Looking for some good sci-fi books

[studyhound]

I am on a sci fi kick right now and am looking for some good books to read. I would like to keep it cheap (So mass market paperbacks) but nothing that is just thrown out to make money.

Here's a couple of books I have just read:

Terraforming earth, Jack Williamson.

The Humanoids Series, Jack Williamson

Childhood's end, Arthur C. Clarke.

a Collections of stories by Philp Dick (he wrote the “minority report”, ya know the movie With Tom Crusie)

And some others just my brain dont work good this late :duh:

Trying to stay away from fantasy just read through the LOTR series, including the silmarillion and the green knight (not LOTR's but its Tolkien)

[C. D. Ward]

A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter Miller

The Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Ender's Game and its sequels by Orson Scott Card

If you like humorous sci-fi, you might also enjoy the Douglas Adam's Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series or any of the Terry Pratchett Discworld novels.

That's all I can think of right now, if I have any other suggestions, I'll post again.

C. D. Ward

[Entropic Gnosis]

The "Hyperion Books" by Dan Simmons are quite good

"Ringworld" and the other books revolving around it. Larry Niven

And for the heck of it, the "Dune" books

[studyhound]

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Douglas Adam's Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
the "Dune" books

Read these albeit in high school. The others sound great.
esp.
The "Hyperion Books" by Dan Simmons
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (I like Rays wrighting style, though The October country was sometimes disturbing)

[JCA]

Depending on your tastes..

Any Fred Saberhagen and his "Beserker" series of books about Machines made to kill ALL life in the Universe, and Mans struggle against them.

David Brins "Uplift Saga", about Mans ability in the future to 'Uplift' other species to a higher intelligence level..

For some humor, Harry Harrisons "The Stainless Steel Rat".

And for some deeper stuff, Heilein and "Stranger in a strange land" or "The cat who walks through walls" (although the ending for that was somewhat disappointing)

People have mentioned some of the other great books.. but I did want to say that The Hitch Hikers Guide was a classic, and you can find it online right here:

http://www.dudeman.net/spotazhazer/thhgttg/


Have fun reading!

Love and Peace

JCA

[spl_cadet]

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlen.

[Captain Ochre]

C. D. Ward:

A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter Miller

Good call, CD.

Entropic Gnosis:

The "Hyperion Books" by Dan Simmons are quite good

"Ringworld" and the other books revolving around it. Larry Niven


Those are faves of mine, too, and I'd pick A World Out of Time for special consideration.

JCA:

Depending on your tastes..

Any Fred Saberhagen and his "Beserker" series of books about Machines made to kill ALL life in the Universe, and Mans struggle against them.


That's a pretty good series. Another good pick, imo.


And for some deeper stuff, Heilein and "Stranger in a strange land" or "The cat who walks through walls" (although the ending for that was somewhat disappointing)


I think that The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is Heinlein's best.


People have mentioned some of the other great books.. but I did want to say that The Hitch Hikers Guide was a classic, and you can find it online right here:

http://www.dudeman.net/spotazhazer/thhgttg/


Adams is good, but Stanislaw Lem is even better. His satirical works The Cyberiad and The Star Diaries are roll-on-the-floor funny while dealing with some of the deeper philosophical issues that we engage here at TWeb.

Also:

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

[Rose Raven]

Might I suggest Stephen Baxter? He wrote a fine book by the name of Ring.

Douglas Adams is a fine author and writer of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Jack McDevitt's Engines of God was a fun read

Orson Scott Card and his book, Ender's Game are pretty well-known

The only book by Isaac Asimov that I've read is Foundation

Those are a few of my favorites

((Mea culpa! At least two of those have already been mentioned))

Oh yes, and anyone who hasn't read the Red Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson has been seriously deprived

[stillsmallvoice]

Hi all!

Waaaay back in the fall of 1981 when I was a freshman back at GWU, in Introduction to Political Science (I eventually got a BA in International Affairs in May 1985), the teaching assistant had us read a bunch of "day after the big disaster" sci-fi novels to analyze the political systems that evolved after the cataclysm.

