Flux on 8/12/2005 at 19:59
Hi everyone;
Lately I'm hungry for a good science fiction novel, I couldn't find anything upto my taste. Though being a fan of Arthur Clarke works, Stanislav Lem's Solaris is my all time favorite. The reason I'm asking advice on these boards is obvious, along with thief, I love system shock and deus-ex universes. So any suggestions?
Lobster on 8/12/2005 at 20:40
I love science fiction short stories, but I'm usually not too into the novels. I am reading The Foundation Trilogy now though and it's incredible. Really incredible. You have to read it.
Cruster on 8/12/2005 at 21:01
Flux - check out the Hyperion series by Dan simmons. it's a great read, lots of fun. I have a few friends who weren't big s.f. fans who have read and loved the series. The ringworld books by Larry Niven are also a good start. Neuromancer is a classic, but Gibson's writing style may put some off; I personally love it. I'm sure others who are more widely read than I may disagree with my choices; these are just books that I have enjoyed and would recommend to anyone.
Komag on 8/12/2005 at 23:22
I recently (a few months ago) read the Ringworld series. The first one is about the only one worth reading I would say. After that it's just a bunch of alien porn (I'm only half kidding). The first book is really imaginative and amazing in it's breathtaking hardcore sci-fi ideas, whereas the rest of the books just delve into the characters (and all their inter-species breeding) within the setting of the first book.
I'm currenty reading the Thomas Covenant (Stephen Donaldson) series, very good, if a bit graphic. I find the main character especially intriguing. While the authors prodigious use of metaphor (two or three per paragraph it seems!) is sometimes overdone, it is usually very good, and certainly always interesting. I'm currently well into book three. (PS - Covenant is Fantasy, not Sci-Fi)
Shoshin on 8/12/2005 at 23:57
I'll second the Dan Simmons recommendation.
Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep" is excellent.
I'd also recommend checking out "Reality Dysfunction" by Peter F. Hamilton. It's the beginning of a three book series (published in the US as 6 paperbacks, I believe). Not genius, but a pretty ripping good space opera. I also enjoyed Alastair Reynolds' books "Revelation Space", "Redemption Ark" & "Absolution Gap" (a trilogy) as well as "Chasm City".
Sypha Nadon on 9/12/2005 at 00:33
Stephen R. Donaldson actually did write a science fiction series in the early 90's. It's called "The Gap Cycle" and it's probably one of my favorite sci-fi stories of all time. Plus the primary alien species that appears in it is really cool.
SubJeff on 9/12/2005 at 01:42
Dune. Anything by Phillip K Dick. Try some Gibson.
BEAR on 9/12/2005 at 01:52
Anything by Arthur C. Clark(Particularly Rendezvous with Rama, The Songs of distant earth, light of other days) But anything by him is good
3 novels by Damon Knight(Thats the name of the book,I think thats spelled right. It has 3 short novels/long short stories in it, called the Golden rule, back to nature and Dying man I think, but TOTALLY EXCELLENT)
Cruster on 9/12/2005 at 02:13
Ack, how could I forget Dick? Flux, if you like S.F. short stories I can recommend that you immediately purchase a copy of "The Year's Best Science Fiction" edited by Gardner Dozois - you won't be dissapointed. It's in my stocking every Christmas and is the cream of the crop for short stories and novellas.
