Science Fiction
Discussion
d. Halfway through Baxter/Pratchett's 'The Long Mars' and I feel like giving up. Every so often there's hints of an interesting plot development, and then it plunges into more endless descriptions of the alternative worlds. How they're going to sustain this for another two books I don't know.
Halmyre said:
Halfway through Baxter/Pratchett's 'The Long Mars' and I feel like giving up. Every so often there's hints of an interesting plot development, and then it plunges into more endless descriptions of the alternative worlds. How they're going to sustain this for another two books I don't know.
I haven't even got round to buying the 2nd book (The Long War) yet, let alone this one. The first was ok but it just didn't seem to go anywhere. There was nothing wrong with it as such - definitely well written. But it just didn't seem to tell much of a story. 
Just seen this thread, how did I miss it!
A bit late to the party but here are some of my contributions based on the quick read through of the thread.
Much love on this thread for Ian Banks Culture novels which is as it should be but no mention of one of his other greats, The Algebraist. Not a culture novel but I'd rate it up there with the best of his Culture work.
Someone mentioned Neal Asher but it seems to have been ignored. His Polity novels are brilliant, especially his 5 book Agent Cormac Series. Think of James Bond set hundreds of years in the future with a similar universe as Banks Culture novels i.e. benevolent AI's ruling humanity and you'll get the idea. Again as good as anything in the Culture series in my opinion but a bit easier reading with it's more action orientated tone.
A big thumbs up for Dan Abnett too, some of the Warhammer 40k\Black Library stuff can be a bit hit and miss but his Eisenhorn omnibus is a great read, especially if you like dark future, cyberpunk stuff.
Speaking of which I seem to have developed a taste for Cyberpunk\Dark future story lines so can anyone suggest anything else along this theme not from the WK40 universe or indeed and decnt military Sci-Fi. I am have been reading some of the classic books but I am looking for decent contemporary stuff which seems a bit thin on the ground.
A bit late to the party but here are some of my contributions based on the quick read through of the thread.
Much love on this thread for Ian Banks Culture novels which is as it should be but no mention of one of his other greats, The Algebraist. Not a culture novel but I'd rate it up there with the best of his Culture work.
Someone mentioned Neal Asher but it seems to have been ignored. His Polity novels are brilliant, especially his 5 book Agent Cormac Series. Think of James Bond set hundreds of years in the future with a similar universe as Banks Culture novels i.e. benevolent AI's ruling humanity and you'll get the idea. Again as good as anything in the Culture series in my opinion but a bit easier reading with it's more action orientated tone.
A big thumbs up for Dan Abnett too, some of the Warhammer 40k\Black Library stuff can be a bit hit and miss but his Eisenhorn omnibus is a great read, especially if you like dark future, cyberpunk stuff.
Speaking of which I seem to have developed a taste for Cyberpunk\Dark future story lines so can anyone suggest anything else along this theme not from the WK40 universe or indeed and decnt military Sci-Fi. I am have been reading some of the classic books but I am looking for decent contemporary stuff which seems a bit thin on the ground.
Guvernator said:
Speaking of which I seem to have developed a taste for Cyberpunk\Dark future story lines so can anyone suggest anything else along this theme not from the WK40 universe or indeed and decnt military Sci-Fi. I am have been reading some of the classic books but I am looking for decent contemporary stuff which seems a bit thin on the ground.
I'm presuming you've read the classic "Snow Crash"? Speaking of which I seem to have developed a taste for Cyberpunk\Dark future story lines so can anyone suggest anything else along this theme not from the WK40 universe or indeed and decnt military Sci-Fi. I am have been reading some of the classic books but I am looking for decent contemporary stuff which seems a bit thin on the ground.
Try Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan, very dark, cyberpunk ish but different view on future
Try Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan, very dark, cyberpunk ish but different view on future
Guvernator said:
Speaking of which I seem to have developed a taste for Cyberpunk\Dark future story lines so can anyone suggest anything else along this theme not from the WK40 universe or indeed and decnt military Sci-Fi. I am have been reading some of the classic books but I am looking for decent contemporary stuff which seems a bit thin on the ground.
Apart from Snow Crash and the Takeshi Kovacs seriers already mentioned above I would recommend:HardWired and Voice of the Whirlwind by Walter John Williams
Neuromancer, Count Zero And Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson
The Long Run by Daniel Keyes Moran (Released for free by the author)
As for modern military science fiction I quite like David Weber's stuff which is in the main very large space battles and Joel Shepherds Cassandra Kresnov series which is in the main small unit action with the added bonus that the main character is a cyborg. Old Mans War by John Scalzi is good as well.
plasticpig said:
Apart from Snow Crash and the Takeshi Kovacs seriers already mentioned above I would recommend:
HardWired and Voice of the Whirlwind by Walter John Williams
Neuromancer, Count Zero And Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson
The Long Run by Daniel Keyes Moran (Released for free by the author)
As for modern military science fiction I quite like David Weber's stuff which is in the main very large space battles and Joel Shepherds Cassandra Kresnov series which is in the main small unit action with the added bonus that the main character is a cyborg. Old Mans War by John Scalzi is good as well.
Thanks, I've read the Necromancer trilogy but I'll give your other suggestions a try.HardWired and Voice of the Whirlwind by Walter John Williams
Neuromancer, Count Zero And Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson
The Long Run by Daniel Keyes Moran (Released for free by the author)
As for modern military science fiction I quite like David Weber's stuff which is in the main very large space battles and Joel Shepherds Cassandra Kresnov series which is in the main small unit action with the added bonus that the main character is a cyborg. Old Mans War by John Scalzi is good as well.
Oh and another collection from the Bl library has sprung to mind, The Inquisition War trilogy by Ian Watson. Another great read if you like that universe.
Great suggestions, I'll be trying the few I haven't read...
Don't like the bloke who mentioned the Horus Heresy series - now on book 14 (and £140 quid punted to Games Workshop, I need to buy shares in them!) and I just know I'll read them all.
Except they've already released blooming loads, and aren't even close to the end of the story (as I understand it). Wonder how long they can string it out until the really juicy stuff?
Don't like the bloke who mentioned the Horus Heresy series - now on book 14 (and £140 quid punted to Games Workshop, I need to buy shares in them!) and I just know I'll read them all.
Except they've already released blooming loads, and aren't even close to the end of the story (as I understand it). Wonder how long they can string it out until the really juicy stuff?
Sway said:
Great suggestions, I'll be trying the few I haven't read...
Don't like the bloke who mentioned the Horus Heresy series - now on book 14 (and £140 quid punted to Games Workshop, I need to buy shares in them!) and I just know I'll read them all.
Except they've already released blooming loads, and aren't even close to the end of the story (as I understand it). Wonder how long they can string it out until the really juicy stuff?
Agreed, most of the books have been great but a few definitely feel like "filler". I suppose they have to milk the Heresy for all it's worth as it's probably the most important story in that universe but sometimes I wish they would hurry up and move the story on a bit. Oh and the last book in the series had better be about the Emperor and how bad-ass he is or I won't be happy.Don't like the bloke who mentioned the Horus Heresy series - now on book 14 (and £140 quid punted to Games Workshop, I need to buy shares in them!) and I just know I'll read them all.
Except they've already released blooming loads, and aren't even close to the end of the story (as I understand it). Wonder how long they can string it out until the really juicy stuff?
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