Sci-fi recommendations?

[aeroport]

I'm thinking of diving into some genre fiction this summer for a brief respite from my studies of the strictly literary, and would like very much to have a go at some interesting science fiction. Any suggestions?

[kathycf]

Are you interested in strictly science fiction, or are you also interested in fantasy? Sometimes the line between the two genres gets a bit blurry, and my own personal tastes lay more with fantasy. I would be happy to recommend some fantasy, but am refraining for now until I am sure what it is you are looking for.

Phillip K. Dick, Greg Bear, Roger Zelazny and Arthur C. Clarke are all more on the science fiction side of the fence and are quality writers, IMO.

Clarke is the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey. (not to be confused with the movie adaptation. ;) )

[mtpspur]

Keith Laumer's Retief--sf done in satire about a diplomatic embassy on various planets where Retief is the only person who's really in touch with 'political' realities--great blend of fun and adventure.

[Haven]

I'm thinking of diving into some genre fiction this summer for a brief respite from my studies of the strictly literary, and would like very much to have a go at some interesting science fiction. Any suggestions?

Same situation here... respite from text books. I've just started reading William Gibson's Pattern Recognition. Gibson is core sci-fi. He is often referred to as the originator of cyberpunk. I'm going to post a link to his official website and to get a flavour of his writing style scroll down to The Website of Dreadful Night Excerpt 1.

http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/books/pattern.asp

Everyone else's comments have to agree with. On Kathycf's thread, I'd vote for Philip K Dick and had completely forgotten about Retief, so thanks for he reminder mtpspur.

But of course at the moment my big vote goes to Gibson. :)

[barbara0207]

Anything written by Isaac Asimov, if you want visions and/or warnings of worlds to come. Well written, with a lot of suspense.

Anything by Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker books) if you want a good laugh and if you find that his kind of humour appeals to you. :D

[Bakiryu]

Anything by Orson Scott Card but espically the Ender and Bean series.
You might want to try some manga also.

[cows]

I'd say Dune by Frank Herbert is a great sci-fi adventure for summer reading. I read it last summer an enjoyed it thoroughly.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

I'm thinking of diving into some genre fiction this summer for a brief respite from my studies of the strictly literary, and would like very much to have a go at some interesting science fiction. Any suggestions?Absolutley (apart from the great suggestions already given), in no particular order of preference:


Larry Niven - The Ringworld Series and The Mote in God's Eye. Lucifer's Hammer (with Jerry Pournelle).
Isaac Asimov - I, Robot, The Rest of the Robots The Caves of steel, The foundation series
Greg Bear - Eon and Darwins Radio
Douglas Adams - The Hitchhikers series
Arthur C Clark - 2001, rendevouz with Rama and it's sequels.
Frank Herbert - The Dune series
Barry B. Longyear - Enemy Mine
Robert A. Heinlein - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.
Jules Verne - 20,000 Leagues under the Sea and From the Earth to the Moon


That should keep you occupied for a while ;)

/Claes

[Geoff Shipley]

Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm. One of my all time favorites sci-fi or not. It won the Hugo Award in 1977

[PeterL]

A huge amount of great Science Fiction has been published. What to read depends on what you like. For political satire in SF, read C. M. Kornbluth and Frederick Pohl. Most of Poul Anderson's books are very good or better; The Boat of a Million Years is one of his best along with Tau Zero. Zelazny's Lord of Light is great, but it doesn't fit any of the ready categories. G. C. Edmundson wrote some of the most interesting novels; Aluminum Man is like nothing else.

[mtpspur]

[QUOTE=ClaesGefvenberg;380482]Absolutley (apart from the great suggestions already given), in no particular order of preference:

Barry B. Longyear - Enemy Mine

I had forgotten this one. Read the original novelette published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine which helped get him started until he had some sort of falling out and they stopped publishing his stores. His Circus World stories are also excellent.

[Behemoth]

Anything by Jon Courtenay Grimwood is great, it's very modern but he writes well and the characters are well drawn. reMix in particular is excellent.

[the silent x]

crichton is a very good writer of science fiction, he wrote juraassic park and others of his stories were made into movies, one of his books that was written and is based in non fiction is A World of Fear, i think

[aeroport]

These all sound like fun. Thank you all for your suggestions. I’ll likely be coming back to this thread frequently in the near future as I finish them.

Are you interested in strictly science fiction, or are you also interested in fantasy? Sometimes the line between the two genres gets a bit blurry, and my own personal tastes lay more with fantasy. I would be happy to recommend some fantasy, but am refraining for now until I am sure what it is you are looking for.

I actually am leaning more towards the strictly sci-fi at the moment, but I do appreciate the distinction. I spent a lot of time with fantasy over the course of high school, and may get back to it eventually, but am leaving it alone for the moment.

I'd say Dune by Frank Herbert is a great sci-fi adventure for summer reading. I read it last summer an enjoyed it thoroughly.
I had quite forgotten! I read about half of Dune a couple summers ago, and was really enjoying it, but had to stop when school resumed. I should get back to it.

Anything by Orson Scott Card but espically the Ender and Bean series.
I've been curious about Card for a while; I shall look into this.

Thanks again! :)

[malwethien]

The Ender series by Orson Scott Card...a trilogy. Very interesting...

Michael Crichton is pretty good...but stay away from his new books. His last two books were terrible.

You can also try reading the Robtech series...by (someone) McKinley. It's a long series but you don't have to read it all to get into it...

[Stieg]

I absolutely love Robert Heilein's Starship Troopers and Joe Haldeman's The Forever War.

Also try Dan Simmons' Hyperion, the novel is followed in order by Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, and finally Rise of Endymion. All of them great especially the first one!!!

Hyperion has a decidedly weird prologue (jarring even) BUT then the novel hits all cylinders and I couldn't put it down for the sheer nailbiting suspense and anticipation of what new twist abounded on the proceeding pages especially concerning this creature of "flesh or/and steel" called the Shrike that guards the Time Tombs.

[Jennyfrijole]

Most definitely Malwethien is right, Ender's Game will be one of the best books you've ever read. I was required to read it as a sophomore in high school (1999), and I swear, I've read it at least once a year ever since then.

Farenheit 451 *duh*

Childhood's End *though a bit depressing*

The Sphere *the movie should've been that good*

The Sparrow - and I don't know whether this next book would necessarily be a sci-fi book - it revolves around a bunch of people in the future discovering alien radio signals and flying through space and meeting those aliens, but there is some theology and psychology thrown in for good measure, but is by far the best book I have ever read - and I'm pretty much constantly reading - and just about everyone I've ever given it to has loved it as well

[Sir Chaucer]

Hi Jamesian

May I present my favourite Hard Science Fiction books which are:

Edgar Rice Burroughs "John Carter of Mars" series and "Carson of Venus" series, they're all available for free on the internet and great fun.

On a different note Piers Anthony "Memoirs of a Space Tyrant" Vols. 1 to 5.

Not free yet so you'll have to purchase them.

They are a wonderful exploration of the Battles and wars in our history set in a Planetary Landscape. Additionally, there is a sub-story running through them all about equality of, and respect for the female, something I believe in very strongly.

[Bii]

You could try The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. A good read and definitely sci-fi

[jim1961]

Funny! I just started a similar thread. Somehow missed this one.

Roger Zelazny (Amber)
Dan Simmons (Hyperion)

[dbowen73]

yeah i am 15 any one have any suggestions as to any of these kinds of books that would be an interesting read over the summer break??