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Topic: 2015 SF Challenge/ TRACK

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garrity avatar
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Subject: 2015 SF Challenge/ TRACK
Date Posted: 12/31/2014 2:43 AM ET
Member Since: 3/9/2009
Posts: 8,982
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Thank you Tom H. for the creation of the SF Challenge.

For 2015, this forum is issuing a science fiction reading challenge. It goes from January 1 to December 31 of 2015, but you are welcome to join even after the year has begun. The full challenge consists of reading one science fiction book in each of 40 categories. You have the option to participate at a variety of levels that could involve fewer or more books, and many options for tailoring your individual challenge.

To participate, cut and paste the category list template below onto a new post on this /TRACK thread. Edit your post for your personal goals and personal rules. Then you can come back and edit it again and again as you plan books to read, or as you finish them. But if you have questions about the challenge, or want to discuss the challenge or the books used to fill the categories, then find the current /DISCUSS thread. This thread you are on now is just for people to track their progress. Here are some of the ways you can personalize the challenge:

  • Challenge Level: Determine the number of books you will read for the challenge
    Light (fill any 10 categories from any section, for a total of 10 books)
    Medium (fill any 5 categories from each section, for a total of 20 books)
    Full (fill any 10 categories from each section, for a total of 40 books)
    Super (There are several possibilities 1) re-challenge yourself at any level with a new copy of the category list template in your tacking post, 2) complete more of the available categories, 3) expand one category in each section with 4 additional books)
  • Adding new Categories: If during the year, you come up with a great new category for one of the existing sections, propose it on the current discussion thread, and if you can get two other people to agree, it can become "official" and added on the template below.
  • Re-reads - Do you allow re-reads? Some possibilities are "None", "Any", "Limited to over X years ago", "Limited to X per section"
  • Double Counts - Do you allow the same book to be used in more than one category? Some possibilities are "None", "Limited to X per section", "Only between sections"
  • Colors - Optional. For example:
    Planned Read=Color X
    In Progress=Color Y
    Completed Read=Color Z
  • Rating System - Optional. For example
    * = a waste of time, or offensive
    ** = has flaws that interfere with enjoyment
    *** = good entertainment
    **** = notable, innovative
    ***** = literarily significant, awards class
  • You can also add any Challenge Within the Challenge you like - For example, at least X books must be from your TBR shelf, or at least X books must be checked out from a public library. Feel free to add such a list to your tracking post, or a special annotation to your tracking list

Cut and paste below...
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Challenge Level: Light (10 books), Medium (20 books), Full (40 books), Super (explain)
Re-reads: "None", "Any", "Limited to over X years ago", "Limited to X per section"
Double Counts:"None", "Limited to X per section", "Only between sections"
Colors: (explain)
Rating System: (explain)
Challenge Within The Challenge: (explain)

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A2 US writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A3 British writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A4 Canadian writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A6 female writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A7 male writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A8 non-Caucasian author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A9 originally written in a non-English language
A10 author-themed anthology (different writers grouped together due to some common characteristic of the writers)
A11 Favorite author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A13 Collaboration (a novel by 2 or more already published authors, or a collection/anthology of collaborated shorter works)

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer
F2 First novel of a male writer
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series
F6 First Contact (a novel or themed anthology)
F7 First Artificial Intelligence (a novel or themed anthology)
F8 First Awakening (on a colony ship, on a new world, in a new era)
F9 First person narrative
F10 First Birthday (novel published any time during the year of the first anniversay of your birth)
F11 First read of a new-to-you author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author
F13 First Exploration (of a new world, or other new place where no one has gone before)
F14 First SF book read in 2015

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact
L4 Lost Child
L5 an SF book you found (in a coffeeshop, for example)
L6 Lost in Time
L7 After a Lost War
L8 Lost Technologies
L9 Nebula Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Nebula Award for Best Novel)
L10 Hugo Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Hugo Award for Best Novel)
L11 Lost in the Stacks (SF book that has been on your TBR for a long time (or otherwise been meaning to read for a long time))
L12 Hot Find (SF book that you read within 1 month of obtaining it, (library checkouts don't count))

