There’s a new challenge for 2014 on the World Without Ends
site. It’s the “Roll Your Own Challenge”.
It lets you create a challenge of your own and/or join a challenge
created by another member. I’ve created my own. It’s called the 2014 I Just HAVE To Read More Of That Author Challenge. This is how I came up with it:
I started by wondering how I could incorporate the last 4
books of my personal challenge to read all the Hugos into a WWEnd challenge. As I reflected on this, I realized all the
books were the second or third book by an author whose previous winners I’ve already
read. They are Connie Willis’ “Blackout/All
Clear”, Vernor Vinge’s “A Deepness in the Sky”, CJ Cherryh’s “Downbelow Station”,
and Lois McMaster Bujold’s “Paladin of Souls”. I couldn’t use the already created Sequel or
Universe challenges because these Hugo winners are a mish-mash of the two. “Paladin” is not a sequel to nor in the universe
of the Vorkosigan Saga books I’ve already read but it’s the second part of its
own trilogy the first of which I haven’t read, Vinge’s book is a sequel, and the Willis and Cherryh
books are in universes. Wow, that’s
confusing.
Also, I’ve been dying to read more Clifford Simak and Karen
Lord, Connie Willis’ non-time travel books, Mary Doria Russell’s sequel to “The
Sparrow”, and the sequels to Wrede and Steverson’s Sorcery and Cecelia.
My challenge covers all these books which do not fit snuggly
into the other challenges.
The actual challenge is to read 12 books by authors you’ve
read before and write a review for 6 of them. The books can be standalone novels, the
remaining books in a series, or parts of a universe. You can read 12 books by one author, one book
book each by 12 different authors, or a few books by several authors. Mine will be the last one.
I’m opening up the challenge to all my friends and
followers. To keep track of your
progress and publish your reviews, join the Worlds Without End website and signup for my challenge. Feel free to leave
comments here or in my challenge’s forum on WWEnd. Let me know what authors you just HAVE to
read more of and which of their books you’re reading. Oh, and just to include more people, if you don't want to write reviews, you don't have to. It's fun just to keep track of your books in the challenge tracker.
My list of books are below with
links to their reviews. I also added all the other challenges I've joined. I know, I'm crazy. Many of the books fit into multiple challenges, so you'll see a lot of duplicates, and it brings the total books I need to read from 60 to 46. And the icons also give you a link to that challenge listed on the WWEnd RYO challenge pages.
Challenge: Read 12 books by 12 different authors who have won the Damon Knight Grand Master Award, who you've never read before.
Challenge: Read 12 books by LGBT authors or books that have LGBT characters or themes
Challenge: Read 12 books that are included in Orion Publishing Groups SF Masterworks, SF Mistressworks, and Fantasy Masterworks lists. The idea for the lists was the managing editor's, to bring important works back into print.
Challenge: Read 12 books by 12 different women authors of genre fiction, who you've never read before
Challenge: Read 12 books that have been nominated for 12 of the 14 genre fiction awards listed on WWEnd, but did not win an award.
Challenge: Read 12 fantasy books
Challenge: Read a book each by Elizabeth Bear, Elizabeth Hand and Elizabeth Moon.
Challenge: Read 12 novels, each winning a different award tracked by WWEnd, in 12 months.
Challenge: Read 12 books that could be tagged apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, near future, utopia, dsytopia, etc.
Challenge: Read 6 books that feature Vampires, Zombies, Werewolves, Monsters, Mutants, and any other creepy creatures you can think of.
