SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Give me your suggestions based on this theme:

Alternate History

Here is my suggestion, please give yours in the same format to help me when I make the poll:

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

The Years of Salt and Rice by Kim Stanley Robinson

"How might human history be different if 14th-century Europe was utterly wiped out by plague, and Islamic and Buddhist societies emerged as the world's dominant religious and political forces?"

Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

Farthing by Jo Walton

Fatherland by Robert Harris

Michael, did you know your link leads to a review that didn't like Farthing because a subplot is a *gasp* interfaith marriage? (PS Rivka is a Jewish name, usually. The orthodox will cut from their family anyone who strays like that.)

Whoops, I meant to link the book not the review (I've fixed the link).

Yes, Rivka's (who is very definitively Jewish) take on the book was interesting, but not likely to reflect my personal reaction (I am Jewish, but my wife is not).

Oh yes, I know that wasn't your opinion, her review was funny, and not in the ha ha way! BTW I'm Jewish too, and my best friend from HS who is now very Orthodox recently tracked me down and called, and when I asked about her brother and sister, she told me she has nothing to do with them because, oh the horror the horror, one married a black, and one a Christian. Her 10 children have never seen or spoken to them because they shouldn't even know about intermarriages! Okaaaaay. *scratches head*

The Dragon Waiting: A Masque of History by John M. Ford

Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp

And I'll throw in a vote for Fatherland as well.

THE IRON DREAM by Norman Spinrad
BRING THE JUBILEE by Ward Moore

With Yiddish Policeman's Union we'd be knocking out this year's Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award winner :)

The Years of Salt and Rice.

I think it's ...Rice and Salt :)

How about Dies the Fire by SM Stirling

The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove

One more nomination:

Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock

I keep hearing about Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon, I must be destined to read it!

The Yiddish Policeman's Union is great. I am all for that book.

Island in the Sea of Time by SM Stirling

in which the island of Nantucket is thrown back in time.

Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove (the king of alternative history)

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (a terrific first novel about an alternative history set during the naploenic wars where dragons are used as weapons by both the English and French)

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

The Eyre Affair is difficult, because it almost presupposes an extraordinary familiarity with classic literature. I read the first 2-3 chapters and felt fairly positive I'd missed about half the jokes because I wasn't familiar with every obscure novel read in English Lit classes. The concept of the book (and its sequels) sounded great, but it's definitely not for everyone.

I like "Man The High Castle', or "The Yiddesh Policeman's Union."

I second His Majesty's Dragon. It's an excellent novel. I'm on the second book now and I hope that the series maintains it's entertainment value.

@ Bunny Watson;

Sweet, I'm approximately half way through The Throne of Jade and I'm still really enjoying the series. And based on the second one so far I've already picked up the third book as well.

"Beyond the gap" By Harry turtledove

The second book comes out this fall.

Well, I just heard about this movie from a comiccon video. How about The Watchmen? I haven't read it yet but it sounds meaty and I'd like to explore more of graphic novels.

I'm reading "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" right now. I was curious about a book that never appears on the science fiction shelves yet managed to win the Hugo. It's very convincing alternate history and would certainly give us plenty to discuss.

i've read both Yiddish Policeman's Union and Years of Rice and Salt, and they're both great books - and i write this as someone who feels he does not like alternate history in general.

That said, for a one-month read, Chabon's book might be more realistic, as Years of Rice and Salt spans centuries (or is it millenia?) and contains self-conscious attempts to touch on everything from dialectical materialism to spiritual concepts and scientific revolution. Chabon's book is ambitious, but its more managable...

Then again, i'd be up to rereading either one and discussing, work allowing...

At the rate I'm going, I may finish "Yiddish Policemen's Union" by December. Gawd, what a slow book. I'm so surprised it won the Hugo over "Brasyl".

I have Yiddish Policemen's Union checked out from the library. I'm not sure if I'm going to start it though. I may just wait to see if it wins the vote here.

I loved the Yiddish Policemen's Union... but in all honesty, the first time I tried to read it I felt like I was trudging through it. The language in particular made it difficult for me to want to finish it. Regardless, I love Chabon, so I went back to it 6 months later, finished it, and loved it.

I bought The Yiddish Policeman's Union earlier in the year because I love Michael Chabon, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'd definitely vote for that one.

Man in the High Castle is a great choice, but I suggest Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove.

I'm reading His Majesty's Dragon right now, and it's a nice light weight read, very enjoyable. But I don't really think there's much to discuss, as opposed to Yiddish Policeman's Union, which whether you like it or not, lends itself to thinking of many what ifs that are entirely possible. In other words, there are inherent religious, ethnic, political, anthropological discussion.

Same thing for Rice and Salt - lots of potential dynamic discussion.

The Eyre Affair and its sequels are wonderful, but I think Michael may be right about it requiring too much familiarity with classic literature to work for everyone. It's a bit hard for me to judge, though, as an English major who'd read most if not all of the books referred to in Fforde's novel. :-)

I'm not a lit major and hadn't even read Jane Eyre before starting the series and was able to enjoy it.

I'm reading "The Eyre Affair" right now and I'm loving it. It's right up my English major alley.

lol Touting your major isn't helping my case any! :P

HeyT, I don't think this book would just appeal to English Lit majors. It's pretty darned funny even if you haven't read many classics. The names of the characters alone is hysterical. "My name is Schitt, Jack Schitt." I just think it's a book that's extra special for English Lit majors because it's set in a world where literature is just about the coolest thing there is.

I think it's a book that can inspire people to read some of the classics. I was cracking up when they were discussing the plot of "Jane Eyre" and the ending was totally different than the real book. I'm going to have to re-read it to try to see how it really goes. And, I have never even heard of the Dickens' book that's a major part of the story. Not knowing anything about that book hasn't made the story any less enjoyable.

I agree Sandi. I really think anyone could enjoy these books. They're loads of fun and at time laugh-out-loud funny.

However, they're a little on the pulpy side... meaning, I'm not sure there would be much in the way of interesting themes for discussion. If you did have a bunch of lit majors to dissect it, you might be able to get some interesting discussions started... but for your average reader, it would just be a fun ride.

So really I'd recommend these books for anyone to read, but I'm not sure they're the best option for this group. My suggestion, though it's a little heavy:

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

I like the sound of the Eyre Affair.

Yes to Jen, it would be great to pick some books that had some meat to discuss.

I would like to second

The Man in the High Castle

If we are reading classic sci-fi this
is the epitome of Alternate Hist. One of the
first and best.

I think the voting for this category will be very very interesting.

I wouldn't say they are entirely 'pulpy' books. There are a lot of complex issues they can generate discussion from such as cloning, time-travel, the importance of literary culture, consumerism, etc.

Well, some can be pulpy, but this genre offers a lot of opportunity to discuss the significance of various historical events. Maybe we'll even be able to discuss Honest Abe's modest slaves, just like old times.

:) I meant the Thursday Next series but you still bring up a valid point.

I've read all of the Thursday Next books and they're fantastic. I think it would be enjoyable for lots of people, not just English majors. There are references that would be missed, but I was an English major and I'm sure I missed a ton myself!

No one has mentioned Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson.

BTW, for those who read and loved Spin (I did) its sequel Axis is, IMO, a complete bore. Very disappointing.

I think Darwinia would be a great choice! I've been wanting to read it. I've read 3 books by Robert Charles Wilson and have found them all enjoyable.