SciFi Books you've just read - Part II

crazyeddie · Jun 30, 2008

I just finished Calculating God, by Robert J. Sawyer:Calculating God is the new near-future SF thriller from the popular and award-winning Robert J. Sawyer. An alien shuttle craft lands outside the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. A six-legged, two-armed alien emerges, who says, in perfect English, "Take me to a paleontologist." It seems that Earth, and the alien's home planet, and the home planet of another alien species traveling on the alien mother ship, all experienced the same five cataclysmic events at about the same time (one example of these "cataclysmic events" would be the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs). Both alien races believe this proves the existence of God: i.e. he's obviously been playing with the evolution of life on each of these planets.From this provocative launch point, Sawyer tells a fast-paced, and morally and intellectually challenging, SF story that just grows larger and larger in scope. The evidence of God's universal existence is not universally well received on Earth, nor even immediately believed. And it reveals nothing of God's nature. In fact. it poses more questions than it answers.When a supernova explodes out in the galaxy but close enough to wipe out life on all three home-worlds, the big question is, Will God intervene or is this the sixth cataclysm:? Calculating God is SF on the grand scale. and also: Time's Eye, by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter:For eons, Earth has been under observation by the Firstborn, beings almost as old as the universe itself. The Firstborn are unknown to humankind— until they act. In an instant, Earth is carved up and reassembled like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly the planet and every living thing on it no longer exist in a single timeline. Instead, the world becomes a patchwork of eras, from prehistory to 2037, each with its own indigenous inhabitants.Scattered across the planet are floating silver orbs impervious to all weapons and impossible to communicate with. Are these technologically advanced devices responsible for creating and sustaining the rifts in time? Are they cameras through which inscrutable alien eyes are watching? Or are they something stranger and more terrifying still?The answer may lie in the ancient city of Babylon, where two groups of refugees from 2037—three cosmonauts returning to Earth from the International Space Station, and three United Nations peacekeepers on a mission in Afghanistan—have detected radio signals: the only such signals on the planet, apart from their own. The peacekeepers find allies in nineteenth-century British troops and in the armies of Alexander the Great. The astronauts, crash-landed in the steppes of Asia, join forces with the Mongol horde led by Genghis Khan. The two sides set out for Babylon, each determined to win the race for knowledge . . . and the power that lies within.Yet the real power is beyond human control, perhaps even human understanding. As two great armies face off before the gates of Babylon, it watches, waiting. . . Both pretty good reads!   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

a_lost_packet_ · Jun 30, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>... Time's Eye, by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter:For eons, ...Posted by crazyeddie</DIV>Wow, sounds like a cross between the "Riverworld" and "Well of Souls" series.  I'll have to pick that up. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

jmilsom · Jul 9, 2008

Just finished reading:Title: Pavane Author: Keith Roberts First Published: 1968This book has been praised as one of the finest alternate history novels ever written, and I would have to agree with this. The premise of this book is that in 1588 Queen Elizabeth is assassinated and the Spanish Armada is victorious. England and most of the world end up under the rule of Rome with the Pope and church as head of state. The church suppresses much technological innovation and the story is set in an England where steam power still dominates and messages are relayed around the country by giant semaphores controlled by the signallers guild. The book is divided into six 'measures,' which are loosely linked together and bring this alternate time into focus. I loved this book. Roberts is a remarkably gifted writer. His prose is so clear, and characters and descriptions so well drawn, that you find yourself in the book. It was so much better in this respect to the last one I read by Delaney. I have read a number of other alternate history Scifi, but this one leaves the others in the dust. It is a masterpiece -read it I implore you!   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Arion · Jul 21, 2008

I just re-read Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

tampaDreamer · Jul 21, 2008

Book: Red MarsBy: Kim Stanley RobinsonPlot Summary: A group of 100 humans go to mars to build a colony.  They are followed by large numbers of colonist and transnational corporations.  Conflict ensues.Review: I found this book to be fairly satisfying from a practical idea perspective, but a bit slow in the plot department.  It is heavy on realistic ways in which things might be accomplished, however like many science fiction books of the past, it overestimated humanity's desire for space exploration just for the sake of doing it.  The glaring thing that seems missing from this book on a science level is contemplation of the lack of a magnetic field due to mars frozen state.  I'm hoping to read the next two books in the series, imaginatively named green mars and blue mars, but haven't worked up the motivation yet.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jmilsom · Jul 21, 2008

