Slashdot Mirror
Decent Book Clubs for Sci-Fi Fans?
willyhill writes "I'm a Sci-Fi and Fantasy book nut, but in the last few years I've found it more and more difficult to find the time to read. Contrary to what most people would think, I actually have a hard time finding books, rather than cuddling up with them. In reality, I don't have time to mess around at my local Barnes & Noble and browse books, and I find it dicey and expensive to do the same at Amazon or other online retailers. I was looking at a magazine the other day and I found an advert for the Science Fiction Book Club. While my experience with CD clubs and the like in the past has not been entirely positive, I was prepared to give it a shot given the fact that it would be less expensive than Amazon in the long run. The problem was that their selection is not exactly grand. Having read the Simmons Hyperion Cantos, for example, I was ready to give Ilium a go, but I could only find its sequel. How do other readers get their hands on Sci-Fi books? I tried Googling for book clubs and the like, but there's too much static out there, mostly caused by Oprah. Any suggestions would be appreciated!"
Nerd, do you envision that there are lots of sci fi book clubs out there with women in them that will become yours ? THINK AGAIN! I assure you this will not work.
For you, there is only the internet, your basement, and torrent porn.
I'd avoid the library for SF. Though for fantasy its ok. I have a stock method of SF book shopping. I go down the lines and look for books with the Baen and Tor imprints. This thins out a lot of subpar crap, especially with Baen. As a lot of dross that gets through publishers who don't really CARE about SF is thinned out. Its getting tougher for hard SF fans as so many places you go, the SF rack is either all Fantasy, or the endless chains of cookie cutter Star Trek/Dr.Who series which is incredibly frustrating,