Sci-fi book club selections

[Perroquet]

I joined a local science fiction book club last year, hoping to get a chance to read and discuss "classic" scifi books that are on my list (Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Jules Verne, Philip K Dick, etc.)

But so far all the selections chosen by popular vote have been very modern books written only in the last decade, like the Imperial Radch series (starting with Ancillary Justice) and the Terra Ignota series (starting with Too like the Lightning). I tried reading these but didn't find them engaging or their style pleasant and ended up not finishing them. Despite a small number of club members having suggested classics, we always get outvoted. I feel really disappointed at the lack of chronological diversity of book selections, and at this point have stopped reading their selections and attending book discussions. For context, most of the members of the club are in their mid-20s to early 30s, I believe.

If you enjoy classic scifi books, do you also enjoy the modern series like those the club selected? Or do you find them annoying, contrived, and a little too "woke" like I do? Are there any good modern scifi books that you would recommend for fans of classics?

I know people will tell me "just start your own club if you don't like the books they choose". I don't have the energy/resources to start a new club but will just read the classics on my list on my own (and maybe discuss them privately with a few others who might be interested).

I used to read a lot of science fiction, but haven't been tempted to read modern sf - I've graduated towards fantasy these days. Of the little I've read I enjoyed Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter's Long Earth series and Stephen Donaldson's The Gap Cycle (though this is a bit older, and I prefer his fantasy!)

Also love Kate Elliott's books - mostly they are fantasy but her Jaran series is sf. I haven't read her latest yet (The Sun Chronicles) - that's sf too.

I tend to like the older stuff too. I enjoy Andy Weir and Blake Couch books.

They have dated very much, and in many cases would be a very hard sell to a modern readership.

I loved Asimov when I read him in the 80s. I re-read a few quite recently and wow, the text is clunky. Philip K Dick has wonderful concepts but again, quite heavy going for readers used to the more character-led and faster paced novels of today.

Stylistically, novels have changed significantly in the past 60 years. As with television and films, the pacing is completely different.

If you want a SF Classics book group, online is far more likely to be your friend than face to face groups.

If you’re looking resigned to leaving the classics behind, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Claire North and Becky Chambers are all modern science fiction writers I’d recommend, if you’ve not tried them, OP

Have you tried Lois McMaster Bujold?

Thank you for these suggestions. I've heard good things about Andy Weir's books so will probably give those a try. I also enjoy fantasy by Terry Pratchett (Discworld) and Neil Gaiman.

I considered joining online reading groups but it just doesn't have the same feeling as interacting with people in the local community in person, where you can make friends that you might see outside of the book club if you share other interests.

I guess the problem with reading classics in a specifically SFF bookclub, is that it's likely that most of the members would already have read them.

I'm mid-50s, I read a lot of classic sci-fi in my teens / early twenties, but these days mostly read more modern novels. I'd say with recently published SFF, there's good and bad, just as there was back in the day.

Of the two you mentioned, I quite enjoyed the Imperial Radch books, and absolutely loved the Terra Ignota series. Other modern authors - like the pp, I also rate Adrian Tchaikovsky, though some are better than others (fair enough, he writes a lot!). Dogs of War is my favourite. You might also find the Three Body Problem & sequels worth trying if hard SF is more your thing. Becky Chambers is fine as an entertaining read but pretty lightweight IMO.

Define woke for me.

Making things unnecessarily complicated with gender (or the lack thereof), "misgendering", switching pronouns for the same character in a confusing way, etc.

We both were/are into sci-fi. When we were younger the classics were fairly new. A recent collection we've both been enjoying is Backyard Starship series (on kindle unlimited). Old fashioned space adventure with a fair bit of humour.

I agree with this - I read a few of the classics when I was in my teens/ twenties (1990s-2000s) and found them slow and clunky compared to the new SF being published then, so I imagine they’d seem even more so now.

In terms of modern SF, I’d suggest the Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, which is very straightforward SF with a feel of the 50s-60s classics.

