Hugo & Nebula Awards: Best Novels discussion

Just setting this thread up early! I do plan to try it again, although I failed miserably in 2022. Just need to focus on it more!

Looks like fun. Are there any rules?

Cordelia wrote: "Looks like fun. Are there any rules?"

Read books with titles starting from A to Z bar a/the... hardest is to get X And a few others

Cordelia wrote: "Looks like fun. Are there any rules?"

There's a thread for 2022 in this same folder, so you can see how others have done it. But it's free-form, just read books starting with each letter.

Thanks. Do they have to be SF or will any book do?

Cordelia wrote: "Thanks. Do they have to be SF or will any book do?"

I went with anything goes, but everyone may set a hard limits to themselves

Thanks for setting up this thread. I am going to give it a go for 2023.

I just went back through my books for 2022. Looks like I actually came pretty close, excepting H, O, V, X, Y, and Z. They were not all SF or Fantasy though….. Lots of books that began with F and S. 🙂

Alan's Alphabet Challenge 2023

BY TITLE

A
B
C The City & the City China Miéville (Pending)
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O Old Man's War by John Scalzi in progress
P Poirot and Me by David Suchet
Q
R Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR (By Surname)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M China Miéville with The City & the City (Pending)
N
O
P
Q
R
S John Scalzi with Old Man's War in progress
T
U
V
W
X John Xero withThis is the New Plan
Y
Z

Alan wrote: "ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR..."

Are only surnames allowed or names too?

Oleksandr wrote: "Alan wrote: "ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR..."

Are only surnames allowed or names too?"

I'm going by surnames, but that's just me for this year

Alan wrote: "I'm going by surnames, but that's just me for this year"

Good luck with finding them!

Oleksandr wrote: "Good luck with finding them!".

Yes, I doubt any of us can come up with an "X" author. Maybe first names for X, also. I looked on Wikipedia and I think they are either Ancient Greeks or Chinese? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of.... Except for Malcom X

Kateblue wrote: "Oleksandr wrote: "Good luck with finding them!".

Yes, I doubt any of us can come up with an "X" author. Maybe first names for X, also. I looked on Wikipedia and I think they are either Ancient Gr..."

I have read some ancient Greeks, besides I'm just weird.

Kateblue wrote: "Oleksandr wrote: "Good luck with finding them!".

Yes, I doubt any of us can come up with an "X" author. Maybe first names for X, also. I looked on Wikipedia and I think they are either Ancient Gr..."

It's not alphabetic but I thought maybe a dozen speculative fictions published in my birth year back in the ancient 1950s

Alan wrote: "It's not alphabetic but I thought maybe a dozen speculative fictions published in my birth year back in the ancient 1950s."

That sounds like fun! And I'm defiantly here for this challenge again.

Alan wrote: "Alan's Alphabet Challenge 2023

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR ..."

You must've read my mind, it popped into my head this morning that I should do one by author as well. I went back to see what I did for 2022, it's posted in the 2022 challenge thread. Pretty much what you'd expect, all but D-I-O-Q-U-Z.

Allan wrote: "Alan wrote: "Alan's Alphabet Challenge 2023

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR ..."

You must've read my mind, it popped into my head this morning that I should do one by author as well. I'm going to go b..."

Well, I am a bit psychic or was that psycho.
I did find an author with a surname starting with X. Short book of about 100 pages. Don't know if it is worth the time.....but by gum it's going to get included.

Alan wrote: "Allan wrote: "Alan wrote: "Alan's Alphabet Challenge 2023

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR ..."

You must've read my mind, it popped into my head this morning that I should do one by author as well. I'm..."

The Autobiography of Malcom X will be mine for '23.

Allan wrote: "Alan wrote: "Allan wrote: "Alan wrote: "Alan's Alphabet Challenge 2023

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR ..."

You must've read my mind, it popped into my head this morning that I should do one by author..."

Malcom X will be an interesting read. Read it sometime in the 80s.

I will join, but I will stick with book titles.

Changed my mind. Will also do author's surname. But I will not enter the same book on both lists.

