Science Fiction
Discussion
Guvernator said:
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?
Really not sure on the Emperor - at times I'm flipping between him being the greatest asset for humanity or the worst tyrant ever. I'm also struggling to reconcile him apparently being alive in the middle ages, so would already be a couple of hundred years old. Hope they tell his story properly so it ties in (at least semi plausibly in context) with reality. Can't yet see how Horus is powerful enough to do anything to him...
Sway said:
Indeed. They're also very well known for the monetisation of their IP - I'm sure they'll judge it just before the point at which there'd be outrage!
Really not sure on the Emperor - at times I'm flipping between him being the greatest asset for humanity or the worst tyrant ever. I'm also struggling to reconcile him apparently being alive in the middle ages, so would already be a couple of hundred years old. Hope they tell his story properly so it ties in (at least semi plausibly in context) with reality. Can't yet see how Horus is powerful enough to do anything to him...
That's the whole point of the Heresy though, it shows the story from both sides so a lot of the Emperors actions are thrown into even more of an ambiguous light than previously, although for someone who is supposed to be the greatest\wisest human in the history of mankind, he does make some terrible decisions and can be a real arrogant pr**k at times. Really not sure on the Emperor - at times I'm flipping between him being the greatest asset for humanity or the worst tyrant ever. I'm also struggling to reconcile him apparently being alive in the middle ages, so would already be a couple of hundred years old. Hope they tell his story properly so it ties in (at least semi plausibly in context) with reality. Can't yet see how Horus is powerful enough to do anything to him...
I just hope they do the final battle for earth justice and not gloss over the bits we all want to read about. They've annoyingly done this in a few of the previous books, concentrated too much on the bit part players at the detriment of the Primarchs and\or Emperor who are the people we REALLY want to read about.
On another note, just download Altered Carbon so we'll see how I get on with that.
Guvernator said:
That's the whole point of the Heresy though, it shows the story from both sides so a lot of the Emperors actions are thrown into even more of an ambiguous light than previously, although for someone who is supposed to be the greatest\wisest human in the history of mankind, he does make some terrible decisions and can be a real arrogant pr**k at times.
I just hope they do the final battle for earth justice and not gloss over the bits we all want to read about. They've annoyingly done this in a few of the previous books, concentrated too much on the bit part players at the detriment of the Primarchs and\or Emperor who are the people we REALLY want to read about.
On another note, just download Altered Carbon so we'll see how I get on with that.
Altered Carbon is great, in fact I need to read it again.I just hope they do the final battle for earth justice and not gloss over the bits we all want to read about. They've annoyingly done this in a few of the previous books, concentrated too much on the bit part players at the detriment of the Primarchs and\or Emperor who are the people we REALLY want to read about.
On another note, just download Altered Carbon so we'll see how I get on with that.
benjj said:
Man alive, you guys still read paper books? It's so damned, erm, Idiran 
But the signed 1st editions look rather nice all lined up on the bookshelf, (at a height my 15 month daughter cant reach.......yet!)Might be a bit late notice, but Hamilton is doing a Q&A/reading session for his new book at Waterstones tomorrow night in Leeds (14/10/2014), not too far for you Benjj? I shall be there with my few remaining unsigned 1st editions I have obtained since he last did his book tour. Apparantly he has signed Kindle's before.......
Trax said:
I shall be there with my few remaining unsigned 1st editions I have obtained since he last did his book tour. Apparantly he has signed Kindle's before.......
When Terry Pratchett signed my copy of Small Gods back in 1993 he joked that he'd just devalued it and that there were more signed ones in existence than unsigned ones. I'm sure that isn't the case now. 
Halmyre said:
Altered Carbon is great, in fact I need to read it again.
A little 'brain out action' for sci-fi, but very engaging and fun to read.
In a different vein, Charles Stross' "Laundry" series - near-future, slightly-geeky, slightly (ok, more than slightly) comic sci-fi with frequent nods to Lovecraft and Fleming and occasional ones in other directions.
(I want a basilisk gun!)
havoc said:
Halmyre said:
Altered Carbon is great, in fact I need to read it again.
