Proper good sci-fi recommendations!

[nath]

So I'm just coming to the end of Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks and read Snow Crash just before that so I'm on a bit of a scifi bender. I've enjoyed Use of Weapons so much that I feel like reading the entire Culture series in one go but I guess if I'm currently restricting myself to one genre I should perhaps try a few different authors. So, anyone got any recommendations?

Currently looking at trying Neuromancer, Pattern Recognition and uh, not really sure what else to look at. There is *SO* much science fiction out there, and it seems it all gets 4 stars+ on Amazon so it's tricky to sort the wheat from the chaff. Any suggestions appreciated!

By the way, I can highly recommend Use of Weapons, top stuff. Off t'bed to see how it ends .

 

[Exioce]

Alastair Reynolds: hard sci-fi with STL travel.


Revelation Space (Gollancz S.F.): Amazon.co.uk: Alastair Reynolds: Books


Stephen Baxter, also good.


Evolution (Gollancz S.F.): Amazon.co.uk: Stephen Baxter: Books

 

[Tom]

The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton is very good indeed, and will keep you occupied for a few weeks. First book of three in The Night's Dawn Trilogy.

 

[Gemma the Dog]

I can certainly recommend all the culture series

I've read Consider Phlebas and The Player of Games several times of the years!

(oh yeah and +1 on the Reality Dysfunction too!)

 

[Zenith.UK]

Currently looking at trying Neuromancer, Pattern Recognition and uh, not really sure what else to look at. There is *SO* much science fiction out there, and it seems it all gets 4 stars+ on Amazon so it's tricky to sort the wheat from the chaff. Any suggestions appreciated!

Neuromancer by William Gibson is considered groundbreaking and a relatively easy read compared to "hard sci-fi" like the Frank Herbert 'Dune' series. I'd suggest working through Gibson's books because he does touch on different genres. His short story "Hinterlands" completely freaked me out the first time I read it and I still rate it as one of the best short stories I've read.
William Gibson. Hinterlands

I've worked through Kevin J. Anderson's "Sage of the Seven Suns" set. It's another space opera that is accessible and an easy read. It features a number of varied races essentially based on air, water, earth and fire and reads like 'scissors, paper, rock' as the books progress.
The Saga of Seven Suns - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Scouse]

Azimov's Foundation series. The first 3 books anyway

 

[cHodAX]

Azimov's Foundation series. The first 3 books anyway

Yep classics in every sense of the word. Greg Bear's sequels were ok as well iirc.

 

[Helme]

Dune? At least the first six books.

 

[DaGaffer]

What type of SF are you looking for? Cyberpunk, Space Opera, "Hard" SF? There's a lot of choice. Looking at what you've already read;

William Gibson. If you like his early stuff like Neuromancer, then as well as the rest of his early stuff you should try Bruce Sterling (Schismatrix Plus and Distraction are both great), and I'd also recommend John Courtney Grimwood, particularly his Arabesk trilogy.

Neal Stephenson. Loads of choice here, but I'd definitely say the Diamond Age should follow Snow Crash, after that, the likes of Cryptonomicon (one of my favorite books) and the System of The World trilogy are great, but not that recognisable as Sci-Fi. Anathem, however, definitely is Sci-Fi, and is a terrific book.

Space Opera. I personally rate Alistair Reynolds above Ian M. Banks (personal preference, they're both good authors), not just the Revelation Space books, but one offs like Pushing Ice as well. If you want more classic stuff, Larry Niven's Known Space series is still fantastic (particularly the likes of Protector and World of Ptaavs, just stay away from the later Ringworld books). Stephen Baxter is also worth a look; the Xeelee sequence books are proper big theme space opera, but I personally prefer some of the grittier stuff like Voyage. The only thing I'd say about him is don't go looking for happy endings.

another decent author I'd recommend; Charles Stross (Accelerando is the best book about the singularity I've read).

Finally, if you want to read the classics, look out for the Gollancz S.F. Masterworks series; there's some fantastic old school stuff in there; The Stars My Destination, The Forever War, Last & First Men, City & The Stars etc. Not a dud amongst them tbh.

 

[dub]

kim stanley robinson's mars triology.

 

[Turamber]

I enjoyed Julian May's Saga of the Exiles and the sequel series of books, the Galactic Milieu series. As we're talking classics the Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison are very fun. Might want to have a look at Arthur C Clarke's back catalogue too - Rendezvous with Rama was a favourite.

And if you check out how old those writers are (or were when ACC died) it may encourage you to start writing sci-fi, it seems to ensure longevity!

