[WANTED] Sci-fi book recommendations!

[meallanmouse]

So, I will take any and all Science Fiction book recommendations you would like to offer. A one sentence about what the book is about should be included, which I presume isn't a hardship as if you're going to like a book enough to type at me about it, a one liner ain't all that much! There is a current bias for Hard Sci-fi, but really, I will go

Comments

[fearsclave]

Iain M. Banks' The Player of Games. A Culture novel, wherein assorted games get played for a range of stakes on multiple levels in various venues.

[meallanmouse]

Noted, thank you! :D

[sorceror]

You've read Lois McMaster Bujold's work? Vorkosigan series, Paladin of Souls, etc?

[meallanmouse]

The Vorkosigan series, yes! (I write Young Ivan fic. XD) Though I should point out, that series is actually top of my list to reread for the research I'm doing anyway though. =)

I've read some of the Paladin of Souls 'verse, but that's less immediately applicable to the stuff I'm looking for specifically atm.

Thank you! :D

[mouseferatu]

Well, I don't read a lot of hard sci-fi, but...

Both Polaris and Seeker, by Jack McDevitt, are among my favorites. They're both part of a series, but each is pretty much stand-alone. (I suggest you read them in the order I named them, but that's only for a few minor details.)

I don't feel like I can summarize what either is about in a single line, so I'll do this:

Polaris: http://www.amazon.com/Polaris-Alex-Benedict-Jack-McDevitt/dp/0441012531/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Seeker: http://www.amazon.com/Seeker-Jack-McDevitt/dp/0441013759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273255963&sr=8-1

I also liked the other two books in that series--A Talent for War, which comes before those two, and The Devil's Eye, which comes after--but I don't think either of them is nearly as strong as the two I mentioned

[meallanmouse]

Oooh! I've read the McDevitt books! I really did enjoy them as well and also recommend them to anyone reading through the comments for books to pick up! :D

I'd gotten all of them, actually, because I really like how he treats history and archeology in the future as it were, and how he works his stories towards the final reveal. (And, the characters really just plain grew on me too.)

[ajremix]

Hmm, looking at my meager collection of books, I realize I have a very small selection of sci-fi and I believe you've read them all due to previous recommendations. There is one sitting on my shelf, though, that I haven't read in a long time so I don't really remember it that well (or if it was even that good) called Chung Kuo: The Middle Kingdom which is the first book in a series.

Iirc, it's mainly a political intrigue kind of thing set in the future where the world (worlds? it might be space setting which shows how long it's been since i read it...) has basically reverted back to Chinese dynasty-style ruling. I DO remember that there were at least some interesting ideas and details in it that you may be able to use if you need research material.

My brother has more sci-fi stuff, though the only ones I really remember are Carl Sagan, Ender's Game (i can't remember if he said he liked the series or not) and various Year's Best Science Fiction collections.

[meallanmouse]

I might have picked most of those up, yeah. XD A lot of people recced the Star Wars novels to me though, so you were in good company there.

Adding Chung Kuo: The Middle Kingdom to the list though! :D

Hrm. Carl Sagan I've read before but as I have none of the novels on hand, i should go look for a few to reread.

I no longer purchase anything by Orson Scott Card due to his blatant and raging homophobia. (Which I am fully presuming you didn't know about.)

[ajremix]

I do know of it- I've never read any of his stuff at first due to the fact of never getting around to it and then because I heard of his jackassery (granted i don't know the extent of his blatant and raging-ness as, because i've never read his stuff i don't really keep track of what his deal is).

Speaking of Sagan, Cafei tossed this over my way a week or two ago: http://www.symphonyofscience.com/

You probably won't be able to use it for whatever you need sci-fi stuff for, but it's still awesome!

[tsarina]

Peter Hamilton = The Night's Dawn Trilogy. (Though since the books are so large, sometimes they are all split in half so you end up with six) Epic, enormous space opera involving orbiting colonies, sentient ships and life after death in many ways.

[meallanmouse]

Ooooh. That sounds right like what I'm looking for judging from the Wikipedia entry. Thank you! :D

[tsarina]

They are really interesting in terms of the social dynamics and the technology presented. I don't know if I liked the end necessarily, but it is well written and there's a lot of material. Plus he has many other books to read, which is a bonus.