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Parts of Titan make Cormac McCarthy seem like Sweet Valley High.
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Feb 28, 2012 19:06
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ed balls balls man posted:Just a quick update to anyone interested on the Risen Empire from the UK like me, Kindle version is being released on March 1st. Woo. Just finished this, some really really nice concepts in it. A shame there seems to be no possibility of a sequel any time coming soon.
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Mar 2, 2012 21:31
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After Mass Effect ended on a dissapointing note after a brilliant game, I need some good Space Opera, one which "feels" similar. I've read every Culture novel, all of Neal Asher's Polity, I'm in the process of working through the Vorkosigan series, read Charles Stross' Eschaton books and Scalzi's Old Man's War series. The Risen Empire duology too. The classics like Foundation and Dune too of course. I enjoyed them all, but that's also the most obvious books I myself would name, so what's somewhat similar out there?
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Mar 17, 2012 08:24
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Decius posted:After Mass Effect ended on a dissapointing note after a brilliant game, I need some good Space Opera, one which "feels" similar. I've read every Culture novel, all of Neal Asher's Polity, I'm in the process of working through the Vorkosigan series, read Charles Stross' Eschaton books and Scalzi's Old Man's War series. The Risen Empire duology too. The classics like Foundation and Dune too of course. I enjoyed them all, but that's also the most obvious books I myself would name, so what's somewhat similar out there? Here's a list with lots of space opera series. I suggest the Revelation Space series by Reynolds, Fire Upon The Deep/Deepness In The Sky by Vinge, Seeds Of Earth by Michael Cobley. The first two are genre giants, but Seeds Of Earth is less known (and not as good quality-wise, but I still had a lot of fun reading it). Here's another thread where I recommended it to a Mass Effect fan. Hedrigall fucked around with this message at 09:43 on Mar 17, 2012 |
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Mar 17, 2012 09:39
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Joramun posted:I switch back and forth all the time because the UK Kindle store has a lot of books that aren't on the US Kindle store for some reason. I hope I never get caught in the act. 
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Mar 17, 2012 10:51
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Hedrigall posted:Here's a list with lots of space opera series. I suggest the Revelation Space series by Reynolds, Fire Upon The Deep/Deepness In The Sky by Vinge, Seeds Of Earth by Michael Cobley. I'd also suggest Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga and the Void Trilogy.
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Mar 17, 2012 14:11
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Trig Discipline posted:I'd also suggest Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga and the Void Trilogy.
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Mar 17, 2012 18:28
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coyo7e posted:Seconding this. Both have their strengths and criticisms, but both are an epic blast. Speaking of bollocks - is Julian May's Galactic Milieu series as wank as I remember it being quite some years ago?
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Mar 18, 2012 01:23
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Kerbtree posted:Isn't the ending to the Void stuff complete deus-ex bollocks? It could have been better, but I didn't think it was totally horrible. The series as a whole rates a solid B imo.
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Mar 18, 2012 02:54
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Kerbtree posted:Isn't the ending to the Void stuff complete deus-ex bollocks? I think youre thinking of his Night's Dawn trilogy, and yes, yes it was.
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Mar 18, 2012 03:56
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Kerbtree posted:Speaking of bollocks - is Julian May's Galactic Milieu series as wank as I remember it being quite some years ago? Well, it's ten books of crazy ESP people with space elves (if you count the Pliocene prequelly things). It doesn't do too well on a re-read when you're not as driven to see what happens next. For me there was waaaay too much of the melodrama and plot-dependent character stupidity with some immoderately skeevy stuff thrown in. Admittedly there were some notably interesting characters and a few pretty good sci-fi ideas tossed in, but there's no balanced storyline or coherent pacing and it probably crosses a few comfort lines. In short, pretty wank.
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Mar 18, 2012 09:42
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Read Ian M. Banks The Use of Weapons a little while ago and I really don't understand the love it gets. The main characters have godlike powers and the main problem could cease to matter in the slightest if they just stopped caring and hosed off. The whole story seems like an absurd power fantasy. Maybe it was a mistake to read it directly after reading the Hyperion novels. e: Even Baxter at his spergiest manages to write more engaging characters. NoNotTheMindProbe fucked around with this message at 10:26 on Mar 19, 2012 |
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Mar 19, 2012 10:23
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NoNotTheMindProbe posted:Read Ian M. Banks The Use of Weapons a little while ago and I really don't understand the love it gets. The main characters have godlike powers and the main problem could cease to matter in the slightest if they just stopped caring and hosed off. The whole story seems like an absurd power fantasy. You're not completely alone in that -- I like Banks' works generally but I understand your criticism. The worst for me was Consider Phlebas -- it's basically a deconstruction of the Competent Man / James Bond style superprotagonist, and at the end, you find out everything everyone did in the book was pointless and everyone dies anyway. It was so frustrating and annoying that if I hadn't been reading on an e-reader I would've thrown the book at the wall. He's sortof like Stephen R. Donaldson for me -- he's a good writer but a little experimental, and some of his experiments I profoundly dislike.
