Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

The Master™ · 27th June 2005, 12:45 AM

Since we've got a Fantasy one, how about your Sci-Fi favourites... Here are mine...

Arthur C Clarke
2061: Odyssey Three

Philip K Dick
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

Kevin Anderson
Jedi Academy series
Jedi Search
Dark Apprentice
Champions of the Force

Sheri S Tepper
Grass

Greg Bear
Eon
Dinosaur Summer

Robert Silverberg
The Book of Skulls

L E Modesitt Jnr
Gravity Dreams

Joe Haldeman
Forever War

Samuel R Delaney
Nova

Larry Niven
Ringworld
Ringworld Engineers
Destiny*s Road

Robert A Heinlen
Starship Troopers

Harry Harrison
Stainless Steel Rat
Bill, The Galactic Hero
Bill, The Galactic Hero... on the planet of the hippies from hell
Bill, The Galactic Hero... the final incoherant adventure

Mary Shelley
Frankenstein

Alfred Bester
The Demolished Man

Richard Matheson
I Am Legend

STAR TREK STUFF

Jean Lorrah
Metamorphosis

Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Prime Directive

Diane Duane
Dark Mirror

Peter David
Imzadi
Vendetta
Star Trek: New Frontier Series (got all the books, but couldn't make a note of all the titles)...

knivesout · 27th June 2005, 08:58 AM

Mmmkeh. Here are my essential (not always favourite) SF novels in no particular order(be aware that much of the best work in the genre is inthe short format - I'll post on that later):

The Demolished Man, The Stars My Destination: Alfred Bester
The Gods Themselves, Caves Of Steel: Isaac Asimov
Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land: Robert A Heinlein
Rendezvous With Rama, 2001: A Space Odyssey: Arthur C Clarke
The World of Null-A, The Voyage of the Space Beagle: AE van Vogt
A Harvest of Stars, The Avatar: Poul Anderson
Venus Plus X, More Than Human: Theodore Sturgeon
Nightwings, Dying Inside: Robert Silverberg
Dune, The Jesus Incident: Frank Herbert
Gateway, Man Plus: Frederick Pohl
A Canticle for Leibowitz: Walter M Miller, Jr
Ubik, The man in the high castle: Philip K Dick
334: Thomas M Disch
Cat's Cradle: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
Emphyrio, Wyst: Alastor 1716: Jack Vance
Neuromancer, Idoru: William Gibson
On, Polystom: Adam Roberts
The player of games, Feersum Endjinn: Iain M Banks
The Left Hand of Darkness, The Lathe of Heaven: Ursula K LeGuin
Parable of the Sower: Octavia Butler
The Sky Road: Ken MacLeod
The Golden Age: John C Wright
The Mote in God's Eye: Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle
Norstrilia: Cordwainer Smith
Mission of Gravity: Hal Clement
Ringworld: Larry Niven (A novel I personally found vastly overrated)
A case of Conscience: James Blish
Stand on Zanzibar: John Brunner
Flowers for Algernon: Daniel Keyes
Blood Music, Eon: Greg Bear
The Uplift War: David Brin
The Midwich Cuckoos, The day of the Trffids: John Wyndham
Lords of Light: Roger Zelazny

ravenus · 27th June 2005, 09:52 AM

H.G. Wells' work too passe for you pundits? I'd at least recommend Island of Dr. Moreau.

Edit: Am I retarded in only just realizing the likely intended phonetic resemblance of the name Moreau to morrow (as in tommorrow)?

And is the Jedi stuff really sci-fi or just fantasy with laser guns?

knivesout · 27th June 2005, 09:57 AM

Eek. Sorry abt Wells - I sort of take the lad for granted. And Moreau is my favourite of his books, too. Come to think of it, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and some of EA Poe's stories probably ought to be considered part of a through SF reading program too. And it's all fun!!!

Personally I avoid SW/ST franchise fiction like the plague. Others are less fastidious.

The Master™ · 27th June 2005, 11:48 AM

I'd like to read the original HG Wells stuff... The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, War of the Worlds, etc

Read the free online version of The Island of Dr Moreau here: http://www.wells.omnia.co.uk/dr-moreau/ (as well as others)

Or even Jules Verne...

But there is so much good stuff out there, that there just isn't enough time...

I enjoyed the Star Wars/Star Trek stuff... Something fun about it... And because ST/SW started me on my road to Sci-Fi/Fantasy stuff...

OH, AND I FORGOT TO ADD A BOOK I'VE ALMOST FINISHED AND ENJOYED:

Ursula Le Guin
The Dispossessed

Jay · 27th June 2005, 12:23 PM

I'm sure everyone will name the classics and will thus refrain from doing so, but will add that if not reading Philip K. Dick, there truly is no reason to read Science Fiction. I just wanted to drop a 3 names of authors who aren't getting enough attention, which is a shame because IMHO there work is among the best written currently. I also want to note that I don't consider SF jsut books with spaceships and aliens.

