sp4f on 11/4/2007 at 20:39
More Richard Morgan, oh yes :). Altered Carbon was a really good first book and his writing and themes have only improved since then.
In the space opera vein of sci-fi I heartily recommend David Weber's Honor Harrington series of books. I became addicted after buying Honor Among Enemies (6th in the series) and loved the deeply technical/tactical aspects of space warfare, the well written political strands and the characters who are written with all their faults, flaws and emotions in an entirely believable way.
In the more esoteric side I'm a big fan of Neal Asher, Ken Macleod and Adam Roberts for the weird and wonderful worlds they've created.
Aerothorn on 11/4/2007 at 22:40
I also picked up a copy of Use of Weapons after it being recommended - it's my understanding that it is not necessary to read The Culture books in order?
daprdan on 11/4/2007 at 22:50
Read them as you like.I don't know if there IS a chronological order,although "The Algebraist" seems to occur very early in the history of the Culture,and one of the best in the series,IMHO.Outstanding!
Vivian on 11/4/2007 at 23:03
The algebraist (? I hate spelling that word) is not a culture story. Use of weapons is one of the best books ever, read the player of games next. If you like. It's nice.
daprdan on 11/4/2007 at 23:08
Quote Posted by Uncle Bacon
The algebraist (? I hate spelling that word) is not a culture story. Use of weapons is one of the best books ever, read the player of games next. If you like. It's nice.
I believe it is,but PRE-Culture as it were.But belief doesn't make it fact of fiction.Worth following up I suppose(Looks @ Uncle Bacon):D
I found this gem by the author himself,from 1994 so no mention of The Algebraist (why is that so hard to spell?),
where he desribes The Culture in detail.
(
http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/~stefan/culture.html)
Nicker on 12/4/2007 at 04:15
Quote Posted by doctorfrog
Nicker, please.
Hey Doc, Mcdonald needs no explanation and I haven't read anything by him that was less than excellent. And I was being minimalist and mysterious...
But OK... Some of his stuff edges into fantasy but
Terminal Cafe and
Desolation Road are earlier, more "traditional" sci-fi works and a good introduction.
(
http://www.sfsite.com/lists/ianmc.htm) Judging by this page I have some catching up to do so I can't really comment beyond saying - highly recommended for high minded readers.
demagogue on 12/4/2007 at 04:33
In honor of Kurt Vonnegut, whose books were something in the neighborhood of scifi, I'd recommend Breakfast of Champions (about a scifi writer anyway) and Harrison Bergeron.
MutantMonkey on 12/4/2007 at 15:15
I second anything by Alastair Reynolds. And read everything by Iain M. Banks.
The Hyperion series by Dan Simmons is excellent, and if you like that read Ilium (and then Olympos.)
Elusive Paladin on 12/4/2007 at 16:12
I absolutely adore "Excession" by Banks. Something about it just made me want to devour it faster than I could turn the pages. Top-class stuff.