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets (set on or near Mercury or Venus)
S2 The Moon (set on or near Earth's Moon)
S3 Contemporary Earth (set on or near the Earth, close to modern times)
S4 Mars (set on or near Mars)
S5 Gas Giants (set on or near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
S6 Prehistoric Earth
S7 Posthistoric Earth (far distant future)
S8 Parallel Universe (with or without passage between universes)
S9 Set in deep space
S10 Set in a Non-human society (a novel or themed anthology)
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system
S13 Set within a series
S14 Utopian/dystopian setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S15 Male-only or female-only setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S16 Set in a simulated reality (a novel or themed anthology)
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting (a novel, or themed anthology/collection)

garrity avatar
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Date Posted: 12/31/2014 3:20 AM ET
Member Since: 3/9/2009
Posts: 8,982
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Challenge Level: Light (10 books), Medium (20 books), Full (40 books), Super (explain)
Re-reads: "None", "Any", "Limited to over X years ago", "Limited to X per section"
Double Counts:"None", "Limited to X per section", "Only between sections"
Colors: (explain)
Rating System: (explain)
Challenge Within The Challenge: (explain)

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A2 US writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)   The Ghost Brigades (Old Man's War, Bk 2) by John Scalzi 7/26/15
A3 British writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A4 Canadian writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Alien Mate (Alien Mate, Bks 1-3) by Eve Langlais 4/11/158
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)   The Big Black Mark by A Bertram Chandler 8/2/15
A6 female writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Green Heart by Alice Hoffman 5/2/15
A7 male writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A8 non-Caucasian author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A9 originally written in a non-English language
A10 author-themed anthology (different writers grouped together due to some common characteristic of the writers)
A11 Favorite author (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Howard Who? by Howard Waldrop 
A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C (a novel or collection by the same writer) Grimspace (Sirantha Jax, Bk 1) by Ann Aguirre 12/2/15
A13 Collaboration (a novel by 2 or more already published authors, or a collection/anthology of collaborated shorter works)

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer
F2 First novel of a male writer  The Plague Year by Jeff Carlson 7/23/15
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series Annihilation (Southern Reach, bk 1) by Jeff Vandermeer 7/24/15
F6 First Contact (a novel or themed anthology)
F7 First Artificial Intelligence (a novel or themed anthology)
F8 First Awakening (on a colony ship, on a new world, in a new era)  An Accidental Goddess by Linnea Sinclair 10/3/15
F9 First person narrative   Sharp by Alex Huges 4/7/15
F10 First Birthday (novel published any time during the year of the first anniversay of your birth)
F11 First read of a new-to-you author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author   The Last Policeman by Ben Winters 8/1/15 (Winner of the 2012 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original)
F13 First Exploration (of a new world, or other new place where no one has gone before)
F14 First SF book read in 2015   Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan 3/3/15

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact
L4 Lost Child
L5 an SF book you found S-F The Year's Greatest Science-Fiction and Fantasy edited by Judith Merril (1956) found at the Oakland Museum White Elephant sale
L6 Lost in Time  Infinity Bell by Devon Monk 7/14/15
L7 After a Lost War
L8 Lost Technologies
L9 Nebula Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Nebula Award for Best Novel)
L10 Hugo Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Hugo Award for Best Novel)
L11 Lost in the Stacks (SF book that has been on your TBR for a long time)   The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon 8/1/15
L12 Hot Find (SF book that you read within 1 month of obtaining it, (library checkouts don't count))  Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews 3/19/15

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets (set on or near Mercury or Venus)
S2 The Moon (set on or near Earth's Moon)
S3 Contemporary Earth (set on or near the Earth, close to modern times) The China Pandemic (Graham's Resolution) (Volume 1) by A R Shaw 4/21/15
S4 Mars (set on or near Mars)   The Martian by Andy Weir 3/30/15
S5 Gas Giants (set on or near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
S6 Prehistoric Earth
S7 Posthistoric Earth (far distant future)
S8 Parallel Universe (with or without passage between universes)
S9 Set in deep space
S10 Set in a Non-human society (a novel or themed anthology)
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system
S13 Set within a series
S14 Utopian/dystopian setting (a novel or themed anthology)   The Sky Inside by Clare B Dunkle 8/10/15
S15 Male-only or female-only setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S16 Set in a simulated reality (a novel or themed anthology)   The Eye of Minds by James Dashner 7/25/15
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting (a novel, or themed anthology/collection)   Sand by Hugh Howey 3/21/15



