Science Fiction
Discussion
Cotty said:
Halmyre said:
Inversions just qualifies as a peripheral Culture book, there's only a very subtle clue to that effect right at the end.
That and I am assuming the doctor is from the Culture.I think the doctor AND the DeWar character are both Culture - they're on different sides in a conflict, but whether they're working together or against each other is a moot point.
FunkyNige said:
Towards the end of last year I read the Lost Fleet series of books by Jack Campbell. Wiki it says:
"The series is set one-hundred-plus years into an interstellar war between two different human cultures, the Alliance and the Syndics. The protagonist of the story is discovered floating in a suspended animation escape pod one hundred years after he made a "heroic last stand" against an enemy fleet. In his absence, he has been made into a renowned hero in the Alliance, but his legend and actions are used to justify poor tactics and decisions. Awakened after being discovered during a secret mission that turns out to be an enemy trap, he is suddenly dropped into the role of fleet commander and expected to live up to the legend that has grown around him."
I really like the series, they're something a bit different as they're not too sci-fi (you can imagine most of the science stuff existing), the space battles are well written and quite interesting in the way it explores how you would fight battles in space with the massive distances involved meaning long waits for anything to happen then it's all over really quickly.
Fairly easy to read (I was reading a book a day at one point) so worth checking out if you are after something a bit lighter than a lot of the sci-fi books (Dune, I'm looking at you!).
Agree with that - the way the space battles are done is jarring at first (been watching too much TrekWars!) but I really enjoyed this series"The series is set one-hundred-plus years into an interstellar war between two different human cultures, the Alliance and the Syndics. The protagonist of the story is discovered floating in a suspended animation escape pod one hundred years after he made a "heroic last stand" against an enemy fleet. In his absence, he has been made into a renowned hero in the Alliance, but his legend and actions are used to justify poor tactics and decisions. Awakened after being discovered during a secret mission that turns out to be an enemy trap, he is suddenly dropped into the role of fleet commander and expected to live up to the legend that has grown around him."
I really like the series, they're something a bit different as they're not too sci-fi (you can imagine most of the science stuff existing), the space battles are well written and quite interesting in the way it explores how you would fight battles in space with the massive distances involved meaning long waits for anything to happen then it's all over really quickly.
Fairly easy to read (I was reading a book a day at one point) so worth checking out if you are after something a bit lighter than a lot of the sci-fi books (Dune, I'm looking at you!).
plasticpig said:
jimmyjimjim said:
Like a mighty army was out yesterday; just acquired a copy.
So have I. An Honor Harrington movie is in the early stages of production along with video game, comic books and a TV series to follow. Salgar said:
I don't know how I haven't seen this thread before.
Me too! But having been through it I concur with most of the recommendations and have noted some future targets for myself. The only work I don't recall seeing, and should have done, is Watchmen. Ok, it's a comic, or 'graphic novel' if you prefer, but it is arguably the best comic series ever. It is also a spectacularly brilliant sci-fi tale in its' own right. Highly commended to the thread!
jimmyjimjim said:
Finished it. A little disappointed, to be honest. It feels like it's getting a bit too formulaic (another charge I'll lay against the HH series too). Increase in tech for the good side, allows them to surprise bad side, hurt them badly. Bad guys almost catch up, nearly catch good guys by surprise, but fail at last minute. Repeat.
He does seem have a habit of belabouring the point that a side with more advanced technology can beat a vastly numerically superior foe. Safehold is a good idea for a story but Weber seems to be covering only one year per book. Assuming it's all going to kick of in the year 1000; he has another 12 books to go to get to the end.If anyone enjoys short stories then there are 2 SF collections worth reading:
"Stories of Your Life" by Ted Chiang
"Axiomatic" by Greg Egan
Not tough reads at all, but some real beauties in there. The title story of the Chiang and also one called Undestand. From the Egan collection I'd recommend "The Infinite Assassin" and "Learning to be Me" but really, they are all great.
"Stories of Your Life" by Ted Chiang
"Axiomatic" by Greg Egan
Not tough reads at all, but some real beauties in there. The title story of the Chiang and also one called Undestand. From the Egan collection I'd recommend "The Infinite Assassin" and "Learning to be Me" but really, they are all great.
I'm having a bit of a clear out prior to building work and have 20 Harry Harrison novels, plus more than 30 Niven and/or Pournelle paperbacks to move. The rest is going to jumble, but if anyone would like these I can deliver in the eastern side of the West Mids.
The Heinlein collection is staying put
The Heinlein collection is staying put
Salgar said:
I don't know how I haven't seen this thread before.
I love all the Peter F Hamilton stuff, especially Commonwealth and the Void trilogy, I found the nights dawn trilogy slightly darker but still great reading.
I've just read The Atlantis gene and Atlantis plague by A.G. Riddle who is apparently relatively new to science fiction. The first book is a thriller and almost non-sci-fi but the second book in the trilogy is more dystopian scifi. They were good(interesting?) although not the best I've read.
I also recently read all of the Agent Cormac series by Neal Asher and am now reading the Spatterjay books.
Look forward to all the suggestions in this thread.
There is a new Hamilton Trilogy coming btw I love all the Peter F Hamilton stuff, especially Commonwealth and the Void trilogy, I found the nights dawn trilogy slightly darker but still great reading.
I've just read The Atlantis gene and Atlantis plague by A.G. Riddle who is apparently relatively new to science fiction. The first book is a thriller and almost non-sci-fi but the second book in the trilogy is more dystopian scifi. They were good(interesting?) although not the best I've read.
I also recently read all of the Agent Cormac series by Neal Asher and am now reading the Spatterjay books.
Look forward to all the suggestions in this thread.
Reading Neal Asher Owner Trilogy at the moment, ok bit not as good as the Cormac books.
rich1231 said:
There is a new Hamilton Trilogy coming btw
Reading Neal Asher Owner Trilogy at the moment, ok bit not as good as the Cormac books.
I ooh cool just finished Reality dysfunction trilogy audio book listening at work for the 5th time! Read the books loved them, about the start again Dreaming void Trilogy again, can't wait for the next Trilogy. Like Neal Asher n Cormac books also, tried Richard Morgan? Reading Neal Asher Owner Trilogy at the moment, ok bit not as good as the Cormac books.
Baron Greenback said:
I ooh cool just finished Reality dysfunction trilogy audio book listening at work for the 5th time! Read the books loved them, about the start again Dreaming void Trilogy again, can't wait for the next Trilogy. Like Neal Asher n Cormac books also, tried Richard Morgan?
Yep Morgan is great but looks like he has moved into Fantasy now away from Scifi.Had to Google new Hamilton books coming up!
"Karl, sorry I managed to delete your post (using an iPhone not a laptop -arrgh). You asked about getting hold of a copy of The Abyss Beyond Dreams in the USA this fall. The good news is that this time around my US publishers Del Rey are aiming for a simultaneous release date with the UK. Bad news, its not a trilogy, just two books"
"Karl, sorry I managed to delete your post (using an iPhone not a laptop -arrgh). You asked about getting hold of a copy of The Abyss Beyond Dreams in the USA this fall. The good news is that this time around my US publishers Del Rey are aiming for a simultaneous release date with the UK. Bad news, its not a trilogy, just two books"
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