Challenge: Read 12 books that begin a series. It doesn't necesssarily have to be the book identified as the first in the WWE database, but should be a recognised starting point, not just a random book. In addition, it should be a real series, where the books relate to one another, rather than a loose collection of stories or a thematic series (so Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea, fine; the Hainish Cycle, not so fine)
Challenge: Read 12 sequels. The sequels can be to those books read in other challenges or just sequels to something read a long time ago.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| All Clear | Connie Willis | 5 stars |
| Arachne | Lisa Mason | 3 stars |
| Black Easter/Day After Judgement | James Blish | 4 stars |
| Blackout | Connie Willis | 5 stars |
| A Choice of Gods | Clifford D. Simak | 5 stars |
Richard K. Morgan
|
3 stars
|
|
| A Deepness in the Sky | Vernor Vinge | 4 stars |
| Downbelow Station | CJ Cherryh | 2 stars |
| The Grand Tour | Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer | 4 stars |
| The Mislaid Magician | Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer | 4 stars |
| Paladin of Souls | Lois McMaster Bujold | 3 stars |
| Passage | Connie Willis | 4 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 books by 12 different authors who have won the Damon Knight Grand Master Award, who you've never read before.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Behold The Man | Michael Moorcock | 4 stars |
| The Complete Compleat Enchanter | L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt | 4 stars |
| Darker Than You Think | Jack Williamson | 4 stars |
| Dhalgren | Samuel R. Delaney | 3 stars |
| Emphyrio | Jack Vance | 4 stars |
| Greybeard | Brian Aldiss | 3 stars |
| The Immortals | James Gunn | 4 stars |
| Pstalemate | Lester del Rey | 3 stars |
| Shadow of the Torturer | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
| Son of Man | Robert Silverberg | 3 stars |
| The Stainless Steel Rat | Harry Harrison | 4 stars |
| Turning On | Damon Knight | 4 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 books by LGBT authors or books that have LGBT characters or themes
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Brown Girl in the Ring | Nalo Hopkinson | 5 stars |
| The Cold Commands | Richard K. Morgan | 3 stars |
| The Dark Defiles | Richard K. Morgan | 4 stars |
| Deep Wizardry | Diane Duane | 2 stars |
| Dhalgren | Samuel R. Delaney | 3 stars |
| Drawing Blood | Poppy Z. Brite | 4 stars |
| Exquisite Corpse | Poppy Z. Brite | 5 stars |
| The Female Man | Joanna Russ | 2 stars |
| Lost Souls | Poppy Z. Brite | 3 stars |
| Slow River | Nicola Griffith | 4 stars |
| The Steel Remains | Richard K. Morgan | 5 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 books that are included in Orion Publishing Groups SF Masterworks, SF Mistressworks, and Fantasy Masterworks lists. The idea for the lists was the managing editor's, to bring important works back into print.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Behold The Man | Michael Moorcock | 4 stars |
| Brown Girl in the Ring | Nalo Hopkinson | 5 stars |
| The Complete Compleat Enchanter |
L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt | 4 stars |
| Darker Than You Think | Jack Williamson | 4 stars |
| Dhalgren | Samuel R. Delaney | 3 stars |
| Emphyrio | Jack Vance | 4 stars |
| The Female Man | Joanna Russ | 2 stars |
| Grendel | John Gardner | 5 stars |
| Greybeard | Brian Aldiss | 3 stars |
| The Sirens of Titan | Kurt Vonnegut | 3 stars |
| Slow River | Nicola Griffith | 4 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 books by 12 different women authors of genre fiction, who you've never read before
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Ancillary Justice | Ann Leckie | 2 stars |
| Brown Girl in the Ring | Nalo Hopkinson | 5 stars |
| Deep Wizardry | Diane Duane | 2 stars |
| Drawing Blood | Poppy Z. Brite | 4 stars |
| The Female Man | Joanna Russ | 2 stars |
| The Golem and the Jinni | Helene Wecker | 5 stars |
| Mr. Fox | Helen Oyeyemi | 4 stars |
| New Amsterdam | Elizabeth Bear | 1 stars |
| Remnant Population | Elizabeth Moon | 5 stars |
| Slow River | Nicola Griffith | 4 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | 3 stars |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 books that have been nominated for 12 of the 14 genre fiction awards listed on WWEnd, but did not win an award.