Last Edited on: 12/3/15 2:25 PM ET - Total times edited: 19
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Subject: Tom Hl.
Date Posted: 1/1/2015 10:59 AM ET
Member Since: 3/25/2006
Posts: 723
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Challenge Level: tbd
Re-reads: allow
Double Counts: none
Colors: Planned Read=Blue; In Progress=Green Bold; Completed Read=Red
Rating System: * = a waste of time, or offensive; ** = has flaws that interfere with enjoyment; *** = good entertainment; **** = notable, innovative; ***** = literarily significant, awards class
Challenge Within The Challenge: none

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master
A2 US writer
A3 British writer
A4 Canadian writer
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer
A6 female writer
A7 male writer
A8 non-Caucasian author
A9 originally written in a non-English language - Quest (2009) by Andreas Eschbach (auf Deutsch) - jetzt gelesen
A10 author-themed anthology
A11 Favorite author
A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C
A13 Collaboration

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer
F2 First novel of a male writer
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year - Ancillary Justice (2013) by Ann Leckie - re-read
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series
F6 First Contact - The Sparrow (1996) by Mary Doria Russell - re-read finished 2/12/15 *****
F7 First Artificial Intelligence
F8 First Awakening
F9 First person narrative
F10 First Birthday
F11 First read of a new-to-you author
F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author
F13 First Exploration
F14 First SF book read in 2015 - Infinity Five (1973) edited by Robert Hoskins - finished 1/2/15 *

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact
L4 Lost Child
L5 an SF book you found
L6 Lost in Time
L7 After a Lost War
L8 Lost Technologies
L9 Nebula Loser - The Sheep Look Up (1972) by John Brunner - re-read
L10 Hugo Loser
L11 Lost in the Stacks
L12 Hot Find

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets
S2 The Moon
S3 Contemporary Earth
S4 Mars
S5 Gas Giants
S6 Prehistoric Earth
S7 Posthistoric Earth
S8 Parallel Universe
S9 Set in deep space
S10 Set in a Non-human society
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system
S13 Set within a series
S14 Utopian/dystopian setting
S15 Male-only or female-only setting
S16 Set in a simulated reality
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting



Last Edited on: 2/12/15 9:52 PM ET - Total times edited: 9
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Date Posted: 1/2/2015 12:47 AM ET
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Challenge Level: Medium (20 books) but I may go beyond that.  We'll see.

Re-reads: None

Double Counts:None

ColorsRed - Plan to read   Green - Read
Challenge Within The Challenge:   I am picking ALL books that I have in my existing TBR pile at home.

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master (a novel or collection by the same writer)  The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
A2 US writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Old Man's War - John Scalzi
A3 British writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  
A4 Canadian writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Air - Geoff Ryman
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A6 female writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Vanishing Point - Michaela Roessner
A7 male writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A8 non-Caucasian author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A9 originally written in a non-English language
A10 author-themed anthology (different writers grouped together due to some common characteristic of the writers)  Dark Matter - Sheree Thomas, Ed.
A11 Favorite author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A13 Collaboration (a novel by 2 or more already published authors, or a collection/anthology of collaborated shorter works)

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer  In The Garden of Iden - Kage Baker
F2 First novel of a male writer
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series  On Basilisk Station - David Weber
F6 First Contact (a novel or themed anthology)  Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke
F7 First Artificial Intelligence (a novel or themed anthology)
F8 First Awakening (on a colony ship, on a new world, in a new era)
F9 First person narrative  The Cassini Division - Ken MacLeod
F10 First Birthday (novel published any time during the year of the first anniversay of your birth)
F11 First read of a new-to-you author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author
F13 First Exploration (of a new world, or other new place where no one has gone before)
F14 First SF book read in 2015  Neanderthal Planet - Brian Aldiss

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact  Ancient Shores - Jack McDevitt
L4 Lost Child
L5 an SF book you found (in a coffeeshop, for example)
L6 Lost in Time
L7 After a Lost War
L8 Lost Technologies  
L9 Nebula Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Nebula Award for Best Novel)  The Genocides - Thomas Disch
L10 Hugo Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Hugo Award for Best Novel)  Deathworld  - Harry Harrison
L11 Lost in the Stacks (SF book that has been on your TBR for a long time (or otherwise been meaning to read for a long time))
L12 Hot Find (SF book that you read within 1 month of obtaining it, (library checkouts don't count))

