What would you reccomend to a starter in SciFi literature?

[alek_a]

Imagine a semi-stranger comes over to you at a party that you a throwing for some reason at your place and sees the endless shelves neatly filled with sci-fi. <br /><br />He/She says: I want a hobby. Tell me 3 books that I should read first? (and "can I have your number" but that comes later)<br /><br />I would reccomend (a starter asks, so no hard scifi should be there)<br /><br />"The gods themselves" from Asimov<br />"Stranger in a Strange Land" from Heinlein<br /><br />and I have doubts over <br /><br />"Childhoods end" from Clarcke or<br />"The Dispossessed" from le Guin<br /><br />What would you say?

 

[jmilsom]

I have such a collection and am trying to get my wife interested in reading them. My first two offerings failed but then she started on PKDick's collected short stories (in 5 volumes) and was hooked.<br /><br />If you didn't want to wade into a long series to start, there are many more concise classics like:<br /><br />Arthur C. Clarke's <i>The City and the Stars</i><br />Jack Vance's <i>Emphyrio</i> or<br />Brian Aldiss' <i>Non-Stop</i><br /><br />I agree with crazyeddie's rec's too if you are in for a longer read. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[alek_a]

Yeah, but I think that larger books tend to scare most people away.<br /><br />Thats why I didnt put the Foundation series, although it is a good 'intro' to sci fi.<br /><br />Vance's Emphyrio I forgot. Its also good starter.

 

[summoner]

I agree with both Foundation and Ringworld. Another factor would be the reader's age. For a younger age group maybe less than 20's I'd throw in Ender's Game, maybe Battlemech series or Honor Harrington series and I, Robot shorts. For older people you could throw in Dune and maybe a few "harder" scifi's such as Anvel of Stars, etc. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><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>

 

[alek_a]

<font color="yellow"><i>...maybe Battlemech series or Honor Harrington series ...</i></font>/i><br /><br />Aaah, but no hard sci-fi. Imagine a woman in her late 20s. She wont read that.<br /><br />I was thinking that a bit of intellectual challenge and master style will attrct them to the genre. After one is hooked, they will keepexperimenting with their own choices in the constant 'search' for the best book.

 

[jmilsom]

I still think starting with a few short stories is a good idea. I actually selected a few of PKDick's for my wife to read before she leapt into the volume. In particular, I had her read <i>The Father Thing</i> and <i>The Golden Man</i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rhodan]

HG Wells could both write & think up great imaginative stories; I would definitely suggest any of his works to a starter. Classic, intelligent and highly readable science fiction. The Time Machine is perhaps my favorite science fiction story.<br /><br />Rendezvous with Rama comes to mind. Carl Sagan's Contact? Perry Rhodan?... ( <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> )

 

[tony_williams]

It would depend on what the person was like. If s/he was the serious, literary type then I'd recommend Iain Banks. If s/he was more lighthearted and just wanted a fun read then I'd go for James Schmitz or Catherine Asaro (particularly good for females as they often feature heroines rather than heroes).<br /><br />There's also the distinction between the hard-science SF type of book by such as Stephen Baxter or Alastair Reynolds (guys are more likely to enjoy those) and the more whimsical type which tends towards fantasy, such as Sheri Tepper (probably appeals more to females).<br /><br />The infinite variety of SF is one of its attractions, but not everyone likes everything, so you need to target your choices!<br /><br />Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

 

[alek_a]

<font color="yellow"><i>Perry Rhodan?... </i></font>/i><br /><br />Isnt that a Dutch SF comic-strip character?

 

[alek_a]

BTW, why doesent any of you mention Heinlein?<br /><br />On a second thought, a woman might get scared from his instistence to debunk taboos of sex...

 

[derekmcd]

Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land was mentioned. I would think anything in Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein's collection would find someone to appeal to if they are interested in sci-fi. I borrowed Stranger in a Strange Land from my brother when I was 12... got me hooked. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[rhodan]

<i>Isnt that a Dutch SF comic-strip character?</i><br /><br />No, it's German, written by Germans that is, the main character, Rhodan, is an American astronaut.

