Science Fiction
Discussion
D_T_W said:
Any suggestions?
As you seem to like much the same stuff as I do, try Altered Carbon?https://www.amazon.co.uk/Altered-Carbon-GOLLANCZ-R...
It's very good. I've just re-read it, and plan to go on to the two sequels this time.
DibblyDobbler said:
JonChalk said:
How did you get on with Feersum Endjinn?
Hmm - you've caught me out there to be honest... struggled with that one and have only read it once now that I think about it 
D_T_W said:
Having just re-read The Culture series and the Revelation Space series, I'm in dire need of another big space opera to keep me entertained.
Any suggestions? I'm not really a TV person and I'm waiting on the next season of The Expanse and House of Cards to arrive on Netflix so I need something to fill my evenings. Loved The Culture series, could just keep reading them. Took me a while to get into the Revelation Space books but I found I really enjoyed them.
Would prefer a series but would be happy with just some recommendations for stand alone books
Alastair Reynolds can turn his hand to both (series and stand alone), and has a whole universe-theme-thing going across his stuff, much like Banks, but a little less to the front and centre.Any suggestions? I'm not really a TV person and I'm waiting on the next season of The Expanse and House of Cards to arrive on Netflix so I need something to fill my evenings. Loved The Culture series, could just keep reading them. Took me a while to get into the Revelation Space books but I found I really enjoyed them.
Would prefer a series but would be happy with just some recommendations for stand alone books
Redemption Ark was the first of his I ever read - as good a place to start with him, I think.
Stephen Baxter is good if you like your SF a bit more rooted in science - he's got a couple of series and stand alone, but don't start with the Time manifold series (IMHO) - it's not not his best.
JonChalk said:
Alastair Reynolds can turn his hand to both (series and stand alone), and has a whole universe-theme-thing going across his stuff, much like Banks, but a little less to the front and centre.
Redemption Ark was the first of his I ever read - as good a place to start with him, I think.
I'd say for some typical Reynolds hard sci-fi story then House of Suns is hard to beat. Sweeping space opera at its best IMO.Redemption Ark was the first of his I ever read - as good a place to start with him, I think.
Baron Greenback said:
Anyone read the Dark Intelligence: Transformation: Book One by Neil Asher onwards didnt know they were about!?
Whats Revenger by Alastair Reynolds think Diamond dog was the last book of his?
Revenger is a standalone, not a bad little tale. No spoilers, set in the future. Scavengers and pirates somewhere in spaceWhats Revenger by Alastair Reynolds think Diamond dog was the last book of his?
JonChalk said:
Just finished binge-watching "The Expanse" Season 1, which is surprisingly close to the books, but also reminded me how good the first 3 or 4 of James S.A.Corey's series is.
Worth re-read, plus catch up on newer ones on holiday in June.
Which broadcaster has got it? Tried watching it last year but it was US-only.Worth re-read, plus catch up on newer ones on holiday in June.
JonChalk said:
Stephen Baxter is good if you like your SF a bit more rooted in science - he's got a couple of series and stand alone, but don't start with the Time manifold series (IMHO) - it's not not his best.
Coincidentally, I am actually reading / trying to read Time at the moment. I borrowed it from the library and seem to manage about a chapter a week. I'm finding it really hard going - nothing really happens and it feels like it is trying to hard to make a really simple point (but I'm still not entirely sure what that point is). The science is interesting; the writing less so.Zigster said:
JonChalk said:
Stephen Baxter is good if you like your SF a bit more rooted in science - he's got a couple of series and stand alone, but don't start with the Time manifold series (IMHO) - it's not not his best.
Coincidentally, I am actually reading / trying to read Time at the moment. I borrowed it from the library and seem to manage about a chapter a week. I'm finding it really hard going - nothing really happens and it feels like it is trying to hard to make a really simple point (but I'm still not entirely sure what that point is). The science is interesting; the writing less so.Baron Greenback said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Finished Matter (good but not an absolute favorite) and on to The Hydrogen Sonata now. The last one. Ever 
Hated finishing my last one! Tempted to start all over again! my 1st of his was Wasp Factory when my art teacher recomended it when I was about 14!A really short, very approachable Sci-Fi book I'm fond of is Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Many of you have seen the film, which by the way, I think is cheesy in all the best ways and a cult classic. The book has NOTHING to do with the film. I can't express that enough.
The book is a short story told through the eyes of a soldier in the future. It's half a philosophical piece on the nature of war and the function of soldiers and half a rich narrative, telling of a salt of the earth guy calling the world as he sees it. This book is mandatory reading for the US officers in training at Westpoint, as well as that, it had a huge influence on the reshaping of the US military. In the novel Heinlein, who served in the navy for most of his life, talks of the benefits of having a small volunteer force as oppose to a larger conscripted one. Some really interesting ideas about nationstates and the right to govern are debated in this seemingly simple Sci-Fi tale.
TL:DR = Its a really good book, entertaining, unique and legitimately thought provoking. What is the value of one man's life? Read the book and Heinlein might just make you change your answer
The book is a short story told through the eyes of a soldier in the future. It's half a philosophical piece on the nature of war and the function of soldiers and half a rich narrative, telling of a salt of the earth guy calling the world as he sees it. This book is mandatory reading for the US officers in training at Westpoint, as well as that, it had a huge influence on the reshaping of the US military. In the novel Heinlein, who served in the navy for most of his life, talks of the benefits of having a small volunteer force as oppose to a larger conscripted one. Some really interesting ideas about nationstates and the right to govern are debated in this seemingly simple Sci-Fi tale.
TL:DR = Its a really good book, entertaining, unique and legitimately thought provoking. What is the value of one man's life? Read the book and Heinlein might just make you change your answer
Oliver James said:
A really short, very approachable Sci-Fi book I'm fond of is Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Many of you have seen the film, which by the way, I think is cheesy in all the best ways and a cult classic. The book has NOTHING to do with the film. I can't express that enough.
The book is a short story told through the eyes of a soldier in the future. It's half a philosophical piece on the nature of war and the function of soldiers and half a rich narrative, telling of a salt of the earth guy calling the world as he sees it. This book is mandatory reading for the US officers in training at Westpoint, as well as that, it had a huge influence on the reshaping of the US military. In the novel Heinlein, who served in the navy for most of his life, talks of the benefits of having a small volunteer force as oppose to a larger conscripted one. Some really interesting ideas about nationstates and the right to govern are debated in this seemingly simple Sci-Fi tale.
TL:DR = Its a really good book, entertaining, unique and legitimately thought provoking. What is the value of one man's life? Read the book and Heinlein might just make you change your answer
This, followed by The Forever War (Joe Haldeman) for balance.The book is a short story told through the eyes of a soldier in the future. It's half a philosophical piece on the nature of war and the function of soldiers and half a rich narrative, telling of a salt of the earth guy calling the world as he sees it. This book is mandatory reading for the US officers in training at Westpoint, as well as that, it had a huge influence on the reshaping of the US military. In the novel Heinlein, who served in the navy for most of his life, talks of the benefits of having a small volunteer force as oppose to a larger conscripted one. Some really interesting ideas about nationstates and the right to govern are debated in this seemingly simple Sci-Fi tale.
TL:DR = Its a really good book, entertaining, unique and legitimately thought provoking. What is the value of one man's life? Read the book and Heinlein might just make you change your answer
Stories of my youth.
I'm sure we've already done Cixin Liu's Three Body Problem. But there's now a translation of his short stories out, The Wandering Earth, which is excellent. Varies from slightly trippy, especially the opening chapter, to full delta V analysis and descriptions of large mass gravity effects. Recommended.
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