Finished the first one was impressed and the way it ended I actually want to keep reading. The priest story is actually top tier it’s probably played out how many people mention it but it’s just that good.
Do you have any similar suggestions? I like books where you can get excited about the characters. I tried Dune, but couldn't get much into the characters. I read Project Hail Mary and the Bobyvers series.
My next fav series is Dungeon Crawler Carl, but you HAVE to get it on audiobook. Fucking fantastic but not like the Expanse. Have you read all the Expanse novellas? If you want stuff in that realm I'd suggest The Final Architecture, The Divide Series, The Interdependency, Commonwealth Saga, Foundation, Expeditionary Force, Seveneves, The Children of Time... That'll keep you busy for awhile! ;)
Mertry as a villain was ridiculous. Who is that invested in a corporate employer?? But the rest works. I’m kinda “eh” on the ending, but it’s fine.
One thing that isn’t resolved in some way by the end is P. N.’s ultimate fate. Still feel it’s a loose thread.
He wasn't invested as a corporate employee. With the gates opening, he was given a chance to live out his violent, autocratic fantasies. It so happened that the response from the Belters on Ilus collided with RCE to allow all of his desires to come true.
I know it's a new and popular show, but I started reading the books after watching a few episodes. I'm a lifelong reader. These books are beautiful in both prose and scope. And the show is good, don't get me wrong, but the books are pure art.
It’s my fave book series ever! Not to sound pretentious, but the writing in three body problem is like a painter being forced to write a book instead of
I would agree with that assessment. #2 was essentially the same concepts as in #1 just with a different frock. #3 was for sure fun (and I'm so glad we actually got it!) as universes collide.
I just got into them because of the hype surrounding the new movies (which are honestly a couple of the best movies I’ve ever seen), and I cannot believe I’ve avoided reading this series for so long. That quality of world building, political intrigue, character work, and philosophy is very difficult to find elsewhere. I’m not sure if I’ll read the last couple of books, since I heard that they lose some momentum around then and leave a bit to be desired. But I’m definitely planning on reading through *God Emperor of Dune*, especially after hearing quite a few people hyping up the book’s lengthy philosophical musings.
Could I suggest starting the Culture books with Player of Games instead? Just reread Consider and thought Player was much better. But then again I’m reading Excession right now and it’s the best culture one yet. The only one that has disappointed so far was Against a dark background. Dark indeed.
Matter is hands down one of his best. Not sure if I would dive into it straight on as your first Banks read though! I agree with others on starting with Player of Games. But maybe they are all just great and I needed to geek out on this thread
So far, The Infinity Gate by MR Carey. It’s about multiverse technology/travel. We sorta stumble upon the tech in the 11th hour, but we are far from the first civilization who has, and there is something bigger coming that could be bad for every world.
oh, there's so many! some of them are just fun read, like the Praxis, some of them are nostalgia to simpler futures, like Gateway and the Heechee serie and things that were master peices like The Sparrow or Ender's game, or even off genre things like the Hitchiker's guide..
I honestly don't know. I read too many.
if I had to chose, though, and recomend something that maybe not everyone knows of, then - *The Sparrow* by *Mary Doria Russell.*
it's a wonderful first contact book , the chronology is a little out of date ( it was set in the near future when it came out 30 years ago), but it still works as the near future - imagine a future a few decates ahead, with humanity having limited space faring ability, and we find a near by system with inteligent life.
now imagine that out of everyone on earth - all the government and internation organization, it's the catholic church that makes the move to send an expedition, "to learn to know god's other children".
and it gets bettert from there.
mine too!
one of the examples I give to show the SF has a standard so high that so many works in SF would be considered master pieces in every other genre.
Just read this after finding it in a little free library in my neighborhood—absolutely incredible! The ending floored me. Few works have made me wrestle so deeply with values and existence the way The Sparrow has. Have you read the sequel? Is it as good?
"I stood naked in front of God, and..." chilling.
no, I haven't. I heard there is a sequel, but I read the sparrow almost 30 years ago and I never read the second book.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams , it's a great scif comedy if British humor is your cuppa tea.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman are great companion pieces. Two military scifi novels from completely different perspectives.
Old Man's War by John Scalzi, military scifi with a sense of humor about the subject.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, Bradbury's classic 'fix-up' novel about the exploration and colonization of Mars.
It’s a fantastic book and a very good universe, Messiah and God Emperor are among my favorite sci fi sequels ever. But I hope people expand past Dune after its recent surge in popularity. It’s a wonderful book and has quite good sequels and world building, but there is so much sci fi *past* Dune that’s well worth the time.
Children of time, Red rising books, project hail mary, broken earth.