In my mind these are 3 masters, and have written some of the best works in the last few years. I highly recommend them:

Jeffrey Thomas:

Punktown
Monstrocity
Everybody Scream
Letter's from Hades

Michael Cisco:

The Divinity Student
Golem

First two are collected in the San Veneficio Canon

Tyrant

Zoran Zivkovic:

The Fourth Circle
Time Gifts

Brys · 27th June 2005, 05:15 PM

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card. You've already said Dune (Frank Herbert). And depending on whether you classify the Book of the New Sun (Gene Wolfe) as science fiction, then I'd recommend that as well.

Rosemary · 27th June 2005, 05:30 PM

Apart from the brilliant Dune series, I would recommend Julian May's The Galactic Millieu Trilogy.

Some of Robert Silverberg and Steven Baxter's works make quite good reading.

Taltos · 28th June 2005, 08:45 AM

Some more SF books, series and separate books mixed together:

Mike Resnick “Widowmaker”

Robert Asprin “Phule” & “Time scout” Isaac Asimov “Foundation” & “end of eternity”

Henry Kuttner “Galloway Gallegher” & “Hogben”

Roger Zelazny “This immortal”, “Today We Choose Faces” etc.

Clifford Simak “They Walked Like Men”, “Way Station” & “City”

Patrick Tilley “Amtrak wars”

Dan Simmons “Hyperion”

S. Andrew Swann “Forest of the night” (haven’t found any of his other books)

Ben Bova “The Weathermakers”

Jack McDevitt “Talent for War”

George R.R. Martin “Tuf Voyaging”

Lois McMaster Bujold “Miles Vorkosigan”

Robert A. Heinlein “Time enough for love”, “Moon is a harsh mistress”, “Friday” etc.

Michael Swanwick “Vacuum Flowers”

Alan Dean Foster “Flinx and Pip Adventures” & “The Damned”

Frederic Pohl “Heechee”

Peter F. Hamilton “Night’s Dawn”

Some classics:

Francis Carsac “Terre en fuite” & “Les Robinsonsdu cosmos”

E.E. “Doc” Smith “Lensmen”

Alfred Van Vogt “Slan” & “Silkie”

H. “Beam” Piper “Little Fuzzy”

PS: sorry for the fonts ... copy & paste and HTML don't mix

stormbard · 30th June 2005, 02:51 AM

I received I-Robot by Isaac Asimov as a birthday present when I was young, and have continued reading science fiction since. I really enjoy all of Asimov's work, especially the Foundation series & related books.
I also recommend Nivon&Pournelle's The Mote In God's Eye, not the sequel though, which I found disappointing.
Also, all of Kim Stanley Robinson's novels are awesome.

Rane Longfox · 1st July 2005, 01:38 AM

Neal Asher:
Gridlinked
The Skinner
Line of Polity
The Cowl
Brass Man

Peter F. Hamilton:
Nights Dawn trilogy
Pandora's Star
Another Chance at Eden

Al Reynolds:
Chasm City
Redemption Ark
Absolution Gap
Revelation Space
Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days
Century Rain
Pushing Ice
(not all in that order)

longplay · 2nd July 2005, 08:06 AM

Another vote for Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy and Asimov's Foundation series and Robot books. I'd also add Jon Courtenay Grimwood. I prefer his earlier stuff but the three Arabesk novels are excellent too.

The Master™ · 2nd July 2005, 09:24 AM

Another I found that I forgot to mention:

Aldus Huxley
Brave New World

******************

People talk about reading "classics"...

I have never read Asimov or a lot of the early pioneers... And to be totally frank, the idea leaves me a little cold... Okay, I'd like to try maybe one or two, but I'm not gonna go out of my way to acquire them...

I've read some books considered to be classics, and been left by some of them wondering why they are considered so... Maybe because they are, so called, pioneers; but I've found other writers to be a little more fun and easier to understand... There are some books that are products of their time, and not having lived through those times I can't associate with them... So, feel a little confused... Then, there are others that are timeless (The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester... I'd never believe that it had been published in 1953!!!!)...

I guess it is all subjective and open to personal choice...

Talking of classics, would anyone consider A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain to be classic Sci-Fi or Classic Fantasy??? In fact, has anyone ever read it, or just watched the two movies, like me???

Nobody read 1984 by George Orwell???

GOLLUM · 2nd July 2005, 10:07 AM

Yep also read 1984 by George Orwell more than once..

Check out my reply on your Twain question in the fantasy recommendations thread....

stormbard · 2nd July 2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Master™

Aldus Huxley
Brave New World

Still have to read this obvious gem

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Master™

I have never read Asimov

Please do, his books are really one-of-a-kind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Master™

Then, there are others that are timeless (The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester... I'd never believe that it had been published in 1953!!!!)...

