[EN World Book Club] Suggestions & Selectors

[Sam]

I don't think there's much problem with suggesting a book that's the first in a series. Suggesting a book in the middle of a series would be bad.

I agree with that. I don't see anything wrong with the first book in a series.

That said, I don't think I'd want to do a whole series.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

What are peoples thoughts on reading anthologies of a single authors work (like a collection of HP Lovecraft stories) or a collection of short stories by different authors (like any of the various Years Best... collections)?

Do we want to stick specifically to novels? Or are these fair game as well?

 

[Sam]

Do we want to stick specifically to novels? Or are these fair game as well?

I think we should stick to novels. Substantive discussion on an anthology of short stories would be less likely, IMO.

 

[Dagger75]

Does it have to be fiction.

Cause I got some ideas for some non-fiction, nothing political

Demon in the Freezer

The Hot Zone

The Jungle

Also for Fiction

Timeline

 

[Dismas]

While I am employed, the library comment does appeal to me as well.

And how abou these classic selections (and they're ones I haven't read yet):

Man in the Iron Mask
Three Musketeers
Huchback of Notre Dame
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

I'd suggest The Count of Monte Cristo, but I finally read that one last year.

Most of the classics are available free to download at Project Guttenberg http://gutenberg.net/index.html including all the above.

If work sends me on a long train / plane journey I tend to print off just a few chapters at a time to help pass the time.

 

[JoeBlank]

I don't see anything wrong with the first book in a series.

That said, I don't think I'd want to do a whole series.

And with that, I nominate:

Sailing to Sarantium
by Guy Gavriel Kay

Only $7.99 on Amazon, and I found it at my local library.

"Sailing to Sarantium is a small story. Its hero, Crispin, is unassuming as heroes go. He's a skilled mosaicist, an artist who makes pictures with decorative tiles, and responds to a request from a distant emperor to travel to the imperial capital and work on the new sanctuary there. Hardly the makings of high adventure. But then again, Guy Gavriel Kay could write about a peasant going to pick up a pail of water and you'd probably hang on every word.
If you don't know Kay, you should. His pedigree is impeccable, starting with a well-loved fantasy debut, the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy (The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Darkest Road), and a compilation he did with Christopher Tolkien called The Silmarillion. Sailing to Sarantium, the first half of the Sarantine Mosaic series, evokes his other historical fantasy titles, such as A Song for Arbonne and The Lions of Al-Rassan, and is a well-researched analog to the Byzantine Empire and fifth-century Europe--with all its political and religious machinations.

Despite its seemingly prosaic cast and quest, Sailing to Sarantium is a charmer, another Kay classic. As usual, the character descriptions are subtle and precise--the mosaicist, Crispin, is a shrewd, irascible, and intensely likable man who is fiercely devoted to his art but troubled by guilt and loss. Reluctantly surrendering to events, he agrees to travel to Sarantium to work for the emperor. ("Sailing to Sarantium," we learn, is an expression synonymous with embracing great change.) As Crispin moves from roadside quarrels to palace intrigue, Kay gracefully shifts perspective from character to character, moving forward and backward in time and giving a rich sense of the world through the eyes of soldiers, slaves, and senators." --Paul Hughes

 

[JoeBlank]

Also, I very much like the classics idea, with access at Project Gutenberg. The more participants, the merrier, and there are so many classics that I always intend to get around to reading. This might be the kick in the pants that I need.

 

[FraserRonald]

Lots of great suggestions. A lot of books that I've read but which I'd be happy to read again.

Please put me down as one who would like the chance to dictate to others what they will read. I love power.

I think the suggestion regarding paperback isn't a half-bad idea. In fact, it's a good idea. Libraries and used book stores are fine, but that doesn't put money in the writer's pocket. I think paperbacks are a good compromise.

As for books that have yet to be mentioned.

"Tigana" by Guy Gavriel Kay.
"The Tower of Fear" by Glen Cook.
"The White Company" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"the Illiad" and/or "the Odyssey" by Homer

 

[FraserRonald]

And with that, I nominate:

Sailing to Sarantium
by Guy Gavriel Kay

Hey, no fair, I was going to nominate that, but I didn't think it would be fair to not include "the Lord of Emperors."

I think the Sarantine Mosaic is Kay's best work to date, but I'd be happy to read anything of his.

Take care all.

 

[JoeBlank]

Hey, no fair, I was going to nominate that, but I didn't think it would be fair to not include "the Lord of Emperors."

I think the Sarantine Mosaic is Kay's best work to date, but I'd be happy to read anything of his.

I cheated, as I picked Sarantium because I just started reading it myself. Otherwise, I have never read any Kay, but I certainly will continue to work my way thru his books now, as I am very impressed so far.

And please put me down for Evil-Book-Overlord of the Month. It would force me out of my shell and require that I participate more.

I might even break my no sig-no avatar policy to promote the book club. This is a great idea.