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets (set on or near Mercury or Venus)
S2 The Moon (set on or near Earth's Moon)  Rocket Ship Galileo - Robert Heinlein
S3 Contemporary Earth (set on or near the Earth, close to modern times)
S4 Mars (set on or near Mars)
S5 Gas Giants (set on or near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
S6 Prehistoric Earth
S7 Posthistoric Earth (far distant future)
S8 Parallel Universe (with or without passage between universes)
S9 Set in deep space
S10 Set in a Non-human society (a novel or themed anthology)
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system
S13 Set within a series
S14 Utopian/dystopian setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S15 Male-only or female-only setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S16 Set in a simulated reality (a novel or themed anthology)
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting (a novel, or themed anthology/collection)



Last Edited on: 1/29/15 3:54 AM ET - Total times edited: 4
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Brad -
Date Posted: 1/7/2015 4:59 PM ET
Member Since: 1/27/2009
Posts: 200
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Challenge Level: Light (10 books), Medium (20 books), Full (40 books), Super (explain) - trying for full, we'll see
Re-reads: "None", "Any", "Limited to over X years ago", "Limited to X per section"
Double Counts:"None", "Limited to X per section", "Only between sections"
 

Colors:
Penciled in (quite likely many of these will change during the year),
Category Completed,
In Process
Double-Count,
Re-read
Finished, but not enough for me to say "Completed" will replace with different book,

Rating System: None
Challenge Within The Challenge: (explain)

 

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master (a novel or collection by the same writer): The Book of Skulls by Robert Silverberg
A2 US writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A3 British writer (a novel or collection by the same writer): Animal Farm by George Orwell
A4 Canadian writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer (a novel or collection by the same writer): Less than Human by Maxine McArthur or Shade's Children by Garth Nix
A6 female writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A7 male writer (a novel or collection by the same writer): The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower #2) by Stephen King
A8 non-Caucasian author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A9 originally written in a non-English language: The Trial by Franz Kafka
A10 author-themed anthology (different writers grouped together due to some common characteristic of the writers): The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford (Collected Stores of Philip K. Dick vol 1)
A11 Favorite author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A13 Collaboration (a novel by 2 or more already published authors, or a collection/anthology of collaborated shorter works)

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer
F2 First novel of a male writer
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series
F6 First Contact (a novel or themed anthology): The Man from Mars by Stanislav Lem
F7 First Artificial Intelligence (a novel or themed anthology)
F8 First Awakening (on a colony ship, on a new world, in a new era)
F9 First person narrative
F10 First Birthday (novel published any time during the year of the first anniversary of your birth): Shockwave Runner by John Brunner, the Computer Connection by Alfred Bester, or Dhalgren by Samuel Delany
F11 First read of a new-to-you author (a novel or collection by the same writer): Dark Universe by Daniel F. Galouye
F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author
F13 First Exploration (of a new world, or other new place where no one has gone before)
F14 First SF book read in 2015: Speaker of the Dead (Ender Wiggin series) by Scott Card

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony: Sundiver by David Brin
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact
L4 Lost Child
L5 a SF book you found (in a coffeeshop, for example)
L6 Lost in Time: Island in the Sea of Time by SM Sterling
L7 After a Lost War: Z for Zachariah by Robert C. Obrien or The Plot Against America by Philip Roth
L8 Lost Technologies: The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke
L9 Nebula Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Nebula Award for Best Novel): Logan's Run by William F Nolan
L10 Hugo Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Hugo Award for Best Novel)
L11 Lost in the Stacks (SF book that has been on your TBR for a long time (or otherwise been meaning to read for a long time))
L12 Hot Find (SF book that you read within 1 month of obtaining it, (library checkouts don't count)):

