Hard Science Fiction Recommendations - Page 6

kennyc · 08-16-2010, 12:20 PM

I'm gonna have to go back and re-read those.

Francesco · 08-16-2010, 09:22 PM

I don't read much SF, so these suggestions might not be hard enough for you, but here I go:
Do androids dream of electric sheep? by Phillip K Dick, and
Solaris, by Lem
particularly Solaris, that one blew my mind away

RyanMWilliams · 08-16-2010, 10:34 PM

Lots of great suggestions in this thread. I've really enjoyed a lot of Stephen Baxter's books. I've got Ark to read now (actually not as an ebook, which is why I haven't read it yet).

Gusgsm · 08-17-2010, 10:09 AM

Hi,

It's odd that when asked about 'hard' SF nobody has mentioned anything by Fred Hoyle:

- The black Cloud.
- The Inferno.

Not that I like very much his style (it's rather poor when it comes to human beings interaction), but hey, it's hard SF.

I agree that R. L. Forward is probably the best hard SF writer by far (much better than Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, IMHO).

Not hard-tech SF but 'hard-social SF' there is:

- Camp Concentration, by Thomas M. Disch... I simply love this book.

Aside from that and as everybody is throwing away whatever comes

...

- Red Thunder, by John Varley (Titan is rather good too).
- The Wooden Ships trilogy, by Bob Shaw.
- The Tschai books, by Jack Vance... all right, it's more fantasy and kaboom! than anything but it as enjoyable as any other pulp-fiction book.

Gus.

HarryT · 08-17-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

The "official" sequel to The Time Machine? Who made if official?

H.G. Wells' literary estate. He died in 1946, meaning that his books are still in copyright in countries (such as the UK) which have a "life+70" copyright law, so he has a literary executor who looks after the rights to his works. It's a very, very good book - I recommend it.

HarryT · 08-17-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gusgsm

Hi,

It's odd that when asked about 'hard' SF nobody has mentioned anything by Fred Hoyle:

- The black Cloud.
- The Inferno.

Not that I like very much his style (it's rather poor when it comes to human beings interaction), but hey, it's hard SF.

Oh my goodness, no. Fred Hoyle was one of my lecturers when I was doing my degree in physics at Manchester in the early 1980s. Excellent physicist (he coined the phrase "big bang", of course), but I really couldn't recommend him as an SF author

.

carld · 08-17-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyrath

Well, in my opinion, THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE is arguably the best "first contact with aliens" novel ever written. And FOOTFALL is arguably the best "alien invasion" novel ever written.

I haven't read enough of either genre to say that they're definitely the best, but they're both among my favorite sci-fi books, especially Mote.

BVLarson · 08-19-2010, 01:13 PM

Recent indie stuff I've read includes "Star Soldier" by Heppner, which is only available on Amazon, I think. That is pretty hard SF, lots of stuff in there discussing how many millions of kilometers the ships are apart and how long a laser beam takes to reach the target. The orbital positions of the planets make a big deal as to how ships can move, etc. The details in that book on the combat are unlike anything I've ever read. Many of us have listed stuff here I would not call "hard" SF, as it really is more in the "adventure" SF category.
-BVL

Sparrow · 08-19-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Oh my goodness, no. Fred Hoyle was one of my lecturers when I was doing my degree in physics at Manchester in the early 1980s. Excellent physicist (he coined the phrase "big bang", of course), but I really couldn't recommend him as an SF author

.

I could - I enjoyed his SF.

nyrath · 08-19-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVLarson

Recent indie stuff I've read includes "Star Soldier" by Heppner, which is only available on Amazon, I think. That is pretty hard SF, lots of stuff in there discussing how many millions of kilometers the ships are apart and how long a laser beam takes to reach the target. The orbital positions of the planets make a big deal as to how ships can move, etc. The details in that book on the combat are unlike anything I've ever read.

Ah, I'll have to read that. I spent a lot of time making a web site to help SF authors with details like that.

nyrath · 08-19-2010, 07:48 PM

I got it. I have a Nook, not a Kindle, but Amazon helpfully provides KINDLE FOR PC as a free app. Download it, install it, spend 0.99 for the book, and I'm ready to read.

So far it's pretty good.

bill_mchale · 08-20-2010, 08:36 AM

I don't think anyone has mentioned Gregory Beneford on this list. Timescape is a fantastic SF novel, though a little dated. I also enjoyed a number of his other books.

--
Bill

bill_mchale · 08-20-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djgreedo

re: Space Opera - to me space opera has only superficial sci-fi elements (e.g. Star Wars, though I find the prequels are a bit more overt with some sciency things).

I would say it depends. I agree Star Wars is almost more Space Fantasy than Science Fiction, but some of the literary SF often tends to be more scientific. I would give David Brin's Uplift novels a read if you are looking for something that is Space Opera but also rooted in the scientific worldview.

