The next scheduled Book Discussion meeting will be March 23rd.

We will be discussing the short story collection "The Best of Cordwainer Smith".

During the summer of 1999, following suggestions from several club members that we were becoming too "media-oriented" and needed to get back to our literary roots, the members of Star Base Andromeda decided to institute a regular "Book Discussion" tradition as part of our Tuesday night meetings. Approximately every six weeks, one Tuesday meeting is selected as a "Book Discussion" night, with the primary focus of that week's club meeting being the entire group discussing the same book or short-story collection. Titles to be discussed are selected with plenty of advance notice, and we encourage all members to attend these meetings to participate. We also encourage non-members to make a special effort to join us for these meetings as well (see our calendar page for upcoming Book Discussions). We have even managed to tie our monthly Video Weeks (the final Sunday of each month) in with our Book Discussion meetings a few times. We've read and then watched "Something Wicked This Way Comes", "Flowers For Algernon" (the 2000 tv-movie) and "The Lathe of Heaven" (the original 1979 PBS tv-movie), and we plan to again combine these club activities in the future. Accompanying each of the book titles below you will find a 1-10 rating by each of our club members who read the book for our group discussion (10 being the best possible score), with a "group average" listed as well.

To see some interesting overall statistics (at editgrid.com) regarding our past Book Discussions, click here.

To contribute your own comments for any of our recently discussed books, visit the SBA Book Discussion Blog.

To see a list of the Authors and/or Titles we are considering for upcoming Book Discussion meetings, click here.

 The Top Ten novels (so far) in our Book Discussion series

 Book and Author

 Rating [1-10]

 Discussed by SBA in
 The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold
9.00
 February 2004
 The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
8.80
 August 2003
 Minority Report by Philip K. Dick
8.80
 May 2009
 Declare by Tim Powers
8.80
 February 2010
 Watership Down by Richard Adams
8.71
 December 2008
 Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
8.71
 October 2008
 Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr.
8.70
 June 2008
 At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
8.33
 September 2002
 The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson
8.20
 January 2002
 Neuromancer by William Gibson
8.20
 2000

 Month and Year

 Book Discussed

 SBA Member Comments/Ratings [scale of 1-10 (10 best)]
March 2010

"The Best of Cordwainer Smith" - Cordwainer Smith

Not Yet Discussed
February 2010

"Declare" - Tim Powers

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.80
Amy - 8.5
Frank - 9.5
Mark - 9
Mike - 9
Scott - 8
December 2009

"What Mad Universe" - Fredric Brown

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.11
Dave - 9
Frank - 7
Scott - 8
Mark - 7
Mike - 9
Ken - 9
Amy - 8
Clif - 8
Brian - 8
November 2009

"Undertow" - Elizabeth Bear

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.29

Amy - 8
Scott - 7
Brian - 9
Mark - 7
Frank - 7
Ken - 5
Mike - 8
September 2009

"Voyage of the Space Beagle" - A.E. Van Vogt

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.14

Amy - 7
Scott - 7
Brian - 8
Mike - 7
Louis - 9
Mark - 6
Ken - 6
August 2009

"Little Brother" - Cory Doctorow

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 4.00

Scott - 6
Amy - 5
Brian - 2
Mark - 3
June 2009

"Dying Inside" - Robert Silverberg

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.40

Scott - 8
Brian - 6.5
Mark - 3
Amy - 5
Frank - 9.5
May 2009

"Minority Report" - Philip K. Dick

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.80

Frank - 6
Dave - 10
Amy - 10
Ken - 9
Scott - 9

"Minority Report" - 2002 Film

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 9.00
Frank - 8
Dave - 10
Amy - 10
Ken - 9
Scott - 8
May 2009

"An engaging and well-designed science fiction adventure, with a different type of protagonist"

"Hunter's Run" - George R.R. Martin, Gardnere Dozois and Daniel Abraham

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.86

Frank - 7
Scott - 8
Brian - 8
Amy - 7
Mark - 7
Ken - 9
Mike - 9
March 2009

"Sirens of Titan" - Kurt Vonnegut

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.75

Mark - 6
Scott - 7
Amy - 8
Brian - 10
February 2009

"Paul of Dune" - Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Still Being Tabulated

