SciFi discussion - Science Fiction

[Jim Howe]

books, bah humbug!

Where do you find time to read? My god this is the 21 century. Needless to say My scifi comes from movies, DVD's, tapes and TV reruns. MY favorite scifi movie series is the Rocky and Rambo series.
Aw come on bear with me!

This guy has to be some sort of a super duper robot to take on the combined forces of the soviet union in Afganistan and win!

 

[lindal]

You already have most of my faves. I was going to post the Ender series by Card but someone beat me. How about Card's Alvin Journeyman series? I'm not much for the alternate history sort of SF but this is set in the US midwest (Wobbish River instead of Wabash) so I got interested.

I am just reading this series now. After enjoying his kids in space series, I quit following him. Alvin Maker is a highly addictive series though. I also (guilt guilt, guilt) am reading the last book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It's got some terrible plot holes, but is still good. The other series I follow is the wheel of time series by Robert Jordan series. Which is also something I try not to talk about in polite company.

Is there anything out there that is comparable to Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide series? I can't think of SF that actually is funny or witty. I've heard that the Jasper Fforde books are good, but are more literary in-jokes rather than humor.

-L

 

[Kevin H]

Some additional authors

Count me in as a dedicated science fiction/fantasy fan since the mid 60's. Some authors I've not seen mentioned are Eric Flint - he has an alternate world series started where a slice of West Virginia gets transferred to Germany (Thuringia) during the 30 years war - Beginning title in the series is 1632. David Weber has a lot of good military science fiction out - too many to mention. For modern fantasy, I like the books by Charles de Lint, a Canadian writer - his world is based in Canada and populated by different elements from the supernatural of the cultures that are interacting in it - you may get a story where manitou interact with "The Gentlemen" ( a Celtic way of referring to Faerie) along with individuals who can perceive both and some who may percieve/believe in neither. Garth Nix is a new fantasy author I ran acrost at this year's Pennsic War (for any SCA members) an Australian - the first book in one of his series is Sabriel. Another good author with an oriental slant is Lian Hern - the first book in his series that I ran across is: Across the Nightingale Floor. C. J. Cherryh also has an interesting science fiction series going - the first one is titled: Foreigner, told from a slightly different viewpoint - humans have been placed on a world as a colony, but are not the dominant species, though they have a higher technology base (and fewer resources). She's also written some good fantasy books.

I've read most of the other authors listed-chronic book worm, plus can finish a typical s-f novel in a long evening - about 4/5 hours. I'll try to chime in with some other suggestions later.
Regards,
Kevin

 

[Hershal]

Folks, I am an unashamed HARD CORE Trekkie/Trekker (whatever we are, maybe I'm both). I like all 6 series and all 10 movies.

I loved the new twist on Enterprise this past Friday night....season opener. They have been playing with temporal issues for awhile now, and finally jumped all the way in. The Temporal Cold War has blown into an all-out shooting match it seems.

I like Star Wars too. For those who may not know, there has been an on-going discussion for some time as to who would win a war between ST and SW.

I like other sci-fi too, these are just my main interests.

Hershal

 

[Ron Rompen]

Anyone remember this story?

I watched 'The Day after Tomorrow' last nite, and it reminded me (vaguely) of an SF story I had read many many years ago.

The basic premise of the story was that the earth had moved further away from the sun, causing a global freeze.

The scene that sticks most in my mind was of people leaving their apartment building, and going outside to shovel OXYGEN (yeah, the science on this story left a little to be desired).

However, I'd still like to read the story again, to revisit it, because I -=DID=- enjoy it.

Anyone remember what it was, and hopefuly the author?

 

[Randy]

Shovel Oxygen? Ho-boy

I've been well below -100 F (windchill) and there is no way any movie maker will make be believe that story. The O2 would be liquid before it froze and I've seen lizards, frogs and mice plopped into liguid Nitrogen...they stop moving real quick.

They must think we're all smokin' that stuff they ain't sharing......

 

[Wes Bucey]

I vaguely recall the premise as well. It has to be more than 20 years old, maybe closer to 40 years or more in its first publication (I've been reading this stuff since WWII.) Although it seems like a natural for Heinlein or Asimov, I'm pretty sure it is NOT theirs.

If it's the same one I'm thinking of, there were two factions (primitive survivors - the ones shoveling oxygen to bring inside to thaw and "science" types who had high tech equipment.) I sure don't remember much more either.

 

[Ron Rompen]

Wasn't Robert or Issaac....the 'hard science' was definitely missing on this one.

I recall it being about 40 yrs old, maybe a bit more. Came out about the same time as 'Star Light, Star Bright', which as I recall WAS by Asimov.

No two factions in this one (as I recall); it dealt strictly with one family, and covered maybe 2 (3 max) days of their existence.

 

[wmarhel]

As far as authors go almost anything by Raymond Feist is worth reading. He did co-write three books around characters in his series which left a bit to be desired.

I'm probably one of few who isn't a fan of Tolkien. The LotR movies were well done and I've seen the trailer for the "The Hobbit" which I'll definately go see, but the books aren't something I can honestly say I enjoyed reading.

A few other authors worth reading IMO:

Michael Moorecock

Robert Aspirin (Thieves World series)

H.P. Lovecraft

Robert E. Howard (his short stories especially which followed Lovecraft to some degree)

R.A. Salvatore

Weis and Hickman (the original Dragonlance Story)

 

[Wes Bucey]

As far as authors go almost anything by Raymond Feist is worth reading. He did co-write three books around characters in his series which left a bit to be desired.

I'm probably one of few who isn't a fan of Tolkien. The LotR movies were well done and I've seen the trailer for the "The Hobbit" which I'll definately go see, but the books aren't something I can honestly say I enjoyed reading.

A few other authors worth reading IMO:

Michael Moorecock

Robert Aspirin (Thieves World series)

H.P. Lovecraft

Robert E. Howard (his short stories especially which followed Lovecraft to some degree)

R.A. Salvatore

Weis and Hickman (the original Dragonlance Story)

I always made a distinction between "sword and sorcery" (Lord of the Rings stuff) and Sci-Fi (Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, etc.) even though the very best Sci-Fi in my mind was about the psychological consequences of vast universal themes with a modicum of "science" as the equivalent of Hitchcock's "McGuffin."

What I liked about Sword & Sorcery was the underlying theme of taking disparate characters (who were also "desperate") and making them into an effective team to accomplish the "quest." Certainly LOR was the foundation for the theme, while Conan the Barbarian stories almost make a mockery of the theme.

In the 50's, all of these stories (Sword & Sorcery, Sci-Fi, Gothic Horror, supernatural) were to be found in a bookstore section labeled "Fantasy & Science Fiction" and I spent many furtive hours reading collections of short stories crouched down in the aisle because I couldn't afford to buy the book and my library wouldn't carry such "trash." I was so happy when they started coming out directly in paperback and I could buy a 250 page book for only 3 times the cost of a 32 page comic book.