I Need Something to Read!

08-14-2007, 11:26 PM

Please suggest some hard Sci-Fi (I do want to read the Ringworld novels, I have only read the shorts), or regular, just not the frufy shit and some good fantasy, also no frufy shit.
To give you an idea of what I like, I have read everything Heinlein wrote and have read the Elric saga many times, I also liked Nivin's Earth a lot.

wolf · 08-15-2007, 12:37 AM

Try Robert L. Forward - Dragon's Egg

(a thought ... do we need a separate thread where people make requests for book suggestions? hmm. Yes, I've decided we do.)

DanaC · 08-15-2007, 05:40 AM

Stephen Donaldson, The Gap Series, first one is called The Real Story.

Awesome and wide ranging solid space opera. Amazingly complex.

Greg Egan, read any of his books. Brilliant aussie sci fi writer, some of his stuff goes over my head a little (the quantum stuff) but mostly it's just sheer brilliance. Good one to start with is Quarantine.

'Amnesia Moon' and 'Gun with Occassional Music' are both stunning sci-fi novels.

Fisherman's Hope (The Seafort Saga), by David Feintuch. Wow, what an unusual sci fi story. Set in a future where a kind of puritanical Christianity is widespread and space travel is run along naval lines, with the ships run along similar lines to the 18th century naval vessels. From Amazon "Naval Academy Commandant Nicholas Seafort is a legend to the masses, an idol to his hundreds of teen cadets. They don't see the tormented soul of a man who believes that merciless duty has led him to betray every friend he ever loved, every ideal he ever cherished. After a lifelong ordeal, Seafort needs time. Time to reflect. Time to heal. Instead he is pulled into a maelstrom of crisis, corruption, and danger as the helpless, unprepared Earth faces annihilation from a horde of alien attackers. Alone at the center of a cosmic apocalypse, Nick Seafort must face his final battle . . .And his most unforgivable sin. "

Now that series is a really good read.

Griff · 08-15-2007, 05:58 AM

Have you read any Vernor Vinge? All his stuff is solid. Actually, if you pm me an address I can send you a couple books.

Spexxvet · 08-15-2007, 07:38 AM

Anything by Peter F. Hamilton, but I'd recommend starting with this trilogy.

1. The Reality Dysfunction (1996)
2. The Neutronium Alchemist (1997)
3. The Naked God (1999)

All his work is has great character development, many interwoven sub-plots, and really cool hard-core science-science-fiction. My only criticism is that he has a hard time ending a story.

DanaC · 08-15-2007, 07:43 AM

Also Sean McMullen's Voyages of the Shadowmoon. Really nice, mildly humourous, but fairly straight fantasy.

freshnesschronic · 08-15-2007, 08:03 AM

The Silmarillion

SteveDallas · 08-15-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Anything by Peter F. Hamilton, but I'd recommend starting with this trilogy . . .

I really enjoyed Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained. But I just couldn't get into the Reality Dysfunction series. It held up well for me across the first 3/4 of the first book, then I lost interest.

You might like the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold.

The Greatwinter Trllogy by Sean McMullen

Transcension by Damien Broderick

The Risen Empire / The Killing of Worlds by Scott Westerfeld

Red Thunder by John Varley

Eon by Greg Bear

Merchant Princes series by Charles Stross

Cloud · 08-15-2007, 08:59 AM

For fantasy--Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williamson, a very complex hero's journey.

For SF--any of the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. If you haven't read any of these run out right now and get them. These are sort of space opera, the hero, Miles is a brilliant military leader with a stunted body, fighting enemies for his emperor as well as fighting prejudice against his appearance. I know it sounds sappy, but seriously, Miles Vorkosigan, is the best character I've come across since Valentine Michael Smith in close to 40 years of reading SF.

dar512 · 08-15-2007, 09:18 AM

Asimov - I Robot (short stories), Caves of Steel, Naked Sun, The Foundation Trilogy

Clarke - Tales from the White Hart (short stories), Childhood's End, Fountains of Paradise

Simak - Time is the Simplest Thing

Anderson - Operation Chaos, Three Hearts and Three Lions, lots more

wolf · 08-15-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

(a thought ... do we need a separate thread where people make requests for book suggestions? hmm. Yes, I've decided we do.)

I knew this topic would get a LOT of action.

08-15-2007, 10:13 PM

Anyone read the Man Katzen wars?
Any good?

Cloud · 08-15-2007, 10:22 PM

Those by Larry Niven?

