Aerothorn on 11/4/2007 at 02:05
Why?
Scots Taffer on 11/4/2007 at 02:24
On the pseudo-science: I don't enjoy it, I don't get it, and ultimately I find it boring.
Shoshin on 11/4/2007 at 03:01
Gotta give another thumbs up to Iain M Banks. The Culture books are pretty damn good.
Hyperion is one of my favorite series, and Dan Simmons is one of my favorite writers, whether it's sci-fi, horror, thriller, or historical fiction. I'll pretty much read whatever he writes.
Niven, until the 80's, was a damn fine sci-fi author. At some point he did seem to lose it, and I don't really enjoy the later Ringworld novels at all.
And I have to agree with Uncle Bacon on the Al Capone thing. I lost my ability to believe in the world right around then. But the first novel (split into two parts in the US) was a page turner.
Nicker on 11/4/2007 at 03:45
Ian Mcdonald.
doctorfrog on 11/4/2007 at 17:30
Nicker, please.
Also, *subscribed.* Be great if we can rename the thread "high-minded sci-fi," and keep a running list in the first post.
I'm a bit intimidated to post anything of use here, but I someday intend to finish
Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars trilogy (I've read the first two). I've already been through a few Robert A. Heinlein. I cut my sci-fi teeth on plenty of Asimov back in the day, and though it is dry, dry, dry, I still recommend the first three
Foundation novels.
Also, you can read the electronic forms of (
http://www.craphound.com/) Cory Doctorow's sci-fi novels for free.
Vivian on 11/4/2007 at 18:18
So those Robinson books are good, are they? They caught my eye after I'd just read Paul J McAuley's Red Dust and was quite into the idea of mars, but I never got round to it. Red Dust is great, though - the style and tone of the thing are like a first person anime film (one of the good ones, without all the tentacles and crap). I found one McAuley's other books, the first of the Child of the River series, in a charity shop, but apart from that he doesn't seem to be one the shelves anymore. Did he upset someone?
I also really enjoyed Spares, even if it does get a bit whimsical and the ending's a bit of a train wreck. MMS has good ideas, good enough even for Michael Bay to steal and rape into the ground.
rachel on 11/4/2007 at 18:20
I'd been wanting to read Robinson's Mars trilogy for years, when I finally did read it last christmas, I was a bit disappointed. The first two books are great, but the third one was just too long in my opinion. It's not that it's a bad book, but it felt disproportionate. (I'll add that contrary to what I thought the Mars books tell a really down to earth story (or rather down to mars?), not the kind I expected, so my expectations were a bit shattered from the get go.) Still a very worthy read anyway. My favourite is the first one, Red Mars.
By K. S. Robinson, I'd recommend Icehenge, almost set up in the same universe as the trilogy (I say almost because I'm not really sure, they do have the same kind of anti-aging technology though).
Among other things, it deals with the effects of that technology on human memory and the way you can (and cannot) deal with your past when you're several hundred years old. Very cool story.
Hier on 11/4/2007 at 19:30
Quote Posted by Scots_Taffer
I've recommended it before but
Altered Carbon was a great read, I recently picked up both the Takeshi Kovacs sequels,
Broken Angels and
Woken Furies. Violent, brutal, futuristic dystopia with more of an emphasis towards character than science-fiction specifics, I really enjoyed it.
Huh. I didn't think very highly of Altered Carbon. Great underlying concept (although maybe not the most original) and a graphic, brutal environment. But an unlikable protagonist and muddled plot, especially in the latter half turned me off. Didn't like the climax at all.
What are Broken Angels and Woken Furies like? The author showed promise so I've not sworn off him forever, I just wasn't floored by his first novel.
Speaking of Reynolds, he's been on my "to read" list for a while, once I get done with China Mieville.
daprdan on 11/4/2007 at 20:11
Good one Scots-Taffer,I recently discovered Richard Morgan-Altered Carbon and was very pleased.So pleased I went and bought all of the series,new,not second hand,read them and lent them out almost immediatly.I hope he writes more.Market Forces is a good read as well.
Larry Niven is a bit dated all right,but the universe he created is one of the most immersive in the genre,nicely detailed and believable.
Speaking of universes,I have some favorites I would like to share with you all.
My top five SF Universes;
Larry Niven-Known Space.
David Brin-The Uplift Universe.
Frank Herbert-The Dune Universe.
Iain M. Banks-The Culture.
Dan Simmons-The Human Hegemony.
There are so many it is hard to choose.These are the ones I find most immersive,believable and worth a repeat visit.
rachel on 11/4/2007 at 20:24
Of course, David Brin. I must find other books by him, I really loved Startide Rising. :thumb:
