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#classicLSFBC
review
swynn
The Weapon Makers | A.E. Van Vogt
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Pickpick

(1947)

This is a kind-of sequel to April's #ClassicLSFBC read, “The Weapon Shops of Isher“, and continues the story of Weapon Shop agent Robert Hedrock. Here he investigates rumors about a new interstellar drive ... and finds himself condemned to death both by the Empire and the Weapon Shop. This was conceived as a single story so feels more coherent than mashup TWSOI; still, the story takes off in multiple directions for that signature VV style

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LitsyEvents
The Nomination | Frederick Williams
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repost for @RamsFan1963:

Since we skipped May for #ClassicLSFBC, it's time to do nominations for June. Nomination from today until the end of the month, then we can vote. I'll get the ball rolling by nominating The Great Time Machine Hoax by Keith Laumer.

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RamsFan1963
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Since we skipped May for #ClassicLSFBC, it's time to do nominations for June. Nomination from today until the end of the month, then we can vote. I'll get the ball rolling by nominating The Great Time Machine Hoax by Keith Laumer.
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl @Johanna414 @Lizpixie @BookBelle84 @Larkken @julesG @Deblovestoread @majkia @LeticiaToraci @sebrittainclark @kwmg40 @CatLass007

See All 12 Comments
rwmg I'm happy to (re-)read Foundation 3d
KathyWheeler I‘ve never read Foundation, so it‘d be interesting to read. 3d
kwmg40 I too would like to reread Foundation. 3d
swynn Jo Clayton's Diadem from the Stars. 3d
CatLass007 A reread of Foundation, but there‘s an 18 week wait list at my public library and my copy is still packed away. I‘ve never read Diadem from the Stars but it‘s not available at my public library at all. So I‘m gonna go on a limb and nominate one that is considerably longer than these two and of which I already own a copy and can put my hands on. (edited) 1d
Larkken I'm good with foundation but here's one I just recently found on my bookshelf (surprise! Not sure when I got it) : 1d
RamsFan1963 @Larkken Lord of Light is one of my all time favorite novels. I'd love to reread it, it's been several years since I read it the first time 12h
CatLass007 I could agree with Lord of Light. I like the author and the book is available. And I was going to withdraw my nomination of Dune and instead nominate 7h
RamsFan1963 @CatLass007 I've had The Children of Men on my shelf for years, so I wouldn't object to reading it 7h
51 likes12 comments
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RamsFan1963
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Holy Crap!! Did I forget about May?!? I really dropped the ball guys, I'm sorry that I forgot about doing the #ClassicLSFBC selection for May. The new job has taken most of my time, and April just slipped through my fingers.
I didn't realize, until I saw @swynn review of The Weapon Shops of Isher, that I'd forgotten. I apologize. I'll leave it up to everyone else, we can skip May and make a selection for June instead, or we can do some ⬇️

CatLass007 I‘ll just go along with the majority. 4w
See All 15 Comments
KathyWheeler I‘m fine with whatever others want. 4w
The_Literary_Jedi I‘m good with a short break 4w
Ruthiella I‘m okay with taking May off! 4w
rwmg I'm another one happy to go ahead with what the majority wants - or are we the majority? 4w
julesG Hope you're settling into the new job. I'm fine with skipping May, I haven't been in the mood for the classics these past months anyways. 🫣 All those shiny new books out there, you know how it is. 4w
CSeydel A new job really takes it out of you! Thanks for all you do! 4w
swynn I'm fine either way. If we skip May, I'll probably go back and pick up a title the group has already read but that I missed while life was hectic.

Whenever the next read is, I'll nominate Jo Clayton's debut novel, “Diadem From the Stars“
4w
PaperbackPirate That‘s ok with me! Take care of yourself. 4w
TheSpineView I'm fine to do either. H 4w
kwmg40 I‘m good with a short break. 4w
Larkken I‘m good with a short break. I‘m very behind on buddy reads lately ! 4w
RamsFan1963 @Larkken A break seems to be the consensus for May 4w
44 likes15 comments
review
swynn
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Mehso-so

(1951, from stories 1941-1949)

I read and enjoyed this back around 1980, but avoided revisiting it because I remembered a libertarian/gun-rights theme that I'd now find irksome. Which is true a little, but it's hard to stay irked by something so bonkers. For me this is peak Van Vogt: so packed with ideas it can't be bothered with things like consistency, craft or common sense: a hot mess that tips “hot“ enough to be enjoyable still

#ClassicLSFBc

review
rwmg
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Mehso-so

The weapon shops are the only recourse against the tyranny of the Isher empire although the weapons they sell can only work as self-defence for their owner.

I was a great fan of the author as a teenager - especially the Null-A books - so I must have read this before, but I had no memory of the story. I expect I enjoyed it then, mainly because I was unaware of certain controversies it seems to be playing into. Now, not so much.

27 likes1 comment
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rwmg
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RamsFan1963
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Hey everybody!! I'm sorry I'm so late with this, March was not a good month for me, hopefully April will be better. I also hope everyone enjoyed Childhood's End. It's not my favorite Clarke novel, but different strokes for different folks. A reminder, April's selection is The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. Van Vogt. Hope everyone enjoys. #ClassicLSFBC
@Bookwomble @Ruthiella @TheSpineView @BookmarkTavern @wanderinglynn @Readergrrl

44 likes4 comments
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Ruthiella
Childhood's End | Arthur Charles Clarke
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A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 What do you think about the novel‘s imagined trajectory for humanity? Do you see it as a positive or negative development? Did any of you also read “Almost Human”, one of our earlier group reads? It posits a very different possibility.

swynn I found it oddly hopeful. There will come a time when there aren't any humans left. I love Star Trek and Perry Rhodan, but a future where humans thrive and expand into every corner of the universe is a pipe dream. Given the choice between (a) we wipe ourselves out and (b) we survive but as something else, I find (b) more interesting and appealing. I haven't read Almost Human but should fix that. 2mo
kwmg40 I'm afraid I didn't manage to get to this one in March. I did read it a long time ago but have forgotten the details. I hope to get to a reread eventually. 2mo
Ruthiella @swynn I found it a little creepy. But maybe because it‘s so outside my understanding and sense of individuality. I guess I want a few centuries of cooperative, less self destructive humankind before we move to a non-corporal collective. 2mo
Ruthiella @kwmg40 No worries! I see it‘s also been adapted to television. Might check that out. 2mo
kwmg40 @Ruthiella I hadn‘t known that. Thanks for the info! 2mo
38 likes5 comments
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Ruthiella
Childhood's End | Arthur Charles Clarke
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A couple of questions for any who have finished this month‘s #ClassicLSFBC pick. If anyone would like to be added or removed from the tag list, let me know.

🚀 The characters are fairly flat, which isn‘t uncommon for some classic SciFi. Did particular character or behavior stand out to you? Maybe Karellen? He‘s the only one present in all three sections of the book.

swynn Karellen is the most interesting character, since for most of the book he represents the Overlords so it's through him that I was looking for hints about their motivation which is the central mystery. But I most strongly identified with the stowaway Rodricks, and his refusal of the ban on space travel. 2mo
Ruthiella @swynn I definitely, by the end, felt Karrellen‘s sadness and empathized with him. Jan was interesting. I feel like there should‘ve been more humans like him, questioning their limits. 2mo
33 likes2 comments