Any Science Fiction readers here?

[Navy Chief]

I am not a big reader these days. I am starting to get back into it, though, mainly to keep myself from buying any more electronics, etc...!

Years ago, I read a book by Robert Heinlein called, "Have Space Suit, Will Travel". It was one of the first Science Fiction books I ever read. I was looking at used books on Amazon.com, and saw it listed. Ordered it, and received it this past week.

It is an outstanding story! Still a joy to read after so many years. Actually, it's like reading it for the first time.

I recommend it highly.

NC

[safn1949]

I used to read a lot of science fiction Chief.One of my favorites is John Campbell,I also ordered an old book of his from Amazon.I wish I could give you the title but my books are packed away at the moment.

He wrote the original story for the movie "The Thing" titled (I think) "Who goes there".

[PRB]

My favorite SF books were Larry Niven's Ring World series, and anything by Arthur C Clarke, especially his Rama series. Good stuff. And I like Frank Herbert books too.

[Willy]

Yep, I've liked Heinlein since I was a kid. Jack McDevitt is pretty good too.

[Cloud9Gal]

My first experience of reading science fiction was through the penmanship of Stephen King:

The Tommyknockers
The Dark Tower Series
The Regulators (under his pseudonym of Richard Bachman)

And recently, a good friend of mine introduced me to Lois McMaster Bujold. I fell in love with her books from "The Sharing Knife" series.

[aeromed202]

Depends on your tastes and preferences. The Foundation and Robot series of Asimov are absorbing. There are the Heechee novels of Frederik Pohl and a set by by Greg Bear starting I think with Eon. Those are a few that come to mind.
And you are right Safn. The original short story was called "Who goes there?"

Forgot Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead, Songbird, and others.

[mike678]

For a great collection of free Sci-Fi e-books check out the Baen free library:

http://www.baen.com/library/defaultTitles.htm

[KOM.Nausicaa]

Big SF reader here. Favorites are Dan Simmons, Lem, Phil Dick, and the great Peter F Hamilton. Clarke a little, Heinlein absolutely not. Can't stand him, sorry.

[luckydog]

Maybe someone can help me out here.............
I discovered science fiction thru my father, who was a big fan of Heinlein and Assimov.
There was one book I read during high-school in which the protagonist ( or his mentor ) had a LONG LIST of things to accomplish in order to really appreciate life....ie: sail a boat, build a house, deliver a baby, etc. It left a big impression.
I carried that list for years and accomplished most of what was on it before the paper disintegrated from old age.
I've been trying to find that book ( I think it was Heinlein ) but haven't had any luck.........

Anybody remember it ??

Thanx, LD

[HouseHobbit]

SF, I do read but more of a fanasty buff...
Heinlein is a favorite, Stranger in a Strange land, The Cat who walked through Walls, The moon is a harsh mistress..Are the ones I like..

More into Of course Tolkien, but also Edgar Rice Burroughs, Martian series, Venus series..
C.J Cherryh, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Jennifer Roberson..
C.S. Lewis for both His fanasty, But also His Theology Books are great..

And before the badly written Harry potter junk..
There was the Great Myth Series By Robert Lynn Asprin..

and of course the Great Dune books By Frank Herbert..

I think Preserved Smith, is truly a GREAT Among GREATS..
Who many Know who this Is??
I also Have His "A History of Modern Culture" 1st edition and "The Outline of History"
Not SF But Great also..

I like to read, but not limited to one type of books, Fanasty is truly a passion, but not the only one..

[Lionheart]

My favorite SF books were Larry Niven's Ring World series, and anything by Arthur C Clarke, especially his Rama series. Good stuff. And I like Frank Herbert books too.


I second that. Amazing books. They should make a movie of these.


Also from Heinlein is 'Stranger in a Strange Land' (Phoenix?) about a guy found on Mars, brought back to Earth.


Thanks for the heads up on that book NC. I'll have to check that out.




