Sci Fi Books?

HappityCat · May 15, 2010

Are there any sci fi books out there? Can anyone name some good ones?
I dont mean spin offs from Star Trek, Star Wars, etc, but are there many decent sci fi books about the author's own world, not written about something such as Star Trek/Wars etc?

edit: sci fi as in futuristic that is, not steampunk or fantasy or some such. as in spaceships and lasers and things.

ElsaM · May 15, 2010

Yes, thousands!

You may enjoy Peter F Hamilton. Straight sci fi, with the spaceships etc, isn't really my thing but I read the Commonwealth Saga recently and it was an enjoyable adventure. I'm sure there are many people here who can recommend many titles to you.

Dr.Gonzo · May 15, 2010

Try some Phillip K. Dick.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which you may know as Blade Runner. Also, set in the same reality: Minority Report.

stephenf · May 15, 2010

One of my favourite books is David Pringle's best 100 science fiction novels.If you are interested in sci-fi I would recommend you get yourself a copy. But you don't need to buy the book to see the list, you can do that here

http://www.listology.com david-pringles-best-100-science-fiction-novels
The link will not work,so you will have to search the site yourself,sorry.

Jess Haines · May 17, 2010

ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card
BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard
THE HELMSMAN by Bill Baldwin
STARSHIP TROOPERS by Robert Heinlein

These (along with the others named above) should get you off to a good start.

waylander · May 17, 2010

Dune - Frank Herbert

blacbird · May 17, 2010

Don't neglect the classics:

The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, H. G. Wells
Out of the Silent Planet, C. S. Lewis
Slan, The World of Null-A, The Voyage of the Space Beagle, A. E. Van Vogt
Childhood's End, The City and the Stars, Arthur C. Clarke
City, Clifford Simak
More than Human, Theodore Sturgeon
A Martian Odyssey, Stanley G. Weinbaum
The Purple Cloud, M. P. Shiel

Still among the most readable and enjoyable SF novels you'll ever find.

caw

Zoombie · May 17, 2010

A Deepness In the Sky by Vernor Vinge.

Its kind of required reading.

And if it isn't, it should be.

Shadow_Ferret · May 17, 2010

I was going to rejoin the Science Fiction Book Club and I'm finding that a lot of the books above aren't even available there. WTF?

Jess Haines said:
BATTLEFIELD EARTH by L. Ron Hubbard

You know, I skipped that simply because Hubbard was also the Dianetics kook. Is the book that good?

Zoombie · May 17, 2010

I know the movie is HILARIOUS.

Komnena · May 17, 2010

Imperial Earth-Arthur Clarke
Have Spacesuit will travel-Heinlein
Grand Central Arena-Spoor
Lensman series-Smith

dgiharris · May 17, 2010

Not trying to be condescending, but your post sorta belays the fact you aren't overly familiar with Sci-Fi.

So, in that vien (as someone whose read hundreds of Sci-Fi books) let me give you a list of Sci-Fi books that are newbie friendly.

These books will knock you on your ass whether or not you are familiar with Sci-Fi.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card-- a genuis boy is charged with saving the world from alien invasion

Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer -- a technologically advanced Neandrathal from a parallel Earth is transported to our Earth (this book is amazing, won 2004 Nebula award)

Stranger In a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein -- an enlightened being ends up on Earth

Nightfall by Robert Silverberg and Isaac Asimov -- a society that is in perpetual daytime (multiple suns) suffers an eclipse

A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo -- one of the best Earth invasion stories ever

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams -- funniest sci-fi book in the universe

Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward - Research scientists orbiting a nuetron star discover that there are lifeforms living on the star, but the lifeforms live at an accelerated rate, one hour in Earth time is equal to one hundred years in their time

Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard- this book is brain candy, Earth is conquered but we fight back (hopefully you haven't seen the movie and in fact, don't bother, movie was awful, book is amazing)

okay, that's enough

Mel...

Shadow_Ferret · May 17, 2010

dgiharris said:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card-- a genuis boy is charged with saving the world from alien invasion

I've heard this novel brought up a lot as a must-read and I just came back from the store where I looked at it. It's a kid's book!

Kitty Pryde · May 17, 2010

Shadow_Ferret said:
I've heard this novel brought up a lot as a must-read and I just came back from the store where I looked at it. It's a kid's book!

It's not a kids book. It's an adult book with a child protagonist. Given that it's about a poor little harassed genius child, poor little harassed genius children everywhere like to read it and sympathize with the protagonist. Later on Starscape (kids imprint) republished the novel with a new cover with a cute little kid on it (instead of an abstract spaceship) to sell it to more kid readers.

Shadow_Ferret · May 17, 2010

Kitty Pryde said:
It's not a kids book. It's an adult book with a child protagonist. Given that it's about a poor little harassed genius child, poor little harassed genius children everywhere like to read it and sympathize with the protagonist. Later on Starscape (kids imprint) republished the novel with a new cover with a cute little kid on it (instead of an abstract spaceship) to sell it to more kid readers.

