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Sci-fi literature thread?

#41
Lady Kayri said:
......as other authors who have written multiple book series seem to get BETTER with each novel in a series, witness David Weber........
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My personal opinion of Weber is a bit opposite, at least as far as the Honor Harrington books are concerned. I really liked On Basilisk Station and continued to read from there, but by the time I got to Flag in Exile it seemed to me that it fell flat. It could be that it was just burn out on my part, but I got really sucked in to the "Honorverse" up to that point.
 
#42
-Kramer- said:
After I finished reading all of Arthur C. Clarke's books, I got into Stephen Baxter. He falls into the 'hard' sci-fi category which I find more interesting as I also like to keep up with theoretical physics (Brian Greene, Hawking, ect.). BUT, two of his more recent books, Flood and Ark are more traditional sci-fi, and IMHO, are his best to date.

The only thing I don't like about Baxter are his alternate-history series, and since he is currently in the middle of writing one, it might be a while until he writes a book I would be interested in again.
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thanks for the recommendations. I picked up the first book of the Manifold series (Time) by Baxter. I'm already hooked, and about halfway through it. I love the fact that the things Baxter writes about are actually theoretically plausible (at least, more plausible than most sci-fi tech). Definitely reinforces the concept that reality is far stranger than fiction :)
 
#43
IconBasser said:
thanks for the recommendations. I picked up the first book of the Manifold series (Time) by Baxter. I'm already hooked, and about halfway through it. I love the fact that the things Baxter writes about are actually theoretically plausible (at least, more plausible than most sci-fi tech). Definitely reinforces the concept that reality is far stranger than fiction :)
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No problem, that was the series that got me started with Baxter. For those looking for more traditional Sci-Fi, the Time Oddyssey by Baxter and Arthur Clarke is great work.
 
#46
Thor said:
Heinlein's 'Stranger in a Strange Land' was republished by Virginia Heinlein 10+ years ago. Much of the original was redacted and heavily edited for publication in the early 60's. If you have not read this book, as an aficionado I suggest, put it on your MUST READ list.

My second book on the MR list is Alfred Bester's novel, 'The Stars My Destination', originally titled 'Tyger,Tyger'. Bester is a consummate writer and though he wrote only a few sci-fi works, including 'The Demolished Man", I really feel this is his best work. ...
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I've read both of those and they are excellent.

I would also highly recommend:
L. Ron Hubbard 'Battlefield Earth' -- please disregard the Scientology link, this is an awesome book

Dan Simmons: the Hyperion and Ilium series

Orson Scott Card 'Pastwatch'

Tad Williams: Otherland series

Larry Niven: Ringworld series
 
#48
PSPookie said:
I would also highly recommend:
L. Ron Hubbard 'Battlefield Earth' -- please disregard the Scientology link, this is an awesome book
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I read the "Invasion Earth" series once, and before I knew who he was (I was about 12 at the time). I remember getting some very odd looks from the library I borrowed it from, though. It's also a good read, very "pulpy" if you see what I mean. I'm not sure I could read it (or anything else of his) now without having visions of Thetans, Xemu and an overexcited Tom Cruise.
 
#53
Lady Kayri said:
Just a note for other sf fans... Anne McCaffery, writer of the Pern and the Brainship series, died this morning. RIP Ms. McCaffery. Actually got to meet her at a few sf conventions a number of years ago.
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Thanks for posting. I had no idea. After Andre Norton, she is one of my favorites. Last year I reread Pern, this time chronologically from survey to the very end of fall. I know she strongly suggests reading them in published order, but I enjoyed them much more this way.

I'm definitely on the fantasy end of things, but like some straight sci-fi at times, too. I remember Ringworld as being good (like 25 years ago) and am trying to find the first Stainless Steel Rat book right now. I have most of the others, but can't read them till I find the first one. The chronological thing.

I did find a great list online that had all the Star Trek DS9 books and tv shows in order. You read, watch, read, etc. It was great, and the books added so much to the characters.
 
#57
I'm a big fan of everything posted so far..Love Heinlein,I have them all! I also have all the Dragonriders of Pern series,good stuff. Ann McCaffery,and her son I believe,also wrote a nice quartet called the Freedom series(Freedom's Landing,Freedom's Choice,etc)that were a kin to the Pern books,but much shorter..

If anyone EVER has the chance,look into the Horseclans Series by Robert Adams. It's like Conan/Mad Max/Highlander/MacGyver all in one!! It's a series from the mid-seventies to the early eighties,18 books,and out of print since 84 I think..

It's set in the post-apocalyptic future,600yrs after mankind killed off 95% of themselves. The main character is Milo Morai,a man from our time that has a genetic mutation and lived thru the nukes. In his wanderings since,he's gathered up scattered peoples and formed them into clans,teaching them how to survive with skills earned through centuries of experience..There's a few others out there like him,along with scientist organizations that have survived by a means of transferring their consciousness to another body..everybody's hunting and warring against everybody else,Salvatore-esque battle sequences,Hubbard/Clancy-ish strategies and Goodkind style plots within plots..GOOD STUFF!!
 
#59
I just put the last book down last night. I had forgotten how very good ADF is.

For Love of Mother-Not (1983)
The Tar-Aiym Krang (1972)
Orphan Star (1977)
The End of the Matter (1977)
Flinx in Flux (1988)
Mid-Flinx (1995)
Reunion (2001)
Flinx's Folly (2003)
Sliding Scales (2004)
Running from the Deity (2005)
Bloodhype (1973)
Trouble Magnet (2006)
Patrimony (2007)
Flinx Transcendent (2009)

I've gathered all the books for a blast through Saberhagens Berserker series. I hope they hold up as well as ADFs books did for me.
 
#60
I loved the Foundation series. The Mule was a great villain.

+1 to Bester, Clarke, Heinlein, and Haldeman.

+1 to Dune and the next two in the series (those are all I've read).

Kurt Vonnegut isn't really sci-fi but he has some elements. He's more absurd but I love him.

I loved the Honor Harrington books by David Weber but they started dragging after the 7th or 8th book. I read Horatio Hornblower because of Honor Harrington.

Jack McDevitt is pretty cool. "Engines of God," "Chindi," and others in that series were what I started with.

I've been running more toward Fantasy lately. The Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan, and anything by Jim Butcher, Peter Brett, Brent Weeks, Niel Gaiman or Patrick Rothfuss.
 

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