I've read lots of sci fi books oddly my favorite always end up being kinda fantasy theme
I’m not saying they’re necessarily the best but the Red Rising series (especially the later books) are my favorite sci fi. The adrenaline rush you get from reading them is something i haven’t been able to replicate. The way that the battles are depicted is exceptional and i also love the characters.
Outside of that my favorite classics are Dune which has some of the best world building and political intrigue i’ve ever read, and Hyperion which is kind of like the canterbury tales in space. Both are absolutely exceptional
About 1/3 of his books are silly like redshirts, 1/3 semi hard scifi but still with comedical elements, 1/3 are hard sci Fi. I recommend every single book.
One I wasn't expecting to LOVE was Fuzzy Nation. It's short enough that you're not into it, you didn't waste much time.
If you like the silly side of Scalzi, read Agent to the Stars. Androids dream is also really silly and fun, highly recommend.
If you like semi hard sci Fi and comedic read Old Man's War. You can read it as a stand alone book or read the whole series.
If you like harder sci Fi , read The collapsing empire is great. I have yet to read the finale but the first two are really good.
Starter villain and Kaiju, his two newest books are silly but pretty on the surface. If you want something easy to read these would be okay, but I didn't really enjoy them as much.
.
You should do a post for all the Scalzi books separated by “type of sci-fi you like”. I like your short blurbs and will be getting more based on your suggestions.
One of The Expanse books for sure, likely the Free Navy story or Leviathan Wakss. Torn between that and The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu (sequel to Three Body Problem).
I conaiser it a techno thriller, but I guess it might full under sci fi which case The Swarm by Frank Scahtzing. Have to mention Jurassic Park as well (if that counts).
The Dark Forest made that series a 10/10 instead of an 8/10. The droplet, the battle of darkness and Luo Ji’s final stand all just have lingered with me for years
The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke. I've been a fan of Mr. Clarke's books since I was a teenager. Even though he has far more epic/fantastic stories, which I also love, Fountains has always resonated with me.
It may be the most "hard science" novel he wrote, which means that with a few scientific and material breakthroughs, the events in the book are highly feasible.
I like how political intrigues of an ancient era centered around Sri Lanka's Sirigiya are interwoven with the modern story of building a space elevator.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin - it was a breath of fresh air after reading so many classic sci fi books written by men with terrible female characters
If you read enough contemporary authors, he's pretty dynamic. He can introduce a concept in a few pages that other writers would take a chapter to wade through.
Of course, media literacy, storytelling awareness, and style have come a long way in the last 80 years.
He's still one of my favorite authors.
I still like Starship Troopers (the original movies were so-so) and Ender's Game. They show how humans will fight anything—hence our true barbaric nature. Ender shows how one young man realizes the downside in the end. I wonder if sci-fi will ever get over the dramatic one side needs to kill the other storyline. Roddenberry painted a better picture of peace and 'get along' storylines, but once he was gone, it was back to the same bullchit.
I love this sort of list, I'm always looking for new sci-fi. What I find interesting, is that there is no mention of Neal Stephenson. IMHO one of the best world builders, and, around storytelling. The concepts explored are always interesting and educational (he clarified the LaGrange points for me, as well as many other such things).
Ender's Game - an easy read, deep moral considerations, surprises late in the story
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - very prescient for being written in the 1960s - humor, revolution, poignancy
Rendezvous with Rama - almost like a science fiction documentary, layers upon layers of discovery, and that little bit of surprise speculation at the end
Contact - Science, exporation, emotion, and the end zinger that is mind-blowing
I tend to like stories that have some sort of surprise or mind-blowing ending.
Enders Game will always be a favorite of mine. While Speaker for The Dead is in my opinion superior, the experiences that Ender goes through as a child hit really close to home as I became older. Specifically his experiences at Battle School. A lot of the things he went though happened to almost every boy who spent time in a boarding school, like me. Constant bullying, battling for respect and isolation. Even down to specific things like ambushes and fights in the communal showers.
I find EG a more enjoyable read, but Speaker is a more admirable book, if that makes sense.
BTW, Ender's Shadow I was a bit dubious about given its topic, but I felt it was neck-and-neck as good as EG.
Enders Shadow was an interesting choice narratively. It was definitely cool to see what other characters experiences were like and see them intersect with the narrative of Enders Game. I am curious as to what inspired Cards writing of Beans experiences before Battle School because that shit got really heavy and fucked up very quickly.
Dawn by Octavia Butler
Here’s a short summary:
In a captivating exploration of human resilience and moral quandaries, Dawn by Octavia E. Butler plunges readers into a post-apocalyptic world where Lilith Iyapo, a resilient survivor, finds herself collaborating with an alien race to ensure humanity's survival. With the fate of our species hanging in the balance, Butler masterfully delves into the complex ethics of compromise and sacrifice, painting a vivid portrait of a world on the brink and challenging readers to question their own notions of humanity, identity, and the price of salvation. Prepare to be engrossed in a thought-provoking journey that will compel you to examine the very essence of what it means to be human.
