Sci-fi recommendations

DVGuru · Jul 26, 2009

I'm looking to read some sci-fi stories that are heavy on story and characters, but light on scientific explanations. I'm a fan of Star Wars, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Outlaw Star, and Cowboy Bebop. Can anyone recommend any similar books?

JoNightshade · Jul 26, 2009

I always recommend Lois McMaster Bujold. Start with The Warrior's Apprentice. You'll probably find it under that name in the library; however, if you're buying it from the store, it's most recently been released along with the second book in the series under the title Young Miles.

efkelley · Jul 27, 2009

You can find quite a few sample novels at:

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

It's a mix of scifi/fantasy, but none of the scifi is what you'd call 'hard scifi'.

David Weber is particularly entertaining for me.

geardrops · Jul 27, 2009

Recently really enjoyed what is apparently one of THE military skiffy books: Forever War by Haldeman. Next up (after I finished Steel Remains and Child Thief) will be Altered Carbon. I've also heard very good things about Elizabeth Moon.

Not a fan of Weber, though.

Shoeless · Jul 27, 2009

Try Ender's Game, maybe?

Not so heavy on the techno-babble but quite impressive in the characterization department.

blacbird · Jul 27, 2009

Anything by Philip K. Dick.

caw

Thump · Jul 27, 2009

I like those too! As we seem to have a similar taste, I'll just list some of my favourites, they might do for you too

Ender's Game (and ESPECIALLY all the "Shadow" books in the series)
Bloodchild and Other stories by Octavia E. Butler, amazing!
Dune, it's a classic

A Clockwork Orange, horrifying and disturbing but excellent!
The Man in the High Castle, alternate history at its best

DVGuru · Jul 28, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check them out.

geardrops · Jul 28, 2009

Thump, I never would have thought to classify A CLOCKWORK ORANGE as skiffy, but you know, it kind of is. (And you're absolutely right, horrifying and disturbing but excellent.)

On that sort of vein, I'd suggest things by Vonnegut. Particularly CAT'S CRADLE. (And you can read SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, which is amazing -- my personal favorite of his is MOTHER NIGHT but it doesn't have as strong a speculative element as the other two.) His writing is very straightforward.

Nakhlasmoke · Jul 28, 2009

Iain M Banks' Culture novels.

Sci-fi recommendations

DVGuru

Plays too many video games

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

efkelley

ow

geardrops

Good thing I like my day job

Shoeless

blacbird

Thump

defying grabbity

DVGuru

Plays too many video games

geardrops

Good thing I like my day job

Nakhlasmoke

yes