Bibliophile dramanauts, I was thinking about having a few recommendation threads according to genre, this one is Sci-fi but then we could go into horror, fantasy, realism, math textbooks, etc.
Here’s mine, or at least the few one’s I read.
HG Wells
“War of the Worlds”
Isaac Asimov
I robot
Foundation Trilogy
Frank Herbert
Dune
Dune messiah
Andy Weir
The Martian
Edit: I forgot about Robert Henlein, in his case “Starship Troopers”
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
The Three Body Problem trilogy by Cixin Liu. I don’t even like scifi, but this was art.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
This is one of the few books I couldn’t finish purely because the prose was so bad. In sci fi I can usually accept bad prose if the idea or setting is good enough but this time I couldn’t hold my nose and get through it. I just read the plot on Wikipedia.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Yeah prolly because it was chinkshit lol
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
There was something a bit disturbing about it apart from subject matter/plot points. It's like a look into the slightly demented brain of a post-Mao Chinese boomer, and the sort of cynical, relentlessly unempathetic worldview they have. You get the sense these people would willingly send 100 million of their countrymen to drown on the beaches of Taiwan if it means they can craft a landbridge to allow China to Grow Larger
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Yes, good take.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
I liked The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Was it like that or ???? Can't imagine Chinese 2 English prose.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Where’d you stop?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
Phenomenal recommendation. My favorite was the second entry in the trilogy, The Dark Forest. The third book was a little unhinged but still worth finishing off.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
The Dark Forest is amazing.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
The third book depressed the frick out of me and I liked it best. Second was phenomenal though. First was just alright, which makes the recommendation hard lol
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
My problem with Death's End is that our author adds in some retcon super waifu character who stumbles her way to the end of the universe. Felt weird rooting against the main character after supporting the previous 2 leads completely.
But yeah absolutely loved that trilogy. You read any of the other books by him? He name drops BALL LIGHTNING like 5 times in the trilogy and it almost made me want to read it.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
The weird
phenomenon ball 
lightning?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
I think that's everyone's favorite of the 3. Actually blew my mind
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
This is a good one
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Netflix is producing an adaptation created by D&D, are you guys ready for it
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
They blackwashed like half the cast
Of a book that takes place in CHINA.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
They're terrible. The 2nd one has a decent character (the dude who becomes the wallfacer) but the 3rd one has the most pathetic protagonist I've ever seen. She is totally incapable of making a decision.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Strongest chink
woman 
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Was the woman not strong enough for you
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
Hyperion
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
The entire Hyperion cantos is a masterpiece. I can't think of a single flaw in any of the books.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Are you fricking joking? The introduction and plotline for Aenea in the third book could make many a reviewer seem like a violent incel.
The first book is well written, but needs better follow through in the 2nd... and the third installment is garbage so the entire collection really just belongs in the trash.
Anyway I hate everything, got any other recommendations that I've already read and decided that they were shit?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
I read the first one and found it very meh, it didn't inspire any sense of wonder or cause any of those weird tingles you get sometimes when reading something that causes weird deja-vu.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
It's very dramatic writing.. melodramatic to some, definitely not for everyone
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I also detected the hint of overtly Christian themes creeping in (it isn't subtle either) which turned me off.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
I loved this book series. The only thing that bothered me was they never actually named The Consul.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
What about the vaguely pedophlic stuff in book 3(4?) Honestly that's all I remember about Endymion
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is fantastic and for me the humor is
I also really liked Ender's Game, but I read one or two of the sequels and didn't find them as interesting.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
The sequels were kinda panned in comparision. Ender's Game is good, I think it's on the required reading list for... Airforce? Not 100% sure. I know that The Right Stuff is on the Airforce officers required reading list.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
I liked Hyperion a lot. Not quite as sold on the sequels to it, but the original one is really cool. Let me know what you think it's about if you read it though, I'm still not sure.
