Looking for some good sci-fi
#1
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: The Last Frontier
Posts: 4,763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looking for some good sci-fi
I've sort of been getting the urge to read something again, and I think a good sci-fi book would fit the bill... I'd like something that is either apocalypic in nature, but any suggestions are welcome.
I know Arthur C. Clarke wrote a book called The Hammer of God (or something like that) which I read a while back and enjoyed... I thought I remembered reading about another book from someone else with a similar title, but I can't remember what it was.
**Edit** I think I'd like some good hard sci fi too.
Brian
I know Arthur C. Clarke wrote a book called The Hammer of God (or something like that) which I read a while back and enjoyed... I thought I remembered reading about another book from someone else with a similar title, but I can't remember what it was.
**Edit** I think I'd like some good hard sci fi too.
Brian
Last edited by bdshort; 12-11-03 at 01:07 AM.
#2
Cool New Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're looking for hard sci fi, there's an excellent anthology called The Ascent of Wonder, edited by David Hartwell. It has a couple of short stories by Clarke, also some by Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and lots of other writers (even Edgar Allan Poe!)
Some other good books are The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson, the Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer and Childhood's End by Clarke.
Some other good books are The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson, the Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer and Childhood's End by Clarke.
#3
Cool New Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Troy, OH
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll recommend one of my favorite novels: Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. The plot isn't easy to describe so here's a link to Amazon's synopsis with customer reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
#6
Mod Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Outside of the U.S.A.
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Re: Re: Re: Looking for some good sci-fi
<small>
</small> Another list for you to work though: http://urlcut.com/postapocalypse
Originally posted by funkyryno
Wow, I think I've already read half of those.
Wow, I think I've already read half of those.
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Where the sky is always Carolina Blue! (Currently VA - again...)
Posts: 5,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fun stuff I've read recently:
A Fire Upon the Deep by Verner Vinge -- really hardcore stuff -- different levels of space, cosmic entities, bizarro aliens -- Excellent.
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller -- post-apocalyptic, slower, more reflective. Very interesting, excellent overall.
I plan on picking up the sequel to "The Forever War" pretty soon. Saw that in B&N a few months ago.
A Fire Upon the Deep by Verner Vinge -- really hardcore stuff -- different levels of space, cosmic entities, bizarro aliens -- Excellent.
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller -- post-apocalyptic, slower, more reflective. Very interesting, excellent overall.
I plan on picking up the sequel to "The Forever War" pretty soon. Saw that in B&N a few months ago.
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" and "Fall of Hyperion" are probably my favorite "big" space opera books. Definitely have an apocalyptic, "end of the world/universe" feel to them.
#12
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Josh-da-man
Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" and "Fall of Hyperion" are probably my favorite "big" space opera books. Definitely have an apocalyptic, "end of the world/universe" feel to them.
Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" and "Fall of Hyperion" are probably my favorite "big" space opera books. Definitely have an apocalyptic, "end of the world/universe" feel to them.
That said, I recommend Hyperion with one word of warning. Don't even think about considering Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion to be two novels. It's one novel, split down the middle. Unless you're prepared to read both, don't bother. The second two books are entirely average, but the first two ... man, those are fantastic. Very Big Ideas, kind of all that's good about science fiction.
It ain't "sci-fi," though that only matters if you understand the distinction between "science fiction" and "sci-fi" ... (science fiction is for people with a brain, sci-fi is fanfic Star Trek trash and the like).
#13
Banned
Hyperion is a SF take Cantebury Tales. Interesting stuff.
Since Mars is in the news these days, how about Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" trilogy? Hard SF and political intrigue all in one series. All about Mars colonization.
Since Mars is in the news these days, how about Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" trilogy? Hard SF and political intrigue all in one series. All about Mars colonization.
#14
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MA
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Eric F
All about Mars colonization.
All about Mars colonization.
I have always been partial to Dune, if you haven't read it already.
#15
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by neiname
I have always been partial to Dune, if you haven't read it already.
I have always been partial to Dune, if you haven't read it already.
Ahh yes, of course. That recommendation just goes without saying. Everyone who is even remotely a fan of SF must read Dune.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Jason Bovberg
THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell...
THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell...
You also can't go wrong with Ender's Game or Dune, if you haven't read either of those.
#17
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MA
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by mgbfan
Ahh yes, of course. That recommendation just goes without saying. Everyone who is even remotely a fan of SF must read Dune.
Ahh yes, of course. That recommendation just goes without saying. Everyone who is even remotely a fan of SF must read Dune.
#19
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by neiname
Well, if you have read Dune and the sequels I would recommend the prequel, they are a good read.
Well, if you have read Dune and the sequels I would recommend the prequel, they are a good read.
Oh god, I could not disagree more. The Dune "prequels" are utterly abysmal, unreadable, horrible, awful.
Read Dune and the sequels. The books written by Frank Herbert. Some of the later ones are flawed, but they still stand up as a grand and epic read.
Run like mad away from the prequels - they are little more than fanfic trash, written by two untalented authors (Herbert's son and Kevin Anderson, who writes Star Trek garbage and other fanfic). I cannot emphasize enough how bad the prequels are. It's just Herbert's son trying to capitalize on the genius of his father.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to echo the previous poster, Ender's Game is not only my favorite sci-fi novel but it is probably my favorite novel of all time. Simply fantastic. (I was not terribly fond of the sequels but the original is great! )
#22
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well it's summer and I have some time to do some reading. I just wanted to thank you guys for the recommendations. . .I'm going to buy Neuromancer and Dune pretty soon, and then Ender's Game. Also that Hard-Boiled Wonderland looks incredible. Any other good Science Fiction (futuristic, not necessarily apocalyptic but just a great compelling story)?
Might I recommend Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books too, they're just incredible. I generally avoid these books that take place existing worlds but I must make an exception for Zahn.
Might I recommend Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books too, they're just incredible. I generally avoid these books that take place existing worlds but I must make an exception for Zahn.
Last edited by theneobez; 05-27-04 at 04:13 PM.
#23
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Beaver
Snowcrash by Neil Stephenson was another good one.
Snowcrash by Neil Stephenson was another good one.