Science Fiction
Discussion
I recall reading a trilogy of books years ago that had an interesting concept, but I can't remember what they were called now.
The basic premise was that there was an intergalactic war going on out there, and a particular race was losing quite badly. In a bid to turn the tide of war they sent scouts out to find other races to come and help them, and some find their way to Earth. After all the first contact stuff was out of the way, a deal is struck where humans who want to go and fight in the war can sign up and go, and the aliens give us loads of technology to aid us.
It turns out that us humans are really good at fighting, and as the war goes on it turns out that we are the most violent, war-adept race in the universe, and after winning the war for the initially losing aliens, we use their spaceships and tech to go on to invade everyone, meaning a new war breaks out where all the previously fighting aliens have to team up against us.
Can anyone remember the name of these books? I found the first book the most interesting, the second one was okay but the third was a bit boring IMO.
The basic premise was that there was an intergalactic war going on out there, and a particular race was losing quite badly. In a bid to turn the tide of war they sent scouts out to find other races to come and help them, and some find their way to Earth. After all the first contact stuff was out of the way, a deal is struck where humans who want to go and fight in the war can sign up and go, and the aliens give us loads of technology to aid us.
It turns out that us humans are really good at fighting, and as the war goes on it turns out that we are the most violent, war-adept race in the universe, and after winning the war for the initially losing aliens, we use their spaceships and tech to go on to invade everyone, meaning a new war breaks out where all the previously fighting aliens have to team up against us.
Can anyone remember the name of these books? I found the first book the most interesting, the second one was okay but the third was a bit boring IMO.
There are quite a few novels with this premise - one that springs to mind is where the arch manipulators can't even think about violence as it sends them catatonic... ETA is it The Damped Trilogy?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_Trilogy
Another possibility is The Human Legion
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_Trilogy
Another possibility is The Human Legion
Edited by irocfan on Saturday 18th July 12:08
DibblyDobbler said:
deanobeano said:
Just read the first 3 of 4 books - Hyperion and Endymion thanks to the recommendations here.
Great reads and would recommend thus far.
+1 Brilliant books - maybe just maybe the best Sci-Fi I have read Great reads and would recommend thus far.
Gotta be up there...completely immersive without the overly-operatic nature of PFH.
Sucker for pseudo- and twisted-mythology that I am, I quite like Ilium and Olympos too...first more than the second.
Brigand said:
I recall reading a trilogy of books years ago that had an interesting concept, but I can't remember what they were called now.
The basic premise was that there was an intergalactic war going on out there, and a particular race was losing quite badly. In a bid to turn the tide of war they sent scouts out to find other races to come and help them, and some find their way to Earth. After all the first contact stuff was out of the way, a deal is struck where humans who want to go and fight in the war can sign up and go, and the aliens give us loads of technology to aid us.
It turns out that us humans are really good at fighting, and as the war goes on it turns out that we are the most violent, war-adept race in the universe, and after winning the war for the initially losing aliens, we use their spaceships and tech to go on to invade everyone, meaning a new war breaks out where all the previously fighting aliens have to team up against us.
Hmmm. That *is* an interesting concept. The basic premise was that there was an intergalactic war going on out there, and a particular race was losing quite badly. In a bid to turn the tide of war they sent scouts out to find other races to come and help them, and some find their way to Earth. After all the first contact stuff was out of the way, a deal is struck where humans who want to go and fight in the war can sign up and go, and the aliens give us loads of technology to aid us.
It turns out that us humans are really good at fighting, and as the war goes on it turns out that we are the most violent, war-adept race in the universe, and after winning the war for the initially losing aliens, we use their spaceships and tech to go on to invade everyone, meaning a new war breaks out where all the previously fighting aliens have to team up against us.
Thanks to this thread, I've read some good stuff. That post about the Humans being asked to participate in the galactic war is The Damed trilogy by Alan DEan foster, and is pretty good. He's also a prolific author, so there's tons more from him. Am currently in #3 of The Damned, but will take a break from Dean Foster before I go back to his other ones.
Other stuff I've enjoyed recently - in the last few months of reading exclusively scifi - the Ketty Jay series from Chris Wooding - think I might have said before, but it's like Firefly, but better.
