SiFi Book Recommendations Please

Kricket · Nov 10, 2011

So I'm working on a SiFi novel right now for NaNoWriMo and it's been a long time since I've read SF. I'm mostly a Fantasy girl. I'm looking for stories that are similar to what I'm writing, just to see how it's done and what has and hasn't been done before.

So some basics about my story: It takes place on a completely different planet, but still very similar to Earth. I have humans that have physic abilities that they use to communicate and bond with certain animals to create working relationships. And I have two alien species (humanoid) who bring their ancient war to this peaceful planet. My humans are just beginning to explore their solar system, more advanced than we are now, but still new to the whole thing.

So if there are any books that y'all know about that address some of these things, that would be great.

Fenika · Nov 10, 2011

Jhereg has familiars and psychic abilities, along with humanoid aliens. No space travel, but pretty interesting. It was a book study book.

CobraMisfit · Nov 10, 2011

The Foreigner series by C. J. Cherryh may be a good read for you for the "confrontation" side of things.

seeker_nomad · Nov 10, 2011

I'm sure that you've read the Rowan series by Anne McCaffrey, but if you haven't, she's got a well-developed society of psychics in there.

Kricket · Nov 10, 2011

seeker_nomad said:
I'm sure that you've read the Rowan series by Anne McCaffrey, but if you haven't, she's got a well-developed society of psychics in there.

I've read some of her Pern stuff, is it set in the same world?

Jess Haines · Nov 10, 2011

Kricket said:
I've read some of her Pern stuff, is it set in the same world?

Not that I recall.

You might also consider ENDER'S GAME for the war/tactics stuff. There are some other books that fit what you're looking for that I can recall the storyline to, but neither the title nor the author. I'll come back to this thread if I can remember them.

Ardent Kat · Nov 10, 2011

I really enjoyed Joan D. Vinge's "Psion" triology as a character-driven SF with a telepathic protagonist. Very cool stuff. It's set in a future where earth has colonized other worlds. Many have only primitive settlements and are just starting out. Those that are already established are earth-similar. I'd recommend it based on what you've described of your own project. It's "soft" enough SF that I think it would appeal to readers who usually stick to fantasy.

Hiroko · Nov 11, 2011

This might sound crazy, but the "ancient aliens bringing their war to the humans" reminds me of Transformers. I know there are TF novels out there, if you think that would help...

V.W. Singer · Nov 14, 2011

Try the Darkover novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Kricket · Nov 14, 2011

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Guess I better start reading. *grabs Kindle*

Gale Haut · Nov 14, 2011

Sounds like a fantasy styled social SF. Maybe you would enjoy works by Le Guin. I believe she has a short story collection of SF available as an ebook through Amazon. Very imaginative stuff dealing with the Ekumen's intergalactic politics between sentient species.

lastlittlebird · Nov 14, 2011

Kricket said:
I've read some of her Pern stuff, is it set in the same world?

No, the Rowan series (also known as the Tower and the Hive) deals with psychics and I think is based around our universe but in the future. I think there is an alien invasion at some point...

It's been a while since I read them, but I do remember they have intelligent cats that can bond with people.
And there is also the "Talent" series which I believe is in the same universe, but deals with a school for psychics? Again it's been a while since I read them, but I remember enjoying them.

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

Architectus · Nov 20, 2011

Lilith's Brood by Octavia Butler. Awesome stuff.

ebar · Nov 22, 2011

His Majesty's Starship by Ben Jeapes is well worth a look. It's a 'ten minutes into the future' setting so very lo-tech. The aliens are something that can interact with humans but are alien in mindset.

SiFi Book Recommendations Please

Kricket

Chirp! Chirp!

Fenika

CobraMisfit

I want to be Comic Sans.

seeker_nomad

total newbie

Kricket

Chirp! Chirp!

Jess Haines

Boldly going nowhere in particular.

Ardent Kat

Kill your television

Hiroko

Which of them was the machine?

V.W. Singer

Kricket

Chirp! Chirp!

Gale Haut

waxing digital artistic

lastlittlebird

avem narrans

Architectus

ebar