08-15-2007, 10:26 PM

Pretty sure he wrote them. I read another series by him some time ago.

Cloud · 08-15-2007, 10:29 PM

Maybe a while ago--why not go for it if it interests you? I find it difficult sometimes to accept other people's recommendations. Although I believe them, and I'm sure the books are good, sometimes it makes a difference if I pick it out myself.

Sometimes not.

08-15-2007, 12:37 AM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Try Robert L. Forward - Dragon's Egg (a thought ... do we need a separate thread where people make requests for book suggestions? hmm. Yes, I've decided we do.) __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-15-2007, 05:58 AM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Have you read any Vernor Vinge? All his stuff is solid. Actually, if you pm me an address I can send you a couple books. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-15-2007, 07:38 AM	#5
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Anything by Peter F. Hamilton, but I'd recommend starting with this trilogy. 1. The Reality Dysfunction (1996) 2. The Neutronium Alchemist (1997) 3. The Naked God (1999) All his work is has great character development, many interwoven sub-plots, and really cool hard-core science-science-fiction. My only criticism is that he has a hard time ending a story. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

08-15-2007, 08:59 AM	#9
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	For fantasy--Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williamson, a very complex hero's journey. For SF--any of the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. If you haven't read any of these run out right now and get them. These are sort of space opera, the hero, Miles is a brilliant military leader with a stunted body, fighting enemies for his emperor as well as fighting prejudice against his appearance. I know it sounds sappy, but seriously, Miles Vorkosigan, is the best character I've come across since Valentine Michael Smith in close to 40 years of reading SF. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-15-2007, 09:18 AM	#10
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Asimov - I Robot (short stories), Caves of Steel, Naked Sun, The Foundation Trilogy Clarke - Tales from the White Hart (short stories), Childhood's End, Fountains of Paradise Simak - Time is the Simplest Thing Anderson - Operation Chaos, Three Hearts and Three Lions, lots more __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-14-2007, 11:26 PM	#1
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Please suggest some hard Sci-Fi (I do want to read the Ringworld novels, I have only read the shorts), or regular, just not the frufy shit and some good fantasy, also no frufy shit. To give you an idea of what I like, I have read everything Heinlein wrote and have read the Elric saga many times, I also liked Nivin's Earth a lot.

08-15-2007, 05:40 AM	#3
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Stephen Donaldson, The Gap Series, first one is called The Real Story. Awesome and wide ranging solid space opera. Amazingly complex. Greg Egan, read any of his books. Brilliant aussie sci fi writer, some of his stuff goes over my head a little (the quantum stuff) but mostly it's just sheer brilliance. Good one to start with is Quarantine. 'Amnesia Moon' and 'Gun with Occassional Music' are both stunning sci-fi novels. Fisherman's Hope (The Seafort Saga), by David Feintuch. Wow, what an unusual sci fi story. Set in a future where a kind of puritanical Christianity is widespread and space travel is run along naval lines, with the ships run along similar lines to the 18th century naval vessels. From Amazon "Naval Academy Commandant Nicholas Seafort is a legend to the masses, an idol to his hundreds of teen cadets. They don't see the tormented soul of a man who believes that merciless duty has led him to betray every friend he ever loved, every ideal he ever cherished. After a lifelong ordeal, Seafort needs time. Time to reflect. Time to heal. Instead he is pulled into a maelstrom of crisis, corruption, and danger as the helpless, unprepared Earth faces annihilation from a horde of alien attackers. Alone at the center of a cosmic apocalypse, Nick Seafort must face his final battle . . .And his most unforgivable sin. " Now that series is a really good read.

08-15-2007, 07:43 AM	#6
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Also Sean McMullen's Voyages of the Shadowmoon. Really nice, mildly humourous, but fairly straight fantasy.

08-15-2007, 08:03 AM	#7
freshnesschronic Professor Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,555	The Silmarillion

08-15-2007, 10:13 PM	#12
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Anyone read the Man Katzen wars? Any good?

08-15-2007, 10:22 PM	#13
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Those by Larry Niven? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

08-15-2007, 10:26 PM	#14
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Pretty sure he wrote them. I read another series by him some time ago.

08-15-2007, 10:29 PM	#15
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Maybe a while ago--why not go for it if it interests you? I find it difficult sometimes to accept other people's recommendations. Although I believe them, and I'm sure the books are good, sometimes it makes a difference if I pick it out myself. Sometimes not. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

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