Join us for discussion of our current book as well as the opportunity to voice your opinion for our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

Last month, we read Ringworld by Larry Niven. In it a team, both human and alien, ventures out to investigate an artificial strip of a world orbiting a star in order to determine its threat to the species of alien trying to escape a collapsing galaxy. Ringworld won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards, and is considered a classic by many.

This book had its proponents and detractors in our group. Some people liked that it didn’t feel terribly dated, while others didn’t like its characters. One person also pointed out that whether or not it felt dated was mostly immaterial, as long as the concepts it explores are still relevant.

When: Monday, October 11, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: First or second floor of the Noble Tree Cafe 2444 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL

Cost: Free

Hi, my name is Rachel and I am addicted to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I am not very good, but I enjoy playing the online multiplayer games. I go online and search around for a group that isn’t a bunch of 8 year olds that fire off swear words (or worse!) as they fire bullets. Sometimes I can find a good group to play with where we are communicating and having a good time, however that is rarely the case. I have a few friends that I will occasionally catch online and we will play together for a few games, until one of us has to log off.

From going to our events I have heard that I am not the only one that feels this way. So, I am introducing our first Nerd Xbox Live Game Night, and if it goes well we will change the games and keep it going on a monthly basis. The first game will be (my choice) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360.

To join us you will need:

• Xbox 360
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game
• Xbox Live account
• Headset

Sign up below and I will email you for your gamertag before the event so we can join up together.
My gamertag: nerdrachel

When: Thursday, September 9, 2010 – 7:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Xbox Live

Join us for discussion of our current book as well as the opportunity to voice your opinion for our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

For the month of July, we read Daemon by Daniel Suarez. The genius CEO of a gaming company dies of cancer, and after his death, unleashes his Daemon into the world. The program unleashes real-world consequences: individual deaths, a killer house, eventually risking the very foundations of modern society.

Most of our group generally liked the book: it was a quick read, though it was obvious it was a first novel in both style and pacing. We discussed exactly how realistic it is, since it’s set in modern-day, plus the political aspects of the book (and for those who had read it, its sequel as well).

When: Monday, September 13, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: First or second floor of the Noble Tree Cafe 2444 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL

Cost: Free

After a brief hiatus we are back with another nerdy social function. We invite all nerds/geeks and or dorks to join us for an evening of teamwork and trivia questions.

Teams of five will compete for prizes and table discounts. We will be happy to bring our nerds together to form teams, you do not need to come along with 4 friends.

Trivia categories include:

• Simpsons
• Comics
• Star Trek
• Star Wars
• Fantasy Novels
• Science Fiction
• Video Games

Join us for a good time and show off your nerdy knowledge muscles. Flounders will also a special offer of $4 draft beer and $2 tacos.

Prizes are currently TBA

When: Tuesday, August 24th, 8:00pm

Where: Flounder’s Bar & Grill – 2201 North Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL

Cost: FREE

Join us for discussion of our current book as well as the opportunity to voice your opinion for our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

For the month of June, we read Fables: Legends in Exile, our first graphic novel for the group, which attracted lots of attendees, most of whom liked the book. Fables follows the real lives of various characters from fairy tales and fables who have been forced by the conqueror of their Homelands into a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. This first story arc involves a murder mystery involving Sheriff Bigby Wolf and Rose Red.

We discussed the archetypes involved: princesses and princes, pigs and frogs, ice queens and wife killers; how the characters differ from their fairytale sources; how the art influenced the reading experience; the typical murder mystery “big reveal” and whether we were surprised or not.

Most seemed to enjoy it and appreciate the approachability of graphic novels in general and Fables in specific, but thought we shouldn’t read them too often for this bookclub. Come join us to let us know what you’d like to read!

When: Monday, August 9, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: Second floor of the Noble Tree Cafe 2444 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL

Cost: Free

For our eleventh bookclub meeting we are reading Fables: Legends in Exile, our first graphic novel for the group, and the first graphic novel released for the comic, collecting issues #1-5. Fables follows the real lives of various characters from fairy tales and fables who have been forced by the conqueror of their Homelands into a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. This first story arc involves a murder mystery involving Sheriff Bigby Wolf and Rose Red.

Join us for discussion of our current book as well as the opportunity to voice your opinion for our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

For the month of May, the book club read A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Canticle is set in a future where World War 3 bombed civilization back to the dark ages. The three parts of Canticle follows a group of monks as they uncover knowledge and the hazardous path of the intellectual in a society where knowledge is taboo.

Canticle is considered a classic science fiction novel, but really grew out of three short stories Miller wrote. As such, there are three separate sections set over the span of thousands of years, which show the cycles that mankind enacts: superstition, sophistication, and eventual self-destruction.

Some people enjoyed the read, others thought it was dry in parts and/or the time jumps between sections were confusing. The explorations of religion and euthanasia aren’t currently as controversial as they perhaps once were, but the debate of science vs faith is still quite relevant.