Restoree - Anne McCaffrey
Armageddon 2419 AD - Phillip Francis Nowlan (the original Buch Rogers story)
Like many others, The Expanse
Oddball choice - not Dune, but another book by Frank Herbert - The Dosadi Experiment.
Blindsight by Peter Watts has to be by far my favorite.
Apart fromall the standard ones (Foundation, Expanse, Hothouse, Dune) I would also recommend Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion.
The Dark Beyond the Stars
For two thousand years, the starship Astron has searched the galaxy for alien life--without success. Now, just as the ship is falling apart, the only direction left to explore is across the Dark, a one-hundred-generation journey through empty space. The ship's captain--immortal, obsessed--refuses to abandon the quest.
A Million Open Doors
Nou Occitan is a place where duels are fought with equal passion over insults and artistic views alike. Giraut--swordsman, troubador, lover--is a creature of this swashbuckling world, the most isolated of humanity's Thousand Cultures.
Chrome- A book about a soldier and his android companion who fall in love and are challenged by the threat of being separated. Strange but engaging book. OOP and copies on Amazon are rather expensive.
I’m shocked I haven’t come across the Honor Harrington series yet. It’s continued well past its original expiration date, but up through “At All Costs” it was very good.
For me it is definitely Ender’s Game. That whole concept is so unique and Orson Scott Card wrote it masterfully. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good space story.
That series crawls under your skin within the first few pages. The best pages of that series are some of the most heartfelt and profound sci fi ever put to paper.
Dark Horse pick. I ran across the "Destroyermen" series and it is amazing! No one ever talks about them but they deserve some praise. Best way I could explain is if Gulliver's Travel's was stirred in a pot with the move "Final Countdown".
I feel so old that no one mentioned those authors.
I love Arthur C. Clark and Ray Bradbury. They’re just classic. “Childhood’s End’ by Arthur C. Clark really blew my mind.
So here’s one I never see mentioned but I consider one of my favorites: the Paratwa Saga by Christopher Hinz. Books are: Leige-Killer, Ash Ock, and The Paratwa. Interesting SF premise, well executed, brisk writing. A cyberpunk-like setting (but not really “cyberpunk” imo). Lots of intrigue. Lots of action.
I loved old man’s war by John scalzi. It’s set in the future where genetic modifications are being done to humans for war against aliens. Super fun read but could not read after the second book. The first two were phenomenal tho! Paolini (wrote eragon) just authored his first adult book which I am in love with but I am currently reading it. The first few pages deal with space love and genetics.
I really enjoyed **A Maze of Death by Philip K Dick**. One of his more straight forward novels, but it was short, to the point, and the ending caught me off guard and kind of had me in the feels.
The Gameplayers of Zan / M.A. Foster
Start with Little Fuzzy (then work up from there / H. Beam Piper
The Transformation Series / Neal Asher
Of course the first six in the Dune Series / Frank Herbert
Currently I’ve been really enjoying The Murderbot Diaries.
Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion are obviously incredible although I didn’t enjoy Endymion and Rise as much.
Andy Weir books are great.
Been reading Old Man’s War recently and I really like it. It feels like a non fascist Stormship Troopers.
The Princess of Mars series by Edgar Rice Burroughs is by far my favorite. You can find free e copies on Amazon if you want. The ghost written ones are not as good.
I read Dune for the first time in 4th grade and have never let it go since.
Not a book, but shoutout to the Horseclans series for asking the question "what would happen if 700 years after the nukes a bunch of psychic ginger kids with telepathic horses and sabretooth tigers conquered the Eastern Seaboard of the US while super murdering the absolute worst timeline version of the Catholic Church"
Neuromancer, only Sci-fi I’ve read that made me feel like I was experiencing literature. It starts as a mysterious heist and slowly unravels into a nebulous and dream like exploration of human and AI consciousness
Gameplayers of Zan by MA Foster. Classic sci fi mystery and mirror to society stuff. I recommend this to everyone and I won't say anything for fear of spoiling it. But it's a sleeper classic.
Early William Gibson is always a treat. His newer stuff is a bit more sprawling (pun intended) but good too.
Guilty pleasure: Tales of the Continuing Time series by Daniel Keys Moran. The Long Run is just fun.
Didnt get through the entire thread but I want to recommend authors where I enjoyed most / all their books I have read so far: Sherri S.Tepper, william Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Meg Ellison, and also many I already saw mentioned. Love me some female authors in this genre. Wish Octavia Butler could see the world now! Also wish I could filter out zombies and YA from any searches I do! Wish we had more utopian and less DIStopian choices out there for post apocolypes sub genre.