I have read Robinson's Mars Trilogy and did enjoy the books very much. It is an excellent work for space dreamers who long to see mankind start to settle the solar system. While it does have a number of flaws like you mention, a lot of the other technology is straightforward and has potential. For example, building a large ship from discarded materials from space launches. Dropping modules onto the planet prior to settlement. A friend of mine who reads a lot of SciFi as well was a little frustrated by the slow pace of the first book - but I enjoyed the social side of the book so do not share his view. The pace does pick up in the latter two works and I think the trilogy is a marvellous achievement. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

10_stone_5 · Jul 23, 2008

Interesting time paradox novel which includes elements of wormhole travel, causality loops, relative timelines and other such time travel nonsense.    <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jmilsom · Jul 30, 2008

Just finished reading: Title: Flowers for Algernon Author: Daniel Keyes First Published (as a novel): 1966This is a wonderful book. It is written essentially as a diary of one Charlie Gordon. He starts with an IQ of 68 and is the subject of an experiment that turns him into a genius, but salvation may only be temporary as the mouse, who was the first to undergo the procedure, declined into senility and died. It is an extremely insightful and heart warming look into intelligence and how society treats those at either end of the spectrum. It is remarkable how well Keyes realises this through the eyes of Charlie and all the experience and understanding he has to come to terms with in a short space of time.Keyes has only written three novels. This was originally written in 1959 as a novella and won the Hugo in 1960. It was expanded into a full length novel in 1966 and won the Nebula award. It has a film adaptation called Charly, which won an Oscar for best lead Actor (Cliff Robertson) in 1968. I have not seen the film, but I may seek it out. The movie Phenomenon is very similar to this story as well, though does not acknowledge any link with this original story. If you want to read some calssic Sci Fi, this should be on your list. Fantastic book!   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

a_lost_packet_ · Jul 30, 2008

I haven't been to the bookstore in weeks and I dislike Amazon.com unless I am looking for a specific title.  So, with nothing new to read, I picked up a well-worn and loved copy of C.J. Cherryh "The Pride of Chanur" and started reading.  I'll be through with the series in a couple of days.  I can't get enough of Cherryh's civilizations and the way she manipulates the social conventions of a society to yield some really interesting plots based on "alien" social concepts.  I just finished the latest in Cherryh's "Foreigner" series as well.  Again, another very interesting society with plots and twists designed around how alien minds view their world and others. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

bobw · Sep 14, 2008

It isn't often I run across 50+ year old SF that reads like modern, so an anthology of Tom Godwin stories was quite a surprise.  Free e-book here , nine stories; some so-so some pretty good. The Survivors 1958 -- Colony group didn't make it to their destination and were stranded on a hostile planet. The Gulf Between 1953 -- LOL The trouble with robots. The Cold Equations 1954 -- Made into twilight zone episode but I never saw it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jmilsom · Sep 19, 2008

Hmmm . Those look interesting. I'll download and have a look. I just finished reading:Title: A Maze of Death Author: Philip K. Dick First Published: 1970In this work fourteen people arrive on the remote planet of Delmak-O in order to colonize it. But it proves to be a strange place with a part real and part artificial landscape and denizens. The motley group wonder why they have been sent there. They cannot leave and then they start being killed one by one. Like many Dick works it is often hard to figure out what is fantasy and what is reality, and this work is layered like an onion! The book has an interesting exploration of religious belief and experience and one post-death experience (as stated in a foreword) is based on one of Dick's LSD experiences. But the weirdness and warped realities all make sense in the end. It is hard not to conclude that this is an astonishing work that was incredibly prescient. I cannot say much more without spoiling it. If you enjoy reading Dick, this is a must read.   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Marooned · Sep 29, 2008

Moonflower by James P. HoganI'm always enthused when he releases a new book as I am a big fan. He has a wonderful way of getting you lost in the story and his characters almost immediately. Moonflower is about a colonized world where the colonists end up behaving very oddly - they don't want to leave. Even hardened military types are affected. Follow up missions have had the same problem, so a special group of people is sent to find out just what is going on. This group includes a hardened career military man and a friend of a scientist that is already on the planet. There's lots of political undertones as usual in a Hogan book - disaffection with "the status quo" and dissatisfaction with the typical person who is running the rat race. He does a good job of getting a good group of characters there and generating an fairly interesting world with an alien culture. He finds a way to deal with the language problem without stretching things too far so that humans and aliens can communicate. In the end the promise of what the problem is doesn't quite satisfy for me. I like the book, but it's not the home run that many of his books are like the Giants series or Multiplex Man. I still look forward to his releases though. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Marooned - A Space Opera in the Wrong Key!http://www.maroonedcomic.com </div>