Bill

[smilo]

Maybe someone can help me out here.............
I discovered science fiction thru my father, who was a big fan of Heinlein and Assimov.
There was one book I read during high-school in which the protagonist ( or his mentor ) had a LONG LIST of things to accomplish in order to really appreciate life....ie: sail a boat, build a house, deliver a baby, etc. It left a big impression.
I carried that list for years and accomplished most of what was on it before the paper disintegrated from old age.
I've been trying to find that book ( I think it was Heinlein ) but haven't had any luck.........

Anybody remember it ??

Thanx, LD

I'm not positive, LD,
but Time Enough For Love, by Heinlein
rings a little bell.
I really liked that one...
worlds oldest man has done everything,
is bored and wants to die.
goes back in time
to meet the folks.
and so on

I am also very partial to
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
his dark humor really strikes a chord
or dischord, as it where.
so it goes

[luckydog]

I'm not positive, LD,
but Time Enough For Love, by Heinlein
rings a little bell.
I really liked that one...
worlds oldest man has done everything,
is bored and wants to die.
goes back in time
to meet the folks.
and so on

I am also very partial to
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
his dark humor really strikes a chord
or dischord, as it where.
so it goes


Ya know Smilo.................I think you're right. Time Enough for Love.
Headed for a big bookstore tomorrow. If you're right, I will ship a case of your favorite beer ( or a coupla bottles of your favorite hard-stuff ) to your location. Promise.

Other sci-fi authors I've enjoyed are..........

Gregg Bear: The Forge of God
Arthur C. Clarke : Rendevous with Rama

[Willy]

C9G, forgot about King, probably because I usually don't think of him as a Sci Fi author. I did enjoy the Dark Tower series, but I think my favorite of his is The Green Mile.

[norab]

Jerry Pournelle
David Drake
Phillip Jose Farmer
Allan Dean Foster
H. Beam Piper
to name just a few

[Naismith]

Asimovs Foundation series is a must read even for those who don't appreciate the genre.
How about E.E. Doc Smith's classic Lensman series, has not fared so well with the predictions but still a good read.

[Dain Arns]

I'll throw in the classics, Jules Verne and H.G. Wells...

Add Harry Harrison to the list, who did a lot of different genres within the Science Fiction universe.
From the serious and dramatic "Make Room, Make Room!" which evntually was made into the movie "Soylent Green".
To the wonderful humor of the "Stainless Steel Rat" series.


My all time favorite science fiction author is not well known, but H. Beam Piper's Paratime series of books and short stories about the Paratime Patrol, I would recommend to anyone.
Especially those folks who enjoy time travel and alternate universe themes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratime_series

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0441008011/scifidimensions

[Jagdflieger]

HG Wells, David Drake, Jules Verne and Robert Heinlein are some of my favorites.

Starship Troopers by Heinlein is probably my favorite SF book. It's a shame Hollywood didn't do a better job of interpreting it.

[Lionheart]

Starship Troopers by Heinlein is probably my favorite SF book. It's a shame Hollywood didn't do a better job of interpreting it.

Roger that!

Great book. Nothing like the movie.

[CybrSlydr]

Good Lord...

Not a one of you posts someone who's written anything in the last 40 years... ;)

I love Sci-Fi. Big into the expanded Star Wars universe up to the New Jedi stuff (never liked the whole Jacen/Jaina/Anakin stories...).

For more "original works", Jack McDevitt is one of my favorites. "A Talent for War" is one of my favorite books. About finding out a major, MAJOR event in a culture's history was not exactly what it was made out to be. He also has a series going, starting with "Engines of God".


With The Engines of God (1994), McDevitt introduced the idea of a universe that was once teeming with intelligent life, but contains only their abandoned artifacts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_artifact) by the time humans arrive on the scene. Although it was initially written as a standalone novel,<sup class="Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;">[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]</sup> the main character of The Engines of God, pilot Priscilla Hutchins, has since appeared in five more books, Deepsix (2001), Chindi (2002), Omega (2003), Odyssey (2006), and Cauldron (2007). The mystery surrounding the destructive "Omega Clouds" (which are introduced in The Engines of God) is left unexplored until Omega.<sup id="cite_ref-omega_comments_0-0" class="reference">[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McDevitt#cite_note-omega_comments-0)Another of my favorites from him is "Infinity Beach". It's a book about first contact between humans and an alien civilization.