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Mar 19, 2012 14:09
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Twiin posted:Half way through book 2, and man am I tired of it. It's just so lazy. Thank you. I plowed through the first book. Rape, nasty inner dialogue, inadequacy issues rage throughout the brain of EVERY SINGLE loving CHARACTER, then more rape and more nastiness... I was told (by members of this very forum!) to stick with it. So I started the second book, and faced another 200 or so pages of rape thoughts, not quite rape but almost rape, inner rage, inadequacy issues, and gently caress me I could no longer care. I read the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. I enjoyed it. I'm glad I did, because I will never read another book by this author again. But just picked up Ship of Fools for the Kindle thanks to this thread!
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Mar 22, 2012 09:53
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Dr. Fabulous posted:Thank you. As nasty as the first book or two are I still think it's really worth it to get through. The ending is actually fairly satisfying and if you ever read his author's notes about the way the story cycles it's pretty interesting. If you haven't completely written him off (and I still say finish the Gap series) you could always try his Mordant's Need series. It's only two books and is fantasy as opposed to sci-fi but it's much less oppressive than the Gap series or even the Thomas Covenant books. You still have some inadequacy issues and other frustrating character traits but I think a lot of what makes Stephen Donaldson's work so satisfying is watching the characters work through those issues and come out the other side as almost normal people.
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Mar 22, 2012 16:06
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What I learned from the Mordant's Need series is that licking a woman's nipples causes her to enter a hypnotic trance, at which time you can implant unconscious suggestions.
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Mar 23, 2012 06:22
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I read the recommendation, thought about looking up the series, but then BLAM! the next poster completely and irreversibly made me realize I have no interest whatsoever. Thanks to the both of you.
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Mar 23, 2012 09:01
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I just finished the Dread Empire's Fall series and enjoyed it immensely. Anyone have any recommendations for books of a similar style? It doesn't necessarily have to be sci-fi.
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Apr 16, 2012 16:51
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Decius posted:After Mass Effect ended on a dissapointing note after a brilliant game, I need some good Space Opera, one which "feels" similar. I've read every Culture novel, all of Neal Asher's Polity, I'm in the process of working through the Vorkosigan series, read Charles Stross' Eschaton books and Scalzi's Old Man's War series. The Risen Empire duology too. The classics like Foundation and Dune too of course. I enjoyed them all, but that's also the most obvious books I myself would name, so what's somewhat similar out there? Ok I might get a little poo poo for this, but if you want something that really feels Mass Effecty, try to track down a copy of The Han Solo Adventures. They were written right after the first movie came out and instead of being a lot of Star Wars Expanded Universe tripe it is Han and Chewie flying around in the good old days being smugglers and doing cool smuggler poo poo. It's just some good old school space opera that happens to be in the star wars universe, and it definitely has the ME feel to it. Also gently caress the Commonwealth Saga; I just finished slogging through that mess of unnecessary boring horny rear end in a top hat POV characters and autistic descriptions, and I wouldn't recommend it as a ME ambienced series at all. Or maybe it's just that I hated it. Whichever.
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Apr 17, 2012 05:10
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I've read through this threat to find a book or series I'm pretty sure doesn't exist. I'm wanting something with the following plot devices: - A Human empire or at least Humans as a major force in the universe - Epic space battles - Epic ground battles - An epic scale either in time or space - Political intrigue - Aliens - NO loving KIDS, well not as major characters! I'm after something on the 'soft' side, I don't want to be reading about sleeper chambers or idiots floating about in zero-g, while at the same time I don't want space magic on the human side. I am happy with bullshit pulp fiction with lovely endings as I want something to read between chapters of The Count of Monte Cristo or Dickens. Just so you know I have read Dune (something like this would be prefect, just with aliens that aren't worms), the First Ender's Game book (what a load of right wing wank that was) and I've just started reading A Fire Upon the Deep, which is a good read just not what I'm after right now. TIA
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Apr 30, 2012 15:05
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I just started reading Kevin J Anderson's Saga of Seven Suns series and I'm enjoying it so far. There's one ~12 year old character who is very minor and because it's a series of 7 books it takes a while to get to the epic space battle parts, but if you're looking for something fun to read, it might be what you're looking for!
