Hard Science Fiction suggestions - Page 2

AlexC · 11-19-2008, 12:03 AM

If you're interested in hard science fiction, Alison Sinclair might be worth a look-up. There's an interesting article online about world building and science in her novel Blueheart: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/blueheart.htm

Peadar Ó Guilín · 11-19-2008, 05:44 AM

I notice that garygibsonsf has been too shy to recommend his own excellent Stealing Light, which is available as an ebook from waterstones for the sony if you follow the link. I'm not sure if there's a kindle edition about the place, but you can always demand one from amazon. This is hard SF, but perhaps not "hard as nails".

I would not have been so shy to mention my own book if it were hard enough for you, but I doubt it

Definitely fitting that description is Blindsight by Peter Watts, but I can only find it as a kindle edition, unfortunately. However, earlier books of his are available for free on the download section of this forum.

tHeFiRsTiDioT · 11-19-2008, 07:30 AM

Vernor Vinge with his A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky
Robert Buettner with his Orphanage series if you like your SF a la Starship Troopers

I am a big fan of Richard Morgan and his Takeshi Kovacs series.

igorsk · 11-19-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peadar Ó Guilín

Definitely fitting that description is Blindsight by Peter Watts, but I can only find it as a kindle edition, unfortunately. However, earlier books of his are available for free on the download section of this forum.

Haven't looked too hard, have you?
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21540

Peadar Ó Guilín · 11-19-2008, 09:40 AM

I hang my head in shame

My only excuse is... *quickly leaves room*

KindleDude · 11-19-2008, 09:43 AM

Great topic--I've recently been reading Scalzi and Richard Morgan and I recently re-acquainted myself with Vernor Vinge through the Kindle edition of Fire in the Sky (all of whom are mentioned above).

I would add to this list Chris Moriarty--Spin Control. Emergent systems, AI's, a conflict between humans on a dying earth and space-born genetic constructs, and a spy story as well -- all told with a great writing style and attention to detail and character.

igorsk · 11-19-2008, 10:49 AM

Transhuman - a collection of short stories from Baen.

bill_mchale · 11-19-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tHeFiRsTiDioT

Vernor Vinge with his A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky
Robert Buettner with his Orphanage series if you like your SF a la Starship Troopers

I am a big fan of Richard Morgan and his Takeshi Kovacs series.

Hmmm.. I really liked A Fire Upon the Deep, but I am not sure I would consider it Hard SF. Though set in the same universe (actually something of a prequel), A Deepness in the Sky is closer to Hard SF.

There are some really cool ideas in A Fire Upon the Deep, but certain aspects of it are too far out of our current understanding of the Universe to make it hard.

--
Bill

DixieGal · 11-19-2008, 11:33 AM

[QUOTE=tHeFiRsTiDioT;292116]Vernor Vinge with his A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky

I'm with McHale here. I LOVE those, but wonder if it is true hard scifi.

Don't start with Blind Sight. It's #4 in the series. Start with Starfish, Maelstrom, Behemoth, then Blind Sight. I'm slowly making my way thru the series, and it is great. Now if I only had 5 uninterrupted minutes to actually read them!

mgrunk · 11-19-2008, 06:14 PM

I am so excited - what a great list of books - in browsing them, some just jumped out as exactly what I was looking for - and - I love finding new authors for me. Thanks again. I made a list of all the recommendations.

Donnageddon · 11-19-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

John Scalzi is the new Heinlein.

Check Ray Gun Revival, too. Some good reads there for fans of hard SF.

Thanks for the ray gun revival link! Good stuff!

tHeFiRsTiDioT · 11-19-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I'm with McHale here. I LOVE those, but wonder if it is true hard scifi.

N00b question, but how do you define true hard sci-fi?

CleverClothe · 11-19-2008, 11:12 PM

How about some appetizers first, here are some short story suggestions.

Becoming Elijah by Bob Meads
Dinosaurs by Walter Jon Williams
Life Hutch by Harlan Ellison
Quarks at Appomattox by Charles L. Harness
Think Like a Dinosaur by James Patrick Kelly

Main course, novels.
Artifact by Gregory Benford

You didn't mention everything you had read, but I hope you have read Greg Bear's Eon, Legacy and Eternity; and Asimov's robot stories.

tHeFiRsTiDioT · 11-19-2008, 11:25 PM

Surprisingly, no mention of Arthur C Clarke?

tompe · 11-20-2008, 06:30 AM

[QUOTE=DixieGal;292262]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tHeFiRsTiDioT

Don't start with Blind Sight. It's #4 in the series. Start with Starfish, Maelstrom, Behemoth, then Blind Sight. I'm slowly making my way thru the series, and it is great. Now if I only had 5 uninterrupted minutes to actually read them!

