For our next bookclub meeting (on a new day: February 21, to not conflict with Valentine’s Day) we’ll be reading Wild Cards I. This recently re-released collection of short stories edited by George R. R. Martin explores a shared world: one in which the Wild Card virus hits during WWII, killing many, and in those it didn’t kill, having the effect of disfigurement or superpowers. The series continues after this for about twenty volumes in all, for those who want to read more from the Wild Card universe.

Join us for discussion of our current book as well as helping decide our next selection.

This is what you missed at our last bookclub meeting:

Machine of Death, a collection of short stories, has a simple premise, inspired by this episode of Dinosaur Comics: “a machine that could tell, from just a sample of your blood, how you were going to die.”

The Machine of Death discussion presented a lively debate: about the form of anthologies, a comparison to the current trend of self-elected genetic testing, free will vs fate. Some found it depressing as a whole and thought the short stories in it might be better interspersed with short stories on other topics. We mostly agreed that it was a great jumping-off point, but the need to restate the premise in each story was fatiguing. If sequels ever happened, we hoped more collaboration would be possible.

When: Monday, February 21, 2010 – 6:30pm-8:00pm (third Monday so as not to interfere with a holiday)

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

Cost: Free