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Groke posted:Mind you, the second half (Barrayar) was written a few years later and the author's increased skills really show. Barrayar won a Hugo, and rightfully so. It's a very good adventure story with a lot of politics and romance built in.
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May 10, 2014 20:15
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EdBlackadder posted:That's the internal chronological order of the series. It's one order and probably not a bad one. Honestly I read them in published order and I liked that (though I'm a bit obsessed with that since being a kid with all the Narnia weirdness). I have read all his books as they came out and the internal chronological order is not the way to go. I would start with The Skinner, since it is great in so many ways. The rest of the series is not on the same level as the Skinner. Sniper is however a character in them, and makes the books worth reading. Gridlinked is the first in Cormac, but Line of Polity is a much better start. Gridlinked is pretty early which shows. The Cormac series is great, but Line War is probably the weakest after Gridlinked. Hilldiggers is also great. His Owner series was also really good, but in a completely separate universe.
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May 10, 2014 22:03
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Chairman Capone posted:This is what's stopped me from getting into the Coyote series despite the raves it gets...just how deeply conservative/libertarian is it? Or is it a spoof of conservative viewpoints? I know in later books the planet gets colonized by a second wave of South American socialists and that just made me really nervous since it seems like it could veer into the "immigrant race war against American Values!" Fox News echo chamber. The primary government of Earth changes hands a few times and the immigration issues change with it. Once somebody blows up the starbridge and the original colonists rebel, things get better.
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May 10, 2014 23:50
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Chairman Capone posted:This is what's stopped me from getting into the Coyote series despite the raves it gets...just how deeply conservative/libertarian is it? Or is it a spoof of conservative viewpoints? I know in later books the planet gets colonized by a second wave of South American socialists and that just made me really nervous since it seems like it could veer into the "immigrant race war against American Values!" Fox News echo chamber.
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May 10, 2014 23:55
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Rereading some of my Space Opera favorites - finished In Conquest Born. I can't really recommend it to people, it's early in Friedman's career, has pacing problems and whatnot but it's so different from what you usually find in the genre that it stands out. Plus I enjoy when hate/obsession is done right. Flipping a coin between Reynolds and Banks ... Reynolds! House of Suns it is. I remember huge timeframes, 50km ships going at .9999c,clone lines meetup after a galactic circuit, reality breaking weapons and flamethrower wormholes. Also some characters did something in a castle simulation? Starships chasing eachother pew pew pew, being dicks to AIs and fillet torture. :p One has to get into a certain state of mind to enjoy most out of Reynolds' stuff - the character arcs are understated and of course they read pretty much the same, they are clones! etc. I haven't read anything on his newest series, so I'm hoping that he has improved. Eh, happy I'm starting this, the other side of the coin was Use of Weapons. Not really in the mood for that kind of grimderp right now. Finished reading Ancillary Justice a few days ago. It's ok I guess? Liked the split personality/war with oneself aspect. The servant's arc was rushed and his only purpose seems to be validating Justice of Toren's personhood. But then again I read it during commute, I'll take it slower next time.
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May 11, 2014 01:47
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fookolt posted:Yeah, I'm not saying it's bad or something; it's just not my style. This is the time line and if you're going to read them, it's as good a way as any. Prador Moon is one of Asher's lowest rated books but it's nice to get the background. The Skinner is the best book to get hooked on Asher. Soooo, reading them all, start with Prador Moon. Want a 3 book sub-set because you don't want to give your life up to one author, then The Skinner and the 2 Spatterjay books that follow. The Agent Cormac sub-set should be read in order starting with Shadow Of The Scorpion and ending at Line War. The Technician is a stand-alone but Polity context is beneficial although not required. It is also one of his best. Prador Moon The Shadow of the Scorpion 2310 AD Gridlinked - 2434 AD The Line of Polity Brass Man Polity Agent Line War The Technician The Skinner - 3056 AD - Spatterjay sub-series The Voyage of the Sable Keech - Spatterjay sub-series Orbus - Spatterjay sub-series Hilldiggers - 3230 AD
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May 11, 2014 07:19
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Cardiac posted:I have read all his books as they came out and the internal chronological order is not the way to go. Sorry, didn't see this before I posted. I blush. I think Scorpion precedes Gridlinked. For some reason I just could not get into The Owner series.
