Another recommendation: Riverworld Series (5 books) by Philip Jose Farmer Larry Niven wrote several great books: Ringworld (plus sequels) The Mote in God's Eye I also highly recommend the first three Dune books: Dune Dune Messiah Children of Dune
Totally agree. Like Wheel of Time LOVE Song of Ice and Fire A am also reading the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Didn't really like the second half of Song of Susanna, but up until then, awesome. Not really sci fi though...more fantasy. C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy...already mentioned in this thread. For more general fantasy, check out The Chronicles of Thomas Covenent...best anti-hero ever.
I've never been a massive Sci-Fi fan, but it's fun to read sometimes as a change of pace. Here are some authors I've liked: William Gibson Philip K. Dick ..and Robert A. Heinlein! Some of it anyway. "Stranger in a Strange Land" is neato, but "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is better. He can be a bit aggravating at times. Michael Moorcock is a fun writer too, but I don't believe he's soundly in the Sci-Fi camp. If you like the brain****ed conspiratorial angle: Robert Anton Wilson's "Schrodinger's Cat" trilogy is pretty damn cool. http://www.rawilson.com/schrocat.shtml
Agree with some of the above. Asimov has great plots...and actually sort of began to understand characterization toward the end. Heinlein has some excellent books...but he seems to have an obsession with father/daughter incest...I think the man has issues.
Oh, forgot about Heinlein. tMiaHM is probably the best sci-fi book I've ever read. Just a fantastic concept and execution. But the fella does have issues, no doubt about it.
Everyone needs to check out Alastair Reynolds probably the best new hard SF writer. My personal all-time favorite SF writer is Vernor Vinge ~ A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky... Trippy
had a question what exactly is cyberpunk science fiction? I'm familiar with the definition of science fiction of course , but have not heard of cyberpunk before?
Christopher Hinz' "Liege-Killer." Simon Green's "Deathstalker" series- highest recommendation you will not be disappointed. Also enjoyed Alan Dean Foster's "Spellsinger" series.
Also gotta throw in a vote for the "Fire and Ice" series by Martin. They're LONG, introduce a lot of characters, then proceeds to kill them off with surprising regularity. Started off a bit slow with A Game of Thrones but picked up nicely with A Storm of Swords and ended on a real "WTF" moment in A Clash of Kings. I'm biding my time until September when A Feast for Crows comes out.
sorry for bumping this thread up again but some of the people who recommended stuff like Dune and Do Androids Dream of Electric sheep (both... VERY GOOD BOOKS!) have email turned off as well as pm's which are automatically off on this forum. just wanted to say thanks for some fine reading suggestions head is still spinning from phillip dick lol will be reading sphere soon by Michael Crichton -isoman2kx
Has anyone read the Mars series? You know, Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars by some guy named Kim Something? I knew it had won some awards, Hugo or Nebula, can't remember, so I went out and bought them at Half Price Books. Unfortunately, the story really isn't grabbing me like I want. I suppose in a long series it starts out with a lot of backstory, but I am having much difficulty relating to any of the characters and the plot really hasn't built up any momentum. Has anyone read these? Should I continue or is it a waste of my time?
hmm had heard some good things about red mars also.... saw it at barnes and noble when I was getting Sphere (Crichton) and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Dick). but didn't pick it up.... *shrug* always best to check amazon.com as well ..... not to buy... but simply for the reviews they usually have a fair amount of people that review books... red mars included.
The Mars books were unreadable for me. They're very divisive. Either you love them or hate them. Hyperion by Dan Simmons is brilliant (uses the Canterbury Tales framework with other classic literature allusions throughout). Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light is great too. Uses Hindu mythology. Also try the Amber books by Zelazny. They're available in an omnibus and they are great action and intrigue type novels. If you want some good old school science fiction then Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination is quite good.
Just to be complete. Here's a great list of science fiction and fantasy books. http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/6113/t100256.txt It's voted on via emails (hasn't been updated in a bit), and all the books on the list are quality.
I've read them all and enjoyed them. Yes, they take awhile to get into, but I found their depiction of a possible human future on Mars to be facinating. Some things just take a bit to get into, as you know. The author is Kim Stanley Robinson. I'll try to come up with some recommendations later. Tons of great stuff out there.