The milfic Frontlines Series from Mario Kloos, I didn't like. Total pap - I read them, but as I got towards the end, was nearly skimming them. I wanted to find out what happened, but didn't like his prose. Also, the first two books, nothing really happens - it's a bit like a space marine diary. The third book, there actually seems to be an objective, and improves a little. YMMV ofc.
Whoever recommended the Expanse series - thank you. It was great, and judging by the most recent book, there's more to come.
The Laundry Files from Charles Stross - again, think it's been mentioned before, Lovecraft Vs Fleming. He's still writing them, so more to come from him too.
So all of that scifi has kept me well occupied. As mentioned, I want to take a break from Dean Foster before re-visiting, looking at the Mars series from Kim Stanley Robinson, and further Cormac novels from Neal Asher. Any other recommendations based on the above list?
Non sci fi, John Ringo, Black Tide series. Good fun, if a little belaboured sometimes.
All in all, thanks for starting this thread! I had a real thirst for some good sci fi that wasn't Banks, and it has delivered!
Other stuff I've enjoyed recently - in the last few months of reading exclusively scifi - the Ketty Jay series from Chris Wooding - think I might have said before, but it's like Firefly, but better.
The milfic Frontlines Series from Mario Kloos, I didn't like. Total pap - I read them, but as I got towards the end, was nearly skimming them. I wanted to find out what happened, but didn't like his prose. Also, the first two books, nothing really happens - it's a bit like a space marine diary. The third book, there actually seems to be an objective, and improves a little. YMMV ofc.
Whoever recommended the Expanse series - thank you. It was great, and judging by the most recent book, there's more to come.
The Laundry Files from Charles Stross - again, think it's been mentioned before, Lovecraft Vs Fleming. He's still writing them, so more to come from him too.
So all of that scifi has kept me well occupied. As mentioned, I want to take a break from Dean Foster before re-visiting, looking at the Mars series from Kim Stanley Robinson, and further Cormac novels from Neal Asher. Any other recommendations based on the above list?
Non sci fi, John Ringo, Black Tide series. Good fun, if a little belaboured sometimes.
All in all, thanks for starting this thread! I had a real thirst for some good sci fi that wasn't Banks, and it has delivered!
Tonsko said:
Thanks to this thread, I've read some good stuff. That post about the Humans being asked to participate in the galactic war is The Damed trilogy by Alan DEan foster, and is pretty good. He's also a prolific author, so there's tons more from him. Am currently in #3 of The Damned, but will take a break from Dean Foster before I go back to his other ones.
Other stuff I've enjoyed recently - in the last few months of reading exclusively scifi - the Ketty Jay series from Chris Wooding - think I might have said before, but it's like Firefly, but better.
The milfic Frontlines Series from Mario Kloos, I didn't like. Total pap - I read them, but as I got towards the end, was nearly skimming them. I wanted to find out what happened, but didn't like his prose. Also, the first two books, nothing really happens - it's a bit like a space marine diary. The third book, there actually seems to be an objective, and improves a little. YMMV ofc.
Whoever recommended the Expanse series - thank you. It was great, and judging by the most recent book, there's more to come.
The Laundry Files from Charles Stross - again, think it's been mentioned before, Lovecraft Vs Fleming. He's still writing them, so more to come from him too.
So all of that scifi has kept me well occupied. As mentioned, I want to take a break from Dean Foster before re-visiting, looking at the Mars series from Kim Stanley Robinson, and further Cormac novels from Neal Asher. Any other recommendations based on the above list?
Non sci fi, John Ringo, Black Tide series. Good fun, if a little belaboured sometimes.
All in all, thanks for starting this thread! I had a real thirst for some good sci fi that wasn't Banks, and it has delivered!
If you like John Ringo you may care to try the "Troy Rising" series also "The Last Centurion" "Watch on the Rhine" - though I would state that people on the left side of the political spectrum may not like some of his stuffOther stuff I've enjoyed recently - in the last few months of reading exclusively scifi - the Ketty Jay series from Chris Wooding - think I might have said before, but it's like Firefly, but better.