| Title | Author | Award | Rating |
| Black Easter/Day After Judgement | James Blish | Nebula | 4 stars |
| Children of God | Mary Doria Russell | British SF | 5 stars |
| A Choice of Gods | Clifford D. Simak | Locus SF | 5 stars |
| The Dog Stars | Peter Heller | Clarke | 5 stars |
| Drawing Blood | Poppy Z. Brite | World Fantasy | 4 stars |
| Exquisite Corpse | Poppy Z. Brite | Stoker | 5 stars |
| Godbody | Theodore Sturgeon | Locus Fantasy | 4 stars |
| Grendel | John Gardner | Mythopoeic | 5 stars |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | British Fantasy Society | 4 stars |
| Sirens of Titan | Kurt Vonnegut | Hugo | 3 stars |
| White is for Witching | Helen Oyeyemi | Shirley Jackson | 3 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | Philip K Dick | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 fantasy books
| Title | Author | Rating |
| The Cold Commands | Richard K. Morgan | 3 stars |
| The Complete Compleat Enchanter | L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt | 4 stars |
| Darker Than You Think | Jack Williamson | 4 stars |
| Deep Wizardry | Diane Duane | 2 stars |
| The Golem and the Jinni | Helene Wecker | 5 stars |
| The Grand Tour | Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer | 4 stars |
| Grendel | John Gardner | 5 stars |
| The Mislaid Magician | Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer | 4 stars |
| Mr. Fox | Helen Oyeyemi | 4 stars |
| Paladin of Souls | Lois McMaster Bujold | 3 stars |
| Shadow of the Torturer | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
| The Steel Remains | Richard K. Morgan | 5 stars |
Challenge: Read a book each by Elizabeth Bear, Elizabeth Hand and Elizabeth Moon.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| New Amsterdam | Elizabeth Bear | 1 stars |
| Remnant Population | Elizabeth Moon | 5 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 novels, each winning a different award tracked by WWEnd, in 12 months.
| Title | Author | Award | Rating |
| Altered Carbon | Richard K. Morgan | Philip K Dick | 4 stars |
| Ancillary Justice | Ann Leckie | Clarke | 2 stars |
| Claw of the Conciliator | Gene Wolfe | Locus Fantasy | 4 stars |
| The Curse of Chalion | Lois McMaster Bujold | Mythopoeic | |
| Deepness in the Sky | Verner Vinge | Hugo | 4 stars |
| Little Brother | Cory Doctorow | Campell | 5 stars |
| Passage | Connie Willis | Locus SF | 4 stars |
| Shadow of the Torturer | Gene Wolfe | British SF | 5 stars |
| Slow River | Nicola Griffith | Nebula | 4 stars |
| Sword of the Lictor | Gene Wolfe | British Fantasy Society | 5 stars |
| Tooth and Claw | Jo Walton | World Fantasy | 5 stars |
| Witches on the Road Tonight | Sheri Holman | Shirley Jackson | 2 stars |
Challenge: Pick three SF or fantasy trilogies and write one review for each trilogy. That's nine
and three reviews in twelve months. You must read at least one SF trilogy and one Fantasy trilogy. You can make it more challenging by reading a Horror trilogy for your third choice otherwise it's up to you. A trilogy that later got expanded into a longer series is OK and it's also cool if you want to read the first three books of a longer series. As a suggestion, rather than a rule, pick at least one trilogy by a woman author.
Challenge: This challenge is all about reading books you've read before. For the "Read it again, Sam." challenge you get to indulge yourself in some old favorites. Pick 6 books that you've always wanted to re-read and see for yourself if they're still favorites. But be warned, many old faves won't stand up to a second reading - especially if it's been years since your first read.
