Recommendations for Sci Fi Genre

[nihilist]

In the near future, I plan to find novels of some new authors of science fiction. My repertoire so far consists of novels of William Gibson, Neal Stephension, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett. My personal favorite is Neuromancer by Gibson.

Do any of you have any recommendations for serious, cerebral, analytical science fiction writers?

[Warrior413]

Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Gordon R. Dickson.

[cjs55]

Asimov and Dick are probably my two favorites, but maybe not in the vein you are looking for (especially Dick).

[kuranes]

I've said it before . . . China Mieville. If you're looking strictly for neo-realistic gritty cyberpunk though, you might find only part of each of his stories to your liking. He's gritty but only slightly realistic in the books I've read. Much more realistic than something like Tolkien, though. The best novel of Mieville's to start with is "Perdido Street Station".

Philip K. Dick was mentioned. A great writer. Dick is not usually neo-realist either, but he does have one novel that fits that description. It's called "A Scanner Darkly".

( Ms. ) Pat Cadigan would be to your liking. Much of John Shirley. K.W. Jeter wrote some books you might like. All three usually very dark.

Moving briefly beyond "neo-real", Bruce Sterling's later work is extremely plausible, to the point that it is more "real" than anyone I can think of at the moment.

Retreating from "gritty" and advancing neo-realism quite a few years into the future is David Brin and Greg Bear. Brin's "Uplift" series in this regard. Bear's "Eon" series similarly. Bear writes fantasy too, more often than Brin. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle together wrote a classic called "The Mote in God's Eye". Highly recommended. The sequel to it was nowhere near as good, IMHO. Robert Charles Wilson. Stephen Baxter.

Greg Egan's work feels like sci-fi as written by an author taking a break from the old "Scientific American" editing team. So "technical" sometimes that you have to remind yourself that it's just being made up. For that reason Egan would be very much the acquired taste.

Somebody that would be hard to categorize the way i've been doing so far is Tim Powers, and yet I feel he should be mentioned in this crowd for some reason. His "Last Call" was fun, and my favorite of his, but might not be to your liking. Of my recommendations it would not be the first I would read if I were you.

That's enough to start with. K

[CoHo]

My personal favorite is Neuromancer by Gibson.

You could try the books that predate Neuromancer:

John Brunner
The Sheep Look Up
Stand on Zanzibar
The Shockwave Rider

These three books predate Neuromancer and were influential to the books that spawned the Cyberpunk movement of the early 80's (especially The Shockwave Rider).

You could get into Steam Punk and read The Difference Engine written by Gibson and Bruce Sterling. Probably one of the most hated Gibson books.

[Shai Gar]

Raymond E Feist
Terry Pratchett
M Weiss & T Hickman

[jimkopelli]

Robert Heinlein
Damn, beat me to it. The major ones, required reading, though... Stranger in a Strange Land, Time Enough For Love, and any of the Future History stuff.

Spider Robinson is like the literary bastard son of Heinlein... if you like Pratchett and Adams, you'd like him. Warning... he puns.

Orson Scott Card... for Ender's Game and the related Bean (Ender's Shadow, etc)series... not so much so for the rest of the Ender's Game series, though.

Other than that... Pohl, Niven, Clarke, more as I think of them.

[Dunearhp]

Theodore Sturgeon. My favourite short story is his "Slow Sculpture".

I found a list of short stories. The listmaker is spot on for all of the stories that I am familiar with.
http://www.cornerstonemag.com/imaginarium/features/favestories.html

[codeElemental]

A couple of specifics suggestions since you've already got Gibson, Stephenson and Adams covered...

Queen of Angels - Greg Bear
The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov


I also recently read "The Demolished Man" by Alfred Bester, which was a decent read.

[kuranes]

A couple of specifics suggestions since you've already got Gibson, Stephenson and Adams covered...

Queen of Angels - Greg Bear
The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov


I also recently read "The Demolished Man" by Alfred Bester, which was a decent read.
Queen of Angels was fucking great when it got to the part where he had to go into the psychotic's mind. Later there was a movie made ( "The Cell" was it's name I think? cool soundtrack with Moroccan horns in it ) with that same idea, but it just had a few good scenes.

"Demolished Man" was great, too. My favorite Bester by far. Much better than his "Stars Our Destination" which always gets the rave reviews.

Haven't read the Asimov. Have to keep an eye out for it. I read his Foundation series and "I, Robot" and some of the classic shorts that he wrote which make it in to all the biggie anthologies. But he just never grabbed me the way some others do.

With the exception of Pratchett ( I haven't read yet, but think I sort of grok anyway ) and Adams, the authors originally picked seemed to represent a certain TYPE of SF and fantasy, which is why I chose the ones I did in my list. As far as just general Sf/fantasy recommendations the list would be awfully long. It was an unusual combo of names to start with, especially with Adams being associated more with humor than the others.

K

[kuranes]

Theodore Sturgeon. My favourite short story is his "Slow Sculpture".

I found a list of short stories. The listmaker is spot on for all of the stories that I am familiar with.
http://www.cornerstonemag.com/imaginarium/features/favestories.html
I've been meaning to find out more about Sturgeon.

I was talking to Ligotti one day and he mentioned a story called "It". I thought of the story by that name by Sturgeon, which was the first of his I had ever read. So I said "You mean that one with the great illustrations by Lee Brown Coye in the old Derleth anthology?" Tom laughed, and he said "To your credit you're thinking of Sturgeon. I was thinking of the Stephen King story."

I also read a short story by Ted called "Bianca's Hands" that was included in an anthology of stories that were considered too horrifying for publication when they were originally presented.

An old girlfriend persuaded me to read Sturgeon's "Some of Your Blood", also. He struck me more as a writer of psychological horror than Sci-Fi or Fantasy, but I know there's lots more. "Microcosmic God" was modified and made into the pilot episode for the second series of The Outer Limits, "The Sand Kings", written for that by a different writer who got away with changing a few things around and then putting his name on it.

Cool new avatar. I'll have to check out your list.

K

[coffeezombie]

I've read some Ligotti in the past. He's a good writer who writes horror like it should be written, if you ask me... more eerieness and less shock value. It sounds like you have some interesting friends, Kuranes. Are you a writer yourself?

[kuranes]

I've read some Ligotti in the past. He's a good writer who writes horror like it should be written, if you ask me... more eerieness and less shock value. It sounds like you have some interesting friends, Kuranes. Are you a writer yourself?


I'm a "writer" who hasn't had much published. Right now i'm more of a dilettante. I finally got off my duff and started producing some art, though, versus just collecting other people's creations and talking about it. However my writing lately has consisted of "ideas for stories" and logging particularly strange dreams. Typical unfocused INTP behavior that I'm kind of embarassed about, to tell you the truth. I'm a big collector of other people's stuff, and have been for 40 years or so. I have one book that actually was HPL's personal copy, signed. I was more in my writing mode a couple years ago, inspired by Raymond Carver and Brautigan.

You're right about mood evocation being more important than detailed "splatter" descriptions in horror. I could write quite a bit on that subject. Some of the early Clive Barker stuff was still good, though. Once a year or so I visit with Stephen Jones ( www.herebedragons.co.uk ) when he comes to town, and hear the latest. He was Barker's publicist, among other things. One evening it was him, Forry Ackerman, Ramsey Campbell, and some local characters like me all hanging out here in Chicago. I'd be lying if I told you they or Tom Ligotti were my close "friends" though. ( I am a very marginal footnote right now to those guys. Perhaps that will change. ) At the time they were here, Ramsey told me he had just seen the first Blair Witch, and thought it was neat how it could scare without ever even showing any overt threat.

I am sad to tell you that I just heard Brian McNoughton passed away recently. Another great writer of our own time who labored in the shadows most of his life. ( I am not including myself in this company by saying "another". ) I would love to contact his estate and see about preserving works that might otherwise be lost.

How about you? Art appreciator AND art creator? Any ambitions in that regard - writing, images etc. ?

K

[omega04]

Stanislaw Lem - you can't get past him if you are serious about SF. "Tales of Pirx the Pilot" are a good start, I guess.

[coffeezombie]

I haven't been reading contemporary "horror" as much as I should lately, Kuranes. It was just something I did at one time. Clive Barker is definitely talented but I could never get into him as much as some of my friends did at the time due to his very graphic descriptions. I read more for the mood and sense of eerie mystery, I suppose.

About the writing thing, I am terrible at coming up with ideas and outlining them into a story in my mind or on paper as well. I've found I've had the best success writing just whatever is in my head out and then organizing and adding to it later. It's a very P-like way to write, but, in my opinion, most writers tend to be more of J's. And no, I'm not a writer, as I suppose I've always subscribed to the notion that one shouldn't write unless one really *needs* to write. I've never felt the strong need. Perhaps that is wrong of me because I'm sure many INTP's could write some excellent stuff if they were willing to work through the hassle of writing and perfecting.

