Feature & Follow Friday #81

~ shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

 Hi! My name is Shelleyrae and this is Book’d Out!

I’m thrilled to be featured  for

Feature and Follow Friday!

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read.

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

You can follow Book’d Out via RSS,  Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Networked Blogs or Email Subscription (form at right).

This week’s question:

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

While my reading preferences are fairly eclectic I try to avoid the Science Fiction genre.  I’m not exactly sure why I dislike it so much, especially since I am a fan of several science fiction television series like Star Trek (The Next Generation and Voyager), Quantum Leap, Terra nova and The Jetsons but each time I try to read a purely science fiction novel I can’t seem to stay interested.

I think it’s mainly because there is a lack of familiarity with known things, I prefer to read fiction that has some grounding in the real world – which is why I love urban fantasy but rarely read high fantasy.  Science fiction books often have to spend a lot of time world building, both the physical details and the cultural/political details, and I tend to get bored quickly with the minutia of it all. I have also found a lot of the science fiction I have read to be depressing – the earth has usually succumbed to some type of  destruction whether it be environmental, alien invasion or nuclear war and in science fiction someone is almost always trying to kill someone else.

Even though I try to avoid science fiction,  I do have to read a novel from the genre for my Eclectic Reader Challenge this year so I would welcome suggestions from you :

What science fiction novel do you think I should read?

Thank you for stopping by Book’d Out  today, I will be sure to return your visit.

Make sure you visit other participants of the hop who have added their names to the Feature & Follow linky found at

Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read.

(WordPress doesn’t support javascript so I can’t embed the linky)

101 thoughts on “Feature & Follow Friday #81”

  1. I used to be a bit of an SF/F buff, but I’ve always preferred soft science fiction over the hard stuff. I agree that SF lends itself to too much exposition, and there’s often a focus on science, concepts or world-building over story-telling or characterisation, although that’s beginning to change now.

    I love a lot of the old-fashioned stuff such as that by John Wyndham or Philip K Dick, but there’s some good soft sci-fi (arguably even magic realism) coming out of late. I think publishers are aiming to make SF more mainstream, which has led to more of an emphasis on characterisation and writing as opposed to ideas and gadgets.

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    1. Actually I liked John Wyndham’s books as well – especially The Chrysalis and the Midwich Cuckoos. Maybe I need to look for something similar.

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  2. Congrats on being one of the FF features!

    I’m personally VERY picky about my sci-fi, myself. It just depends on how it’s done.

    I’m a new follower via RSS!

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  9. Congrats on the feature! I grew up loving sci-fi and read more Star Wars books than I’d like to admit. A staple would be Ender’s Game. It’s an amazing story and, I believe, has something for everyone. I highly recommend it!

    Happy Friday and new follower here!

    Otherwhere.co FF

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  11. Pingback: Feature & Follow Friday #24 |

  14. I am a new follower via RSS (Congrats on the feature by the way! 🙂 ). I wish I could be more help to you but unfortunately I don’t usually read SciFi either. Actually come to think of it I can’t remember the last SciFi book that I’ve read. If you do find one for your challenge that you enjoy I would love to hear about it! 😉

    Bonnie @ http://www.handsandhome.ca

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  19. New fan and follower 🙂 Love your blog. I love sci-fi when it comes with good romance and/or really funny ideas (like the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) but anything with gun-toting, stalk-eyed aliens will make me run away screaming. Not into all that dimensional rip and rift kinda stuff either! Congrats on being featured:)

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  20. congrats on being featured. I don’t think I’ve actually read sci-fi before. unless you count the Foundation series. I really enjoy world-building and the details of sci-fi and high fantasy though. i think it’s why i have problems with a lot of the dystopian YA nowadays because they have really good ideas but few authors actually delve deep into the details of how society functions. they just kind of leave it hanging. i guess it gives their characters more freedom.

    lol sry for the long comment. anyway new follower!