Also, Ubik is a good read if you like Philip K Peepee weirdness.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Hyperion is the one that took inspiration from “The Canterbury Tale’s” right?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Yes, although I didn't know that when I read it.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
HG Well’s “War of the Worlds”: the og alien invasion book. Narrated in first person, kind of dated (aliens are martians, and said martians travel on canon balls ala Jules Verne), still a classic and a short one, around 200 pages.
Isaac Asimov Foundation Trilogy: Asimov is very imaginative and is all about great ideas, his writing is kind of amateurish (especially compared to Wells) and very pulpy, his characters are very one-dimensional with few exceptions. He’s still a good storyteller and the Mule is a good villain, but if you are more into character driven book’s than it ain’t you cup of tea.
Frank Herbert’s Dune and Dune Messiah:
Actual long novel’s with decent characters and lot’s of internal dialogue. The first book villain villain is fun although still one dimensional (baron Harkonnen is just an irredimible evil murdeorus fat lazy p-dophile).
Andy Weir “The Martian”: he’s a modern hack writer, but it’s a funny book and he has such a great technical insight, recommended for all stemcels and spaceautists like me. Tried Artemis and put it down because it was so cringey.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Foundation and Earth was the only Foundation book I could really get into. I got vaguely into the others and gave up on them. Asimov long books tend to be very boring IMHO, short(er) stories are where he really shines.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I was 17 when I read Asimov so I don’t recall in good details but I think you’re right about his short stories (I robot for instance)
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I Robot was enjoyable. I don't know what Asimov was like as a person but from his books I've got a vision of him as this grumpy old uncle type. Niven, on the other hand, I imagine as being a lot more of a mischievous and fun character. Clarke is somewhere between the two of them.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
If anyone finds themselves struggling a bit through Messiah and Children of Dune, don't be surprised but don't be off put either. It's worth it to at least get to the 4th book, God Emperor of Dune, which is easily the 2nd best book in the series and worth the read.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
It’s funny you mentioned “Children of Dune”. I read Dune and Dune Messiah almost a decade ago, then I saw on the news that a new movie was being produced by Villeneuve (that’s around 2019) and I decided to try CoD and gave up after 150 pages. I wanted to like it but the story didn’t seem interesting anymore. Still loved the movie, can’t wait for part 2.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
Yeah... the movie's better. His humor was hit-or-miss because it seemed forced, and the story is really drawn out (which is perfect for a movie).
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Agreed, I read the book a few months before the movie came out, it has capeshit tier humor. But I liked that it was a more less realistic take on a future mars mission (minus the bullshit sandstorm toppling the MAV thing), and that was enough for me at the time. Also it’s funny how the book came with the China pandering that was used to promote the movie there as well.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
I'm incredibly surprised by the lack of Phillip K Peepee ITT, wife-beater and druggie extraorinaire. He's one of the few modern SF writers (along with Gibson) who I think are good sci-fi writers and good writers in general. The VALIS series is literally insane but incredible at the same time.
Other than that, 'a Canticle for Leibowitz' needs to be mentioned.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Stop reading fiction.
Real adults read: poems, scientific literature, biographies, philosophy and occasionally textbooks.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
This but unironically, my reading list this year is more western canon focused. But I used to read sci-fi when I was a teenager and for many it’s a good entry into reading
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
Recently I read Do andriods dream of electric sheep? was very interesting. I forgot it was the precursor to blade runner when I started it.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Your "recommendations" read like a copy/paste out of some high schooler's SCI/FI 101 curriculum.
