Science Fiction
Discussion
br d said:
What would people recommend first, Nights Dawn or Void trilogy?
I've read the Greg Mandels and Pandora star and Judas Unchained.
The Void Trilogy is set in the Commonwealth universe from Pandora Star and Judas Unchained but some time in the future, so if you liked the Commonwealth Saga I'd go with the Void trilogy.I've read the Greg Mandels and Pandora star and Judas Unchained.
I didn't really enjoy the Reality Dysfunction (1st book of the Nights Dawn trilogy) so I never bothered reading the rest, from what I've been told the ending was disappointing (very hand-wavey).
It's certainly visceral and unpleasant in parts (sexual assault of an 18 year old girl, torture, etc.) - however that is balanced by perhaps the most compassionate and compelling collaborative human society I've ever read of...
Which is why I adore the ND trilogy - it really does explore the full spectrum of the human spectrum and even provides a contrast against a couple of alien alternatives.
I also like the ending. For many reasons, I think it works really well (trying to avoid spoilers!).
Which is why I adore the ND trilogy - it really does explore the full spectrum of the human spectrum and even provides a contrast against a couple of alien alternatives.
I also like the ending. For many reasons, I think it works really well (trying to avoid spoilers!).
The_Doc said:
Sidenote: everytime I watch a SpaceX launch, I delight at the autonomous vessels Just Read the Instructions, Of Course I Still Love You and A Shortfall of Gravitas: Man I miss him!
How long until Musk names one Grey Area or Ethics Gradient?
Surely the next one should be "Mistake Not..." How long until Musk names one Grey Area or Ethics Gradient?
(which wins my award for the best space battle scene in a Culture novel)
...or possibly "Refreshingly Unconcerned With the Vulgar Exigencies of Veracity".
Had to stop on my way home tonight.
I know the ND trilogy inside out - yet it's very different listening for some reason.
Avoiding spoilers, but a certain self sacrifice to allow a rather daring manoeuvre... Got me right in the feels!
Oh, BrD - one thing I didn't mention, but could effect some people badly - there is some (alien) animal fighting in the first book. Small section, but fairly brutal. Just FYI.
I know the ND trilogy inside out - yet it's very different listening for some reason.
Avoiding spoilers, but a certain self sacrifice to allow a rather daring manoeuvre... Got me right in the feels!
Oh, BrD - one thing I didn't mention, but could effect some people badly - there is some (alien) animal fighting in the first book. Small section, but fairly brutal. Just FYI.
https://newatlas.com/2019-auction-science-sci-fi-t...
The highlights of the science, sci-fi and technology auction year! Started reading at work and thought they are cheepish prices then noticed it started at the least to most expensive and so long a list (warning). There is some I would like to own and would think they would gain in value, the $6,348 | Gemstones from outer space as a geologist would like or the URWERK atomic clock and synchronized wristwatch!
The highlights of the science, sci-fi and technology auction year! Started reading at work and thought they are cheepish prices then noticed it started at the least to most expensive and so long a list (warning). There is some I would like to own and would think they would gain in value, the $6,348 | Gemstones from outer space as a geologist would like or the URWERK atomic clock and synchronized wristwatch!
Baron Greenback said:
https://newatlas.com/2019-auction-science-sci-fi-t...
The highlights of the science, sci-fi and technology auction year! Started reading at work and thought they are cheepish prices then noticed it started at the least to most expensive and so long a list (warning). There is some I would like to own and would think they would gain in value, the $6,348 | Gemstones from outer space as a geologist would like or the URWERK atomic clock and synchronized wristwatch!
Nice! If you like that sort of thing (as I do) - check out the "mini museum". Now on it's fourth iteration, unfortunately I missed out on the first two. The highlights of the science, sci-fi and technology auction year! Started reading at work and thought they are cheepish prices then noticed it started at the least to most expensive and so long a list (warning). There is some I would like to own and would think they would gain in value, the $6,348 | Gemstones from outer space as a geologist would like or the URWERK atomic clock and synchronized wristwatch!
But I absolutely love them.
Sway said:
Oh, BrD - one thing I didn't mention, but could effect some people badly - there is some (alien) animal fighting in the first book. Small section, but fairly brutal. Just FYI.
