| Author | Thread |
|
|
05/13/2009 04:50:48 PM · #51 |
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Originally posted by SteveJ:
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Also, once you tire of all this amazingly heavy reading that people are sending you towards, I'd suggest lightening it up a little and getting into Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series.
It's Fantasy Parody, and of the highest caliber. |
Wow, I'm invisible now.
I suggested this earlier in the thread. |
Ooops, sorry. lol. Didn't mean to Yanko you. |
Cool:)) |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 04:58:58 PM · #52 |
I will add my YES! to the previously noted Discworld series--fantastic stuff. Would add the Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman collaboration "Good Omens".
And Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is one of my favorites, too. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:02:39 PM · #53 |
I am drawing a blank on the title of the great tales of the world that has had the different eras of Men transported into different areas, with a giant river connecting them all. Mark Twain's central to the theme. Can anyone remind me...?
R. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:02:45 PM · #54 |
Don't forget Gaiman's "American Gods", very strong.
I find it interesting that Sci-Fi and Fantasy are cross linked though they really have as much in common as Romance and Mystery. Some authors write both, but they are pretty different gendres. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:04:05 PM · #55 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
I am drawing a blank on the title of the great tales of the world that has had the different eras of Men transported into different areas, with a giant river connecting them all. Mark Twain's central to the theme. Can anyone remind me...?
R. |
P.J. Farmer's To your scattered bodies go. First book in the amazing Riverworld series.
Message edited by author 2009-05-13 17:05:34. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:05:20 PM · #56 |
Another vote for Arthur C. Clarke, especially the Rama series - at the very least read 'Rendezvous with Rama'.
- Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham
- The War of the Worlds, HG Wells (don't let the film put you off)
- The Time Machine, HG Wells
- Truckers, Terry Pratchett (great fun)
- The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger - Okay, not 'proper' sci-fi, but such an excellent book. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:06:12 PM · #57 |
Originally posted by BrennanOB:
P.J. Farmer's To your scattered bodies go. |
Ah, yes! The Riverworld series. Thank you! Great stuff. Philip José Farmer was a true original.
R. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:07:41 PM · #58 |
L Sprague de Camp and A e van Vogt, a couple of the grand masters of the "golden age" along with Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, etc. are sometimes overlooked.
de Camp is about the funniest sci fi author I have ever read, but even his non-fictions are fun to read. Then, van Vogt, I think is one of the best. His Null-A book(s?)-classic! I was delighted to see some of their work is still available on Amazon.
|
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:08:40 PM · #59 |
I have read so many Fantasy/Sci-fi novels over the years. Most of the mentioned so far in this thread have been great, although a lot are a bit heavy and dreary. Dune series were okay, Arthur C Clarke and his ability to foresee future technology make him the Grandaddy.
I read adult and childrens' fiction, and also have written 13 novels on these themes. None have ever been published, but perhaps when I'm dead and gone they will become classics:))
I don't think there are any writers or routes to follow, just go with what you feel attracted too. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:19:25 PM · #60 |
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Originally posted by pixelpig:
HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Doublas Adams
Armor, by John Steakley
The Riddlemaster of Hed trilogy by Patricia McKillip
Lens of the World (or anything) by R.A. MacAvoy
A Fine and Private Place by Peter Beagle
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington |
Armor was a really intriguing novel. A lot like Starship Troopers in theme, but much deeper. |
Steakley is an interesting author. Drove me into the used book stores looking for more. There isn't much. Vampire$ is good, too. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:20:46 PM · #61 |
Putting this thread on Watch so I can find it again. Edit to add - who knew we had so many geeks? :-)
Message edited by author 2009-05-13 17:21:25. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:27:54 PM · #62 |
Seems like the opening poster is more of fan of Fantasy/Sci-fi than Sci-fi and so I recommend you venture into some of Philip K Dick novels, probably my favorite Sci-fi/fantasy author of all time. I'm currently reading "The Man in the High Castle" a very fast read, and humorous too. If your into parallel universes, then this book is for you.
If you want pure Sci-fi, get anything written by Asimov, C.Clarke, Campbell, Wells. If your into dark dystopian books pick up "When The Sleeper Awakes" by HG Wells. Its about a future we definitely don't want to live in. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 05:41:57 PM · #63 |
The Light of Other Days by Clarke/Baxter - about Wormhole Technology.
Synopsis
The wormhole technology is first used to send pure information via gamma rays, then developed further to transmit light waves. The media corporation who develops this advance can spy on anyone anywhere it chooses. A logical development from the laws of space-time allows light waves to be detected from the past. This enhances the wormhole technology into a "time viewer" where anyone opening a wormhole can view people and events from any point throughout time and space.
Very good book. You may want to check it out at Wiki. but the plot summary kind of gives away too much info IMO.
|
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:02:30 PM · #64 |
Geeky if I like science fiction? Hmmm.
My favorite is anything by Neal Stephenson but especially Snow Crash.
Everything David Brin has ever written, starting with Startide Rising.
All of Orson Scott Card, a masterful storyteller.
Iain Banks!
The best speculative fiction, Arthur C. Clarke, Greg Benford, Niven and Pournelle like the Mote In God's Eye
Sociological themes, Sheri Tepper, Melissa Scott, Card
Alt history, Harry Harrison, Harry Turtledove, Asimov, James Hogan just rocks
Sterling and Gibson for thought-provoking cyberpunk
Rollicking adventure, the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold, heck anything she writes, really.