 

[nath]

I've not actually read Neuromancer yet but I know it's highly regarded which is why I thought I'd try it next. The thing that puts me off is the little spiel about it on amazon:

Case was the hottest computer cowboy cruising the information superhighway--jacking his consciousness into cyberspace, soaring through tactile lattices of data and logic, rustling encoded secrets for anyone with the money to buy his skills. Then he double-crossed the wrong people, who caught up with him in a big way--and burned the talent out of his brain, micron by micron. Banished from cyberspace, trapped in the meat of his physical body, Case courted death in the high-tech underworld. Until a shadowy conspiracy offered him a second chance--and a cure--for a price..

Sounds *so* naff. But then again, I did enjoy Snow Crash and that had a Katana wielding hacker called Hiro Protagonist...

Thanks for all the suggestions, lots to go on. I don't actually know what sort of sci-fi I prefer at the mo, not read a huge amount of it - never even heard of "hard" sci-fi :S.

 

[throdgrain]

Have you read any Micheal Morcock?

 

[milou]

Sci-Fi Lists - Top 100 Sci-Fi Books

 

[Zenith.UK]

I enjoyed Julian May's Saga of the Exiles and the sequel series of books, the Galactic Milieu series.

I deliberately made a point of not mentioning my favourite sci-fi series and author.
I could go on for AGES about Julian May's worlds, characters, interactions and story development. Let's just say that I read the Galactic Milieu trilogy (Jack the Bodiless, Diamond Mask and Magnificat) at least once a year. We're also fast approaching the date of the Intervention in 2013.
Galactic Milieu Series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Another series of books that I think I've mentioned here before are E.E."Doc" Smith's Lensman series. It's like anime where the main character has to keep on getting stronger and more powerful to defeat ever more powerful opponents. The spaceships start with basic weapons at the beginning and the series ends up with firepower and shields that are so powerful he runs out of superlatives to describe them! I particularly like the way the whole solar system is rigged to focus the *entire* output of the Sun into a coherent beam to destroy an incoming planet.
Lensman series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


If you like something that you need your head screwed on for, try David Zindell's "Neverness" and the following 'Requiem for Homo Sapiens' trilogy. I like how he describes the Pilots ability to use mathematics to "fall" from one star to another.
Neverness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Requiem for Homo Sapiens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[nath]

Have you read any Micheal Morcock?

I haven't. I see he wrote a Dr Who (which I can't stand).. anything other than that of his you'd recommend?

 

[throdgrain]

Yes, if you like fantasy stuff the Elric books were great when I read them, and so were the Hawkmoon books.

For more regular sci-fi (Moorcock dont really do regular ...) The Adventures of Una Persson and Catherine Cornelius in the 20th century is awesome (imo), The Warlord of the Air is great, and the Dancers at the End of Time series are very clever and funny at the same time.

Most of his books are related, in a time-travelling, multiversal kind of way. If you like sci-fi fantasy you should really try one or two I reckon, if you find you dont like them fair enough, but Moorcock is the Daddy!

 

[Agell]

I enjoyed Julian May's Saga of the Exiles and the sequel series of books, the Galactic Milieu series. As we're talking classics the Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison are very fun. Might want to have a look at Arthur C Clarke's back catalogue too - Rendezvous with Rama was a favourite.

And if you check out how old those writers are (or were when ACC died) it may encourage you to start writing sci-fi, it seems to ensure longevity!

Saga of the Exiles are my books of all time, maybe cos they were my first sci-fi books I ever read.

Alastair Reynolds books are also excellent, but check out Richard Morgan he writes excellent Sci Fi with a twist of irony!

 

[Scouse]

kim stanley robinson's mars triology.

This is pretty ace

 

[SilverHood]

I've not actually read Neuromancer yet but I know it's highly regarded which is why I thought I'd try it next. The thing that puts me off is the little spiel about it on amazon:



Sounds *so* naff. But then again, I did enjoy Snow Crash and that had a Katana wielding hacker called Hiro Protagonist...

Thanks for all the suggestions, lots to go on. I don't actually know what sort of sci-fi I prefer at the mo, not read a huge amount of it - never even heard of "hard" sci-fi :S.

You wont regret reading Neuromancer....
Also, Gateway by Frederik Pohl , and the Ringworld novels Larry Niven.

For seriously good space opera, Santiago by Mike Resnick

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Although I found the Saga of the Exiles trilogy excellent, I found the Galactic Mileu trilogy bad beyond belief. Incredible amounts of tedious padding, vast tranches of description that didn't enhance the atmosphere of the books at all. A decent twist or so but very tedious getting there.