I'll have to check this one out, as I haven't read it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Master™

Nobody read 1984 by George Orwell???

I thought this book was incredible, and very real. 'Check Your Head'

27th June 2005, 12:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Master™ Right hand of Vengence!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,753	Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Since we've got a Fantasy one, how about your Sci-Fi favourites... Here are mine... Arthur C Clarke 2061: Odyssey Three Philip K Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Kevin Anderson Jedi Academy series Jedi Search Dark Apprentice Champions of the Force Sheri S Tepper Grass Greg Bear Eon Dinosaur Summer Robert Silverberg The Book of Skulls L E Modesitt Jnr Gravity Dreams Joe Haldeman Forever War Samuel R Delaney Nova Larry Niven Ringworld Ringworld Engineers Destinys Road Robert A Heinlen* Starship Troopers Harry Harrison Stainless Steel Rat Bill, The Galactic Hero Bill, The Galactic Hero... on the planet of the hippies from hell Bill, The Galactic Hero... the final incoherant adventure Mary Shelley Frankenstein Alfred Bester The Demolished Man Richard Matheson I Am Legend *STAR TREK STUFF* Jean Lorrah Metamorphosis Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens Prime Directive Diane Duane Dark Mirror Peter David Imzadi Vendetta Star Trek: New Frontier Series (got all the books, but couldn't make a note of all the titles)...

27th June 2005, 08:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
knivesout cheap,flashy little crook Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,998	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Mmmkeh. Here are my essential (not always favourite) SF novels in no particular order(be aware that much of the best work in the genre is inthe short format - I'll post on that later): The Demolished Man, The Stars My Destination: Alfred Bester The Gods Themselves, Caves Of Steel: Isaac Asimov Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land: Robert A Heinlein Rendezvous With Rama, 2001: A Space Odyssey: Arthur C Clarke The World of Null-A, The Voyage of the Space Beagle: AE van Vogt A Harvest of Stars, The Avatar: Poul Anderson Venus Plus X, More Than Human: Theodore Sturgeon Nightwings, Dying Inside: Robert Silverberg Dune, The Jesus Incident: Frank Herbert Gateway, Man Plus: Frederick Pohl A Canticle for Leibowitz: Walter M Miller, Jr Ubik, The man in the high castle: Philip K Dick 334: Thomas M Disch Cat's Cradle: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr Emphyrio, Wyst: Alastor 1716: Jack Vance Neuromancer, Idoru: William Gibson On, Polystom: Adam Roberts The player of games, Feersum Endjinn: Iain M Banks The Left Hand of Darkness, The Lathe of Heaven: Ursula K LeGuin Parable of the Sower: Octavia Butler The Sky Road: Ken MacLeod The Golden Age: John C Wright The Mote in God's Eye: Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle Norstrilia: Cordwainer Smith Mission of Gravity: Hal Clement Ringworld: Larry Niven (A novel I personally found vastly overrated) A case of Conscience: James Blish Stand on Zanzibar: John Brunner Flowers for Algernon: Daniel Keyes Blood Music, Eon: Greg Bear The Uplift War: David Brin The Midwich Cuckoos, The day of the Trffids: John Wyndham Lords of Light: Roger Zelazny

27th June 2005, 09:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
ravenus Heretic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,300	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened H.G. Wells' work too passe for you pundits? I'd at least recommend Island of Dr. Moreau. Edit: Am I retarded in only just realizing the likely intended phonetic resemblance of the name Moreau to morrow (as in tommorrow)? And is the Jedi stuff really sci-fi or just fantasy with laser guns?

27th June 2005, 09:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
knivesout cheap,flashy little crook Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,998	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Eek. Sorry abt Wells - I sort of take the lad for granted. And Moreau is my favourite of his books, too. Come to think of it, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and some of EA Poe's stories probably ought to be considered part of a through SF reading program too. And it's all fun!!! Personally I avoid SW/ST franchise fiction like the plague. Others are less fastidious.

27th June 2005, 11:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
The Master™ Right hand of Vengence!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,753	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened I'd like to read the original HG Wells stuff... The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, War of the Worlds, etc Read the free online version of The Island of Dr Moreau here: http://www.wells.omnia.co.uk/dr-moreau/ (as well as others) Or even Jules Verne... But there is so much good stuff out there, that there just isn't enough time... I enjoyed the Star Wars/Star Trek stuff... Something fun about it... And because ST/SW started me on my road to Sci-Fi/Fantasy stuff... OH, AND I FORGOT TO ADD A BOOK I'VE ALMOST FINISHED AND ENJOYED: Ursula Le Guin The Dispossessed

