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Sci Fi Literature Discussion Thread

Posted on 06/28/2009 10:00:51 AM PDT by Jotmo

This thread is for posting descriptions and reviews of Science Fiction Literature, and discussion of the same.

In order to give a sufficient amount of information if you would like to recommend a book, please provide a summation of the plot along with your thoughts, and an assessment of it’s political leanings either conservative or liberal.

An objectionable content warning would be appreciated as well for those who may not wish to encounter said content unaware.

Please limit it to one book or series recommendation per thread per person.

Feel free to offer opinions of books others have recommended, and discuss any related aspects that you may find relevant.

Please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from the Sci Fi Literature Ping List.


TOPICS: Books/Literature
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To: RJR_fan
"What is a real-world post-apocalyptic document?"

Heinlein's Farnhams Freehold.
41 posted on 06/28/2009 5:31:25 PM PDT by The Louiswu (I live vicariously, through myself.)
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To: The Louiswu
also...

David Gerrold's A Matter for Men (series)
Warning,there is some heavy, adult content in this series.
42 posted on 06/28/2009 5:32:45 PM PDT by The Louiswu (I live vicariously, through myself.)
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To: Jotmo

Right now I am working on Jack McDevitt’s, POLARIS, which is a sequel to A Talent for War and Seeker.


43 posted on 06/28/2009 5:34:29 PM PDT by The Louiswu (I live vicariously, through myself.)
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To: Jotmo
I tend to read fairly obscure stuff by authors who don't make any top 10 lists and I'm not sure much if it qualifies as literature, but I'll start by mentioning Eclipses by Cynthia Felice. It's essentially a science fiction romance novel (I'm male, so don't let that immediately scare you off) but what makes the plot potentially interesting for Freepers is that the backdrop is a planet where all trade is done by direct barter or contracts rather than currency. As a result, the novel illustrates some of the inner workings of an economy (as well as the meaning and value of currency) in way often hidden by the use of money. There is also some action and intrigue in the plot. Felice wrote several novels in the same universe (including Double Nocturne, Iceman, and Khan's Persuasion), all essentially science fiction romances and all of them a bit unusual and quirky. As far as objectionable content go, her books can have their steamy moments but a lot of it is implied and I don't remember anything I'd consider particularly graphic or lurid.


44 posted on 06/28/2009 6:22:05 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: Jotmo

I’m finishing the Riverworld series by Philip Farmer. The last two are fairly preachy but I still like the concept. There is some language and sexuality in them.


45 posted on 06/28/2009 6:29:09 PM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We deserve the government we allow.)
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To: wolf24

I thought judas unchained was quite weak. as far as other stuff, I liked Mindstar Rising, and his current series (2 books out) whose name I cannot recall I enjoy as well. It is set about ~1000 years after Judas Unchained, IIRC.


46 posted on 06/28/2009 6:31:08 PM PDT by WoofDog123
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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: RJR_fan

I see. I have read the Confessions but not City Of God, I will do that.

Rome’s fall was a slow dissolution. It’s regrettable that Roman (or Latin) writers paid so little attention to the common people and what was happening with them at the time. But it was certainly apocalyptic.

As for current post-apocalypse novels, it would seem they would become more popular with the general reading public with our current administration. I wish you good fortune with your studies.

As to the post to you below I will also order Farnham’s Freehold.

The subject interests me also.


48 posted on 06/29/2009 5:57:52 AM PDT by squarebarb
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To: WoofDog123
Glen Cook used to write military SF, notably ‘The DRagon never sleeps’ as well as the starfisher trilogy, (shadowline, starfishers, star’s end.)

The dragon never sleeps is one of my single favorite books.

Yep, another one of my favorites; I waited years for a follow-up to "Dragon Never Sleeps" but he never continued it.

It did lead me, though, to the weird and completely wonderful "Garrett, P. I." books. Pure whacky fantasy, but damn fine as a series.

49 posted on 06/29/2009 6:48:54 AM PDT by Right Winged American (No matter how Cynical I get, I just can't keep up!)
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To: squarebarb
The subject interests me also.

One of my favorite stories from ancient history is the unsparing, clinical dissection of a dying culture, being driven into the ground by a leadership clique and its media sycophants. The anatomist is a Greek physician and meticulous historian. The villains include the quisling puppet rulers and religious hucksters of various shades. As the culture thrashes around in desperation, bizarre supernatural phenomena proliferate. This society misses the last exit before catastrophe, and has never recovered. The tragedy is, the leaders were more worried about protecting their own status than they were about their nation's survival.