That's the one I was looking at. It said something like it being the best selling teen sci-fi novel or something.

blacbird · May 17, 2010

I have to say this, and risk offending a whole bunch of people here: I found Ender's Game a complete bore. Gimme anything by Philip K. Dick, any hour of any day, before I'll read another novel by Orson Scott Card.

My son, who recommended it to me at age 18, loved it.

caw

tinapickles · May 18, 2010

*Rubs hands gleefully*

Heinlein--I second Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land (tho this second one wore on my nerves a little bit). I would add The Cat Who Walked Through Walls, Friday, and Space Cadet.

Phillip K. Dick--again, I second all the selections offered up thus far. I would add Man in the High Castle, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Flow my Tears, the Policeman Said, and The Simulacara. Keep in mind, a lot of the quality Phillip K. Dick books are more futuristic and less spaceships and laser guns.

John Scalzi--Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony, and Zoe's Tale. They all take place in the same universe, are a bit military sci-fi (a la Starship Troopers) but not hardcore. The first was nominated for a Hugo, the last is *technically* YA.

Issac Asimov--The Foundation Series, The Gods Themselves, I Robot.

Larry Niven--Ring World (a bit "technical" around the edges, but good!)

Ursual K. LeGuin--Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed.

AND... if you want something "fun and light" there is The Ship Who Sang series by Anne McCaffrey.

Jess Haines · May 18, 2010

Shadow_Ferret said:
You know, I skipped that simply because Hubbard was also the Dianetics kook. Is the book that good?

I really enjoyed it. It's a tome (over 1,000 pages I believe), but the story is gripping. Starts out slow (maybe the first 50ish pages), but beyond that, it's amazing.

Also, skip the movie. It's bad even without reading the book -- but having read it, seeing that travesty pissed me off no end.

dgiharris · May 18, 2010

blacbird said:
I have to say this, and risk offending a whole bunch of people here: I found Ender's Game a complete bore. Gimme anything by Philip K. Dick, any hour of any day, before I'll read another novel by Orson Scott Card.

Blacbird, would you please step outside so we can discuss your blasphemy.

Mel...

Shadow_Ferret · May 18, 2010

Jess Haines said:
I really enjoyed it. It's a tome (over 1,000 pages I believe), but the story is gripping. Starts out slow (maybe the first 50ish pages), but beyond that, it's amazing.

Ah. Thanks. No thanks. I have ADD and if the book can't grab me within the first few pages... No way could I make it to 50 pages.

And 1000 pages. That's about a year's worth of reading. I started Dracula before Christmas and I'm about 80% done.

blacbird · May 18, 2010

dgiharris said:
Blacbird, would you please step outside so we can discuss your blasphemy.

Mel...

Yeah, as my post indicated, I anticipated such a response. Honestly, I don't know what it is about that novel that just failed to click with me. But it just

DID

NOT

WORK

Was a chore to finish.

caw

SPMiller · May 18, 2010

blacbird said:
I have to say this, and risk offending a whole bunch of people here: I found Ender's Game a complete bore.

It wasn't just a bore; it wasn't believable, either, even in sf terms. I still don't understand why f/sf fans go apeshit about it. Maybe I didn't read it young enough.

DrZoidberg · May 19, 2010

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

It's an extremely broad question

Jess Haines · May 20, 2010

Shadow_Ferret said:
Ah. Thanks. No thanks. I have ADD and if the book can't grab me within the first few pages... No way could I make it to 50 pages. And 1000 pages. That's about a year's worth of reading. I started Dracula before Christmas and I'm about 80% done.

Ah, understandable. I felt that way about Mission Earth (the 10 book series). Tried twice to get through it, but only got up to the third or fourth book before I lost interest.

If you ever change your mind about BATTLEFIELD EARTH, though, it's a blast.

It's got romance, drama, a touch of western, mystery, interstellar war, politics, banking... A little bit of everything!

LordMoogi · May 20, 2010

Since the thread creator said no Star Wars (which I could honestly read hundreds of books about without getting bored), I'll mostly parrot other people's opinions.

The entire Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy (of five- or six, if you count And Another Thing- books... yeah, it's kind of weird that way) is excellent. I've re-read it more than any other book published, and each time, I find new things to laugh at. I also enjoyed And Another Thing (a sixth novel written by a different author)- it wasn't as good as Douglas Adams at his best, but I personally found it to be enjoyable for what it was. That said, the book isn't for everyone- I know some huge Hitchhiker fans who loved it, and some who hated it. Read it and decide for yourself.

Asimov is always a great read, too- if you want good, old school science fiction, you can't get too much better than Asimov.

I also liked the first two Ender books from Orson Scott Card (though I can't comment on any further volumes).

A shout-out is needed for the fairly obscure Harry Harrison novel Death World. Not amazing science fiction, but certainly an enjoyable tale anyway. It's sequel- which has a different name which I don't remember, since the volume I read it in referred to it only as Death World II- was kind of boring, though, but the third book wasn't bad.

Sci Fi Books?

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