A little 'brain out action' for sci-fi, but very engaging and fun to read.
In a different vein, Charles Stross' "Laundry" series - near-future, slightly-geeky, slightly (ok, more than slightly) comic sci-fi with frequent nods to Lovecraft and Fleming and occasional ones in other directions.
(I want a basilisk gun!)
Been travelling a bit, so enjoying some reading time. I have enjoyed Ender's game, Neuromancer, Snow crash, 1984 (as always), Brave new world, Irobot, do androids dream of electric sheep, Starship troopers and the Forever war.
I initially did not get into Hyperion, but persevered and it picked up pace. Good read.
Foundation was very heavy going.
I initially did not get into Hyperion, but persevered and it picked up pace. Good read.
Foundation was very heavy going.
Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Sunday 19th October 17:02
Chunkymonkey71 said:
Last year I bought a copy of 'encounter with the Tiber' by buzz aldrin on ebay, after someone recommended it.
Paid about 60p for it.
It's been signed by Buzz Aldrin! I'm scared to read it incase I damage it!
Just found it online at amazon.com. Free to rent with Kindle unlimited.Paid about 60p for it.
It's been signed by Buzz Aldrin! I'm scared to read it incase I damage it!
QuantumTokoloshi said:
Been travelling a bit, so enjoying some reading time. I have enjoyed Ender's game, Neuromancer, Snow crash, 1984 (as always), Brave new world, Irobot, do androids dream of electric sheep, Starship troopers and the Forever war.
I initially did not get into Hyperion, but persevered and it picked up pace. Good read.
Foundation was very heavy going.
Foundation would be much easier if you read the preceding books first. List/sequence here: CLICK - start with Robot series onwards.I initially did not get into Hyperion, but persevered and it picked up pace. Good read.
Foundation was very heavy going.
LordGrover said:
QuantumTokoloshi said:
Been travelling a bit, so enjoying some reading time. I have enjoyed Ender's game, Neuromancer, Snow crash, 1984 (as always), Brave new world, Irobot, do androids dream of electric sheep, Starship troopers and the Forever war.
I initially did not get into Hyperion, but persevered and it picked up pace. Good read.
Foundation was very heavy going.
Foundation would be much easier if you read the preceding books first. List/sequence here: CLICK - start with Robot series onwards.I initially did not get into Hyperion, but persevered and it picked up pace. Good read.
Foundation was very heavy going.
I will give the preceding books a read and revisit it.
LordGrover said:
Foundation would be much easier if you read the preceding books first. List/sequence here: CLICK - start with Robot series onwards.
It's not strictly necessary to read the Robot series first. In fact, the fact that they are actually in the same universe is one of the big reveals in the latter part of the original books. Mind you, I'm saying that as someone who stopped reading them when Asimov died - I haven't read any of the books that were written by other authors after his death. So perhaps you are right.
I just finished Proxima by Stephen Baxter and enjoyed it. I hadn't read much of his stuff before but based on this will be trying some more of this back catalogue.
Not for a while though. I've got Abyss Beyond Dreams on order from the library (I'm too cheap to buy my own copies any more....) and Manhattan In Reverse awaiting collection to tide me over in the meantime.
Not for a while though. I've got Abyss Beyond Dreams on order from the library (I'm too cheap to buy my own copies any more....) and Manhattan In Reverse awaiting collection to tide me over in the meantime.
I've just finished the first uplift trilogy after it being recommended on here. Really enjoyed it and one of the few occasions where a trilogy gets stronger as it progresses. Book 3 was def my favourite so really looking forward to the second trilogy.
However I'm now deep into the abyss beyond dreams and loving it! I might have to back and re read the commonwealth and void books now.......
However I'm now deep into the abyss beyond dreams and loving it! I might have to back and re read the commonwealth and void books now.......
QuantumTokoloshi said:
Thanks, it was like wading through treacle, I did not finish it.
I will give the preceding books a read and revisit it.
I re-read the foundation series every 5 years or so and Im surprised you find them tough as by the standards of modern hard SF they're really just old school adventure yarns. And for the record the non Asimov foundation books are complete I will give the preceding books a read and revisit it.
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