So vanilla and boring.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Then do better straggot
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Not here to educate you sweaty.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
That’s because I was a high schooler by the time I read them
. I haven’t read sci-fi in years, so yeah there’s nothing sophisticated there.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Maybe that's why he's asking for recommendations
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
Larry Niven: Basically all of it, go in chronological order. The later stuff (90s+) isn't that great. Special attention should be given to:
Ringworld
The Ringworld Engineers
A World Out of Time
The Integral Trees
The Smoke Ring
Alastair Reynolds: Again basically all of it. Special note:
Chasm City
The Prefect
Ian M Banks: Again basically all of it. Special note:
Against a Dark Background
Feersum Endjinn (weird writing style)
Use of Weapons
William Gibson:
Neuromancer
Count Zero
Mona Lisa Overdrive
Pattern Recognition
Henlein: I find the Henlein juveniles the most enjoyable of his works, his later stuff gets a bit weird. Note that these are really really old (1940-1950)
Waldo & Magic Inc.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Starman Jones
The Star Beast
Double Star
Alfred Bester:
The Demolished Man
The Stars my Destination
Joe Haldeman:
Pat Cadigan:
Nancy Kress:
Philip K. Peepee:
A Scanner Darkly
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (-> Blade Runner)
We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (-> Total Recall)
Neal Stephenson:
Cryptonomicon
The Diamond Age
Snow Crash
Thomas Pynchon:
Gravity's Rainbow (set aside about a year, half in front)
Inherent Vice (this one's more straightforward)
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I dont like Niven and it's tough to recommend him to young people due to recursive influence, but this is a pretty good list for anyone getting in to the genre.
Stephenson is also questionable. Other than Snow Crash I haven't liked anything else from the author. Diamond age was fun but the guy has no clue know how to end a story and the novel really should have been edited for children.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Also I want to add some dystopian staples that exclude the over-suggested 1984:
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Machine Stops by E M Forster
There's another one that should go in here but I can't think of it right now.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
It's bloated, they're all bloated. Snow Crash has so much waffle (all the scenes with the librarian expositing sumerians) that just can be skipped right over on a 2nd reading. TBH I really only like Cryptonomicon because it's a very familiar sort of adventure story that's just a fun read.
Any particular reason you don't like Niven or just doesn't vibe with you?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
I feel like those are Reynolds worst two books lol. If you're gonna read him (skippable tbh) I would prioritize Pushing Ice, Terminal World, and House of Suns. Also his fairly new book Eversion is pretty good.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I've read Pushing Ice, I thought it was okay but not amazing. I haven't read the other two. You don't like the Inhibitor Cycle series then I take it?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Well I should say that I've read all of them, so obviously I can't say I hate them.
I have a mixed mind about them. I really like the overall revelation space universe. I like the Ultras and Mending plague. I don't mind the conjoiners.
Unfortunately there are many reoccurring elements that I really can't stand like those fricking hyperpigs ( so dumb... why) and that memory water based things that show up whenever Reynolds needs to figure out how to advance the plot. (pattern jugglers? Something like that).
The characters are okay, I don't really mind Reynolds cynicism, but man some of those books are bloated. Like why did redemption ark need to be like 700 pages?
It's pretty funny that I was reading the final book after not having read anything in the series for like 10 yrs. I was super into it and then those fricking pigs showed up and I started remembering things. It's like the more the book became a revelation space book, the worse it got.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Redemption Ark is a bit ponderous. I kinda agree with you that the longer they are, the worse they get.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
Snow Crash is great because it's probably the best book for describing a Cyberpunk setting. It wasn't the first in the genre, but it probably has the most complete description of the concept so it feels almost stale to read if you are familiar with the genre
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
Asimov's short story collections, especially Nightfall and The Martian Way
Strugatsky's Roadside Picnic
Unusual, imaginative sci fi dealing with the fallout of aliens landing on earth and then leaving. It was the inspiration behind Stalker.
Lem's Solaris
Can't say much without spoiling but this book showed me why Lem is so respected. Lots of unexpected twists, bordering on science fantasy.
Gibson's Neuromancer
Incredibly well written (for sci fi) and imo a masterclass in pacing. Always reads like a 30k word novella, even though it's much longer. Little depth but amazing atmosphere.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Adding on to Lem: His Master's Voice.
