Buy Nothing Day

A society of people who only consume is not sustainable, whether your framework is ethical, historical, ecological, or spiritual. Just for one day, show that you know it. Skip the crowds, skip the midnight madness, turn off the corporate messages that we need STUFF to feel loved. Take a 24-hour break from being a consumer. Make something yourself, whether it's a great scene in your novel, a painting, a holiday card, or just turkey curry. Volunteer. Hug someone you love. Take a walk.

Participate by not participating.

*Thanks to cauldronfarm for alerting me to this.

The Game Beyond by Melissa Scott

Title: The Game Beyond
Author: Melissa Scott
Genre: Science fiction
Setting: A galactic empire far in the future.
Reason for Reading: Uh, hello? It was a Melissa Scott book. One I had never even heard of, in fact.
Pages: 350, including an interesting nonfiction essay by CJ Cherryh on the future of conflict.
Copyright Date: 1984
Cover: A guy in romanesque robes and wearing a golden laurel wreath sits on a golden throne. He's looking at his console. There are spaceships all around.
First line: "The ambassador's shuttle swung high over the Palace compound, waiting for permission to land."
Best part: I enjoyed the societal conventions about warfare. It reminded me of the Compact in MZB's Darkover books.
Worst part: Scott, I know you love the VR. But fighting for the throne... with videogames? Come now.
Imaginary Theme Song: "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
Grade: C
Recommended for: Fans of "game of throne" type epics written on a galactic stage. Those interested in the idea of martial codes of honor.
Related Reads: The Dark Tower by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Burning Bright by Melissa Scott. The Prince Roger series by David Weber and John Ringo.

Daughters of a Coral Dawn by Katherine V. Forrest

Title: Daughters of a Coral Dawn
Author: Katherine V. Forrest
Series: First in a trilogy. As far as I can tell the trilogy doesn't have its own name.
Genre: GLBT, sci fi, feminist.
Setting: Earth and other planets in the 2100's.
Reason for Reading: It won the Lambda award and it was sitting on a table at the library. Good combination.
Pages: 226
Copyright Date: 1984
Cover: A woodcutting of the face of a woman. Her eyes are colored with coral, as is the landscape behind her.
First line: "The idea to smuggle Mother off Verna III came to Father when Jed Peterman fell down a hill of keteraw and proceeded to smother in a pile of mutherac, managing to do this in spite of all his training and thorough briefings on the planet's topography."
Best part: Parts of it were very, very funny.
Worst part: I felt the author made things a little too easy on herself with the book's central conflict.
Imaginary Theme Song: "Testimony" by Holly Near
Grade: C+ - I think it's a great piece for the time, but it does show its age.
Recommended for: You mean I'm the only one that tries to read every book that wins the Lambda sci fi award? Actually, I think anyone interested in feminist sci fi would find this book interesting.
Related Reads: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin, Kirith Kirin by Jim Grimsley (a later winner of the same award), Ammonite by Niccola Griffith.