Public reader discussion about The Jewels of Aptor in the WeRead Catalog by Samuel R. Delany.
By comet-hidden8
I’m trying to find a book/game with a post-apocalyptic sci-fi vibe but also actual magic and fantasy stuff. Like, stuff in the vein of the “Rifts” universe or that 80s cartoon “Thundarr the Barbarian.” I’ve checked out Broken Earth by NK Jemisin and Dying Earth by Jack Vance, and they’re kind of close, but neither feels like it blends the sci-fi apocalypse and the magic/fantasy in about equal measure—at least not to me.
By SceneCoin
I don’t know what to make of this, but it really got to me in a strange way.
By fern_hardcover75
I’ve been meaning to dive into Delany for a while. I really like sci-fi that’s kind of heavy and takes effort to get through, but feels worth it, with stories that don’t go in a straight line, super nice writing, and plots where nothing is quite what it first looks like. I also love books that leave you with a ton of questions to sit with afterward. From what I’ve heard about Delany, he sounds like he’d match that taste. I’m a huge Gene Wolfe fan, and I’m hoping Delany will hit me with that same “wait… what did I just read?” mental overload. I know Dhalgren seems like the obvious place to start, but I’m curious if there are other Delany books that give off that same kind of vibe—like, “okay, I need to keep thinking about this,” and also “wow, that was weird/beautiful/powerful.” I’m not really worried about easing in; I’m happy to jump into the harder stuff, I just want to see what people recommend from his other work. Also, side question: what other sci-fi writers tend to give you similar vibes to Wolfe or Delany?
By TinyChapter
I just found out about Delany and people say his sci-fi is really good, so I looked him up. But then I saw that he wrote a book called “Hogg,” and it sounds super disgusting and disturbing. Does anything like that show up in his other sci-fi too? I’m trying to avoid anything really graphic.
By hidden-turtle
So what did you end up reading last month? I’d love to hear any thoughts you have, even if it’s just a few. It’s totally okay to post about stuff you finished, stuff you’re still in the middle of, big long projects, whatever. If you’ve been slow with reading or super busy, it’s not a problem to talk about a book you haven’t finished yet. Also, if you’re like me and can’t remember exactly where you left off, it might help to look back at last month’s thread. And since it’s the first day of the year, feel free to do whatever kind of yearly recap you want—goals, what you hit or didn’t, favorites, patterns you noticed, anything you want to discuss about print SF this year, or what you’re hoping for next year. If you’ve been around a while, you can even check where everyone was last year, but… yeah, 2020 was rough, so no guilt if your goals didn’t go as planned.
By grand_ticket987
What are some of your favorite sci-fantasy books/series (or even short stories) that you think don’t get talked about enough? Like, any time period—just stuff you feel is kind of underrated.
By hiddenDeer60
What books did you get into last month, and anything you’re thinking about that you want to share? You can mention finished stuff, things you started but haven’t finished yet, whatever long-term reads you’ve got going, or just all of it. If you’ve been slow with reading or super busy and haven’t had time, it’s totally cool to post about something you’re still working through even if it’s not done. (Also if you’re anything like me and can’t remember exactly where you left off, there’s that link to the last thread.)
By StoryDoor90
Aptor’s really trying to keep his jewels all cleaned up and shaven, but I’m not sure Miss Skinny Arms over there is into it. Poor Aptor.