 

[avidgamer]

I actually selected a few of PKDick's for my wife to read before she leapt into the volume. In particular, I had her read The Father Thing and The Golden Man"<br /><br />You took the words out of my mouth (or would that be "words out of my keyboard" hmmm?)<br /><br />Short stories are a great way to introduce Sci-Fi and PKDick is a legend <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />As an aside has anyone read Max Berry? He may also be good for a fun near future read.

 

[dougbaker]

I would recommend “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” by Heinlein.<br />Good characters, good use of technology, great example of the "what if?" in science fiction, some politics, social change. This would appear to anyone thinking about societies, people, environmentalist, etc.<br />

 

[Saiph]

I wouldn't recommend "Stranger in a Strange Land" to a sci-fi newbie. First, it's pretty atypical as far as sci-fi goes. Second, there isn't much science in there. You've got a guy from mars, with telekinesis and a free-love based philosophy (roomates words, not mine). It's really sci-fi lite.<br /><br />Also, Battle<i>tech</i> books aren't hard Sci-fi either, they're entertainment grade books. Hard sci-fi is Niven's work for instance, or Clarke.<br /><br />Anyway, books I'd recommend:<br /><br />The Man-Kzin war short story anthologies (created and edited by Larry Niven). The one that includes mankind's first encounter with the Kzin is a good one, but I can't remember what volume that is. Three?<br /><br />Armor by John Steakly. Great blend of Sci-fi, some good military action, and a lot of character/psychology thrown in.<br /><br />If you want a fun read there's always the Dragonriders of Pern series. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"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" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[specfiction]

As many other recommendations made on this site, I prefer science fiction that is speculative. That is to say, it takes the reality of the human condition and the real universe as we know it, and makes intelligent leaps. <br /><br />I make various recommendations at www.speculativefictionreview.com under Pete's Picks, as well as my own two books: Proteus Rising and Worlds in Transition, which can be found on the site under Books. Anyone interested can download free sample chapters.

 

[zer01zero]

Now fellas, don't shoot me for this, but I quite enjoyed L. Ron Hubbard's Battlefield Earth. <ducks for cover> Granted, it wont appear on a 'classics' list and it's not really hard sci-fi, but it had an easy readability/feel to it and I really wanted to find out "what happens next" or "what's over the next page". Meh, maybe I was caught in a weak moment. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[Saiph]

I've read the novel, and it wasn't atrocious...just a bit boring and lazy.<br /><br />A lot of the "interesting" bits were pretty lame.<br /><br />Spoilers:<br /><br />For instance, nobody can figure out how to use the psychlo's teleporters because it's base 7 math...right.<br /><br />Pychlo atmosphere is highly, explosively reactive with uranium. Humans sent one nuke through, and wham! The entire home planet's gone (ever heard of a limiting reagent?!)<br /><br />Cavemen in harriers.<br /><br /><br />How it did have some redeeming qualities, but it all just seemed a little to...shallow. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"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" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[love2grow2live]

I'm sorry, but Stranger In A Strange Land is one of the worst books I have ever read. The dialogue is so atrociously cheesy, people just don't talk like that!

 

[tonythorne]

Being an SF writer of introductory speculative short stories I can only modestly recommend one of my collections, i.e.<br /><br />www.tonythorne.co.uk

 

[fatal291]

any for free?..

 

[djtt]

ursula le guin - the left hand of darkness<br />keith laumer - space odyssey<br />jack vance - the last castle<br />

 

[djtt]

appears a bogus site to me

 

[tom_hobbes]

Well he certainly went to a lot of trouble designing fake book covers and getting Amazon to play along.<br /><br />Incidentally have you read <i>A Plague Of Demons</i> by Laumer? One of his most enjoyable novels. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#339966"> I wish I could remember<br /> But my selective memory<br /> Won't let me</font><font size="2" color="#99cc00"> </font><font size="3" color="#339966"><font size="2">- </font></font><font size="1" color="#339966">Mark Oliver Everett</font></p><p> </p> </div>

 

[SpeedFreek]

Strangely, I feel compelled to suggest the Commonwealth books by Alan Dean Foster. These were the first sci-fi books I read as a kid, and got me hooked.<br /><br />The idea of the pet mini-dragon that has empathy with its owner and attacks its owners enemies with acid venom was cool! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000">_______________________________________________<br /></font><font size="2"><em>SpeedFreek</em></font> </p> </div>