By now we are familiar with the essence of a story: a character with a flaw (an incorrect world view that is making them unhappy) caused by a wound (a serious incident in their past that caused them to firmly believe this view) is presented with a serious problem that challenges this world view. They are face by a series of obstacles attempting to solve this problem (often in the form of a villain), things becoming worse until they overcome their flaw and become a whole person, or they fail and are doomed to misery.
But where does the villain fit into this?
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Our Book of the Month for August is The Three Body Problem by Cixin Lui
Chinese engineer Wang Mao is asked to infiltrate a secretive cabal of scientists after a series of unexplained suicides. What he finds is a virtual world world ruled by the relationship of three suns and a conspiracy spanning space and time that threatens to end the human race.
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Link : Amazon, Goodreads. Price:£5.95
Genetically engineered crops and plagues have wiped out the greater portion of the world’s agriculture, ending the era of great nations and open borders as humanity struggles to survive the latest pestilence. Anderson Lake is a company man trying to discover the secrets of Thailand’s success, one of the few relatively civilised nations remaining. Jaidee is an incorruptible head of the White Shirts, protecting the nation from potentially toxic illegal imports. Hock Seng is a “yellow card”, a once wealthy Chinese refugee from a violent uprising that murdered his family. Their lives will be turned upside-down by of Emiko, a “windup girl”, an android, a sex-slave, and the person who may be about to start a revolution.
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Link :Amazon, Goodreads. Price:£6.99
Young solicitor Arthur Kips is summoned to attend the funeral of recently deceased client Mrs Alice Drablow and organise affairs at her isolated home, Eel Marsh House. When he spots a woman, dressed all in black, it is the beginning of a creeping unease that spirals into nightmare as he falls into the grip of the terrible purpose of the woman in black.
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This month our book is the famous and sadly only collaboration between the exemplorary Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
“Azriphale is a book-loving angel. Crowley is a fast living demon. There’s no way they should be friends. But that’s not the only strange thing going on – a witchfinder destined to love a witch, a hellhound with a strange compulsion to fetch and roll over, and a young boy who might just be about to end the world.
Because the Apocalypse really is due to arrive, next Saturday, just after tea.”
Although you’re welcome to read the book then comment on this post, the book club was started as part of a Habitica party and guild. You don’t need to know what Habitica is, but if you’d like to participate in our main forum, suggest new books for coming months, and vote for next months books then you should check out our Achievement Unlocked forum:
Visit the main forum here.
Apply to join the forums here (obviously, everything is free)
Bookmark the Bookclub forum here.