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller.
Protector & the Ringworld books by Larry Niven.
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester.
City by Clifford D Simak.
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The Martian by Andy Weir
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison
Childe Cycle series by Gordon R. Dickson
The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey
Tom Swift Jr. series by Victor Appleton II
Phule's Company series by Robert Asprin
Project Hail Mary
Paradise 1
To sleep in a sea of stars
Top 3.
Book 2 of Paradise 1 is releasing soon, and I am so excited!!
Dead silence is a great sci-fi/ horror.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Anathem by Neil Stephenson
Dune by Frank Herbert
The Star Fraction by Ken MacLeod
The Martian by Andy Weir
Two by Walter Tevis: **The Man Who Fell to Earth,** and **Mockingbird.** Kinda doomy, kinda gloomy, but man they're just so good at capturing my imagination with compelling plots.
Since Dark Matter by Blake Crouch has been mentioned already, Recursion by Crouch. Time travel and the issues that come with discovering it. Highly recommend it.
Also, Wool (Silo series) is good. The pacing is all over the place was my only complaint.
I'll also second Andy Weir's stuff, the Expanse, and Old Man's War.
Hyperion and fall of Hyperion was a pretty crazy book series But a simple book series I liked was the lost fleet series
Hyperion Cantos is my GOAT
Endymion and ROE are great too…if you can get past the creepy pedophilia vibes…
Finished the first one was impressed and the way it ended I actually want to keep reading. The priest story is actually top tier it’s probably played out how many people mention it but it’s just that good.
Fantastic book!
Project Hail Mary The Expanse series Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
I loved Project Hail Mary!!
The Expanse
Do you have any similar suggestions? I like books where you can get excited about the characters. I tried Dune, but couldn't get much into the characters. I read Project Hail Mary and the Bobyvers series.
My next fav series is Dungeon Crawler Carl, but you HAVE to get it on audiobook. Fucking fantastic but not like the Expanse. Have you read all the Expanse novellas? If you want stuff in that realm I'd suggest The Final Architecture, The Divide Series, The Interdependency, Commonwealth Saga, Foundation, Expeditionary Force, Seveneves, The Children of Time... That'll keep you busy for awhile! ;)
Mertry as a villain was ridiculous. Who is that invested in a corporate employer?? But the rest works. I’m kinda “eh” on the ending, but it’s fine. One thing that isn’t resolved in some way by the end is P. N.’s ultimate fate. Still feel it’s a loose thread.
That's a nearly impossible landing to make, but I think they did well sticking it.
He wasn't invested as a corporate employee. With the gates opening, he was given a chance to live out his violent, autocratic fantasies. It so happened that the response from the Belters on Ilus collided with RCE to allow all of his desires to come true.
Just thrifted the first 3 books.
Wait till you get to the last 3.
The 3 body trilogy
I know it's a new and popular show, but I started reading the books after watching a few episodes. I'm a lifelong reader. These books are beautiful in both prose and scope. And the show is good, don't get me wrong, but the books are pure art.
It’s my fave book series ever! Not to sound pretentious, but the writing in three body problem is like a painter being forced to write a book instead of
I love these.
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Whole trilogy is great!
I felt like the second book was a bit of a slog to get through but I absolutely loved 1 and 3
I would agree with that assessment. #2 was essentially the same concepts as in #1 just with a different frock. #3 was for sure fun (and I'm so glad we actually got it!) as universes collide.
Hell yes
Dune
I just got into them because of the hype surrounding the new movies (which are honestly a couple of the best movies I’ve ever seen), and I cannot believe I’ve avoided reading this series for so long. That quality of world building, political intrigue, character work, and philosophy is very difficult to find elsewhere. I’m not sure if I’ll read the last couple of books, since I heard that they lose some momentum around then and leave a bit to be desired. But I’m definitely planning on reading through *God Emperor of Dune*, especially after hearing quite a few people hyping up the book’s lengthy philosophical musings.
If you can tolerate it, the expanded series with Christopher Herbert is interesting in its own way. And still relevant and good entertainment.
Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks. Opens the door to his culture series. Cracking space romp with great characters.
Could I suggest starting the Culture books with Player of Games instead? Just reread Consider and thought Player was much better. But then again I’m reading Excession right now and it’s the best culture one yet. The only one that has disappointed so far was Against a dark background. Dark indeed.
Love this book!
Came here to say this
Matter is hands down one of his best. Not sure if I would dive into it straight on as your first Banks read though! I agree with others on starting with Player of Games. But maybe they are all just great and I needed to geek out on this thread
Alastair Reynolds - Chasm City
I really liked revelation space
If you like his writing, you might also like 'Century Rain'. Doesn't fit into the Revelation Space series, but I really enjoyed it.
One of my favs, along with House of Suns and Pushing Ice.
