Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

I have just found another fabulous reading challenge!

This one is hosted by Magemanda at Floor to Ceiling Books,

and I wouldn't miss it for the world!

I love reading practically anything (except horror) 

that takes me out of this boring reality anyway,

so this shouldn't be too hard!

The minimum amount of books to be read is 12.

This challenge started in January, 2011,

and will end in December, 2011.

For the rest of the rules, and to sign up,

just go HERE.

But wait a minute...

Just what is "speculative fiction", anyway?

To quote Wikipedia:

Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts.

^{Well, I'm out as far as the horror genre is concerned,}

^{but I have no problem with the rest of the ones mentioned!}

^{(You can access the complete article HERE.)}

^{Here are some titles I'm interested in.}

^{They're not listed in any particular order.}

^{The Unicorn Sonata - Peter S. Beagle}

^{Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga #1)}

^{Raymond E. Feist}

^{Lyonesse: Suldrun's Garden (Lyonesse #1)}

^{Jack Vance}

^{The Green Pearl (Lyonesse #2)}

^{Jack Vance}

^{Madouc (Lyonesse #3) - Jack Vance}

^{Woman On the Edge of Time - Marge Piercy}

^{The Lathe of Heaven - Ursula K. LeGuin}

^{Vulcan! (Star Trek TOS) - Kathleen Sky}

^{The Asteroid Wars (The Asteroid Wars #1 - #3)}

^{Ben Bova}

^{Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini}

^{The Vampire Stalker - Allison van Diepen}

^{Nightshade - Andrea Cremer}

On My Wishlist #3

This is a fun weekly event hosted by

Carolyn at  Book Chick City,

 and runs every Saturday.

Each participating blogger features books 

s/he hasn't actually bought yet, but desperately wants to read,

because the stories sound so very fascinating!

These books can be either newly-published,

to be released in the near future,

or they might have been in print for several years.

In my particular case, any books I place

on my wish list are strictly the print versions,

since I do not read ebooks. 

Here are my choices for this week!

Entwined

Heather Dixon

Hardcover, 480 pages

Published by Greenwillow Books

March 29, 2011

Genre: YA Fantasy

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away.

 

All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries.

Sea Change

Aimee Friedman

Hardcover, 292 pages

Published by Point

June 1, 2009

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science. . .and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship. . .and reality.

Daughter of Xanadu

Dori Jones Yang

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published by Delacorte Books

January 11, 2011

(first published Dec. 22, 2010)

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu.

Besides the absolutely beautiful covers,
the plots of these books
promise very fascinating reads!!
I simply can't wait to make them mine!!

So what books are on your own wishlist this week?

Waiting On Wednesday #5:

This is a weekly book meme, hosted by

Jill at Breaking the Spine,

which features future releases that we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!


My pick for this week is Soul Thief,
by Jana Oliver. 

This is the sequel to The Demon Trapper's Daughter,
which I have yet to read,
but which is definitely up there on my TBR pile!

There are so many promising books to get to!!
Thanks to other blogs, I've heard
of these two books, looked them up on Amazon,
and just made up my mind that they
must be mine!!

Soul Thief

Jana Oliver

Trade Paperback, 320 pages

Published by St. Martin's Griffin

Expected Release Date:  August 30, 2011

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Synopsis

There has been a harrowing battle at the Tabernacle,

and Riley's boyfriend, Simon, has been

seriously injured.

Furthermore, many trappers are dead,

and an evil necromancer has taken her father's body

from its resting place,

in order to turn it into his slave for a year...

As Atlanta's demon population grows,

Demon Hunters are dispatched from

the Vatican itself...

and a Grade 5 demon is stalking Riley.

Hmmm.....this could be a problematic series for me.

I don't like anything related to horror,

and demons are heavy-duty denizens of Hell,

after all.

And yet....

if the good guys (or gals!) win, that's what matters

the most to me, really.

So I'm thinking that these books

might be fascinating reads!

I never have liked wimpy heroines,

and especially not in YA fiction!!

What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?