Fantasy Challenge, 2011 -- COMPLETE.
There are four options to complete this challenge.
Light Challenge: Read one novel in 5 out of the 10 categories in Parts A-C and read one novel in 3 out of the 5 categories in Part D. A maximum of 3 titles may double-qualify. (Total of 15-18 titles)
Regular Challenge: Read one novel in all 35 categories in Parts A-D. A maximum of 5 titles may double-qualify. (Total of 30-35 titles)
Super Challenge: Read one novel in all 35 categories in Parts A-D; expand one category in each Part to five novels, each from a different decade. A maximum of 6 titles may double-qualify. (Total of 45-51 titles)
Expanded Super Challenge: Read one novel in all 35 categories in Parts A-D; expand one category in each Part to five novels; expand one category in each Part to a series of novels. A maximum of 6 titles may double-qualify. (Total will vary depending on how long the series you select are, but the minimum number of titles you will read for this option is 57 titles)
The categories are:
Part A: Subgenre Challenges
1. Fantasy Mystery: The Bone Palace, by Amanda Downum. Completed 3/29/11. ( Review)
2. Fantasy Romance: Troubled Waters, by Sharon Shinn. Completed 7/27/11.
3. Gothic novel: Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen. Completed 9/5/11.
4. Fantasy Graphic Novel: The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes, by Neil Gaiman. Completed 10/21/11.
5. Interstitial: Among Others, by Jo Walton. Completed 1/26/11. ( Review)
6. Meta-Fantasy: The Habitation of the Blessed, by Catherynne M. Valente. Completed 4/12/11. ( Review)
7. Military Fantasy: Fire Logic, by Laurie J. Marks. Completed 12/2/11.
8. Steampunk: Mainspring, by Jay Lake. Completed 1/15/11. ( Review)
9. Urban Fantasy (original definition): The White City, by Elizabeth Bear. Completed 2/23/11. ( Review)
10. Weird Fiction/New Weird: The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Stross. Completed 12/21/11.
Part B: Topic Challenges
1. Read a modern-day retelling of a fairy tale: Deathless, by Catherynne M. Valente. Completed 12/31/11.
2. Read a novel dealing with the Matter of Britain: The King's Peace, by Jo Walton. Completed 12/18/11.
3. Read a novel dealing with the Matter of France: Three Hearts and Three Lions, by Poul Anderson. Completed 12/23/11.
4. Read a novel concerned with middle-class characters: Cold Magic, by Kate Elliot. Completed 10/5/11.
5. Read a novel set in or dealing with the myths of a Southern Hemisphere culture: Zoo City, by Lauren Beukes. Completed 3/21/11. ( Review)
6. Read a novel with a non-heterosexual main character: Naamah's Blessing, by Jacqueline Carey. Completed 6/29/11.
7. Read a novel dealing with race: Let's Play White, by Chesya Burke. Completed 7/31/11. ( Review)
8. Read a novel dealing with a secret history: Servant of the Underworld, by Aliette de Bodard. Completed 9/11/11. ( Review)
9. Read a paranormal/supernatural noir novel NOT dealing with vampires, werewolves, or zombies: Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Completed 7/26/11.
10. Read a novel that ties in with some other medium: The Princess Bride, by William Goldman. Completed 11/30/11.
Part C: Award Challenges
1. Work that resulted in its author winning the William L. Crawford Fantasy Award: The Fox Woman, by Kij Johnson. Completed 2/3/11.
2. Work that has won the Andre Norton Award, the Michael L. Printz Award or the Newberry Medal: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente. Completed 5/24/11. ( Review)
3. Work that has won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel: Sabriel, by Garth Nix. Completed 6/4/11. ( Review)
4. Work that has won the British Fantasy Award
5. Work that has won the Gaylactic Spectrum Award or the Lambda Literary Award: Fire Logic, by Laurie J. Marks. Completed 12/2/11.
6. Work that was a runner-up for the Hugo or Nebula Award: Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor. Completed 9/8/11.
7. Work that was a runner-up for the Mythopoeic Award: The Changeling Sea, by Patricia A. McKillip. Completed 8/5/11.
8. Work that was a runner-up for the World Fantasy Award: Mockingbird, by Sean Stewart. Completed 9/13/11.
9. Work that is on the Banned Books list or that is on the 1,001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list: Invisible Cities, by Italo Calvino. Completed 11/28/11.
10. Work that is on the Locus Recommended Reading List for 2010: The Bards of Bone Plain, by Patricia A. McKillip. Completed 9/19/11.
Part D: Miscellaneous Challenges
Themed anthology: The Dragon Book, ed. by Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois. Completed 1/10/11. ( Review)
Read a collection of short stories by an author known for his/her novels: Quatrain, by Sharon Shinn. Completed 5/1/11. ( Review)
Read a non-Fantasy novel by a genre author: Fever Season, by Barbara Hambly. Completed 10/3/11.
Read a novel featuring your favorite mythological creature: The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle. Completed 2/22/11. ( Review)
Read a non-fiction work related to the genre: The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, by Diana Wynne Jones. Completed 11/13/11.