(Image by John Berkey)
For my part I know nothing with any certainty,
but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
~Vincent Van Gogh
“Science Fiction as a genre and the art of reading have been inextricably linked together as far back as my earliest solo reading memories. It is a bond that the passage of time and my own growth as a reader has not severed. In fact it is quite the opposite. As my length of days stretch out before me I find the ties to my own past growing ever more strong and ever more important.”
~Carl V. Anderson
Perhaps it is the acme of narcissism to quote oneself, but as I reviewed last year’s Sci Fi Experience announcement, and perused this quote I had made during the inaugural Sci Fi Experience, it seemed appropriate to dust it off and roll it out again. The passion that birthed these words two years ago has not diminished with time. That star continues to burn quite brightly.
As the snow gently falls this Christmas morning and the temperatures steadily descend, the glow of a passion for winter reading of science fiction keeps me warm. It is that warmth that I hope to share with all who would join me this January and February. Not for another challenge, no…for an experience.
Pilfering from my self again:
“More than any other genre of fiction, science fiction reading is to me an experience– not only does it transport me to another time and place in the future but it also transports me to my past and as such creates an aura of reading that is wonderful to experience but difficult to describe. I can only hope that you fellow readers are nodding your heads in agreement right now, recalling similar experiences that you have with various novels and/or genres of fiction.”
The Sci Fi Experience 2010 will take place from January 1st, 2010 through February 28th, 2010. During this time I will be following what is my natural inclination during these winter months, and that is to fully embrace science fiction, in my reading, film/tv watching, and game playing. Two years ago I decided to share this winter reading predilection with all of you wonderful readers in the hopes that perhaps others would join me in experiencing the unique joy that comes with entertaining science fiction stories. There is no official sign up, no call to read a certain number of books, no pressure to challenge yourself in any way. Nothing about this two month period of science fiction celebration should cause anyone to feel obligated to participate. I host two other very involved challenges throughout the year and the last thing I want to do is start a new year adding stress to your busy lives, or my own.
This is simply a time to experience how exhilarating science fiction can be.
Becky will be hosting her 42 Challenge again in 2010 and I will certainly be promoting that during the Sci Fi Experience 2010. I will share more about the 42 Challenge in my New Year’s Day post.
If you would like to participate, feel free to say so in the comments section. But again, that kind of formality is not necessary. If you so choose, pick up a book, read a short story, check out a television show or a film. If anyone has suggestions of stuff to read or watch, please share that in the comments. If anyone would like suggestions, please ask. There is science fiction storytelling all over the place just waiting for you to enjoy it.
If you are choosing to participate and want to put something on your blog, here are some banners for you. The image I have chosen for this year is by one of my all-time favorite science fiction illustrators, John Berkey.
I am not going to be putting up a separate book review post. However, as always I am interested in what everyone is reading/watching, so if you do end up doing some sort of review post for anything in the science fiction genre during January and February, I’d love it if you linked to your post here:
The banner in my sidebar will take you back to this post, should you be looking for an easy way to get back here to post review links.
Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today — but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all.
~Isaac Asimov
And now, let us boldly go…
Carl, I’ve been looking forward to your sci-fi event! I’m glad it’s here. I plan to read at least 1 book in the next 2 months. I’m thinking Flowers for Argenon or Stranger in a Strange Land.
I’m definitely in! Looking forward to reading/watching my favorite genre! My planned first book of the year fits multiple challenges as well as this one so it should be a good start for the year.
Oops, used the wrong url in the website field. It’s fixed in this comment.
I’m definitely going to be participating in this! I love science fiction, and this event is something I look forward to every year!!!
Wow! Qouteing thy self. Interesting? 🙂
Of course you can count me in! I will read some Star Trek fiction for sure and watch the latest new Star Trek movie on DVD for good buddy Carl gifted me. Thanks, Carl!