jmilsom · Sep 30, 2008

Sounds interesting! I just finished reading:Title: Rendevous With Rama Author: Arthur C. Clarke First Published: 1972I am embarrassed to say that I only just read this famous classic for the first time. And like everyone else that has commented in these forums I loved it. It is right up there with The Fountains of Paradise as one of my favourite Clarke novels. In case there are others here that have not read it, the book involves the arrival of a 50km long cylindrical spacecraft into the earth's solar system. A spacecraft is sent to intercept it. They gain access and slowly explore and reveal this alien artifact. It is an excellent read replete with constant revelations and surprises. A absolute classic of the SciFi genre.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Saiph · Oct 10, 2008

the books I've just read....that list is a doozy.  I can't actually recall most of the titles off hand.The very last one I read, was "The Jungle" by David Drake.  Thouroughly enjoyable throwback to 50's era sci-fi with oceans on venus teeming with violent lifeforms.Others:  Night Watch, Day Watch and Twilight Watch by ....a russian author.  Really good books, I'm rereading them for the final book (Final Watch) comming out soon.  It's more of modern fantasy, but highly enjoyable as it explores the meaning of good and evil from a very cynical russion point of view. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

Saiph · Oct 17, 2008

Just finished rereading the Nightwatch Trilogy (soon to be Tetrology).  Granted it's more fantasy than sci-fi, but it's one of the best series I've read.  One of my all time top favorite books.  Proof:  I actually read it twice.  I rarely read books a second time. Synopsis:  The world is comprised of people, and The Others.  Others are individuals who, for some reason, can see the into the realm of the Twilight, wield magic, and more.  They are the vampires, werewolves, magicians, wizards, and witches...even demons, and angels of myth.  They're still around today, only they're far more subtle.The Others themselves are split into two camps, a fundamental basic divergence created and fixed when a potential Other is initiated.  There are the "Dark Ones" who prize personal freedom above all else.  If you want it, you take it...if you can.  Then there are the "Light ones" who try to do good in all things, to improve the lot of humanity and more.A long time ago, the two sides were at war...and the consequences grew to severe.  The Dark ones feared total annihilation...the light ones feared wholesale slaughter of regular people.  And so they formed a truce, THE TREATY, in which rules and laws were set down to allow the two sides to exist together, and have what they need to live.  To police the treaty, there are two watches, the Day Watch, consisting of Dark ones, who watch over the Light ones to ensure they do not unduly influence the world towards the good.  ANd the Night Watch, who does the same for the Dark ones. The series is written by a Russian Author, and explores just how similar the two sides are, locked in this stalemate, and through the books examines the views of the rank and file, and the upper echelons.   It's an amazing story, incredibly coherent universe, and thrilling to read.The best part isn't actually the magic in modern times, it's the way the two sides, so different, are also so very alike, and how they interact. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

Saiph · Oct 26, 2008

Finished reading 1633 by David Weber and Eric Flint a few days ago.Good book!  Intelligently written, even if I'd like to see the good guys have a bit harder time... Synopsis:  In current day America, a small appalachian mining town is the victim of a random cosmological phenomena that they call "The Ring of Fire".  This circular phenomena struck the earth around their town and transported, or rather transposed, it with a region of Germany near the Elbe River...in 1631.  Right smack dab in the middle of Europes 30 years war. Can they leverage their skills, training and equipment of modern science, engineering and medicine to survive a war that rivals World War I in casualties, can they survive the political machinacians of some of Europes greatest statesment (Cardinal Richilieu), and religious zealotry (spanish inquisition).  Can the ideals and practices of modern democracy flourish in war torn Europe? One of the neat thing about it is it's more of an ensemble story, with lots of characters making small decisions that lead to big changes taken together.  It's a much more historically accurate approach to big events than many novels that have one or two big figures changing everything. This is the sequel to 1632 by Eric Flint...which I recommend reading first..but isn't required.  This book does a good job as a stand alone novel. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

jmilsom · Oct 31, 2008

[Hey I see you've finally been roped into Moderator status. Congrats. I am reading 'The Dispossessed' at the moment, but very slowly as I am in the last few months of my PhD. Once that is finally done with, I should return to my former regular posting here. '1633' sounds interesting - I may seek that one out. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Saiph · Oct 31, 2008

As I mentioned, 1633 is a sequel, so if that matters to you, grab the one before it, 1632.And the setting is set to live for a while.  Flint and Weber are contracted together to write something like 5 more novels in the sequence, if they ever get time (weber is, of course, very busy).  Anyway, good luck on the phd!  Rough road that!  I only made it 1 year into the grad program.  Brain fried after that.  Just....fried.  Ugh. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> --------------------SaiphMOD@gmail.com -------------------"This is my Timey Wimey Detector. Goes "bing" when there's stuff. It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually. I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

summoner · Oct 31, 2008

I read 1632 not too long ago and it's a great story.  Both writers are very good at the pace of a story and keep you reading.  That's happened to me on most of Weber's and Flint's writing.  Btw, 1632 and 1633 can be read for free at:http://www.baen.com/library/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>

