Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Ten of us gathered at A. T.’s house to discuss Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. The title character is a young woman who works as a baker. One night she gets kidnapped by vampires, and she discovers unexpected abilities that allow her to free herself.  She also discovers that some vampires are less evil than others.  This kicks off an intriguing story of personal discovery, set in an alternate world startlingly different from our own. None of us had read McKinley before. All of us started the book, and three finished it.

One person commented that Sunshine is an ideal girl: hard-working, conscientious, talented, affectionate, and brave.

We liked the family restaurant where Sunshine works. The place is fully described

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Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke

13 people attended a discussion of Arthur Clarke’s Childhood’s End. Everybody has read Clarke before. Everybody but 1 person started the book. Everybody but 2 people finished it.

Almost everyone in the group read this book initially more than 5 years ago, and reread it in time for the discussion. The consensus was that Childhood’s End hasn’t aged since it was written in 1950s, except some phrases in it were a little dated. Clarke’s predictions about future technological changes seemed on track to most readers, especially those who grew up or worked with computers in the 1950s. Others disagreed: Clarke has not even dreamed of all the various gadgets we have

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Axis by Robert Charles Wilson

Ten people attended this discussion at A. T.’s house, and three submitted comments by email. Our topic was Robert Charles Wilson’s Axis, the sequel to the Hugo-winning novel Spin. At the end of Spin, a gateway had been opened to a strange alien world. The plot of Axis takes place thirty years later, featuring various groups of humans who have settled in the new world. It’s a complicated story involving government conspiracy, romance, genetic engineering, and attempts to communicate with aliens. All of us had read Wilson before, and all had read Spin. We all started Axis, but only three finished the book and three more planned to finish.

Our opinions of this book were fairly similar. We think that this book has well-crafted prose, but the story and characters are less engaging than those of

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Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

Thirteen people attended this meeting at A. T.’s home, including one first time visitor. Our topic was Nine Princes in Amber, the classic fantasy adventure by Roger Zelazny. All of us had read Zelazny before. Four were reading this book for the first time, and most of the rest had initially read it many years ago.

The book’s clever narrative hook (a man waking up with no memory in a hospital)

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Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

We had seventeen people, the largest attendance in years, for this discussion at A. T.’s house. Another reader submitted comments by email. Our topic was Kitty and the Midnight Hour, the first novel by Carrie Vaughn. The story is about Kitty, the host of a radio call-in show devoted to the supernatural, who herself is a werewolf. Fourteen of us started the book, and all finished it.

One person was initially dubious about this book, and only read it because the group had chosen it. He was surprised and delighted by it. He said it was better

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The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

Eight people attended this meeting at A. T.’s house. Our topic was Joe Abercrombie’s first novel, The Blade Itself. It is a swashbuckling fantasy. All of us started and finished the book.

We thought this book had strong characters. The favorite of many was Inquisitor Glokta, a disabled veteran who becomes a torturer. We did not want or expect to like him, but found him empathetic and appreciated his dark humor. Several of us

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Gordath Wood by Patrice Sarath, Dinner with Patrice Sarath

13 people attended the discussion. 5 people had read Patrice Sarath’s short stories before. Everybody except 3 people started the book. 7 finished it. The rest were planning to finish it.

Gordath Wood starts with two young women, Lynn and Kate, venturing out (separately) into the woods in search of a runaway horse. Unbeknownst to themselves, they each cross into a parallel world resembling medieval Europe. Before they know it, the two heroines are dragged into a war between two feudal

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On Basilisk Station by David Weber

Ten people attended this meeting at A. T.’s house. Our topic was David Weber’s first novel, On Basilisk Station, which is also the first in the Honor Harrington series. The book is a military sf novel influenced by C. S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series of naval adventures. Five of us had read Weber before. All of us started the book, and nine finished it.

Many of us found the book to be a quick, energetic, enjoyable read. We thought it showed a good understanding of the military mind.  We liked the scenes of Honor

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The Complete Roderick by John Sladek

This meeting at the North Village Library drew thirteen participants. Our topic was The Complete Roderick, a classic robot book by ArmadilloCon 6 Guest of Honor John Sladek. The book was original published in two volumes: Roderick (1980) and Roderick at Random (1983). Five of us had read Sladek before. Ten of us started the book. Seven finished the first part (the novel Roderick) and three finished the whole thing. Four of us had read this work many years ago.

Many in the group enjoyed the book for its humor and social satire.  It worked well as a commentary on the culture of the late 70s/early 80s and as a parody of the

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Last Dragon by J. M. McDermott

This meeting at the North Village library had nine attendees. Our topic was Last Dragon, a first fantasy novel by Texas author J. M. McDermott.  Seven of us started the book, and three finished.

One person commented that this book was tough going.  He thought the storytelling was convoluted but could be followed, but ultimately could not see the

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