Book Social

This is a spirited discussion about books of all kinds, including current books and past favorites. We have a book of the month to read for consideration, however you should show up even if you don't get it read; we always have a great talk. In addition we usually confer about other things that happen to cross our minds such as movies and TV shows. The group is always looking for something new that will stretch the mind, so bring it on in!

Physical location will be the Denny's at 3456 West Bethany Home Road in Phoenix at 7:00pm on the third Tuesday of the month for the time being. If it all works out, we'll stay for a while. There will be parallel Zoom meetings run from Randall's tablet at the dinner table. The Zoom session will actually open at about 6:30pm, but we have given an official start time of 7:00pm. Contact Randall via books@CASFS.org with questions or post to the CASFS Book & Media Social Facebook group.

CASFS Book and Media Social - First Half of 2024 Book List

January 16, 2024 Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

From Amazon.com, “Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.”

Compare with the 2004 Miyazaki animated film.

Time: Jan 16, 2024 07:00 PM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84279210516?pwd=T3Q3V1pVdXhOOWJ6R1JMbG9QS0NZZz09

Meeting ID: 842 7921 0516 Passcode: 568098

February 20, 2024 Starter Villain by John Scalzi

From Amazon.com, “Inheriting your uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who's running the place. Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan. Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. But becoming a supervillain isn't all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they're coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital. It's up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyperintelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good. In a dog-eat-dog world...be a cat.”

Time: Feb 20, 2024 07:00 PM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88459402341?pwd=Q1dUVlFrSTlQYkM0SytZT0NoaUpOZz09

Meeting ID: 884 5940 2341 Passcode: 601330

March 19, 2024 The Charm by Adam Niswander

First novel from late CASFS President Adam Niswander

From Publishers Weekly via Amazon.com, “Arizona archeologist Jack Foreman unwittingly unleashes a demonic, tornado-like force on the Southwest in Niswander's fast-paced, well-written debut, the first installment in a projected three-volume series entitled "The Shaman Cycle." Imprisoned 500 years ago by a "Great Gathering" of Native Americans and the power of a sacred charm, this instrument of mass bloodshed and destruction must be stopped by a second gathering. Enlisting the aid of Arizona police detective Greg Johnson, New Mexico tribal police sergeant Ed Twohats Redfield and TV weatherman Matt Sharp, Foreman helps shamans from 12 tribes join together to defeat the "beast" in two temporal and three spiritual domains--not an easy task, even with the ancient amulet. An ultimate sacrifice seems to be required, and Jack volunteers to make sure the demon is destroyed once and for all. Niswander invests his characters with colorful personalities, displays knowledge of and respect for Native American culture and knows how to weave disparate story lines together into a compelling whole.”

Used copies are fairly inexpensive online. Also talk to Mark and myself about other copies.

Time: Mar 19, 2024 07:00 PM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83742452943?pwd=bS9SZ1QvbWh3THVXT3YweTZiZCtMZz09

Meeting ID: 837 4245 2943 Passcode: 703024

April 16, 2024 Seal Team 666 by Weston Ochse

From Amazon.com, “SEAL Team Six meets Stephen King in this novel about an elite group of soldiers who protect the United States from supernatural threats. Halfway through SEAL training, Cadet Jack Walker, still green but showing incredible promise, is whisked away to join four SEALs and their dog for a special-ops mission. Walker soon finds himself in a whirlwind of otherworldly creatures and events as he discovers the true nature of SEAL Team 666. Battling demons, possessed humans, mass-murdering cults, and evil in its darkest and most and ancient form, the members of SEAL Team 666 have their work cut out for them. And it’s not long before they realize that the threat isn’t directed against the US alone - an ancient and deadly cult has far bigger plans, and Walker is at the center of a supernatural conflict in which the entire world is at stake.”

There are persistent rumors about a film version in development to star Dwayne Johnson.

Time: Apr 16, 2024 07:00 PM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89700138086?pwd=cXhLV3ovN1FkNEdCeUlNc1lBMHlvQT09

Meeting ID: 897 0013 8086 Passcode: 071705

May 21, 2024 Skulking Permit by Robert Sheckley

What if the Galactic Empire tried to assimilate Mayberry?

From Google Books, “The furthest human colony of the far-flung Terran Empire is subject--as are all the colonies--to periodic inspection by Headquarters, and Sheckley's settlers are prepared to show that they, no less than their Terran ancestors and overlords, have established a satisfactorily advanced civilization. Every culture, they reason, needs a series of roles satisfactorily enacted, and that means not only pillars of society but criminals too ... every human society has a lawbreaker. Sheckley's protagonist, reluctantly employed to fill that role and given a skulking permit for those purposes, does the best he can granted the pressure of circumstance and his own low capacity for criminality.”

This humorous novelette is included in the collection, “Citizen in Space,” which is available as a $1.99 Kindle edition. The story is also included in “The Collected Short Fiction of Robert Sheckley: Book One.” It was adapted as an episode of the classic NBC radio show “X Minus One, “which is available on YouTube.

Time: May 21, 2024 07:00 PM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84553863280?pwd=YURCYUx4S3BvNldreUtqbjIvMWw4Zz09

Meeting ID: 845 5386 3280 Passcode: 359122

June 18, 2024 Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher

From Amazon.com, “Oliver was a very minor mage. His familiar reminded him of this several times a day. He only knew three spells, and one of them was to control his allergy to armadillo dander. His attempts to summon elementals resulted in nosebleeds, and there is nothing more embarrassing than having your elemental leave the circle to get you a tissue, pat you comfortingly, and then disappear in a puff of magic. The armadillo had about wet himself laughing. He was a very minor mage. Unfortunately, he was all they had.”

Time: May 21, 2024 07:00 PM Arizona

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85421325208?pwd=TEtBSHJFR0hiL08zQUE4YzI5dDdHQT09

Meeting ID: 854 2132 5208 Passcode: 633235

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