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Apr 30, 2012 15:09
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notaspy posted:I've read through this threat to find a book or series I'm pretty sure doesn't exist. I'm wanting something with the following plot devices: I think the Commonwealth Saga and the Void Trilogy (same universe, some of the same characters but a mostly unconnected story that happens a thousand-odd years later) fit every single one of these requirements. Plus they're pretty drat good. e: I just realized this is the second time I've recommended the series on this page. I'm re-reading it right now, so I guess it's just kinda at the top of my mind. Trig Discipline fucked around with this message at 15:58 on Apr 30, 2012 |
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Apr 30, 2012 15:36
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notaspy posted:I've read through this threat to find a book or series I'm pretty sure doesn't exist. I'm wanting something with the following plot devices: I'd guess that your best bet would be the Old Man's War series by John Scalzi. Edit: nevermind, kids show up as major characters in the last book. Hieronymous Alloy fucked around with this message at 17:01 on Apr 30, 2012 |
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Apr 30, 2012 15:42
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Trig Discipline posted:I think the Commonwealth Saga and the Void Trilogy (same universe, some of the same characters but a mostly unconnected story that happens a thousand-odd years later) fit every single one of these requirements. Plus they're pretty drat good. I was gonna say this too. It should work for you.
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Apr 30, 2012 15:54
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Trig Discipline posted:I think the Commonwealth Saga and the Void Trilogy (same universe, some of the same characters but a mostly unconnected story that happens a thousand-odd years later) fit every single one of these requirements. Plus they're pretty drat good. Gaaa, I almost got the first commonwealth book... but didn't. Looks like it's the one for me. Thanks for the rest, they'll go onto my wishlist.
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Apr 30, 2012 15:56
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notaspy posted:I've read through this threat to find a book or series I'm pretty sure doesn't exist. I'm wanting something with the following plot devices: I'll always recommend David Weber when I see things like this... Head over to Baen Free Library and try out a few... On Basilisk Station - Start of the Honor Harrington Series - By the end you have battles involving thousand of multi-kilometer long ships on either side with death toll in the millions. Mutineer's Moon - Start of the Empire from Ashes Series - A million Alien ships vs mid-21st century earth. March Upcountry - Small group of humans trapped on a toxic alien planet must make alliances with natives to reach the human starport on the far side. Note: Every one of these is pure fluff. Don't expect anything as deep as Dune. But as far as popcorn novels go they're addicting. Just don't be afraid to stop reading them when they no longer interest you either. (For many in the HH universe that will be sometime at or before Ashes of Victory, there's definitely a huge change of pace/tone starting in War of Honor.)
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Apr 30, 2012 16:26
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One thing I'll say about the Honor Harrington series (which I only bring up because notaspy mentioned not liking Ender's Game due to its right-wing slant) is that the enemy nation (People's Republic of Haven) is basically the combination of every right-wing caricature/talking point about the French Revolution, Soviet Union, welfare state, etc. I remember one book had the talking point that social welfare in Haven directly led to dictatorship and the citizens being enslaved. So if right-wing BS gets you down, keep in mind there's a lot of it there.
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Apr 30, 2012 16:44
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Chairman Capone posted:One thing I'll say about the Honor Harrington series (which I only bring up because notaspy mentioned not liking Ender's Game due to its right-wing slant) is that the enemy nation (People's Republic of Haven) is basically the combination of every right-wing caricature/talking point about the French Revolution, Soviet Union, welfare state, etc. I remember one book had the talking point that social welfare in Haven directly led to dictatorship and the citizens being enslaved. So if right-wing BS gets you down, keep in mind there's a lot of it there. DO NOT read the Honor Harrington series if you're bothered by transparent right-wing propaganda, painfully blatant Mary Sue protagonists, or horrible cliches. The primary villain is literally named "Rob S. Pierre,", because he's a Space Communist leader of the Space French. On the other hand, if you want a Space Admiral protagonist who can win Space Navy battles while fighting sword duels with her Space Katana and talking telepathically with her Magical Space Cat, it might be the series for you! They *are* plotted well and are definitely page turners, but there's a point where you can feel the brain cells dying with each page you turn but you just can't stop and oh it hurts. It still hurts.
