AlysonofBathe

I almost always have two or three books on the go at one time, particularly when one is super huge; it's nice to read something a little snappy inbetween bouts of Bleak House.

Oh I second Annie Proulx! I'm not a huge McCarthy fan (I disliked The Road), but I really like Proulx, definitely a recommendation. Cheers, Alyson

I'd suggest Asimov's Foundation series as well, excellent space opera.

Oh that sounds interesting, definitely seems more speculative than sci-fi; I may have to read this. Honestly, authors weighing in about their books post facto has always bothered me a tad; criticism/interpretation is so subjective that I've always thought an author's opinion on their own book is just another voice in the crowd, no better than any other reviewer. Cheers, Alyson

Lol, not an organization like a business or anything, organization as in my organizational habits.

I adore your spreadsheets; they've been a godsend for my organization!

This is exactly my issue with Atwood's position - it assumes things about science fiction that are incredibly limiting, and you are entirely right about space operas. In terms of the pulpy science fiction classics, a great majority of them are space operas. I haven't read The Man in the High Castle. Can someone let me in on the details; how's it an example of speculative fiction that isn't science fiction? Thanks guys, great thread so far! Cheers, Alyson

Does everyone out there consider these genres seperate, the same, overlapping with some differences, or something else altogether? I was recently discussing The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood with some friends and the inevitable conversation of genre came up. If you haven't read it, or are unfamiliar with Atwood, she has long claimed that while The Handmaid's Tale (and two of her other works, Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood) have elements of science fiction, ultimately they're speculative fiction because they don't involve classic science fiction tropes (e.g. aliens, space ships, ray guns). I myself see it as only a difference in semantics, and I've always skeptically thought that for an author typically considered very literary, like Atwood, publishing a work labelled as science fiction may seem like a down grade, so language like speculative fiction is adopted to make it a little more literary. Just my two cents though. What does everyone think? Cheers, Alyson

Hi everyone, I've been working my through the list as well; so glad to have more people doing the same! Cheers, Alyson

The Road by McCarthy, dystopian like The Hunger Games, but still has a huge sci-fi element.

Twilight; it hurts to read about sparkling vampires.

A favorite of mine too! I absolutely adore this book. I posted some thoughts on it here if you're interested in discussing it further. As to other dystopian recommendations, I'd suggest Battle Royale if you enjoyed The Hunger Games. Also, Bladerunner, The Running Man, and Fahrenheit 451. Cheers, Alyson

Hi there, A few suggestions: - My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult - Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes - Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck Cheers, Alyson

You've certainly got lots of suggestions, but I'll throw a few out there for good measure: - Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood and Oryx and Crake - Peter Watts' Blindsight - Alan Moore's Watchmen Cheers, Alyson

I lost count ages ago. Cheers, Alyson