The Official UN-official SFF/SFFF-KIT for 2016

Welcome to the unofficial SFF/SFFF-KIT for 2016.

Since officially there is not an SFF/SFFFCAT for 2016, and there seemed to be some interest in continuing the challenge this year, I have set up this thread to organize our monthly challenges.

Input, I need input!

I have never set up a wiki, so if one of you would care to do that for the challenge, please do so. I'll post it here:

(http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/2016_Unofficial_SF/SFFKIT#January)

Monthly challenges to be added here:

January: Read a SFF that has been languishing on your shelves for a year or more - fuzzi
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/210795)

February: Read a SFF published in the last 5 years - 14sturlington
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/216818#)

March: Read a book set in an Alternate World...Alt history, fantasy world or future world - majkia
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/218467)

April: Read something from NPR's top 100 Sci/Fi Fantasy list (http://www.npr.org/2011/08/09/139248590/top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books) - Kristelh
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/220178)

May - Read a Space Opera - leslie.98
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/221244#)

June - Read a book with interesting cover art - mathgirl40
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/223363#)

July - Read a book with a story featuring change through transformation or adaptation - mamzel
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/225524#)

August - Start A Series or Continue A Series - DeltaQueen50
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/227000#)

September - International SFF: Read a book(s) written by non-US/UK authors - inge82
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/229179)

October - Retrofuturistic: Read a book in a steampunk, clockpunk, dieselpunk, etc...genre - jillbone
(no thread)

November - Read a book about time travel - LisaMorr
(http://www.librarything.com/topic/235830)

December - Reader's Choice: read a book in any of the January through November's challenges
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/242393#)

Let's go!

oh joy. I'm gladly signing up. I'll do the wiki when we figure out what we want on there.

I suggest we use January as a catch-up/clean-up month:

*****Read a SFF that has been languishing on your shelves for a year or more*****

My favorite SFF author is C.J. Cherryh, but somehow I never have tackled her Fortress series. Therefore, I am going to read Fortress in the Eye of Time for this challenge. It's also been sitting on my shelves since 2012...

>3 fuzzi: My catalogue says I have three that would qualify. If I can find one of them, that is.

>2 majkia: >5 MarthaJeanne: welcome! The more, the merrier!

Yay! I'm in. I have plenty to choose from.

Since the new year has started, we could ask for a volunteer to pick a sff theme for each month, similar to the RandomCat. >3 fuzzi: has already gotten us off to a good start.

>8 sturlington: good idea. Do you want February?

>9 fuzzi: HaHAHAHA!
Serves you right, Shannon!

I'll do a month as well, if we're dragooning people!

>10 majkia: well, I wanted to do SFFCAT again, so I kind of volunteered myself...

I'm very glad you did!

>12 majkia: you volunteer for the AlphaKIT, you inspired me! ;)

>10 majkia: Yes, that's what I get. :-)

I'm happy to take February's. Looking at my tbr gives me several ideas. Do we want to go ahead and list all theme suggestions now for planning purposes or wait until closer to the beginning of each month?

Go ahead and tell us February's challenge.

Anyone else who wants a month can jump in. We don't need Robert at this point, I think... ;)

I"ll take a month. March, unless someone else wants it.

I will take a month too.

Go for it, >17 majkia: and >18 Kristelh:.

Woo!

I'm trying not to commit to too many challenges for 2016. Usually, the CATs and my BookCrossing challenge keep me busy enough. However, I read so much SFF anyhow that I'm sure I'll have something that meets each month's topic. Thanks for setting this up, fuzzi.

At the moment, I won't volunteer for a month, as I'm already taking care of some other group reads, but if you get desperate for volunteers, I could cover something later in the year.

>20 mathgirl40: glad to have you, for whatever you are able.

Thanks to majkia for the wiki. :)

I would be willing to do a Space Opera month in May or June...

>22 leslie.98: pick one! :)

>1 fuzzi: Hooray! I'm so glad you went ahead with this! I'm going to have to do some digging to find a SFF book that I've owned for more than a year and haven't read. I know I've got some.....