Second the Lois McMaster Bujold suggestion - her first books were published in the 80s and she’s continued writing since then. The Vorkosigan series is SF, but her others are fantasy.

The Murderbot series by Martha Wells is great, and I suspect the younger club members would enjoy it.

I was going to suggest easing the other members in gently by suggesting books from the 80s-90s and see how they react, but I see that you’ve stopped going. Maybe something to think about if you go back to it. Another idea would be to suggest reading the winners/ nominees for the Hugo and Nebula awards over the past 20-30 years - lots of interesting stuff there.

I guess for me, classic SFF would include Le Guin (Left Hand of Darkness plus others) & Marge Piercy (Woman on the Edge of Time) both of whom would be counted as 'woke' in your definition.

A year or so ago I read 'Breakfast of Champions' by Kurt Vonnegurt as some friends mentioned it. I doubt it would be published these days, I was surprised at the amount of racist language.

Many of these books were products of their time and do come across as a bit cringeworthy.

Can I just point out the series on Netflix 'Three Body Problem' based on books by Liu Cixin

Literally just came here to say the programme inspired me to order the books. 3 chapters in and really enjoying it. Can’t wait to find out what happens!

I find the ideas explored in the classics more interesting. Some are irrelevant in today’s world but the concepts they explore are interesting. Like 4 sided triangle by William Temple. Outdated in a lot of ways but really interesting approach.

in terms of modern sci fi I find a lot of the issues explored are too modern for my liking! Eg a recent one I didn’t enjoy was Under the blue by oana Aristide because I didn’t need to read about a pandemic

read 3 body problem. Interesting but a bit too much science!!

a recent one I really liked and would have enjoyed discussing is The Memmory Police by Yoko Ogawa

Thank you for all the recommendations! I have been hearing about 3 Body Problem recently because of Netflix and was debating whether to give it a try. Does it feel too scientific jargon-y? I'm more of a classic War of the Worlds or 20000 Leagues Under the Sea person; I enjoy descriptive writing, action, and overarching themes about human/alien civilization's struggles, mankind's place in the universe, the dangers of technology and knowledge, etc. but I really hate books that are filled with loads of technical jargon where it just sounds like the author is showing off.

While I've stopped going to the book club for now, I still get their emails and could go back any time. It looks like The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers might be their next selection. Is that a good starting point for getting into Becky Chambers' work? From the above comments it sounds like it would be a lighter read than 3 Body Problem.

Penguin did a sci fi classics series which had some real gems.

@Perroquet , Yes, A Long Way is the first of her series.

She’s an interesting case - basically crowdfunding her writing, then picked up by a publishing house after she’d accrued quite a following.

I very much enjoyed her first two, partly because I believe “what is a human” to be a dull question and “what is a person” to be a very interesting one. Also tardigrade-type creatures, which always appeal. Who doesn’t love a tardigrade?

I’m not a reader. And I’m finding three body problem great. It’s more about politics and China and the aliens than science. Well so far anyway.

@Perroquet Small Angry Planet is definitely a (much!) lighter read than Three Body Problem, but I suspect if you didn't like Ann Leckie or Ada Palmer you'll not get on with Becky Chambers either. I do like her books, but the first in particular is quite YA-ish and she's not subtle in her 'lets celebrate diversity' message.

What I would say is that "I enjoy descriptive writing, action, and overarching themes about human/alien civilization's struggles, mankind's place in the universe, the dangers of technology and knowledge, etc." really describes the Three Body Problem series, though by number 3 it did get a bit mind-bending.

I read the three body problem. Enjoyed it. Felt no need for a sequel so surprised there are 2!

Well would you believe it? They actually chose a classic from the 60s this month! (Guess which one?)

And 3 body problem and the Becky Chambers one were runners up!

Dune?

-_ because of the films

Nope, guess again! The chosen book has not had a recent film/TV adaptation, so I was frankly surprised.