Great "first contact" book that, like Solaris, is about how human cognition may be incapable of understanding the motives of alien life-forms.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Neuromancer is great but still the worst book in the first trilogy. Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive are much better. The do-over of Count Zero (Pattern Recognition) is better still.
Both Stalker and Solyaris are great movies. I have a third one saved but can't remember what the name is right now. (I checked my files, it's 'Come and See.')
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Been meaning to watch Come and See, couldn't get through the GIGANTIC monologue in the solaris movie opening. Does it get better?
Hard disagree with count zero/mona lisa. I feel the books lose the momentum of the first one entirely and somehow the vibe of the sprawl is missing and falls flat. There are fantastic ideas and scenes in the two, the B plots often better than the main ones, but the whole voodoo thing I dont care for. They're still really good, but Neuromancer just has a different feel imo.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I've watched Solaris three times and no, it does not get any more interesting. The pace is so slow that I can't even follow it. There's long stretches where absolutely nothing happens and my mind starts wandering, thinking about what I have to buy the next time I go to the store.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Yeah it's a movie that at first glance I want to like, the soviet sci fi aesthetic is really cool but jfc imagine opening ur movie with a long excerpt from a book
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Self-referentially enough, Gibson actually mentioned this... Cayce (from Pattern Recognition) is talking about being unable to stay awake through Tarkovsky movies and 'going under during a seemingly endless pan' lol
(Hi ouroboros, nice to meet you.)
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Gonna have to read Pattern Recognition. I barely got through Tarkovsky's Stalker movie. Solaris would be a difficult movie to pull off without using pretty intense visual effects, stalker could be phoned in a bit more with less detriment.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Also Pattern Recognition is very good, though it's written as one long string without any shifts in perspective. I remember reading it and finding out the next chapter was still from Cayce's perspective and literally sighing. I understand now why authors shift character perspectives, it can feel a bit exhausting.
Pattern Recognition, to me, seems like a do-over of Count Zero, some of the themes are very similar and the main protagonist is a similar-feeling character. CZ is almost certainly my favourite Gibson book so it was great reading something you could take to be a re-imagining of it.
If you read it let me know if you notice the similarities.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Is count zero the one with the arcology defection? And the art dealer and the rich dude with cancer? I always read all 3 books back to back, count zero and mona lisa blur together.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
Are you thinking of the correct film? From what I remember (I did just check) the opening to Solyaris is the team watching the debriefing of the astronaut in the dacha. I don't remember a huge monologue...
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
That's the one. I was incredibly stoned and just could not get thru that part
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
It isn't that long. Give it a go, alternatively just watch the do-over with Clooney. That's good (vaguely) too.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
Doesn't Neuromancer barely touch the Sprawl, though? Count Zero fills in much more of the blanks as to what life in the Sprawl actually would be like, Bobby's apartment, the club he goes to to wait for his plug, the arcology thing where the weird guys live (the one with Hypermart on top...) Neuromancer starts in Chiba and almost immediately heads to Istanbul and then Freeside.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
You're right. Idk tho because something changed in the writing after Neuromancer. Johnny Mnemonic and Burning Chrome along with a few other stories all had that Neuromancer energy but it was like the writing started to meander after or smth
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
My opinion does vary a bit with time, though. I never thought Idoru was particularly great (I think it's the best of the 2nd trilogy though) but I read it a few months ago and I was absolutely riveted to it and almost in tears at points. It seemed so poignant.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Yeah, I completely agree, I just think it got a lot better, but I can understand your perspective. Neuromancer is a faster 'rougher' book that's noticeably less edited than the other two. It's like a live performance compared to a studio performance.
I'm not pooping on it, it's a great book. I just think the others are better :)
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I think you're onto something. Early Gibson is my jam, my all time favorite story of his is The Winter Market
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
That's a good story. The one with the girl who can't move without an exoskeleton and they're all cracked out bohemians? Yeah I liked that one too, it's pretty raw. Burning Chrome (the short story, not the collection) is also pretty amazing.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context