[bionicgoat]

I used to be way into Greg Bear but now I find his style to stiff... his ideas are good though.
Another great cyberpunkist is Rudy Rucker, especially the 'ware series.
I'm not all that into his other books but Frank Herbert's Dune series in phenominal.
My current favorite is Phillip K Dick, his writting style is sloppy and most of his science is based more on schitzophenic delusion than anything else, but somehow he captures everything cyberpunk without being cyberpunk.

My all time favorite book is Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling. I've read at least three copies of this book to shreds and I still keep coming back to it every few months.

[WongNumber7]

If you like Pratchett then read Good Omens. He wrote it with Neil Gaiman. The end of the world should always be taken with good humor.

[Tayshaun]

Dune
Foundation

I hadn't read them only a few weeks ago. They have been fantastic reads. You can't go wrong with them.

[2ds]

Acellerando by charles stross is a fucking powerhouse, infact he is a powerhouse but I think acellerando is his best work. It's also availible free online.

No excuses for not reading.

[Trystorp]

Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars

[bluebell]

Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow. I really really want to reread them (read cover to cover twice in a row, both books) but a) I know that I *won't* be able to move till I finish reading them and b) I won't get anything done for weeks after cos I'll be in the books in my head. These are the most powerful books I've ever read. Only discovered these books last year.

Frank Herbert Dune series. The GodMakers. Really good.

Ursula K Le Guin Tales of the Dispossessed.

Stanislaw Lem is definitely a cerebral scifi author, but I got bored of the characters having, well, no character. But Tales of Pirx the Pilot is readable.

[Logician]

I just finished Mindscan by Robert J Sawyer, and I'd recommend it. Takes place in the not so distant future where the wealthy can have a scan of their brain taken, and put into an android that looks like them. Thus becoming immortal. Philosophy discussion insues about wheather they're human or not, and it's done in an entertaing well written method.

Also recommend Ender's Game if you haven't had the luxury of reading that yet.

[Nightning]

I'm not sure what kind of sci fic you're looking for by try Larry Niven's Rainbow Mars. It explores what could potentially happen if a time machine was built. Time exploration to Mars leading to a series of events.

[meanlittlechimp]

Writers:
Philip K Dick
Ray Bradbury

Books
Ender's game (the other books, in the series, are rehashed versions of the same story - kind of like the tv series 24, that being said, I read and loved them anyways)
Stormbringer I can't give a literary reason why, but when I read it when I was 12, it gave me goosebumps.

[Theodoret]

Iain M Banks has written some good sci-fi. Its space opera, sure, but its very thoughtful space opera. Of his books, Use of Weapons and Look to Windward are probably the best, although none of his sci-fi books are duff. He also writes regular fiction, of which I would recommend The Crow Road, Walking on Glass and Whit.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, and (of course) 1984 by George Orwell would be the two best sci-fi books I have ever read. Of course the Literati have graciously promoted them from sci-fi to literature.

[Zwoop]

An underrated writer not mentioned yet is David Zindell and his Neverness series of novels. A bit of a heavy read at times, but makes some fairly ambitious steps into philosophy, science and religion as well as creating some interesting and unusual characters. Recommended.

I'd also recommend Stephen Donaldson's "Gap" series of books, they're not really hard science fiction, but from a character and thematic point of view, they're an amazing read. Although the last book in the series almost ruined it for me - the ending is a little too neat and doesn't ring true, but the four books leading up to it are a great ride into the dark side of humanity.

[outmywindow]

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Yes, just be sure to read the original version with 21 chapters, not the chopped version which omits the last chapter. The difference between the two is striking, to say the least.

[Jivinjeffjones]

I quite enjoyed Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

[jimkopelli]

Ok, that's freaking weird. I was reading this thread because it had been bumped... and then stumbled across one of my own posts from almost exactly two years ago.

And then a few posts above that, where kuranes recommends Perdido Street Station... I just read that about a month ago, but the name didn't mean anything to me the first time I'd seen this thread.

Ah well, in a big enough internet any coincidence is certainty.

[kuranes]

Ok, that's freaking weird. I was reading this thread because it had been bumped... and then stumbled across one of my own posts from almost exactly two years ago.

And then a few posts above that, where kuranes recommends Perdido Street Station... I just read that about a month ago, but the name didn't mean anything to me the first time I'd seen this thread.

