Who is your favorite Science Fiction author and who would you recommend?

Free Republic ^ | 5-7-04 | Hacksaw (Dan)

[Hacksaw]

I am wondering what your favorite science fiction authors are and who you would recommend. I have read all of Niven's books, some of Pournelles (need to order his on the Sauron system) and am now on William Gibson. I like RH's early work, especially "Farmer in the Sky" and "Farnhams Freehold" but I found his "classics" like Stranger in a Strange Land utterly boring (I didn't finish it). My current fav is William Gibson - I have re-read his series regarding Rydell, Yamazaki, and Chevette sever times and I always enjoy them.

[Hacksaw]

Another rarely mentioned work is his "I Will Fear No Evil" which builds a future world very similar to that seen in "Bladerunner" a couple of decades before.

That was another RH book I could not finish. It started off well enough, but by the middle of the book, it was a bunch of rambling. Someone told me he didn't get a chance to edit it before he died.

[neb52]

"Another rarely mentioned work is his "I Will Fear No Evil" which builds a future world very similar to that seen in "Bladerunner" a couple of decades before.

That was another RH book I could not finish. It started off well enough, but by the middle of the book, it was a bunch of rambling. Someone told me he didn't get a chance to edit it before he died."

Is that the one were a old rich guy pays to have is brain transplanted into his young secretary. Yeah that was a weird one. I got half way through and had to stop. From a 16 year old boy's point of view it may be cool for the first half or so, but it got long and wordy. I started asking myself where was this story going.

[Hacksaw]

Is that the one were a old rich guy pays to have is brain transplanted into his young secretary. Yeah that was a weird one. I got half way through and had to stop. From a 16 year old boy's point of view it may be cool for the first half or so, but it got long and wordy. I started asking myself where was this story going.

That's the one. I liked the concept of "abandoned zones" but by the middle of the book where the guy (in a girls body) starts feeling himself up, I decided that I really was getting bored.

[Chewbacca]

Elizabeth Moon
Harry Turtledove
Rick Shelley
Zach Hughes
Alan Dean Foster
Robert Asprin (Phules Company series is cool)
William R Forstchen (Lost Regiment)
Dave Duncan
Grant Naylor (Red Dwarf Series)

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro

I have heard that she is good. I have been looking for her books in used book stores, (my preferred way to buy books, yes I am a cheapskate) but it looks like I may have to break down and buy new if I want to try her.

Authors I like

Jerry Pournelle

S. M. Stirling

Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game and the Ender's Shadow Series. "Speaker for the Dead" line not so much.)

Anne McCaffrey (Some. The Freedom Series is good)

Lois McMaster Bujold (anything)

Debra Doyle and James MacDonald (Mageworlds)

Sharon Lee & Steve Miller(novels of the Linden Universe)

The Liaden universe provided one of the best looks at the difference between cultures that are based on tribes and ones that is based on individuals.

It explains why these two types of societies often will clash. The differences are subtle but profound and would often leave the visitors from either one or the other going "But what did I do?" in honest bewilderment of why offense was taken.

Social-political lessons aside, the characters are well drawn, the stories interesting and the writing delightful.

[Swordmaker]

Someone told me he didn't get a chance to edit it before he died.

Not true. "I Will Fear No Evil" was published in 1973 and RAH died in 1988, fifteen years later.

However, it was the last novel he wrote before an extended "dry" period in which he produced nothing of note. In 1978, Heinlein underwent a bypass operation on his carotid artery which restored full blood flow to the brain. The condition had made him incapable of writing for over six years.

[Swordmaker]

Is that the one were a old rich guy pays to have is brain transplanted into his young secretary. Yeah that was a weird one.

Yes, that is the one. It is probably Heinlein's most introspective novel as he was beginning to feel his mortality and it is an examination of immortality and the philosophical ramifications of it. You should re-read it as an adult... it was not a juvenile book by any stretch.

[Moonmad27]

You've probably already read Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. He is THE writer, as far as I'm concerned.

[RightWingAtheist]

The killer Bs: Bear, Brin, and my favorite of them all, Benford. You could proabably add Stephen Baxter to that list as well. Also Dan Simmons, Robert Sawyer and Spider Robinson. For classic writers, try Hal Clement, Poul Anderson, Gordon Dickson, Clifford Simak and Jack Williamson (who is STILL writing at the age of ninety-six, nearly seventy-five years after he started!)

[LadyDoc]

Cordwainer Smith.

everyone thinks of animal/human clone hybrids as the stupid movie "island of Dr. Moreau".

Smith's stories about the "undermen" are classics. In the future, undermen without rights will be slaves-- at least till D'Joan teaches them the power of loving your enemy...

to those who know Smith: Quick, who do you like best: C'mell, or D'Joan?

C'Mell would make a gorgeous short film, or a movie if they combined it with the other stories where she plays a part...

Or if you want comedy, the Austrillia saga...

[boris]

Robert Heinlein
Alfred Bester
Jack Vance
Lord Dunsany (fantasy)
Robert Silverberg
David Gerrold
A. E. Van Vogt (earlier work)
E.E. "Doc" Smith
Neal Stephenson (not really SF but good)
A. Bertram Chandler
Fritz Leiber
C.M Kornbluth

That's a start.

--Boris

[boris]

Oops. Forgot Cordwainer Smith. Especially his short story "Under Old Earth" and his single novel, "Norstrillia", from which ~80% of Dune was plagiarized (with some plagiarism from his short stories also.)

The "Instrumentality of Mankind" is a saga for the ages.

Also forgot Stanislaw Lem: try The Cyberiad.

[boris]

Oh yeah, I concur with Keith Laumer. Also James Blish, Murray Leinster, Fred Saberhagen, Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson.

--Boris

[boris]

Aargh!

Roger Zelazny (not Samuel Delany!)
Philip K. Dick
Stephen Baxter (but forget his Manfold: Origin unless you like dreary, slow, and boring stories about Neanderthals.

[boris]

L. Sprague DeCamp.

[boris]

"You've probably already read Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. He is THE writer, as far as I'm concerned."

A fairly decent second-rate writer; a shame he doesn't write science fiction!

--Boris

[boris]

How could I forget H.P. Lovecraft? Not SF but horror fantasy. Lovecraft didn't need Hollywood special effects (gore and blood and body organs) to scare you. Also A. Merritt (The Face in the Abyss for example), and The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers...

[Billbeat]

Your off to a good start! I've been reading sci-fi since the 60's. Some of the most fantastic authors I've read: Peter F. Hamilton, Julie Czernenda,Robert Morgan,Tad Williams(the Otherland series),Vernor Vinge. Dan Simmons,Sean Williams & Shane Dix. These people have all made me think and gave me hours of enjoyment...Highly recommended!!!!

[Hacksaw]

I just finished Saberhagen's "Octagon". It's a bit dated, but still a good read.