- You must read at least two books from each of the 3 lists, and

  - Write 6 reviews of the books read (and to be candid, is the real challenge for me) 

 Please use this thread to discuss all things Masterworks, and some thoughts on your reading.

 Good Luck to all, and enjoy the journey.

      Michael. (aka ILikeMaps) 

Thanks Dave for your kind comments.  I had fun putting together the logo.

Three challenges? my that would be ambitious. But as others have said, you might be able to manipulate the books where you can almost make this one a "freebie."

I am still tempted to develop a second RYO Challenge. A one book read called "Game WWEnd". The book would be Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov, which sits near the bottom (#262 with 100 reads) of the WWEnd Most Read Books of All-Time list. The purpose would be to see how far we could raise it up the list in 2014.

Oh, one more thing, would it be possible to add the link to this thread under the description.

Thanks again for the wonderful site

Michael

Just checked - after one day,  there are now 9 participants signed up for the 2014 Masterworks Reading Challenge -- I'm blown away.  

But even more amazing is that gondagt was the first to finish a book, Tau Zero by Poul Anderson from the SF Masterworks list -

congrats to Geza Gonda (aka gondagt).

I just began my first book in the challenge - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by PKD. I'm looking forward to some of that noir, dystopian, Blade Runner atmosphere.

Michael 

Trying to find the books that cover many different challenges is an addictive game!  The winner is the person who can read the fewest books whilst still finishing the most challenges.

ILikeMaps - 2014-01-08 12:36 PM  I am still tempted to develop a second RYO Challenge. A one book read called "Game WWEnd". The book would be Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov, which sits near the bottom (#262 with 100 reads) of the WWEnd Most Read Books of All-Time list. The purpose would be to see how far we could raise it up the list in 2014.

Oh, one more thing, would it be possible to add the link to this thread under the description.

Thanks again for the wonderful site

Michael

I LOVE this idea!  You can actually make a 1 book challenge though if that caught on we could be flooded with singles.  Not sure anyone would want to wade through a bunch of those trying to find a "real" challenge.  You could do a 12 month challenge and every month call out a different title from the list for everyone to read.  Do a follow the leader/book group style challenge where everyone reads the same titles at the same time.  It would be fun to see a couple titles rise up the ranking!

For the forum thread you can cope the URL and paste it into the edit screen for the challenge.  I can't access the DB at the moment so I can't do it right now.

So glad you're enjoying the site and we love to see all the buzz here in the forums for the various challenges.  With 10 challenges in the first 2 days we may end up with quite a few as the year goes on.  Interesting that we haven't seen any mini-challenges yet.  3 month runs or short 6 book challenges.  Or for that matter there have been no challenges over 12 books yet either.  Plenty of time for those still!

Will think about how to make it work, I might make it a 3 month challenge, with the goal of seeing how high we can raise a bottom level book up the rankings.  If it catches on, could do four of them through the year. 

 Thanks for the support

Michael

Deven

Fully understand, I am a fairly slow reader as well, and also read other things (although I am not very rigid about rotating any type of reading), That is why I don't want to commit to more than 12 books for the year. 

Regarding finding two on each list, there are some interesting books on the Fantasy list which are not the Sword and Sorcery types, you might consider:

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers - more of a steampunk, time travel Book.
Something Wicked This Way Comes? by Ray Bradbury - more of a modern fantasy or even horror of novel (a classic)
Replay by Ken by Grimwood - another time travel novel

While probably not for this challenge as it is really 5 (smallish) books I would also highly recommend:
The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny - one of my favorate book series of all time, although it is listed as Sword and Sorcery, I wouldn't classify it that way in any shape or fom.  The first book hooks you at the very beginning and doesn't let go.

Hope you can join us.