    My FF

    Ning

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      1. Cinder’s a good suggestion – I bet it would count! Across the Universe and Glow look so good and Under the Never Sky has had such raving reviews. I just got it and I can’t wait to dive in! One of my fav old sci-fi’s is The Crystal Singer – ’cause the girl is so fiesty and sings perfect pitch and sings to crystal to mine it. It’s very sci-fi w/ the different worlds and everything, but I don’t remember a slow moment in the book – plus there’s romance. 🙂

        Congrats on being featured!! Have an awesome weekend!!

        My F&F: Colorimetry

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  25. I haven’t read too much Scifi, but I can’t discard the idea of reading some. I wish I had a suggestion for you to read though! 🙂

    ~Jess @ Gone with the Words | My TGIF/FF post!
    (If you followed my blog via GFC you will no longer be able to get my feed via GFC or Blogger and I would be sad to lose you as a follower! Click HERE to follow my new feed! THANK YOU!)

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  30. Congrats on being featured! New Follower via GFC. 😀 I also stick to sci-fi series that I’ve already exposed too and I also like ST:TNG, ST: Starfleet Academy books (JJ Abrams universe), and Stargate: Atlantis Novels. I don’t know if this will pass your interest tho, I recommend Stargate: Atlantis “Reliquary” by Martha Wells. For me, she captured the voices of the TV characters well on print and the story was an exploratory/adventure which I missed during the show’s run. My FF

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  32. I’m not a fan of Science Fiction either but I did enjoy Frank Herbert’s Dune.
    I love Sci-Fi shows though.

    Have a good weekend and congrats on being the feature.
    New follower.

    Stop by my HOP if you have a chance.

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  33. I can totally relate to the SciFi dilemma. I do love the TV shows and .. oh much I adore Star Wars, but books? I’m not so much into SciFi novels, maybe because it’s easier to “see” than to imagine?
    Happy Friday!!

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  36. I am a card-toting Urban Fantasy lover as well. My blog name probably gave that away already. I’m a bit scared of SF too but I promised myself this year I would try at least one so I’m going to try the Sirantha Jax series by Anne Aguire which is SF written in a very UF style – a total cop out, I know, but hey. I’m ascarded!

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  38. Hi, I’ve hopped over from Parajunkees blog and am now following. Like you I’m not a big fan of science fiction, but I am attempting to widen my reading range this year. I look forward to blogging with you!

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    1. I did try to read that once but it didn’t really grab me, it was quite a while ago though so maybe I should try again. Thanks for the suggestion

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  41. I usually avoid Science Fiction, too, but am surprised to say that almost all the books in that genre that I tried were very enjoyable. O.o LOL go figure.

    I follow on networked blogs

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  44. Ohh I didn’t think of Sci-fi. I don’t really ever read this genre either, unless is YA. Like you though, I’m totally open to suggestions of what’s out there! Congrats on being the feature this week!

    New Follower
    Kristan @ Lost Amongst the Shelves
    My FF

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    1. I dodn’t read that Sarah but i did watch the movie with my daughter and liked it, so maybe I should pick up the book.

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  48. Congratulations on the feature! I am not a huge sci-fi fan either though I have a few authors I enjoy. One that I have recently become obsessed with is Linnea Sinclair who does sci-fi romance (if you are into that kinda thing). I highly recommend her “Games of Command.” Wonderful setting and a terrific hero!

    New email follower!

    Jennifer @ Feminist Fairytale Reviews
    http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/follow-friday-13-and-tgif-4.html

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  50. Hi Shelley – good to meet you and congratulations on being one of this week’s FF features!

    I do read Sci-Fi, but I tend to be quite picky with it. As you do, I find some of the work tedious to read and overly complex. I’m an enjoyment reader. But my suggestions to you would be either Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card or one of Ursula K. Le Guin’s books.

    New Follower (Networked Blogs)

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  53. Have you read The Host by Stephenie Meyer? That’s a great sci-fi read. Congrats on being the Featured Blog. I’m a new follower. My FF post.

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  59. Congrats on the feature! What little of science fiction I’ve read I do mostly enjoy, but it’s just not a genre that I’ll immediately pick out. I hear some great things about it, too! If you’re open to YA Sci-Fi, I’d definitely recommend the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis (book 2 of 3 just came out this month!) – it’s fabulous and engaging and I feel like there’s just enough to keep the interest.

