Union University’s Library at the Logos welcomes you to this presentation of March Book Madness! On Fridays in February, you will be introduced to the books competing in March Book Madness in 2022. Each week will feature our selection from two different genres. By the end, you will have been introduced to 8 genres and 16 books. Then, during the month of March, stay tuned to our social media channels to vote on your favorites. You, our readers, will determine which book will make it through the Final Four to become our first March Book Madness Champion!
Micah: Welcome, everyone, to our first inaugural March Book Madness competition! I’m Micah Rhodes, and I’ll be one of your commentators for this week, alongside Rachel Bloomingburg. We will take you through our first two genres and the books that go with them. Rachel, what do we have today?
Rachel: Fantasy and Science Fiction are up first! Fantasy has magical elements and is typically set in another land. Science Fiction often takes place in the future and usually has a technological component.
Micah: These are some of my favorite genres to read. Why don’t you start us off with a rundown of our fantasy contestants?
Rachel: Sure! Our first book is Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson. Elisabeth is an apprentice librarian that’s grown up in one of the Great Libraries of Austermeer. She dreams of becoming a warden where she can help protect the kingdom from magical grimoires. Grimoires can seem harmless, but once provoked, they transform into monsters of ink and leather. One day, someone unleashes the most dangerous one. Elisabeth ends up being accused of the crime. She has no choice but to turn to Nathaniel Thorn, a sorcerer, for help. She’s always been taught that sorcerers are evil; however, the more she gets to know Nathaniel, the more she questions what she’s been taught. See what happens as Elisabeth learns more about herself, the people she can trust, and the libraries that she loves.
Micah: Some fascinating stuff in there! What book will Sorcery of Thorns be facing in the first round?
Rachel: Next up is Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Living in Wonderland and marrying the king is what all girls want, right? Not Catherine. She is a talented baker and desires to do more with her life. Her mother expects her to accept the king’s proposal at the next royal ball, but neither predicted that handsome and mysterious Jest would enter the picture. Catherine and Jest enter a secret courtship, but in a land full of wonder, things don’t always go according to plan. You may think you know what happened in Wonderland, but Catherine’s story may prove otherwise.
Micah: Sounds like a winning combination of intrigue and romance! Which do you think will end up on top?
Rachel: They’re both strong contenders, but I think Sorcery of Thorns’ originality will help it to stand out. Why don’t you introduce us to our sci-fi contestants?
Micah: One of our science fiction competitors is Andy Weir’s breakout novel, The Martian. In the book, astronaut Mark Watney is accidentally left behind on Mars when his research team must perform an emergency evacuation. The novel follows Watney’s journal entries as he attempts to survive alone on the inhospitable planet, figuring out how to solve all manner of problems from conserving food to contacting Earth without long-range communications equipment. Though the stakes are high, and time is ticking, Mark’s unique brand of humor and pragmatic approach to problem-solving keeps the novel’s tone light and extremely entertaining.
Rachel: Wow. That’s a lot to handle. Sounds like the type of person you’d want up when the game is on the line. What book will The Martian be going up against?
Micah: Our other sci-fi entrant is To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini. Paolini is well known for his dragon-rider epic fantasy novel, Eragon, and he brings all his world-building expertise to the genre of science fiction. Kira Navárez, the protagonist, is a xenobiologist who wants nothing more than to settle down with her fiancé in a new planetary colony. However, disaster strikes, war erupts, and Kira’s life is upended when she discovers an ancient alien artifact. Paolini interweaves Kira’s story with fascinating technology, unique aliens, and the perplexing paradox of faster-than-light travel to create a gripping yet thoughtful narrative.
Rachel: Another unique and intense combination. Which one do you think will end up on top?
Micah: It’s a hard call; Paolini’s pedigree is impressive and evident in To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, but I think the broad appeal and accessibility of The Martian will give it the win.
Rachel: Well, folks, that’s all we have time for today! After meeting our first four competitors, which one do you think has the best chance of making the final four? Be ready to vote for your favorite and follow us down to the last page of March Book Madness.
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