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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!"
Check your city library. I know, it's not as fancy as a book club or a CD, but that's where most people used to go to find books.
I'd recommend Audible.
.aa files.
They have a decent selection of SF books (including some first rate cast based unabridged versions of the Dune books that I'm currently enjoying).
I've been using it for about eight months, and I like it.
Also, they let you convert the books to mp3. It's a bit long winded, you have to export to cd/virtual cd using a version of nero they supply, then convert them. I use mediamonkey to do that, then mp3 tag tools to sort out the tags/rename the files.
Or you can leave them as
A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
Join a bloody library!
Most (free!) librarys have a decent SF section and will cary SF periodicals if you ask nicely.
Lots of fellow geeks will be hovering around the Fantesy/SF section also, so you can meet a few people.
It isn't rocket science dude.
Anyone quoted by a reporter knows how little they understand
Don't believe what you read is the truth.
This might seem obvious, but the yearly Hugo awards usually give a good selection of new books. Even the runners up are usually worthwhile.
I looked through the website, and they're very, very vague about what you really have to pay. For one thing, it's 5 books for a dollar each (and one free), but you also pay $13.70 in S&H. That's a pretty good price for six hardcover books, but then you're committed to buying four books from them - and it seems like the books they have mostly aren't new. I tried looking some of them up on Amazon for comparison with their "member prices", but most of the ones I chose apparently weren't for sale any more - except Spook Country, which I knew was new. It's about a dollar more expensive there. The one thing I can't seem to find without becoming a member is the S&H on the further books you purchase. I wouldn't be surprised if that's a ripoff. Anyway, it seems like their strategy is to get various interesting-sounding novels for cheap when they stop selling well, and then seed somewhat slightly more popular books in to that.
> too much static out there, mostly caused by Oprah.
http://www.google.com/search?q=book+club+-oprah
Locus Magazine is a real magazine put together by Science Fiction Fans (notably Charlie Brown who has received many Hugo awards for it). Contains lots of reviews, you'll learn which reviewers have the same taste as you. Yeah, it's not a book club.
The Young Adult section of the library (don't sneer - the quality of the Science Fiction there is very high) shouldn't be forgotten. Cory's Little Brother is a must-read, and is a YA novel.
Recursion: To curse repeatedly.
Tor regular sends me free SciFi/Fantasy books for free (you have to register but Tor doesn't spam you)...
/. poster for cluing me in on this deal...
kudos to another
The best list I've seen in the past year was the one published by Marc Andreessen. I've worked my way through almost all of these now and, aside from one or two clunkers, its a stellar list of books and authors I had not heard of. http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/06/top_10_science_.html
I think it is obvious. Just make bi-monthly "What new SF/F book do you recommend"
I am sure a LOT of people would find that useful. (hint: not a sarcasm)
Tapping large geek pool of shashdot should be enough to get good recommendations.
Other than that, geeky literature majoring friends are great source of recommendations, i suggest making one!
-- Technology for the sake of technology is as pathetic as eschewing technology because it's technology.
Imagine a pile of 100 best sci-fi books ever, and a new one is out once every 3 years or so. When you are just getting into sci-fi as a teenager, you can be assured to have a big pile of great sci-fi to read ahead of you.
As you finish it all, it becomes harder and harder to find new good ones, which gives the impression that "today sci-fi is not as good as the years past". Its only the impression, because you wen't thru 50 years best sci-fi in maybe 5-6 years.
Now you have to wait 2-3 years to discover another gem, while before you could have just went to any "best 100 list" and picked any one up.
My recent great finds: The bright of the sky: Entire and the Rose (can't even begin to describe it), Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space universe, Commonwealth Saga + Dreaming Void by Peter Hamilton.
My recent disappointments: Neal Asher. Tried to read Gridlinked, could not even finish.
Don't forget the Baen Free Library - they also sell ebooks with NO drm.
http://www.baen.com/library/
http://www.webscription.net/
I was going to comment about that same line: "I don't have time to mess around at my local Barnes & Noble and browse books..." It sounds like you need to fix your life first if you can't make an hour sometime during the course of your week to go to the bookstore. It doesn't take any more time than does Amazon. You have time to read magazines, make time for the bookstore. I also do not understand: "Less expensive than Amazon in the long run." The clubs are only less expensive for a short while. They give you free books and then require that you buy their more expensive and generally cut-rate, cheaply bound editions. Book club books are not built of the same quality as what are at the store and they charge you the same or more. Also, last time that I checked Amazon is pretty cheap. You are a whiner.
You can always check out http://baen.com/ they have an online library of free books and sample chapters for new books. They also have the webscription site where you can read e-Arc (advance reader copy) books yet to be published and other books for a monthly fee.
Also, check out http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/ which have all the CD's Baen has published. The CD's are free to copy for non-commercial use and contains alot of books in digital format.
None of the books you get in digital format from Baen is encumbered with DRM in any way.
--- Reality doesn't care about your opinions, it happens anyway and if you are in the way you'll get squished.
The Hugos are voted on by SF readers. The Nebulas are voted by SF authors. Occasionally the same title will win both honors.
"Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?"
I think I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. The quality of some authors has declined as they got older. If I see one more Ender book I think I'll barf. I'll give you that the quality of Star Trek and Star Wars books has gone down in the last few years. There are some really good authors out there that don't have name recognition though. I just finished John Scalzi Old Man's War and found it to be great. Never heard of him before.
Now here is a strange place to find book recommendations but I Wikipedia. If you type in a few key words you can usually find a list of books and subjects that you are interested in. Then you can look them up on Amazon. Strange but it works for me.
Supporting World Peace Through Nuclear Pacification
I've been a long-time science fiction fan and this has been THE book for me each year, in filtering out the diamonds from the shit.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
One alternative is to work with a good book dealer to build whatever sort of collection you might be interested in creating. Most of my business is in collection/library development, most often for people in the situation you describe...people who love books, want to read what comes into their collection, but lack the time to properly track down material.
.ijk
Several of my favorite clients are on personal "book of the month club" programs, where I send them a random book within their interest area(s) each month. Thus far, I've never had anyone complain about a choice.
I strongly encourage you to find a good book dealer and have a chat. In the alternative, drop me a line *g*...my personal collecting is in hard spec. fiction and cryptography.
Good luck.
--
Ian J. Kahn
Lux Mentis, Booksellers
Antiquarian & Fine First Editions
211 Marginal Way, #777
Portland, ME, 04101
http://www.luxmentis.com/
Member ABAA/ILAB
p.s. You should also check out the SF comm. at www.librarything.com.
I agree, of the many websites that organize/recommend content, I think the librarything.com does a great, great job! excellent use of tags, you can input several of your favourite titles and see who else picked them and what their OTHER favourite titles are. I personally am not into fantasy, more sci fi, but thelibrarything.com helped me discover asher, and also Ian Banks.
enjoy!
Contemplate the marvel that is existence, and rejoice that you are able to do so.