Science Fiction worth Reading
Moderator: NecronLord
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
There's no reason to ghettoise science fiction and fantasy. Down here bookstores will have a 'sci-fi & fantasy' section, and this is especially helpful as some authors will write books in both genres. Urusla K. LeGuin for example has written fantasy and science fiction. Why would you split her books into two different sections?
- The Dark
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 7378
- Joined: 2002-10-31 10:28pm
- Location: Promoting ornithological awareness
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Liaden universe. The (relatively) new ones out are Fledgling, Saltation, and Mouse and Dragon. The first two are a duology following a late school-age girl who's at risk of being exiled from her homeworld for being dangerously clumsy. The latter I'm currently reading. Supposedly, the next book, Ghost Ship, will tie the two storylines together.
They were also extremely nice people when I met them last month.
They were also extremely nice people when I met them last month.
BattleTech for SilCoreStanley Hauerwas wrote:[W]hy is it that no one is angry at the inequality of income in this country? I mean, the inequality of income is unbelievable. Unbelievable. Why isn’t that ever an issue of politics? Because you don’t live in a democracy. You live in a plutocracy. Money rules.
- Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
Dread Empire Falls by Walter Jon Williams. Composed (as of this point) of The Praxis, The Sundering, and Conventions of War. In tone it's a space opera, but the tech is very hard sci-fi with the exception of wormhole network FTL. It's about a civil war in an old and corrupt empire that follows the death of the last of the old masters. The empire hasn't fought a shooting war in thousands of years and the officer corps is basically a high born social club. It's high quality book crack.
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
It's fun, but stupid.
beats the shit out of most all military SF though
beats the shit out of most all military SF though
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
I'm sure a lot of authors have books that are spanning multiple genres, so why not just stick all genres together! No but seriously, there are some solid arguments to be made for sticking SciFi and Fantasy together, but that isn't one of them.Stofsk wrote:There's no reason to ghettoise science fiction and fantasy. Down here bookstores will have a 'sci-fi & fantasy' section, and this is especially helpful as some authors will write books in both genres. Urusla K. LeGuin for example has written fantasy and science fiction. Why would you split her books into two different sections?
A scientist once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the Earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the centre of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy.
At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: 'What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant tortoise.
The scientist gave a superior smile before replying, 'What is the tortoise standing on?'
'You're very clever, young man, very clever,' said the old lady. 'But it's turtles all the way down.'
At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: 'What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant tortoise.
The scientist gave a superior smile before replying, 'What is the tortoise standing on?'
'You're very clever, young man, very clever,' said the old lady. 'But it's turtles all the way down.'
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
What are you talking about? I said there is no reason to ghettoise science fiction and fantasy. The example was just to illustrate how a particular author might find it convenient to have his or her work grouped together, particularly if all they write is science fiction and fantasy.adam_grif wrote:I'm sure a lot of authors have books that are spanning multiple genres, so why not just stick all genres together!Stofsk wrote:There's no reason to ghettoise science fiction and fantasy. Down here bookstores will have a 'sci-fi & fantasy' section, and this is especially helpful as some authors will write books in both genres. Urusla K. LeGuin for example has written fantasy and science fiction. Why would you split her books into two different sections?
Generally speaking authors stick to the field that got them published. There are a few exceptions, however.
Science fiction and fantasy are both under the umbrella of speculative fiction. So is alternative historical fiction. That's the reason. Authors writing in both genres is just a bonus.No but seriously, there are some solid arguments to be made for sticking SciFi and Fantasy together, but that isn't one of them.
- Commander Xillian
- Youngling
- Posts: 129
- Joined: 2010-06-07 01:24pm
- Location: East-Coast USA
- Contact:
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
What about Alternative Fictional Science History?
...
That really sounded better in my head..
Really need to check out that Dred Empire bit, third time someone's told me to read it. Gonna finish reading Pantheocide completely first though.
...
That really sounded better in my head..
Really need to check out that Dred Empire bit, third time someone's told me to read it. Gonna finish reading Pantheocide completely first though.
-
- Youngling
- Posts: 82
- Joined: 2010-06-28 01:49am
Re: Science Fiction worth Reading
Seconded.Imperial Overlord wrote:Dread Empire Falls by Walter Jon Williams. Composed (as of this point) of The Praxis, The Sundering, and Conventions of War. In tone it's a space opera, but the tech is very hard sci-fi with the exception of wormhole network FTL. It's about a civil war in an old and corrupt empire that follows the death of the last of the old masters. The empire hasn't fought a shooting war in thousands of years and the officer corps is basically a high born social club. It's high quality book crack.
Also, pretty much anything written by David Weber.
Old Man's War (and the rest of the series, although the first is the best tbh)
The Lost Fleet (barely gets into the category, imo, although I just disliked the last book.)