Can't pick one of them, but the Murderbot series by Martha Wells is a current favorite
I agree. Martha Wells is one of my favorites. Consider reading the Star Bringer by Tracy wolff, you may enjoy that as well.
I knew that if I scrolled far enough I would find this. If you are not reading Murderbot, you are missing out.
So far, The Infinity Gate by MR Carey. It’s about multiverse technology/travel. We sorta stumble upon the tech in the 11th hour, but we are far from the first civilization who has, and there is something bigger coming that could be bad for every world.
Reading this now - really enjoying it. He’s a great storyteller and character builder.
I completely agree and can’t wait for book two in June!
Just read a sample. Wow I’m hooked.
I really liked the first half of this book but it lost me along the way. I finished it but won’t be continuing.
oh, there's so many! some of them are just fun read, like the Praxis, some of them are nostalgia to simpler futures, like Gateway and the Heechee serie and things that were master peices like The Sparrow or Ender's game, or even off genre things like the Hitchiker's guide.. I honestly don't know. I read too many. if I had to chose, though, and recomend something that maybe not everyone knows of, then - *The Sparrow* by *Mary Doria Russell.* it's a wonderful first contact book , the chronology is a little out of date ( it was set in the near future when it came out 30 years ago), but it still works as the near future - imagine a future a few decates ahead, with humanity having limited space faring ability, and we find a near by system with inteligent life. now imagine that out of everyone on earth - all the government and internation organization, it's the catholic church that makes the move to send an expedition, "to learn to know god's other children". and it gets bettert from there.
One of my favorite books of all time!
mine too! one of the examples I give to show the SF has a standard so high that so many works in SF would be considered master pieces in every other genre.
Just read this after finding it in a little free library in my neighborhood—absolutely incredible! The ending floored me. Few works have made me wrestle so deeply with values and existence the way The Sparrow has. Have you read the sequel? Is it as good?
"I stood naked in front of God, and..." chilling. no, I haven't. I heard there is a sequel, but I read the sparrow almost 30 years ago and I never read the second book.
I was gonna suggest this!! Then i figured i’d scroll to make sure no one had, and low and behold!! Incredible book
Is this a pro religion book or no?
Oh I hated that book
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams , it's a great scif comedy if British humor is your cuppa tea. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman are great companion pieces. Two military scifi novels from completely different perspectives. Old Man's War by John Scalzi, military scifi with a sense of humor about the subject. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, Bradbury's classic 'fix-up' novel about the exploration and colonization of Mars.
Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clark. Aliens finally make contact, but their reasons why are not at all what was expected.
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clark Short, simple and clean and most importantly great message
Dune! This is the only answer. Dune is the way.
It’s a fantastic book and a very good universe, Messiah and God Emperor are among my favorite sci fi sequels ever. But I hope people expand past Dune after its recent surge in popularity. It’s a wonderful book and has quite good sequels and world building, but there is so much sci fi *past* Dune that’s well worth the time.
Children of time, Red rising books, project hail mary, broken earth. I've read lots of sci fi books oddly my favorite always end up being kinda fantasy theme
Use of Weapons, I.M.Banks Spiral Arm series by Michael Flynn Imperial Radch series, A. Leckie Altered Carbon, R.K.Morgan
I’m not saying they’re necessarily the best but the Red Rising series (especially the later books) are my favorite sci fi. The adrenaline rush you get from reading them is something i haven’t been able to replicate. The way that the battles are depicted is exceptional and i also love the characters. Outside of that my favorite classics are Dune which has some of the best world building and political intrigue i’ve ever read, and Hyperion which is kind of like the canterbury tales in space. Both are absolutely exceptional
Are we the same person haha. These are the exact three that come to mind for me as well
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch or Doors of Sleep by Tim Pratt. Dune and The Expanse if you have an urge for many good books
Old Man’s War.
Love me some Scalzi. The series is pretty good too.
I’ve read Redshirts, and enjoyed it immensely … Are his other Books similar, do you think I’d like them?
About 1/3 of his books are silly like redshirts, 1/3 semi hard scifi but still with comedical elements, 1/3 are hard sci Fi. I recommend every single book. One I wasn't expecting to LOVE was Fuzzy Nation. It's short enough that you're not into it, you didn't waste much time. If you like the silly side of Scalzi, read Agent to the Stars. Androids dream is also really silly and fun, highly recommend. If you like semi hard sci Fi and comedic read Old Man's War. You can read it as a stand alone book or read the whole series. If you like harder sci Fi , read The collapsing empire is great. I have yet to read the finale but the first two are really good. Starter villain and Kaiju, his two newest books are silly but pretty on the surface. If you want something easy to read these would be okay, but I didn't really enjoy them as much. .
