Some recommendations please on near future SF - Page 2

Ninjalawyer · 04-04-2012, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

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

I bought that a month or so ago but stopped reading after about 30 pages when something shinier caught my attention; I may have to try again.

DiapDealer · 04-04-2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

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

I concur.

Dazrin · 04-04-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

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

I really enjoyed this too, I just wish the sequel was out already. (Expected on June 26.)

Darqref · 04-05-2012, 02:24 AM

If you're looking for some interesting near-space stuff, I recommend Stardance, by Spider and Jeanne Robinson. If you ignore the last bit that sorta imitates 2001, it has lots about how to deal with micro-gravity and small habitats, and the personal issues that occur. It helps that this book won both Nebula and Hugo. I don't really like the followup novels, but the first one is great. Spider is a hoot, and his wife (at the time the book was written) ran a rather well known modern dance troop in Halifax.

owly · 04-05-2012, 07:40 AM

"Coyote" by Allan Steel is kind of interesting. First in a trilogy http://www.allensteele.com/biblio.htm

Apache · 04-05-2012, 01:33 PM

Most of Alan Steele's books are near future as far as I remember.
Apache

stonetools · 04-05-2012, 05:43 PM

I think what I'm trying for is if anyone has come up with some solid rationale -business, economic or political, of why we should want to plant colonies on the Moon, or Mars, or the Belt. Just about everyone starts " Assume a Moon base...."
The sci-fi old timers tend to analogize the colonization of space with the voyages of Columbus, or opening of the West. The problem is, once Columbus got to the New World, there were obvious business opportunies-there were resources to exploit, land to cultivate, people to enslave ( OK, the SF old timers usually skipped over that last).
There really is no good business reason for establishing an O'Neill colony or building a domed City on Mars. Solar powersats probably aren't enough. Anyway, I'm probably just ranting to no purpose at thispoint.

xg4bx · 04-05-2012, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

I think what I'm trying for is if anyone has come up with some solid rationale -business, economic or political, of why we should want to plant colonies on the Moon, or Mars, or the Belt. Just about everyone starts " Assume a Moon base...."
The sci-fi old timers tend to analogize the colonization of space with the voyages of Columbus, or opening of the West. The problem is, once Columbus got to the New World, there were obvious business opportunies-there were resources to exploit, land to cultivate, people to enslave ( OK, the SF old timers usually skipped over that last).
There really is no good business reason for establishing an O'Neill colony or building a domed City on Mars. Solar powersats probably aren't enough. Anyway, I'm probably just ranting to no purpose at thispoint.

the aforementioned Spin by Robert Charles Wilson has a pretty compelling reason: survival of the species.

i'm sure the premise has been done before but i see your point. generally sf seems to be more 'hey lets go because we can' than 'hey lets go because we have to'.

DiapDealer · 04-05-2012, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

i'm sure the premise has been done before but i see your point. generally sf seems to be more 'hey lets go because we can' than 'hey lets go because we have to'.

Or "let's go because there's a fortune to be made out there."

Ninjalawyer · 04-05-2012, 11:06 PM

The only reasons to colonize space are because of a scarcity of resources, room or tolerance, or because it becomes negligibly easy. Of course, as the technologies develop, the price of space travel falls so it becomes a much easier business case to make. I don't want to derail this thread, but this is why I'm excited by private space businesses beginning to crop up; you get real development when a broad swath of people (not just governments) are tinkering and experimenting, and more development means cheaper prices.

stonetools · 04-06-2012, 12:58 PM

I'm hoping that space elevators become economically and politically feasible.
What are the good space elevator books?

alansplace · 04-06-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

I'm hoping that space elevators become economically and politically feasible.
What are the good space elevator books?

The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke and Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.

morriss003 · 04-09-2012, 04:00 PM

Try the Firestar series by Michel Flynn. This series is about humankind's return to space. It is a hard scifi series.

andyh2000 · 04-09-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonetools

I think what I'm trying for is if anyone has come up with some solid rationale -business, economic or political, of why we should want to plant colonies on the Moon, or Mars, or the Belt. Just about everyone starts " Assume a Moon base...."
The sci-fi old timers tend to analogize the colonization of space with the voyages of Columbus, or opening of the West. The problem is, once Columbus got to the New World, there were obvious business opportunies-there were resources to exploit, land to cultivate, people to enslave ( OK, the SF old timers usually skipped over that last).
There really is no good business reason for establishing an O'Neill colony or building a domed City on Mars. Solar powersats probably aren't enough. Anyway, I'm probably just ranting to no purpose at thispoint.