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Apr 30, 2012 16:57
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notaspy posted:Gaaa, I almost got the first commonwealth book... but didn't. Looks like it's the one for me. A loving KID of the worst variety is a major character and POV in Commonwealth saga, though.
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Apr 30, 2012 17:21
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:They *are* plotted well and are definitely page turners, but there's a point where you can feel the brain cells dying with each page you turn but you just can't stop and oh it hurts. It still hurts. (Or as I call it, War of Honor)
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Apr 30, 2012 18:46
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David Brin's Uplift Saga might be another choice to consider. It is not really in the milsf genre at all but it does have Humanity and its pair of client races having to take on basically the entire universe. Also there is another series whose name gets knocked around a bit here called Fearless or Dauntless or something, which sounds like it'd be right up your alley. On another note, I just finished SA Corey's Leviathan Wakes and thought it was pretty damned entertaining, if not terribly original and thought-provoking. I would liken it to a science fiction version of A Song of Fire and Ice, both in the sense that it is an extremely readable and well-done execution of the genre standard without really breaking new ground, and in the sense that it shares that series' over-the-top grittiness/darkness/fatalism, which gives it a vaguely noirish feel.
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Apr 30, 2012 19:11
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mcustic posted:A loving KID of the worst variety is a major character and POV in Commonwealth saga, though. Wait, who on earth are you talking about? The only character I remember who's not at least in their twenties is Orion, and he was never a POV character. He doesn't even feature in the story very much. Are you sure you're thinking of the right books? edit: I just went down the list of characters here: http://theunisphere.com/pfhwiki/index.php?title=CS_Characters NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS DON'T READ THIS - SPOILERS!!! The only non-adult character there is Orion, so if you really are talking about the Commonwealth Saga I assume you must be talking about him. If that's the case, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. He really isn't ever a POV character, doesn't feature much in the plot, and primarily just sits in the background in Ozzie's story thinking about how to get laid. That is not at all what people typically mean when they complain about A loving KID in sci fi. Trig Discipline fucked around with this message at 19:34 on Apr 30, 2012 |
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Apr 30, 2012 19:25
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Bass Concert Hall posted:On another note, I just finished SA Corey's Leviathan Wakes and thought it was pretty damned entertaining, if not terribly original and thought-provoking. I would liken it to a science fiction version of A Song of Fire and Ice You realise one half of Corey is GRRM's assistant Ty right?
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Apr 30, 2012 19:26
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Well that would explain that then. E: pretty sure he's talking about Melany.
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Apr 30, 2012 19:32
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Bass Concert Hall posted:Well that would explain that then. Mellanie? So we're interpreting A loving KID to mean a promiscuous adult female news reporter who is the tool of a hyperintelligent AI? Because that doesn't make even the slightest bit of sense.
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Apr 30, 2012 19:38
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I agree she doesn't really fit the description, but relatively speaking a first life 18 year old girl is a kid in the commonwealth, and she gets treated like that a lot when not being treated as a nubile sex object.
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Apr 30, 2012 19:46
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True, but didn't we all at that age? Anyway, I'm not saying she was the best character - she was in fact not one of my favorites from those books. I just didn't think the description really fit, as you say.
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Apr 30, 2012 19:58
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I was thinking of Orion. I've read the books a few years ago so I may be wrong about the whole POV thing but that kid was the worst. I loved Melanie though. And the thinly veiled Woz and Jobs were one of the best nerd gags in SF ever. I only wrote loving kid in caps because the earlier poster wrote NO KIDS, so sorry about that.
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Apr 30, 2012 20:09
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notaspy posted:I've read through this threat to find a book or series I'm pretty sure doesn't exist. I'm wanting something with the following plot devices:
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Apr 30, 2012 20:45
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notaspy posted:I've read through this threat to find a book or series I'm pretty sure doesn't exist. I'm wanting something with the following plot devices: I'll throw out Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle's Mote In God's Eye and it's sequel The Gripping Hand even though they may be a bit "harder" science-wise than you requested. It's got a well-developed human empire with some notable political fuckery, space and ground encounters with a first contact situation, and the youngest characters in Mote are probably college age. The "CoDominion" universe it's set in has some weird 1980's-style US/USSR backstory stuff since Pournelle's some sort of military libertarian hack, but these stories are mostly moved on from that stuff. The aliens are cool, the humans are smart, and it's got some grand ideas.
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Apr 30, 2012 21:51
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