January 2012 SF Discussion Nominations

[Erfael]

Hi all,

Time for some nominations for a January discussion book. Here's the "rules":

1. Everyone can nominate one book and second a reasonably small number of other books.
2. Books must be available new in US and UK (I just check the two Amazons for this). They should also be in a format other than hardcover, so as to keep costs down.
3. Books must be standalone or book 1 in a series (usually not a problem in SF).
4. They can't have been book club books before. The nearly complete list of previous discussions can be found here.

And just a reminder, the book selected for December is Andreas Eschbach's The Carpet Makers.

[Rob B]

How about The Recollection by Gareth L. Powell? It is a 2011 debut from Solaris so should be readily available.

[jelder]

How about Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi? It's supposed to be funny.

[Erfael]

I'd be up for trying the Powell. Sounds interesting enough.

I guess I wouldn't mind doing the Scalzi, but I tend to find his books a little pop-corny. They're fine while I'm reading them, but I don't find them to be terribly substantive in the long run.

[Erfael]

Alternately, in case this kicks up more interest, I've been wanting to read more Michael Flynn for a while now, as I've really enjoyed both of his books that I've read. This one seems apt: The January Dancer

[jelder]

Regarding my earlier Agent to the Stars suggestion, I started reading it and it's dumb!! I'm open for suggestions, but I just picked up a copy of Darwin's Paradox by Nina Munteanu when I was at SF Contario. It sounds good.

[krisbslick]

Alternately, in case this kicks up more interest, I've been wanting to read more Michael Flynn for a while now, as I've really enjoyed both of his books that I've read. This one seems apt: The January Dancer

I second the January Dancer.

[Rob B]

I read January Dancer when it first published a couple of years ago, didn't like it very much, but will participate in the discussion if it is chosen.

[Erfael]

Since January Dancer and The Recollection both seem to have about the same level of (dis)interest, let's take them for the next two months - The January Dancer by Michael Flynn for January and Gareth Powell's The Recollection for February.

[Rob B]

Sounds good, Erfael. As I said in the Reading in December thread, I'm 2/3 into The Recollection and think it's a fun read. I hope others feel the same way.

[SuzieOz]

Hmm, my library doesn't have either of these books.