>16 sturlington: Well, there I don't have anything unread that qualifies, so I'll pass.

>25 MarthaJeanne: At least February's a short month. Hope you can rejoin in March.

Eep. Pressure on me coming up with March. Maybe I should make it books written more than 5 years ago!

>25 MarthaJeanne: or get one from the library?

I don't usually read SFF in German.

>29 MarthaJeanne: aw shucks... :(

>16 sturlington: February's theme should be easy for me. I'm trying to read several books published in 2015 before I submit Hugo nominations. Seveneves, The Just City and The Fifth Season are possibilities.

>31 mathgirl40: I selfishly picked the theme because it fits most of the SFF on my TBR. Although I doubt I'll get to read it all in February, much as I might want to.

>23 fuzzi: OK I will claim May for Space Opera month!

>33 leslie.98: noted, and thanks!

I would make my theme read something from NPR top 100 Sci/Fi Fantasy list and I can post the link to the list. Will that work? If not, I will come up with something else.

*** March: Read a book set in an Alternate World***

Alt history, fantasy world or future world.

>36 majkia: Ooh, good one.

>35 Kristelh: Yes, please! I've been working through the list these past few years.

>36 majkia: I've got some Guy Gavriel Kay and Eric Flint books for this category.

I think I can manage to host a month after all, if volunteers are still being sought. I find the SFF genre tends to feature some really gorgeous covers, so my proposal is, "Read a book with interesting cover art."

>35 Kristelh: That list seems perfect for someone exploring the genre. I'm sure almost everyone could find something they want to read on it.

>38 mathgirl40: you want June? :)

>40 fuzzi: Sure, June would be fine. Thanks.

>35 Kristelh: Good! I am very slowly making my way through that list so it will be a good incentive to have it featured!

Okay, I will do the NPR LIST, put me any month that you need a volunteer.

>43 Kristelh: I have you for April.

Please post the link when convenient. :)

>44 fuzzi: here's the link, http://www.npr.org/2011/08/09/139248590/top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books

>45 Kristelh:

Great list!
Sadly. I've only read 13 out of 100 although many of them have been on my 'to read' list for ages.
This is good incentive to get to some of them this year

>45 Kristelh: The list is also on LibraryThing, if you want to track your progress: http://www.librarything.com/list/1032/all/NPRs-your-picks-top-100-Sci-Fi%25252FF...

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/plan-your-2016-reading-with-sf...

Thought some of you might enjoy this bingo card.

>48 majkia: That's a pretty card! We could easily fill out the rest of our months using squares from it if there aren't enough volunteers, although I'm not too keen on reading a Star Wars novel. I prefer the movies.

>45 Kristelh: thanks! It's now on the wiki and in the OP here. :)

I checked the list. I've read 26 IF (and only IF) I can count the first book in a trilogy as one, such as the Shannarah trilogy (book one was hard enough to finish). Interestingly, while some trilogies are counted as one, some only are listed as the first book (like Dragonflight).

>47 sturlington: that list does not match the NPR one.

I find it incredible to not have one book by CJ Cherryh or Tad Williams in that list. Unbelievable.

>51 fuzzi: Sorry, I didn't realize that.

>52 sturlington: dun worry about it. :) It was interesting seeing how many works by popular authors had been added.

I also saw Roger Zelazny's works included; they deserved to be.

Since most of my reading has been in this area anyway I'd be thrilled to take part. I would be happy to sponsor a month. My idea for a theme would be Stories Featuring Change Through Transformation or Adaptation. I got the inspiration from my current read, Seveneves which presents adaptation after a major event that destroyed the moon and then Earth. July would work for me.

I probably won't be able to participate every month but I am very happy to see the SFFF theme continued and I will volunteer for whatever month is next.

Since I seem to be always trying to catch up with my series reading, my topic will be Start A Series or Continue A Series

>54 mamzel: thank you. I put you in for July. :)

>55 DeltaQueen50: and I have you in for August, too!

