Reading Science Fiction

This looks fun.

My Two Blessings has started a blog for reading Science Fiction – Mind Voyages (cool name).

It’s a great challenge for 2010 and I’m going to join. I was fascinated to see how many of the books I’ve already read.

Moon Voyage : Read at least 6 winners on the Hugo Winners List

• 2001 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J. K. Rowling
• 1999 To Say Nothing of the Dog – Connie Willis
• 1987 Speaker for the Dead – Orson Scott Car d
• 1986 Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
• 1967 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress – Robert A. Heinlein
• 1966 Dune – Frank Herbert
• 1962 Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert A. Heinlein
• 196 1 A Canticle for Leibowitz – Walter M. Miller, Jr
• 1954 Retro Award from 2004 Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
• 1951 Retro Award from 2001 Farmer in the Sky – Robert A. Heinlein

Sling shot back to Earth: Read at least 3 winners on the Nebula Winner’s List

• 1990: Tehanu, The Last Book of Earthsea – Ursula K. LeGuin
• 1986: Speaker for the Dead – Orson Scott Card
• 1985: Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card
• 1965: Dune – Frank Herbert

Venus Voyage: Philip K. Dick Quest – Read at least 2 of his books

I don’t think I’ve ever read any. I’ll have to fix that.

Mercury Voyage: Robert Heinlein Quest – Read at least 2 of his books

I did the whole Heinlein thing years ago. Then last year I read four of his early juvenile novels and have 8 more to read.

• 1947 Rocket Ship Galileo
• 1948 Space Cadet
• 1949 Red Planet
• 1950 Farmer in the Sky, (Retro Hugo Award, 1951)
• 1958 Have Space Suit—Will Travel
• 1958 Methuselah’s Children
• 1961 Stranger in a Strange Land
• 1966 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
• 1973 Time Enough for Love
• 1984 Job: A Comedy of Justice
• 1985 The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Mars Voyage: Read at least 6 winners on the Hugo List and take a side trip through the 21st century and read at least 4 nominees.

I’ve read 2!

• 2000 Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
• 2000 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

Go into Warp Drive and visit the other planets

Jupiter Voyage: Go side tripping 90’s Style

• 1992 Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
• 1990 Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card

Saturn: Go Side Tripping 80’s Style

• 1989 Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card
• 1988 Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card
• 1985 Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein
• 1984 Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Uranus: Go Side Tripping 70’s Style

• 1977 Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
• 1974 Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein

Neptune Voyage: Go Side Tripping through the 50’s and 60’s

• 1966 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
• 1959 Have Spacesuit – Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein
• 1951 retro nominee from 2001 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
• 1946 retro award from 1996 That Hideous Strength (alt: The Tortured Planet (1958 US)) by C. S. Lewis

The Voyage I’m choosing – because I love the title of the voyage and because I have some from each list that I want to explore.

The I’m going to Pluto because Pluto is still a planet as far as I’m concerned Voyage: Mix it up, choose the number of books you want to read from each voyage, include some new books you pick up along the way and enjoy the ride.

Philip K Dick:

• 1968 – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Adapted for the motion picture “Blade Runner”

Hugo Award Winners:

• 2002 American Gods – Neil Gaiman
• 1993 Doomsday Book – Connie Willis
• 1971 Ringworld – Larry Niven

I see a lot more by Connie Willis that I want to try including Passage, Blackout, and Remake.

From the ’80s I’m picking this one. My maiden name is Pope and this is an author I’ve never even heard of.

• 1982 Project Pope by Clifford D. Simak