27th June 2005, 12:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jay Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 545	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened I'm sure everyone will name the classics and will thus refrain from doing so, but will add that if not reading Philip K. Dick, there truly is no reason to read Science Fiction. I just wanted to drop a 3 names of authors who aren't getting enough attention, which is a shame because IMHO there work is among the best written currently. I also want to note that I don't consider SF jsut books with spaceships and aliens. In my mind these are 3 masters, and have written some of the best works in the last few years. I highly recommend them: Jeffrey Thomas: Punktown Monstrocity Everybody Scream Letter's from Hades Michael Cisco: The Divinity Student Golem First two are collected in the San Veneficio Canon Tyrant Zoran Zivkovic: The Fourth Circle Time Gifts

27th June 2005, 05:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brys Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 809	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card. You've already said Dune (Frank Herbert). And depending on whether you classify the Book of the New Sun (Gene Wolfe) as science fiction, then I'd recommend that as well.

27th June 2005, 05:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rosemary The Wicked Sword Maiden Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia, Western Australia Posts: 2,886	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Apart from the brilliant Dune series, I would recommend Julian May's The Galactic Millieu Trilogy. Some of Robert Silverberg and Steven Baxter's works make quite good reading.

28th June 2005, 08:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Taltos Creeping in shadows Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Estonia Posts: 443	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Some more SF books, series and separate books mixed together: Mike Resnick “Widowmaker” Robert Asprin “Phule” & “Time scout” Isaac Asimov “Foundation” & “end of eternity” Henry Kuttner “Galloway Gallegher” & “Hogben” Roger Zelazny “This immortal”, “Today We Choose Faces” etc. Clifford Simak “They Walked Like Men”, “Way Station” & “City” Patrick Tilley “Amtrak wars” Dan Simmons “Hyperion” S. Andrew Swann “Forest of the night” (haven’t found any of his other books) Ben Bova “The Weathermakers” Jack McDevitt “Talent for War” George R.R. Martin “Tuf Voyaging” Lois McMaster Bujold “Miles Vorkosigan” Robert A. Heinlein “Time enough for love”, “Moon is a harsh mistress”, “Friday” etc. Michael Swanwick “Vacuum Flowers” Alan Dean Foster “Flinx and Pip Adventures” & “The Damned” Frederic Pohl “Heechee” Peter F. Hamilton “Night’s Dawn” Some classics: Francis Carsac “Terre en fuite” & “Les Robinsonsdu cosmos” E.E. “Doc” Smith “Lensmen” Alfred Van Vogt “Slan” & “Silkie” H. “Beam” Piper “Little Fuzzy” PS: sorry for the fonts ... copy & paste and HTML don't mix

30th June 2005, 02:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
stormbard battlebard Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 66	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened I received I-Robot by Isaac Asimov as a birthday present when I was young, and have continued reading science fiction since. I really enjoy all of Asimov's work, especially the Foundation series & related books. I also recommend Nivon&Pournelle's The Mote In God's Eye, not the sequel though, which I found disappointing. Also, all of Kim Stanley Robinson's novels are awesome.

1st July 2005, 01:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
Rane Longfox Blood-filled vision Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 3,168	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Neal Asher: Gridlinked The Skinner Line of Polity The Cowl Brass Man Peter F. Hamilton: Nights Dawn trilogy Pandora's Star Another Chance at Eden Al Reynolds: Chasm City Redemption Ark Absolution Gap Revelation Space Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days Century Rain Pushing Ice (not all in that order)

2nd July 2005, 08:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
longplay Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 34	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Another vote for Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy and Asimov's Foundation series and Robot books. I'd also add Jon Courtenay Grimwood. I prefer his earlier stuff but the three Arabesk novels are excellent too.

2nd July 2005, 09:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
The Master™ Right hand of Vengence!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,753	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Another I found that I forgot to mention: Aldus Huxley Brave New World **************** People talk about reading "classics"... I have never read Asimov or a lot of the early pioneers... And to be totally frank, the idea leaves me a little cold... Okay, I'd like to try maybe one or two, but I'm not gonna go out of my way to acquire them... I've read some books considered to be classics, and been left by some of them wondering why they are considered so... Maybe because they are, so called, pioneers; but I've found other writers to be a little more fun and easier to understand... There are some books that are products of their time, and not having lived through those times I can't associate with them... So, feel a little confused... Then, there are others that are timeless (The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester... I'd never believe that it had been published in 1953!!!!)... I guess it is all subjective and open to personal choice... Talking of classics, would anyone consider A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain to be classic Sci-Fi or Classic Fantasy??? In fact, has anyone ever read it, or just watched the two movies, like me??? Nobody read 1984 by George Orwell**???

2nd July 2005, 10:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
GOLLUM Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 5,187	Re: Sci-Fi Recommendations - for the unenlightened Yep also read 1984 by George Orwell more than once.. Check out my reply on your Twain question in the fantasy recommendations thread....

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread: