Tannhauser Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 donkey-chokers I've never come across that expression before. Donkey-chokers. Hmm. I resolve to start using it immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 Well we went round some charity shops today, cos Zoe wanted to get some more books as well. I picked up 2 of the 3 Mars trilogy (red now on order from Amazon - 32p), and Alastair Reynolds' Redemption Ark and Absolution Gap. Those should keep me going for a few years!!! Not that I'm in the slow readers group or anything, just don't get much time!! If I don't like them I'll probably try Pandora's Star (I'm getting the impression Hamilton will be a bit 'thick' though), or find the Foundation books if I can. I did have a look at Accelerando, but don't think I'll like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 Is it important to read sci-fi books in the right order? Or does each book work on it's own? Is it worth getting the first in a series? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith C Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 I'd forgotten about Reynolds! I personally prefer to read sci-fi series in chronological order. Failing that, at least in published order, as many authors will refer back to events in previous stories. So in your case yes, I would recommend getting hold of Revelation Space first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 anythng by phillip k dick would be a starting point I agree with others here, peter Hamilton is one of the leading sci fi auhors in the country right now. The nights dawn trilogy is quite large but whenever I've bought someone it they haven't complained Iain M Banks is always good with the Culture stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 So in your case yes, I would recommend getting hold of Revelation Space first What about Galactic North? I might ask for some for Christmas, Mybe Night's Dawn stuff and maybe some older ones as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 Anyone read Dean Koontz? I've been given Odd Thomas to read, the first few chapters are pretty good, not really sci-fi but still not bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I like Koontz, but he's a cookie-cutter writer - almost all his books follow the exact same pattern, just the names are changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Not really sci-fi in the whole 'dwarfs and elves' sense of the word, but can I recommend Chuck Palahniuk (yeah, the Fight Club guy); Rant Haunted Absolute crackers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbonut Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Definitely go along with Heinlin, Phillip K Dick. Ursula le Guin is more towards the fantasy genre but worth a look. Asimov is still King If you want to try something a bit off kilter, Terry Pratchet's disc world books are a strange but hilarious take on Sci-fi/fantasy with his own unique twist. Good thread, this, some 'new' authors to add to the list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 Been given a few Pratchet books as well, do they need to be read in order? Cos there are about a million discworld books!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Been given a few Pratchet books as well, do they need to be read in order? Cos there are about a million discworld books!!! yes, well no...each can be read by themselves, but you get a better feel for the characters if you read in order. The earlier ones were funnier anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 The Discworld books kind of go in sets, like ones featuring the Watchmen, ones following the 3 Witches, Death and so on. Those are slightly better read in order, but every book is an enjoyable read without knowing the history of some of the characters. I'm currently re-reading the Star Wars X-Wing books. They are well written and quite worth a look. Some of the other Star Wars books are a bit hit and miss, but that series keeps you interested. I'm more a fantasy fan than SF, so obviously Tolkien is high on my list, as are the Dragonlance books, Stephen Donaldson (although I've never managed to get past book 2 of the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant). Lovecraft is another favourite and in that genre, Ramsey Campbell is definately worth a look - Cold Print is a series of short Mythos tales and some of those are really creepy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I'm more a fantasy fan than SF, so obviously Tolkien is high on my list, as are the Dragonlance books, Stephen Donaldson (although I've never managed to get past book 2 of the Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant). Until a few years ago, I read nothing but fantasy stuff but never really got on with Tolkien. Thomas Covenant stuff was good though - would like to read that all again, but it would involve a lot of searching in my loft. Guy Gavriel Kay is pretty good - although the Fionavar Tapestry was way better than anything else he wrote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Rendar Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I like Koontz, but he's a cookie-cutter writer - almost all his books follow the exact same pattern, just the names are changed. Yeah, used to be a real fan. He is a bit formulaic, but does do a great job of doing psychotic/twisted bad guys and writing parts of the story from their perspective. False Memory is a great read. Again, not really sci fi... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 If you're into fantasy etc, I quite liked the Pern Dragon series by Anne McCaffrey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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