>47 sturlington:, I checked the list here at LT and I think it is different from the list I had from NPR. They are similar but not the same.

It's exciting to see so many people interested in continuing to read SFFF.

>55 DeltaQueen50: speaking of series...I got the next in the Fortress series from our public library: Fortress of Eagles, I liked the first book that much.

>56 fuzzi: August is good.

>59 fuzzi: Putting my fingers in my ears! Another series that sounds so good but I have so many series on the go! These are on my wishlist and hopefully I will get to them someday.

I would love to take part in this challenge. SFF is my favorite genre. I am reading Shaman by Kim Stanley Robinson. This is also my read for the Read through Time Challenge, Prehistory. This book tells the story a young man's journey to become a Shaman for his tribe and takes place thirty thousand years ago. Thanks for starting this challenge.

>61 Book-Dragon1952: glad to have you!

Would you (or anyone else) like to host a challenge month? We have a few left...

>62 fuzzi: I'll take one month. How about "International SFF: Books written by non-US/UK authors"?

>63 inge87: sounds good to me! I'll add it for September. :)

>62 fuzzi: What about "Retrofuturistic: Read a steampunk, clockpunk, dieselpunk, etc..."

>65 Jacksonian: yippee!!

>65 Jacksonian: added, but you're going to have to give me some idea of what would qualify...I'm unfamiliar with those genres!

>67 fuzzi: Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. (from wikipedia) Clockpunk is the same but has clockwork and gear machinery. Same for dieselpunk, but with diesel powered machinery.

Steampunk examples: Infernal Devices by K.W. Jeter, The Difference Engine by William Gibson, The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder

Clockpunk examples: Pasquale's Angel by Paul J. McAuley, Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin, Perdido Street Station by China Mieville

Dieselpunk examples: Leviathan by Scott Westerfield, A Fistful of Nothing by Dan Glaser, The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (considered by some)

How about a category for time travel?

>69 LisaMorr: November is still open.

>69 LisaMorr: sure!

This is turning into a most excellent KIT!

>72 majkia: yes, because people are getting involved!

Woo! We've been added to the main CAT page: http://www.librarything.com/groups/2016categorychalleng

Thanks -Eva-!

I'm going to need some help with February's challenge. Could any of you recommend a SF book that is more in the Space Opera genre? I like both C.J. Cherryh and Lois McMaster Bujold, but their most recent published works are part of a series, and too far ahead (10+ books?) for me to consider.

It doesn't have to be Space Opera, per se, it's just I like "thinking" SF. I don't care for graphic sex or violence. And no vampires, etc., please.

Help?

>75 fuzzi: Have you tried The Expanse series? Leviathan Wakes is the first one. Also, Sharon Lee's Agent of Change. Also Jack McDevitt's The Engines of God.

>75 fuzzi:: Space Operas:
Altered Carbon - Morgan
Ender's Game - Orson, Scott Card
The Forever War by Haldeman
Pandora's Star - Hamilton
Shards of Honor - Bujold

>77 Kristelh: >76 majkia: thank you, both!

I recently read and enjoyed Shards of Honor and Barrayar, and wish there was another book about Cordelia. I read the first three Ender's Game books, but petered out by the fourth. I also read and liked Ender's Shadow, but the two Orson Scott Card fantasies I attempted, while well-written, felt like religious propaganda, and I couldn't finish either.

It was through LT that Ursula K. LeGuin and Bujold were recommended to me, and I've enjoyed reading their works.

I will check out the other authors you've recommended.

While we're recommending, I can't speak highly enough of Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. I considered it a masterpiece when it first was published, and confirmed it as such with a recent reread. He, like C.J. Cherryh, starts slow...don't give up!

Addendum: the public library has and I've placed on hold the following:

Leviathan Wakes (checked out, due back 1/31)
The Engines of God
Pandora's Star

The Forever War was due back in 2013... :(

I have The Forever War on kindle. Maybe I can get to that one.

>75 fuzzi: February was my topic suggestion. I'll try to post a thread with some recommendations today.

>80 sturlington: great! I was just looking to see if the February thread was up, yet...not that I'm nagging... ;)

The February thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/216818

And we've completed six books for the January challenge...good start, but keep going!

I do have a SFF category in my challenge, but I don't know yet if I can make the time every month. I will be dropping in, though!

Throwing out an idea for December - would people be interested in a dystopian month?

>85 LisaMorr: I'm always up for a good dystopia.

>85 LisaMorr: no problems with it, but I'd like to give someone else a chance at hosting December, do you mind? :)

>87 fuzzi: Yes - definitely! Just throwing out the idea - I wasn't looking to host December (especially wasn't looking to do a back-to-back!). No worries!

>88 LisaMorr: whew, good. I didn't want up sound bossy.

I am reading The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Watching the new TV series Shannara Chronicles, had to reread, I read them when they were first published, seems I didn't remember much!

>76 majkia: >77 Kristelh: wow...I stopped by the library today, as three of my hold requests were ready for pick up...and I thought the librarian had three dictionaries for me! What huge books you've recommended: Leviathan Wakes (592pp), The Engines of God (432pp), and Pandora's Star (992!!!!!!pp).

Oh well, I guess I'll just stack them until next weekend...

I don't know if I'll get to it this month because I found this challenge late and I need to finish my bookclub book and read my GeoCAT book but The Last Tobacco Shop in the World by Bjorn Turmann has been sitting on my shelves for just over two years and I can also add it to the RandomCAT because I seem to be the only one with it on LT.

>91 fuzzi: Yeah, good sci fi tends to be long because of the world-building. I found Leviathan Wakes to be a surprisingly quick read given the page count. Hope you will too.

Finished The Sword of Shannara. Now on to The Elfstones of Shannara.

I've put up the March SF/SFF thread so the planners can plan!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/218467

>95 majkia: thanks! I've added the url to the OP.

I have April SF/SFF thread up for all us planners and also feel free to make comments. Do you think the right books are included?

http://www.librarything.com/topic/220178

>97 Kristelh: thank you! Link has been added to the OP.

Just finished the second Thursday Next novel Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde

My choices for April,
Shards of Honor
Ringworld
The Sword of Shannara
The Forever War
The Thousand Orcs Does anyone know how The Legend of Drizzt Series works? Do I have to read them in any order. It seems like there are many books in this and they each belong to their grouping. I also have Night of the Hunter. Is that one part of The Legend of Drizzt Series?

May's thread is posted: http://www.librarything.com/topic/221244

>101 leslie.98: thank you. I added it to the OP.

>100 Kristelh: sorry I missed this post, I truly don't have an answer to your question.

I hope no one minds that I posted June's thread a little bit early:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/223363

I meant to get this thread up before I left for my trip but stuff happened.
In any caser here it is.

>104 mamzel: great!

As I am going out of town tomorrow and away from my computer, I have posted August's thread already. It can be found HERE

September's thread can be found here.

For long-term planners, I've reserved our spot for 2017 here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/233035

I finished Snow Crash by October's Kit; it is a cyberpunk novel. I liked it. I like this author. (perhaps this one doesn't fit?, I see it is suppose to be steampunk but cyberpunk. Well, I can remove it from Wiki, let me know.

>109 Kristelh: I've not heard back from October's host, just leave it on the Wiki for now.

Is there a November thread?

>111 Kristelh: yes, I didn't realize it was up!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/235830

>112 fuzzi:, I was looking for it but didn't find it, so thanks for the link.

>113 Kristelh: thanks for the reminder! :)

Sorry - I should've put a note here!

Was there an October thread? I couldn't find one. Anyhow, I finished Ghosts by Gaslight, a collection of steampunk ghost stories and I'm still working on Ganymede from Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series.

>116 mathgirl40: nope, no October thread, sorry.

Thanks for participating, anyway!

Is anyone putting up a December thread or do we just add to the month our book relates to?

>118 Robertgreaves: good point! I'll make a thread for December.

EDIT: here it is: https://www.librarything.com/topic/242393#