02GF74
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 12:39 PM |
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.... and the great grand daddy of them all, HG Wells.
also Grant Naylor (Red Dwarf)
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benji106
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 01:11 PM |
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not really into sci fi myself but found Dean Koontz books fairly entertaining reading
-Everything in excess-
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akumabito
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 04:27 PM |
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The last sci-fi book I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) was The Ethos Effect by L.E. Modesitt Jr. It takes a while for the story to get started
properly, but I found the political intrigue and ethical dilemmas quite fascinating.
It focuses mostly on inter-stellar politics between feuding human factions. There is an alien race involved also, but they keep mainly to the
sidelines. Interesting read, and it avoids most of the cheesy SciFi cliches.
[quote="travelinlibrarian.com"]The Ethos Effect is the story of Commander Van C. Albert of the Republic Space Forces of Taran, a brave and
resourceful officer who once defeated a larger enemy ship but indirectly caused the loss of a civilian liner in the process. Cleared by the board of
inquiry, but an embarrassment to the high command, he retains his commission but is given only dead-end assignments. For a time, he must watch
helplessly as a cold war among economic, religious, and political rivals evolves toward interstellar open warfare.
Assigned as a military attache to the Taran embassy on Scandya, Van is seriously wounded foiling an assassination. Decorated, promoted, and summarily
retired while still in a coma, he wakes to find himself honorably but intolerably unemployed. When the harmless-sounding Integrated Information
Systems foundation of the Eco-Tech Coalition recruits him to fly a starship, Van finds he now has a powerful new vantage point, not just for
observation but for action. IIS has interests everywhere, and Van is not just a pilot but their point man in a conflict that will shake the worlds.
Modesitt uses a distinctive blend of space battles, political and economic intrigue, and issues of race and religion to address deep questions of good
and evil, ethics and self-interest. Van Albert makes his decisions; it is for you to decide whether he is a hero.
[Edited on 31/7/07 by akumabito]
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Simon
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 06:40 PM |
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Strangely enough, I have 4 of 5 (or whatever it is ) of the Amtrak Wars, unfortunately I don't have the first or I'd have read years
ago!
Just ordered the second John Twelve Hawks book (of The Traveller series) along with the 3 A C Clarke RAMA books I don't have and a book
that's featured in press recently "The World Without Us" - about the Earth and what happens to it if the human race were to vanish
overnight. Interesting idea.
I keep lookin at IM Banks - perhaps a look at Amazon 2nd books could be in order
Keep 'em coming
ATB
Simon
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dave r
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 07:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Dale
Steven Donaldson, the gap series
very good but not well known.
A bit more on the darker side but very good.
Dale
brilliant read
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stevebubs
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 08:08 PM |
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If you can get hold of a copy, I found Utopia by Lincoln Child to be one of the better *recent* SF/Fantasy books around.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 08:09 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Simon
Strangely enough, I have 4 of 5 (or whatever it is) of the Amtrak Wars, unfortunately I don't have the first or I'd have read years
ago!
Go get a copy...it's well worth the effort.
L Ron Hubbard's Bio of a Space Tyrant Series were one of his better efforts...
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JoelP
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 08:17 PM |
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i read the ill earth books by donaldson, odd but interesting!
Simon, if you want to borrow the first amtrax book i can post it to you.
Another authour i love is Raymond Fiest, the Shadow of a Dark Queen Rising is amazing, as are the rest of the series, plus his linked books Magician
and the follow ons.
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Liam
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 08:26 PM |
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Another big vote for Iain M Banks here!!
I never read much at all until my mate made me borrow Player Of Games. Absolutely awesome! You always hear how people harping on about how books are
better than films etc etc, but i never believed it until i read that. I read a lot of stuff nowadays including all of Banksie's Sci-fi and some
of his 'proper' novels, and he's still my fave author. He's got one amazing (and slightly warped) imagination!
I'd say Player Of Games is a decent introduction to IMB for someone not strictly into sci-fi, but if you already love sci-fi, start with
Consider Phlebas which is pure space opera and the first book in the Culture series anyway. His non-culture series sci-fis are just as good too. Go
on - READ!! Damn i want to read Look To Windward again...
Liam
[Edited on 31/7/07 by Liam]
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Simon
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 08:56 PM |
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Joel,
Thanks for the offer - let me see if I can buy a copy on the cheap, so I'll have the set (best find the rest first). If no joy I contact
you.
Me can feel another look at Amazon coming on!
Gonna have to print this thread
ATB
Simon
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JoelP
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 09:41 PM |
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O you who turn the wheel and look to windward, Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.
Bringing back memories liam, after i finish dan brown i might well dig them out again!
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DIY Si
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 09:52 PM |
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Another vote for Iain Banks, with or without the M. His sci-fi books are great, and his other stuff is just as good, and can be quite dark at times.
Consider Phlebas, Excession, Player Of Games are all good. If you buy one, they used to be all shown on the inside of the covers. I would dig one out,
but I don't know where I put them all!
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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Gav
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| posted on 31/7/07 at 10:35 PM |
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I like the Iain M Banks stuff but my favorite writer i think has to be Peter F Hamilton, i always loved the way he devloped his charaters like greg
mandel("no messing", guess youll have to read it to understand that line!) and his story lines are just mind blowing, well except for his
last one which seemed more like a soft porn fantasy!
Another excellent writer is Alistar Reynolds his Revelation space books are just huge in
scope.
ive also just read the Hyperion and Endymion books by Dan Simmons which id recommend if you dont mind the writer going off on little tangents every
now and then.
Currently im reading my way through Kim Stanley Robinson's RedMars/GreenMars/BlueMars trilogy which has a lot of hard science behind it but
still very enjoyable
[Edited on 31/7/07 by Gav]
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Catpuss
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| posted on 2/8/07 at 05:35 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
.... and the great grand daddy of them all, HG Wells.
also Grant Naylor (Red Dwarf)
Yep War of the Worlds is free on the Guttenburg Press site. Its quite a decent read. Also the first fictional book to ever mention an automobile (A
merc IIRC).
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