SFF180 Readathon 🚀 SPACE OPERA SEPTEMBER

[@LiteraryMultitudes]

You call this a Readathon?! This is EPIC! I'm really excited to join in. September is not the best month for me, but I'll make Space cadet for sure! ;-)

[@Spurs420]

Great video, can't wait to learn about gardening in Texas in space.

[@KathyTrithardt]

Firstly, Thomas, this announcement video is amazing. Secondly, I had a friend read an old sci-fi with a rocket ship on the cover who finished the last page, looked up, and said "there wasn't a single space ship in that book; what the hell?" I was also confused but also highly amused at this oversight. Thirdly, it was wonderful to see you this week. I'm looking forward to employing some of the trips from your workshop in my future videos.

[@SFF180]

It was great to meet you as well, Kathy! And thanks so much for the supportive feedback on the workshop. Can’t wait to see what you do! I’m already a little impatient for BNF 2020.

[@KathyTrithardt]

@@SFF180 I am in a constant state of excitement for this event.

[@lostmyknife]

Finally a readathon after my own heart :D really appreciate the visuals in this announcement and the art behind all the rankings and challenges :)

[@ricktimus73]

That was a hell of an intro!

[@omarsayed9155]

Wow, Monsieur Thomas, you really went all-out on the budget with this one. I hope you make it back at the box office!

[@pinarcelebi9178]

We, a couple of Turkish SFF lovers, came together to join SOS2019. We are building our TBRs together, so much fun. Thank you Thomas.

[@jamesholder13]

Awesome! Count me in. Now, I just need to organize my TBR!

[@ThatsWhatSheRead]

I'm excited for this!! Going to get my TBR ready!

[@Amanda-dn4ld]

So excited!!! Thanks for putting this out so early too! I hate not having time to prep my TBR and get into the right frame of mind.

[@leticiatoraci9855]

This seems really interesting, joined the Goodreads group!

[@Noorihime]

Great video Thomas! I love the effort you’ve put into this, it looks and sounds awesome!

[@RobotMaria]

Awesome video Thomas! Looking forward to September.

[@JasonsWeirdReads]

This is brilliant, Thomas! I absolutely LOVE this readathon! I’m hoping to participate.

[@BookInvasion]

Well done!!! This should be quite the adventure.

[@toriareads382]

Excited. I haven't read any space opera in ages.. Congratulations on a really fun announcement video.

[@ONYXPages]

I bookishly love you. Such excellence!!

[@ONYXPages]

Sarcasm! Salt!

[@ONYXPages]

Would you consider Prime Meridian by Silva Moreno Garcia a space opera? I think not. But, that's the only unread space-adjacent novella I've got! Lol.

[@SFF180]

As the whole story is set in Mexico City, sadly no.

[@BookishNorth]

Such a great announcement video! I'm not a big participator in readathons, but just might have to make an exception for this.

[@Neverrgreen]

I've been racking up the space operas in audible so this will give me a push to get some read! And with enough time to clear my currently reading list. Excellent.

[@busybattybooks7558]

I am so glad I stumbled upon this! This is amazing!

[@jjcrazi]

Ty for starting this challenge… so cool!

[@booknerdtv6526]

I found your video through Musical Tati. This will be one of the first readathons in which I participate. The announcement is very creative! Well done!

[@SFF180]

Thanks very much!

[@Ekrea]

This sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!!! I can't wait to participate! I'm aiming to become a Space Pirate! You've done an excellent job with this Thomas! I'm looking forward to September!

[@geekreads9328]

This video was so good! I'm newer to booktube and space opera I can't wait to participate!

[@babystarcandy7]

omg this is so creative! I'm definitely on board for Space Pirate! 😎

Beautiful intro! and what a lovely setting! Life goal: go to Houston space center. Ooook, so you are forcing me to finally read Ancillary Justice, then some more of the Old Man's war, some more of Binti's world, and I don't know if I can squeeze something else there :D What a nice September it's going to be

[@Maren617]

José Aliaga Giacosa If you want something ticks off lots of points at once: Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga)! Female writer, physically handicapped male protagonist with bipolar disorder who still manages to be the most lovable swashbuckling rogue ever, AND probably written before you were born.

[@pghbekka]

Ooh! You have such a delectable treat waiting for you in Ancillary Justice! Scalzi and Okorafor are amazing as well, as you know!

[@sirbooksage]

I've been itching to dive back into Science Fiction (and Space Opera in particular) for a while now. This is perfect. I think I'll be joining in. I've already begun planning a TBR in my head.

[@asajohannesson2012]

Sounds like fun...we'll see how much reading I can do in September. As a teacher, September tends to be very busy... :)

[@BrandysBooks61316]

Oh my goodness I’m so excited!!!! I’ve been really wanting to get more into sci-fi and this is the perfect opportunity. Kudos to those who helped with the video, it’s fantastic!

[@WhitneyChakara]

The intro was.... out of this world. 🤓🤓😂😂

[@MissesReese]

Such a great video! I can't wait for September. Definitely going to participate!

