Hard Science Fiction Recommendations - Page 3

pwalker8 · 08-12-2010, 09:48 PM

Some of Forward's books are available as ebooks from Baen Books.

Also, you might check out some of James Hogan's books. Most of them are available from Baen Books. The Giant's series (Inherit the Stars is the first) is possibly his best known books. I really like the Genesis Machine, The Two Faces of Tomorrow and Thrice Upon a Time as well

kennyc · 08-12-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

'Foundation Trilogy' is tops in my book, and keeps me coming back to read it again every few years.
'Stranger in a Strange Land,' 'Dune,' 'I,Robot,' all top the Sci-fi charts!

Stitchawl

Foundation Trilogy has been my #1 favorite SF book(s) for decades. the others you name are right there as well.

tmclough · 08-12-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Hogan wrote so many good books that I'd struggle to make a specific recommendation, but among my favourites are:

Code of the Lifemaker
Endgame Enigma
The "Giant" series (5 books)
Realtime Interrupt
The Genesis Machine
The Proteus Operation
Thrice Upon a Time
Voyage from Yesteryear

All available from Baen.

Most of these sound interesting. However, one thing I'm concerned about is how much, and in what ways, does he mix his libertarian politics into these and other works? Also, how would you classify his libertarian leanings--social, economic, both, neither? Actually, these questions could probably apply to a lot of other science fiction authors as well. (I, myself, lean towards social libertarianism, but with some limitations; but for economics, I believe wholeheartedly in favor of regulating corporations and redistribution of wealth.)

In addition to Hogan's work, the works of Allen Steele (at least the Coyote series) and Robert L. Forward also sound interesting.

tmclough · 08-12-2010, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bauerhjb

You might want to post your request for hard science recommendations reads on PBS, Goodread, and Amazon communities which all have very active Sci/Fi discussion groups and threads. Just a thought.

Where do I find these discussion groups (links and/or directions)?

bauerhjb · 08-13-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmclough

Where do I find these discussion groups (links and/or directions)?

Paperback Swap: Under "Community", "Discussion Forums", "Discussion by Genre", "Science Fiction" http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/forum.php?f=37 .
On Amazon, "Customer Communities" http://www.amazon.com/gp/tagging/communities/directory, "Genres", "Science Fiction".
On Shelfari and Goodreads, under communities

tmclough · 08-13-2010, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bauerhjb

Paperback Swap: Under "Community", "Discussion Forums", "Discussion by Genre", "Science Fiction" http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/forum.php?f=37 .

No wonder I couldn't find anything at pbs.org! Of course, I was a little surprised to see PBS listed initially, and seriously wondered if there was another PBS that I wasn't aware of. Google was no help. NOW it makes a lot more sense!

HarryT · 08-13-2010, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmclough

Most of these sound interesting. However, one thing I'm concerned about is how much, and in what ways, does he mix his libertarian politics into these and other works? Also, how would you classify his libertarian leanings--social, economic, both, neither? Actually, these questions could probably apply to a lot of other science fiction authors as well. (I, myself, lean towards social libertarianism, but with some limitations; but for economics, I believe wholeheartedly in favor of regulating corporations and redistribution of wealth.)

I'm afraid I have absolutely no idea what you mean by that question. Hogan wrote good "hard SF" novels; they are not "political" works.

Gaurnim · 08-13-2010, 03:30 AM

I would add Ben Bova's Grand Tour series, where he writes on human colonization of the solar system.
I haven't read them all, as there are quite a few (cf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Bova#Grand_Tour), but I have liked a lot the ones I read (Mars, Return to Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, ...).
I've had a quick look, I can't seem to find those ebooks on legal sites, though.
A few of his other works are available on Baen or Fictionwise.

HarryT · 08-13-2010, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

I would add Ben Bova's Grand Tour series, where he writes on human colonization of the solar system.
I haven't read them all, as there are quite a few

I have read them all, and they're very good. It's best to read them in order, as there are recurring characters throughout them.

Sparrow · 08-13-2010, 04:55 AM

I couldn't get through Bova's 'Mars' - I found the Native American aspects too overbearing

.
Is it a recurring theme in his books?

kennyc · 08-13-2010, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmclough

Most of these sound interesting. However, one thing I'm concerned about is how much, and in what ways, does he mix his libertarian politics into these and other works? Also, how would you classify his libertarian leanings--social, economic, both, neither? Actually, these questions could probably apply to a lot of other science fiction authors as well. (I, myself, lean towards social libertarianism, but with some limitations; but for economics, I believe wholeheartedly in favor of regulating corporations and redistribution of wealth.)

In addition to Hogan's work, the works of Allen Steele (at least the Coyote series) and Robert L. Forward also sound interesting.

What? I find this very strange to be concerned about what politics are expressed in fiction...it's fiction for gawdssake.

Sparrow · 08-13-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

What? I find this very strange to be concerned about what politics are expressed in fiction...it's fiction for gawdssake.

I think it's a problem when the 'agenda' gets in the way of the story.
That was why I stuggled with 'Mars'.

Gaurnim · 08-13-2010, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

What? I find this very strange to be concerned about what politics are expressed in fiction...it's fiction for gawdssake.

Sometimes the political bearing of the author is quite present and can be disturbing if you don't adhere to it.
I had such problems with Dan Simmons' Ilium and Olympos.

sourcejedi · 08-13-2010, 06:59 AM

<ontopic>I don't think anyone's mentioned Greg Egan yet. If I had to define hard sf, I'd start by pointing at Greg Egan. I wouldn't start with either of the two most recent novels. "Diaspora" is probably what most people start with. Check out "The Planck Dive" for a short story sample.</ontopic>

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

I might also suggest Steve Jordan's "Factory Orbit", a favorite of mine, but I just now discovered his web site (and ebook store) is down for "significant restructuring of the business model"

Ask him if you want (he is here). I got the impression the website might not have been supporting itself, so this could be a matter of cutting his losses.

I'd be surprised if he gave up completely without e.g. switching to SmashWords. But there'd be a lot of compromises there; I don't see him rushing into it.

Silly to drop the blog though. I assume he had an RSS feed for it; that would have helped get the word out when he rebooted the website. Even it was just a redirect to somewhere else.

ardeegee · 08-13-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

Sometimes the political bearing of the author is quite present and can be disturbing if you don't adhere to it.
I had such problems with Dan Simmons' Ilium and Olympos.

What "political bearing" was in Ilium and Olympos? I can't remember one.

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08-12-2010, 09:48 PM	#31
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,195 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Some of Forward's books are available as ebooks from Baen Books. Also, you might check out some of James Hogan's books. Most of them are available from Baen Books. The Giant's series (Inherit the Stars is the first) is possibly his best known books. I really like the Genesis Machine, The Two Faces of Tomorrow and Thrice Upon a Time as well

08-13-2010, 03:30 AM	#38
Gaurnim Final Five n°42 Posts: 789 Karma: 3599 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon, France Device: Cybook Gen3	I would add Ben Bova's Grand Tour series, where he writes on human colonization of the solar system. I haven't read them all, as there are quite a few (cf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Bova#Grand_Tour), but I have liked a lot the ones I read (Mars, Return to Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, ...). I've had a quick look, I can't seem to find those ebooks on legal sites, though. A few of his other works are available on Baen or Fictionwise.

08-13-2010, 04:55 AM	#40
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	I couldn't get through Bova's 'Mars' - I found the Native American aspects too overbearing . Is it a recurring theme in his books?