--
Bill

tomereader · 08-20-2010, 04:24 PM

I always liked E. E. Doc Smith Lensman, Skylark series
although his other novels might be more hard science fiction

tomereader · 08-20-2010, 04:25 PM

The books authors up to the last post:

=========

Hard Science Fiction Recommendations

Nova by Samuel R Delaney
A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness In the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Dragon’s Egg and StarQuake by Robert L. Forward
Robert Heinlein -- "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" - "Starship Troopers"
Joe Haldeman - "The Forever War"
Ray Bradbury - "The Martian Chronicles"
Harry Harrison - "Deathworld"
Harlan Ellison - "Dangerous Visions"
William Gibson
Charles Stross, especially Iron Sunrise and Singularity Sky and Glasshouse
Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos
Alastair Reynolds
Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogy
Robert J. Sawyer
Neil Stephenson
Peter Watts, especially Blindsight
Richard K. Morgan
The Light of Other Days by Bob Shaw
The Light of Other Days by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter.
The Gentle Seduction by Marc Stiegler
Allen M Steele's Coyote series of books.
Steve Jordan's "Factory Orbit"
"Ringworld", Inferno, and Escape from Hell by Larry Niven
"Rendezvous With Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke
"The Engines of God" and "Deepsix" by Jack McDevitt
Anything by James P. Hogan
'Rosinante' series by Alexis A. Gilliland:
Hal Clement's Heavy Planet, A Mission of Gravity
Mike Brotherton's _Star Dragon_
Michael McCollum's PROCYON'S PROMISE
Michael McCollum's Antares series
Charles Sheffield's Between the Strokes of Night and The Web Between
Charlie Stross Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill!
Eon, Blood Music, "Moving Mars" by Greg Bear
Ben Bova's Grand Tour series
Stephen Baxter Xelee books
Cities in Flight by James Blish
Eric Frank Russell Next of Kin
"Dragon's Bard" by Tracy and Laura Hickman
Excession, some of the Culture novels by Iain M. Banks
- Arthur C. Clark's Rama books
- CJ Cherryh's Alliance/Union series
- Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn and Commonwealth Sagas
- David Feintuch's Seafort series
- David Zindell's Requiem for Homo Sapiens books (including Neverness)
- Niven/Pournelle (the Motie books, Ringworld, Footfall,Lucifer's Hammer
- William Gibson's Sprawl books (Neuromancer, etc)
Harry Turtledove - Guns of the sSouth
Philip Jose Farmer Riverworld series
Jack Vance Dying Earth series
"The Time Ships". Stephen Baxter
Do androids dream of electric sheep? by Phillip K Dick
Solaris, by Stanisław Lem
The Black Cloud, The Inferno by Fred Hoyle
Camp Concentration, by Thomas M. Disch
Red Thunder, by John Varley (Titan is rather good too).
The Wooden Ships trilogy, by Bob Shaw.
The Tschai books, by Jack Vance
"Star Soldier" by Heppner
Timescape by Gregory Beneford
E. E. Doc Smith Lensman, Skylark series

Rudy Rucker's "White Light"
Iain M. Banks's Culture books
Neal Asher's Polity universe
The Holographic Universe
Ray Bradbury

