Here is a site that with links to recommended book lists and custom recommendation systems...
http://www.sfwa.org/reading/

Diomark also mentioned this in another thread, but I haven't tried it...
http://www.metacritic.com/books/

Thanks for the links, Bob. I am currently reading the first book of Robin Hobb's latest series, The Soldier's Son. Highly recommended if you like fantasy novels with strong character development.

For newer books in the SciFi/Fantasy genre, have a look at this list of the "Best Books of The Millenium (Thus Far)":

http://speculativereviews.blogspot.com/2006/11/best-books-of-millenium-thus-far.html

If you want some really good fantasy book recommendations, check out www.bestfantasybooks.com; it's got a really huge recommendation list for the best fantasy books. What's particularly useful is that the author explain what he/she likes about the book.

I've been using the site the past few months to find new fantasy series and the author's been bang on as far as his/her recommendations go.

If you want some really good fantasy book recommendations, check out www.bestfantasybooks.com it's got a really huge recommendation list for the best fantasy books. What's particularly useful is that the author explain what he/she likes about the book.

I've been using the site the past few months to find new fantasy series and the author's been bang on as far as his/her recommendations go.

The site is an advertising avenue for Amazon.com. Every book has a link and the sidebar adverts for Amazon are rather annoying (IMHO).

The site is an advertising avenue for Amazon.com. Every book has a link and the sidebar adverts for Amazon are rather annoying (IMHO).

Your probably skewing the facts a bit. They are most likely an Amazon affiliate and they get a little commission if you buy a book from the books link on the site. I'd be surprised if they make enough to run the site.

BOb

this is the list i use to find out about authors of some of the classics

http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_books_rank1.html

I hated Electric sheep by philip k d1ck. and i guess im nto really into cyberpunk cause neuromancer by gibson. it was a bore. but the other things ive read ive liked.

anyone know a good place to find out about new Scifi? the only author im reading that is still writing is Orson Scott card, and Joe Haldeman. i would like to add to that list.

anyone know a good place to find out about new Scifi? the only author im reading that is still writing is Orson Scott card, and Joe Haldeman. i would like to add to that list.

I like http://www.sfsite.com/

Thank you all guys, for these great resources.

Thanks Sparrow. Exactly what im looking for

anyone know a good place to find out about new Scifi? the only author im reading that is still writing is Orson Scott card, and Joe Haldeman. i would like to add to that list.

If you want to find some great authors who are most definitely still actively writing, you can do no better than to head over to Baen and check of some of the books in their free library.

If you want to find some great authors who are most definitely still actively writing, you can do no better than to head over to Baen and check of some of the books in their free library.

Actually I think that is bad advice. If you like a certain kind of sf you will find it on Baen. But if you like challenging sf or like to read about interesting ideas this is the wrong place to look.

Here are some links:

http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/

http://www.sfsite.com/

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/column/sfw19233.html

http://www.johnclute.co.uk/

Actually I think that is bad advice. If you like a certain kind of sf you will find it on Baen. But if you like challenging sf or like to read about interesting ideas this is the wrong place to look.

Here are some links:

http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/

http://www.sfsite.com/

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/column/sfw19233.html

http://www.johnclute.co.uk/

I think that is a little hard on Baen. That being said, they don't tend to do Hard Science Fiction. Still some of the books and stories that their authors have written do contain challenging ideas.. just not scientifically challenging ideas.

--
Bill

I think that is a little hard on Baen. That being said, they don't tend to do Hard Science Fiction. Still some of the books and stories that their authors have written do contain challenging ideas.. just not scientifically challenging ideas.


They do not seem to have the authors I find most interesting like Charles Stross, Ian M. Banks, Ian McDonald, James Morrow, Cory Doctorow, Adam Roberts, and so on. The Baen authors I read are more straightforward action stories. I like to read a lot of the Baen books but I do not think they accurately reflect the state of science fiction today. On the other hand looking now at their catalog I find authors like Vernor Vinge so maybe things have changed since I last looked at this.