I do not think that is true. Check out http://www.rifters.com/ were you see that Blindsight is in a different time line and not in the same series. I have only read Blindsight and Starfish and I do not remember any overlap at all.

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11-19-2008, 12:03 AM	#16
AlexC Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 737 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver Device: Apple iPad; iRex iLiad	If you're interested in hard science fiction, Alison Sinclair might be worth a look-up. There's an interesting article online about world building and science in her novel Blueheart: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/blueheart.htm

11-19-2008, 05:44 AM	#17
Peadar Ó Guilín Author of The Inferior Posts: 121 Karma: 200001 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 (soon...)	I notice that garygibsonsf has been too shy to recommend his own excellent Stealing Light, which is available as an ebook from waterstones for the sony if you follow the link. I'm not sure if there's a kindle edition about the place, but you can always demand one from amazon. This is hard SF, but perhaps not "hard as nails". I would not have been so shy to mention my own book if it were hard enough for you, but I doubt it Definitely fitting that description is Blindsight by Peter Watts, but I can only find it as a kindle edition, unfortunately. However, earlier books of his are available for free on the download section of this forum.

11-19-2008, 07:30 AM	#18
tHeFiRsTiDioT Random Reader of Rubbish Posts: 57 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: Dell Axim X50v, Sony PRS 505, HTC Incredible, Pocketbook IQ	Vernor Vinge with his A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky Robert Buettner with his Orphanage series if you like your SF a la Starship Troopers I am a big fan of Richard Morgan and his Takeshi Kovacs series.

11-19-2008, 09:40 AM	#20
Peadar Ó Guilín Author of The Inferior Posts: 121 Karma: 200001 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 (soon...)	I hang my head in shame My only excuse is... quickly leaves room

11-19-2008, 09:43 AM	#21
KindleDude Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 172 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Kindle	Great topic--I've recently been reading Scalzi and Richard Morgan and I recently re-acquainted myself with Vernor Vinge through the Kindle edition of Fire in the Sky (all of whom are mentioned above). I would add to this list Chris Moriarty--Spin Control. Emergent systems, AI's, a conflict between humans on a dying earth and space-born genetic constructs, and a spy story as well -- all told with a great writing style and attention to detail and character.

11-19-2008, 10:49 AM	#22
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Transhuman - a collection of short stories from Baen.

11-19-2008, 11:33 AM	#24
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	[QUOTE=tHeFiRsTiDioT;292116]Vernor Vinge with his A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky I'm with McHale here. I LOVE those, but wonder if it is true hard scifi. Don't start with Blind Sight. It's #4 in the series. Start with Starfish, Maelstrom, Behemoth, then Blind Sight. I'm slowly making my way thru the series, and it is great. Now if I only had 5 uninterrupted minutes to actually read them!

11-19-2008, 06:14 PM	#25
mgrunk Zealot Posts: 130 Karma: 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: metro Atlanta, GA Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	I am so excited - what a great list of books - in browsing them, some just jumped out as exactly what I was looking for - and - I love finding new authors for me. Thanks again. I made a list of all the recommendations.

11-19-2008, 11:12 PM	#28
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	How about some appetizers first, here are some short story suggestions. Becoming Elijah by Bob Meads Dinosaurs by Walter Jon Williams Life Hutch by Harlan Ellison Quarks at Appomattox by Charles L. Harness Think Like a Dinosaur by James Patrick Kelly Main course, novels. Artifact by Gregory Benford You didn't mention everything you had read, but I hope you have read Greg Bear's Eon, Legacy and Eternity; and Asimov's robot stories.

11-19-2008, 11:25 PM	#29
tHeFiRsTiDioT Random Reader of Rubbish Posts: 57 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2007 Device: Dell Axim X50v, Sony PRS 505, HTC Incredible, Pocketbook IQ	Surprisingly, no mention of Arthur C Clarke?