Sci-fi books

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  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
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    Holographic Universe.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
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    "Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe.
    Just about anything by Ray Bradbury, though my favorites are "Fahrenheit 451" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes".

    If you want fantasy, well then...

    Anything in the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.
    The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I also recommend "Rose Madder", "Insomnia", "The Talisman" and "Bag of Bones".
    "Eon" by Allison Goodman, and it's sequel "Eona". BEAUTIFUL story, simply beautiful.
    Any of the Dragonlance stories by Weis & Hickman.
    Anything by R.A. Salvatore, especially if you're looking for epic battle scenes.
    The Green Riders series by Kristen Britain.
    The Elminster series by Ed Greenwood.
  • comalua1
    comalua1 Posts: 80
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    The Handmaid's Tale is about one of my all time favorite books. I also like the Avalon books, particularly The Forest House.
  • EmilyTwist1
    EmilyTwist1 Posts: 206 Member
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    Not exactly sci-fi, but they might enjoy Dies the Fire, by S M Sterling. Its the basis for the tv show Revolution. Basically, all modern tech stops working and people have to figure out how to survive.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
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    Not exactly sci-fi, but they might enjoy Dies the Fire, by S M Sterling. Its the basis for the tv show Revolution. Basically, all modern tech stops working and people have to figure out how to survive.
    that's very cool! i've recently gotten into "revolution" - didn't realize it was based off a book. i'll definitely be checking that out.
  • dward59
    dward59 Posts: 731 Member
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    Ringworld - Larry Niven

    The Mote in God's Eye - Niven and Jerry Pournelle

    The Ship Who Sang - Anne McCaffrey

    City - Clifford D. Simak (I don't even know if this is still in print.)

    Any number of Robert Heinlein Books, Stranger in a Strange Land, or Farnham's Freehold

    Bio of a Space Tyrant series by Piers Anthony, although I doubt you are looking for a series for a Book Club, and I do not think any one book stands on it's own in the series.

    Have fun!
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
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    Hands down the best book EVER is "The Accidental Sorcerer" by KE Mills. It's kind of a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and steam punk. Picked it up and and forever on the edge of me seat waiting for her to come out with the next installment of the series.
  • Bobbie8786
    Bobbie8786 Posts: 202 Member
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    Nothing by Orson Scott Card. Unless of course you are okay with homophobic right wing ideology.
  • dejamos
    dejamos Posts: 53 Member
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    Some books I've had suggested so far are The Handmaid's Tale, Snow Crash, and The Left Hand of Darkness. They should be books no one has read yet (so Brave New World, Catch 22, Flowers for Algernon, Fahrenheit 451, etc. etc. are all out).

    Of the three suggested above, <i>The Handmaid's Tale</i> and <i>The Left Hand of Darkness</i> would both be good choices for non sci-fi fans for a book discussion. Both have themes that transcend the genre and would make for good discussions based on both form and content, and should be of interest to any reader regardless of whether or not they like science fiction.
  • Vexicat
    Vexicat Posts: 3
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    Shine Shine SHine by Lydia Netzer. Best book I read in 2012.
  • metaphoria
    metaphoria Posts: 1,432 Member
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    Larry Niven's "The Integral Trees", "The Draco Tavern" or one he wrote with Brenda Cooper, called "Building Harlequin's Moon"
  • jeansuza
    jeansuza Posts: 148 Member
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    Why not a time travel?
    A fascinating story (illustrated novel), Time and Again by Jack Finney!

    For those who don't like sci-fi, they might relish the illustrations from the 1882 period. In a few words, in November 1970, Simon Morley, an advertising sketch artist, is approached by U.S. Army Major Ruben Prien to participate in a secret government project. Si thus travels back to 1882 to accomplish his mission. An absolute must!
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
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    Snow Crash has already been mentioned but I reiterate READ this book.
    also by Neal Stephenson...
    Interface
    The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer
    Cryptonomicon
    Zodiac

    Greg Egan...(some people, OK a lot of people find these books a little challenging but I think they are absolutely astounding)
    Quarantine
    Permutation City
    Distress
    Diaspora
    Teranesia
    Schild's Ladder
    Incandescence
    Zendegi


