“If a coin comes down heads, that means that the possibility of its coming down tails has collapsed. Until that moment the two possibilities were equal. But on another world, it does come down tails. And when that happens, the two worlds split apart.” —Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass

We've probably all seen the question floating around, the one asking what you'd be doing right now if there weren't a worldwide pandemic dramatically altering your life; the question, what is going on in your own personal parallel universe? For most of us, it's not terribly hard to imagine because, well, it'd just be our lives, as usual. The question isn't asking us to draw on our imagination, rather it's a hat-tip to acknowledging that this shared experience is hard. That, quite likely, we are all giving up, or missing out on something. That said, we can't be the only sci-fi lovers who hear the question and find our mind wandering toward the parallel universes of science fiction. And Those? Those are another thing altogether. 

Our favorite science fiction writers have been imagining parallel universes for about as long as science fiction writers have been writing. While it can be a tricky tool to pull off well, some of the stories that have come from these imaginings are among the very best sci-fi has to offer. This week, we're asking you to think about your favorite books employing parallel universes and submit the ones you think are the very best.

We've jump-started the conversation with a few suggestions of our own, but in order for these polls to be truly representative of the favorites of our community we need your submissions! As this is the first round of voting, please feel free to add as many nomination(s) as you'd like and then be sure to vote for as many as you'd like as well. 

As always, we base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

"To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs." —Aldous Huxley

Like a captain willing to go down with the ship, the furry friends of sci-fi are full of a devotion that will keep them by their companion's sides till the bitter end. This week we are celebrating the ones who are always there, and who—whatever species they might be—can be counted on to bring a little extra dose of humanity to any story.

Think about which of the animal companions (robotic ones included!) from science fiction you'd want with you as the world falls apart, nominate as many as you'd like here or in our Facebook group, and then be sure to vote for your favorite(s)! We'll pin you down to one choice next week.

As always, we base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

"I came into science fiction at a very good time, when the doors were getting thrown open to all kinds of more experimental writing, more literary writing, riskier writing. It wasn't all imitation Heinlein or Asimov. And of course, women were creeping in, infiltrating." —Ursula K. Le Guin

Even while many regard Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein as the first work of science fiction, the world of sci-fi is overwhelmingly dominated by men, writers and readers alike.  If you take a peek at NPRs (now very outdated) Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books, you'll find you have to scroll down to number 20 before you hit a title written by a woman. Much has been written on the topic of representation, and while it's important, that is not what we are aiming to discuss today. Today is about celebrating the women of science fiction.

While the numbers of women publishing in science fiction may be small, among them there are some truly outstanding writers; women who have conceived of some of the smartest, most well-written works science fiction has to offer. The best of these skillfully weave social commentary into narratives that are both gripping and artfully written. In advance of International Women's Day, this week's poll asks you to consider titles in science fiction written by women. Which ones might be considered the very best?  Add your nomination(s) below and then vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!

“There are good ships there are wood ships, there are ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be." —Irish Proverb

Friendships really are the best ships, aren't they? While there is something to be said for a flaming hot romance; a seasoned, mature and devoted love; or, a passion unrequited, truly, some of the deepest and most loyal bonds are between friends. These friendships can also be a source of some pretty witty banter and some wild shenanigans too, which is always a treat to read!  

Does it feel like the world is falling apart right now? Maybe a little. We like to think The Beatles were on to something when they promised "we'll get by with a little help from our friends" and so this week's poll is in celebration of friendship. This week we're asking you to think about the most iconic and inspiring friendships found within the pages of science fiction, to add your nomination(s) below and then to vote on your favorite(s).

We base our lists on the votes and nominations from this blog and our Facebook Reader group, and we want to hear your opinion!