Some recommendations please on near future SF

stonetools · 04-02-2012, 12:43 PM

Looking for recs on SF books dealing with the next 100 years or so. Im looking for books exploring whether, or how, we could move out into space and what effect that would have on humanity.

Shack70 · 04-02-2012, 01:07 PM

Try Red Mars by Kim Stanley. It's part of a trilogy, Red Mars, Blue Mars and Green Mars.

JD Gumby · 04-02-2012, 02:54 PM

It's a bit long in the tooth now (from '77), I suppose, and doesn't really deal with space exploration's effects on humanity (more about the revelations that come from exploring the Solar system), but James P. Hogan's "Inherit the Stars" might still be worth your time (and it's a freebie at Baen).

(The first sequel, "The Gentle Giants of Ganymede" is just as good. "Giants' Star" isn't quite as good, but still well worth reading. "Entoverse" isn't good and "Mission to Minerva" is best avoided)

stonetools · 04-02-2012, 03:57 PM

I agree that both Red Mars and inherit the Stars are good- Ive read them.

I've also read non-fiction like Jerry Pournelle's "The Endless Fronttier" and stuff by Harry Stine. Has there been anything good since then?
I'm ghetting the impression that humanity is unlikely to move out into space because stuff likeO'Neill colonies, space industries and solar powersats aren't economically viable.
Has there been anything further on ideas aboput getting into space? Im looking for both fiction and nonfic.

Penforhire · 04-02-2012, 05:58 PM

I think the biggest issue is how unfriendly the environment of space is to human life. That issue is similar to deep underwater cities, which seem easier to create. Space is just such an unforgiving environment and much (most?) of our SF seems to gloss over that. Pinhole? Death. Runaway bacteria? Death. Almost any ecological unbalancing = death. Earth has amazing resiliency in its terrestrial ecosystem.

stonetools · 04-02-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

I think the biggest issue is how unfriendly the environment of space is to human life. That issue is similar to deep underwater cities, which seem easier to create. Space is just such an unforgiving environment and much (most?) of our SF seems to gloss over that. Pinhole? Death. Runaway bacteria? Death. Almost any ecological unbalancing = death. Earth has amazing resiliency in its terrestrial ecosystem.

Yup but most SF writers and fans take it for granted that its humanity's " manifest destiny" to move out into space. While there have been lots of stories that take space colonies for granted, I really haven't seen much recent fiction or nonfiction that explains how or why we go there.

xg4bx · 04-02-2012, 07:44 PM

maybe Manifold Time by Stephen Baxter

"The year is 2010. More than a century of ecological damage, industrial and technological expansion, and unchecked population growth has left the Earth on the brink of devastation. As the world's governments turn inward, one man dares to envision a bolder, brighter future. That man, Reid Malenfant, has a very different solution to the problems plaguing the planet: the exploration and colonization of space. Now Malenfant gambles the very existence of time on a single desperate throw of the dice. Battling national sabotage and international outcry, as apocalyptic riots sweep the globe, he builds a spacecraft and launches it into deep space. The odds are a trillion to one against him. Or are they?"

Ninjalawyer · 04-02-2012, 09:42 PM

I recommend "Spin".

I'm not particularly worried about never colonizing space; as a race we moved from the Wright brothers flight to landing humans on the moon and sending robots to other planets in less than a century. Unfortunately colonizing space isn't one problem, it's a massive number of inter-related problems; luckily the pace of innovation is accelerating constantly, so I doubt we'll have to wait too long.

flipreads · 04-02-2012, 11:03 PM

How about Usurper of the Sun, The Next Continent, or The Cage of Zeus?

Japanese SF translated into English.

VaporPunk · 04-03-2012, 01:57 AM

Try the Grand Tour series by Ben Bova,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_T...ovel_series%29
I haven't read all of them by any means, so can't personally vouch for the quality of each but they seem to be what you are looking for.

Ninjalawyer · 04-03-2012, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipreads

How about Usurper of the Sun, The Next Continent, or The Cage of Zeus?

Japanese SF translated into English.

I really enjoyed Usurper of the Sun; I'll have to check out the others.

alansplace · 04-03-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

Looking for recs on SF books dealing with the next 100 years or so. Im looking for books exploring whether, or how, we could move out into space and what effect that would have on humanity.

The Star Svensdotter Series by Dana Stabenow.

xg4bx · 04-03-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

I recommend "Spin".

I'm not particularly worried about never colonizing space; as a race we moved from the Wright brothers flight to landing humans on the moon and sending robots to other planets in less than a century. Unfortunately colonizing space isn't one problem, it's a massive number of inter-related problems; luckily the pace of innovation is accelerating constantly, so I doubt we'll have to wait too long.

good call on Spin, i started it last night and it's knocking my socks off.