CORDELIA'S ALPHABET CHALLENGE

A. Armor by John Steakley
B. The Big Time by Fritz Leiber
C. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
D. Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
E. Empire Builders by Ben Bova
F. A Fugitive Green by Diana Gabaldon
G. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
H.
I. The Invasion by K.A. Applegate
J.
K.
L. Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin
M. Map of Bones by James Rollins
N.
O. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
P. The Praxis by Walter Jon Williams
Q. Questions for a Soldier by John Scalzi
R. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
S. Sandstorm by James Rollins
T.
U.
V. The Visitor by K.A. Applegate
W. Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King
X.
Y.
Z.

AUTHOR'S SURNAME

A.
B. Sundiver by David Brin
C. Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins
D.
E.
F. The Icebound Land by John Flanagan
G. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
H.
I.
J.
K. Song of Susannah by Stephen King
L.
M. The City & the City by China Miéville
N. The Men by Sandra Newman
O.
P.
Q.
R.
S. The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
T. Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky
U.
V.
W. 1633 by Eric Flint & David Weber
X.
Y.
Z.

I’m going to do this again, too (titles.) I still have 3 letters to go on the 2022 challenge and I may yet make it.

Stephen’s Alphabet challenge

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
O.
P.
Q.
R.
S.
T.
U.
V.
W.
X.
Y.
Z.

Now that I know what books are carrying over from 2022, I spent some time this morning starting to frame up plans for 2023. The author books are mostly from the book title list.

BY BOOK TITLE
A. Armor
B. The Book Eaters
C. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup
D. Downbelow Station
E. The Exile Waiting by Vonda N McIntyre
F. Forever Free
G. The Ghost Brigades
H. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I. In the Ocean of Night - Gregory Benford
J.
K.
L. The Last Colony
M. The Mountain in the Sea
N.
O. Old Man's War
P. Prentice Alvin (Alvin Maker #3) by Orson Scott Card
Q. The Quiet Pools by Michael Kube-McDowell
R. Record of a Spaceborn Few
S. The Silent Patient
T. The Terraformers - I wasn't a fan of Autonomous but I'll give Newitz another shot
U. Up the Line by Robert Silverberg
V. The Voyage of the Space Beagle
W. The World We Make
X.
Y.
Z. Zoe's Tale (Old Man's War #4) by John Scalzi

AUTHOR'S SURNAME

A. Pebble in the Sky - Isaac Asimov
B. Pierce Brown
C. Becky Chambers
D. Sunyi Dean
E.
F.
G. Neil Gaiman
H. Joe Haldeman
I.
J. N K Jemisin
K. R F Kuang
L.
M. Robin McKinley, Alex Michaelides
N. Ray Nayler
O.
P. Ada Palmer
Q.
R. J.K. Rowling
S. John Scalzi, John Steakley
T.
U.
V. A.E. van Vogt
W. Connie Willis
X. Malcolm X
Y.
Z. Roger Zelazny

Kate's Alphabet Challenge 2023

BY TITLE

A
B The Big Time
C City of the Lost
D A Darkness Absolute
E
F Found Objects: A Paranormal Witch Urban Fantasy
G The Ghost Brigades
H His Majesty's Dragon
I
J
K
L The Last Colony
M Magic Tides
N
O Our Lady of the Artilects
P
Q
R Raven Black (Shetland Island, #1)
S A Stitch in Time
T
U
V
W White Nights (Shetland Island, #2)
X
Y
Z

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR (By Surname)
A Kelley Armstrong
B
C Ann Cleeves
D
E
F
G Andrew Gillsmith
H
I Ilona Andrews
J
K
L Fritz Leiber
M
N Naomi Novik
O
P Christine Pope
Q
R
S John Scalzi
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Rebecca's 2023 Alphabet Challenge!

A.
B.
C. The City & the City, Chilling Effect, Children of Ruin
D.
E. Embassytown
F.
G. The Ghost Brigades
H. Honor's Flight, High Times in the Low Parliament
I.
J.
K.
L. Last Command
M.
N. Night Broken
O. Old Man's War
P.
Q.
R. Ruby Fever
S. Strange Practice, Star Nomad, Starfall Station, Starseers, Succubus on Top
T.
U.
V. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
W. The White Dragon, The World We Make, The Witch's Heart
X.
Y.
Z.

