Do you know a good SFbook about space exploration?

[toymaker]

I am looking for books that would deal with space exploration -either the Solar System or exploration type missions to other solar systems. No space opera stuff, but hard SF books treating the subject seriously. Do you have any recommendations ? <br />I already read Robinson's Mars saga, and Greg Bear's Anvil of Stars-I am looking for books similiar in style or setting.

 

[cbxsix]

Toymaker,<br /><br />I reccomend "The Dark Beyond the Stars" By Frank Robinson. It deals with a Generation Ship that travels at high fractions of light speed, searching (relatively) nearby stars in hopes to find an earth-like planet to colonize. Very worth the read.<br /><br />Also Bravo on reading Forge of God and Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear; one of the best, if not *the* best sci-fi story I have read. <br /><br />I would also reccomend Destiny's Road by Larry Niven, as well as Legacy of Herot and Beowulf's Children by Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Stephen Barnes.<br /><br />Enjoy!

 

[strandedonearth]

You would probably enjoy Clarke's Rama series: "Rendezvous with Rama," "Rama II," "Garden of Rama," and "Rama Revealed."

 

[toymaker]

Thanks for your reccomendations. I hope people will give more.<br />After looking at reviews of "Destiny's Road" and "The Dark.." seem quite interesting and I looking forward to reading them(I have great expectations of the "The Dark..." <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> )<br />As to Rama series I read the first book and thought it was ok, but the later one's got awfull reviews so I didn't search for them.<br /> <br />Waiting for more ....

 

[vogon13]

If you would like to go to a used paperback bookstore, you might try some older titles that even if you didn't like, wouldn't be too expensive. Some stores even let you trade in 2 books for a different one.<br /><br />Some titles I liked:<br /><br />Time for the Stars, Heinlein<br /><br />Rolling Stones, Heinlein (IIRC)<br /><br />Sands of Mars, Clarke<br /><br />2010, Clarke (the book, movie ok, but book better)<br /><br />Just look around and see if you might find something you like. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

"Birth of Fire" by Jerry Pournelle is pretty good too. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[rogers_buck]

How far out there do you want to go? I think Ring World is a pretty good far flung adventure. Maybe "The Heart of the Comet" for a more near term.

 

[danielink]

Is that of exploration inside the solar system like arthur c. clarke's 2010? I'm trying to write a book and every realistic book about sci fi but then in our solar system still is welcome!! grt Daniel.

 

[yevaud]

1 heinlein book out of all of that verbiage/<br /><br />Uhh... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Huh. Missed the last two.<br /><br />By the way: the "Del" in "Lester Del Ray" should be capitalized. Please respect the man enough to capitalize his proper name. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[claywoman]

Yes but Heinlein uses the moon as his jumping off place. I personally enjoyed his 'Stranger in a Strange Land' with Michael Valentine Smith coming back to earth after living all his life on Mars, or his 'Time Enough for Love' which has Lazareth Long as a ageless man who does colonize planets all over the solar system...both are wonderful books...And also dabble in different time lines...

 

[fornax]

It's hard to beat EE "Doc" Smith's Skylark of Space books (4 volumes).<br /><br />It was written in the early 20th century, and the dialog can get sort of corny and outdated, but for classic space opera it's hard to put down.

 

[yevaud]

Yeah, pardon the snappy comeback. I get modestly pissy at times when people correct me on minor typos like that.<br /><br />Problem mine, not yours. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[danielink]

Well thank you for you reply i will certainly look for these books to read. I'm also writing book myslef you see so any inspiration source is welcome.<br />Daniel

 

[davp99]

And there's always those Short Story Sci-Fi Novellas paperbacks....More bang for the buck..time wise... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="4">Dave..</font> </div>

 

[mattblack]

Stephen Baxter: "Voyage". One of the most (for me) moving books I've ever read. When you read it, you almost weep for lost opportunities after Apollo.<br /><br />"Titan" by the same man. Also very moving, (some might say a bit depressing), but eerily like the world we have today and it was written almost ten years ago now. Humans reaching for something magnificent while our world goes quite mad.<br /><br />Novels about Mars: <br />"First Landing" by Robert Zubrin.<br />"The Martian Race" by Gregory Benford.<br />"Mars" and "Return To Mars" by Ben Bova.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[avaunt]

It's hard to beat EE "Doc" Smith's Skylark of Space books (4 volumes). <br /><br />Seconded. I say, fornax, thats the pure quill. Old "Doc" Smith was the blinding flash and the deafening report, alright.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[the_masked_squiggy]

Engines of Light series. Very, very good.

 

[a_lost_packet_]

There are alot of great suggestions above. Heck, I have at least 50 titles in my library that fit the bill for something you might be looking for. However, off the top of my head, I think you'd enjoy these. They're a little different:<br /><br /><u>Legacy of Herot</u> and the sequel <u>Beowulf's Children</u> - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Steven Barnes<br /><br /><u>The Anvil of Stars</u> (Sequel to Forge of God but deals with a "generation ship" off on a journey to find and destroy the aliens who attacked Earth. Good stuff and an interesting view of the social bonds that would develop on board) - Greg Bear<br /><br />The Galactic Center Series by Gregory Benford - Great story taking place over thousands of years. Not all books deal with exploration but all are good: <u>Across the Sea of Suns , In the Ocean of Night, Tides of Light, Great Sky River, Furious Gulf.</u><br /><br />Also, just about any Heinlein book you can get your hands on will fit the bill. As a matter of fact, they fit the bill for any reading you'd care to do. heh heh<br /><br />So many books, so little time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[adzel_3000]

<br />Anything by Robert L. Forward will be the answer to your question…<br /><br />Novels/Collections<br />• Cheela <br />o Dragon's Egg. 1980 <br />o Starquake. 1985 <br />• Rocheworld <br />o The Flight of the Dragonfly. 1984 <br />o Rocheworld. 1990 />> Flight of the Dragonfly <br />o (Return to Rocheworld, with Julie Forward Fuller. 1993) <br />o (Marooned on Eden, with Martha Dodson Forward. 1993) <br />o (Ocean Under the Ice, with Martha Dodson Forward. 1994) <br />o (Rescued from Paradise, with Julie Forward Fuller. 1995) <br />• (Martian Rainbow. 1991) <br />• (Timemaster. 1992) <br />• Camelot 30K. 1993 <br />• (Saturn Rukh. 1997) <br />Short works<br />• "Pluto Is Black!". 1978. In Black Holes <br />• "The Singing Diamond". 1979. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "The Cerebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras III". 1980. In Stellar 6 <br />• "Twin Paradox". 1983. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Acceleration Constant". 1986. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Magic Matter". 1987. In New Destinies : Volume I <br />• "Turn Left at the Moon". 1987. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Fading into Blackness". 1988. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "A Matter Most Strange". 1988. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Race to the Pole". 1989. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Lightsails to the Stars". 1990. In Project Solar Sail <br />• "Self-Limiting". 1992. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Black Holes". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Antigravity". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Space Warps and Time Machines". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Beanstalks". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Future Speculations". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Starships". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Faster-Than-Light". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br />• "Antimatter". 1995. In Indistinguishable from Magic <br /><br />Further info on this wonderful scientist and writer m

 

[avaunt]

OH YES, how stupid of me.<br /><br />He is so right. Dr Forward is the one to go to, for real science exploration. And good stories too, though his characterisation isn't of the first order. And the plots are not perfect either. But interesting stories and eye popping science with good pacing.<br /><br />