Strange Lands Book Club: "A Stranger in Olondria"
We enjoy informal discussions on a wide range of science fiction titles
This is a volunteer-led book club. We meet the third Wednesday evening of the month online via Zoom. New members are always welcome!
This month's selection is "A Stranger in Olondria" by Sofia Samatar.
We are reading:
- Wed., Jun. 18: "A Time of Changes" by Robert Silverberg
- Wed., Jul. 16: "Dogs of War" by Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Wed., Aug. 20: "The Saint of Bright Doors" by Vajra Chandrasekera
- Wed., Sep. 17: "A Half-Built Garden" by Ruthanna Emrys
A limited number of print copies of the selected book will be available at Central Library's Floor Info Desk on the 2nd floor on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons are also encouraged to place holds on available print or digital copies.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED to receive the Zoom link (below). A Zoom account is not required to join.
For more information: Contact LIB-CentralOperations@arlingtonva.us or 703-228-6319
- Date:
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Show more dates
- Time:
- 7:00pm - 8:00pm
- Audience:
- Events for Adults Good for Adults Age 55+
- Categories:
- Book Discussion
- Calendar:
- Arlington Public Library
About the Book:
Jevick, the pepper merchant's son, has been raised on stories of Olondria, a distant land where books are as common as they are rare in his home. When his father dies and Jevick takes his place on the yearly selling trip to Olondria, Jevick's life is as close to perfect as he can imagine. But just as he revels in Olondria's Rabelaisian Feast of Birds, he is pulled drastically off course and becomes haunted by the ghost of an illiterate young girl.
In desperation, Jevick seeks the aid of Olondrian priests and quickly becomes a pawn in the struggle between the empire's two most powerful cults. Yet even as the country shimmers on the cusp of war, he must face his ghost and learn her story before he has any chance of becoming free by setting her free: an ordeal that challenges his understanding of art and life, home and exile, and the limits of that seductive necromancy, reading. A Stranger in Olondria is a skillful and immersive debut fantasy novel that pulls the reader in deeper and deeper with twists and turns reminiscent of George R. R. Martin and Joe Hill.