Science Fiction
Discussion
Sorry, but every time I see this thread pop back up... In my head I hear
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G5MHNvOVl8Y
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G5MHNvOVl8Y
Just finished Diaspora and Permutation City by Greg Egan. Even by hard SF standards like Baxter this is HARD. The starts are tough going but it's proper awe inspiring, mind bending stuff - well worth a look:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diaspora-Greg-Egan-ebook/d...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diaspora-Greg-Egan-ebook/d...
I presume thread followers have been watching http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p026c7jt/tomo... bbc2 tv series? Added to my reading list some of the older books I havent read yet! Good programme!
JonRB said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Banks's Consider Phlebas - and wow it is good! Straight into the action, an absolute romp - loving it. 
It's a stunning book, for sure. Especially as the protagonist is fighting *against* the Culture. Excession is another favourite.
The scene where our hero Zakalwe fights the dude who speaks via a voice box is a particular highlight 
DibblyDobbler said:
Well I blasted through Consider Phlebas and have moved seamlessly onto Use of Weapons The scene where our hero Zakalwe fights the dude who speaks via a voice box is a particular highlight
Think Use of Weapons is my fav of his! mmmm may have to re-read all his books again! The scene where our hero Zakalwe fights the dude who speaks via a voice box is a particular highlight Baron Greenback said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Well I blasted through Consider Phlebas and have moved seamlessly onto Use of Weapons The scene where our hero Zakalwe fights the dude who speaks via a voice box is a particular highlight
Think Use of Weapons is my fav of his! mmmm may have to re-read all his books again! The scene where our hero Zakalwe fights the dude who speaks via a voice box is a particular highlight 
I saw a couple of mentions of Revelation Space in this thread. That is my favourite sci-fi universe by a long stretch; despite enjoying many of the other authors on this thread I've never read anything else that comes close. Tortuous plot, hyperpigs, neutron-star super-computers, time-travel, secret cabals that may not exiat . . . I loved every minute of it.
Is there anything similar out there which I may have missed?
Is there anything similar out there which I may have missed?
I'm trying to track down a Sci-Fi book I read many moons ago but for the life of me I can't remember the name. It involved a teacher who uncovers a plot by aliens to abduct humans and take them to the other side of the galaxy to fight a war as it turns out that humans have evolved to be better at war then almost any other species in the galaxy.
I think it was a series of books but I only read the first one so I'd like to re-read and carry on with the other books if possible. Anyone have any clue as to what it might be?
I think it was a series of books but I only read the first one so I'd like to re-read and carry on with the other books if possible. Anyone have any clue as to what it might be?
jimmyjimjim said:
Ignoring the teacher bit, it sounds like the Damned trilogy by Alan Dean Foster.
Thanks, a quick wiki makes it sound like that may be the winner. However I was convinced that their was a teacher in their somewhere who was originally opposed to humans being used as cannon fodder but then relents after realising that human nature makes us ideal for fighting.Just finished Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline.
Enjoyed it a lot, although the whole book is basically 80s geek pop culture references, and even at 36 was probably a few years too young to recognise a lot of them.
Still, would recommend, especially to anyone that has been into gaming since the early 80s.
Enjoyed it a lot, although the whole book is basically 80s geek pop culture references, and even at 36 was probably a few years too young to recognise a lot of them.
Still, would recommend, especially to anyone that has been into gaming since the early 80s.
Weird.
I just spotted this thread and thought I'd contribute with a recommendation of 'Ready player One' and look...the last post was someone doing the same thing!
Read this over Xmas and thought it was a fantastic read.
Completely loved all the 80s references but then I am a product of the generation.
I cannot recommend enough!
(BTW, Only £6 on Amazon).
I just spotted this thread and thought I'd contribute with a recommendation of 'Ready player One' and look...the last post was someone doing the same thing!
Read this over Xmas and thought it was a fantastic read.
Completely loved all the 80s references but then I am a product of the generation.
I cannot recommend enough!
(BTW, Only £6 on Amazon).
SWAT78 said:
Just finished Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline.
Enjoyed it a lot, although the whole book is basically 80s geek pop culture references, and even at 36 was probably a few years too young to recognise a lot of them.
Still, would recommend, especially to anyone that has been into gaming since the early 80s.
Enjoyed it a lot, although the whole book is basically 80s geek pop culture references, and even at 36 was probably a few years too young to recognise a lot of them.
Still, would recommend, especially to anyone that has been into gaming since the early 80s.
I read 'Ready Player 1' a couple of months ago - basically to shut my mate up who would not stop going on about it! Maybe it was the big build up but to be honest I found it ok rather than amazing, awesome etc etc
On to Hamilton's Dreaming Void now - tough start having come from a couple of old favorites (Banks) but actually getting into in quite quickly now and enjoying it a lot. Some great action sequences involving the Aaron character
On to Hamilton's Dreaming Void now - tough start having come from a couple of old favorites (Banks) but actually getting into in quite quickly now and enjoying it a lot. Some great action sequences involving the Aaron character
After ploughing through "The Reality Disfunction", I've bailed out on Hamilton, sorry to say. I don't think the SF/supernatural crossover worked for me. Even just reading the Wikipedia plot synopsis of the sequels gave me a headache!
I've got Stephen Baxter's 'Ultima' (sequel to 'Proxima') from the library, so that's up next.
I've got Stephen Baxter's 'Ultima' (sequel to 'Proxima') from the library, so that's up next.
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