[@LiaCooper]

you really outdid yourself with this one thomas--looking forward to september!

[@apagebypagelife8624]

This is so dope man! I can’t wait to participate!

[@Readeropolis]

Awesome video! Count me in. I wanna be a Space Pirate.

[@JacquelineKirk]

Signed up! Will have to do a vlog about it since I keep saying I need to do more booktube videos! Lol!

[@ThatsSoPoe]

Great production value! Loved this announcement - especially that it's done so far in advance. I'm very excited to participate.

[@IShouldReadThat]

Ahhhh! This is the BEST idea! I can't wait to pick my reads for September 🚀

[@georgeheingartner6995]

Huzzah! Update: See? SEE? How cool is this channel? This is why I’m an Admiral.

[@tomtom21194]

Signed up and subscribes, this should be fun :D

[@ToriMorrow]

The rankings/challenges you made for this are so creative! I’ll definitely be joining next month! I’m already thinking one of my reads will be A Memory Called Empire 😃

[@SFF180]

Great! Looking forward to your TBR vid! 😊😊

[@lisagarrity5836]

Fantastic video! I can't wait to start.

[@diredachshund]

Oh my gosh, I can't wait to participate in this! I just got back into reading last June, and I've been meaning to pick up some science fiction again. I don't have very much experience with SO books, but I'm looking forward to picking my TBR! I know I've got some on my shelves already that are just waiting to be read.

[@SFF180]

Very happy to have you along!

[@ilam3778]

This is so exciting! I really want to participate. I'll see if any of the books on my shelves are suitable, otherwise I'll have to hit the bookstores asap (non that I'm complaining...)

[@annav.5226]

Yay! Time to pick my TBR ☺️

[@danielleoliver1734]

Sounds like fun, I haven’t read a space opera in ages

[@siren3232]

This sounds so fun!

[@bluemoonandorangesky]

This was/is a fantastic video. Just started Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente and plan to read Finder by Suzanne Palmer so I am definitely in for this readathon.

[@LatinLector]

This sounds awesome!! I’ve been wanting to read more SF set in space! Hopefully I’m motivated to pick some up. Thanks for letting us know about it early!

[@TheFancyHatLadyReads]

Ooh, question: I'd love to do this with books already on my TBR, but the only 500+ page space opera I've got is a bind-up (Cordelia's Honor). Does it count, or no?

[@SFF180]

Oh yes. It’s on the list I posted to GR so it’s fine.

[@TheFancyHatLadyReads]

@@SFF180 I suppose I should clarify the question... does it count as one book (over 500 pages, published after I was born) or two books (under 500 pages each, both published before I was born)? Pretty sure I can't have it both ways (either I'm reading Cordelia's Honor, or I'm reading Shards of Honour and Barrayar), but I'm hoping it's the former because it's my only 500 page option as a single book.

[@SFF180]

Because Cordelia's Honor is sold under a unique title despite being a bind-up, with the clear aim that readers are meant to read it cover-to-cover (because Shards and Barrayar are essentially one complete story arc in the Vorkosigan Saga, though originally released as a duology), then I'm going to allow it as a qualifying volume for Challenge 4.

[@TheFancyHatLadyReads]

@@SFF180 Yay, thanks!

[@AlwaysTheStoryCollector]

This looks like so much fun!

[@nicoladipadova4040]

LOVE THIS!! 😍

[@HeroicPages]

I am soooo here for this!!! This will give me an excuse to finish the Keiko Trilogy! And maybe start The Expanse. Anyone got any recs for pre 1987 Space Operas?

[@SFF180]

Some C.J. Cherryh might work. Downbelow Station or Merchanter's Luck.

[@Maren617]

Or go for Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold, which also ticks off the female writer and diverse (physically handicapped) protagonist checkboxes at the same time. Basically, little Miles - who has incredibly fragile bones that break all the time, due to an assassination attempt on his mom when she was pregnant with him - grows up in a militaristic society which values only strength in men, and he wants to also become a soldier due to this and fails. Sent on a holiday in space to alleviate his depression, he sort of accidentally with the best of kind intentions slides from one crazy adventure to the next, pretends to be a swashbuckling space admiral and somehow fakes it till he makes it, except... well, not going to spoil the whole thing.Very lovable rogue and the series still feels very fresh and not dated.

[@BostonBookBitty]

This looks fun! I hope I'll have time to participate

[@hazel-marie]

So excited for this, I’m too straight-laced to do the rebel track so a federation career for me it is...having so much fun creating a tbr list 😀 this is such a fab idea 💡👏🏼

[@1book1review]

So I managed all August not to watch and be tempted, but now that the readathon is here I broke down and watched your video and now I am regretting that my TBR has no space opera books...currently. Great announcement video!

[@SFF180]

Not to late, the month has only just begun!

[@1book1review]

@@SFF180 I may have picked up the one book from my TBR (Foundation and Empire) only to realize I barely remember the first book, lol.