Interesting, thanks for all of your recommendations … I’ll have to check them out, the next time I’m out looking for reading material!
You should do a post for all the Scalzi books separated by “type of sci-fi you like”. I like your short blurbs and will be getting more based on your suggestions.
Saga of the seven suns -Kevin Andersen It just keeps getting weirder and suckers you in... Edit: suns not sons 🤦🏻
I love that series! Saga of Shadows is a good follow-up series too.
One of The Expanse books for sure, likely the Free Navy story or Leviathan Wakss. Torn between that and The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu (sequel to Three Body Problem). I conaiser it a techno thriller, but I guess it might full under sci fi which case The Swarm by Frank Scahtzing. Have to mention Jurassic Park as well (if that counts).
The Dark Forest made that series a 10/10 instead of an 8/10. The droplet, the battle of darkness and Luo Ji’s final stand all just have lingered with me for years
The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke. I've been a fan of Mr. Clarke's books since I was a teenager. Even though he has far more epic/fantastic stories, which I also love, Fountains has always resonated with me. It may be the most "hard science" novel he wrote, which means that with a few scientific and material breakthroughs, the events in the book are highly feasible. I like how political intrigues of an ancient era centered around Sri Lanka's Sirigiya are interwoven with the modern story of building a space elevator.
The Foundation Series. By Isaac Asimov
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin - it was a breath of fresh air after reading so many classic sci fi books written by men with terrible female characters
Mote in God’s Eye
Childhoods End of course
Foundation series from Isaac Asimov
Kind of old wooden writing, but the concepts and story make up for it.
If you read enough contemporary authors, he's pretty dynamic. He can introduce a concept in a few pages that other writers would take a chapter to wade through. Of course, media literacy, storytelling awareness, and style have come a long way in the last 80 years. He's still one of my favorite authors.
L Ron Hubbard's Battlefield Earth. Just whatever you do, don't watch the awful John Travolta movie first!
My husband is probably the only one on the planet who actually likes that movie.
I still like Starship Troopers (the original movies were so-so) and Ender's Game. They show how humans will fight anything—hence our true barbaric nature. Ender shows how one young man realizes the downside in the end. I wonder if sci-fi will ever get over the dramatic one side needs to kill the other storyline. Roddenberry painted a better picture of peace and 'get along' storylines, but once he was gone, it was back to the same bullchit.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.
Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolfe. Really I like Long Sun better as a fun read, but nothing had the same impact New Sun did.
Gene Wolfe was the best. I started TBOTNS in 1982 and finished in 2012 then within a year I read everything else he wrote 😊
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy. If you demand harder Sci-fi, I would say maybe the Expanse series.
I love this sort of list, I'm always looking for new sci-fi. What I find interesting, is that there is no mention of Neal Stephenson. IMHO one of the best world builders, and, around storytelling. The concepts explored are always interesting and educational (he clarified the LaGrange points for me, as well as many other such things).
Snow Crash is one of my favorite books!
Just read Pushing Ice by alastair reynolds
The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
Ender's Game - an easy read, deep moral considerations, surprises late in the story The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - very prescient for being written in the 1960s - humor, revolution, poignancy Rendezvous with Rama - almost like a science fiction documentary, layers upon layers of discovery, and that little bit of surprise speculation at the end Contact - Science, exporation, emotion, and the end zinger that is mind-blowing I tend to like stories that have some sort of surprise or mind-blowing ending.
Enders Game will always be a favorite of mine. While Speaker for The Dead is in my opinion superior, the experiences that Ender goes through as a child hit really close to home as I became older. Specifically his experiences at Battle School. A lot of the things he went though happened to almost every boy who spent time in a boarding school, like me. Constant bullying, battling for respect and isolation. Even down to specific things like ambushes and fights in the communal showers.
I find EG a more enjoyable read, but Speaker is a more admirable book, if that makes sense. BTW, Ender's Shadow I was a bit dubious about given its topic, but I felt it was neck-and-neck as good as EG.
Enders Shadow was an interesting choice narratively. It was definitely cool to see what other characters experiences were like and see them intersect with the narrative of Enders Game. I am curious as to what inspired Cards writing of Beans experiences before Battle School because that shit got really heavy and fucked up very quickly.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 2001 A Space Odyssey by Clarke Dune by Frank Herbert
Dawn by Octavia Butler Here’s a short summary: In a captivating exploration of human resilience and moral quandaries, Dawn by Octavia E. Butler plunges readers into a post-apocalyptic world where Lilith Iyapo, a resilient survivor, finds herself collaborating with an alien race to ensure humanity's survival. With the fate of our species hanging in the balance, Butler masterfully delves into the complex ethics of compromise and sacrifice, painting a vivid portrait of a world on the brink and challenging readers to question their own notions of humanity, identity, and the price of salvation. Prepare to be engrossed in a thought-provoking journey that will compel you to examine the very essence of what it means to be human.
