looking for sci-fi books

[kingbunky 3]

i'm in a slump with reading. i've read about all the spy books (clancy, ludlum etc), crime books (hoag et al), that i can stand and decided i'd like to read some sci-fi for a change, but have no idea where to start.

any suggestions for titles/authors?

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[ladyskydiver 0]

Laurell Hamilton has excellent sci-fi books - especially if you like vampires.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[Deuce 1]

All the science fiction stuff by Iain M. Banks.

Scottish guy like NacMac. You'll end up mispelling words like colour, and flavour and stuff, though.

[kingbunky 3]

hmmm, vampires, hadn't thought of those, the wife had most of the anne rice books.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[JJohnson 0]

Start a series by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones....good reading
Any of the asassin books by Daniel Silva
And might I suggest The Legend of NightFall and the Renshai Chronicles, but I forget the author.

JJ

"Call me Darth Balls"

[kingbunky 3]

not really, i'm canadian, we get to spell it either way, the correct way, and the american way!

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[billvon 2,467]

John Varley - Golden Globe and Steel Beach
David Brin - Any of the Uplift series (from Sundiver to Heaven's Reach)
Ben Bova - The Precipice

[Kris 0]

Essential Sci-Fi:

Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy by Douglas Adams

The Ringworld series by Larry Niven

The Dune series by Herbert

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

The Forge of God by Greg Bear

Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven

Kris
(Yeah, I'm a Sci-Fi junkie...)

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[Kris 0]

Quote

David Brin - Any of the Uplift series (from Sundiver to Heaven's Reach)

Damn. How could I have forgotten Brin? The Uplift series was outstanding!

Kris

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[Zenister 0]

Sci-fi or Science Fiction? there is a difference after all


heres a few i always recommend.

classic

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
&
Time Enough for Love
by Heinlen


more modern

The Book of the New Sun (5books)
-Shadow of the Torturer
-Claw of the Conciliator
-Sword of the Lictor
-Citiadel of the Autaurch
-The Urth of the New Sun

also

5th head of Cerubus

all by Gene Wolfe

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[wmw999 2,167]

Quote

Time Enough for Love
by Heinlen

I can read his Future History (a series of short stories and novellas) again and again. Also, nearly any of Asimov's "real" science fiction.

I'll admit I haven't kept up, though.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[quade 3]

Start at the beginning; Jules Verne and then move to George Orwell. If that doesn't keep you busy for a while . . .

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[skybytch 259]

Pretty much anything by Isaac Asimov - The Foundation series is a good place to start. Some of my other favorite authors and books include Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress), Larry Niven (Ringworld, Man/Kzin Wars), Jerry Pournelle (anything with Larry Niven), Arthur Clarke (Rama series), and Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash).

[indyz 1]

- Snow Crash, Diamond Age, and Cryptonomicon, all by Neal Stephenson
- Just about anything by Arthur C. Clarke
- A lot of Rudy Rucker's work is good, especially the (real|free|wet|soft)ware books, and Spaceland (A novel that takes place in 4d space. Good for making your head hurt.)

[quade 3]

Quote

Sci-fi or Science Fiction? there is a difference after all

I've seen you write that a few times and I can't tell if you're goofin' or serious.

Doesn't Sci-fi mean Science Fiction?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Zenister 0]

nah i borrowed it from Harlan Ellison.

"Sci-fi rhymes with iffy and not likely to happen.."

really briefly but i'll dig up the essay for you too

Science Fiction takes a real world scenario/situation etc and extrapolates/transposes it to an extreme local (future, distant planet, alternate universe etc) to examine a specific idea out of context for social/philosophical discussion (and entertainment)

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[narcimund 0]

Quote

Doesn't Sci-fi mean Science Fiction?

Think of it this way. Star Trek is sci-fi. Dune is science fiction.

Sci-Fi is for kids. Sci-Fi makes good TV. Sci-Fi inspires the goofballs to dress up for Sci-Fi conventions.

Science fiction is literature and would be taken more seriously if sci-fi weren't giving the whole genre a bad name.

Another modern suggestion: American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[Zenister 0]

Quote

Another modern suggestion: American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

good book! although i prefer his shorter (and episodic Sandman rules!) works better..
it almost seems like he hasnt learned to pace his lovely descriptive tone to the longer novel format..some parts of AG really dragged (but were still very well written)

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[quade 3]

Quote

Think of it this way. Star Trek is sci-fi. Dune is science fiction.

Wow, I so see it the other way 'round.

Science Fiction is taking a scientific premise and extrapolating it to some conclusion -- possibly with some deeper insight into the human condition.

Examples would include;
20,000 Leagues
Master of the World
War of the Worlds
The Time Machine
1984
Fahrenheit 451
and yes . . . Star Trek (most of the good ones at any rate).

Sci-fi (in my view and if I even really cared to dissect it) is simply resetting the place of an otherwise traditional story.
PRIME EXAMPLE -- Star Wars

Science Fiction being the original form and Sci-fi possibly the derivative.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[diablopilot 2]

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Essential Sci-Fi:

Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy by Douglas Adams

The Ringworld series by Larry Niven

Don't forget just about anything else by Niven, Fredrick Pohl, and most importantly, my favorite Author Robert A Heinline.

TANSTAAFL!

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[blewaway5 0]

First to Billvon--Brin is excellent, I remember reading Sundiver for the first time in a lit class I took in college. Actualy I think it was philosophy and lit, or something like that. Anyway, good choice.

Now on to you, Bythch. The Foundation series kicks ass. Those are well crafted stories that span an awesome stretch of time. Asimov was awesome, and he was definitely at the top of his game in those books.

Ok, as for my opinion I have to admit this probably doesn't fit in with the true Science Fiction, but it should be included in any group of worthwhile reads, and that would be Ray Bradbury. I mean come on, Farenhight 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Illustrated Man, October Country, the man could, and still can, write magnificently.

Edit to add Philip K. Dick to the list. He's another really good writer to look into.

Truman Sparks for President

[Zenister 0]

and there is the rub..good sci-fi also touches the things that science fiction does, but its primary intent is entertainment (and money making)

ST & SW are both Sci-fi most of the time however they do occasionally become better..


Alien is Sci-fi (horror in space) as was Event Horizon ( a great ghost story in a new setting)

there isnt anything WRONG with sci-fi, it just misses the "higher purpose" that seperates literature from pulp.

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[skygeek 0]

Sphere -- Michael Cricton
Terminal Man --Same

Neromancer ---William Gibson

Welcome to the New World Order. Expect no Mercy.

[Deuce 1]

Quote

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

All of these are good! A young ladies illustrated primer, and I loved Cryptonomicon (sp?)

[billvon 2,467]

>Science Fiction takes a real world scenario/situation etc and
> extrapolates/transposes it to an extreme local (future, distant
> planet, alternate universe etc) to examine a specific idea out of
> context for social/philosophical discussion (and entertainment)

I think it also speculates about new scenarios/situations that cannot yet occur and examines how they will impact society. What happens when an artificial intelligence is indistinguishable from a human intelligence; does it then have all the rights of a human? What does having nearly infinite power mean about what you're compelled to do, morally? Does being able to predict the future make things that are not OK (like shooting someone who might commit a crime) really OK?