The SYM Book Club

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Mar 15, 2002 11:24 pm

There have been many discussions of books, particularly in the fantasy genre, on these boards. I recently picked up one book that came highly recommended – Terry Prachett’s The Color of Magic. I’m so far only on page 39 (I’ve been awfully busy this week), but I am loving it.

So I was wondering, wouldn’t it be nice if a bunch of us could all decide on a fantasy book, give ourselves about 2 weeks to read (or re-read) it, then hold a book-club style discussion on it? I’m not thinking this Prachett book necessarily, and I’m also not thinking anything too intense or obscure. But it might be nice to give everyone some prep time and then focus on one book for discussion.

What do you think?

Thjis idea was inspired by a commentary I heard on NPR today...

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Fri Mar 15, 2002 11:45 pm

This is a very good idea, however, I do see some problems:

1) Deciding which book to read: This could take a while since many of us have read sooooooooooooo many fantasy books, or books in general.
2) Actually discussing about the book: By the time we decide on a book, this thread will probably be buried under all the spam(no offense to the spammers)
3) Time: Many of us are very busy, and getting access to the book may be a problem.
4) Organization: If all of the above are solved one way or another. The discussion might be chaotic. One point made by someone can lead to three other points. One symbol can lead to a lot of discussion and varying opinions. People might be confused.

Other than those, I think this a fantastic idea.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 12:44 am

Originally posted by humanflyz
Other than those, I think this a fantastic idea.

Same here, however nothing out of a series. Because then I'll have to buy the other books

However I would push like hell to see us read a Pratchett book. Big fan here.

Beldin · Post by **Beldin** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 4:51 am

Originally posted by Tamerlane

Same here, however nothing out of a series. Because then I'll have to buy the other books

However I would push like hell to see us read a Pratchett book. Big fan here.

Did anybody here say Terry Pratchett ?

I've read them all...again and again and again.......
and I'll read them at least once more if we're going to discuss them....

FABRICATI DIEM PVNC !

Beldin

Ode to a Grasshopper · Sat Mar 16, 2002 5:29 am

I'm casting my vote for a Discworld book too. Interesting Times , perhaps?

BTW, did anyone know that Christopher Lee of Saruman fame plays the voice of Death in the animated Soul Music ?

Beldin · Post by **Beldin** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 5:34 am

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
I'm casting my vote for a Discworld book too. Interesting Times , perhaps?

@Ode:"IT" sounds good, but knowing the wild bunch here at SYM I would think Soul Music the book of choice.
It has got everything - puns about Music, Bands, Music with Rocks in - and it's available on Video for our less literate SYMbionts..

.

But I'll accept any book that you can any 2 SYMbionts to agree upon....

No worries,

Beldin

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 6:08 am

you may tag me down for Pratchett too - no matter which one

(except for small gods and his last book, because I'll get them as presents in a few months time ... so I can't very well buy them now)

Ode to a Grasshopper · Sat Mar 16, 2002 6:17 am

I've got the Soul Music videos, and an autographed copy of SM.

I've also got the Hedgehog Song, autographed by Terry Pratchett.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 7:54 am

SM is definitely one of the best in the series (the 'deaf leopard' jokes ruled), but i'll go with any of them other than 'the colour of magic' and 'sourcery'. cos i haven't got them.
yet.

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 12:00 pm

Terry Pratchet?

My vote would go to Mort - or maybe Witches Abroad, since WA was the first Pratchett book I read!

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 12:50 pm

aahhh...Feet of Clay. It is a work of...well. It's pretty good, and I haven't read manty others (I'm not a big fantasy fan.) I don't think I'll take part, but why doesn't Gwally just make a rotor and then every 2 weeks or whatever the person who's turn it is can pick a book and everyone has to read it.

just a suggestion

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 7:52 pm

Yes! Majority prefer Pratchett.

Something from the early stages of the Discworld novels would do IMO. It would get very difficult trying to explain the geographic region of the discworld to someone who is reading one of the later books for the first time.

I'd say we choose the first of the Discworld novels. Colour Of Magic or is it Light Fantastic?.

@ Robnark....sorry, if its Colour Of Magic. But you wont be the only one buying the book. I never got around to buying it myself.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 8:02 pm

Didn't somebody suggest a book club quite a while ago, and it never actually happened? (Wasn't specifically fantasy-orientated though.)

Had all you Pratchett-lovers considered just starting a thread to discuss his books?

I thought the idea of a book club was to all read new books and discuss them, and quite a lot of people seem to have already read Pratchett... just a thought.

