Searching for a very specific sci-fi novel

gagsays · 10-03-2011, 07:35 PM

Hi everybody.
Guys, i need your help to find a right novel for my next read.
Here's my requirements-
1. Has to be about few people(6-10) traveling in a space ship.
2. Novel must not have alien invasion as the main theme because then it will definitely contain numerous character.
3. If possible earth might not even be involved at all other than in some backstory stuff.
4. I am looking for some thing between Alien movies and Moon(not twilight) movie or even Dead Space (it's a PS3 game).
5. Avoid long series (except if it is a strong contender) because again i don't want to experiment (just this time). 1-3 books will do.
6. It can be a mix of following genres (in left to right order)- sci-fi, adventure, horror, action
If you are wondering why i am being so specific, its because i have had ample share of bad books and plus i always like such setting in stories.

One more movie that strongly matches my requirements is Pandorum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandorum)
-it is mostly in spaceship
-very few characters
-claustrophobic feel
-i think it has a wonderful ending (and in that case i will really like a sequel)

Some sci-fi novel which i have read (have nothing to do with my requirements)-
War of worlds - for me it was boring
Halo: the fall of reach - it was a good read but i felt, at times, it was pretty repetitive and bland may be because it was more of military sci-fi.
Contact - still not completed

Please post your suggestions, can't wait to see results.
Thanks for your time.

Apache · 10-03-2011, 08:36 PM

2001 A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Apache

Spacejock · 10-03-2011, 09:08 PM

Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

sabredog · 10-03-2011, 09:25 PM

Spinward Fringe - Randolph Lalonde
Galaxy Unknown - Thomas dePrima

Jadon · 10-03-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

I'm assuming the OP wants all the bullet points, and if Matheson hid a spaceship in I Am Legend he did it well indeed. Offhand the most fitting tale I can think of is The Lifeship by Harrison and Dickson. Not great by any means, but I recall the claustrophobia after decades. Doesn't really hit point four, though. Fool's War by Sarah Zettel is a dissimilar novel that hits most of the points, even number four (if you define things very loosely).

Ooh: Blindsight by Peter Watts. It's got that "people in a ship with dangerous and scary stuff going on" vibe down pat. The Tartarus Incident by William Greenleaf is similar, though they get off the ship for most of it, IIRC.

xg4bx · 10-03-2011, 10:28 PM

Hull Zero Three by Greg Bear-

Never one to play it safe in his consistently inventive fiction, Bear takes the reader for a harrowing ride on a labyrinthine starship in his latest hard-SF-oriented novel. Bear’s protagonist is an amnesiac starship crew member just released from a deep hibernation state called Dreamtime. Naked, disoriented, and forced by extreme temperature and gravity fluctuations to find safety somewhere among a confusing network of passageways, the man eventually receives help from an odd assortment of fellow Dreamtime refugees. Taking stock of their surroundings, while avoiding onboard killing machines, the gang quickly realizes the starship has given them each a unique role to play, including discovering collectively why the ship has been seriously damaged and cast aside from its mission to seek out habitable worlds. Bear’s pithy, occasionally cryptic writing style perfectly captures the chaotic experiences and unsettling revelations the team endures, while putting an intriguing spin on the timeworn SF theme of interstellar planet hunting. One of Bear’s most thought-provoking and well-crafted novels to date.

Donnageddon · 10-03-2011, 10:49 PM

Ship of Fools - by Richard Paul Russo

It's got aliens, but you don't see them much.

cearbhallain · 10-03-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xg4bx

Hull Zero Three by Greg Bear-
Never one to play it safe in his consistently inventive fiction, Bear takes the reader for a harrowing ride on a labyrinthine starship in his latest hard-SF-oriented novel. .

Second this. There's another, older, novel by Brian Aldiss called _Non-Stop_ which you may also like.

gagsays · 10-04-2011, 03:02 AM

woh! that's a lot of suggestions, thanks and keep them coming.

i feel some people have considered my points completely. please try to adhere to them as much as possible.

here's what i reckon about some of the books suggested, correct me if i am wrong.

1. 2001 A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke - isn't it somewhat like a grade school textbook. i have only seen its movie and it felt like a observatory/documentary kind of movie.
2. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson - to my best knowledge it doesn't belong here.
3. Foundation - it is a very long series.

as for other novels, they are all new to me. it will take some time to go through their summaries and decide.

If you are wondering why i am being so specific, its because i have had ample share of bad books and plus i always like such setting in stories.

People, please, avoid long series (except if it is a strong contender) because again i don't want to experiment (just this time).

One more movie that strongly matches my requirements is Pandorum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandorum)
-it is mostly in spaceship
-very few characters
-claustrophobic feel
-i really liked its ending

thanks again

rkomar · 10-04-2011, 03:40 AM

It's not a book, but you might enjoy the movie "Sunshine" if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/

gagsays · 10-04-2011, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkomar

It's not a book, but you might enjoy the movie "Sunshine" if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/

No doubt in that i definitely liked that movie.

rkomar · 10-04-2011, 03:57 AM

Traveling through space is not that different from crossing oceans by sailing. Perhaps you might find something that interests you by looking to the past rather than the future. At least there'd be way more books to choose from.

