Welcome to the month of May!

Well, like I said in the Fantasy Challenge thread. . . what has been the biggest disappointment to you in the challenge so far? Was it terrible, or just so-so? And would you have read it even without the challenge spurring you on?

None of the books I've read for the challenge have been bad. . . but a couple were not quite as good as I expected. Those would probably be The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, and The Speed of Dark, by Elizabeth Moon. The Adams just wasn't as funny as I expected (though really, what could have lived up to all the hype surrounding the book?) and the Moon was rather too flawed in its execution, though I admired the attempt quite a bit. But still, it's been quite a good challenge for me so far, probably because I've filled all the categories with books I planned to read anyway. ;)

Disappointment????

1.  With myself.  I tell myself I'm gonna read so-and-so, then I get bored/distracted and end up putting the book down and not getting back to it.  Argh.

2.  Farthing.  Well, I grew up on mysteries and I love Agatha Christie.  (I have 25 of her books on my shelf, waiting to be reread so I can post 'em).  Anyways, Farthing was very much like an Agatha Christie but without the "happy" ending - there was no justice here. Yes, I saw that ending coming.   Thought provoking book, but it left a bad taste.  (Hmm, why does Arizona come to mind????)

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Just finished Changes by Jim Butcher.  This book had vampires in it, so I'm gonna put it under the vampire SF category even though I really think vampire stories should not be an "SF" category and fit better as a "HORROR" category.  And let me just say this, wow, what an ending!!!  And if you feel bad, go to Jim Butcher's website for good news.

Happy May Day! 

I haven't had as much time to read lately, so I'm definitely falling behind. 

As for disappointment...I admit I'm disappointed with the entire challenge.  Of the 18 books I've read, none really blew me away.  Some were entertaining, but none were great.  The worst was The Integral Trees by Larry Niven.  It was a real grind to finish, and I was double disappointed because I think some of his writing is excellent.

I do have another question...for the "Anthology" category, are we counting single-author collections?  I've always thought of collections and anthologies as different categories, so I wanted to check.

Allison -- So sorry you didn't like Farthing! It's true. . . one of those hallmarks of the Golden Age mysteries (well, most mysteries) is that justice is served and the bad guys get put away. . . and that isn't what Farthing delivers. I hadn't thought of it that way -- I was just so tickled that Walton captured the whole British country house mystery feel so well. . .

Matt -- Well, I envisioned "Anthology" as meaning something including multiple authors, so I wouldn't count a collection of one author's work. But I don't know that that's a hard and fast rule. . .

I have had no time to detail the books I've read lately but I have been able to read some.  The worst book I read was Blue Light.  

I did have the intention when I started these challenges to read every book that I started.  I'm now re-evaluating that intention  

Although the challenge is great for trying other types of books I don't believe it's supposed to torture us.  I have enjoyed reading other sub-genres

(and I have to say this weird hard return in the forum is odd and is hard to deal with) (my apple hard drive failed and I'm using an apple laptop and it's acting strange)

and I had no idea that I generally read  so many books defined as space operas and apocalyptic.

I hope soon to sort out all my challenge books and figure out where I am.  I think i have been reading more fantasy than sci fi lately. 

I will be back online soon with at least a few books I really didn't like and some that were really enjoyable -edward bellamy for one

This first contact story begins with a narrative of a narrative found in an old manuscript, a sort of old-fashioned frame that I like. While the outcomes of the earlier storylines are superficially known, the details surrounding critical episodes on a small transient island on the shoals near Nantucket are revealed slowly. Eventually, the concept of an alien presence that is only capable of communicating during moments of deep human intimacy comes clearer, through the eyes of the contemporary character. The story works this fascinating concept of the nature of an alien, without anyone actually ever seeing it. The characters are well developed even if having been highly manipulated by the alien in their human relationships. However, the verbal dialog describing sex and love is so stilted as to distract from the story itself. The only excuse I can think of is that Hilbert Schenck came from a generation that just did not know how to talk out loud about sexuality. Still, I found the book fascinating.

The Empress of Mars, Kage Baker:  Enjoyed this- it's like reading a western, but the action takes place on Mars.  Humorous.

Growing Up Weightless, J Ford:  This was a Philip K. Dick winner.  A right-of-passage novel, very involved and high tech.  No explaination from the author as to what's going on, so not an easy read.  I also enjoyed this book.

Tunnel in the Sky, R Heinlein:  Read this because Matt thought it was scary (when he was younger).  I don't recall ever having read this Heinlein (OMG, surprised I am!).  Since I don't remember it, I'm counting it in the challenge.

Nine Layers of Sky, Liz Williams:  Shaping of a parallel universe (and our own) through dreams.  Very little science here, mostly social commentary.  Takes place in Russia.  It was an easy read, only gave it 3 stars.

Finished my first Joe Haldeman book : "Camoflage". The book was quick and fun. Haldeman is the real deal though. The story was a little sappy but he really kept me interested.

I can't find the thread where we discussed -

26. Work with a third person omniscient narrator

Anyways, would the Connie Willis book Blackout come under this category?

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I've had to work five days a week for the past three weeks.  Yikes, this is NOT normal for me.  Not enough time to read or work in my garden.  ARG!

I just finished Ship of Fools by Russo, and highly recommend it. I used it for Philip K. Dick Award, but it could also be used for generation ship or first-person male viewpoint character.