I hope also to read some more Robert Heinlein. I also received my first David Weber book ( On Basilisk Station ) who I keep hearing great things about. I want to read some more of the Jack Vance tribute Songs of a Dying Earth anthoology. I need to get back to a great anthoology my friend Jerry got me last year; A World Turned Upside Down. I also want to read some Robert Silverberg, Andre Norton, HG Wells and Jules Verne.
Just between you and me the Scifi reading experinece started for me severeral weeks ago. Let’s just keep that on the down low until January 1st. 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!!
I’ve been looking forward to this one for months! Hope you’re having a great Christmas, Carl!
Count me in, Carl. I’ll be immersing myself in sci fi too. Heather J gave me a dare challenge reading and watching sci fi fantasy so reading Dune, Eye of the World, and Mists of Avalon, plus watching Labryinth (got for christmas) and a couple other movies. Plus reading books for my science fiction reading challenge. Received some wonderful sci fi books for Christmas. I’ll be talking up your sci fi challenge on my blogs. By the way, didn’t you say you were going to join Mind Voyages? Thanks for keeping Sci Fi alive. Let the celebration begin!
I will be participating this year! I’m planning to read more sci-fi this year, and that’s going to be a nice treat. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Carl! I hope you’re having a great day and I expect you’re experiencing lots of snow and wind and ice, too! 🙂 Your challenge sounds like fun, and while I might not formally join in, I do want to read one or two sci fi books this year, so I will be watching to see which books everyone picks. Enjoy the rest of the day!!
Immerse myself in Science Fiction? That’s pretty much what I’d be doing anyway!
I’m definitely in this year! I’ve no idea what I’ll be reading yet, but I’ll have fun perusing my shelves to find some good stuff!
Merry Christmas, Carl! I was so excited to see this post this afternoon! I don’t know what I’ll read yet, but I really enjoyed this Experience last year and look forward to another great Experience, so count me in!
Robin: I am so glad you are joining in again. I’m in agony over all that I’d like to read and just know I won’t get to in time…its the same every year. A good problem to have though.
Chris: Great! I found a bunch of stuff on my shelves last night that I brought up to add to my sci fi to be read pile.
replicant: Perfect!!!
Danielle: Yes, traveling back and forth to the parent’s house today was quite the adventure. Will be glad to stay in tomorrow and not have to be on the road with other drivers. I hope you find some good sci fi to read and I look forward to seeing what that may be.
Alyce: Fantastic! I have been pleasantly surprised that sci fi appears to have been what I read the most of this past year, despite there being a really good variety. It is my first love and it is wonderful to spend so much time with it.
Robin of Two: Yes, I am joining the Mind Voyages challenge, which works perfectly with this and with the second 42 Challenge. You’ve got some great reading ahead of you! I am once again saying that I plan to read Dune this year, but I may hold out to read it with a friend this summer. And Labyrinth is so great, what a wonderful Christmas gift!!!
Darren: So glad to have you. I am looking forward to seeing what books from this experience also tie in with your challenge.
Jeff: If I don’t toot my own horn, who will?!!? LOL! It probably looks like I am just being lazy, but I really liked what I had to say back then and they seemed perfect for this year’s experience as well. I will be exploring more Star Trek as well and I put that same Weber book on hold at the library. Will be fun to experience our first Weber together so that we can talk about it as we are reading it. I’m reading Heinlein now and enjoying it (The Puppet Masters…shhhh…I’ve started the ‘experience’ already as well). I pulled up the World anthology last night as well. I want to be a better friend to Jerry and honor his request to read more of those stories. I haven’t been disappointed by them thus far.
Becky: Glad to have you! I’m hoping to get past 20 this next year in the new 42 Challenge. Making it almost half way was good, but I know there is much more sci fi that I wanted to get to last year that I didn’t get to.
Jen: Love it when multiple challenges can be blended together.
Mee: I look forward to seeing what you choose. I’ve heard many good things about Stranger but have not been able to get myself into a mood to read it. There are still many more of Heinlein’s “juveniles” that I want to get to first.
