SF Masterworks Discussion Series?

[Varsha 667]

Hey Folks,

I've been thinking of starting some sort of discussion series on my channel (which is currently sadly neglected, but I have many plans for! ). A discussion on Telegram gave me an idea when@chrisM mentioned that he was working his way through the SF Masterworks in publication order. This sounds like a fantastic project that I want to copy I have had discussions about a couple of the SF Masterworks before with some friends on Booktube, and they were a lot of fun. So I was wondering if anyone here would be interested in working their way through the series along with me, and discussing them with me on recorded sessions (doesn't have to be livestreams - in fact I'd prefer if they weren't) for posting on my channel/podcast/your own platform if you have one.  I'm pretty flexible on pacing etc. - I'm tentatively thinking one a month or thereabouts. Any takers ?  

Here's the list of books we'd work our way through - http://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_sf_masterworks.asp

[Paromita Mukherjee 1,662]

Hi @Varsha!

Very tempting idea and I'd have loved to read along (even if I did not participate in the discussions). The issue - There are books in that list for which I'd have nothing better to say than "boring" or "DNF" which is useless for discussion! 

I've read quite a few SF Masterworks - will look forward to when you have discussions for those. 

[Steve 7,540]

9 hours ago, Varsha said:

Hey Folks,

I've been thinking of starting some sort of discussion series on my channel (which is currently sadly neglected, but I have many plans for! ). A discussion on Telegram gave me an idea when@chrisM mentioned that he was working his way through the SF Masterworks in publication order. This sounds like a fantastic project that I want to copy I have had discussions about a couple of the SF Masterworks before with some friends on Booktube, and they were a lot of fun. So I was wondering if anyone here would be interested in working their way through the series along with me, and discussing them with me on recorded sessions (doesn't have to be livestreams - in fact I'd prefer if they weren't) for posting on my channel/podcast/your own platform if you have one.  I'm pretty flexible on pacing etc. - I'm tentatively thinking one a month or thereabouts. Any takers ?  

Here's the list of books we'd work our way through - http://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_sf_masterworks.asp

I’d be interested, would depend on the schedule but this sounds like fun 

[The Fantasy Thinker 76]

I'd be interested as well. What kind of schedule do you have in mind? 

[Varsha 667]

9 hours ago, Steve said:

I’d be interested, would depend on the schedule but this sounds like fun 

 

4 hours ago, The Fantasy Thinker said:

I'd be interested as well. What kind of schedule do you have in mind? 

Awesome! I was thinking one book a month, starting late June/early July. Most of the books are less than 300 pages long. Those that are longer, we can divide reading and discussions across multiple months. That sound reasonable?

 

[chrisM 553]

Definitely up for this, especially as it will give me a reason to be even more regular with making my way through them. 😀

[Varsha 667]

13 minutes ago, chrisM said:

Definitely up for this, especially as it will give me a reason to be even more regular with making my way through them. 😀

Excellent!!  

[The Fantasy Thinker 76]

Very reasonable indeed!

[Varsha 667]

Alright! We have Quorum! So here's the reading list for the next few months so we can plan the acquisition of books we don't own yet. I'll start a thread next month to schedule the first discussion

June - The Forever War - Joe Haldeman

July - I am Legend - Richard Matheson

August - Cities in Flight - James Blish=> This is an omnibus of 4 books spanning about 600 pages, so we can plan to do this in 2 months\

September - Cities in Flight Part II

October - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - PKD

We'll see how that goes and readjust schedule as needed  

[Karl 53]

I have been reading some of these, with the likes of Phillip K. Dick's Time out of Joint.  (Invasion of) The Body Snatchers - Jack Finney, The Left Hand of Darkness -Ursula K. Le Guin and Rendezvous With Rama and I want more so something like this give me reason to get stuck right in.

[Varsha 667]

1 hour ago, Karl said:

I have been reading some of these, with the likes of Phillip K. Dick's Time out of Joint.  (Invasion of) The Body Snatchers - Jack Finney, The Left Hand of Darkness -Ursula K. Le Guin and Rendezvous With Rama and I want more so something like this give me reason to get stuck right in.

Awesome! So glad you'll be joining the read-along

[chrisM 553]

2 months for Cities in Flight is probably a good idea. 🤿

The end of the 2nd book is a good place to stop as well, especially for discussing

[chrisM 553]

@Robyn bookends

[Robyn bookends 83]

4 minutes ago, chrisM said:

@Robyn bookends

Thankyou, and excellent idea @Varsha definitely in. Will put The forever War on my June TBR

 

[Varsha 667]

8 hours ago, Robyn bookends said:

Thankyou, and excellent idea @Varsha definitely in. Will put The forever War on my June TBR

 

So glad you'll be joining us! I'll start a thread for scheduling etc. next month

[do unicorns read 118]

Only seeing this now. But ooh, this is so tempting, @Varsha! If it's ok with you, I might do some pick and mix as some of those books are on my tbr anyway and others I've read or want to reread. So I might just join you for discussions on those as doing the whole list will not be practical for me.

[Varsha 667]

53 minutes ago, do unicorns read said:

Only seeing this now. But ooh, this is so tempting, @Varsha! If it's ok with you, I might do some pick and mix as some of those books are on my tbr anyway and others I've read or want to reread. So I might just join you for discussions on those as doing the whole list will not be practical for me.

Yes! Absolutely! Any you can join us for would be awesome We're starting with The Forever War in June... I'll post details about each one and scheduling etc. as we go.

[Susana Imaginário 436]

3 hours ago, do unicorns read said:

If it's ok with you, I might do some pick and mix as some of those books are on my tbr anyway and others I've read or want to reread.

 

Same here.

2 hours ago, Varsha said:

Yes! Absolutely! Any you can join us for would be awesome

 

Is that an option? If yes, count me in  

[do unicorns read 118]

3 hours ago, Varsha said:

Yes! Absolutely! Any you can join us for would be awesome We're starting with The Forever War in June... I'll post details about each one and scheduling etc. as we go.

Great!!😀👍

[Varsha 667]

3 hours ago, Susana Imaginário said:

Same here.

Is that an option? If yes, count me in  

Excellent!! I’ll post calendar events for RSVP etc for each one like Steve does for other things - we can keep it pretty open and flexible. The more the merrier!!

[Paromita Mukherjee 1,662]

This thread is just calling to me.  I must remain stronk! 

But there's Le Guin. And some other works I want to read. 

Aah the dilemma! 😁

The purrty covers too.🥺

[do unicorns read 118]

3 hours ago, Paromita Mukherjee said:

This thread is just calling to me.  I must remain stronk! 

But there's Le Guin. And some other works I want to read. 

Aah the dilemma! 😁

The purrty covers too.🥺

Well, there is always space for a bit of scifi on the tbr @Paromita Mukherjee!😜

[chrisM 553]

Loving that this is building excitement. I was going to move on with the series myself but I've put a stall on for re-reads, discussions and doing it as a group !

[Varsha 667]

5 hours ago, chrisM said:

Loving that this is building excitement. I was going to move on with the series myself but I've put a stall on for re-reads, discussions and doing it as a group !

Nice! I am really excited for this!