Recommend a Sci-Fi Book
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My favorite writer ever is James Tiptree Jr. (real name Alice Sheldon -- she had a remarkable and complicated life).
Tiptree is a name that has sort of fallen through the cracks these days, but she was very important in her time, and most of her work is still insightful and inspiring today. One of the remarkable things about Tiptree is her ability to write in a variety of subgenres effectively: she had "hard" stories and "soft" stories, she wrote space opera and New Wave, she wrote cyberpunk before cyberpunk even really existed. Tiptree's writing is both thoughtful and loving. She embraces the vibrant idealism of old-school science fiction but tempers it with deep existential ambiguity; she wields the conventions of the genre skillfully but isn't afraid to repudiate its cliches.
Thematically, Tiptree is pretty heavy -- I'd say she's all about death: the death of a species, the death of a culture, the death of hope and desire, the death of personality, death as something to be feared and death as something to be embraced.
The short story anthology Her Smoke Rose Up Forever is a great read. I'd recommend it for readers who like Dick, LeGuinn, or Harlan Ellison even a little bit. It's also a good fit for folks interested in stories that deal with psychology, culture, and gender.
-- Alex
Tiptree is a name that has sort of fallen through the cracks these days, but she was very important in her time, and most of her work is still insightful and inspiring today. One of the remarkable things about Tiptree is her ability to write in a variety of subgenres effectively: she had "hard" stories and "soft" stories, she wrote space opera and New Wave, she wrote cyberpunk before cyberpunk even really existed. Tiptree's writing is both thoughtful and loving. She embraces the vibrant idealism of old-school science fiction but tempers it with deep existential ambiguity; she wields the conventions of the genre skillfully but isn't afraid to repudiate its cliches.
Thematically, Tiptree is pretty heavy -- I'd say she's all about death: the death of a species, the death of a culture, the death of hope and desire, the death of personality, death as something to be feared and death as something to be embraced.
The short story anthology Her Smoke Rose Up Forever is a great read. I'd recommend it for readers who like Dick, LeGuinn, or Harlan Ellison even a little bit. It's also a good fit for folks interested in stories that deal with psychology, culture, and gender.
-- Alex
You should get some Harry Turtledove, his worldwar tetralogy is a really good read. He does alternate history writing and is easily one of the best at it. Worldwar in the Balance is the first in the series.Arachon said:
here is a bit from wiki about the series
The premise of the series is an alien invasion of Earth in the middle of World War II. The military invasion begins on or around May 30, 1942, but the aliens, who call themselves the Race, reached Earth orbit in December 1941. Presumably, six months were spent making preparations for the attack.
Although the Race, a reptilian species, has the advantage of superior technology, their last information on humans was collected by a robotic probe during the 12th century. Their technology is only marginally ahead of 21st century Earth technology, and much of their equipment relies on basic principles still in use. The "Lizards," as their human antagonists quickly dub them, are extremely surprised that humankind has progressed so far since their probe visited Earth. No species they have ever encountered has advanced so rapidly: they thought the toughest military force on the planet would still be Crusader knights on horses.
On finding the real situation, the commander of the alien fleet considers turning back and asking for fresh instructions but feels that he would lose face if he does.
The narrative follows the intersecting fortunes of a large number of human and alien characters. Most notably the series depicts how the Axis and Allied powers must cooperate to fight the alien menace. A follow-up trilogy, Colonization, carries the story forward into a very different 1960s. The timeline ends with Homeward Bound.