I read:

Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang (very good) by Kate Wilhelm;

A Canticle for Leibowitz (Excellent!!!) by Walter F. Miller;

When Worlds Collide and After Worlds Collide (from the 1930s, but still very good) by Edwin Balmer & Philip Wylie;

Alas, Babylon! (very good) by Pat Frank; and

Day of the Triffids (original & excellent!) by John Wyndham.
_____

I've seen the movie (many times!) and re-read (many times!) The Andromeda Strain (book by Michael Crichton). It is fantastic. It will scare the bejabbers out of you! This book loses none of its power no matter how many times I read it (or see the equally chilling movie). "Outbreak" is nothing compared to The Andromeda Strain!

Read 'em all!

Be well!

ssv :hi:

[Dr T]

Already mentioned, but too good to miss is Startide Rising which is part of the uplift series by David Brin.

Although I found the later books in the series a bit average.

There seems to be a dearth of good science fiction these days, most of the books and authours mentioned are from some time ago. Whereas you can't go into a bookshop without tripping over fantasy stuff.

Happy reading

[C. D. Ward]

Okay, I just thought of a couple more:

The Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin

I'll second the vote for Alas, Babylon and add On the Beach by Nevil Shute (although the movie was better)

I'm going to put in another word for the Foundation series (Asimov) and the Dune series (Herbert). These are quite possibly the best science fiction series ever written. Anyone interested in sci-fi simply must add these to his/her reading list.

C. D. Ward

[brother vinny]

a Collections of stories by Philp Dick (he wrote the “minority report”, ya know the movie With Tom Crusie)


Not to mention the short story, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale," basis for the movie Total Recall, and the novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, which became the movie Blade Runner.

Almost always a good bet when looking for good sci-fi to read is to consult the winners list for the Nebula and Hugo Awards. The Nebulas are awarded yearly by the Science Fiction Writers of America. The Hugos are annually awarded by the World Science Fiction Society.

This year's winner of both awards was Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

Right now, I'm reading:

Foundation and Empire, by Isaac Asimov

Calculating God, by Robert J. Sawyer

Earth, by David Brin

And I'm supposed to be reading the new Harry Potter, but I'm procrastinating.

[One Bad Pig]

I'll add my vote for A Canticle for Liebowitz, After Worlds Collide (haven't read the other one), the Foundation series, The Stars My Destination, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, and Dune (not the sequels though). In addition, I'd recommend:

-- Anything by Julie Czerneda. I haven't been able to put one of her books down yet before finishing it.

-- Tau Zero and Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson.

-- The Foreigner series by CJ Cherryh

-- The Dragon Never Sleeps and Passage at Arms by Glen Cook (if you can find them).

-- A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge.

Happy reading!

[brother vinny]

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By the way, I had chance to meet Hugo and Nebula award winner David Brin, as well as Science Fiction Grand Master Hal Clement, at this Conestoga, Oklahoma's largest literary science fiction convention.

Photos here:

http://www.geocities.com/paul_deyonghe/conestoga.html

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[brother vinny]

Gee, I hope I didn't kill this thread. :frown:

studyhound, if you're still looking for good sci-fi, I'd recommend Calculating God, by Robert J. Sawyer. A co-worker recommended it to me, and I've hardly been able to put it down.

[studyhound]

Today @ 04:11 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=165339#post165339)
Brother Vinny:

Gee, I hope I didn't kill this thread. :frown:

studyhound, if you're still looking for good sci-fi, I'd recommend Calculating God, by Robert J. Sawyer. A co-worker recommended it to me, and I've hardly been able to put it down.

NA Bro you didnt kill it I just got some good books to read I been busy reading. Thanks all for the great books!!

:yipee: :yipee: :yipee:

[drmmjr]

The series by Peter Hamilton. I believe that there are about 6 books or so. The first set is "The Reality Disfunction", followed by "The Neutronium Alchemist" and lastly, "The Naked God". Or at least I think that they are in that order. If I remember right, each set has 2 books.

It took a while to get them read. Especially having to wait for the next book to come out.

Another good book was "Starwolf" by Edmond Hamilton. It's been several years since I have read that one, but I may have to get it out again.

"Armor" by John Steakley was also another good read.

Those are a few that I can think of off the top of my head. After a while you can't remember what you've read and what you want to read.