AUTHOR'S SURNAME

A. Ilona Andrews
B. Lindsay Buroker, Patricia Briggs
C.
D.
E.
F.
G. Genevieve Gornichec
H.
I.
J. N.K. Jemisin
K.
L.
M. China Miéville, Anne McCaffrey, Sangu Mandanna, Richelle Mead
N.
O.
P.
Q.
R. Kelly Robson
S. John Scalzi, Vivian Shaw
T. Adrian Tchaikovsky
U.
V. Valerie Valdes
W.
X.
Y.
Z.

Vorkosigan tracker:
(view spoiler)[
✅ Shards of Honor
✅ Barrayar
✅ The Warrior’s Apprentice
✅ “The Mountains of Mourning”
✅ “Weatherman”
✅ The Vor Game
✅ Cetaganda
✅ Ethan of Athos
✅ Borders of Infinity
✅ Labyrinth”
✅ “The Borders of Infinity”
Brothers in Arms
Mirror Dance
Memory
Komarr
A Civil Campaign
“Winterfair Gifts”
Falling Free
Diplomatic Immunity
Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance
"The Flowers of Vashnoi"
CryoBurn
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen (hide spoiler)]

Updated above

Updated above

Here’s where I am:

A. All the Seas of the World
B. The Big Time
C.
D.
E.
F. Fire Time
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M. The Man Upstairs and Other Stories
N. Nettle & Bone
O. Other Paths To Glory
P. The Penguin Wodehouse Companion
Q.
R. Roadside Picnic
S. Sundiver
T.
U. Urne Burial
V.
W. We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland
X.
Y.
Z.

In a few cases I’ve read multiple titles with the same initial letter, so I just used one of them.

Another update:

A. All the Seas of the World
B. The Big Time
C. Children of Memory
D. Downbelow Station
E.
F. Fire Time
G. The Galton Case
H.
I. The Ionian Mission
J. Jonathan Wild
K.
L. The Last Colony
M. The Man Upstairs and Other Stories
N. Nettle & Bone
O. Other Paths To Glory
P. Past Master
Q.
R. Roadside Picnic
S. Sundiver
T.
U. Up the Line
V.
W. The Winds of Time
X.
Y.
Z.

I replaced a few non-genre titles with sff ones as well.

Updating. How's everyone doing with this challenge?

BY BOOK TITLE
A. Armor
B. The Book Eaters
C. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup
D. Downbelow Station
E. The Exile Waiting
F. Forever Free
G. The Ghost Brigades
H. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I. In the Ocean of Night
J.
K.
L. The Last Colony
M. The Mountain in the Sea
N.
O. Old Man's War
P.
Q. The Quiet Pools
R. Record of a Spaceborn Few
S. The Silent Patient
T. The Terraformers
U. Untethered Sky
V. The Voyage of the Space Beagle
W. The World We Make
X.
Y.
Z. Zoe's Tale

AUTHOR'S SURNAME

A. Isaac Asimov
B. Pierce Brown
C. Becky Chambers
D. Sunyi Dean
E.
F.
G. Neil Gaiman
H. Joe Haldeman
I.
J. N K Jemisin
K. R F Kuang
L. Ann Leckie
M. Robin McKinley
N. Ray Nayler
O.
P.
Q.
R. J.K. Rowling
S. John Scalzi
T.
U.
V. A.E. van Vogt
W. Martha Wells
X. Malcolm X
Y.
Z. Roger Zelazny

I can add

H: Harvey's Heart: The Discovery of Blood Circulation

and

T: Tehanu

to the list in message 30 above.

Updated above :) not much progress on new letters.

I can add E: The Exile Waiting.