Michael

DrNefario - 2014-01-08 6:13 AM Twelve's quite a good number for me, because it's doable without being too much of a burden, especially if I get some crossover between challenges. If I'm going to sign up for many more they'll need to be shorter, though. Anyway, I need a ruling. Two of my Masterworks are actually omnibuses: Helliconia and Riddle-Master's Game (which is incorrectly listed as just the first volume, Riddle-Master of Hed, in the database, unless they did a single-volume version too). Does reading one book from the omnibus count, or do I have to read the whole lot? I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen in a single year with Helliconia, at least.

DrNefario

Whew, Helliconia would be quite a challenge, but good luck.

Regarding counting books, in reality this challenge is for you, so if you read the first book in the series and want to count it, that is fine by me, but you will probably need to click off the entire omnibus as included in the SF Masterworks as "Read"  to have it count. 

I have one such multibook series on my list as well, The Book of the New Sun, Volume 1: Shadow and Claw by Gene Wolfe, which is really two books.  I will do my best to get through them

Glad to have you aboard.

Michael

DrNefario - 2014-01-09 5:13 AM  Anyway, I need a ruling. Two of my Masterworks are actually omnibuses: Helliconia and Riddle-Master's Game (which is incorrectly listed as just the first volume, Riddle-Master of Hed, in the database, unless they did a single-volume version too). Does reading one book from the omnibus count, or do I have to read the whole lot? I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen in a single year with Helliconia, at least.

So I looked into the The Riddle-Master of Hed business and you're right.  We should have The Riddle-Master's Game as a separate listing and tag that for the FM series.  Strange that there is a FM cover with just the first title when there never was such a book. The internet has screwed me again.  I'll try to correct that at lunch.

In which case if you want to read The Riddle-Master's Game (or Helliconia) for the Masterworks Challenge you'll need to read the entire omnibus since that is the version on the Masterworks list.

Thanks for the heads up about RMH.

Another option to consider would be  In Conquest Born  by C.S. Friedman.  It is a Space Opera and Military Fiction novel. 

Michael 

DrNefario

WELCOME to the Masterworks Challenge. 

I also signed up for a second challenge (12 awards in 12 months), but I carefully looked to make sure that most of the readings worked for both challenges.  Only a couple of extra books too read.

Don't know about you, I took a trip to the 2nd hand bookshop yesterday, and found three of books for the challenge for only $2 US each. 

Heck for you, One trip to  Hay-on-Wye and you could probably find them ALL.

Good Luck

Michael 

I have finished my first book in the Challenge.  Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by PK Dick. (even wrote a Review).

This is a classic I have been meaning to read for quite a while, and now that I have read the book, I understand the title much more. It seems that an electronic sheep plays an important role in the book. (go figure).

As I read through each of these books, I will be asking myself: Do I believe it should be on the SF Masterworks List? For this book, the answer would be ABSOLUTELY. Essentially it is book that wrestles with the question "What does it mean to he human", it seems to hold up very well with age, and it contributes significantly to the "robot / android" genre of Science Fiction.  (plus I really like the noir, detective novel style of writing).

    Thoughts from others who have read the book?

OK, on to my next book:  From SF to Fantasy (sort of) as I begin reading The Book of the New Sun, Volume 1: Shadow and Claw.  The first book (really first two books) of Gene Wolfe’s New Sun Series. 

Michael

 I understand completely, everybody loved the Demolished Man, but frankly I was less than impressed, just couldn't get past Bester's writing style. I enjoyed DADoES because it reminded me of the hard boiled detective novel of the 40s and 50s, although I wouldn't describe Deckard as hard boiled. Although I enjoy some of the more "literate" stuff,  I think the novels I enjoy most are rip roaring space ( or fantasy) adventures, and space operas.  Just a shallow reader at heart I guess. 

After about a month and a half into the Roll Your Own reading challenge, things seem to be going quite well for the Masterworks Reading Challenge.  We have 46 subscribers who have read a total of 50 books, with about 40% of them have new reviews.  Also, the forum seems fairly active.  So All is Well with the Masterworks Challenge. (thanks to all of you).

