Science Fiction worth Reading

[DrMckay]

Are you looking for JUST scifi? cos there's others I can recommend:

as for scifi, here goes:



-Aaron Allston: Star Wars: Wraith Squadron Series, and Starfighters of Adumar

3 books about crazy rebel commandos. cool and funny

-David Brin: The Postman Post-apocalyptic adventures in a devastated America

-Ben Bova: Grand Tour Series: a long running series about the exploration adn settlement of space Not as action-intensive, but there are some conflicts

lois mcmaster bujold, author of the Miles Vorkosigan series, my favorite scifi author, and focuses on a young officer in a militaristic power who is looked down on due to physical deformities. The books are a mix of mystery, action and scifi with fantastic characters.

-Frank Herbert: Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune FOr the love of god, don't read the prequels by Kevin J. Anderson!

Fantasy:

-George R.R. Martin: Ice and Fire series

-Naomi Novik: Temeraire series: Dragons in the Napoleonic Wars. Nuff Said.

That should hold you for a while

[Pantastic]

Vernor Vinge A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky are both really good, Fire is a space opera that doesn't shy away from computers and automation and Deepness has a space opera type of story with an interesting look at the STL cultures that take part. Technically Deepness is a sequel but was written second and the order doesn't really matter.

[Pantastic]

That last bit should be technically Fire is a sequel, but Deepness was written second and I think they work better with Fire first.

[General Mung Beans]

The Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command by Timothy Zahn-a rather good Star Wars EU novel

Last Men and First Men by Oswald Spengler-a rather philosophical sci-fi novel

[Aaron]

My favourite sci fi book of all time is Rendezvous with Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke, which features mankind's discovery of an Alien vessel. It provoked a real sense of wonder in me.

How could I have forgotten this? Seconded.

Just a word of warning, the ending of the series probably won't be to the liking of many on the board.

[Samuel]

My favourite sci fi book of all time is Rendezvous with Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke, which features mankind's discovery of an Alien vessel. It provoked a real sense of wonder in me.

How could I have forgotten this? Seconded.

Just a word of warning, the ending of the series probably won't be to the liking of many on the board.

That is because it is incredibly stupid, renders much of the story pointless and contradicts something reveal just minutes later.
Spoiler

Ramans like 3- and 3 is the trinity! No, seriously, God was apparently behind this. Yeah, he was curious to see what turns out. Did I mention that he has the capability to predict the future meaning the entire operation is pointless in the first place?

The other books have problems as well. Apparently humans are the only violent alien race. Although we do get communist space spiders which is unique.

[JGregory32]

I just finished rereading the Kris Longknife series by Mike Shepard. Kinda Honor Harrington light in that Shephard is more character focused an doesn't really wank the tech as much as Weber.

I'd still recommend anything by David Weber including his new series Safehold which I find oddly compelling even if
Weber had had a terminal case of character explosion in the last two books.

David Drake is also a good writer so you might want to check him out.

Also John Ringo, not really a fav of the board but his Paladin of Shadows series is a good cathartic mess.

I can only add my recomendation for Dan Abnett to the others, his Gaunt's Ghosts series is excellent and served as my entry into the world of WH40K.

[Edi]

Anything by Chris Bunch, especially The Last Legion series.

What did you think of the Sten books he co-wrote. Currently re-reading them at the moment and still find them enjoyable popcorn sci-fi. Love the nice touches such as the huge spider being called Sh'aarl't(sp?)

Hmm, I have not read the Sten books. The Last Legion and the Star Risk series (the latter is a parody/comedy) as well as some of his fantasy. He has a consistent quality throughout, though The Last Legion series is the best of the ones I've read.

[1stPalladin]

Speaking of Dan Simmons, I highly recommend Ilium and Olympos for anyone who enjoys mythology and rebellions against the gods.

[Spice Runner]

I recently read and enjoyed The Golden Age Trilogy by John C. Wright.

The Golden Age

The Phoenix Exultant

The Golden Transcendence

The backdrop includes space elevators, mass minds, super AI and exotic technology among other goodies. The books have a decent plot with plenty of action and captivating story and humor along the way.

[D_DEATH55]

I second the safehold series and his other works including the honervers and the hellgate books (what do you mean by character explosion).

Also look for Falkenberg's Legion, Prince of Mercenaries, Go Tell The Spartans, and Prince of Sparta all by Jerry Pournelle.

Look for the Ender series starting with Ender's Game

Lastly check out Armageddon?? and Pantheocide both hosted on this site.
http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... 5&t=118771
http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/viewtopic. ... 5&t=134719

hope this was helpful

[jamsy42]

Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space books are excellent as is Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy.

[JGregory32]

I second the safehold series and his other works including the honervers and the hellgate books (what do you mean by character explosion).

Character Explosion is where an author suddenly increases the number of characters we are supposed to know and care about in a very small space.
It's seems like every other chapter a new character is introduced with a complex backstory and motivations. Not only am I, the reader, supposed to now remember this characters, his backstory, his motivation, but I'm also supposed to to remember and understand the other twenty characters suddenly dumped on me.

[Norade]

It has been mentioned her a few times before, but I would throw in Leo Franowski's "A Boy And His Tank' as a decent enough read. I haven't read the others in the series yet, but in spite of a few flaws and some conflicts that should have been fleshed out it was an enjoyable read.

[TimothyC]

Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Starship Troopers. The work Variable Star which was written by Spider Robinson, but based off of Heinlein's notes, is also a good read.

[Thirdfain]

Oh, man, I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet- one of the very best peices of science fiction ever written. Of course it's easy to overlook, because at firsts glance it is a historical novel set in the past. But do not be decieved! Fundamentally, this story is about science; and it asks questions in ways only science fiction does.

Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. "Quicksilver," "The Confusion," and "The System of the World." Characters range from historical personages like William of Orange, Louis XIV, and Isaac Newton, to a panalopy of astounding fictional characters; including "Half-Cocked" Jack Shaftoe, a syphilitic adventurer and vagabond, Dr. Waterhouse, a contemporary of Isaac Newton's and an early computer scientist, and Eliza- a slave-girl from the harem of the Grand Turk who goes on to become a financier, courtier, seductress, and total social/economic badass in the court of France. Her goal in life? DESTROY SLAVERY.

A highly recommended series.

[D_DEATH55]

It's seems like every other chapter a new character is introduced with a complex backstory and motivations. Not only am I, the reader, supposed to now remember this characters, his backstory, his motivation, but I'm also supposed to to remember and understand the other twenty characters suddenly dumped on me.

true but he has made some of those charters simply to kill them off later (ie the merchant ship captain in the massacre of the merchant marine) and others you will you will never hear from again (ie the privateers)

i also like the book orphanage

I second the safehold series and his other works including the honervers and the hellgate books (what do you mean by character explosion).

Character Explosion is where an author suddenly increases the number of characters we are supposed to know and care about in a very small space.
It's seems like every other chapter a new character is introduced with a complex backstory and motivations. Not only am I, the reader, supposed to now remember this characters, his backstory, his motivation, but I'm also supposed to to remember and understand the other twenty characters suddenly dumped on me.

Sorry about getting so off topic

[Dalton]

D_DEATH55: Please endeavor to use proper punctuation and capitalization.

[D_DEATH55]

Two other books by David Weber are Hellgate and Hell Hath no Fury.

[Werrf]

Character Explosion is where an author suddenly increases the number of characters we are supposed to know and care about in a very small space.
It's seems like every other chapter a new character is introduced with a complex backstory and motivations. Not only am I, the reader, supposed to now remember this characters, his backstory, his motivation, but I'm also supposed to to remember and understand the other twenty characters suddenly dumped on me.

In the Honorverse, at least (I haven't read much of his other stuff), I blame the short stories and collaborations. Someone writes a short story, he feels compelled to canonise it by bringing in the main characters as supporting characters in the main stem. I get around it by just skipping past the inevitable introduction of the latest command staff - if the characters are actually going to be important, they'll make an impression on me outside their introductions. If they're not, I'm not wasting any brainpower trying to remember all their names.

Still, I would second the recommendation, especially with the earlier books where it was pretty solidly military.

Also, rather a broad definition of sci-fi, but I'd really, really strongly recommend the Science of Discworld books, by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. They're fantasy novels wrapped around a sci-fi story and a heavy, but fascinating, full-on science and philosophy novel. One chapter of fantasy, where the wizards discover some fascinating new aspect of this weird, inexplicable "roundworld" they've created, then a chapter of hard science, philosophy or mathematics that explains what the wizards have found. Better than it sounds, trust me.

[Ilya Muromets]

If you want something with more noble, human-like AIs as a break from all those "cold, ruthless machine intelligence" or "evil machines turn against humanity" stories, then I recommend the Bolo stories by Keith Laumer. David Weber's sequels to said stories are also pretty good, although I sometimes find his prose a bit clunky.

[General Mung Beans]

Some of John Ringo's Legacy of the Altadenta might be nice, fun military sci-fi although the later volumes are marred by extreme right-wing rants at the end.

[CyrilsScribe]

Old Man's War by John Scalzi, one of the most poignant novels on this list with some really interesting concepts, the sequels are good but slightly bland.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman an excellent novel that is a contemporary of Starship Troopers, written out of the author's experience of Vietnam. A truly timeless classic.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. this novel is a classic piece of Science Fiction and you will enjoy the dialogue and ironic wit even if you don't like Post-Apocalyptic novels.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, a must read if you haven't already, funny, stunningly hilarious, the somewhat depressing the tale of Arthur Dent is supremely written. The Answer to Life, The Universe, And Everything is 42.

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett, considered Science Fiction because the novel is set in space (on a disk, which is supported by four elephants...who stand on a giant space turtle) these are really fantasy novels but any of his books are incredibly funny.

The Jesus Incident by Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom, an interesting tale of a new world, plus it is by Frank Herbert.

1984 by George Orwell, this book inspired whole new worlds of political theory,and several new English words. Set in a dark dystopian world, there is no new technology that we could not use, there is no hope, there is no freedom, there is only BIG BROTHER.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, creepy and magnificent this truly disturbing novella details the screaming, spiraling consequences of consumer culture and willing social ignorance.

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, not a Science Fiction novel per se but a warped and funny novel set in a fictional island about WWII bomber crews. You have to read it several times before it makes sense at all.

[Werrf]

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett, considered Science Fiction because the novel is set in space (on a disk, which is supported by four elephants...who stand on a giant space turtle) these are really fantasy novels but any of his books are incredibly funny.

Hang on, how can we count the Discworld as sci-fi just because it takes place on a world that exists in space? Earth exists in space, every planet in the universe exists in space.

Mind you, I'd recommend Discworld to anyone who reads any genre at all - they may have a fantasy base, but the stories themselves are anything but typical fantasy. Particularly the Guards books - they could be any police procedural anywhere, just slightly absurdist.

[CyrilsScribe]

That is what Pratchett is considered, as told by Borders(tm). I would place him in fantasy but his books are in science fiction. Mind you I understand that all planets are in space (where else would they be, in a black hole?) but that was what I was told by the sales person (and subsequently a librarian).