I’ve got a fresh stack of bookstore gift cards burning a hole in my pocket already. Most of them will be used on SF books and movies and I’ve got the Star Trek boxed set to watch too.
Count me in, Carl, I’ve been looking forward to this! Mulling over what I’m going to read, so much to choose from….
This will be my first year but I will try to embrace the The Sci Fi Experience fully. I’m off to a good start, I’m reading Stephen Baxter’s Flood, about the very near future where the rising seas of global warming come earlier than expected. Very exiting SF reading that gives a tremendous amount to think about.
Jim: Wonderful to know you’ll be experiencing sci fi with us. I’ve heard good things about Flood. Is it one that someone recommended from your recent sci fi post?
Bride: There is so much to choose from. I’m trying not to think about it too much or I get a bit overwhelmed with my choices.
Dave: I have a Barnes and Noble card that is burning a hole in my pocket too. I’ve pretty much decided that one of the things I want to pick up is the recent re-release of Ian McDonald’s book, Desolation Road. It sounds very interesting to me and the book cover to Pyr’s new addition is irresistable.
You can count me in again! I participated last year, and the books I read changed my mind about science fiction. I’d previously shied away from it, as the titles I’d read in the past led me to believe that science fiction was very much ideas-over-people. I was so pleased to discover that there’s plenty of character-driven sf out there.
I’m in. I’ve got a couple of steam punk books in the queue & I’m sure I’ll find some other things, too! Love sci fi & fantasy!
Merry Christmas, Carl! Looking forward to reading the reviews that come out of this challenge 🙂
Merry Christmas Carl! I am looking forward to diving into some Sci Fi. I was just about to start the Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. And as always am looking forward to the reviews and adding to my wish list. Thanks for hosting.
Moo: Merry Christmas to you as well. Hyperion sounds like an excellent choice. Just saw it mentioned on someone else’s site the other day as an example of good science fiction.
Maria: I’m looking forward to seeing what you read, sci fi and otherwise, during the coming year. You have a tendency to read stuff that piques my interest.
Caitlin: Great! I love steampunk. Have you read Boneshaker, or is it on your list? If not, it definitely needs to be.
Memory: I am so glad that you took the plunge and found stuff that you enjoyed. As I mentioned to Caitlin, I’d definitely recommend Boneshaker…great characters in that one. I prefer story over ideas in my science fiction.
Yay! Count me in for sure! I really want to read some Star Trek books I have been holding off on for a while. I haven’t missed one of your challenges (or whatever) yet and I don’t plan to now!
I’m looking forward to reading more of this genre in 2010. I look forward to the “experience”. I’m sure I will get some good reading ideas from your blog!
Kathleen: that’s wonderful! I hope the experience is a positive one for you. If you are looking for ideas you can also go up to the right hand side of my blog and click on the ‘categories’ button and select ‘Science Fiction’ under Book Reviews to see all of the SF I’ve reviewed (37 books, I believe). Boneshaker by Cherie Priest and The Alchemy of Stone are two steam punk SF books I would heartily recommend from books I’ve read this year.
Kailana: Definitely a great time to read some Star Trek. I hope to get to more of the Vanguard series during the next two months.
Sending wishes for a wonderful, healthy and safe New Year ahead. May it bring you all you desire! Deb
Wow, I’m so glad I came across this “challenge”! It’s perfect timing as I’ve got a big stack of sci-fi just calling out to be read. Now to decide what to read first…
Well, of course I’m in!!! It’s tradition now…I have to get my diGriz fix, right? 😀 I also got a couple of GNs from the library that I’ve been waiting for the start of the Sci-Fi Experience to read. Just a few more days…
Debi: Wheee!!!! Yes you do! Can’t wait to see what you read.
Michelle: I’m having the same problem deciding what to read. I have an embarrassment of SF riches to choose from.