As for me, I am almost done with my second book on my Masterworks list: The Book of the New Sun, Volume 1: Shadow and Claw.   (which in reality is two books in a single volume).  I will probably not move into volume 2 immediately, instead electing to read something a little "lighter" for a couple of months.  While I am not saying I don't like the books, but Gene Wolfe is a master at words, and these books are quite meaty. 

The upside, however, is that like many others, I am participating in another challenge (12 awards in 12 months) and each of the books in the series won different awards, so Volume 1 counts as two books in that challenge.

Keep up the Great Work
Michael 

 Oh My - 57 books, I only hope I can make my 15-16.

Although I am not a Zombie reader, I love a good mindless spy adventure.  Happy to know that I am not alone in imbibing in cheesy reads every so often.     

If anyone wants to recommend a great spy sci-fi, I would love to hear recommendations. 

 I love when things like that happen.  I really enjoyed The Forever War, Hope you do to.   Also, I have Kate Wilhelm's book on my list to read as well.  Post your opinion on the forum when you are done, I would love to hear your thoughts ...

 ... and when you have let me know what you think about And Late the Sweet Birds Sing ---- copy the sentence or two you wrote in the forum, and paste in your review section under the book.  -- you have just completed a review. 

Frankly I hate doing reviews as well - that is why I had only six in the challenge.  I agree, the reviews, not the reading is the real challenge. 

Now that brings up old memories.  I used to play D&D a long time ago (probably more years than I care to admit).   I also read some of the early novels as well.  Nice to hear everyone here has a closet "shallow book" habit. 

Badseedgirl - Thanks for the recommendation.   I have read The City and the City , and enjoyed it.  Not sure I would consider it "Spy", rather, more of a detective novel, such as The Caves of Steel , or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

dustydigger - The Quadrail series does looks like it would be a be a fun read.  Have read a couple of Timothy Zahn books before and remember that I enjoyed them.  They are also considered Space Opera, which even makes me want to even read them more.   Added to my reading list so I won't forget, after I have completed my challenges. 

EricLandes - Thanks for the link.  I have seen this before and agree that their definition of Science Fiction is indeed rather "loose". Will take another look at the Tim Powers novel.  However seeing the novel from David Weber, makes me want to take another look at the Baen list of novels.  While most of their stuff is military SciFi, there just might be some SpyFi thrown in.

justifiedsinner - Not sure that I had John Le Carre in mind  (his reads are usually quite heady).  Really looking for some of those "beach read" books filled with action, adventure, twists and turns, spys and of course exotic places.  Primarily in the vein of authors such as Robert Ludlum, (have read most of his) or Frederick Forsyth.  However Wasp , by Eric Frank Russell seems to fit the bill quite nicely.  To top it off, its on the SF Masterworks list -  woohoo.  I was looking at one or two more to fill my Masterworks slots. Thanks.

Thanks again to everyone on their ideas for  "SpyFi" novels!

Michael 

The Anderson book looks intriguing as well.

Tim Anderson The Flowery War. A fast-paced novel with a new take on the Spyfi sub-genre. A graduate-school dropout, working for an alien language expert, becomes a spy in a futuristic world. 

Three months into the Challenge and I just finished my third book:

Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang, by Kate Wilhelm, also read by 4 others in the Challenge.  It fulfills one of the books in the SF Mistressworks list (as well as the Locus SF award for the 12 awards in 12 months challenge).

It was an interesting book, which explores the meaning individuality.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where fertility basically stopped, it is the story of a group of scientists in a fairly isolated valley who implemented cloning, as a way of continuing the human race.  Interesting concepts, and while I haven't yet written a review, I will.  (I need my six).

OK, on to my next book: Ringworld, by Larry Niven.  It is Sci Fi Masterwork novel.  Tried t start this novel many years ago, but this time I will actually read it.

Michael 

Hello, I'm new to the site.