I'm using this challenge to reread the 6 Hugo winners I read long ago, but need to reread in order to write reviews.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| The Curse of Chalion | Lois McMaster Bujold | |
| Paladin of Souls | Lois McMaster Bujold | 3 stars |
| The Hallowed Hunt | Lois McMaster Bujold | 3 stars |
| The Steel Remains | Richard K. Morgan | 5 stars |
| The Cold Commands | Richard K. Morgan | 3 stars |
| The Dark Defiles | Richard K. Morgan | 4 stars |
| The Shadow of the Torturer | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
| The Claw of the Conciliator | Gene Wolfe | 4 stars |
| The Sword of the Lictor | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
Challenge: This challenge is all about reading books you've read before. For the "Read it again, Sam." challenge you get to indulge yourself in some old favorites. Pick 6 books that you've always wanted to re-read and see for yourself if they're still favorites. But be warned, many old faves won't stand up to a second reading - especially if it's been years since your first read.
I'm using this challenge to reread the 6 Hugo winners I read long ago, but need to reread in order to write reviews.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| American Gods | Neil Gaiman | 5 stars |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | 5 stars |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | JK Rowling | |
| Speaker for the Dead | Orson Scott Card | |
| To Say Nothing of the Dog | Connie Willis | 4 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 books that could be tagged apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, near future, utopia, dsytopia, etc.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Black Easter | James Blish | 4 stars |
| The Bone Clocks | David Mitchell | 5 stars |
| A Choice of Gods | Clifford D. Simak | 5 stars |
| The Day After Judgement | James Blish | 4 stars |
| Dhalgren | Samuel R. Delaney | 3 stars |
| The Dog Stars | Peter Heller | 5 stars |
| The Female Man | Joanna Russ | 2 stars |
| Greybeard | Brian Aldiss | 3 stars |
| The Shadow of the Torturer | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
| Slow River | Nicola Griffith | 4 stars |
| Snow Crash | Neal Stephenson | 2 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 6 books that feature Vampires, Zombies, Werewolves, Monsters, Mutants, and any other creepy creatures you can think of.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Darker Than You Think | Jack Williamson | 4 stars |
| Feed | Mira Grant | 4 stars |
| The Golem and the Jinni | Helene Wecker | 5 stars |
| Grendel | John Gardner | 5 stars |
| Lost Souls | Poppy Z. Brite | 3 stars |
| New Amsterdam | Elizabeth Bear | 1 star |
Challenge: Read 12 books that begin a series. It doesn't necesssarily have to be the book identified as the first in the WWE database, but should be a recognised starting point, not just a random book. In addition, it should be a real series, where the books relate to one another, rather than a loose collection of stories or a thematic series (so Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea, fine; the Hainish Cycle, not so fine)
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Altered Carbon | Richard K. Morgan | 4 stars |
| Ancillary Justice | Ann Leckie | 2 stars |
| Black Easter | James Blish | 4 stars |
| The Curse of Chalion | Lois McMaster Bujold | |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | 5 stars |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | 3 stars |
| Little Brother | Cory Doctorow | 5 stars |
| New Amsterdam | Elizabeth Bear | 1 star |
| The Shadow of the Torturer | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
| The Steel Remains | Richard K. Morgan | 5 stars |
| Winterlong | Elizabeth Hand | 3 stars |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | 3 stars |
Challenge: Read 12 sequels. The sequels can be to those books read in other challenges or just sequels to something read a long time ago.
| Title | Author | Rating |
| Day After Judgement | James Blish | 4 stars |
| Children of God | Mary Doria Russell | 5 stars |
| The Citadel of the Autarch | Gene Wolfe | 5 stars |
| The Claw of the Conciliator | Gene Wolfe | 4 stars |
| The Cold Commands | Richard K. Morgan | 3 stars |
| The Dark Defiles | Richard K. Morgan | 4 stars |
| A Deepness in the Sky | Vernor Vinge | 4 stars |
| The Grand Tour | Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer | 4 stars |
| The Hallowed Hunt | Lois McMaster Bujold | 3 stars |
| The Mislaid Magician | Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer | 4 stars |
| Paladin of Souls | Lois McMaster Bujold | 3 stars |
| Speaker for the Dead | Orson Scott Card |
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