My own library dates from the Golden Age, cut my teeth on Poul Anderson, Clifford Simak. Who remembers Ace Doubles? |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:31:26 PM · #65 |
Originally posted by lynnesite:
Geeky if I like science fiction? Hmmm.
My own library dates from the Golden Age, cut my teeth on Poul Anderson, Clifford Simak. Who remembers Ace Doubles? |
I do,  lynnesite and Simak & Anderson as well. Still have some of their paperbacks from way back when, but probably don't have any of the doubles around. The paperbacks I do have may be good for one or two more reads before they fall apart. those were the fun years, for sure.
Now, for our fantasy reader, I've finally remembered a name that I've been searching for all afternoon: Piers Anthony. This fellow never saw a pun he didn't like, and you'll either love him or hate his work. For a while I had just about all his Xanth books and then gave every one of them away.
|
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:34:11 PM · #66 |
Originally posted by sfalice:
Originally posted by lynnesite:
Geeky if I like science fiction? Hmmm.
My own library dates from the Golden Age, cut my teeth on Poul Anderson, Clifford Simak. Who remembers Ace Doubles? |
I do, lynnesite and Simak & Anderson as well. Still have some of their paperbacks from way back when, but probably don't have any of the doubles around. The paperbacks I do have may be good for one or two more reads before they fall apart. those were the fun years, for sure.
Now, for our fantasy reader, I've finally remembered a name that I've been searching for all afternoon: Piers Anthony. This fellow never saw a pun he didn't like, and you'll either love him or hate his work. For a while I had just about all his Xanth books and then gave every one of them away. |
I read the entire Xanth series myself, even when they were getting horribly hard to get through near the end. (Actually, he might still be writing them).
There was a sci-fi series from him too, The Apprentice Adept, that was quite interesting, if not slightly disturbing. Then again, Anthony doesn't shy away from disturbing by any stretch of the imagination. Just stay away from Firefly. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:34:42 PM · #67 |
Perdido Street Station. By China Mieville. Its Sci Fi/Fantasy of epic proportions.
Also Iain M Banks rocks! |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:35:47 PM · #68 |
| The Host by Stephanie Meyer was a pretty interesting. Invasion of the bodysnatchers...from the perspective of the bodysnatcher. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:45:13 PM · #69 |
| It would also be a travesty to mention Piers Anthony without mentioning The Incarnations of Immortality series. One of, IMO, the best marriages of sci-fi, fantasy, and theology ever written. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:51:55 PM · #70 |
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
It would also be a travesty to mention Piers Anthony without mentioning The Incarnations of Immortality series. One of, IMO, the best marriages of sci-fi, fantasy, and theology ever written. |
I just looked at his bibliography. 139 books and counting. does this guy ever sleep!!!
And, yes, he's still writing the Xanth books. Glutton for punishment, he is.
|
|
|
|
05/13/2009 07:56:55 PM · #71 |
<<===== "Hard Science" fiction fan here...
I've enjoyed reading the recommendations in this thread. Here is my .02
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A somewhat dated (because of the politics) saga of a war stretched out to centuries for some of the participants due to Einsteinian time dilation. An absolutely unforgettable book for a hard core science kid!
The Accidental Time Machine.. also by Haldeman, a more recent effort
An MIT grad student accidentally invents time travel with interesting and life-changing results. A must read! |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 08:04:07 PM · #72 |
Try Stephen Kings` Dark Tower series - not his usual type of work, a mixture of fantasy, sci-fi, thriller & western amongst other things. A very big read but once you get a couple of books in you will be gagging to know what happens next - some poeple say the later books are a bit self-indulgent but I love them all.. definitely his best work. And the protagonist Roland Deschain is a great character - actually the whole ka-tet are memorable.
Message edited by author 2009-05-13 20:04:27. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 08:07:51 PM · #73 |
Originally posted by RulerZigzag:
Seems like the opening poster is more of fan of Fantasy/Sci-fi than Sci-fi ... |
I remember as a kid reading a lot of books by Andre Norton which seemed to bridge the Sci-Fi/Fantasy gap, along with stuff by Ursula K. LeGuin and Marion Zimmer Bradley.
If you read Asimov, you'll find (in the Forwards or interludes) that a couple of his favorites were Frederick Pohl and Harlan Ellison ...
The Warlock In Spite Of Himself is a pretty humorous update of the theme first espoused in A Connecticutt Yankee In King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.
Message edited by author 2009-05-13 20:16:29. |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 08:14:32 PM · #74 |
| It's not deep and thought provoking, but I loved the series: David Eddings series -- the Belgariad. Starts out with Pawn of Prophecy |
|
|
|
05/13/2009 08:22:34 PM · #75 |
Most science fiction is usually fantasy, said best by Arthur C. Clarke, who considered his work to be the most plausible during the sci fi boom in the 60s. I was never a big fan of Clarke, because to me, all of his work is believable, but I enjoyed his short stories, "The nine billion names of God" "The Sentinel" were very good.
I'm into the far out stuff, Robert A. Heinlein and Phillip K Dick are inspiring me as of now since Im working on a novel myself. It's more or less in the spirit of the imagination, but not style of those two writers mainly.
Message edited by author 2009-05-13 20:24:33. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/03/2025 09:25:34 AM EDT.
