SciFi books

by **FreeSatania** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:07 pm

SciFi books. Which are you favourite and why?

I my self am partial to the foundation and empire series by Isaac Asimov. I also like the hitchhikers guide series.

So NSG what are your favourites?

by **Scarsaw** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:18 pm

I'm not a fan of SciFi, but will read a novel or two if thrown on my lap. Duglas Adams is gold...strange...but gold. I also like Robert Heinlen's Starship Troopers. It's quite different from the movie and way more political/philosophical, which I love. My major problem with SciFi books is that they spend too much focus on the equipment, specs, and worlds...the details...rather than the overarching story. Sometimes, with some of the novel's I've read, it feels more like I'm reading a computer manual rather than a book.

by **Yootopia** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:21 pm

The Hobbit. That counts, yeah?

by **Scarsaw** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:21 pm

Yootopia wrote:The Hobbit. That counts, yeah?

That's Fantasy, not SciFi.

by **Yootopia** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:22 pm

Scarsaw wrote:
Yootopia wrote:The Hobbit. That counts, yeah?

That's Fantasy, not SciFi.

D'oh!, etc.

by **Lord-General Drache** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:23 pm

Probably the "space opera" genre is. Peter F Hamilton's Night's Dawn series comes to mind. Nine books and I've reread the series 2-3 times. I almost never rewatch or reread ANYTHING.

by **Tsa-la-gi Nation** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:25 pm

I love the Dune books from both father & son.

by **Lord-General Drache** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:26 pm

Tsa-la-gi Nation wrote:I love the Dune books from both father & son.

You're probably going to get alot of flak for the latter bit. I personally agree with you. I felt the prequel series to be quite illuminating on many of the references and history within the first Dune series.

by **Trotskylvania** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:26 pm

I'm pretty strongly lodged in the cyberpunk genre of sci fi. My favorite is actually a graphic novel though, the GUNNM series by Yukito Kishiro

by **Gwarmos** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:26 pm

I once read a book called 'Souls in the Great Machine' and found it a very good read(I never got around to reading the following two sequels in the trilogy though). I recommended it for any Scifi enthusiast.

by **Meroivinge** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:29 pm

Scarsaw wrote:I'm not a fan of SciFi, but will read a novel or two if thrown on my lap. Duglas Adams is gold...strange...but gold. I also like Robert Heinlen's Starship Troopers. It's quite different from the movie and way more political/philosophical, which I love. My major problem with SciFi books is that they spend too much focus on the equipment, specs, and worlds...the details...rather than the overarching story. Sometimes, with some of the novel's I've read, it feels more like I'm reading a computer manual rather than a book.

Sci Fi comes in lots of different flavors. Octavia E. Butler's novels typically have strong character development and focus on social issues far more than technology. Kelley Eskridge's novel Solitaire deals with a technological idea, but is intrinsically character-driven. Samuel R. Delany's work is often quite lyrical and strange.

by **FreeSatania** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:31 pm

Tsa-la-gi Nation wrote:I love the Dune books from both father & son.

Read those... yeah, they are badass.

He who controls the spice controls some shit, or the other I don't know.

by **FreeSatania** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:33 pm

Some of the star wars books are pretty good too. Can't remember which ones though.

by **Imsogone** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:33 pm

I like the classics - Heinlelin, Asimov, Lieber, Zelazny - and so on.

I also like Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover novels
Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga
S.M. Stirling's series that starts with DIes the FIre
Stross's Clan Corporate series

And a whole bunch more.

by **Farnhamia** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:33 pm

Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination and The Demolished Man.

I like lots of Heinlein, though he tends to get more overtly preachy in his later stuff.

Brian Aldiss, especially his Helliconia series.

I like the Peter Hamilton stuff, too. And Ursula LeGuin. And Sherri Tepper. And, oh, good, grief, Blish's Cities In Flight series and all sorts of stuff.

by **FreeSatania** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:36 pm

I forgot to mention ray bradbury's stuff. He has some creepy ass short stories ... a true master of the twist ending.

by **Imsogone** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:39 pm

FreeSatania wrote:I forgot to mention ray bradbury's stuff. He has some creepy ass short stories ... a true master of the twist ending.

His stories are fair - I did like Something Evil This Way Comes. But I'm a bit hardcore, I like to have at least a semblance of scientific accuracy in the stories. The authors don't have to write technical manuals, but they do have to at least pay some homage to the facts.

by **Farnhamia** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:41 pm

Imsogone wrote:
FreeSatania wrote:I forgot to mention ray bradbury's stuff. He has some creepy ass short stories ... a true master of the twist ending.

His stories are fair - I did like Something Evil This Way Comes. But I'm a bit hardcore, I like to have at least a semblance of scientific accuracy in the stories. The authors don't have to write technical manuals, but they do have to at least pay some homage to the facts.

Well, not really. It's called "fiction" for a reason, that it's something "made up." I have no trouble suspending my sense of disbelief. But hey, unto each their own.

by **Grandais** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:43 pm

Bradbury's one of my favourites, although I have far too many sci-fi books on my desk I'm yet to read.

My favourite series is Arthur C Clarke's Space Odyssey quadrilogy. The second book, 2010: Odyssey Two, is the finest novel I've ever read. Still haven't touched the fourth one, so don't ask for my opinion on it.

by **Imsogone** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:44 pm

Farnhamia wrote:
Imsogone wrote:
FreeSatania wrote:I forgot to mention ray bradbury's stuff. He has some creepy ass short stories ... a true master of the twist ending.

His stories are fair - I did like Something Evil This Way Comes. But I'm a bit hardcore, I like to have at least a semblance of scientific accuracy in the stories. The authors don't have to write technical manuals, but they do have to at least pay some homage to the facts.

Well, not really. It's called "fiction" for a reason, that it's something "made up." I have no trouble suspending my sense of disbelief. But hey, unto each their own.

And that's why the genre is so diverse. It has everything from flat out fantasy to hardcore heavy metal - and I like all the segments as long as they're well-written and internally consistent.

by **Batuni** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:52 pm

Asimov. Always Asimov.
I was reading my Dad's Asimov before I was ten.
Clarke, Heinlein, A. E. van Vogt, Harry Harrison, Douglas Adams, and so many more.

by **Imsogone** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:05 pm

Batuni wrote:Asimov. Always Asimov.
I was reading my Dad's Asimov before I was ten.
Clarke, Heinlein, A. E. van Vogt, Harry Harrison, Douglas Adams, and so many more.

Like the Stainless Steel Rat, did you?

by **Conserative Morality** » Fri May 21, 2010 11:56 pm

Asimov I love unconditionally.

Starship Troopers was quite good.

by **Dark Side Messiahs** » Sat May 22, 2010 12:03 am

Tsa-la-gi Nation wrote:I love the Dune books from both father & son.

Herbert is the shiznit isn't he?!

Like Tsa-la-gi Nation, I am a Dune fan and have read all of Frank Herbert's original works. I'm not as fond of his son but they are still good books, the Butlerian Jihad book was good. And if you haven't guessed from my nations flag, STAR WARS NOVELS KICK ARSE!

by **Cqvjesse** » Sat May 22, 2010 1:45 am

Haven't read much scifci in weeks but I love Ender's Game

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