    New follower via RSS 🙂
    My FF

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  62. Okay, so science fiction that doesn’t have a whole lot of world building and probably not people trying to kill each other too often seems like it would be something you would want.

    I might suggest some of Robert J. Sawyer’s books – Flash Forward, Hominids, or Wake might be good. Maybe if you want something older you might like something by Ursula K. Le Guin, like The Dispossessed, The Lathe of Heaven, or even The Left Hand of Darkness. Kelley Eskridge’s Solitaire might be a good choice for you too. I could probably come up with a number of other suggestions given enough time, but that will probably start you off fairly well.

    Aaron (Dreaming About other Worlds).

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  63. It’s nice to be introduced to you and anyone would enjoy all these eyes on their efforts. I’m a crazy editor on my blogs alone and a shame if no one saw what we put into them, eh!? 🙂 A treat to find another chick Trekkie too; what’s more, one familiar beyond the cliche “I like the original series”.

    I have to say I’m uncertain of what defines science fiction vs fantasy. If fantasy is a division of sci-fi, I’ve read John Tolkien of course. I love David Eddings. I say he even exceeds Tolkien. A series I’m trying is by a Canadian who has gained their reputation: Guy Gavriel Kay. How cool is it that law students at University Of Toronto, find a Narnia-type portal through there? Next time I’m in Toronto, I’m going to look! LOL!

    Shortly I’m going to post an article about how I got into fantasy at all. It’s a funny story! I am here: http://www.cmriedel.wordpress.com/

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  65. I used to read very little sci-fi but I think that I am slowly coming around to it, especially through some of the dystopian YA and some older standards.

    One genre I don’t read much of is horror.

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  66. Great point on the Sci-Fi negatives. I have read some books with Sci-Fi components, but never tried a specifically Sci-Fi read. I love Sci-Fi shows as well – especially SyFy channel shows like Stargate, Farscape, and so on. Star Trek is a classic. You pretty much have to enjoy it no matter who you are. But I do worry about being able to immerse myself in a potentially complicated world. I will have to give it a shot sometime and see how I fare. Otherwise, I avoid horror. I can’t watch it, therefore I can’t read it. 🙂 Great looking blog. I look forward to future reviews. Following via Goodreads. I sent a friend request (GzNKz4evr). Congratulations on the feature this week!

    Kendra @ Reader’s Edyn
    http://readersedyn.blogspot.com/2012/01/follow-my-book-blog-friday-6.html

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  69. Congrats on being a featured FF! I am a newbie, and your blog looks fantastic!
    I don’t read much Sci-Fi either. It’s hard for me to follow since most create such out-of-this world scenes and characters with their own languates, etc. The closest thing I ever got to any of that was prob Star Wars, lol!
    I’m a new follower too! Happy Friday!
    margie (http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com)

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  71. I avoid Christian Lit/Fiction simply because I am not interested in fiction that is thinly veiled propaganda or that has a Jesus saves message(quite happy to read author who are Christian tho). Followed closely by romance. I like romance in my novels, just not the central theme being romance.

    As for Science Fiction reads – Dark Space or Nylon Angel by Marianne de Pierres

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  72. My fantasy recommendation is above. If folks try any of them let me know. 🙂 http://www.CMRiedel.Wordpress.com J. Tolkien, David Eddings, Guy Gavriel Kay. Dorothy Daniels did a young adult one “The Maze In The Heart Of A Castle” that became a collector’s quest. It’s mentioned in her mystery “The Tightrope Walker”.

    Someone bravely remarked on Christian literature, called “inspirational”. I’m of strong spiritual faith but dislike that genre too. It’s nice if a character turns to God / Jesus for help, or thanks Him in a story. Music or novels to promote the christian religion (or any), turns me off. It feels wrong. Positive messages work better in a natural time and place. Jesus *does* save but I don’t like books or songs that use it as an ‘obey this church’ slogan. 😉

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I want to know what you think! Your comments are appreciated.