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The hardest part of packing for me is always deciding which books to bring to read on the trip. I always bring too much, and I inevitably end up bringing back even more books from conferences. So this time I'm trying to pick and choose very carefully.

My science fiction reading group is doing China Miéville's Perdido Street Station this month, but unfortunately it's only available as a 710 page, heavy stock trade paperback that's about the same size and weight as my laptop. So that stays home. I was hoping to bring Le Guin's The Dispossessed , but I can't seem to find it so that will have to stay home as well.

I will be bringing another Le Guin with me, a collection of short stories called The Compass Rose . Also making the trip will be two books I've had half-finished for ages: Vinge's classic Fire Upon the Deep and James Blish's A Case of Conscience .