimov's Robot stories.
10. Read a Sci-Fi dystopia
One name, Ballard! Try his 60s novels The Drowned World or The Drought.
11. Read hard sci-fi: Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy, or on both
My fave species of SF! Try Poul Anderson's Tau Zero or Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama or Gregory Benford's Galactic centre series, particularly Great Sky River (1986)
12. Read military sci-fi
Try Joe Haldeman's The Forever War-superb!
13. Read a sci-fi that a prominent movie was based on
Hmmm, its usually the other way round but there is 2001 a Space Odyssey, although to be fair both the movie and book came out the same time!
14. Read Romance and Sexuality in sci-fi
err, no thanks!
15. Read a sci-fi published between 2000-2010
Neal Asher's Agent Cormac series, 2001-present! Also his Polity and Spatterjay series.
Clarke's 3001 The Final Odyssey.
16. Read a sci-fi that has Robots/Companion bots etc. in them
Asimov's Caves of Steel, Naked Sun and Robots of Dawn!
17. Read a Sci-fi that has a authoritarian state/government
Clarke's Imperial earth, tho I found it rather boring! (Im not good with political stuff)
18. Read a Sci-Fi set on both Earth and another planet
errrr
19. Read a YA Sci-Fi
Heinlein's 'Podkayne of Mars' springs to mind.
20. Sci fi about an ecological disaster (on Earth or any other planet)
Clarke's Richter 10
James Herbert's Portent.
21. Read sci fi that's won either the Hugo or the Nebula award
Larry Niven's Ringworld
Clarke's Rendezvous wth Rama
Poul anderson's Tau Zero, to name but a few!
22. Read a sci-fi book which involves or includes elements of nature (i.e. plants or animals)
Brian Aldiss's Hothouse is a prime example!
Also John Christopher's Death of Grass I(not yet read)
John Wyndham's Day of the Trifids
23. Read a sci-fi book which involves or includes time travel
HG Wells The time Machine and Baxters sequel The time Ships-neitehr of which i have read!
Asimov's End of Eternity (1955)
Clarke and Baxter's Light of Other Days
Bob Shaw's Other Days, Other Eyes
24. Read an alternate history novel
Not yet altho I have Baxter's Anti ice on my shelf to read! Also Paul McAuley's Pasuale's Angle is highy rated!
25. Read any Golden Age Sci-fi author (excluding Asimov)
A.E. van Vogt,Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Hugo Gernsback, etc etc....
Thanks, Larry. There are some great suggestions in there.
ReplyDeleteI've still got quite a few to go, but as soon as I can take things on a more leisurely pace I'll be updating the blog with the books I've read.