Deb: I’ll accept those wishes and send them back your way as well.
Hmmm. Let me see. I think I have Heinlein’s “Stranger in a strange land” kicking around somewhere and needing to be read. Happy New Year Carl. Wishing you all the best for 2010!
Stuart: To you as well. I haven’t been able to bring myself to read Stranger yet…I keep getting a 70’s vibe off it which makes me cringe! I imagine I’ll try it someday, but there is still a lot of Heinlein’s juveniles I’d like to get to if I want to have a Heinlein fix.
WOW! Talk about the easiest challenge ever. How could I NOT participate? Just by reading I’ll be participating by those standards! hehehe
Also, I’m starting a Short Story Challenge:
http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/2009/12/short-story-challenge.html
If you’re interested, great! If not, that’s ok too!
lol, didn’t forget. Doing that too…
Thanks to last year’s challenge, I started the year with great books – here’s to another great start!
So pleased that it’s this time of year again as it’s such a wonderful excuse to read lots of Sci Fi! I really enjoyed last year’s not-a-challenge as it definitely changed my view of the genre and I “met” some great new (to me) authors.
Diving into sci-fi with you.
Qugrainne: Awesome! Come on in, the water is fine!!!
Peta: Me too. While I love reading a wide variety of books, it is really a special feeling when the sci fi desires rise up. I hope you find some other books/authors that you like this year as well. Your experience is exactly what this ‘experience’ is all about! 🙂
Marineko: I hope the same thing happens this year. It has for me these past two years of the experience as well.
Tonya: It is exactly the way to start a new year, easy and fun. I’ll check out your challenge.
Yaay, it’s back! Count me in, Carl! And look, you’ve already reviewed a book I’ve been meaning to read for 2 years now….that’s a gentle push to myself!!! (Desolation Road, your review is up now). This is a lovely way to atart the new year, Carl, and I received not only Star Trek (new one) but Star Treks 2-4 also on DVD, so guess what I’ll be viewing over the next month!!! lol Hope you’re enjoying 2010 so far.
Susan: You are counted! 🙂 As I mentioned on that post, I hope you enjoy Desolation Road when you finally get to it. Its wonderful to receive Star Trek gifts for Christmas! Between my birthday in Nov and Christmas I received the new film and the first two books of the Vanguard series (really enjoyed the first one, look forward to the second) and I used some Christmas money to buy the latest one, Precipice, while it was still on store shelves. Now I just need to fill in the gaps with the other two novels.
As 2009 was an SF year for me, so 2010 will be an SF Experience also. It won’t be ceasing at the end of February though….
Aaron: Great! Mine probably won’t cease in Feb. either, although I do find myself branching out from mostly solely SF reading around that time.
Nice – but what you are describing as a special event is pretty much my every day…
Steve: That’s great! My reading is all over the place during the year and although I still read SF after Feb, my strongest desire for it is generally during the winter months.
I put the banner up and it’s linked to this post on your site, but I’m not sure what to do with the Mr. Linky thing so I gave it a pass. I guess you’ve figured out I’m new here, got the link from the Grasping in the Wind blog t you SF cover post and now I’m back pretty much every day.
I’ve been reading SF for almost 60 years (yes, that means I’m old) and it’s always in the TBR and always a problem deciding what to read next out of that pile. I do review some SF on my blog, as well as mystery fiction and movie soundtracks, old and new. I’m reading one of Baen’s Christopher Anvil collections just now, War Games.
I’m reading Matthew Hughes’ long-delayed novel, HESPIRA. This guy is channeling Jack Vance! Great stuff.
George: I look forward to your review. I have but have not read a few books by Matthew Hughes. I hope the book is worth the wait.
