The Sci Fi Book Club

Much of A Fire Upon the Deep's reputation comes from its innovative worldbuilding and unique alien culture. Vinge is generally praised for his writing chops and being able to balance the concept and the details. As reported in this interesting Wired article, the novel "...juggles dozens of characters and plotlines without ever becoming confusing. Science fiction author Abby Goldsmith [says] '...plotwise it’s stunning...the work shows. The amount of time and effort he put into thinking it through, I really admire that.'" All this said, I've heard that it can be a slow start for some readers and a hill to climb at the beginning. But once it gets going, it's hard to put down. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one!

To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF. If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.

Not able to join us in person for events? The Sci Fi Book Club is on Discord. Join us and keep the conversation going.

We've just been invited to an advanced screening of Project Hail Mary at the AMC Empire 25 in NYC. Book Club read the novel back in 2022, and might be my favorite Andy Weir novel. When we discussed it, we had a hard time casting the main character. The snark, the smarts, the dramatic gravitas. I think Gosling has what it takes! Come watch with us on the 18th.

You'll find the trailer for Project Hail Mary here.

Summary
Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As his memories return, he realizes he’s on a mission to save the Sun and a dying Earth.

RSVP to the event here AND ALSO register via the link below.
Confirm on Meetup AND ALSO click through the link below to attend. You will make an account with Amazon MGM Studios and can reserve up to 2 seats.

Space is limited for this screening; get your passes while they last. The organizers strongly encourage all guests to arrive early, as it is first-come, first-served. The doors open at 7:20pm and the film starts at 8pm.

Reserve your ticket(s) here.

Let me know if you have any questions and see you at the movies!
Cheers,
Jon

It's always interesting to see what themes and premonitions make their way into the writing zeitgeist in a given year. From Adams' website "The twenty stories in this collection simultaneously fulfill and defy expectations of genre, showcasing boundary-pushing authors at their best..From the joyous, to the terrifying, to the heart-wrenching and the absurd, these stories encourage you to open your mind and, as Okorafor promises, 'Watch your world expand.'"

Per usual, I recommend coming back around to the Introduction by Okorafor once you've read the stories, as it sometimes contains spoilers. The Preface is worth it, for sure! It describes the selection process.

Let us know in the Comments below which stories you like, and feel free to skip one if you’re not digging it. There are always plenty of perspectives and approaches to the format in this collection.

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2025 is available in paperback and audiobook via Amazon and other online booksellers, and is also available via the New York Public Library.

To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF! If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.

Direct from this amazing Portalist article:
"James Tiptree Jr. left an enduring mark on modern speculative fiction — but she’s perhaps more mysterious and enigmatic today than ever before.

Tiptree was one of the pen names used by female sci-fi author Alice Bradley Sheldon (née Alice Hastings Bradley). The daughter of prolific fiction writer Mary Hastings Bradley, Sheldon may have been born with the gift of words, but her path to literary success wasn’t clear-cut.

Although Sheldon is best known for her sci-fi writing, she had an eclectic and accomplished career. At various times in her life, Sheldon was a research psychologist, painter, art critic, imagery intelligence operative, CIA operative, and more. In many of these fields, she was one of the few women in an industry dominated by men. "

Given this and Tiptree's well-known stories included in this collection, I don't think we can pass up this opportunity. As with any other collection we read for Book Club, if a story isn't speaking to you, go ahead and skip it! There are 18 selections in here, I'm sure we'll have plenty to discuss.

Below, you'll find a few notables and a brief description:

• “The Women Men Don’t See” – A classic feminist sci-fi story exploring gender, invisibility, and societal expectations.
• “Houston, Houston, Do You Read?” – A Hugo Award–winning story about time travel, gender, and post-apocalyptic society.
• “Love Is the Plan the Plan Is Death” – A highly acclaimed story told from the perspective of an alien species, exploring instinct, love, and survival.
• “The Girl Who Was Plugged In” – A groundbreaking cyberpunk-like story about identity, media, and corporate control of bodies.
• “And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side” – A dark, unsettling exploration of obsession and desire for alien contact.

There are a few printings of this collections. I think I'm going to pick up this one, as it includes some revisions from the author’s original notes.

To join a Book Club meeting, all you will need is YOURSELF. If you haven’t had a chance to finish the book, we still would love for you to join us in the discussion.

Not able to join us in person for events? The Sci Fi Book Club is on Discord. Join us and keep the conversation going.