Science Fiction
Discussion
Heinlein - Friday; Starship Troopers; Stranger in a Strange Land
Iain M Banks - Culture novels
Peter F Hamilton - Nights Dawn triology
Harry Harrison - anything, but especially the Stainless Steel Rat
Feintuch - Seafort Saga -- (Hornblower in space)
Patrick Tilley - Amtrak Wars
Kim Stanley Robinson - Mars triology
Larry Niven - Ringword series, Protector, and quite a few others
Iain M Banks - Culture novels
Peter F Hamilton - Nights Dawn triology
Harry Harrison - anything, but especially the Stainless Steel Rat
Feintuch - Seafort Saga -- (Hornblower in space)
Patrick Tilley - Amtrak Wars
Kim Stanley Robinson - Mars triology
Larry Niven - Ringword series, Protector, and quite a few others
Leithen said:
Mannginger said:
If you've not read The Culture series by Iain M Banks then stop what you're doing now, order them online and enjoy a simply superb Sci-fi series by an incredible author
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture#Novels
+1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Culture#Novels
Saying that Excision is one of my top 5 books.
It's certainly the "dumbest" of the series but was a lot more action orientated. I hope that doesn't become a trend for him as I like the slightly more cerebral approach of earlier books but that certainly doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Sonata because, you know... :spacebattles: :combatandroids: :mechsuits:
I liked Hydrogen Sonata. On a par with a lot of the other culture novels I thought. They'd all make my recommended sci fi list.
Anyone who hasn't should read the Forever War, Enders Game, Gateway, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and basically everything else on the 'sci-fi masterworks' list; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks
Neuromancer from Gibson. Snowcrash and basically all of the other later Neil Stevenson books.
Anyone who hasn't should read the Forever War, Enders Game, Gateway, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and basically everything else on the 'sci-fi masterworks' list; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks
Neuromancer from Gibson. Snowcrash and basically all of the other later Neil Stevenson books.
Edited by hairykrishna on Monday 19th November 19:08
tertius said:
They are a decent read but every last one has a deus ex machina style conclusion which I find rather tiresome.
In the authors defence; he does make it abundantly clear that in the cultures case, god really is the machine.Currently reading Davin Brin's "existence". It's not what I was expecting, but it is full of ideas.
hairykrishna said:
I liked Hydrogen Sonata. On a par with a lot of the other culture novels I thought. They'd all make my recommended sci fi list.
Anyone who hasn't should read the Forever War, Enders Game, Gateway, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and basically everything else on the 'sci-fi masterworks' list; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks
Neuromancer from Gibson. Snowcrash and basically all of the other later Neil Stevenson books.
Enders game is a truly fantastic classic.Anyone who hasn't should read the Forever War, Enders Game, Gateway, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and basically everything else on the 'sci-fi masterworks' list; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SF_Masterworks
Neuromancer from Gibson. Snowcrash and basically all of the other later Neil Stevenson books.
Edited by hairykrishna on Monday 19th November 19:08
Neuromancer is also fantastic, if slightly dated. If we are going to recomend cyber punk, I will have to point the OP towards Burning Chrome. Ok, its short stories but its great!
Another +1 for any of Iain M Banks - particularly Use of Weapons and Feersum Endjinn. I liked Hydrogen Sonata but not one of his best, nowhere near as twisted as Surface Detail.
Also loved The Void Trilogy, and then went on to read Hamilton's older stuff, Commonwealth Saga and Nights Dawn. He's not a great writer, but he is a great storyteller, and reminds me of the grand Space opera of the Asimov Foundation era. Also Morning Light Mountain has to be one of the all time best aliens!
Other great sic-fi, Greg Egan, particularly Permutation City, Stephen Baxter - The Xeelee books and Destiny Children series. Pretty much all Arthur C Clarke, Rama books, 2001-61, Childhoods end etc..., Neuromancer as mentioned earlier.
I'm currently working my way through Philip K Dick's books - a mixed back but really enjoyed Valis.
However, my all-time favourite sic-fi novel(s) is Hyperion/Endymion by Dan Simmons - simply mind-blowing. Tough at the start but well worth sticking with - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hyperion-Omnibus-Fall-...
Also loved The Void Trilogy, and then went on to read Hamilton's older stuff, Commonwealth Saga and Nights Dawn. He's not a great writer, but he is a great storyteller, and reminds me of the grand Space opera of the Asimov Foundation era. Also Morning Light Mountain has to be one of the all time best aliens!
Other great sic-fi, Greg Egan, particularly Permutation City, Stephen Baxter - The Xeelee books and Destiny Children series. Pretty much all Arthur C Clarke, Rama books, 2001-61, Childhoods end etc..., Neuromancer as mentioned earlier.
I'm currently working my way through Philip K Dick's books - a mixed back but really enjoyed Valis.
However, my all-time favourite sic-fi novel(s) is Hyperion/Endymion by Dan Simmons - simply mind-blowing. Tough at the start but well worth sticking with - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hyperion-Omnibus-Fall-...
Agree on Fearsum Endjinn being unreadable. Generally enjoyed the other Culture novels though.
The Mote in God's eye is one of the best SF books ever. The Ringworld series is worth a read too as is the non SF Lucifer's Hammer.
I used to enjoy James P Hogan's books - The Two Faces of Tomorrow, The Genesis Machine, Thrice upon a time and the Inherit the stars series. His modern stuff is a bit too Ayn Rand for me.
I'm looking forward to reading some of the recommendations on this thread - I particularly like hard SF, gimme science rather than magic.
The Mote in God's eye is one of the best SF books ever. The Ringworld series is worth a read too as is the non SF Lucifer's Hammer.
I used to enjoy James P Hogan's books - The Two Faces of Tomorrow, The Genesis Machine, Thrice upon a time and the Inherit the stars series. His modern stuff is a bit too Ayn Rand for me.
I'm looking forward to reading some of the recommendations on this thread - I particularly like hard SF, gimme science rather than magic.
Niven fan here. Most of his best stuff is collaborations with Jerry Pournelle imo.
As well as the previously mentioned, I'd recommend,
The 'Fleet of worlds' series (prequels to Ringworld)
Legacy of Heorot, Dragons of Heorot (aka Beowulfs children)
Inferno, Escape from Hell - novel take on a rewrite of Dante's Inferno plus a sequel
Footfall - as original in it's own way as 'Mote in God's eye'
I'd avoid the 'Road' series, unless you like magic/fantasy mixed with your SF
As well as the previously mentioned, I'd recommend,
The 'Fleet of worlds' series (prequels to Ringworld)
Legacy of Heorot, Dragons of Heorot (aka Beowulfs children)
Inferno, Escape from Hell - novel take on a rewrite of Dante's Inferno plus a sequel
Footfall - as original in it's own way as 'Mote in God's eye'
I'd avoid the 'Road' series, unless you like magic/fantasy mixed with your SF
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