Ah well, in a big enough internet any coincidence is certainty.

Do you agree with me that it's worth reading ?

[SensEye]

Do you agree with me that it's worth reading ?I read that too, partly based on your recommendation. It is good. However, I read the other two by that author and was somewhat disappointed. They weren't awful, but only so-so.

[kuranes]

I read that too, partly based on your recommendation. It is good. However, I read the other two by that author and was somewhat disappointed. They weren't awful, but only so-so.

Yes. I've read some other things by him that fell short of the quality in "Perdido Street Station" also. I usually qualify my endorsement of China Mieville by saying that. "Iron Council" had its moments but didn't have the depth of "Perdido". "The Scar" was better than "Iron Council" but it, too, was unsatisfying in ways. I haven't read "King Rat" or the new one "The Kraken" yet. He sometimes lets his agenda about the advantages of Socialism get in the way of the story.

Neil Gaiman can be that way too. I really liked "Neverwhere"; and "Stardust" and "American Gods" were both fun, too. I thought "Anansi Boys" was only so-so, and I just read his new collection "Fragile Things" which only has had a couple stories I like so far. I haven't tried his books for children. ( In Neil's case the fault has nothing to do with Socialism. )

Philip K. Dick has some real stinkers in his inventory too, that he cranked out as potboilers. It was especially hard in those days to actually make a living writing science fiction. "Galactic Pot Healer" was terrible.

As Jack Vance got older and older I noticed that his books lacked the snap they once had, too. I suppose that we can make allowances for such an old soldier, though. His earlier stories about "Cugel the Clever" seem to be quintessential INTP, in many ways. I could imagine Hustler as Cugel, and busted out laughing at these juxtapositions at times. My favorite story by him may be "The Moon Moth".

[Cockroach]

I can have fun with anything by A.E Van Vogt. If you're a fan of Dick, you should try him.

[Ivy]

If you're a fan of Dick

Heh. Heheheheheh. Heheheh.

To avoid making a completely vapid post: I don't think I've seen Margaret Atwood mentioned yet, although I did just scan the thread. Some interesting stuff there.

[cut the grass]

ender's shadow is a real treat too

[Zane19]

PIERS ANTHONY, RAY BRADBURY.

[Valeria]

The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

[Sojourner]

Neil Gaiman can be that way too. I really liked "Neverwhere"; and "Stardust" and "American Gods" were both fun, too. I thought "Anansi Boys" was only so-so, and I just read his new collection "Fragile Things" which only has had a couple stories I like so far. I haven't tried his books for children.

!!

How odd. I liked Anansi Boys better than American Gods. No solid reasons, though - you?

[Methofelis]

PIERS ANTHONY

I love that man.

I'm also a fan of Alan Dean Foster. Some wonderful work there, I'm re-reading 'Parallelities' right now.

There is also another author that isn't terribly well known -- His name is Dennis Danvers. His book 'Circuits of Heaven' is quite good. Yes, it can get a little mushy at times, but still makes you think.

[Kelric]

Might also try Vinge, either Vernor or Joan (ex-husband/wife, I believe). Vernor's more SF-ish, where Joan's more fantasy-ish in a sci-fi setting, but I've enjoyed books by both. Unfortunately they tend to publish slowly - you're not going to find heaps and heaps of books by either.

[excession]

for those reading China Mieville (enjoyed Perdido Street Station but don't particularly rate him as a great author) you might also like to consider M. John Harrison. he is a god and one of my all time favourites and i read an interview with China some time ago who lists him as an influence. His best books are just fucking unbelievable poetry - Light is my favourite but see also the sequel or even his older stuff Viriconium (sort of fantasy that clearly influenced Mieville) or the very old Centauri Device

Ian M banks - Excession (hence my moniker) and many others

Stephen Baxter - the older stuff is the most satisfying, particularly the Xelee sequence, although i think i've read virtually his entire output

too many others to name - many already mentioned by others (very accurate description of the Gap series above)

[Fingers]

It's probably been mentioned before in the thread but Hyperion is an amazing amazing book.

Also Only Forward, Spares and One Of Us by Michael Marshall Smith and Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, all good.

[mortabunt]

Frank Herbert, read his Dune series, or I will take your water for the tribe!

[egregious cerebrum]

Frank Herbert was a genius. I don't know if he really fit into that IQ range, but whatever. He might as well have. Asimov's Foundation series is good too. Books 4 and 5 are questionable, but I enjoyed them.