Richard: I’m enjoying your blog and signed up for email reminders whenever you post new stuff. Your site is going to be a fun place to visit regularly. And hey, we are only as old as we feel, right?!?! I can certainly relate to the conundrum of what to read next. I have so much SF right now staring me in the face that it is just an embarrassment of riches. It is a good problem to have, I guess. 🙂
I’m not sure how strictly you’re defining SF here,and I don’t want to get involved in a big discussion of the definition(s), there’s plenty of that elsewhere. I just wonder if you mean, in oyur own definition of it, this is for “hard SF” or whether something like SNAKE AGENT, reviewed on my site a couple days ago, would qualify in your opinion. There are SF elements, but also fantasy and occult and even mystery.
Meanwhile I’m close to finishing WAR GAMES by Christopher Anvil, a collection of stories published by Baen.
And thanks for the compliment, Carl. You may notice I put you on my blogroll the other day.
Hey, great, I’ll definitely return the favor!
If you have around here for awhile you’ll soon realize that I do not have a strict definition about any reading challenges/experiences. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that reading Lord of the Rings fits in with a SF challenge, but beyond something that obvious I am personally very open minded. I don’t read a lot of hard SF myself. I’ve read some, and enjoyed it, but I’m more of a space opera fan myself.
I picking up a Christoper Anvil anthology in the bookstore and looked at it today. I don’t think I’ve read him so will be interested in your review.
Just stumbled across your blog and I like your Sci Fi Experience. I inadvertently have been doing it for the past few years. This year, I’ve concentrated on works by one of my deceased relatives — black journalism pioneer George Schuyler. “Black Empire” and “Black Internationale” should be included in the pantheon of The Golden Age of Science Fiction.”
Right now, I am reading “Lear’s Daughters” by Marjorie Kellogg and will make Sci Fi Experience a yearly event. It will just overlap with my regular experience.
Oh and thanks for the link to John Berkey. I have seen his art for years on bookshelves.
Gregory: Fantastic! Glad you found the site and always great to meet a fellow SF lover. Berkey is fantastic, isn’t he?
I decided to join up with this when I first saw the post, but I see I never actually commented. My bad.
I’ve just added links to a couple of posts of SF books I’ve read so far this month. I tend to read fantasy before I read SF, but really enjoy it when I do, so I’m hoping this will kick-start my year into catching up with those SF books on the TBR list.
Gregory – I read the new edition of “Lear’s Daughters” last year and really enjoy it. I think I gave it a 10/10. I hope you enjoy the book too.
Kerry: Great, I’ll check out your reviews. I’m glad you are participating. I sincerely hope you find yourself catching up with those SF books!
Although I’m mainly a fantasy reader, I have been making an effort lately to start reading science fiction. I just read read and reviewed Dune and I plan on watching the movie soon to see how it compares.
Simcha
Simcha: Dune is a book that I really hope to get to some time this year. For some reason it seems like a summer read to me…perhaps the whole dry desert planet thing. I would recommend you watch both films, the theatrical version AND the miniseries that came out after it. Both do some parts of the story (what I know of the story) better than the other so they make nice companion pieces to each other.
Any fans of the television series “V” need to check out my latest post about the novel S.T.A.R. Flight. I was surprised at the similarities.
Done!
I’m killing two birds with one stone by reading a book from my own “short list of books that will be read in 2010”. ‘The Doomsday Book’ by Connie Willis has been on my bookshelf for far to long. I’m almost halfway in and really enjoying it.
On the recommendation of a friend I’m reading “On My Way to Paradise” be Dave Wolverton. I was not expecting much, my I’m totally engaged,
I’ve heard of Wolverton, but not that book. Look forward to seeing how you feel about it once you’re done.
I am reading The Course of Empire by Eric Flint. Great book so far. I am on page 241.
“On My Way to Paradise” by Dave Wolverton was excellent. It was his first novel and I could not put it down. The main character is a Panamanian doctor living in a future society that is an amplified version of Central/South America of the 1980s. His journey from doctor to fugitive to mercenary trained by future samurai was captivating. Wolverton’s speculation and philosophic wanderings give the book a real classic feel. Recommended.