# Looking for a book not by GRR Martin
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-book-not-by-grr-martin/949705
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** books-writing-myths
**Created:** [August 29, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-book-not-by-grr-martin/949705 "2021-08-29T01:22:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-book-not-by-grr-martin/949705/21 "2021-08-31T16:03:43Z")
Sorry, missed my Edit Window.
Something not mentioned by @Wendell_Wagner, but is on my shelf that could be a match is _The Many-Colored Land_ by Julian May (1981). It’s a sci-fi based fantasy that feels like a much closer match to the Game of Thrones, in that it has elaborate set battles, duels, and intrigue between multiple factions and races, as well as individual city-states. It does include a float chair at several different points.
It’s actually the first book of a series, and part of a larger series of stories (of which I am a fan of course), and should appeal to both Scifi and Fantasy readers since it is very much a part of both traditions.
I also found
> **[The Defining Science Fiction Books of the 1980s](https://auxiliarymemory.com/2013/04/14/the-defining-science-fiction-books-of-the-1980s/)**
>
> 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s We’ve added a new feature that allows you to create your own lists from our database of recognized novels and short stories. You can set your own date ranges. Ch…
Which was an amazing reminder of all the stuff I read (and still may have copies of a few), and would forward to the friend, I’d bet if we haven’t mentioned it, it is on that list _somewhere_
A related page,
> **[The Defining Science Fiction Books of the 1980s](https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_80s.asp)**
>
> The Defining Science Fiction Books of the 1980s is a list compiled by super fan James Wallace Harris.
has a more complete cover list, that might help spark memories.
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-book-not-by-grr-martin/949705/22 "2021-09-01T22:16:41Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#):
>
> [https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists\_80s.asp](https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_80s.asp)
>
> has a more complete cover list, that might help spark memories.
Well we own all except for 3 of those … [we own about 5000 books, more or less =)]
And I am female, and it is the husband looking for the book =)
I am thinking this may really be a lost cause, despite the brains here finding a book I once read and got from a library back in like 1972 as an 11 year old from a moderately vague description. BUt thanks all =)
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### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-book-not-by-grr-martin/949705/23 "2021-09-01T22:38:49Z")
Then I apologize for the mistake, and cross fingers that you do find it. And yeah, going through those lists was like “and I’ve read that, and that and that, oh and that…” Even though many are long since back at the library or used book store.
What terrified me was realizing (from say the 80s to aughts) was that I’d read so many . . . and that was now up to 40 years ago or so. _crumbles to dust_
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### Author:  [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2021, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-book-not-by-grr-martin/949705/24 "2021-09-01T23:03:50Z")
This reminds me very strongly of Orson Scott Card’s [Homecoming Saga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homecoming_Saga), especially the city-state idea and the business with one protagonist needing a floater to get around.
They came out in the 90s, though.
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