When: Monday, July 12, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: Second floor of the Noble Tree Cafe 2444 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL

Cost: Free

Wrong. We’ll show you how easy and fun sitting behind the DM’s screen can be.  In fact, we’re going to have you running a game with just ten minutes of prep time.

D&D 201: How to Run an Interesting Encounter is devoted to new Dungeon Masters or people who want to become Dungeon Masters.  We will show you how to make combat exciting, make your players love to hate a villain and how to turn an ordinary encounter into an awesome adventure.

The event kicks off with a brief talk by Lexx Dunning of Chicagoland Games called “Insert role playing Here.”  Every attendee will have a chance to run an encounter for four players and get tips from experienced Dungeon Masters.  When it’s not your turn to DM, you’ll be one of the four players in the encounter.  After everyone has run an encounter, attendees will exchange positive feedback and constructive criticism.  All you need to bring are some dice and a willing imagination.  Adventures and characters will be provided.

Please note: This event will use the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons rules.  Some 4th Edition game experience and a basic understanding of the rules is necessary.

Come join us for this six-hour hands on seminar and get that critical first encounter under your belt!

When: Sunday, July 25th, 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Where: Chicagoland Games: The Dice Dojo, 5550 N Broadway

Cost: FREE

Nerdologues are a “collection of stories and scenes written by nerds for nerds.”  We are offering 1/2 price tickets for our nerds to join us in supporting the Nerdologues performances and party.  There will be games, music, performance skits, and drinks.

Retro Video Game Challenge: the Nerdologues have challenged our Nerds! Bring any Sega Genesis, N64, or Super Nintendo game to the show and challenge them to a match for reign over all of nerdom.

Nerdologues is performed by:

Caitlin Costello
Chris Geiger
Bil Kenkel
Kevin Reader
Alex Talavera
John Thibodeaux
Kevin Walsh

When: Saturday, June 12th 9:00pm

Where: Joone Studios – 1327 N. Ashland Chicago, IL 60622

Cost: $5.99 for tickets with coupon code chicagonerd

Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/112430
Remember: use coupon code: chicagonerd for 1/2 price tickets for the 6/12 performance

For our tenth bookclub meeting we are reading A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Canticle is set in a future where World War 3 bombed civilization back to the dark ages and follows a group of monks as they uncover knowledge and the hazardous path of the intellectual in a society where knowledge is taboo. Join us for discussion of our current book as well as voice your opinion for our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

For the month of April, the book club read “Brace New World” by Aldous Huxley, a book long celebrated in the science fiction communities as one of the first dystopian novels. Hundreds of years in the future, sex is purely recreational and all reproduction is handled through massive factories. A caste system has been carefully crafted through scientific means where the majority of embryos are stunted in growth. The entire population is conditioned through hypnotherapy to enjoy their lot in life and then given a regimen of drugs to increase happiness and satisfaction. The book explores the impact an outsider has on this society.

The consensus was very consistent this time around: Definitely a book that a well-read sci-fi fan should read, but not really enjoyable. The exploration of self and role in society was interesting and worthwhile but the science fiction was dated. “Huxley was obviously up on the cutting edge tech of the time,” one clubber said, “but he didn’t really go anywhere beyond it.” Another commented that there weren’t really any gadgets in the book, that all the advanced technology was in the form of industrial processes.

When: Monday, June 14, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: Second floor of the Noble Tree Cafe 2444 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL

Cost: Free

For our eighth bookclub meeting we are reading the Aldous Huxley classic Brave New World. Join us for discussion of our current book as well as voice your opinion for our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

In March the Clubbers read “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” by Seth Grahame-Smith.  The book takes a look at the life of the 16th President of the United States through darkly tinted glasses.  The author’s premise is that he was given the secret journal of Abraham Lincoln by a centuries-old vampire that had known Abe personal.  The journal contained Lincoln’s life in his own words and described the decades-long secret war he fought against the creatures of the night.

The book has received a lot of press, as the second book by the author of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.”  The Smithsonian even hosted a panel led by Seth Grahame-Smith several weeks after the book was released.  Historians are praising the book for providing snippets of history within the framework of the fantasy/horror genre.

Our discerning readers, however, were not overly impressed with the book.  Many felt it was too easy a read failed to provide any definitive statement.  One comment was, “Have you noticed that all the really sloppy fiction coming out right now has vampires?”  Mostly it seemed that the readers couldn’t get into the story, that Grahame-Smith didn’t create enough plausibility in his book for them to willfully suspend disbelief.

One reader felt the book had merit in the author’s unique ability to create a society in which vampires could survive.  As the slave owners of the 19th century South, they fed upon the millions of slaves that would not be missed or avenged.

Overall, the Book Clubbers didn’t feel the book warranted the hype and most would recommend a pass.  A reader who did enjoy it suggested that people who enjoyed “Tarzan Alive” by Philip Jose Farmer may enjoy “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” because they share a similar tone.

Next up we will be reading the Aldous Huxley classic “Brave New World.”

When: Monday, May 10, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: Second floor of the Noble Tree Cafe 2444 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL

Cost: Free