Fun for Monday: The Intergalactic Book Tag

I found this tag over at Zeezee’s and she found it at Rachel’s blog, Life of a Female Bibliophile. It was originally created to promote a book: Starflight by Melissa Landers, but I’m totally turning it to SciFiMonth use.

Time for some sci-fi fun…

 

SPACE: Name a book that is out of this world

There are so many other worlds to choose from, but I’m still smitten with Orthe from last year’s SciFiMonth read-along of Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle. Orthe had everything I want in an alien world: a strange new culture with a long dark history to explore, incredible flora and fauna, and archaeological remains of a technological society now forgotten. There’s also a sequel to Golden Witchbreed called An Ancient Light which I am very eager to read.

 

BLACK HOLE: A book that completely sucked you in

 

I read Planetes by Makoto Yukimura for work, to make sure we’d categorised it correctly. I was unexpectedly drawn into the story of space-refuse collectors Yuri, Fee, Hachimachi and Tanabe. Sure, it’s manga, and so already something I’d appreciate, but I didn’t expect it to be as moving as it was funny. I’m still in two minds about whether to write a post about it because my heart still feels a little bruised.

 

LIGHTSPEED: Name a book that you are anticipating so much you wish you could travel at lightspeed to get to it

Metaphorically, right? Even with lightspeed travel I’m not going to be any faster a reader.

This is a pretty easy one to answer though. Bluebird by Ciel Pierlot is coming out in February 2022 and I was very fortunate to receive an ARC last week. The reason I’m so excited? Because “lesbian gunslingers in space” is absolutely how to sell a book to me.

 

NEBULA: A book with a beautiful cover

Victor Mosquera is responsible for the stunning artwork on the cover of Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer and therefore for one of the main reasons for my buying this book.

 

MULTIVERSE: Name a companion set or spin-off series you love

Hmmm, the best I can do for this one is Derek Künsken’s The House of Styx, which takes place in the same universe as the Quantum Evolution series, just 250 years earlier. And is awesome. In case you were wondering.

 

GRAVITY: Your favourite romantic pairing

It’s not a romance, but an incredible friendship: the relationship between the human Paul Ragem and webshifter Esen-alit-Quar is one of the greatest I’ve encountered. Julie E Czerneda put her two characters through the wringer time and again, but they stick to each other like glue and I can’t help but cheer them on. If you’ve yet to meet them, start with Beholder’s Eye. You’re welcome.

 

THE BIG BANG: Name a book that got you started on reading

As it’s SciFiMonth, I’m going to pick a book that drew me into science fiction, whilst trying not to repeat myself. When I first moved into the adult section of our little local library and slipped one of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books from the shelf I didn’t realise I was entering a sci-fi world. I saw dragons and assumed fantasy. But it was an excellent move to have made and after devouring as much of Pern as I could (up to but not including the dolphins, about which I have no comment to make) I read her Crystal Singer books, The Ship Who Sang, a couple of The Tower and Hive series and most of her collected short fiction. McCaffrey may not stand the test of time, but she will always have a safe place in my heart because she made Science Fiction fun at a time when I thought it was too serious and clever for me.

 

ASTEROID: A short story or novella that you love

I am on the Murderbot train. It’s awesome, I love it. More, more, more!! (Currently reading Rogue Protocol).

 

GALAXY: Name a book with multiple POVs

John Scalzi’s Interdependency trilogy has multiple, marvellous POVs. (It also has the best spaceship names of any book or series I’ve ever read. My all-time favourite is the Yes Sir, That’s My Baby which is totally what I’m going to call my first ship, if I don’t call it … )

 

SPACESHIP: A book title that would make a great name for a spaceship

… The Explorer. This because I’ve always loved Star Trek’s ship names: Enterprise, Defiant, Voyager, Discovery, and I think Explorer sounds pretty spiffy if not as hands-down cool as Yes Sir, That’s My Baby. (Maybe I could have two ships?).

 

Consider yourself tagged of you’d like to have a go at this one. And please link back so I can see all your awesome choices! Happy Monday!