Wow.  It sure is quiet around here.  I wonder if this will bring some life back into the Science Fiction forum...

For the third year in a row now, we are having a year-long science fiction reading challenge on this forum.  And starting in 2012 we're trying new quarterly group-consensus topical challenges as well.  For 1Q 2012, this process resulted in the Full Spectrum Challenge that ran January 1 through March 31, and then for 2Q 2012 in the Firsts Challenge that started April 1 and will end June 30.   Now it is time to begin the selection process for 3Q 2012 SF Challenge, which will run July 1 through September 30.

From a high level, the selection process works like this:

• Step 1 - Select a broad topic within Science Fiction, before the quarter starts.
• Step 2 - Select ten categories within that broad topic, before the quarter starts.
• Step 3 - Read a book for any 3, any 6, or all 10 categories, within the quarter.

This thread is for purposes of Step 1.  I will start the nomination process by putting "NOMINATE NOW" in the headline of this thread, and by naming three broad topics.  Anyone else can nominate an additional broad topic, and we will discuss for at least three days, on this thread.  After that time, I will change the headline of this thread to say "VOTE NOW", and keep the poll open for at least another three days. 

Then I'll close the poll and start a new thread for Step 2.

The three topics that I am placing into nomination are those that did well during past polling.

• Awards – ten categories based on selections of winners and runners-up of science fiction awards
• Science Fantasy – ten categories that demonstrate the variety of ways that a work can meld things traditionally considered science fictional and things traditionally considered fantastical.
• Space Opera - ten categories of science fiction that emphasize adventure, and are often set in outer space, often involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities.

-Tom Hl.

I think I can hear crickets chirping...

Awards would work for me.

Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic would help clear a lot of books off Mt. TBR.  Categories could be time frames like pre-apocalyptic, during the apocalypse, just after, less than a century later, more than a century later.  Or cause, like disease, over-population, war, external causes (aliens, asteroids, sun explodes, etc), technology.

Awards are fine, dystopia/utopias are good.  How about recent fiction--books written 2010 or after?  I have only read 3 books for the competition so far.  I have another 6 waiting.  I just keep reading other things.  By the way one of the other books I'm reading, Packing for Mars by Mary Roach, is very interesting.  I recommend it.

Packing for Mars - I downloaded this off Amazon yesterday and I second the recommendation.

Our Direct TV is down and it was raining off and on, so I spent almost all of Wednesday reading. 

For the next three months I'd vote for space opera, awards or recently published - so many new books out there and so little time..........  I find dystopia/utopia fiction depressing and fantasy is a REAL CHALLENGE for me (shudder).  Although I have to admit one of my favorite books is a science fantasy (Matthew Stover-Caine bks).

I gave this topic some thought this morning and remembered that I do enjoy some science fantasy.  Like the Pern books, Darkover, and I do read some urban fantasy - Dresden, Stackhouse, M Thompson, Kitty, Cheshire Red, etc.  I equate fantasy with sword and socery books, not my thing.

I discovered The Magicians in an on-line challenge so I guess I should amend my comments to say I could deal with science fantasy (reluctantly).  But I ain't voting for it.

Nominations and discussion seem to have settled out, so I am opening the poll today.   I created descriptions for the two that did not have them, based on wikipedia definitions. (Hope they are ok). The nominations, in alphabetical order, for 3Q 2012 SF Challenge topic are:

1. Awards – ten categories based on selections of winners and runners-up of science fiction awards
2. Science Fantasy – ten categories that demonstrate the variety of ways that a work can meld things traditionally considered science fictional and things traditionally considered fantastical.
3. Space Opera - ten categories of science fiction that emphasize adventure, and are often set in outer space, often involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities.
4. Apocalypse - ten categories by timeframe (pre-, during, post-, etc.), or cause of the apocalyptic event(s).
5. Utopia/Dystopia - ten categories of science fiction set in an idealized or nightmare world, often for purposes of social or political commentary.
6. Recent Science Fiction - ten diverse categories, all of books written 2010 or later

Please consider which you might be interested in participating in, and vote for one, two, or three of them, but not more, by posting on this thread. You can come back and edit to change your vote as long the polls are open.   At the end, if necessary, I will break a tie.

Polls are open from now through Monday, June 11.  On Tuesday, June 12, I will start the thread for discussion of ten categories within the selected topic.

-Tom Hl.

Awards
Space Opera (this is PhoenixFalls' fault! )
Apocalyptic

I think I like the idea of recent fiction best.  That way space opera, awards, etc. can be included as well.  My second choice would be awards.

Hmmm. . . 

Awards

Recent SF

Space Opera (I'll gladly take the blame, Melanti!)

recently published

I vote for

• Awards
• Apocalypse

I tallied up the votes this morning

The results are

• 4 for Awards - Melanti, garrity, PhoenixFalls, TomHl
• 3 for Recent SF - garrity, PhoenixFalls, Zylyn
• 2 for Space Opera - Melanti, PhoenixFalls
• 2 for Apocalypse - Melanti, TomHl

I'll be setting up a new thread for selection of ten categories of "Awards" shortly.  Seeing as "Recent SF" came in second place, I hope to see some categories along the lines of recent Awards.

If you have any feedback on the process of selecting the broad topic, feel free to comment on this thread.