Lately I’ve come across a few articles of interest that I’ve been meaning to mention but haven’t with all the time spent on getting this new site up and running. The first of these are a couple of book clubs for next year that each have a wonderful selection of books: The Women of Fantasy and The Women of Science Fiction.

Erika of Jawas Read Too is hosting The Women of Fantasy, which consists of a wonderful list of books:

• The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
• Elfland by Freda Warrington
• Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
• Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
• War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
• The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier
• All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear
• Indigo Springs by A.M. Dellamonica
• Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
• Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
• The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee

I haven’t read all of these but some books I really loved are in this list – The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (review), Elfland (which I just finished last night), and All the Windwracked Stars (review).  Out of these I’ve read one other book on the list, The Gaslight Dogs (review).  While it wasn’t a book I loved, it was set in an interesting world and has the potential to be the start to an interesting series.  Prospero Lost, War for the Oaks, The Dark Mirror, Indigo Springs and Tooth and Claw are all books I really want to read so I’m going to read at least one (hopefully more) for this.

TJ at Dreams and Speculation is running The Women of Science Fiction.  The list of books for this book club also looks amazing:

• Dust by Elizabeth Bear
• The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
• Darkship Thieves by Sarah A. Hoyt
• Dooms Day Book by Connie Willis
• Mappa Mundi by Justina Robson
• Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler
• Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
• China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
• Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon
• Farthing by Jo Walton
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• City of Pearl by Karen Traviss
• Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr.

My science fiction reading seems to be lacking since I’ve only read one of these – Cordelia’s Honor, which is a GREAT book (review).  Dust and City of Pearl are both on my to-read pile, and I should definitely use this as an excuse to read Dust since I love Elizabeth Bear and can’t believe I haven’t read it yet.  The Dispossessed, Lilith’s Brood, China Mountain Zhang and Farthing are all on my wish list so maybe I should use it as an excuse to read one or two of those as well.

This piece of news made me squeal a little: there are plans to make Storm Constantine’s Wraeththu into a TV mini-series or movie.  The Wraethththu Chronicles is one of my favorite series ever.  It would be interesting to see as a movie or mini-series, at least if it was done well.