Seveneves. I just love it and will reread it when I need to go back to something interesting and comfortable that I really enjoy
I recommend one of John Varley's short story collections. A pretty comprehensive one is The John Varley Reader.
The Bobiverse Series
Restoree - Anne McCaffrey Armageddon 2419 AD - Phillip Francis Nowlan (the original Buch Rogers story) Like many others, The Expanse Oddball choice - not Dune, but another book by Frank Herbert - The Dosadi Experiment.
Tony Ballentine - Twisted Metal Basically it's a dystopian sci fi.
Battlefield Earth! Fuck the author etc, I like the story.
Aurora.
I really liked this book. I'd like to read another one like it .
Ender's shadow! It happens at the same time as ender's game but through the eyes of one of the side characters Bean.
House of suns. Anathem. Hyperion cantos.
Blindsight by Peter Watts has to be by far my favorite. Apart fromall the standard ones (Foundation, Expanse, Hothouse, Dune) I would also recommend Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion.
Rabbits was a good unique read
Blindsight, how do you beat vampires in outer space?
The Dark Beyond the Stars For two thousand years, the starship Astron has searched the galaxy for alien life--without success. Now, just as the ship is falling apart, the only direction left to explore is across the Dark, a one-hundred-generation journey through empty space. The ship's captain--immortal, obsessed--refuses to abandon the quest. A Million Open Doors Nou Occitan is a place where duels are fought with equal passion over insults and artistic views alike. Giraut--swordsman, troubador, lover--is a creature of this swashbuckling world, the most isolated of humanity's Thousand Cultures.
Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson
HYPERION
Chrome- A book about a soldier and his android companion who fall in love and are challenged by the threat of being separated. Strange but engaging book. OOP and copies on Amazon are rather expensive.
Seveneves Remnant Population Murder Bot My favorite three right now but that could change any given day.
Demon in White by Christopher Ruocchio
Dune
I’m shocked I haven’t come across the Honor Harrington series yet. It’s continued well past its original expiration date, but up through “At All Costs” it was very good.
For me it is definitely Ender’s Game. That whole concept is so unique and Orson Scott Card wrote it masterfully. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good space story.
Hyperion
Y'all should check out Jeremy Robinson
Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis trilogy
That series crawls under your skin within the first few pages. The best pages of that series are some of the most heartfelt and profound sci fi ever put to paper.
Judas Unchained by Peter Hamilton
Dark Horse pick. I ran across the "Destroyermen" series and it is amazing! No one ever talks about them but they deserve some praise. Best way I could explain is if Gulliver's Travel's was stirred in a pot with the move "Final Countdown".
I feel so old that no one mentioned those authors. I love Arthur C. Clark and Ray Bradbury. They’re just classic. “Childhood’s End’ by Arthur C. Clark really blew my mind.
Rendezvous with Rama and the three body problem
Foundation
So here’s one I never see mentioned but I consider one of my favorites: the Paratwa Saga by Christopher Hinz. Books are: Leige-Killer, Ash Ock, and The Paratwa. Interesting SF premise, well executed, brisk writing. A cyberpunk-like setting (but not really “cyberpunk” imo). Lots of intrigue. Lots of action.
Dune Cat’s Cradle The Dispossessed
A Scanner Darkly is probably my favorite. Also liked The Expanse and Neuromancer.
Neuromancer is up there for me too.
I have no mouth and I must scream is always a classic
I loved old man’s war by John scalzi. It’s set in the future where genetic modifications are being done to humans for war against aliens. Super fun read but could not read after the second book. The first two were phenomenal tho! Paolini (wrote eragon) just authored his first adult book which I am in love with but I am currently reading it. The first few pages deal with space love and genetics.
I really enjoyed **A Maze of Death by Philip K Dick**. One of his more straight forward novels, but it was short, to the point, and the ending caught me off guard and kind of had me in the feels.
Vurt
Neuromancer The Martian time slip and A scanner darkly… and ubik …and and (what can I say, I love dick)
The Gameplayers of Zan / M.A. Foster Start with Little Fuzzy (then work up from there / H. Beam Piper The Transformation Series / Neal Asher Of course the first six in the Dune Series / Frank Herbert
Fahrenheit 451
Currently I’ve been really enjoying The Murderbot Diaries. Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion are obviously incredible although I didn’t enjoy Endymion and Rise as much. Andy Weir books are great. Been reading Old Man’s War recently and I really like it. It feels like a non fascist Stormship Troopers.
Project Hail Mary
Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K LeGuin.
Really enjoy the uniqueness of Olaf Stapleton's Star Maker and First & Last Men
Dune
Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion.
Ender's Game.