Brian - ?
Amy - ?
Mike - ?
Scott - ?
December 2008

"Watership Down" - Richard Adams

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.71
Mark - 7
Rod - 10
Scott - 9
Amy - 10
Brian - 10
Mike - 9
Louis - 6
December 2008

"Who Goes There" - story by John W. Campbell

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.86
Ken - 8
Scott - 8
Rod - 8
Clif - 9
Mike - 9
Louis - 5
 
Mark - 8
 

"The Thing From Another World" - 1951 film

Members' Rating - Average Film Rating: 5.83
Andrew - 5
Lizzie - 5
Ken - 7
Scott - 6
Karen - 7
Bryce - 7
Rod - 6
Clif - 6
Mike - 7
Frank - 5
Louis - 6
Mark - 3

"The Thing" - 1982 film

Members' Rating - Average Film Rating: 8.21
Andrew - 9
Lizzie - 8
Ken - 8
Scott - 9
Karen - 9
Bryce - 8
Rod - 10
Clif - 8
Mike - 8
Frank - 8.5
Louis - 6
Mark - 7
October 2008

"Masterful classic of graphic literature -- it'll be interesting to see how faithful the movie is!"

"Watchmen" - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.71
Scott - 9
Mike - 8
Brian - 9
Amy - 10
Mark - 8
Frank - 8
Rod - 9
September 2008

"Thought-provoking classic...smart people who talk like smart people, and a central SF trope explored with great detail!"

"Rogue Moon" - Algis Budrys

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.71
Scott - 6
Ken - 6
Brian - 9.5
Mark - 4
Mike - 7
Amy - 5
Frank - 9.5
August 2008

"Compelling new take on vampirism; final work from a contemporary genre master"

"Fledgling" - Octavia Butler

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.00
Amy - 7
Scott - 6.5
Frank - 4.5
Mark - 7
Brian - 5
June 2008

"Depressing but brilliant and unforgettable!"

"Her Smoke Rose Up Forever" - James Tiptree, Jr.

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.70
Mark - 8.5
Frank - 9.5
Louis - 8
Amy - 8.5
Scott - 9
May 2008

"Competently written, with a strong cultural flavor, but not for everyone"

"Brown Girl in the Ring" - Nalo Hopkinson

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.42
Amy - 8
Brian - 6.5
Mark - 8
Frank - 6
Scott - 6
Louis - 4
March 2008

"Farewell to the Master" - story by Harry Bates

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 4.33
Scott - 4
Louis - 3
Dave - 4
Frank - 4
Floyd - 4
Ken - 4
Mike - 6
Rod - 3
Terry - 7

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" - film

Members' Rating - Average Film Rating: 8.88
Scott - 9
Louis - 8
Dave - 9.5
Frank - 8.5
Floyd - 9.5
Ken - 9.5
Mike - 9
Terry - 8
March 2008

"The Worm Ouroboros" - E.R. Eddison

Discussion in Forum at SBA Blog
Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.00
Amy - 8
Louis - 8
Mark - 2
January 2008

"An interesting idea, but told in a misogynistic way by an author too obviously aware of their own style"

"There Will be Dragons" - John Ringo

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 4.40
Scott - 2
Brian - 4
Amy - 1
Mark - 7
Louis - 8
November 2007

"A classic that holds up well after 50 years"

"More Than Human" - Theodore Sturgeon

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.00
Scott - 8
Frank - 8
Brian - 8
Louis - 9
Amy - 7
Mark - 9
Mike - 7
October 2007

"Stross is the future of Science Fiction"

"Accelerando" - Charles Stross

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.00
Scott - 7
Frank - 8
Mark - 3
Louis - 8
Amy - 4
August 2007

"Service, Clay Forester"

"The Humanoids" - Jack Williamson

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 4.57
Scott - 4
Brian - 5
Mark - 3
Louis - 6
Amy - 4
Rod - 3
Mike - 7
June 2007

"Compelling storytelling...but is it Science Fiction?"

"The Speed of Dark" - Elizabeth Moon

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.38
Scott - 8
Mark - 6
Louis - 7.5
Amy - 4
May 2007

"Whose reality are we living now?"

"Eye in the Sky" - Philip K. Dick

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 5.00
Scott - 7
Frank - 6
Mark - 6
Mike - 4
Amy - 7
February 2007

"In the Garden of Iden" - Kage Baker

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.00
Scott - 8
Mark - 8
Louis - 8
Mike - 8
November

2006

"The Big Time" - Fritz Leiber

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.50
Scott - 6
Frank - 6
Mark - 7
Mike - 7
October

2006

"An uneven anthology, with some truly remarkable stories in the mix!"

"Beyond Singularity" - Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois, editors

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 6.50
Scott - 6
Frank - 6
Mark - 7
Mike - 7
August

2006

"Atmospheric and sensitive post-apocalyptic tale"

"The Long Tomorrow" - Leigh Brackett

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.00
Scott - 7.5
Frank - 7
Mark - 8
Louis - 8.5
Mike - 9
May

2006

"Excellent and enjoyable collection of fairy tales for a modern generation"

"Sister Emily's Lightship and Other Stories" - Jane Yolen

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 8.00
Scott - 9
Mark - 4
Louis - 10
Rod - 9

March

2006

"Perhaps one of the most memorable time travel stories ever written"

"The Man Who Folded Himself" - David Gerrold

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.80
Scott - 8
Frank - 9
Mark - 8
Mike - 6
Dave - 8

December 2005

"Snowcrash" - Neal Stephenson

Members' Rating - Average Rating: 7.67
Scott - 8
Frank - 8
Mark - 7

September 2005 
"Unforgettable storytelling -- vivid and memorable -- still highly relevant"

"The Forever War" - Joe Haldeman

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 8.17

Jeff - 8

Mark - 8

Scott - 7

Mike - 9

Rod - 8

Louis - 9

August 2005 

2005 Hugo

Novelette

Nominees

  

The 5 novelettes nominated for Hugos for 2005

We did not "rate" these stories
June 2005 
"Engaging characters and thought-provoking plot -- Fun to read!"

"Little Fuzzy" - H. Beam Piper

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.90

Frank - 7

Louis - 8.5

Mike - 9

Scott - 8

William - 7

April 2005
 
"Ray Bradbury Lite"

"The Thief of Always" - Clive Barker

Members' Ratings - Average Rating 6.80

Scott - 6

Frank - 6

Mark - 5

Louis - 9

Rod - 8

March 2005
 
"Classic example of traditional 1950s science fiction adventure novel"

"Crossroads of Time" - Andre Norton

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.08

Scott - 6

Mark - 5

Louis - 7.5

Mike - 10

Dave - 7

Rod - 7

December 2004

 

"Rats and Gargoyles" - Mary Gentle

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 5.40

Scott - 5

Frank - 7.5

Mark - 4

Louis - 4.5

Rod - 6

August 2004
"Engaging example of Simak's style -- personal, yet still epic"

"City" - Clifford Simak

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.71

Scott - 6

Frank - 8

Brian - 7

Mark - 6

Mike - 8

Rod - 7

Roger - 5

[Guest] Louis - 6

June 2004

"Excellent introduction to Dark Fantasy for younger readers"

"Coraline" - Neil Gaiman

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.42

Scott - 5

Frank - 7.5

Brian - 6

Mark - 7

Bryce - 6

Rod - 7

 April 2004

"The ultimate Ancient Astronaut story"

"Protector" - Larry Niven

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.00

Scott - 7

Frank - 5

Brian - 8

Mark - 7

Mike - 8

Rod - 9

Roger - 5

February 2004

"Non-stop adventure...fascinating characters...highly readable!"

"The Vor Game" - Lois McMaster Bujold

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 9.00

Scott - 8

Mark - 9

Rod - 9

Roger - 10

December 2003

"A solid, though not brilliant, collection..several engaging stories!"

"Unicorn Variations" - Roger Zelazny

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.00

Scott - 6

Frank - 6

Mark - 5

Rod - 7

October 2003

"Reynold's greatest strengths are in his detailed descriptions"

"Revelation Space" - Alistair Reynolds

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.80

Scott - 6

Frank - 6

Mark - 5

Rod - 8

Roger - 9

August 2003

"A classic of the genre...unforgettable!" "Holds up to the test of time"

"The Demolished Man" - Alfred Bester

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 8.80

Scott - 9

Ken - 9

Brian - 10

Mike - 7

Mark - 9

 July 2003
"Fabulous descriptions...fascinating characters...an original vision!"