(BTW, haven't you people heard of libraries?

)

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 8:09 pm

Originally posted by Georgi
(BTW, haven't you people heard of libraries? )

Yes, but a library? I tend to have a natural urge to rebel against the code of silence within. Plus they always demand their books at inconvenient times.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 8:18 pm

Originally posted by Tamerlane
Yes, but a library? I tend to have a natural urge to rebel against the code of silence within. Plus they always demand their books at inconvenient times.

That's why they lend them out, dear

(Well, maybe not just for you, but people like you...

) And how can it be inconvenient if you have to read it for a discussion the next week anyway?

(Of course I am a complete hypocrite, I always buy my books...)

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 8:28 pm

Originally posted by Georgi
That's why they lend them out, dear (Well, maybe not just for you, but people like you... ) And how can it be inconvenient if you have to read it for a discussion the next week anyway?

(Of course I am a complete hypocrite, I always buy my books...)

A little bonus is that a book shelf full of books makes you look important. But you can't do that with borrowed books.

And no, I won't try it.

Oh I almost forgot...hypocrite.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 8:35 pm

Originally posted by Tamerlane
A little bonus is that a book shelf full of books makes you look important. But you can't do that with borrowed books. And no, I won't try it.

Oh I almost forgot...hypocrite.

It probably depends on the books...

You could put library books on your shelf and take a photo or something

Shhh!

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sat Mar 16, 2002 11:00 pm

My daughter's bookshelf is full of library books! She checks out 15 to 20 at a time and exchanges them every 3 weeks!

I have to agree with Georgi here. It might be nice to pick a book that was relatively new and unready my most people. It sounds like I am in the minority concerning Prachett books, and most of you are already well versed. Are there any new fantasy novels out there that have received good reviews? I’ll do some checking.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sun Mar 17, 2002 1:16 am

Here's what I say then. I'll let you pick a book.

I trust your judgement, provided it's not one of those over the top fantasy novels. Apart from the obvious, Tolkien and Pratchett. I really don't go out of my way to buy and read fantasy books. Hopefully you may expand my somewhat limited field of fantasy authors.

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Sun Mar 17, 2002 1:50 am

Somebody go ahead and suggest something, I'm reading so many already that one more won't matter, even if it turns out to be bad ... but you wouldn't recommend a bad book, would you?

Here's a list of authors (some with books mentioned) that have been suggested by people on another forum. It's mostly fantasy, but not all:

R. A. Salvatore
Margaret Weiss
Weiss & Hickman
Tolkien
William Gibson
Tad Williams: Otherland, Memory Sorrow, Thorn
JRR Martin: Game of Thrones
Robert Howard
Michael Moor**** (<-those "*" are ridiculous

)
Robin Hobb: The Farseer
Robert Jordan: The Wheel of Time series
James Barclay: The Chronicles of the Raven
Terry Pratchett: The Discworld Series
L.E. Modesill: Saga of Reclude
Niklas Krog
Per Jorner
Astrid Lindgren
CSS Lewis
Anne McCaffrey: Dragonriders of Perm
Orson Scott Carf: Ender's Game
Howard Pyle: Men of Iron
Jack Vance: Lyoness, Dying Earth
Fritz Lieber
Philip Farmer
Lord Dunsary
Sprague de Camp
Katharine Kerr: The Deverry series
Elaine Cunningham: Forgotten Reals books
Elizabet Moon: The Deed of Paksenarrion
Raymond E. Feist
J. K. Rowling: Harry Potter
Ursula K. LeGuin
Stephen Donaldson
Barbara Hambly
Diana Wynne Jones: The Dark Lord of Derkholm
Robert Asprin: Another Fine Myth
Robert Weinberg: The Masquerade of the Red Death
Robert A. Heinlein
Keith: Bolo series
Philip Pulman
Terry Brooks: Shannara
Steven Brust: Taltos the Asssassin
Parke Godwin: The Tower of Beowolf
Stephen King
Dean Koontz
Larry Niven
Robert Marion
Peter Canning
JV Jones: The Baker's Boy, A Man Betrayed, Master and Fool
Harlin Ellison
Michael Crichton
Robin Cook
David Eddings: The Tamuli
Umberto Eco
David Gemmell: The Hawk Eternal, Ironhand's Daughter, Knights of Dark Renown, Legend
Roger Zelazny: A Night in the Lonesome October
H.P. Lovecraft: At the Mountains of Madness
Ed Greenwood
David Drake