[bksvol-discuss] Next Meeting of the Science Fiction Club, Thursday, May 13, 2010

From: "EVAN REESE" <mentat3@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <scifi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:55:37 -0400
Hello Everyone,

We had a great meeting last night, and although we all had minor criticisms, 
everyone liked Singularity's Ring by Paul Melko.

The next meeting of the Science Fiction club will be on Thursday, May 13, 2010 
at the Book Nook.

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rs7867a2369e0e

Time: 9 PM Eastern, 8 Central, 7 Mountain, 6 Pacific, and 01:00 UTC.

The book we have chosen to read this month is:

The January Dancer by Michael Flynn.

Available from BARD for digital download at:

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.69013

Here is the NLS synopsis:

Captain Amos January and the crew of the merchant
spaceship New Angeles land for repairs on a remote planet,
where they discover a powerful, prehuman artifact called the
Dancer. The Dancer changes hands frequently as governments,
cabals, bandits, and others fight, scheme--even kill--to
possess it.

Here are two summaries, one from Publishers Weekly and the other from Booklist:

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Acclaimed SF writer Flynn (Eifelheim)
delivers an epic tale of adventure, intrigue, suspense and mystery. Forced to 
land
for repairs on an unnamed, remote planet, Captain Amos January and crew discover
a cache of artifacts left by a cryptic alien race long before humans went to 
space.
They soon retrieve the Dancer, a shape-changing stone that defies analysis. 
Possibly
the scepter of a legendary prehuman king, certainly unique, the priceless trophy
is desired by diverse governments, military powers, plutocrats and cabals 
throughout
human-settled space. Flynn knits a richly detailed story of hunters, bandits and
patriots that will keep even the most diligent readers on their toes. The plot 
evokes
old-school space opera with its whirlwind pace, immense scope and twist ending, 
but
cutting-edge extrapolation breathes vivid life into this universe of scoundrels,
heroes and romantics. This multi-layered story demands much of the reader, but 
offers
more than equivalent rewards.

Booklist
A harper wanders into a bar on Jehovah, the focal point of an interchange on the
spaceways, and asks for the story of the Dancer, a prehuman artifact discovered 
by
the crew of a ship commanded by one Captain January, which set down for repairs 
on
an empty planet. They lost it trading for a working ship, and it changes hands 
many
times over the course of its story. It shows up again on civil war-wracked New 
Eireann,
then makes its way to a pirate fleet. If the legends are true, it's an artifact 
of
great and terrible power, and among its seekers are the Fudir, a Terran; Little 
Hugh
O'Carroll of the Eireannaughta; and the Hounds Bridget Ban and Greystroke. 
Through
its story Flynn weaves the stories of the minstrel who asked about it and the 
man
informing her, which are connected to a web of tales enveloping the Dancer. 
Flynn
puts his world-building skills to good use, creating a context that begs to be 
further
explored, whether by him or someone else.

Those of us who've been reading Analog for many years know that when Michael 
Flynn is involved, good and thoughtful writing and plenty of surprises are in 
store. Those of you unfamiliar with the name are in for an introduction they 
will not soon forget.

Hope to see lots of people at the next meeting.

Evan
[bksvol-discuss] Next Meeting of the Science Fiction Club, Thursday, May 13, 2010

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