They do not seem to have the authors I find most interesting like Charles Stross, Ian M. Banks, Ian McDonald, James Morrow, Cory Doctorow, Adam Roberts, and so on. The Baen authors I read are more straightforward action stories. I like to read a lot of the Baen books but I do not think they accurately reflect the state of science fiction today. On the other hand looking now at their catalog I find authors like Vernor Vinge so maybe things have changed since I last looked at this.

Ah, but it is important to keep in mind that your viewpoint is your viewpoint. What you find interesting, others might find pretentious or boring. As for reflecting the state of SF today, considering they are one of the more successful publishers at the moment, I would suggest they do represent at least part of the state of SF today.

--
Bill

Ah, but it is important to keep in mind that your viewpoint is your viewpoint. What you find interesting, others might find pretentious or boring. As for reflecting the state of SF today, considering they are one of the more successful publishers at the moment, I would suggest they do represent at least part of the state of SF today.

--
Bill

Hi Bill,

I like Baen (more for Pournelle and David Drake than Eric Flint and John Ringo) but I'm curious what you think their ideas are? Baen's target market seems to me to be sci-fi for jocks and not really the literature of geeks :bookworm:

Ah, but it is important to keep in mind that your viewpoint is your viewpoint. What you find interesting, others might find pretentious or boring. As for reflecting the state of SF today, considering they are one of the more successful publishers at the moment, I would suggest they do represent at least part of the state of SF today.


Well, I visit a lot of science fiction conventions and it is a very common opinion that Baen mostly publish a certain kind of sf and it is not the sf that usually win prices.

I agree that Baen books rarely win awards, but at the same time I like a lot of their books better than a number of Hugo and Nebula-winning stories. Different strokes for different folks.

Well, I visit a lot of science fiction conventions and it is a very common opinion that Baen mostly publish a certain kind of sf and it is not the sf that usually win prices.

Well, I would point out that they are the publisher of most of Lois McMaster Bujold's works and she has won quite a few of the major prizes.

That being said, prizes, I think, often reflect more the people giving the prizes than the actual quality of the work that is awarded a prize.

--
Bill

About Baen, that is a generalization but I think Tompe is more right than wrong. While I enjoy many of their offerings, fewer of them make me think hard or blow my mind.

if you like high fantasy, try: http://sennadar.plebian.net/
I have already recommended the series and think the author did a great job of weaving together sorcery, gods, an interesting plot, and a shorttempered main hero :)

have fun!

kaas

p.s.: the first series is five books long!

p.p.s.: i forgot to mention that it is completely free...

Well, I would point out that they are the publisher of most of Lois McMaster Bujold's works and she has won quite a few of the major prizes.


Yes, I know. And she is a favorite author. But if you look at the surface plot in her books they fit very well with the typical Baen book.

Baen was created specaializing in military sf and space opera. A typical Baen book is usually very easy to read and a good adventure story.

I like to read space opera and some military sf and I like a good story. The reason I commented was that I think people on this forum is describing the books so they seem much better or much more important then they are. If people want to know about the sf field today you cannot just look at Baen.

Yes, I know. And she is a favorite author. But if you look at the surface plot in her books they fit very well with the typical Baen book.

Baen was created specaializing in military sf and space opera. A typical Baen book is usually very easy to read and a good adventure story.

I like to read space opera and some military sf and I like a good story. The reason I commented was that I think people on this forum is describing the books so they seem much better or much more important then they are. If people want to know about the sf field today you cannot just look at Baen.

Oh I agree that you can't just look at Baen... nor at Tor nor any of the other major publishing houses in isolation. I will say this; you can't look at Baen to get a picture of the state of SF today, but you can't get a picture of SF today without looking at Baen.

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Bill

Oh I agree that you can't just look at Baen... nor at Tor nor any of the other major publishing houses in isolation. I will say this; you can't look at Baen to get a picture of the state of SF today, but you can't get a picture of SF today without looking at Baen.

--
Bill

Then What is the State of Scifi today?

I do tend to like a broad spectrum of Scifi. for example, Scifi Pioneering. I never thought I would like it, and i groaned outloud when i read about that part in Time Enough for Love by Heinlein, but i actually enjoyed it the most of the book.

im always open to new ideas.