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Achaean Book Club
Hello! This is something we were discussing among some Mhaldorians OOC, and I figured it might be fun to involve more people in general. Since, I assume, most people here have read at least one (1) book in their lifetime, it seems like having people sign up for a book to read and discuss would work well. If no one's interested, oh well, I was gonna read these books anyway, but no harm in trying.
First, I've decided that a RL month per book is probably ideal. This lets people read it casually, without taking too much time away from their other interests. Second, for the first book we'll have to decide on what to read first, so here's a poll with the Goodreads summary + link of each book. Since I assume most people here enjoy sci-fi and fantasy most, I'll try to focus mostly on those genres.
Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin
To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin
Feel free to try and convince people for one or the other, or suggest future books to read if this goes well!
First, I've decided that a RL month per book is probably ideal. This lets people read it casually, without taking too much time away from their other interests. Second, for the first book we'll have to decide on what to read first, so here's a poll with the Goodreads summary + link of each book. Since I assume most people here enjoy sci-fi and fantasy most, I'll try to focus mostly on those genres.
Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie
On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren
- a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands
of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the
galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her
with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire
for vengeance.
The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison/Sarah MonetteThe youngest,
half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile,
distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses
it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed
in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only
surviving rightful heir.
Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.
Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend... and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.
Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.
Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend... and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
Offred is a Handmaid in
the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his
wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures
instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must
lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her
pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other
Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can
remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her
husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she
had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that
is gone now...
The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin
A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness
tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world
whose inhabitants can choose -and change - their gender. His goal is to
facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization.
But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of
the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters.
Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.
Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. ButlerEmbracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.
In 2025, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future
Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren’s father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinarily sensitive to the pain of others.
When fire destroys their compound, Lauren’s family is killed and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind.
Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren’s father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinarily sensitive to the pain of others.
When fire destroys their compound, Lauren’s family is killed and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind.
To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
The serene and maternal
Mrs. Ramsay, the tragic yet absurd Mr. Ramsay, and their children and
assorted guests are on holiday on the Isle of Skye. From the seemingly
trivial postponement of a visit to a nearby lighthouse, Woolf constructs
a remarkable, moving examination of the complex tensions and
allegiances of family life and the conflict between men and women.
As time winds its way through their lives, the Ramsays face, alone and simultaneously, the greatest of human challenges and its greatest triumph--the human capacity for change.
As time winds its way through their lives, the Ramsays face, alone and simultaneously, the greatest of human challenges and its greatest triumph--the human capacity for change.
A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin
Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth.
Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.
Feel free to try and convince people for one or the other, or suggest future books to read if this goes well!
4
Comments
Reaching down with a massive hand, Sartan lifts your head and draws a taloned finger across your throat, the wound closing as He does so.
>.>
RIP Ursula
I did include Le Guin with two books of different types because I figured people would want to remember her, though, yeah.
That said, Ancillary Justice looks super interesting, too, so I voted for that. I love anything to do with examining AI.
We can definitely read them all eventually, but have to start with one!
Penwize has cowardly forfeited the challenge to mortal combat issued by Atalkez.
That love soon might end You are unbreaking
And be known in its aching Though quaking
Shown in this shaking Though crazy
Lately of my wasteland, baby That's just wasteland, baby