[@bookswithb2684]

Wow! So creative!! I hope to participate. This is a great opportunity for me to knock out a space opera tome! 👩🏾‍🚀🚀💫 🧐🤔

[@merakeengames]

so, if I read the book n° 1 of a series, the book n°2 doesn't count? mmm

[@SFF180]

The idea is to discourage people just sticking with one author and one series for the entire readathon. “Oh, I’ll just read all the Expanse books.” You can read a whole series if you have time, only one volume of it will count towards Rankings and Challenges.

[@srakuuna9183]

This is so cool! I'm really bad at reading scifi at all, even worse with space kind of SF (fantasy gal here...), but now I have a good reason to focus on that side of my TBR! ^_^ Aiming for at least two books in total, I think.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Awwww but I was going to read a gardening book. Now I need to revamp my whole TBR... Just to be clear, do I need to complete 2A AND 2B to become a space pirate? Or just Challenge 2B?

[@SFF180]

2B puts you on the Rebel Track, so you just need to complete that one and read four books total.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

@@SFF180 Perfect. I just wanted to make sure I was reading that correctly

[@alpaykasal2902]

Ohhh my stars, I wasn't expecting this opening! This is so good! I learned about your channel from a vid by Musical Tati. thank you for that production value...

[@SFF180]

Wait until you see year two!

[@WorldsinInk]

I'm in!

[@Chris-Huntley]

I think a lot of people are familiar with space opera books based on the fact that so many have read The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet.

[@DesLivresetdesLoutres]

It's the perfect challenge for me, thank you ! Gonna be reading mostly french books, but I'll share my TBR on booktube anyway :) Your intro was soooo cool btw !

[@kittygvlogs]

Well Thomas, this is once again absolutely awesome :D I definitely want to participate and will see what I can find. Stellar video. I only just caught up with my watch-later stuff but it'll be great to join in :)

[@SFF180]

Huzzah!

[@BedtimeBookworm]

Oooh so excited for this!!

[@gloriaandtheneverendingtbr]

This is such a great readathon, I really want to be a space pirate 😄 im definitely going to be participating 😊 I will figure out my tbr and post it after finals this week

[@VaskoBuk]

Great idea! Had some other vague reading plans, but I'll most probably reconsider. Btw. which platform will the progress be tracked on? Should I add you as a friend on Goodreads or similar? (Sorry, not very good with technology, I'm from the post-Butlerian jihad era. ;) )

[@SFF180]

The easiest way to keep up is to simply join the Goodreads group. There will be discussion threads there for people who want to discuss their reading progress and things like that. Also some recommended reading lists. Happy to have you join! The link to the group is in the video description.

[@Chris-Huntley]

Wonder if the books can carry over from August, currently reading The Reality Dysfuction.

[@SFF180]

A book like that can easily take a whole month.

[@Chris-Huntley]

@@SFF180 Do we need to start the books in September or can they be started earlier?

[@SFF180]

You can start early if you like.

[@Chris-Huntley]

@@SFF180 Thank you, also reading The Velocity Weapon right now, and might look into Salvation Day.

[@zzoya9206]

Ooohh, I like this one! Finally time to start reading sff (I've been putting it off for years now). Bring on September! Also, I hope we will get some recommendations for noobs like myself. I have some ideas of what I want to read but help would be great. My trekkie heart says federation but my Jedi heart says rebels!

[@SFF180]

Glad to have you on board! Best bet for recs would be to join the Goodreads group. I've posted one list featuring over 200 space operas by women, and I'm working on putting together one for diverse authors. Other people there might be able to recommend some things as well.

[@knigoholik9946]

I have never read a space opera I bellieve* :) only watched it growing u too many times to count. :D So here I am, going to finally read some of the books I've bough in the last couple of years, and the library card will def. come in handy! * As it turned out I have read some novelas in the genre like The Murderbot series and Binti, so yeah :D I am so excited for more Murderbot goodness!!

[@PaulWeymouth]

Amazing

[@bushehrnoshishi]

Oh I so want to be a space pirat 🤩

[@B.Wildered]

Dude this is so thoroughly epic. Yeah I know, I 50 and could probably choose more mature adjectives. I will be over at Good Reads under the name Sci Fi Engage. It’s also the name of my KZbin channel, which is in the rudimentary phase. This is going to be fun!

[@SFF180]

Welcome to the community!

[@155books]

um how did booktube sleep on this in September? how have I only just found out about this!!!!!

[@SFF180]

Never fear! At least you’re here now, and SOS2020 is already announced!

[@jongreenleaf1000]

Nail clippers

[@dixieAQHA]

This is not a genre I read a lot, but I am super excited for this! Thanks to MusicalTati for sending me over here. 👩‍🚀

[@SFF180]

Glad to have you along!

[@StoriesfromtheShelf]

Ahhh so Star Trek

[@poseidons9986]

Gnomes rule!

[@poseidons9986]

If I read more than 4 do can I become a president of some intergalactic federation or something?

[@SFF180]

If you think you can handle the job 👍🏻

[@Spurs420]

I'm going to read House of Suns. Did you know Alistair Reynolds is a woman from Nigeria? :)