Thanks for the heads up but I'm okay with fictional cruelty. Along the same lines I'm a very big fan of the Aubrey Maturin books and in one of those a discussion takes place at a dinner party about the killing of a Bear and her 2 cubs, it is pretty unpleasant.
I visited a fan forum of the series and people were saying they completely skip that part of the book as they can't deal with it.
Again, it's fictional so it surprised me people would feel so disturbed.
The_Doc said:
Thread hijack
I like hard Sci fi and space opera
What's your best 5 hard SF, because I need inspiration for my next read?
I have obviously read:
all Iain M. Banks
Alastair Reynolds Inhibitor trilogy and Pushing Ice
Most SF you find on a "best SF" list eg Neuromancer/ForeverWar/Dune/etc
an undiscovered IainMB novel please....
Have you read Baxter's NASA trilogy (Voyage, Titan, Moonseed)? I particularly liked Voyage.I like hard Sci fi and space opera
What's your best 5 hard SF, because I need inspiration for my next read?
I have obviously read:
all Iain M. Banks
Alastair Reynolds Inhibitor trilogy and Pushing Ice
Most SF you find on a "best SF" list eg Neuromancer/ForeverWar/Dune/etc
an undiscovered IainMB novel please....
Just finished AT's "Dogs of War" as recommended on here.
Starts off as so much pulp sci-fi, but fairly quickly develops into quite a bit more than that with some great concepts.
As it stands, it's a good, easy-to-read and thought provoking novel (which ticks most of the boxes). But you wonder if in more skilled hands it could have been developed into something weightier and more evolved.
Either way, worth a read.
Starts off as so much pulp sci-fi, but fairly quickly develops into quite a bit more than that with some great concepts.
As it stands, it's a good, easy-to-read and thought provoking novel (which ticks most of the boxes). But you wonder if in more skilled hands it could have been developed into something weightier and more evolved.
Either way, worth a read.
havoc said:
Just finished AT's "Dogs of War" as recommended on here.
Starts off as so much pulp sci-fi, but fairly quickly develops into quite a bit more than that with some great concepts.
As it stands, it's a good, easy-to-read and thought provoking novel (which ticks most of the boxes). But you wonder if in more skilled hands it could have been developed into something weightier and more evolved.
Either way, worth a read.
Who’s AT ?Starts off as so much pulp sci-fi, but fairly quickly develops into quite a bit more than that with some great concepts.
As it stands, it's a good, easy-to-read and thought provoking novel (which ticks most of the boxes). But you wonder if in more skilled hands it could have been developed into something weightier and more evolved.
Either way, worth a read.
havoc said:
Just finished AT's "Dogs of War" as recommended on here.
Starts off as so much pulp sci-fi, but fairly quickly develops into quite a bit more than that with some great concepts.
As it stands, it's a good, easy-to-read and thought provoking novel (which ticks most of the boxes). But you wonder if in more skilled hands it could have been developed into something weightier and more evolved.
Either way, worth a read.
I thought it was a great book with sad ending AT seems a very versatile author his fantasy novels are very good-redemption's blade and guns of the dawn and nearly forgot spiderlightStarts off as so much pulp sci-fi, but fairly quickly develops into quite a bit more than that with some great concepts.
As it stands, it's a good, easy-to-read and thought provoking novel (which ticks most of the boxes). But you wonder if in more skilled hands it could have been developed into something weightier and more evolved.
Either way, worth a read.
and rex is a good dog as said above
Edited by p1doc on Tuesday 4th February 13:46
It was pointed out to me on the Altered Carbon TV thread, that I had missed Richard K Morgan's third Altered Carbon book, Woken Furies.
So I went a bit bonkers and bought Thin Air, Black Man, Market Forces AND Woken Furies, all secondhand.
Just finished Thin Air, and it's pretty good.
Imagine a 30s detective noir, but set on Mars and with a lot more violence and sex, plus a plot that has everybody double-crossing everyone else.
Onto Market Forces now.
So I went a bit bonkers and bought Thin Air, Black Man, Market Forces AND Woken Furies, all secondhand.
Just finished Thin Air, and it's pretty good.
Imagine a 30s detective noir, but set on Mars and with a lot more violence and sex, plus a plot that has everybody double-crossing everyone else.
Onto Market Forces now.
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