NightBird · 10-04-2011, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jadon

Ooh: Blindsight by Peter Watts. It's got that "people in a ship with dangerous and scary stuff going on" vibe down pat.

This sounds really good.

gagsays · 10-04-2011, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkomar

Traveling through space is not that different from crossing oceans by sailing. Perhaps you might find something that interests you by looking to the past rather than the future. At least there'd be way more books to choose from.

I totally agree with you but problem is i usually find it hard to go through old novels because of - long dragging scene description, alien (of course figuratively)language.
And this time, i am totally looking for a space adventure.

gagsays · 10-04-2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightBird

This sounds really good.

Blindsight by Peter Watts
just checked, found it, available for free here http://www.rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm

10-03-2011, 07:35 PM	#1
gagsays Member Posts: 20 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: kindle 3 wifi	Searching for a very specific sci-fi novel Hi everybody. Guys, i need your help to find a right novel for my next read. Here's my requirements- 1. Has to be about few people(6-10) traveling in a space ship. 2. Novel must not have alien invasion as the main theme because then it will definitely contain numerous character. 3. If possible earth might not even be involved at all other than in some backstory stuff. 4. I am looking for some thing between Alien movies and Moon(not twilight) movie or even Dead Space (it's a PS3 game). 5. Avoid long series (except if it is a strong contender) because again i don't want to experiment (just this time). 1-3 books will do. 6. It can be a mix of following genres (in left to right order)- sci-fi, adventure, horror, action If you are wondering why i am being so specific, its because i have had ample share of bad books and plus i always like such setting in stories. One more movie that strongly matches my requirements is Pandorum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandorum) -it is mostly in spaceship -very few characters -claustrophobic feel -i think it has a wonderful ending (and in that case i will really like a sequel) Some sci-fi novel which i have read (have nothing to do with my requirements)- War of worlds - for me it was boring Halo: the fall of reach - it was a good read but i felt, at times, it was pretty repetitive and bland may be because it was more of military sci-fi. Contact - still not completed Please post your suggestions, can't wait to see results. Thanks for your time. Last edited by gagsays; 10-04-2011 at 03:07 AM.

10-04-2011, 03:02 AM	#9
gagsays Member Posts: 20 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: kindle 3 wifi	woh! that's a lot of suggestions, thanks and keep them coming. i feel some people have considered my points completely. please try to adhere to them as much as possible. here's what i reckon about some of the books suggested, correct me if i am wrong. 1. 2001 A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke - isn't it somewhat like a grade school textbook. i have only seen its movie and it felt like a observatory/documentary kind of movie. 2. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson - to my best knowledge it doesn't belong here. 3. Foundation - it is a very long series. as for other novels, they are all new to me. it will take some time to go through their summaries and decide. If you are wondering why i am being so specific, its because i have had ample share of bad books and plus i always like such setting in stories. People, please, avoid long series (except if it is a strong contender) because again i don't want to experiment (just this time). One more movie that strongly matches my requirements is Pandorum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandorum) -it is mostly in spaceship -very few characters -claustrophobic feel -i really liked its ending thanks again Last edited by gagsays; 10-04-2011 at 03:12 AM.

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10-03-2011, 08:36 PM	#2
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	2001 A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Apache

10-03-2011, 09:08 PM	#3
Spacejock Hal Spacejock & yWriter Posts: 125 Karma: 1100412 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Device: Kindle	Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

10-03-2011, 09:25 PM	#4
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Spinward Fringe - Randolph Lalonde Galaxy Unknown - Thomas dePrima

10-03-2011, 10:28 PM	#6
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	Hull Zero Three by Greg Bear- Never one to play it safe in his consistently inventive fiction, Bear takes the reader for a harrowing ride on a labyrinthine starship in his latest hard-SF-oriented novel. Bear’s protagonist is an amnesiac starship crew member just released from a deep hibernation state called Dreamtime. Naked, disoriented, and forced by extreme temperature and gravity fluctuations to find safety somewhere among a confusing network of passageways, the man eventually receives help from an odd assortment of fellow Dreamtime refugees. Taking stock of their surroundings, while avoiding onboard killing machines, the gang quickly realizes the starship has given them each a unique role to play, including discovering collectively why the ship has been seriously damaged and cast aside from its mission to seek out habitable worlds. Bear’s pithy, occasionally cryptic writing style perfectly captures the chaotic experiences and unsettling revelations the team endures, while putting an intriguing spin on the timeworn SF theme of interstellar planet hunting. One of Bear’s most thought-provoking and well-crafted novels to date.

10-03-2011, 10:49 PM	#7
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,494 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	Ship of Fools - by Richard Paul Russo It's got aliens, but you don't see them much.

10-04-2011, 03:40 AM	#10
rkomar Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 18343081 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	It's not a book, but you might enjoy the movie "Sunshine" if you haven't seen it yet. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/

10-04-2011, 03:57 AM	#12
rkomar Wizard Posts: 2,981 Karma: 18343081 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	Traveling through space is not that different from crossing oceans by sailing. Perhaps you might find something that interests you by looking to the past rather than the future. At least there'd be way more books to choose from.