I decided at the end of last year that I'd left Science Fiction on the shelf too long (20ish Years). After deciding to try some, I found about 6 or 7 Philip K. Dick novels in a second hand stall in a local market. Some were Masterwork prints and some weren't. I decided to look into this group of books and have other titles from the list to read. I've mostly enjoyed the ones I've read so far. Any advice on the others would be great.

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions. I've just read Dune , which I enjoyed, except the mua'd dib part in the middle. I enjoyed the politics and plotting, (House of cards, UK version).

jlk22  If you like politics and plotting - then you will love the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny.  It is on the Fantasy Masterworks list, but don't let that fool you, it is a very different type of fantasy.  I have read it twice, and plan to re-read it again in a couple of years.

One note, the book is really an omnibus of five (small) books combined into one volume.  So it is rather long.

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

I've just read Dune , which I enjoyed, except the mua'd dib part in the middle. I enjoyed the politics and plotting, (House of cards, UK version).

 I've recently read the Foundation Trilogy, Flowers for Algernon and A Clockwork Orange

 My To Be Read List

 Alastair Reynolds

Revelation Space

Redemption Ark

Absolution Gap

Century Rains

John  Wyndham

Triffids 

Kraken

Chrysalids

Midwich Cuckoos

Trouble With Lichen

Chocky

Philip K. Dick

4 Short Story Collections

James Blish 

Cities In Flight

Dan Simmons

Hyperion

The Fall of Hyperion

Greg Bear

Eon

Eternity

Legacy

Blood Music

Darwin's Radio

Ben Bova

Mars

Sheri S. Teper

Grass

 This is the post I should have made, If you could delete the other one, Thanks.

Jkl22

Hope that you enjoy Cities in Flight .  I read it many years ago and remember that I really enjoyed it.  One of these days I am going to read it again, and hope that it is as good as I remember.

 I hope I enjoy it as much as you did.

We've just added a few new Masterworks to the lists for your consideration.

The Day of the Triffids is the last of the original hardcover masterworks that doesn't have a paperback in the new series.

Ooops!  I missed one other hardcover that has not gotten the paperback treatment and it's a doozy!

Here are some stats to put your mind at ease

• There are 439 selections for the 2014 Masterworks Reading Challenge
• 271 SF Masterworks selections
• 87 Fantasy Masterworks
• 125 Mistressworks selections
• 15 invalid selections 

There is some overlap between the lists where Mistressworks books are also on either of the Masterworks lists.  Fifteen invalid selections from a handful of members is not too shabby out of 439 selections so the self-policing is working pretty well so far which is how most of the RYO challenges work.

This happens to be a case where we can restrict the checkbox from showing on ineligible novel pages so we're looking into that now.  For the record, it bothers me a little bit too.  I like things to be nice and tidy.

The Roll-You-Own Reading Challenge is the new default for the site now and we plan to keep it running forever.  WWEnders can roll new challenges at any time and they can overlap the calendar year as needed or you can wait for January to launch new ones if you want a nice neat yearly challenge format.  I suspect we'll just add the year to the challenge banners and refresh the most popular challenges annually.

We just love this format since it gives everyone a chance to find or roll a challenge that fits their needs.  Nobody gets turned away because they don't like the single challenge theme.  That's huge!  It has lead to a lot of great creativity and enthusiasm from our whole community and we just want to keep on expanding it year after year.

We have a lot of updates and new ideas that we never got around to implementing this year that we will certainly get in for next year to make the interface better and give you guys more options and controls on your challenges.  So many in fact that you can consider this year the beta test version.  If you like this year's version you're going to love what we have in mind for next.  It's going to be really great!

Just an FYI, the Kindle version of Pat Murphy's The City, Not Long After -- which is on the SF Mistressworks List and also a Mythopoeic- and Clarke-nominated novel as well, is on sale for the next 20+ hours for $1.99. I've snapped that baby up, since my library system, though very well SFF-equipped, does not have it.

And it looks as though Nook has matched that sale price. Kobo may do so as well.

Edit: Just realized it's not eligible for the 12 Awards in 12 Months Challenge, as it was nominated, but did not win.