[Virginia-American]

I'd add Neal Stephenson's CRYPTONOMICON to your list.

The only fiction book I've ever read that has the formula for the Riemann zeta function on the first page.

Fred Hoyle's "Black Cloud" is the only fiction that has the solution of a differential equation as a plot device.

[Tolik]

Update: summary of the Sci-Fi books' recommendations: (in no particular order):

• Alistaire Reynolds "Revelation Space" (must read from the beginning)

• The early Honor Harrington stories by David Weber.

• Peter Hamilton's Reality Disfunction series. Peter Hamilton's Pandora's Star series.

• David Feintuch's Hope series. (first 4 books)

• Heinlein

• Forward

• Niven

• Pournelle

• Joe Haldeman

• Keith Laumer's time travel and alternate-universe stories.

• Iain Banks  "Culture" novels

• Greg Bear (Eon, Queen of Angels)

• Neil Gaiman (American Gods, Good Omens-with Terry Prattchet).

• Vernor Vinge (everything),

• Dan Simmons (Hyperion Cantos)

• Neal Stephenson (Diamond Age; Snow Crash; CRYPTONOMICON)

• Orson Scott Card

• Fred Hoyle's "Black Cloud"

• Willam Gibson  "Neuromancer"

• Phillip K. Dick

• Nancy Kress  Beggars in Spain

• PJ Farmer