Otherwise I haven’t covered any more letters in the natural run of things, so it’s time to be more proactive. I’ll plan to read the following for the outstanding letters:


K. Kafkaesque: Stories Inspired by Franz Kafka edited by John Kessel and James Patrick Kelly

Q. The Quality of Mercy by D.G. Compton

V. The Voyage of the Sable Keech by Neal Asher, sequel to a novel I enjoyed, The Skinner

X. X This may seem like a bit of a cheat, but I have read all 25 of the alphabet titled Kinsey Milhone mysteries Sue Grafton wrote, and I’ve recently been rereading them, so I don’t think so

Y. Youth & The End of the Tether, by Joseph Conrad, on the tbr shelf.

Z. Zoe's Tale

Well, I’ve taken care of K (Kafkaesque) and Z (Zoe’s Tale) but Q, V, X and Y are still outstanding.

Stephen wrote: "Well, I’ve taken care of K (Kafkaesque) and Z (Zoe’s Tale) but Q, V, X and Y are still outstanding."

May I recommend The Quiet Pools by Michael P. Kube-McDowell to cover Q? HN book from 1992, a pretty good, fairly quick read. I found it in the Open Library, if you can't locate it elsewhere.

Thanks Allan, but I have a kindle copy of The Quality Of Mercy by D.G. Compton on hand.

fun!

Kate's Alphabet Challenge 2023 revisited

Could not get the links to work, but filling in anyway

Don't think I will fill in all the gaps in titles, even, at this point, but let us just see . . .

BY TITLE

A And Now For Something Completely Different (The Chronicles of St Mary’s, #9.7)
B The Big Time
C City of the Lost
D A Darkness Absolute
E Escape Clause (Virgil Flowers, #9)
F Found Objects: A Paranormal Witch Urban Fantasy
G The Ghost Brigades
H His Majesty's Dragon
I The Immortality Thief (The Kystrom Chronicles, #1)
J Justice Calling (The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, #1)
K
L The Last Colony
M Magic Tides
N New York 2140
O Our Lady of the Artilects
P Persepolis Rising (The Expanse, #7)
Q
R Raven Black (Shetland Island, #1)
S A Stitch in Time
T A Trail Through Time (The Chronicles of St Mary's, #4)
U Up the Line
V The Very First Damned Thing (The Chronicles of St Mary's, #0.5)
W White Nights (Shetland Island, #2)
X
Y
Z Zoe's Tale

ADDED CHALLENGE

BY AUTHOR (By Surname)
A Kelley Armstrong
B Bellet, Annie
C Ann Cleeves
D
E
F Foster, Alan Dean
G Andrew Gillsmith
H Harris, Charlaine
I Ishiguro, Kazuo
J Jackson, Lisa
K Klune, T.J.
L Fritz Leiber
M McIntyre, Vonda N.
N Naomi Novik
O Oliver, Ben *
P Christine Pope
Q
R Robson, Kelly
S John Scalzi
T Taylor, Jodi
U
V
W Willis, Connie
X
Y
Z Zanetti, Rebecca

Completed the challenge. Here is my final list. (Sorry for the mix of ordinary text titles and links; I didn’t have the patience to enter links for all of the titles.)

A. All the Seas of the World
B. The Big Time
C. Children of Memory
D. Downbelow Station
E. The Exile Waiting
F. Fire Time
G. The Galton Case
H. Hyperion
I. The Ionian Mission
J. Jonathan Wild
K. Kafkaesque: Stories Inspired by Franz Kafka
L. The Last Colony
M. The Mountain in the Sea
N. Nettle & Bone
O. Other Paths To Glory
P. Past Master
Q. The Quality Of Mercy
R. Roadside Picnic
S. Sundiver
T. Tehanu
U. Up the Line
V. The Voyage of the Sable Keech
W. The Winds of Time
X. The X Factor
Y. You Will Never Be the Same
Z. Zoe's Tale

Congrats, Stephen!

Thanks. I would have read many/most of the books anyway, but the challenge did lead directly to several other interesting reads.

Yes, congrats, it's not easy to do among all the other monthly and challenge books!

Oh wow, this really got away from me this year. Let's see how I did.

Rebecca's Updated 2023 Alphabet Challenge!