Ooooh SO Many
Eisenhorn, Gaunts Ghosts, First men in the moon, Have Space Suit, Will Travel, I, Robot, The moon is a harsh mistress, Ender's game, The Ghost Brigades (meh, I don't like it so far), and if you really are pressed for something, Area 51 or patron Saint of plagues
I take a Sci-fi English course at my school
EDIT and I almost forgot, Anything in "The Brick" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IT5OQG/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0312336608&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1N0FSR34KV31B14X44P4
They are pretty good short Sci-fi stories
Eisenhorn, Gaunts Ghosts, First men in the moon, Have Space Suit, Will Travel, I, Robot, The moon is a harsh mistress, Ender's game, The Ghost Brigades (meh, I don't like it so far), and if you really are pressed for something, Area 51 or patron Saint of plagues
I take a Sci-fi English course at my school
EDIT and I almost forgot, Anything in "The Brick" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IT5OQG/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0312336608&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1N0FSR34KV31B14X44P4
They are pretty good short Sci-fi stories
I agree. Bradbury is a great writer.Gfan_00 said:
Also, if he likes short stories, get Martian Chronicles and Illustrated Man. Both are by Bradbury and both are some of his best.
Strongly seconded. If he is interested in the military or politics at all, this is the perfect novel. Its much different (better) than the movie.LeeHarveyO said:
reading the Halo books was much more satisfying than the storylines in the games. they really arent too bad.
Damn you, I thought I was going to be original by saying this. But yes, it's an awesome book.Firia said:Buy Neal Stephenson greatest cyberpunk work, "Snow Crash." (others would contest that Cryptonomicon was the best. I say, close second.)
The book is actually a fairly high-quality book as I remember it, nothing like the camp and silliness of the movie. And Ender's Game was fantastic.The Hairminator said:
YES! It's set in a post-apocalyptic, steampunk inspired world where a system dubbed "Municipal darwinism" is in effect. This basically involves cities being built on traction wheels, roaming around the destroyed earth and eating each other. You HAVE to read this book. Trust me.
Agreed, and adding Tunnel in the Sky specifically.revjay said:
Also E.E. Doc Smith's "Lensmen" series. Hugo Award winning SciFi, though it was based on some science since disproven. Supposedly there's going to be a movie based on them coming up.
"The Forever War" is a fantastic Sci-Fi novel.
Features impressive themes and unique story mechanics and a nice bite-sized length.
Features impressive themes and unique story mechanics and a nice bite-sized length.
Whatever you do, ASK HIM if he's read a book before you buy it for him. A lot of the people on this thread are recommending classics; while they're undoubtably great books, if he's a fan of the classic sc-fi as you said, there's a very good chance that he's already read them.
For example, I won't be the first to recommend Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. That's one of THE classics of sci-fi literature, so there's a very good chance he'd have already read it, but find out and if he hasn't, get it for him.
My best friend would swear by David Weber's 'Honor Harrington' series, but I've never read it. I have, however, read his 'Dahak trilogy', starting with Mutineer's Moon, and would recommend that, although I do find Weber gets a touch obsessed with describing gory scenes in unnecessary detail.
I'd also recommend Stephen Baxter's Raft. I haven't read the rest of the 'Xeelee sequence' it started, but it was certainly a unique book as far as universe-building goes.
For example, I won't be the first to recommend Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. That's one of THE classics of sci-fi literature, so there's a very good chance he'd have already read it, but find out and if he hasn't, get it for him.
My best friend would swear by David Weber's 'Honor Harrington' series, but I've never read it. I have, however, read his 'Dahak trilogy', starting with Mutineer's Moon, and would recommend that, although I do find Weber gets a touch obsessed with describing gory scenes in unnecessary detail.
I'd also recommend Stephen Baxter's Raft. I haven't read the rest of the 'Xeelee sequence' it started, but it was certainly a unique book as far as universe-building goes.
Any of the Ender's Game Saga by Orson Scott Card. Ender's Game is easily one of the best books i have ever read.
I know people have already mentioned these, but I'll second them. William Gibson's Sprawl trilogy (among his other works) and Neal Stephenson's stuff (snow crash is a particularly good read). those guys make some nice cyberpunk literature.
I love the Miles Vorkosigan adventures by Lois McMasters Bujold. A mix of all the best elements in fiction.