The milfic Frontlines Series from Mario Kloos, I didn't like. Total pap - I read them, but as I got towards the end, was nearly skimming them. I wanted to find out what happened, but didn't like his prose. Also, the first two books, nothing really happens - it's a bit like a space marine diary. The third book, there actually seems to be an objective, and improves a little. YMMV ofc.
Whoever recommended the Expanse series - thank you. It was great, and judging by the most recent book, there's more to come.
The Laundry Files from Charles Stross - again, think it's been mentioned before, Lovecraft Vs Fleming. He's still writing them, so more to come from him too.
So all of that scifi has kept me well occupied. As mentioned, I want to take a break from Dean Foster before re-visiting, looking at the Mars series from Kim Stanley Robinson, and further Cormac novels from Neal Asher. Any other recommendations based on the above list?
Non sci fi, John Ringo, Black Tide series. Good fun, if a little belaboured sometimes.
All in all, thanks for starting this thread! I had a real thirst for some good sci fi that wasn't Banks, and it has delivered!
Insanity Magnet said:
After having it advertised in my kindle feed for a while, I succumbed and read "The Three Body Problem" by Cixin Liu. Not having read any other Chinese lit., it has the same feel as some of the Chinese movies broadcast on UK TV. Enjoyed it.
(Translated) Book number 2 is coming out very soon now.Currently reading the Old man's war by John Scalzi. Rather enjoying that and his other books.
Tonsko said:
Thanks to this thread, I've read some good stuff. That post about the Humans being asked to participate in the galactic war is The Damed trilogy by Alan DEan foster, and is pretty good. He's also a prolific author, so there's tons more from him. Am currently in #3 of The Damned, but will take a break from Dean Foster before I go back to his other ones.
The Laundry Files from Charles Stross - again, think it's been mentioned before, Lovecraft Vs Fleming. He's still writing them, so more to come from him too.
The Damned gave me an attack of Deja Vu...turned out I'd replied with that as the suggestion to another 'I read this book ages ago, trying to remember what it was' question on this thread back in January.The Laundry Files from Charles Stross - again, think it's been mentioned before, Lovecraft Vs Fleming. He's still writing them, so more to come from him too.
Finished the latest Laundry Files book this morning...didn't enjoy it as much as the previous ones, purely, I think, due to the change of lead character. Still good, but no where near as much invested in the character as in Bob.
irocfan said:
If you like John Ringo you may care to try the "Troy Rising" series also "The Last Centurion" "Watch on the Rhine" - though I would state that people on the left side of the political spectrum may not like some of his stuff
Just started on 'Live free or die' again. Wish he'd hurry up and put out a 4th in the series.DibblyDobbler said:
Guvernator said:
Seconded on Agent Cormac, they are brilliant IMO. Read them all several times. Think of them as James Bond set in the future. Not as serious as some sci-fi but what it lacks in deep theorising, it more than makes up for in the action stakes.
Thanks - that's what I went for 
LandR said:
What's a good sci-fi book for someone who has never read sci-fi.
I wouldn't want something massive or what I see being called "hard" sci-fi.
maybe something like "The Watch on the Rhine" (John Ringo's Posleen War series) or "Live Free or Die" (again John Ringo)... the thing is though do you want large space battles (The Lost Fleet series) or up-close and personal mil-fi? Do you want space opera (Star Wars style) or down and gritty?I wouldn't want something massive or what I see being called "hard" sci-fi.
LandR said:
What's a good sci-fi book for someone who has never read sci-fi.
I wouldn't want something massive or what I see being called "hard" sci-fi.
Many years ago, my first foray into Sci-Fi was Anne McCaffrey... The Ship Who Sang (and other brainship books) Crystal Singer trilogy etc.I wouldn't want something massive or what I see being called "hard" sci-fi.
LandR said:
What's a good sci-fi book for someone who has never read sci-fi.
I wouldn't want something massive or what I see being called "hard" sci-fi.
The Tales of the Ketty Jay. Great fun. Think Firefly, but with a better universe (ok, so they never leave the planet, but you know what I mean), story and characters. Just better. I wouldn't want something massive or what I see being called "hard" sci-fi.
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