I'm referring, of course, to the Gospel of Luke and Acts.

50 posted on 06/29/2009 7:22:14 AM PDT by RJR_fan (The day a marxist becomes president, is the day that pigs will fly. Well, Swine Flu!)
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To: RJR_fan

Excellent point. Except that you say ‘the society never recovered’. It is true the Jewish state never recovered but Judaism remains a light in the darkness with its determined monotheism and love of the ancient scriptures, and is yet a lynchpin of spirituality and civilization.

I say this as a Christian.


51 posted on 06/29/2009 8:11:19 AM PDT by squarebarb
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To: Right Winged American

“New Mil Sci-Fi guys are Jack Campbell (getting there), Douglas Ian, and John G. Hemry.”

Campbell is the new name Hemry is using for his Lost Fleet/Lost Relationship series. I really enjoyed the direct application of speed-of-light info barrier and distances to naval engagements, something only rarely seen anywhere else, but the guy’s personal life and single active relationship was a lesson in torture by book 3.

Ever read Armor by John Steakley, or any of the 1980’s CJ Cherryh stuff (union-alliance universe mainly, like Downbelow Station)...?


52 posted on 06/30/2009 11:54:07 AM PDT by WoofDog123
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To: devane617
Mark L. Van Name

"Sci-Fi as it was meant to be..."

One Jump Ahead

Slanted Jack

And Overthrowing Heaven is even better.

53 posted on 06/30/2009 11:59:07 AM PDT by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
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To: No Truce With Kings

I wonder how many people know of MLVN? He is one of the best writers to come along in a long time. My daily prayers include: Please give me the insight of a writer...MLVN is who I would write like if I had the talent.


54 posted on 06/30/2009 12:27:19 PM PDT by devane617 (Republicans first strategy should be taking over the MSM. Without it we are doomed.)
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To: WoofDog123
Campbell is the new name Hemry is using for his Lost Fleet/Lost Relationship series. I really enjoyed the direct application of speed-of-light info barrier and distances to naval engagements, something only rarely seen anywhere else, but the guy’s personal life and single active relationship was a lesson in torture by book 3.

I didn't know about the pen-name, and I also like the way he handles fleet actions, too.

Ever read Armor by John Steakley, or any of the 1980’s CJ Cherryh stuff (union-alliance universe mainly, like Downbelow Station)...?

Steakley's two books, Armor and Vampyre$ were outstanding; but like a few others he seems to go into looong hiatus' between them. Both books are sequel bait. Dunno why...

I've never found a chronological order to the Alliance books, and I do purely hate the Cyteen books. Loved Downbelow Station, and Heavy Time was pretty good.

For another older series, check out Roland J. Green's 'Starcruiser Shenandoah' series. I bet they're all out of print but they were excellent books, with a fine treatment of asymmetrical warfare, for the '80s.

55 posted on 06/30/2009 11:33:56 PM PDT by Right Winged American (No matter how Cynical I get, I just can't keep up!)
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To: Jotmo

I’d like to be on your ping list. Thanks.


56 posted on 07/13/2009 8:44:40 AM PDT by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: WoofDog123

Just finished Armor. It was a good read!


57 posted on 07/14/2009 3:37:20 PM PDT by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Ransomed

Jack Vance is actually still alive. He’ll turn 94 in August.


58 posted on 02/01/2010 9:40:10 AM PST by Borges
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To: Jotmo

The Raj Whitehall Series: The General by David Drake

The Forge
The The Hammer
The Anvil
The Steel
The Sword

Or any of his HAMMER'S SLAMMERS series.

Or Keith Laumer's BOLO series.

59 posted on 02/01/2010 9:53:05 AM PST by BlueLancer (I'm getting a fine tootsy-frootsying right here...)
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To: Borges

Yeah, supposedly he says his writing days are over, we’ll see...I guess he writes on some sort of weird contraption for the blind/seeing impaired. I haven’t read his autobiography yet. The last stories I read were the “cadwal chronicles”, they were great, and had very conservative overtones.

Jack Vance and Gene Wolfe are the two best writers going in my opinion.

Here’s a fairly recent article on Vance from the NY times magazine I thought was pretty cool:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19Vance-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Freegards


60 posted on 02/01/2010 12:30:44 PM PST by Ransomed (Son of Ransomed Says Keep the Faith!)
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