10_stone_5 · Nov 3, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>As I mentioned, 1633 is a sequel, so if that matters to you, grab the one before it, 1632.And the setting is set to live for a while.  Flint and Weber are contracted together to write something like 5 more novels in the sequence, if they ever get time (weber is, of course, very busy).  Anyway, good luck on the phd!  Rough road that!  I only made it 1 year into the grad program.  Brain fried after that.  Just....fried.  Ugh. Posted by Saiph</DIV> I'm impressed with your prolifency. My pick is Canticle for Leibowitz -- if only for this reason:"Author Walter Miller flew 53 bombing missions over Italy and the Balkans, participating among others in the destruction of the Benedictine Abbey at Monte Cassino, which was also a strategic position in the German's defensive line. The controversial assault on the oldest monastery in the Western world was for Miller a traumatic experience. Miller worked for the rails lines and lived then on a railroad pension and Social Security. With his family, he moved to Florida in the mid-1950s. In later years Miller passed life in seclusion avoiding visitors. After suffering from decades of depression, Miller ended his own life. He died of a self inflicted gun shot wound on January 9, 1996 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Before his death he had started to work on a sequel to Canticle. This disillusioned novel, Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman, was duly finished by Terry Bisson."Unfortunately, Miller couldn't channel some of his emotional baggage into prolific writing, such as Dick & Vonnegut were able to.Its also an exceptional story. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jim48 · Nov 15, 2008

Interesting discussion. My brother, who is a conservative, asked me about Robert Heinlein. Now, I haven't read any sci-fi in 30 years, but Once Upon a Time I read all of Heinlein more than once, so I recommended some titles for him. I told him that Robert Heinlein was an oddball in the SF community in the sense that he was a conservative among largely liberal, socialist, Jewish writers. Some day I'm going to go back and re-read my favorites. I had a steady diet of SF thru junior high and high school. Too much. Too much Star Trek, too. Reading some of the postings here I'm impressed by the depth of knowledge. Author names I recall with a smile. I still have the books in boxes in storage, courtesy of the Science Fiction Book Club! Is that still around? A year so so ago I did read Farewell Summer, Bradbury's sequel to Dandelion Wine. No one can touch Bradbury, though he really wasn't science fiction. He's in a league of his own. Again I am enjoying the posts on this topic. Lots of happy memories as opposed to required reading when I was in high school.... Catcher in the Rye, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies.... needlessly depressing novels in contrast to Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, et al. and I told my English Lit. teacher that. Depressing novels and why subject us to that? She ended up sponsoring an Advanced Science Fiction class right after I graduated and asked me to recommend some titles. That was a big thing for my ego at age 18! This was back when Paramount Pictures was getting ready to bring Star Trek back as a series of tv movies to anchor a 4th tv network, then they decided to go with a feature film. God that all seems like a million years ago! Okay, I've bored y'all enough but before I go, Google Harlan Ellison, then get to YouTube and listen to his interview with Robin Williams on how L. Ron Hubbard came up with Scientology. It's a scream! So is Harlan, as always. Shocked to see him with white hair. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

10_stone_5 · Jan 15, 2009

Just finishing up Hal Clement's Mission of Gravity.Next up -- Robert Forward's Rocheworld. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

DrRocket · Jan 15, 2009

Just finished Hiero Desteen, which is Hiero's Journey and The Unforsaken Hiero bound together in one volume.  Excellent book, but written quite a while ago.  I also just finished Cosmic Plasma, by Hannes Alfven which seems to contain a bit more fiction, in light of present-day knowledge, than the author may have intended. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Bflowing · Jan 15, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I just re-read Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Posted by Arion</DIV> A great book and one that is still relevant.  Every time I read news stories about groups that want to ban books because they are not quite politically correct, I think of it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Bflowing · Jan 15, 2009

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I'm looking for a new Sci-Fi series to sink my teeth into. I want something that is "High/Hard Science Fiction." Preferably, a recent publication from a new(ish) author. I've read most of the "big names" in Sci-Fi but, admittedly, some of the more obscure names I haven't read. However, I want something the book-stores actually carry. I don't want to have to search through used-book stores in order to get my fix. heh heh Any suggestions? Posted by a_lost_packet_</DIV> I don't know if they are considered new or old these days, but there are great series by Turtledove, Ringo, Weber, and Drake.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

SciFi Books you've just read - Part II

crazyeddie

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