Vick Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 HiCan anyone recommend any science fiction books? My brother in law has asked for one for Christmas but sci-if isn't my domain! CheersVick Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Ringworld by Larry Niven. It's old but gold Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934721 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Some classics:NeuromancerEnder's GameDo Androids Dream of Electric SheepI, RobotBrave New WorldFor something more recent, maybe Radiance by Catheryn M Valente? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934736 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Any particular type or subgenre? Is he new to scifi? Here are some suggestions, focusing on shorter, self-contained (i.e. non-series) stories. Ursula K LeGuin - The Left Hand of Darkness. A story of political intrigue and friendship. Takes place on a wintry planet which makes for nice Xmas reading. Ursula K LeGuin - The Lathe of Heaven. A man has the ability to change reality to match his dreams. Robert Sheckley - Store of the Worlds. This is a short story collection by a somewhat forgotten writer. It has a good mix of earth-based and offworld stories, most of which I seem to recall have dated quite well.Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale. From wikipedia: "Set in the near future, in a totalitarian Christian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government, The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency." It is very good, but very grim.Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon. It's hard to say much without giving it all away, but the basic premise is that a man undergoes an experiment to artificially increase his intelligence.Walter Tevis - Mockingbird. In the future, books don't exist, people can't read, and a suicidal android runs NYC.Mikhail Bulgakov - Heart of a Dog. A Russian surgeon takes in a stray dog and gives it human organs. The dog becomes more and more human... sort of. Good option for someone who's used to the weight and tone of Russian literature but may be a bit overwhelming for the uninitiated. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934783 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffron Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"Easy to read, not long, it's a mix of sci-fi and timeless social commentary. Characters are deep, and the plot is realistic and compelling. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934789 Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncleglen Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I second the Handmaid's Tale...also I thought Michael Crichton's Timeline was a good read (as is his State of Fear but it isn't sci-fi). If your brother in law is a fan he may have already read all the good ones.... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934803 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpsaucey Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Daniel Keyes - Flowers for Algernon comes with a mild health warning in that its a bit depressing, but I guess that would go for plenty of the others ... Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934821 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffron Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Second vote for Flowers for Algernon. It's beautifully written. But, yes, maybe a bit sad for Xmas present. It is beautiful and tragic. xx Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934833 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Handmaids Tale is brilliant, but not a lot of laughs! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934847 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vick Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 Wow, thanks everyone, great help! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934869 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 True, both options are quite serious and sad for xmas gifts.Maybe Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide, then? Or, this may be a very out-there suggestion, but Abnett and Lanning's Guardians of the Galaxy comics are collected into two volumes and are an excellent sprawling space opera with a lot of humour mixed in. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934875 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGastaldo Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I'm reading Dune by Frank Herbert now and like it. Decided to read it after many recommendations as a book that will change the way you think about life. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934884 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancity68 Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 I always enjoy Iain Banks sci go stuff Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934912 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffron Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Lighthearted and funny, "Good Omens", by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934952 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpsaucey Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 KGastaldo Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> I'm reading Dune by Frank Herbert now and like it.> Decided to read it after many recommendations as a> book that will change the way you think about> life.Stay with it ... all the original Frank ones are goodies.. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934963 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Medic Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 The Man in the High Castle is currently a series on Amazon which I don't have but I'm told it's good. It's based on this book:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_High_CastleThe author also wrote the already mentioned Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep which Bladerunner was based on. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-934993 Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilservant Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 it depends on what his bag is - the ones recommended are all good and i read and enjoyed them when they were still new and fresh, but they do not really work when re-read by an older and presumably more demanding readerof the newer writers, Iain M Banks is very good, and I highly recommend China Mievillethe new William Gibson (The Peripheral) is also a great return to formwhat about George RR Martin i.e. the Game of Thrones guy! and another good newer writer is Paolo Bacigalupiif he likes cyberpunk/hardboiled, then Walter Jon Williams or Richard Morganand if he's into hard SF, then try someone like Alastair Reynolds or Kim Stanley Robinson or Stephen Baxter Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935161 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Alan Medic Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> The Man in the High Castle is currently a series> on Amazon which I don't have but I'm told it's> good. It's based on this book:> > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_High_> Castle> > The author also wrote the already mentioned Do> Androids Dream of Electric Sheep which Bladerunner> was based on.I have the book... yes its a good read but it's not really my idea of sci-fi. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935200 Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilservant Posted December 6, 2015 Share Posted December 6, 2015 Jeremy Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Alan Medic Wrote:> --------------------------------------------------> -----> > The Man in the High Castle is currently a> I have the book... yes its a good read but it's> not really my idea of sci-fi.no? the author and his readership agreed it was SF, to the extent that it won the Hugo - it's a classic alternative universe novelbut you're right that it's not "sci-fi"! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935220 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffers Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Iain M Banks - Consider Phlebas Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935408 Share on other sites More sharing options...
grabot Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Jeremy's recommendations plusThe Sirens of Titan - Kurt VonnegutThe Demolished Man- Alfred BesterThe Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935433 Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncleglen Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 The Dune series is great but I would have thought that an already sci-fi fan would have read it- Children of Men is a good book too Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935670 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpsaucey Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Whilst we're on Sci Fi, has anyone been to this Book club in central London?http://www.meetup.com/The-Science-Fiction-Book-Club/ Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/85758-sci-fi-book-recommendations/#findComment-935906 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now