It's non-fiction, but you should read this: http://www.amazon.com/Step-Farther-O.../dp/0441785832

Once we're out there, there are truly massive lumps of high yield metal/ore just lying (flying) around for the taking. It's the first step into orbit that's the hardest.

Edit: Kindle link http://www.amazon.com/A-Step-Farther.../dp/B004XTKFWW

Andrew

stonetools · 04-10-2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyh2000

It's non-fiction, but you should read this: http://www.amazon.com/Step-Farther-O.../dp/0441785832

Once we're out there, there are truly massive lumps of high yield metal/ore just lying (flying) around for the taking. It's the first step into orbit that's the hardest.

Edit: Kindle link http://www.amazon.com/A-Step-Farther.../dp/B004XTKFWW

Andrew

I read ASFO. Not convinced bringing in nickel or even gold from outer space is economically feasible. Seems even deep sea mining would be cheaper.
The next frontier might be the oceans or even the polar regions, if global warming takes off . Tobias Buckell's new novel takes up that premise.
Arthur C.Clarke's " The Deep Range" has us farming the seas. I read it when I was a young 'un. Recommended. Little dated, but good.
Any good ocean colonizing books? (No Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea!

).

04-06-2012, 12:58 PM	#26
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	I'm hoping that space elevators become economically and politically feasible. What are the good space elevator books? Last edited by stonetools; 04-06-2012 at 01:06 PM.

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04-05-2012, 02:24 AM	#19
Darqref space cadet Posts: 334 Karma: 2999999 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle area Device: Rocket PRO, gen3, Pocketbook360	If you're looking for some interesting near-space stuff, I recommend Stardance, by Spider and Jeanne Robinson. If you ignore the last bit that sorta imitates 2001, it has lots about how to deal with micro-gravity and small habitats, and the personal issues that occur. It helps that this book won both Nebula and Hugo. I don't really like the followup novels, but the first one is great. Spider is a hoot, and his wife (at the time the book was written) ran a rather well known modern dance troop in Halifax.

04-05-2012, 07:40 AM	#20
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	"Coyote" by Allan Steel is kind of interesting. First in a trilogy http://www.allensteele.com/biblio.htm

04-05-2012, 01:33 PM	#21
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Most of Alan Steele's books are near future as far as I remember. Apache

04-05-2012, 05:43 PM	#22
stonetools Wizard Posts: 2,016 Karma: 2838487 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Ipad, IPhone	I think what I'm trying for is if anyone has come up with some solid rationale -business, economic or political, of why we should want to plant colonies on the Moon, or Mars, or the Belt. Just about everyone starts " Assume a Moon base...." The sci-fi old timers tend to analogize the colonization of space with the voyages of Columbus, or opening of the West. The problem is, once Columbus got to the New World, there were obvious business opportunies-there were resources to exploit, land to cultivate, people to enslave ( OK, the SF old timers usually skipped over that last). There really is no good business reason for establishing an O'Neill colony or building a domed City on Mars. Solar powersats probably aren't enough. Anyway, I'm probably just ranting to no purpose at thispoint.

04-05-2012, 11:06 PM	#25
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	The only reasons to colonize space are because of a scarcity of resources, room or tolerance, or because it becomes negligibly easy. Of course, as the technologies develop, the price of space travel falls so it becomes a much easier business case to make. I don't want to derail this thread, but this is why I'm excited by private space businesses beginning to crop up; you get real development when a broad swath of people (not just governments) are tinkering and experimenting, and more development means cheaper prices.

04-09-2012, 04:00 PM	#28
morriss003 Evangelist Posts: 438 Karma: 3409790 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maui Device: kindle	Try the Firestar series by Michel Flynn. This series is about humankind's return to space. It is a hard scifi series.

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