Another I've read a lot of is L.E. Modesitt, Jr. You fantasy readers might notice that name. :) "The Ethos Effect" is one of my favorites from him. "The Forever Hero" series is quite the marathon, especially if you can find it in a compilation book as I did. Great read though. "The Parafaith War" is another good one. "Gravity Dreams", "Octagonal Raven", "Flash", "Archform: Beauty", etc.

I've also read a good number of Stephen Baxter's books. The "Manifold" series is one of the more bizarre series I've read. "Manifold Time/Space/Origin", Origin dealing with prehistoric humanity. A very vicious book.

Another good author is Alistair Reynolds. I've read his "Revelation" series and enjoyed it. (Reading on Wiki, apparently he's written another of the series since I last read, so now I have a book to get!)

I like grand, epic sci-fi stories dealing with advanced technology and ideas. I'm not into that "quaint" sci-fi from the 40s and 50s.
</sup>

[dominique]

Among the many other good books I remember, I would add Clifford Simak's City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_%28Clifford_D._Simak_novel%29)and Way Station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_Station_%28novel%29), Philip K Dick's The Man in the High Castle, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_High_Castle)AE Van Vogt's The World of Null-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_of_Null-A)and The Voyage of the Space Beagle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voyage_of_the_Space_Beagle), Sprague de Camp's Lest Darkness Fall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lest_Darkness_Fall)and The Hand of Zei, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hand_of_Zei)Roger Zelazni's Lord of Light (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_Light), Walter M. Miller's a Canticle for Leibowitz.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Canticle_for_Leibowitz)
Herbert's Dune first three books are indeed epic (the sequels boring) but he wrote two other less known but texcellent books The Whipping Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipping_Star) and the Dosadi Experiment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dosadi_Experiment).

You cannot be wrong with these books :).

As for Stephen King's The Regulators, one needs to read also its twin horror novel Desperation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desperatio).

[TeaSea]

HG Wells, David Drake, Jules Verne and Robert Heinlein are some of my favorites.

Starship Troopers by Heinlein is probably my favorite SF book. It's a shame Hollywood didn't do a better job of interpreting it.


Required reading...crappy movie though....and it is one of those stories that could actually make a very good film, if people wouldn't mess with the storyline and the whole point of the book.

Ray Bradbury, "Martian Chronicles" -- one of my favorites.
Any of the "Dune" series (Frank Herbert's, not his son's).
Just about anything by Heinlein.
Asimov, "I Robot" being one of my particular favorites....

Oh, a movie that was actually BETTER in my opinion than the original story -- "Bladerunner", taken from Phillip K. Dicks "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep". The book was good, but the movie created an entire world (director's cut....I'm less fond of the original release).

[cheezyflier]

and anything by Arthur C Clarke, especially his Rama series. Good stuff. And I like Frank Herbert books too.

i agree. i love the rama series (the ones i have read) and the dune series, up until it gets to be a political thing. my attention span starts to drop off at that point.

hey, how about michael chricton? is that considered science fiction?



SF, I do read but more of a fanasty buff...

More into Of course Tolkien, but also
C.S. Lewis for both His fanasty, But also His Theology Books are great..
I like to read, but not limited to one type of books...




i like some fantasy stuff too, i used to like terry brooks alot, until he got into the habbit of not finishing his books. he would make the end of the story , the beginning of the next book and i would have to wait 2 years to find out what happened. that's what made me stop reading his stuff. and i have all of lewis' books. i thought "the problem of pain" was one of the coolest yet most complicated books i have ever read.

also, i don't know what category it belongs in, but i love to read dean koontz. i have read 80% of his books

[wbuchart]

... was a chronological anthology called "The Past Through Tomorrow".....

And yes, I never understood why Rendezvous wirh Rama was never made into a major movie.

