Sci-fi novels

[jebbo]

I used to read loads before I was with my ex and had got into Iain M Banks' 'Culture' sci-fi novels quite heavily. When I was with her I didn't read much but since we split I've got back into reading again. I bought his newest and was a bit underwhelmed so want to branch out to other authors but the thing is I don't really want to buy a bunch of duds.
I'm currently reading one called 'Eternal Light' by Paul McCann which I'm enjoying as it reminds me of Banks' work.

So my question is can anyone suggest some good sci-fi novels?

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Snow Crash
[b/]Dresden Files[/b]
Enders Game
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Dirk Gentry's Hollistic Detective Agency.
The Somnambulist (I wrote a review for that one on this site, not a comment though)
Good Humor Men
Webmage
The Jump Trilogy

 

[[Cold-Shoulder]]

Anything written by Orson Welles

 

[jebbo]

Snow Crash
Dresden Files

Who are those by? And what's a general quick blurb/rundown on them?

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Snow Crash
Dresden Files

Who are those by? And what's a general quick blurb/rundown on them?

Dresden Files- Jim Butcher.
He's a wizard for hire (in the yellow pages I might add) in 21st century chicago. Essentially the story of a magical vigilante taking down monsters that range from ancient native american gods to vampires. (And not those twilight douschebags)

Snow Crash- Neal Stephenson
The over dramatically badass narrative of a pizza deliveryman for the mafia armed with dual katanas. He's a hacker at night who trying to stop the spread of computer virus that can kill humans. There's also a guy who's badass enough to have a nuclear weapon attached to his motorcycle... seriously.

I added moar.

 

[pffh]

Anything by Asimov. You probably have read his stuff but if you haven't read them!

 

[Pezzer]

Dune
Artemis fowl ( if that counts)
A space oddesey, series
Dragons of pern, series
There are more but I can't think well at this hour.

 

[jebbo]

Snow Crash sounds particularly awesome.

I've read Hitch-hiker's and Dirk Gently, plus most of the Red Dwarf books and other Doug Naylor stuff like Colony, Incompetence. Ian Rankin's got a flair for the surreal and funny too, read Armageddon: The Musical, or Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse?

I was thinking more along the lines of 'serious' sci-fi, yaknow the kind of space-opera, galaxy spanning stuff when I posted though

 

[bigbrian206]

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. The title pretty much says it all.

 

[Knight Templar]

Foundation by Isaac Asimov.
It is an amazing book, just give it a try. Don't stop reading untill you finish the first chapter, the start is a little slow but the rest is gold.

Dragons of pern, series

I've read those, great books.

 

[jebbo]

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. The title pretty much says it all.

Is that where the film came from? I love that film! So shouldn't have been watching that kind of stuff when I was 11!

 

[Casual Shinji]

I haved realy read to many, but I gotta say that Jurasic Park was pretty good. A lot more clever and VOILENT then the movie.

 

[Raregolddragon]

I have issues with sci-fi novels, I believe that the story's are better or do better in Movie game or comic form.

Why well sometimes the books lose me when they describe the environment or setting, then there is the narration that tends to give you so much incite of the cast or world that you start seeing plot holes.

Just the issues I have with them, like them thought.

 

[jebbo]

I have issues with sci-fi novels, I believe that the story's are better or do better in Movie game or comic form.

Why well sometimes the books lose me when they describe the environment or setting, then there is the narration that tends to give you so much incite of the cast or world that you start seeing plot holes.

Just the issues I have with them, like them thought.

I think all that depends on the talent of the author to be honest. You could say the same about a lot of genres of writing. Or even games, comics and movies. If the author/director/whoever can't describe something well, create good dialogue or keep continuity then these pitfalls will get in the way of any piece of work

 

[Cama Zots]

Voyage of the Space Beagle
and
Ringworld -that one will surprise you, especially if you're a fan of Halo

 

[walls of cetepedes]

Would you be willing to branch out into Terry Pratchett?

 

[jebbo]

Would you be willing to branch out into Terry Pratchett?

I used to read Terry Pratchett when I was in school, theres still loads I haven't read though.

@CamaZots I've heard of Ringworld but never thought to pick it up. I remember reading Arthur C Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama as a teenager and that has a similar circular/ring landscape world, but it's within a satellite heading for Earth if I remember rightly

 

[walls of cetepedes]

Would you be willing to branch out into Terry Pratchett?

I used to read Terry Pratchett when I was in school, theres still loads I haven't read though.

Good. Try the rest, they are worth it, and are quite cheap online.

 

[undeadfly]

Check out the "Expendable" series by Jame Alan Gardner

Expendable
Vigilant
Hunted
Radiant
Ascending

Good Books.

 

[oliveira8]

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. The title pretty much says it all.

Is that where the film came from? I love that film! So shouldn't have been watching that kind of stuff when I was 11!

Yes it is.

Anyway. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card or Dune by Frank Herbert are solid bets. Or Hyperion by Dan Simmons.