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May 11, 2014 07:22
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I just finished Poor Man's Fight which is some self published amazon book but still more fun that a whole lot of stuff that comes out of Baen. Premise is education is required and you have to pay back the corporation make school expensive and to graduate high school you have crazy student loans. So the main character joins the military.
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May 11, 2014 07:41
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specklebang posted:This is the time line and if you're going to read them, it's as good a way as any. Prador Moon is one of Asher's lowest rated books but it's nice to get the background. The Skinner is the best book to get hooked on Asher. Soooo, reading them all, start with Prador Moon. Want a 3 book sub-set because you don't want to give your life up to one author, then The Skinner and the 2 Spatterjay books that follow. The Agent Cormac sub-set should be read in order starting with Shadow Of The Scorpion and ending at Line War. The Technician is a stand-alone but Polity context is beneficial although not required. It is also one of his best. The problem with skipping Gridlinked is that you miss the introduction to at least one major character Mr Crane, everyone's favourite rogue golem.
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May 11, 2014 09:59
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EdBlackadder posted:The problem with skipping Gridlinked is that you miss the introduction to at least one major character Mr Crane, everyone's favourite rogue golem. Yeah, but he only gets really interesting in Brass Man. Asher does really great AI characters.
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May 11, 2014 12:21
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Miss-Bomarc posted:Considering that the earlier government names its space shuttles "George Wallace" and "Jesse Helms" I don't think Steele is intending for anyone in contemporary politics to be taken seriously as a role model. And the starship was hijacked by a descendant of Robert E. Lee.
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May 11, 2014 14:52
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Miss-Bomarc posted:Considering that the earlier government names its space shuttles "George Wallace" and "Jesse Helms" I don't think Steele is intending for anyone in contemporary politics to be taken seriously as a role model.
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May 11, 2014 18:27
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EdBlackadder posted:The problem with skipping Gridlinked is that you miss the introduction to at least one major character Mr Crane, everyone's favourite rogue golem. I didn't intend to suggest skipping Gridlinked. I was trying to say that Agent Cormac starts in Scorpion, then on to Gridlinked, Line Of Polity, Brass Man, Polity gent and Line War.
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May 12, 2014 03:19
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He has wrote a trilogy about Penny Royal, as to when they will be released is unknown. His blog is called theskinner at blogspot, but its a bit of a downer at the moment. The Skinner is clearly his best book. I enjoyed Orbus but the present tense narration was a strange choice.
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May 13, 2014 20:38
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Collateral posted:He has wrote a trilogy about Penny Royal, as to when they will be released is unknown. His blog is called theskinner at blogspot, but its a bit of a downer at the moment. Everything I read of Asher that isn't fiction makes me really angry, but not enough to stop me enjoying his books. That said a Penny Royal trilogy sounds fun.
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May 13, 2014 22:40
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EdBlackadder posted:Everything I read of Asher that isn't fiction makes me really angry, but not enough to stop me enjoying his books. That said a Penny Royal trilogy sounds fun. Well...I used to agree with you, but in fairness his recent blog entries are kind of depressing now rather than rage-inducing. Apparently his wife died recently.
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May 14, 2014 02:41
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ulmont posted:Well...I used to agree with you, but in fairness his recent blog entries are kind of depressing now rather than rage-inducing. Apparently his wife died recently. I'm genuinely sorry to hear that.
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May 14, 2014 07:12
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Mr.Drf posted:Honestly the series is leagues ahead of every other new Spacer Opera title being published. What it lacks in excitability it makes up for in not being bat poo poo crazy libertarian crap. I don't know. I'm reading Alastair Reynolds On the Steele Breeze and Poseidon's Children trilogy is shaping up to be the current winner.