A. The Alchemist, Arkadian Skies, Ark, And Put Away Childish Things, Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction
B. Brothers in Arms, Back in a Spell, The Blacktongue Thief
C. The City & the City, Chilling Effect, Children of Ruin, The City Inside, Cleon Moon, Cryptonomicon, Comfort Me with Apples
D. Doomsday Book, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, A Dowry of Blood
E. Embassytown, End Game, The Elf Tangent, Ender’s Game, Even Though I Knew the End
F. Fractal Noise
G. The Ghost Brigades, Grave Importance
H. Honor's Flight, High Times in the Low Parliament
I. Ironclads
J.
K. Kings of the Wyld
L. Last Command, The Last Conversation, The Lies of the Ajungo, In the Lives of Puppets, The Last Colony
M. Middlegame, The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, Mammoths at the Gates, Mirror Dance, The Mountain in the Sea
N. Night Broken, Not the Witch You Wed, Neom
O. Old Man's War, Ocean's Echo
P. Perilous Hunt
Q.
R. Ruby Fever, Remnant Population, Red Team Blues, Relic of Sorrows, Randomize
S. Strange Practice, Star Nomad, Starfall Station, Starseers, Succubus on Top, System Collapse, Saint Death's Daughter, Some Desperate Glory, Starling House, Summer Frost, The Spare Man, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity, Seven Surrenders
T. The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf, Two Necromancers, an Army of Golems, and a Demon Lord, Two Necromancers, a Dragon, and a Vampire, Translation State, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, The Terraformers
U. Upright Women Wanted
V. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, The Visit
W. The White Dragon, The World We Make, The Witch's Heart, Way Station, Witch King
X.
Y. You Have Arrived at Your Destination
Z. Zodiac by Neal Stephenson, Zoe's Tale

AUTHOR'S SURNAME

A. Ilona Andrews, April Asher, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
B. Lindsay Buroker, Patricia Briggs, Samit Basu, Lois McMaster Bujold, Christopher Buehlman
C. Becky Chambers, C.S.E. Cooney, Paulo Coelho, Blake Crouch, Orson Scott Card
D. Cory Doctorow
E. L.G. Estrella, Nicholas Eames
F.
G. Genevieve Gornichec, Sarah Gailey, S.T. Gibson
H. Lana Harper, Alix E. Harrow, T.L. Huchu
I.
J. N.K. Jemisin
K. Mary Robinette Kowal, T.J. Klune
L. Ann Leckie
M. China Miéville, Anne McCaffrey, Sangu Mandanna, Richelle Mead, Seanan McGuire, Elizabeth Moon, Everina Maxwell
N. Ray Nayler, Annalee Newitz
O.
P. Christopher Paolini, Esther Perel, Ada Palmer, C.L. Polk
Q.
R. Kelly Robson, Veronica Roth
S. John Scalzi, Vivian Shaw, Neal Stephenson, Clifford D. Simak
T. Adrian Tchaikovsky, Emily Tesh, Paul Tremblay, Lavie Tidhar, Amor Towles, Sheree Renée Thomas
U. Moses Ose Utomi
V. Valerie Valdes, Nghi Vo, Catherynne M. Valente
W. Martha Wells, Connie Willis, Kiersten White, Andy Weir
X.
Y.
Z. Gabrielle Zevin

Vorkosigan tracker:
(view spoiler)[
✅ Shards of Honor
✅ Barrayar
✅ The Warrior’s Apprentice
✅ “The Mountains of Mourning”
✅ “Weatherman”
✅ The Vor Game
✅ Cetaganda
✅ Ethan of Athos
✅ Borders of Infinity
✅ Labyrinth”
✅ “The Borders of Infinity”
✅ Brothers in Arms
✅ Mirror Dance
Memory
Komarr
A Civil Campaign
“Winterfair Gifts”
Falling Free
Diplomatic Immunity
Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance
"The Flowers of Vashnoi"
CryoBurn
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen (hide spoiler)]

Rebecca wrote: "Rebecca's Updated 2023 Alphabet Challenge!..."

Looks like you did an excellent job without paying particular attention to it! Keep plugging away at Vorkosigan. That part of the series is the best. Memory was my favorite.

How did you like Fractal Noise? Did you need to read other books before it?

Happy New Year!