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets (set on or near Mercury or Venus): Mercury by Ben Bova or 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
S2 The Moon (set on or near Earth's Moon)
S3 Contemporary Earth (set on or near the Earth, close to modern times): I, Che Guevara by John Blackthorn
S4 Mars (set on or near Mars): Icehenge by Kim Stanley Robinson
S5 Gas Giants (set on or near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
S6 Prehistoric Earth
S7 Posthistoric Earth (far distant future)
S8 Parallel Universe (with or without passage between universes)
S9 Set in deep space
S10 Set in a Non-human society (a novel or themed anthology)
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system
S13 Set within a series
S14 Utopian/dystopian setting (a novel or themed anthology): The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
S15 Male-only or female-only setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S16 Set in a simulated reality (a novel or themed anthology): Forever Free by Joe Haldemann
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting (a novel, or themed anthology/collection): Parasites Like Us by Adam Johnson



Last Edited on: 2/13/15 1:38 PM ET - Total times edited: 25
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Subject: 2015 SF Challenge
Date Posted: 1/13/2015 8:51 AM ET
Member Since: 11/11/2014
Posts: 68
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Challenge Level: Light (10 books), Medium (20 books), Full (40 books), Super (explain) Hopefully Full
Re-reads: "None", "Any", "Limited to over X years ago", "Limited to X per section" Any, but must be complete reread
Double Counts:"None", "Limited to X per section", "Only between sections"  NONE
Colors
: (explain)  In-progress, Planned, Done
Rating System: (explain)
Challenge Within The Challenge: (explain)

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master (a novel or collection by the same writer) Foundation by Asimov
A2 US writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Dune: House Harkonnen by Kevin Anderson and Brian Herbert                                                                                               

A3 British writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A4 Canadian writer (a novel or collection by the same writer) Slan by Van Vogt
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A6 female writer (a novel or collection by the same writer) Speed of Dark by Moon        

A7 male writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A8 non-Caucasian author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A9 originally written in a non-English language Roadside Picnic by Strugatsky
A10 author-themed anthology (different writers grouped together due to some common characteristic of the writers)  The Fleet Book 1
A11 Favorite author (a novel or collection by the same writer)  Crystal Singer by McCaffrey

A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C (a novel or collection by the same writer) The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury
A13 Collaboration (a novel by 2 or more already published authors, or a collection/anthology of collaborated shorter works)

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer
F2 First novel of a male writer The Way of the Wolf by Knight
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series Starfarers by McIntyre
F6 First Contact (a novel or themed anthology)  Decision at Doona by McCaffrey
F7 First Artificial Intelligence (a novel or themed anthology)
F8 First Awakening (on a colony ship, on a new world, in a new era)
F9 First person narrative Flowers for Algernon

F10 First Birthday (novel published any time during the year of the first anniversay of your birth) Lord of Light by Zelazny
F11 First read of a new-to-you author (a novel or collection by the same writer) The Sparrow by Russell 

F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author
F13 First Exploration (of a new world, or other new place where no one has gone before)
F14 First SF book read in 2015

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony The Cassini Division
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact
L4 Lost Child Handmaid's Tale by Atwood

L5 an SF book you found (in a coffeeshop, for example)
L6 Lost in Time
L7 After a Lost War
L8 Lost Technologies The Memory of Earth by Card
L9 Nebula Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Nebula Award for Best Novel)
L10 Hugo Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Hugo Award for Best Novel)
L11 Lost in the Stacks (SF book that has been on your TBR for a long time (or otherwise been meaning to read for a long time)) Dune Messiah by Herbert
L12 Hot Find (SF book that you read within 1 month of obtaining it, (library checkouts don't count)) Paul of Dune by Anderson/Herbert

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets (set on or near Mercury or Venus) Mercury by Bova
S2 The Moon (set on or near Earth's Moon) The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Heinlein
S3 Contemporary Earth (set on or near the Earth, close to modern times) Ice Hunt by Rollins
S4 Mars (set on or near Mars) The Rolling Stones by Heinlein

S5 Gas Giants (set on or near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) Wheelers
S6 Prehistoric Earth Mammoth by Varley
S7 Posthistoric Earth (far distant future) Second Foundation by Asimov
S8 Parallel Universe (with or without passage between universes) In the Balance by Turtledove
S9 Set in deep space  The Ship Who Sang by McCaffrey
S10 Set in a Non-human society (a novel or themed anthology) The Code of the Lifemaker by Hogan
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat The City who Fought by McCaffrey
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system

