The Science Fiction book thread

www.Freerepublic.com | 8-19-06 | "Hack"

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

I agree about Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series! It is a classic! I read it some 40 years ago and still remember it!

[GAB-1955]

"I didn't like at all, especially that one about a guy getting his brain transplanted in a womans body. I didn't make it 1/3 of the way through before I gave up."

'I don't think Heinlein ever wrote such a book. It was a possibility mentioned in one IIRC, but to my knowledge there was never an entire book written with that premise.'

I Will Fear No Evil.

[Lurker]

My mistake. Thanks for the correction.

L

[Kieri]

"Mort" is actually one of the weaker books; it's more of a prequel for "Soul Music," which is one of the best.

The Discworld series fall into four categores: The Wizards ("The Colour of Magic", etc.), The Night Watch ("Guards, Guards!" "Thud!" "The Thief of Time"), The Witches ("Wyrd Sisters," "Masquerade," "Lords and Ladies," "Witches Abroad") and Death ("Soul Music," "Hogfather," "Reaper Man"). There are enough novels to keep a new reader buried for months.

Don't take them too seriously and you'll be laughing your head off. "Hogfather," a parody of Christmas, is a MUST read. "Reaper Man" has one of the best stories and characters in the series.

[EvilOverlord]

"The Thief of Time" is in the Death series.

[JockoManning]

Probably a purist wouldn't call this SciFi, per sé, for me it was a good read (movie was OK too though differing from book):

Timeline

Michael Crichton

[JockoManning]

Conquistador: A Novel of Alternate History

S.M. Stirling

was fun, but it dragged in some parts.

[Brett66]

The Posleen war trilogy by John Ringo.

Rendevous with Rama trilogy by Arthur C.Clarke

The Heritage trilogy by Ian Douglas. US marines battle the UN for control of alien artifacts.

Godspeed by Charles Sheffield - a retelling of Treasure Island set in space.

Many of the Battletech series.

Encounter with Tiber, written mostly by John Barnes, but with help from Buzz Aldrin.

I favor military sci-fi.

[garbageseeker]

Colossus:The Forbin Project by DF Jones
Jurassic Park: By Michael Crichton
A Brave New World: By Aldous Huxley
Warday and Communion: Whitley Strieber

[garbageseeker]

A lot of books in the "Robotech" series are very good.

[akorahil]

Though it was written in the 1930s, Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar series deserves a nod.

Not too shabby.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

His "Island in the Sea of Time" was better I think.

He has gotten a bit VHEM in his last few books. Of course that is the nature of Apocalyptic fiction

[Professional Engineer]

Careful of that gripping hand.

[Professional Engineer]

Larry Niven and Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle. Always excellent reading.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Then I will give him another chance.

The jokes in that one mostly fell flat but everyone can have a off book.

A funny, if bit dated series is "The Garrett Files" by Glen Cook.

[Professional Engineer]

Swwet. I hadn't found an image online before.

[Oztrich Boy]

I like sc fic, not magic/sorcery/fantasy.

Never say never

Remmeber when I was in full rant to the owner of my SF bookshop about how SF was being driven off the shelves by the wave of fantasy. (She was a friend so it wasn't a "crazy guy off the street" thing).

Then I noticed. "wait is that Dragon on the Border", I have to have that". (one in Gordon Dickson's "Dragonknight" series which starts with The Dragon and the George)

So I'd amend that to magic/sorcery/fantasy is OK when written by hard SF authors.

In addition to Dickson, fantasy from Poul Anderson, Niven's Warlock stories, Elizabeth Moon's Sheepherder's Daughter series

[garbageseeker]

Thanks. I have always enjoyed science fiction books. There are so many of them. Since Colossus was made in the movie in the 1960s, I think it would make a good remake today. I liked 3001 by Artur C Clarke. I thought it tied up a loose knot with Astronaut Poole

[Tiny]

Larry Niven and Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle. Always excellent reading.

I second that! Both are good authors on ther own but when they collaborate they are very special. My favorite of theirs is Inferno.

Niven's Known Space is a fun read. His latest efforts don't quite have the punch of his earlier works, but they are still enjoyable.

I recommend Analog magazine for good short stories by up and coming authors.

[garbageseeker]

I also second that motion. Hollywood has never had made a movie out a Larry Niven book. Which is good a good thing.