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May 16, 2014 06:56
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fookolt posted:I've read them both already Kim Stanely Robinson Mars Trilogy and 2312. Read Red Mars with this https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mars-globe/id324185998?mt=8
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May 16, 2014 07:01
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The Mars trilogy is awesome but I wouldn't call it space opera in any way. It is by definition about one (two) planet(s); the technology is within our current limits (except some of the biotech and the space elevators); it reads more like a history or a biography than an epic or an adventure; and most importantly, there's no space battles.  It passes the "no rape/sexism/right-wingism" test with flying colours though!
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May 16, 2014 09:21
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fookolt posted:I've read them both already Have a look at The Shoal Sequence (Stealing Light, Nova War, Empire of Light) by Gary Gibson. Strange aliens, regular and enhanced humans, battles both on planets and in space, big dumb objects, ancient threats etc. etc. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but then again I enjoy most books with containing those things. I'm also guessing you have already read Night's Dawn Trilogy, The Commonwealth Saga and The Void Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton? While Night's Dawn Trilogy gets a lot of flak for poo poo like space Al Capone and some sex scenes, it's still a great read if you can look past that. It's not hi-lit but it sure as hell isn't self-published Amazon freebie crap either. And if you really want to go old-school and read some OG Space Opera, check out E.E. "Doc" Smith and his Lensman and Skylark series. This is over the top 1930's-1940's intergalactic, planet hurling, special human breeding, cackling villains adventures. You definitely need to read them with the time period when they were written in mind, though.
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May 16, 2014 11:46
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Yeah, I doubt Smith's stuff would get past the 'no weird political views' criterion. The books are what make you realise what Spinrad was parodying with The Iron Dream.
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May 16, 2014 13:23
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fookolt posted:What else should I look for in terms of the major series in the space opera genre? There's a lot of recommendations here and I honestly have no idea what to go into next. I've already read The Culture, Hyperion, The Foundation, and Revelation Space and I really enjoyed all of them.
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May 16, 2014 15:04
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Antti posted:The Mars trilogy is awesome but I wouldn't call it space opera in any way. It is by definition about one (two) planet(s); the technology is within our current limits (except some of the biotech and the space elevators); it reads more like a history or a biography than an epic or an adventure; and most importantly, there's no space battles. Thats why i included 2312. Its not a sequel but it fits in with the world set in motion from mars the Mars Trilogy. There may not be ship to ship battles but there is interplanetary oppression and rebellion, giant orbital lasers, terrorism that causes planetary scale disaster and seeds a realistic expanse into the rest of the solar system far before J.A. Corey's The Expanse.
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May 16, 2014 15:14
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fookolt posted:I've read them both already I just marathoned Legend of Gallactic Heroes anime. I know it's a bit off topic but if you like Anime and and space opera it is a pretty great one.
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May 16, 2014 15:33
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Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I'm going to finish up Vinge's Zones of Thought stuff first and then try out everything else.
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May 16, 2014 18:33
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gohmak posted:Thats why i included 2312. Its not a sequel but it fits in with the world set in motion from mars the Mars Trilogy. There may not be ship to ship battles but there is interplanetary oppression and rebellion, giant orbital lasers, terrorism that causes planetary scale disaster and seeds a realistic expanse into the rest of the solar system far before J.A. Corey's The Expanse. Oh yeah, I can take 2312 as space opera. I don't want to let a genre definition slapfight override the fact that the Mars Trilogy is really good and everyone with even the faintest interest in SF should read it.