08-20-2010, 04:25 PM	#90
tomereader Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 664461 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North Coast of Ohio Device: Ectaco JBL, Archos 5, 7, 70, Kindle DXG, Craig 7, Vizio Vtab	The books authors up to the last post: ========= Hard Science Fiction Recommendations Nova by Samuel R Delaney A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness In the Sky by Vernor Vinge Dragon’s Egg and StarQuake by Robert L. Forward Robert Heinlein -- "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" - "Starship Troopers" Joe Haldeman - "The Forever War" Ray Bradbury - "The Martian Chronicles" Harry Harrison - "Deathworld" Harlan Ellison - "Dangerous Visions" William Gibson Charles Stross, especially Iron Sunrise and Singularity Sky and Glasshouse Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos Alastair Reynolds Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogy Robert J. Sawyer Neil Stephenson Peter Watts, especially Blindsight Richard K. Morgan The Light of Other Days by Bob Shaw The Light of Other Days by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter. The Gentle Seduction by Marc Stiegler Allen M Steele's Coyote series of books. Steve Jordan's "Factory Orbit" "Ringworld", Inferno, and Escape from Hell by Larry Niven "Rendezvous With Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke "The Engines of God" and "Deepsix" by Jack McDevitt Anything by James P. Hogan 'Rosinante' series by Alexis A. Gilliland: Hal Clement's Heavy Planet, A Mission of Gravity Mike Brotherton's _Star Dragon_ Michael McCollum's PROCYON'S PROMISE Michael McCollum's Antares series Charles Sheffield's Between the Strokes of Night and The Web Between Charlie Stross Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill! Eon, Blood Music, "Moving Mars" by Greg Bear Ben Bova's Grand Tour series Stephen Baxter Xelee books Cities in Flight by James Blish Eric Frank Russell Next of Kin "Dragon's Bard" by Tracy and Laura Hickman Excession, some of the Culture novels by Iain M. Banks - Arthur C. Clark's Rama books - CJ Cherryh's Alliance/Union series - Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn and Commonwealth Sagas - David Feintuch's Seafort series - David Zindell's Requiem for Homo Sapiens books (including Neverness) - Niven/Pournelle (the Motie books, Ringworld, Footfall,Lucifer's Hammer - William Gibson's Sprawl books (Neuromancer, etc) Harry Turtledove - Guns of the sSouth Philip Jose Farmer Riverworld series Jack Vance Dying Earth series "The Time Ships". Stephen Baxter Do androids dream of electric sheep? by Phillip K Dick Solaris, by Stanisław Lem The Black Cloud, The Inferno by Fred Hoyle Camp Concentration, by Thomas M. Disch Red Thunder, by John Varley (Titan is rather good too). The Wooden Ships trilogy, by Bob Shaw. The Tschai books, by Jack Vance "Star Soldier" by Heppner Timescape by Gregory Beneford E. E. Doc Smith Lensman, Skylark series Rudy Rucker's "White Light" Iain M. Banks's Culture books Neal Asher's Polity universe The Holographic Universe Ray Bradbury Last edited by tomereader; 08-21-2010 at 12:45 AM.

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08-16-2010, 12:20 PM	#76
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,904 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I'm gonna have to go back and re-read those.

08-16-2010, 09:22 PM	#77
Francesco Aficionado Posts: 391 Karma: 710 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Denver, CO, USA Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Touch	I don't read much SF, so these suggestions might not be hard enough for you, but here I go: Do androids dream of electric sheep? by Phillip K Dick, and Solaris, by Lem particularly Solaris, that one blew my mind away

08-16-2010, 10:34 PM	#78
RyanMWilliams Author Posts: 84 Karma: 100001 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Rainier, WA Device: Nook WiFi	Lots of great suggestions in this thread. I've really enjoyed a lot of Stephen Baxter's books. I've got Ark to read now (actually not as an ebook, which is why I haven't read it yet).

08-17-2010, 10:09 AM	#79
Gusgsm Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Papyre 5.1 (Hanlin)	Hi, It's odd that when asked about 'hard' SF nobody has mentioned anything by Fred Hoyle: - The black Cloud. - The Inferno. Not that I like very much his style (it's rather poor when it comes to human beings interaction), but hey, it's hard SF. I agree that R. L. Forward is probably the best hard SF writer by far (much better than Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, IMHO). Not hard-tech SF but 'hard-social SF' there is: - Camp Concentration, by Thomas M. Disch... I simply love this book. Aside from that and as everybody is throwing away whatever comes ... - Red Thunder, by John Varley (Titan is rather good too). - The Wooden Ships trilogy, by Bob Shaw. - The Tschai books, by Jack Vance... all right, it's more fantasy and kaboom! than anything but it as enjoyable as any other pulp-fiction book. Gus.

08-19-2010, 01:13 PM	#83
BVLarson Author Posts: 123 Karma: 900 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Device: Kindle	Recent indie stuff I've read includes "Star Soldier" by Heppner, which is only available on Amazon, I think. That is pretty hard SF, lots of stuff in there discussing how many millions of kilometers the ships are apart and how long a laser beam takes to reach the target. The orbital positions of the planets make a big deal as to how ships can move, etc. The details in that book on the combat are unlike anything I've ever read. Many of us have listed stuff here I would not call "hard" SF, as it really is more in the "adventure" SF category. -BVL

08-19-2010, 07:48 PM	#86
nyrath Addict Posts: 281 Karma: 52007 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: nook	I got it. I have a Nook, not a Kindle, but Amazon helpfully provides KINDLE FOR PC as a free app. Download it, install it, spend 0.99 for the book, and I'm ready to read. So far it's pretty good.

08-20-2010, 08:36 AM	#87
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	I don't think anyone has mentioned Gregory Beneford on this list. Timescape is a fantastic SF novel, though a little dated. I also enjoyed a number of his other books. -- Bill

08-20-2010, 04:24 PM	#89
tomereader Zealot Posts: 124 Karma: 664461 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North Coast of Ohio Device: Ectaco JBL, Archos 5, 7, 70, Kindle DXG, Craig 7, Vizio Vtab	I always liked E. E. Doc Smith Lensman, Skylark series although his other novels might be more hard science fiction