Ninjalawyer · 04-03-2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

good call on Spin, i started it last night and it's knocking my socks off.

Glad to hear it. The quality falls off in the sequel, Axis, but picks up for a really satisfying conclusion in Vortex.

stonetools · 04-04-2012, 04:12 PM

Thanks for the recs so far. I can make a recommendation of my own- Leviathan Wakes, by James SA Corey.

04-02-2012, 12:43 PM	#1
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	Some recommendations please on near future SF Looking for recs on SF books dealing with the next 100 years or so. Im looking for books exploring whether, or how, we could move out into space and what effect that would have on humanity.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
In need of recommendations	Phoul	Reading Recommendations	10	11-29-2010 07:45 AM
Looking for recommendations	phenomshel	Alternative Devices	19	02-12-2010 05:31 PM
Need recommendations	Casse	Amazon Kindle	3	11-04-2009 10:21 AM
Your recommendations please	Falbe Publishing	Which one should I buy?	49	07-14-2008 04:46 PM
Looking for recommendations	jtsongas	Which one should I buy?	7	12-05-2006 09:39 AM

04-02-2012, 01:07 PM	#2
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	Try Red Mars by Kim Stanley. It's part of a trilogy, Red Mars, Blue Mars and Green Mars.

04-02-2012, 02:54 PM	#3
JD Gumby Cynical Old Curmudgeon Posts: 1,085 Karma: 8495696 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Kobo Arc, HTC Desire C	It's a bit long in the tooth now (from '77), I suppose, and doesn't really deal with space exploration's effects on humanity (more about the revelations that come from exploring the Solar system), but James P. Hogan's "Inherit the Stars" might still be worth your time (and it's a freebie at Baen). (The first sequel, "The Gentle Giants of Ganymede" is just as good. "Giants' Star" isn't quite as good, but still well worth reading. "Entoverse" isn't good and "Mission to Minerva" is best avoided)

04-02-2012, 03:57 PM	#4
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	I agree that both Red Mars and inherit the Stars are good- Ive read them. I've also read non-fiction like Jerry Pournelle's "The Endless Fronttier" and stuff by Harry Stine. Has there been anything good since then? I'm ghetting the impression that humanity is unlikely to move out into space because stuff likeO'Neill colonies, space industries and solar powersats aren't economically viable. Has there been anything further on ideas aboput getting into space? Im looking for both fiction and nonfic.

04-02-2012, 05:58 PM	#5
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I think the biggest issue is how unfriendly the environment of space is to human life. That issue is similar to deep underwater cities, which seem easier to create. Space is just such an unforgiving environment and much (most?) of our SF seems to gloss over that. Pinhole? Death. Runaway bacteria? Death. Almost any ecological unbalancing = death. Earth has amazing resiliency in its terrestrial ecosystem.

04-02-2012, 07:44 PM	#7
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	maybe Manifold Time by Stephen Baxter "The year is 2010. More than a century of ecological damage, industrial and technological expansion, and unchecked population growth has left the Earth on the brink of devastation. As the world's governments turn inward, one man dares to envision a bolder, brighter future. That man, Reid Malenfant, has a very different solution to the problems plaguing the planet: the exploration and colonization of space. Now Malenfant gambles the very existence of time on a single desperate throw of the dice. Battling national sabotage and international outcry, as apocalyptic riots sweep the globe, he builds a spacecraft and launches it into deep space. The odds are a trillion to one against him. Or are they?"

04-02-2012, 09:42 PM	#8
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	I recommend "Spin". I'm not particularly worried about never colonizing space; as a race we moved from the Wright brothers flight to landing humans on the moon and sending robots to other planets in less than a century. Unfortunately colonizing space isn't one problem, it's a massive number of inter-related problems; luckily the pace of innovation is accelerating constantly, so I doubt we'll have to wait too long.

04-02-2012, 11:03 PM	#9
flipreads Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 433632 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: iPad	How about Usurper of the Sun, The Next Continent, or The Cage of Zeus? Japanese SF translated into English.

04-03-2012, 01:57 AM	#10
VaporPunk Evangelist Posts: 409 Karma: 49204386 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Device: Kindle 4 + Asus Transformer	Try the Grand Tour series by Ben Bova, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_T...ovel_series%29 I haven't read all of them by any means, so can't personally vouch for the quality of each but they seem to be what you are looking for.

04-04-2012, 04:12 PM	#15
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	Thanks for the recs so far. I can make a recommendation of my own- Leviathan Wakes, by James SA Corey.