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

For me basically Heinlein and Asimov. Heinlein's kids series were some of the best he did. This one was my favorite. This was my favorite as it so clearly represented the Manifest Destiny and resultant conflict of the American west.

http://www.urbanhonking.com/spacecanon/Farmerinthesky.jpg (http://www.urbanhonking.com/spacecanon/Farmerinthesky.jpg)

Also it seems the USS Enterprise ran into Farmers in the Sky!

http://www.geekstir.com/img/tractorbeam.jpg%3C/a%3Ehttp://www.geekstir.com/img/tractorbeam.jpg

In Heinlein's other books the wisdom of Lazarus Long is beyond compare.

-Ed- (http://www.geekstir.com/img/tractorbeam.jpg)

[wombat666]

My #1 is Ray Bradbury, started reading as a kid with 'The Silver Locusts' and now own all his writings.
Of course, Philip K. Dick and K. W. Jeter sit high on my list, along with a few Asimov titles and the lone Karl Sagan effort.

:ernae:

[n4gix]

My list would be several hundred pages long!

My entire worldview was irrevocably changed at the age of seven with (as it has been with many fans of the genre) Heinlein's youth series. Several years ago I donated my entire first edition collection of Heinlein, Clarke and Asimov to the Hammond Public Library. I'd lugged it around for the past (mumble-mumble) decades, but thought they should find a good, permanent home.

Over the past few years I've become quite enchanted with David Weber (Honor Harrington, et al), David Drake (Cross the Stars, et al), and a neigbor of mine, Eric Flint (1632, et al).

There are also quite a number of relatively new authors I've been following, but they include, Robert Jordan (now deceased) and Brandon Sanderson ("The Wheel of Time" series, 15 volumes!).

Last year I (finally) discovered Anne McCaffrey's most excellent series of novels "<TD class=bibInfoLabel width="20%" valign="top"></TD><TD class=bibInfoData>The Dragonriders of Pern (http://catalog.hammond.lib.in.us/search~S0?/tThe+Dragonriders+of+Pern/tthe+dragonriders+of+pern/-3,-1,0,B/browse)</TD> ." It is a series based on the (several thousand year) history of a group of colonists who lost contact with the rest of the human universe, and slowly lost most of their technology, and had to revert to a much simpler, existence. There was a "rogue planet" that the system had captured with such an eccentric orbit that it only came close to Pern on a roughly five-hundred year cycle. Unfortunately, during the fifty year period when it was close to Pern, a strange form of life that destroyed all other life would attempt to "migrate" to Pern. The only way to fight this "Thread" was to burn it out of existence.

Before they lost most of their science, the geneticists among them bred huge flying "Dragons" from a native lifeform they had named "Fire Lizards." Hence the title of the series. One of the unique abilities of the fire lizards was the ability to travel "between," instantly moving from one location to another, provided they knew (or someone could "visualize" for them) where it was they were going.

I'm also a far of "alternate history" stories such as Harry Turtledove's "American Empire" (Americal Civil War) and "Great War" (WWI and WWII) series, and his "alternate universe/history" series "Colonization," where an alien civilization attempts to assimilate humanity into their "empire" in order help fight some really nasty aliens who're bent on destroying all life in the universe save their own.

Good thread! While looking up some of this, I've noted no less that three "New Arrivals" at HPL...

Farland, David "The Wrymling Horde"
Eddings, David "Younger Gods"
Turtledove, Harry "disUnited States of America"

I'm off to the library! See ya! "N4GIX, three, six five!"

[Willy]

Cybr, I've been reading McDevitt since he first started being published. Discovered him by accident. McDevitt has also done a series based on the character Alex Benedict in A Talent for War (just re-read it for the first time in a few years a couple of days ago).

The Alex Benedict series: A Talent for War (1989), Polaris (2004), Seeker (2005/Nebula Award), The Devil's Eye (2008) & Echo (2010)

I'm re-reading his Eternity Road now.