    Bruce Sterling...
    Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology
    by Bruce Sterling (Editor), William Gibson, Paul Di Filippo
    Islands in the Net
    Schismatrix Plus
    Heavy Weather Heavy Weather
    The Hacker Crackdown: Law and Disorder on the Electronic Frontier
    Distraction
    Zeitgeist
    Schismatrix
    The Artificial Kid

    William Gibson...
    Sprawl trilogy:
    Neuromancer
    Count Zero
    Mona Lisa Overdrive
    The Difference Engine (1990; with Bruce Sterling)
    Bridge trilogy:
    Virtual Light
    Idoru
    All Tomorrow's Parties
    Blue Ant trilogy:
    Pattern Recognition
    Burning Chrome (1986, preface by Bruce Sterling)

    how could I forget..
    River of Gods by Ian McDonald...amazing.

    ETA: My list is way too long but this is a great start.
  • kansasrunner2046
    kansasrunner2046 Posts: 2
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    Yes, try Tad Williams I love his Otherland series. Four books in the series. Book 1. City of Golden Shadow, Book 2. River of Blue Fire, Book 3. Mountain of Black Glass and Book 4. Sea of Silver Light.

    These books are old but they are very good if you like Sci-fi books..and also I must say, being a series they might be hard to find.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
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    Nothing by Orson Scott Card. Unless of course you are okay with homophobic right wing ideology.

    i realize OSC is bat **** crazy, but do you really think it leaked into Ender's Game?

    ETA: wow. just found this: http://skipendersgame.com/

    dude's works aren't getting $.01 more from me. I knew he was bad, but didn't realize how extreme.
  • addysolari
    addysolari Posts: 181 Member
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    Friggin' loved 'War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells
    also '20,000 leagues under the sea' - Jules Verne
  • Ian_Stuart
    Ian_Stuart Posts: 252 Member
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    Let me recommend an online free one. Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality (HPMoR)
    Harry Potter fan fiction where Harry's Aunt Petunia married an Oxford professor. He uses science to study magic.
    It pulls heavily from Ender's Game and much other classic Sci-Fi. (Give it until the sorting hat to decide if you like it.)

    The reading version: http://hpmor.com/

    The podcast (read with multiple voices like a radio play): http://www.hpmorpodcast.com/
  • addysolari
    addysolari Posts: 181 Member
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    Let me recommend on online free one. Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality (HPMoR)
    Harry Potter fan fiction where Harry's Aunt Petunia married an Oxford professor. He uses science to study magic.
    It pulls heavily from Ender's Game and much other classic Sci-Fi. (Give it until the sorting hat to decide if you like it.)

    The reading version: http://hpmor.com/

    The podcast (read with multiple voices like a radio play): http://www.hpmorpodcast.com/

    Holy crap. That's gold
  • Nicolee_2014
    Nicolee_2014 Posts: 1,572 Member
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    I know it's just been made into a film but Enders game is a good read or my personal favourite The saga of the seven suns.

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

    I'm reading Enders Game at the moment because my partner recommended it. I'm just not digging it. Perhaps because I don't really like sci-fi? Although, sci-fi isn't just about space & aliens. Hmmm. I will persevere.
  • valandario
    valandario Posts: 30 Member
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    For Sci-Fi you can't really go wrong with Frank Herbert - Dune. It is a classic Sci-Fi novel that is easy enough to get into for those unfamiliar with Sci-Fi. For a shorter read which is surprisingly good not to mention shocking considering its age then I would highly recommend H.G Wells - War of the Worlds or The Time Machine. Both are an easy read and quite amazing reads. Don't judge any of the above on film adaptations, they really are nothing like and as such the films in no way spoil the books, in fact thanks to the films most people think they know what to expect and get quite a shock at how different and better the books are. H.G Wells is quite amazing in his talent to paint a picture of events. When you consider the age they were written it is extremely shocking and there is sure to be a great deal to talk about afterwards...

    If you actually meant Fantasy and not Sci-Fi then, of course, the field opens up some more. Sci-Fi isn't really recommended to just dive into, Fantasy is. Robin Hobb's Assassins Apprentice is a lovely story. It is a beautifully written story following the life of a young boy who is the *kitten* son of a king and is secretly trained as an assassin. Alternatively you could go for some humorous fantasy such as a Terry Pratchett Discworld Novel. Men at Arms could be a good one to start with as there would be plenty to discus afterwards.

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