The Official UN-official SFF-KIT Planning Thread For 2020!!!

Back by popular demand...

In past years we've just opened up the calendar for volunteer hosts, and unless someone has a better idea, why not just do it again!?

I'll take January as usual, unless anyone objects strenuously...? :)

The Wiki is here: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2020_SFFKIT#2020_SFFKIT

Monthly challenges to be added here:

January: "Read an SFF you meant to read last year, but never started/completed" - hosted by fuzzi
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/313800)

February: "Transformation" hosted by majkia
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/315582)

March: "Series" hosted by luvamystery65
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/316759#)

April: "Time Travel" hosted by Tanya-dogearedcopy
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/317745)

May: "Sentient Things" hosted by Dejah_Thoris
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/318950)

June: "Aliens" hosted by DeltaQueen50
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/320304)

July: "Space Opera" hosted by h-mb
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/321644)

August: Female Authors hosted by AHS-Wolfy
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/322362)

September: "International SFF" (non US/non UK) hosted by LisaMorr
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/323646)

October: "Classics" hosted by NinieB
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/324425#)

November: "Dystopia" hosted by chlorine
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/325433#unread)

December: "Short Fiction" hosted by Kristelh
(https://www.librarything.com/topic/326340)

Challenges from last year (2019) can be viewed here:

(https://www.librarything.com/topic/299184#6637590)

This time I am requesting that anyone who signs up for a month have their challenge thread posted and linked here two weeks in advance.

Let's GO!!!

I'll take Series in March. Is it okay to do a focus challenge within the challenge on first in a series? So many series I put off picking up.

I'll take February. No idea what my topic will be but I'll come up with something soonish.

ETA: I'm pondering transformation as a topic. Anything from physical/mental changes to changes in status (the peasant who learns he is royalty for instance). Does that sound like something interesting?

I'll take April with "Time Travel," please!

Woohoo! I'll take May, please. I'm not quite sure how I want it phrased, but I'm looking for books about / with AIs, sentient robots, ships with human brains - any physical, physical, traditionally non-living object that has been created (or bespelled or enchanted, temporarily or permanently) to have intelligence, reasoning abilities, and/or a soul.

It just so happens that the first full length novel in Martha Wells' Murderbot series, Network Effect is being published on May 5th.....

I'd would love to do June with Aliens for the topic. For those who read fantasy, this could also include mythical creatures (dragons, fairies, goblins etc.)

I'll take July with Space opera, if it's OK.

Woo-hoo, it seems like many people are interested, and I love the topics that are suggested!

I think dystopia is not technically science-fiction (or fantasy) but it's my favorite genre. I'm thinking about books à la 1984, or Brave new world, or Fahrenheit 451. Would people be interested in a month about this topic? If so, I'm willing to attempt to host a month for the first time. Maybe November?

>4 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Time travel is a favorite topic of mine, thanks for suggesting it!

>5 Dejah_Thoris: I wasn't aware of the preparation of a Murderbot novel, I'm so excited!

>3 majkia: I like the idea that it's not an obvious theme, for instance something that you can search for by tags. It is also more open to personal interpretation than themes that are more precisely defined, which I think is fun but may make it harder to find books that match.

One theme that would interest me if anybody is willing to host (or if the dystopia idea doesn't appeal to people I could host it) is short fiction. I also like the awards theme we're having this month.

I think short fiction would be a perfect topic and newer one, too. I like the awards topic. So easy but we could change it to books from lists and then it can include awards and special recognitions like NPR, etc.

I love the idea of a month of dystopia!

I have to say, the themes you all are planning sound fascinating!

Wow, what a response! I've added host names and topics as requested.

>2 luvamystery65: I don't have a problem with it. 😉

Can I host International SFF (non US/non UK) in September?

I also love the idea of dystopia!

Work has gotten very busy for me lately, with more travel, so I am hesitant to commit to hosting as I've done in previous years. However, I will gladly participate in this KIT again and am grateful to others for volunteering.

>14 LisaMorr: done!

>15 mathgirl40: happy to have you participate!