Neuromancer is a stunning work, especially when you place it at the time it was published compared to all the other sci-fi around it.

Alistair Reynolds is also excellent, a good example of tight plotting and detailed description that is carefully chosen.

Richard Morgan's stuff is pure potboiler. Its good but he fills his novels with characters its nearly impossible to like and eventually I found that I became indifferent to all the goings on. One book in particular, Woken Furies had so much cardboard characters running back and forward it became like a walkabout with advanced weaponary. He drops in some big ideas here and there but it was becoming pretty damn tedious by the end.

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Peter F. Hamilton except Fallen Dragon. It smells of leftover ideas done to fulfill his contracts. Night's Dawn trilogy is awesome, despite the deus ex machina ending. It also benefits from one of the best drawn baddies I've ever read.

Then of course there's The Stainless Steel Rat and its myriad sequels by Harry Harrison. This is old school sci-fi thats just pure escapism. Not brilliantly written but you can suck down these books faster than a big mac.

If you want to chart the history of sci-fi in one book, read A.E. Van Vogt's Voyage Of The Space Beagle. Its scary how much sci-fi down the years directly borrows or outright steals from that book from Star Trek to Alien. Enjoy also the unintentional giggles from the name he gives the weapons.

Frederik Pohl is another good author to read, The Space Merchants in particular (co-written but his name is still on it ).

As mentioned above, the original Foundation Trilogy is wonderful read and is the source of one of the most famous quotes around ("Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent").

 

[Tom]

Has anyone mentioned Forge of God, and the sequel, Anvil of Stars? Both will leave you in awe.

 

[Ormorof]

for mind-fuck sci-fi Hyperion and its sequel, awesome stuff

Santiago is also awesome (i wondered after reading it if the top gear writers took inspiration from it as it starts with a lot of stuff like, Some say he defeated them all, others that he only has one leg, all we know is he is... Santiago...)

 

[Jiggs]

Neuromancer is a good read so don't be put off. It is very much of its time though.

If you liked Use of Weapons then I'd say Against a Dark Background and Consider Phelbas are the other two good-uns. Gateway by Pohl is probably my favourite sci-fi novel.

 

[Tom]

for mind-fuck sci-fi Hyperion and its sequel, awesome stuff

I always found Hyperion and its sequels quite difficult to penetrate, and not particularly rewarding once finished. It's a shame really, because Carrion Comfort is fucking awesome, and should really be made into a film.

 

[DaGaffer]

Has anyone mentioned Forge of God, and the sequel, Anvil of Stars? Both will leave you in awe.

Wow, years since I read those. I used to devour Greg Bear's stuff (Eon and Blood Music are both classics that should be on anyone's SF list as well), although I've struggled with his later stuff; Darwin's Radio was the last of his I read, which was kind of meh for me.

I'd also add David Brin to the list; the original Uplift books (particular Startide Rising and The Uplift War) are excellent and he has a ton of good stuff include The Postman (forget the Costner film, the book is quality) and a book that's lesser known, but one of the most original (and funny and poignant) books I've ever read, Kil'n people.

 

[Exioce]

kim stanley robinson's mars triology.

Excellent suggestion. Follow it up with some Robert Zubrin for good measure.

 

[Ormorof]

I always found Hyperion and its sequels quite difficult to penetrate, and not particularly rewarding once finished. It's a shame really, because Carrion Comfort is fucking awesome, and should really be made into a film.

i have to admit i had to re-read a lot of it as i was reading but i really enjoyed it

Spoiler

like the woman aging backwards, awesome!

 

[Zede]

I have just spent the last 3 months on an epic sci-fi adventure, in fact its the best series of books ive ever come across.

Now, what is peculiar about this is - I listened to it all via Audio Books.

The series in question - The commonwelth Saga by Peter F.Hamilton

I've read a lot of the classics & contempory sci fi, Gibson, Stephenson, Bear, Clarke, Baxter, Card & gonna try some Larry Nevin next

first "audio book"

Pandora's Star (Unabridged) - Download Audio Books - Audible.co.uk

last of 5 in the series

The Evolutionary Void (Unabridged) - Download Audio Books - Audible.co.uk


The narrator, John Lee as they say " does all the voices " and after a while, tuning in for an hours listening a day, it feels like I was watching a series of stargate or trek, well more babylon 5 actually Mr Hamilton writes LONG book, so this translates to an awful lot of audio - super value for money !

The most amazing tech ive seen in a novel, tv series, anywhere. As patrick stewy said " ive seen it all" and these novels take it a stage further.

stupendous

 

[TdC]

just bought Neuromancer and some other books (13th WoT, etc). yay