Reading SF in September 2026

[Westy]

There Is No Antimemetics Division by Qntm was selected for my SF book club this month. Going in, I tentatively had some high hopes for this one as it's been getting positive praise here over the last few months. That being said, I might get some heat for this, but the book really didn't really do much for me. Quite a bit over-hyped, in my opinion. I will concede it was definitely a unique concept, but... that's really all it's got going for it. I don't know, maybe it just was too out there. Out of curiosity, why is this considered SF and not Horror or Fantasy? I'd consider it science-fantasy, if it needs to be classified as SF at all, begrudgingly.

Agree it's definitely cross-genre including horror elements, but probably in SF as it has a lot of conceptual ideas that are speculative, so it feels more SF than Fantasy. Too bad you didn't like it!

 

[Cicero]

I'm about a third through and (so far!) I'm enjoying it

Won't be back to other place at all Danny, it was time to move on.

 

[Cicero]

Found a new old book by author never heard of before Highways in Hiding by George O Smith published in 1955 by Lancer books . My suspicion is he not aread anymore not well known.

 

[Hobbit]

Found a new old book by author never heard of before Highways in Hiding by George O Smith published in 1955 by Lancer books . My suspicion is he not aread anymore not well known.

He was very popular in the 1940's but is of that time, I think. I have his Venus Equilateral series (great Chris Foss covers!), from which you can see elements of EE Doc Smith & Robert Heinlein's style. His career may have stalled when he married the wife of John W Campbell, which may have limited his chances of being published by Campbell in Astounding!

 

[Cicero]

He was very popular in the 1940's but is of that time, I think. I have his Venus Equilateral series (great Chris Foss covers!), from which you can see elements of EE Doc Smith & Robert Heinlein's style. His career may have stalled when he married the wife of John W Campbell, which may have limited his chances of being published by Campbell in Astounding!

View attachment 1077

Those a terrific covering was better then assembly line ccokie cutter McCovers that cover art has become .

 

[Hobbit]

Those a terrific covering was better then assembly line ccokie cutter McCovers that cover art has become .

Forgot to say that the covers are actually two halves of the same picture... like Foss's covers for the Foundation trilogy.

 

[Cicero]

Forgot to say that the covers are actually two halves of the same picture... like Foss's covers for the Foundation trilogy.

Have you seen any of the covers done by Airmont Books late 50 early 60's? They're gloriously bad. Case in point Day of the Giants by Lester Del Rey The itself book is fun and entertaining read. The cover is absolutely hilarious . What's shown on the cover has absolutely nothing fo do the book itself.

 

[Fryan]

There Is No Antimemetics Division by Qntm was selected for my SF book club this month. Going in, I tentatively had some high hopes for this one as it's been getting positive praise here over the last few months. That being said, I might get some heat for this, but the book really didn't really do much for me. Quite a bit over-hyped, in my opinion. I will concede it was definitely a unique concept, but... that's really all it's got going for it. I don't know, maybe it just was too out there. Out of curiosity, why is this considered SF and not Horror or Fantasy? I'd consider it science-fantasy, if it needs to be classified as SF at all, begrudgingly.

I picked up and finished Blindside by Michael Mammay as well. If you've read any of the prior installments, you know what you're getting into. Nothing too groundbreaking, but still a good light beach read.

I'm having a quick re-read of Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E Taylor, which of course, is just as excellent the second time through. This is to get ready for the highly anticipated release of the next book in the Bobiverse - The Infinite Extent, which will be on audible on the 10th.

While I enjoyed this, I can see how this book doesn’t work for some folks and the ways it can create division among readers.

It’s a modern day fix-up novel as it started out as little vignettes on the SCP website. Which makes the traditionally published version feel a bit fragmented. You can definitely see the places where the story is joined together.

 

[krisbslick]

Agree it's definitely cross-genre including horror elements, but probably in SF as it has a lot of conceptual ideas that are speculative, so it feels more SF than Fantasy. Too bad you didn't like it!

While I enjoyed this, I can see how this book doesn’t work for some folks and the ways it can create division among readers.

It’s a modern day fix-up novel as it started out as little vignettes on the SCP website. Which makes the traditionally published version feel a bit fragmented. You can definitely see the places where the story is joined together.

I think I can sum up what you guys are saying more succinctly:

A disjointed diary about drugs and dementors

 

[Fryan]

A disjointed diary about drugs and dementors

Sounds like a bestseller!

 

[Cicero]

Sounds like a bestseller!

There will be a feature film.

 

[Hobbit]

Currently reading Massif by Garth Nix, which feels very much like Adrian Tchaikovsky so far.

 

[mylinar]

Have you seen any of the covers done by Airmont Books late 50 early 60's? They're gloriously bad. Case in point Day of the Giants by Lester Del Rey The itself book is fun and entertaining read. The cover is absolutely hilarious . What's shown on the cover has absolutely nothing fo do the book itself.

I have that book. Ragnarok, fimbulwinter and the Norse gods. On the cover a guy with a ray gun and a flying saucer. It was also brown with black lettering that was almost unreadable.

 

[Cicero]

I have that book. Ragnarok, fimbulwinter and the Norse gods. On the cover a guy with a ray gun and a flying saucer. It was also brown with black lettering that was almost unreadable.

I love that cover, it has an Ed Wood like quality to it !