[CybrSlydr]

Cybr, I've been reading McDevitt since he first started being published. Discovered him by accident. McDevitt has also done a series based on the character Alex Benedict in A Talent for War (just re-read it for the first time in a few years a couple of days ago).

The Alex Benedict series: A Talent for War (1989), Polaris (2004), Seeker (2005/Nebula Award), The Devil's Eye (2008) & Echo (2010)

I'm re-reading his Eternity Road now.

I knew I liked you for a reason, Willy. :D

I've read Talent, Polaris and Seeker, but haven't read Devil's Eye or Echo.

Eternity Road was not my favorite of his - decent read, but didn't hold me like his others.

[Willy]

So far, A Talent for War is my favorite of his. But I haven't read everything he's done either. With no bookstore nearby, my book buying is usually hit and miss, so I've missed a bunch of his work since I've moved up here.

Have to make an order to Amazon in the next few days, so I'll be picking up some more.

[Terry]

Iv'e read most of McDevitts novels and like them all. I think the Hutch series is best. They are interconnected to a small extent so it would make sense to read them in order.

[Naismith]

Good Lord...

Not a one of you posts someone who's written anything in the last 40 years... ;)


</SUP>

That is because there is not too much quality in SF nowadays. Much of SF was a reflection of the cold war (substitute the fear of Russia with space aliens). Fantasy fiction is not SF but seems to have supplanted it probably because all that can be said has been said. About the only modern writer I can think of is Ben Bova who consistently writes well in the genre. Even he retreads old themes. Since the passing of Clarke, Asimov and Dick the golden age seems to have passed.

[MaddogK]

Heinlien is an absolute favorite of mine, not as much a fan of Stranger in a strange land, but Friday, The cat who walks thru walls, and JOB are my favorites. Ben Bova, Robert Silverberg, and Willian Gibson are also must read authors, never could get into Asimov, Clarke, or Bradbury.

Greg Bear's 'Anvil of stars', 'The Forge of god', and 'Quantico' are ones I re-read every couple of years. I read 'Forge' was optioned by WB a few years ago and I hope one day to see them made into films.

[CybrSlydr]

That is because there is not too much quality in SF nowadays. Much of SF was a reflection of the cold war (substitute the fear of Russia with space aliens). Fantasy fiction is not SF but seems to have supplanted it probably because all that can be said has been said. About the only modern writer I can think of is Ben Bova who consistently writes well in the genre. Even he retreads old themes. Since the passing of Clarke, Asimov and Dick the golden age seems to have passed.

Please re-read my first post for some quality modern sci-fi.

[b52bob]

BIG Honor Harrington (David Weber) fan although I haven't read the latest. Also David Drakes "With the Lightings" series and don't forget keith lamier's Bolos and Retief!

A GREAT book and a dismal movie - Battlefield Earth. Shame on you John Travolta!

[johnh_049]

HG Wells, David Drake, Jules Verne and Robert Heinlein are some of my favorites.

Starship Troopers by Heinlein is probably my favorite SF book. It's a shame Hollywood didn't do a better job of interpreting it.

I'm not sure, but I think the screenwriters read a different book than I did...

[norab]

I'm not sure, but I think the screenwriters read a different book than I did...
A real shame because the book is so good

[paiken]

Don't forget Vernor Vinge. Quality SF there from a Star Trek writer (original series)
Also can't leave out Spider Robinson's Callahan stories. Kind of a stretch calling it SF, but there's nothing funnier out there in the genre.

[Craig Taylor]

I see a lot of Heinlein fans, and +1 for me, too. Brilliant man in real life, and has been given at least a nod (if not credit) for coming up with the idea of a Combat Information Center (CIC) during WW II, which is now the center of any fighting ship. He also has been given credit for coming up with the idea for a DRT (dead reckoning table), although I don't know how many here would be familiar with that term. Heinlein was also USNA Class of '32, I think.

My favorite series has always been 'Hitchikers' Guide.' Douglas Adams is a rare person. i've re-read that series at least once every three years since 1986, and I bust a gut every time.