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May 16, 2014 19:48
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Fart of Presto posted:Have a look at The Shoal Sequence (Stealing Light, Nova War, Empire of Light) by Gary Gibson. Strange aliens, regular and enhanced humans, battles both on planets and in space, big dumb objects, ancient threats etc. etc. I really liked this series too, what made it for me was that on top of everything else, it had some great characters too. Llamadeus posted:Try Paul McAuley's Quiet War series. His writing can be a bit on the dry side but I think it's much better written than most of the stuff out there. I read the first one and it was very good, the only thing I didn't like about it is that there were a couple of times where he'd go on tangents over-describing things like geological formations and ecosystems iirc. I'm gonna have to read the sequels sometime though.
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May 16, 2014 20:11
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gohmak posted:I don't know. I'm reading Alastair Reynolds On the Steele Breeze and Poseidon's Children trilogy is shaping up to be the current winner. How?I can't find it listed as being on sale till next month?
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May 17, 2014 04:03
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Mr.Drf posted:How?I can't find it listed as being on sale till next month? This may absolutely shock and astound you, so be ready for your world view to be shattered forever, but sometimes books come out in the US later than other countries. It's been out in the UK and Commonwealth countries for almost a year now.
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May 17, 2014 04:05
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Hedrigall posted:This may absolutely shock and astound you, so be ready for your world view to be shattered forever, but sometimes books come out in the US later than other countries. Did he hit a nerve or something?
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May 17, 2014 16:25
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Hedrigall posted:This may absolutely shock and astound you, so be ready for your world view to be shattered forever, but sometimes books come out in the US later than other countries. Wow way to be a complete shitstain to him for asking an honest question
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May 17, 2014 20:12
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Living in Europe can really embitter you when it comes to release dates. Having to wait months for movies or even games to come out.
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May 17, 2014 21:46
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Fried Chicken posted:Wow way to be a complete shitstain to him for asking an honest question Way to be a complete shitstain about me being a shitstain <  >Seriously though are people incapable of checking release dates before assuming we must be time-traveling wizards for having read a book early? Antti posted:Living in Europe can really embitter you when it comes to release dates. Having to wait months for movies or even games to come out. Australia often cops it even worse!
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May 18, 2014 07:22
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Hedrigall posted:Way to be a complete shitstain about me being a shitstain < To "check a release date," I usually go to amazon.com and see when it says it will be released. If it isn't out yet there and someone says they've read it, my next thought would be to ask how someone was reading it early, like maybe they got a prerelease copy for some reason. Then I'd expect a response of "it came out already here," not "Jesus fuckin Christ wrap your brain around the idea that Europe is not the US, time traveling wizards don't exist, and you're probably literally retarded."
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May 18, 2014 15:41
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Does Neal Asher's writing improve any past the first two books of his polity series? It's very workmanlike so far. He reminds me of that guy Brandon Sanderson for sheer mundaneness.
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May 23, 2014 19:12
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papa horny michael posted:Does Neal Asher's writing improve any past the first two books of his polity series? A bit. It remains fairly plain though.
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May 24, 2014 10:50
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Wouldn't be surprised if this gets asked a lot so I apologize if there's a FAQ I missed. I really like the Honor Harrington series before she started crying every other page and deep emotional impact became more important than blowing the poo poo out of things with a lot of missiles. I do sort of like the political aspects of the books though. Are there any other authors or series I should be reading to get the same thing with less treecats?
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May 25, 2014 22:25
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DSauer posted:Wouldn't be surprised if this gets asked a lot so I apologize if there's a FAQ I missed. I really like the Honor Harrington series before she started crying every other page and deep emotional impact became more important than blowing the poo poo out of things with a lot of missiles. I do sort of like the political aspects of the books though. Your best bet is probably Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series, Drake's Lt. Leary series is also good, though the scope of the conflicts is much smaller so far. After that... maybe Vatta's War? The other series I've read in this genre range from mediocre to abysmal(Star Carrier, Starship or more recently, To Honor You Call Us) so any recs are welcome too.
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May 26, 2014 10:44
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Poor Man's Fight by Elliot Kay is pretty awesome and about a kid who joins the military so that he can pay back his loans and murders the poo poo out of evil pirates.
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Jun 2, 2014 04:07
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