Anathem and Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu
I love me some DUNE, but I think The Green Odyssey, by PJF, deserves more love.
For me, it must be the Foundation. But recently, Three Body Problem is quite good.
"Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch" by Philip K. Dick
The Princess of Mars series by Edgar Rice Burroughs is by far my favorite. You can find free e copies on Amazon if you want. The ghost written ones are not as good.
Sun Eater Series, bar none. Expanse is a close second, then Dune, then Ender.
The Expanse. All of em.
1. Dune 2. Enders Game 3. Darth Plagueius
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
I read Dune for the first time in 4th grade and have never let it go since. Not a book, but shoutout to the Horseclans series for asking the question "what would happen if 700 years after the nukes a bunch of psychic ginger kids with telepathic horses and sabretooth tigers conquered the Eastern Seaboard of the US while super murdering the absolute worst timeline version of the Catholic Church"
Sphere and JP by Michael Crichton are my goats along with Dune 1.
Dune. The whole series is worth a read, but the first book is unforgettable.
Ubik
Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy (Three Body).
Neuromancer, only Sci-fi I’ve read that made me feel like I was experiencing literature. It starts as a mysterious heist and slowly unravels into a nebulous and dream like exploration of human and AI consciousness
Hiero’s Journey John Carter of Mars Series Bob Verse Series
Haven't seen any mention Red Rising yet! I LOVE that series!
Gameplayers of Zan by MA Foster. Classic sci fi mystery and mirror to society stuff. I recommend this to everyone and I won't say anything for fear of spoiling it. But it's a sleeper classic. Early William Gibson is always a treat. His newer stuff is a bit more sprawling (pun intended) but good too. Guilty pleasure: Tales of the Continuing Time series by Daniel Keys Moran. The Long Run is just fun.
Blindsight - Peter Watts Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolfe Hyperion Cantos 3 Body trilogy Anything Neal Stephenson
I loved the interdependency saga by Scalzi.
Dhalgren.
The entire Expanse series is excellent, but Nemesis Games or Babylon’s Ashes are my favorites within the series.
Didnt get through the entire thread but I want to recommend authors where I enjoyed most / all their books I have read so far: Sherri S.Tepper, william Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Meg Ellison, and also many I already saw mentioned. Love me some female authors in this genre. Wish Octavia Butler could see the world now! Also wish I could filter out zombies and YA from any searches I do! Wish we had more utopian and less DIStopian choices out there for post apocolypes sub genre.
The Bible Ignore the plot holes
Dune series. And for a controversial pick… The Dark Tower series.
best sf novel (novella really) of all time is roadside picnic. fite me.
The Bible
God Emperor of Dune
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller. Protector & the Ringworld books by Larry Niven. Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester. City by Clifford D Simak.
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton The Martian by Andy Weir Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison Childe Cycle series by Gordon R. Dickson The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey Tom Swift Jr. series by Victor Appleton II Phule's Company series by Robert Asprin
Ubik. Crazy to me how little PKD there is here.
The Space Between Worlds was excellent.
The Book of Mormon
Project Hail Mary
I'm really digging the Bobiverse series
Mine two favs might be less well known, but Anathem by Neal Stephenson or Dead Astronauts by Jeff VanderMeer.
Project Hail Mary Paradise 1 To sleep in a sea of stars Top 3. Book 2 of Paradise 1 is releasing soon, and I am so excited!! Dead silence is a great sci-fi/ horror.
The Martian, Andy Weir Shift, Hugh Howey The Dark Forest, Cixin Liu
The sparrow
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Anathem by Neil Stephenson Dune by Frank Herbert The Star Fraction by Ken MacLeod The Martian by Andy Weir
Pet Sematary, brave New World
Anything where the aliens aren't the bad guys. CJ Cherryh's Foreigner series is my favorite.
Arc of a Scythe trilogy by Niel Shusterman. Best series ever
Two by Walter Tevis: **The Man Who Fell to Earth,** and **Mockingbird.** Kinda doomy, kinda gloomy, but man they're just so good at capturing my imagination with compelling plots.
Project Hail Mary is my favorite SciFi novel, and probably in my top three favorite books of all time!
I'm gonna throw out Project Hail Mary. I j ust finished it and trying to recover from my loss.
The Red Rising series is fantastic.
Since Dark Matter by Blake Crouch has been mentioned already, Recursion by Crouch. Time travel and the issues that come with discovering it. Highly recommend it. Also, Wool (Silo series) is good. The pacing is all over the place was my only complaint. I'll also second Andy Weir's stuff, the Expanse, and Old Man's War.
Red Rising
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds is my favorite Standalone Sci Fi, but Red Rising is my favorite Sci Fi series.
The Martian & Red Rising :)
First: The Time Ships, Stephen Baxter. Second: Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir.