I thought I’d introduce the book club a little more formally, I know some of you have seen my reviews through this site. I am a huge fan of science fiction/fantasy and horror, I wanted to share that love with other readers, and writers. Most of the book clubs in the Guild were aimed more at the classics, so I thought I’d try to spread the genres I love to a new audience. I try to get a variety within the genres, some books are more literary than others, some are just a good, cheap thrill (And who couldn’t use one of those once in a while?).

Sunday we will be discussing Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson and The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster, feel free to come even if you haven’t read the books. Might make you curious. The first is cyberpunk (think Johnny Mneumonic and The Matrix) and the inspiration for Second Life; the second is a series of detective novellas, and was recommended by one of the discussion panel at the last meeting. (The discussion panel changes depending on who shows up, nothing too formal.) Oh, and guys, remind me to NEVER allow two books in the same time frame again, even every three weeks that’s pushing it. We all have two lives as it is.

Those of you that were with us for the Neuromancer discussion, thanks for all the great input on that book and upcoming reads. I included all the recommendations in the reading list and added a couple of my own. If your recommendation isn’t at the top of the list, no worries. I tried to mix up the genres a little more, and avoid major shifts in writing style to avoid the stumbling block we ran into after Perdido Street Station. I hope you will all stick around for the future discussions.

I’m posting a list of when we will be discussing different books, feel free to drop by when any of them interest you. I’m not putting a summary for any but the first one, because this post is lengthy enough as it is.

November

9th Firestarter by Stephen King: Young Charlie McGee is a very special girl. The result of scientific experimentation on her parents, she has the ability create fires wherever and whenever she chooses, by force of will alone. On the run from sinister government agents with her telekenetic father, she only wants to forget her monstrous abilities, and live a normal life. When the pair are captured, Charlie must decide between saving her father and using her fiery powers at the whim of a government only interested in using her…as a weapon!

30th The Road by Cormick McCarthy

December

21st Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

January

11th World War Z by Max Brooks

February

1st Nymphos of the Rocky Flats by Mario Acevedo

15th A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

March

15th Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams

April

5th Software by Rudy Rucker

26th The Gunslinger by Stephen King

May

17th She Murdered Me with Science by David Bloop

June

7th The Scar by China Mieville

28th House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

July

19th Un Lun Dun by China Mieville (Y.A.)