Even when I haven't had a thread in the group I've always participated in this KIT. About time I hosted a month I think. As my reading is still imbalanced towards the male of the species I would like to re-introduce the Female Authors month if that is acceptable to everyone. I can take any of the unassigned months and am happy to work around other's choices.

>17 AHS-Wolfy: Female authors will be one of my overall categories for 2020 so I'd be interested in a month with this topic here.

>17 AHS-Wolfy: Female Authors sounds great to me.

>9 chlorine: While dystopian SF&F isn't my favorite subgenre, I certainly wouldn't have any trouble finding one or two to read. I also really like the short fiction idea.

We seem to be doing really well getting the months hosted!

I am willing to host short fiction, maybe December is a good month for short fiction?

Put my February topic as transformation - good tagmashes for both sci fi and SFF with transformation.

>20 Kristelh: Great, I'm glad we're doing short fiction!

Given the responses I've got I'll do dystopia in November then. :)

>17 AHS-Wolfy: August or October?

For lack of having come up with anything better, why don't we call my May AI/Robots/etc. category Sentient Things. It's not a perfect fit, but I think it'll do.

>24 Dejah_Thoris: done. You can always update the title.

>23 fuzzi: Guess I can take the August slot.

>26 AHS-Wolfy: done!

We still have October open...?

I would be willing to host October with a theme along the lines of "classics"—the books that show up in lists like Bloomsbury's 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels (https://www.librarything.com/bookaward/Bloomsbury%27s+100+Must-Read+Science+Fiction+Novels), The Most Significant SF & Fantasy Books of the Last 50 Years From 1953-2002 (https://www.librarything.com/bookaward/The+SF+Book+Club%27s+%22The+Most+Significant+SF+%2526+Fantasy+Books+of+the+Last+50+Years+From+1953-2002%22), and so forth. Would that be of interest?

It sounds great to me.

>28 NinieB: I like this idea as well.

>28 NinieB:, sounds great

>28 NinieB: woo, good idea!

And now we're ready for 2020!

>28 NinieB: Great idea!

wiki is here: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2020_SFFKIT#2020_SFFKIT

Glad that works! I've read very little SFF, so these lists are an easy way for me to find good books!

January is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/313800#

February thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/315582

>37 majkia: and before the fifteenth, thanks! :D

Yes! Isn't even the 15th in Australia yet! 35 minutes to go!

March thread is up! https://www.librarything.com/topic/316759

>40 luvamystery65: thank you!

April Thread is up! https://www.librarything.com/topic/317745

>42 Tanya-dogearedcopy: Thanks!

The May thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/318950

>44 Dejah_Thoris: excellent idea for a challenge, thanks!

>45 fuzzi: You'er welcome! I hope everyone enjoys it.

The June thread is ready for action: https://www.librarything.com/topic/320304#

>47 DeltaQueen50: yippee!

Sorry for the delay ! The lockdown has me unbalanced with the calendar... The thread for July is here

I've put the August thread up. It's here.

>50 AHS-Wolfy: thank you!

I'm looking for possible reads for September, International SFF authors and came across a list:

http://bestfantasybooks.com/best-non-english-fantasy-books

Anyone else have suggestions?

>52 fuzzi: I'm sure there will be plenty once the actual thread for next month is up.

Hello all! Sorry for the delay in posting the September thread - have been having some knee problems and that coupled with a heavy workload have impacted my time here! I'll get it out tomorrow.

And thanks for the link >52 fuzzi:!

September thread is finally up! Thanks for hanging in there!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/323646#

>56 LisaMorr: thank you! Sorry you've not been 100%.

October thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/324425

>58 NinieB: thanks for posting that!

November thread is up: https://www.librarything.com/topic/325433

>60 chlorine: yippee!

Y'all interested in doing this again next year?

Of course!!! Pretty please!!

>63 majkia: and you can make the wiki...?

https://www.librarything.com/topic/325535#7291705

of course I'll do the wiki

I'd be really interested in doing this again next year, yes!

>66 chlorine: pick a month!

Link is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/325535#7292216

I will be posting the thread tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

>68 Kristelh: Thanks for letting us know.

Here's the link for December thread. https://www.librarything.com/topic/326340

>70 Kristelh: thank you!