S13 Set within a series Hidden Empire by Anderson

S14 Utopian/dystopian setting (a novel or themed anthology) The Supernaturalist by Colfer
S15 Male-only or female-only setting (a novel or themed anthology) A Brother's Price
S16 Set in a simulated reality (a novel or themed anthology)
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting (a novel, or themed anthology/collection) In the Shade of the Moon by Pfeffer




Last Edited on: 11/17/15 12:23 PM ET - Total times edited: 49
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Date Posted: 1/27/2015 8:06 PM ET
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2015 SF Challenge
January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

Re-reads:  None that start intentionally...
Double Counts:  None
Colors: Green -complete Red -didn't finish for some reason
Rating System:  0-5 stars 5 being best usually small note

AUTHORS
A1 Grand Master  Andre Norton: The Essential Collection *** Most(many?) of the non witchworld  novels & stories
A2 US writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A3 British writer  Waistcoats & Weaponry Gail Carriger *** YA steampunk clever finishing school concept
A4 Canadian writer  Oryx and Crake  Margaret Atwood  **** -well written with compelling storyline
A5 Australian or New Zealand writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A6 female writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A7 male writer (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A8 non-Caucasian author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A9 originally written in a non-English language
A10 author-themed anthology:   Rogues  edited by George RR Martin  ***  Difficult to find a section to put this book in.   Short stories with usually a twist at the end and the protagonists are pretty much all questionable characters.
A11 Favorite author:   The Best of Connie Willis  ****  always enjoy her short stories, intro was excellent
A12 An author whose last name begins with A, B or C (a novel or collection by the same writer)
A13 Collaboration (a novel by 2 or more already published authors, or a collection/anthology of collaborated shorter works)

FIRSTS
F1 First novel of a female writer
F2 First novel of a male writer
F3 A Locus-Recommended First Novel from any year
F4 A winner or nominee of any best first novel/new writer award from any year
F5 The first novel of a series The Girl in the Steel Corset Kady Cross ***  YA steampunk entertaining
F6 First Contact (a novel or themed anthology)
F7 First Artificial Intelligence (a novel or themed anthology)
F8 First Awakening (on a colony ship, on a new world, in a new era)
F9 First person narrative  Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro **** thought provoking
F10 First Birthday (novel published any time during the year of the first anniversay of your birth)
F11 First read of a new-to-you author (a novel or collection by the same writer)
F12 First award winning novel or a collection/anthology containing first award winning story, of an author
F13 First Exploration (of a new world, or other new place where no one has gone before)
F14 First SF book read in 2015:  Eon  Greg Bear  *** very intricate, great story line

LOST AND FOUND
L1 Lost Colony
L2 Lost World (on Earth)
L3 A Found Artifact:  Roadside Picnic  Arkady Strugatsky  ****  very enjoyable
L4 Lost Child
L5 an SF book you found (in a coffeeshop, for example)
L6 Lost in Time
L7 After a Lost War
L8 Lost Technologies
L9 Nebula Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Nebula Award for Best Novel)
L10 Hugo Loser (was nominated, but did not win the Hugo Award for Best Novel)
L11 Lost in the Stacks (SF book that has been on your TBR for a long time (or otherwise been meaning to read for a long time))
L12 Hot Find (SF book that you read within 1 month of obtaining it, (library checkouts don't count))

SETTINGS
S1 Inner Planets (set on or near Mercury or Venus)
S2 The Moon (set on or near Earth's Moon)
S3 Contemporary Earth  Among Others Jo Walton **** enjoyable read
S4 Mars (set on or near Mars)
S5 Gas Giants (set on or near Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
S6 Prehistoric Earth
S7 Posthistoric Earth (far distant future)
S8 Parallel Universe (with or without passage between universes)
S9 Set in deep space
S10 Set in a Non-human society (a novel or themed anthology)
S11 Set on a space station or orbital habitat
S12 Set on a planet outside our solar system
S13 Set within a series
S14 Utopian/dystopian setting Surviving Antarctica Andrea White *** interesting thoughts on the future
S15 Male-only or female-only setting (a novel or themed anthology)
S16 Set in a simulated reality (a novel or themed anthology)
S17 Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic setting (a novel, or themed anthology/collection)




Last Edited on: 3/24/15 5:04 PM ET - Total times edited: 9