Sci-fi...for a non sci-fi guy

[Mr E]

I have just read "the long way to a small angry planet" by Becky Chambers, and thought it was excellent.
Soft Sci-Fi, full of interesting characters and well written.

I've also just read "children of time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky and also thought it was excellent. This one is rather more serious, rather harder sci-fi and a bit less 'fun'

[irocfan]

maybe something on this site may help?

https://scifiexplorations.com/


as an added bonus there're free reads for signing up

[The_Doc]

seyre1972 said:

Surprised nobody has mentioned Neal Stephenson.

Just finished The Diamond Age by Stephenson, absolutely fantastic.

I read a lot of SF and this is in my top 10.

Other suggestions for the OP

Timescape by Gregory Benford, if you likes the old school feel of Rendezvous, then this will suit too.
Childhoods End by Arthur C. Clarke ditto old school

the old SF is so brilliant because most of the ideas were fresh and ingenious, whereas modern SF is very tricky to have a completely new idea,

Google a "Top 50 SF" and try there, or even just the SF Masterworks Series.

A mate offered me his collection as he downsized houses. 574 books. Gulp.

[perdu]

The_Doc said:

Just finished The Diamond Age by Stephenson, absolutely fantastic.

I read a lot of SF and this is in my top 10.

Other suggestions for the OP

Timescape by Gregory Benford, if you likes the old school feel of Rendezvous, then this will suit too.
Childhoods End by Arthur C. Clarke ditto old school

the old SF is so brilliant because most of the ideas were fresh and ingenious, whereas modern SF is very tricky to have a completely new idea,

Google a "Top 50 SF" and try there, or even just the SF Masterworks Series.

A mate offered me his collection as he downsized houses. 574 books. Gulp.

Lucky to have that friend

Quite agree that almost every new idea in sci/fi is already old

I think Childhood's End is one of the all time greats myself along with all the John Wyndham books

I do like this thread, brings back many reading memories

[98elise]

robsa said:

Also try "I, Robot" by Aasimov - lots of his robot short stories, again easy to read and excellent.

I would agree. Asimov's Robot stories are excellent.

[jmorgan]

98elise said:

robsa said:

Also try "I, Robot" by Aasimov - lots of his robot short stories, again easy to read and excellent.

I would agree. Asimov's Robot stories are excellent.

Yep, forget the film. Tenuous relation but in the ideas only.

[Chim]

Some great new concepts out there, Brandon Sanderson is a marvellous writer, his Calamity series is a fantastic read. A new one out that had me totally gripped is 'we are Legion (we are bob) first book in bobiverse series. Great concept some good science behind it and very funny to boot, highly recommend

[irocfan]

also try John Ringo "Troy Rising", very easy going and fun

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Rising



or Robert Asperin "Phule's Company" series (scifi with a little comedy)