Books
Ship's Log started as a Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club in early 2016, and takes place at Ark + Anchor Espresso Bar in Hamilton Ontario. Book Club meets on the last Monday of every month. Take a look at our CALENDAR for more details.
Here you can find a list of past and present Book Club Books. Books are chosen by members at our meetings two months in advance and each month has a theme. Hover over the cover of each book for more. We also have our entire backlog of LISTS available with our themed books from each month.
New members are always welcome. Feel free to CONTACT us for more, or just show up! All members must adhere to the CAPTAIN'S CODE.
Our pals at EPIC BOOKS on Locke Street in Hamilton offer a 15% discount on current picks to book club members. You can also find copies to browse or purchase at ARK + ANCHOR.
Month: March + April, 2020 Theme: Early Female Authors The Female Man by Joanna Russ We are given four versions of what might be the same woman — Joanna, Jeannine, Janet, and Jael — each in a world that contains different roles and opportunities for women. As they crash through each others' alternate reality worlds, they find that the various J women range from warrior to wallflower. But which way is right? And if none are right, how can they invent a better way?
Month: February 2020 Theme: Short Stories Title: A Thousand Beginnings & Endings Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman (editors) Edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, this anthology focuses on retellings of South and East Asian myths and folktales, with contributors mostly of South and East Asian heritage. An author’s note appears at the end of each story, with a summary of the original tale and the reasons the author had for choosing to retell it.
Month: January 2020 Theme: Long Reads Title: Dhalgren - Samuel Delany
Month: November 2019 Theme: Black, Indigenous, Authors of Colour Title: Signal to Noise - Sylvia Moreno-Garcia A literary fantasy about love, music and sorcery, set against the background of Mexico City.
Month: October 2019 Theme: Horror Title: The Hunger by Alma Katsu Tamsen Donner must be a witch. That is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the wagon train known as the Donner Party. Depleted rations, bitter quarrels, and the mysterious death of a little boy have driven the pioneers to the brink of madness. They cannot escape the feeling that someone--or something--is stalking them. Whether it was a curse from the beautiful Tamsen, the choice to follow a
Month: September 2019 Theme: Back to the Books VOL IV Title: Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko “Vita Nostra” — a cross between Lev Grossman’s “The Magicians” and Elizabeth Kostova’s “The Historian” [...] is the anti-Harry Potter you didn’t know you wanted.” - The Washington Post
Month: August 2019 Theme: Climate Fiction VOL III Title: Blackfish City – Sam J. Miller In our near future, humans are living in the Sunken World, where climate change has drowned our cities. Taking place on a floating city in the Arctic Circle, our characters battle with the realities of political and socio-economic abuse. Enter the Orcamancer, a mysterious woman riding on the back of an orca whale, bringing with her a polar bear.... and change.
Month: July 2019 Theme: Canadian Authors VOL III Title: The Amateurs – Liz Harmer SET IN OUR HOMETOWN HAMILTON! In a time and place only slightly removed from now, PINA, the world’s largest tech company, has introduced society to a new product called “Port.” This irresistible space-time travel device is mysteriously powered by nostalgia and longing. Earth’s population plummets when many who pass through its portal do not come back—either unwilling or unable to return."
Month: June 2019 Theme: LGBTQ+ Title: An Excess Male – Maggie Shen King
Month: May 2019 Theme: New Weird Title: The Etched City – K.J. Bishop
Month: April 2019 Theme: First Contact VOL II Title: Decision at Doona – Anne McCaffrey
Month: March 2019 Theme: Alternate History Title: The Difference Engine – William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
Month: February 2019 Theme: Short Stories, vol. III Title: The Bloody Chamber – Angela Carter
Month: December 2018–January 2019 Theme: The Long Read Vol III Title: The Thessaly Trilogy – Jo Walton
Month: November 2018 Theme: Translated Novel Title: The Dead Mountaineer's Inn – Boris and Arkady Strugatsky
Month: October 2018 Theme: So Spooky Vol III Title: The Cabin at the End of the World - Paul Tremblay
Theme: Back To The Books VOL III A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M Miller Jr
Theme - Climate Fiction The Fifth Season - N K Jemisin
Theme - Canadian Authors Eastern Standard Tribe - Cory Doctorow
Theme: Epic Fantasy The Blue Sword - Robin McKinley
Theme: Golden Age Sci-Fi Ringworld - Larry Niven
Theme: More Than Human The Left Hand of Darkness - Urusula K Le Guin
Theme: Modern Fantasy The Kraken - China Mieville
Theme: Short Stories Vol. II Stories of Your Life and Others - Ted Chiang
Theme: The Long Read Vol. II 1Q84 - Haruki Murakami
Theme: Sequels Parable of the Talents - Octavia E Butler
Theme: Soo Spooky! vol. II Lovecraft Country - Matt Ruff
Theme: Back To School The Big U - Neal Stephenson
Theme: Award Winners Uprooted - Namoi Novik
Theme: Reading Canada Pattern Recognition - William Gibson