"Perdido Street Station" - China Mieville

 Member's Ratings - Average Rating: 8.00

Scott - 8

Frank - 9

Mark -7

 April 2003
 

"The Dying Earth" - Jack Vance

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 5.13

Scott - 3

Frank - 7

Mark - 3

Mike - 7.5

 February 2003
 
  

"Lincoln's Dreams" - Connie Willis

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.50

Scott - 4

Frank - 8

Mark - 8

Mike - 6

 December 2002
 
  

"Darwin's Radio" - Greg Bear

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.25

Scott - 8

Mark - 6

Rod - 6

Roger - 9

 October 2002
 
  

"The Lathe of Heaven" - Ursula K. Leguin

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 8.00

Scott - 7

Brian - 9

Mark - 9

Bryce - 7

Mike - 7

Rod - 9

 September 2002
 
 "It's Cthulthuriffic"

"I laughed, I cried, I kissed the last vestiges of my sanity goodbye"

"At the Mountains of Madness" - H.P. Lovecraft

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 8.33

Scott - 9

Frank - 9

Brian - 7

Mark - 6

Mike - 10

Rod - 9

 July 2002
 

"Interstellar Pig" - William Sleator

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.00

Scott - 7

Frank - 6

Terri - 4

Brian - 5

Mark - 5

Mike - 7

Dave - 7

Rod - 7

 May 2002
 

"Tangled Up in Blue" - Joan D. Vinge

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 5.00

Brian - 3

Mark - 4

Roger - 8

 March 2002
 

"Newton's Cannon" - J. Gregory Keyes

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.50

Scott - 8

Frank - 9

Brian - 6

Mark - 8

Bryce - 6

Mike - 8

 January 2002
 

"The Boat of a Million Years" - Poul Anderson

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 8.20

Frank - 8

Brian - 8

Bryce - 8

Mike - 7

Roger - 10

  2001

"Mission of Gravity" - Hal Clement

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.63

Scott - 8

Frank - 8

Brian - 8

Mark - 7

Bryce - 7

Mike - 8

Rod - 8

Roger - 7

 June 2001
 

"FlashForward" - Robert Sawyer

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.00

Scott - 6

Terri - 7

Brian - 7

Mark - 3

Bryce - 6

Mike - 7

 April 2001
 

"Flowers for Algernon" - Daniel Keyes

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.29 (novel) 8.00 (novella)

Scott - 7

Terri - 6

Mark - 7

Brian - 6

Mark - 6

Bryce (novella) - 8
Bryce (novel) - 6

Mike - 6

Rod (novella) - 8

 February 2001
 

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" - Ray Bradbury

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.50

Scott - 8

Brian - 6

Mark - 9

Bryce - 8

Mike - 8

Dave - 6

 November 2000
 

"Marrow" - Robert Reed

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.50

Scott - 6

Frank - 8

Terri - 6

Mark - 7

Bryce - 5

Mike - 7

  2000
 

"Citizen of the Galaxy" - Robert A. Heinlein

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.67

Frank - 7

Mark - 6

Mike - 10

  2000

 

"The Parafaith War" - L.E. Modesitt

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 5.67

Scott - 3

Frank - 7

Terri - 8

Mark - 4

Bryce - 5

Mike - 7

  2000

 

"Neuromancer" - William Gibson

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 8.20

Scott - 8

Frank - 9

Mark - 8

Mike - 7

Rod - 9

  1999
 

"I, Robot" - Isaac Asimov

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 6.88

Scott - 6

Terri - 6

Mark - 5

Bryce - 7

Mike - 7

Dave - 10

Rod - 8

Roger - 6

  1999

"Childhood's End" - Arthur C. Clarke

Members' Ratings - Average Rating: 7.78

Scott - 7

Frank - 8

Terri - 7

Mark - 6

Bryce - 4

Mike - 9

Dave - 10

Rod - 9

Roger - 10

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