I also read C.J. Cherryh's "Faded Sun" trilogy regularly. Very inspirational.

Edit: I've also been a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "John Carter of Mars" since I first picked up a book.

[mfitch]

Reading these various lists is like a trip through memory lane, specifically the period in my teen years.

The comment about the differences in writers before and after roughly the 70's was interesting. Most of the sci-fi from newer writers that I have read has been aimed at teenagers or is comedy. I enjoy these occasionally as a bit of escapism.

Someone mentioned Robert Aspirin. His "Phule" series is a nice, light hearted set. I have read all but the last (need time to get to it). Alan Dean Foster's Flinx series has long been a favorite. I have the last book in that one, but so far this summer has been too busy to read it.

[Collin]

I see a lot of Heinlein fans, and +1 for me, too. Brilliant man in real life, and has been given at least a nod (if not credit) for coming up with the idea of a Combat Information Center (CIC) during WW II, which is now the center of any fighting ship.

Sorry...load of BS, see part 3 http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=39849

I did like his "The Moon is a Hard Mistress", But I felt that he tried to bring all different threads together in his later works and to me it failed miserably.

No one has mentioned any female writers yet.

Marion Zimmer-Bradley
Anne MacCaffery

While they might not be Science Fiction to the purist, they are just as good as the male writers of the same genre (Fantasy) like David Eddings, or Alan Dean Foster.

Perhaps the writer who's stories are most current today is Larry Niven with his "The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton" and the follow up "The Patchwork Girl". About the trade in human body parts.

regards Collin:ernae:

[MaddogK]

Sorry...load of BS, see part 3 http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=39849

I did like his "The Moon is a Hard Mistress", But I felt that he tried to bring all different threads together in his later works and to me it failed miserably.

No one has mentioned any female writers yet.

Marion Zimmer-Bradley
Anne MacCaffery

While they might not be Science Fiction to the purist, they are just as good as the male writers of the same genre (Fantasy) like David Eddings, or Alan Dean Foster.

Perhaps the writer who's stories are most current today is Larry Niven with his "The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton" and the follow up "The Patchwork Girl". About the trade in human body parts.

regards Collin:ernae:

Actually not BS, Cal Laning gives credit to Heinlien for some of the ideas he used in his CIC work during the war. I KNOW you know who HE is. They were personal friends from Annapolis.

[n4gix]

No one has mentioned any female writers yet.

Marion Zimmer-Bradley
Anne MacCaffery


See post #27 where I devoted two entire paragraphs to Anne's work...



Last year I (finally) discovered Anne McCaffrey's most excellent series of novels "<TD class=bibInfoLabel valign="top" width="20%"></TD><TD class=bibInfoData>The Dragonriders of Pern (http://catalog.hammond.lib.in.us/search~S0?/tThe+Dragonriders+of+Pern/tthe+dragonriders+of+pern/-3,-1,0,B/browse)</TD> ."


While at the library yesterday afternoon, I noticed Marion Zimmer-Bradley on the shelves, and was shocked that I'd forgotten to include her in my post. She was one of the most prolific writers of her generation. Her "Darkover" series and "Avalon" series are among my favorites. I was truly saddened at her sudden death back in September of 1999. I was looking forward to more from her!

One other female author to watch is Mercedes Lackey. She collaborated with Marion on "Rediscovery" (1993), and lately has been doing quite a bit of work with Eric Flint (who's a neighbor of mine). I particulary enjoyed her Heirs of Alexandria series (with Eric Flint (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/eric-flint/), Dave Freer (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/dave-freer/))

[Collin]

See post #27 where I devoted two entire paragraphs to Anne's work.

Sorry, wrong specs on:d.

She also wrote the "Crystal Singer", "The Rowan", and the "Doona" series.

Marion Bradley also wrote as 'Gene Wolfe'.

Harry Harrison with his "Stainless Steel Rat" and "Deathworld" series.


I KNOW you know who HE is

Nope, cept what you can find on google. But lets not spoil the thread, go to-
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=40611&p=455395#post455395

regards Collin:ernae: