Life after Asimov

[JeanetteMax]

I've read as much of Asimov as I could find (though definitely not half - he wrote too many books that aren't in print, or even in the library) - and I like Heinlein and Clarke as very good second-bests.

Are there any other authors that write like they did today? I am very prejudiced against the modern sf authors (except perhaps Ted Chiang) and can't find much good sf to read, now that I've exhausted my library's Asimov supply.

 

[Anastasia]

Try some of the earlier Christopher Priest's, such as Inverted World, I Dream of Wessex, Indoctrinaire and The Space Machine.

I like Christopher Priest's more recent stuff, but it gets very weird and he's stopped writing SF these days

You also might enjoy Phillip K. Dick.

 

[iansales]

Why are you prejudiced against modern sf authors?

 

[steve12553]

Why are you prejudiced against modern sf authors?

I wouldn't call that a prejudice. I, myself, tend to look through older authors, also because I like the style that the book and stories were writtten rather than disliking newer authors. Sometimes you just don't want to jump around too much. I'll get to the more modern authors myself eventually. It's my goal to live forever and read everything.

 

[iansales]

But you called it a prejudice. In fact, you wrote, "I am very prejudiced..."

The field is so wide these days that you're sure to find something that appeals to you. If you want simplistic prose and wooden characters, like Asimov's, then anything by Kevin J Anderson would probably suit. If you're looking for something with a scale similar to that of the Foundation trilogy, then there's Al Reynolds. If you want to read an anuthor that throws off ideas every other sentence, then try anything by Ian Watson...

Oh, and good luck with the living forever thing...

 

[chrispenycate]

Tries to remember what else he was reading back when chewed through those books
Jack Williamson, Fred Pohl, I was very fond of Hal Clement. All writers whose style was forged in the pulps, rather than trying to compete for "literary merit" with other branches of fiction. Of course, it would help if I knew what particular facet attracted you to your selection of authors; the pure science side (in which case you might be happier with a Baxter or a Forward than one of the older writers), the slightly more innocent sociopolitical veiwpoint (Michael Z, Williamson is doing a reasonable Heinlein simulation) or something completely undefinable, which could get you turned on to a Simac or a Bradbury for all I know.

 

[Razorback]

I’m also a big fan of Asimov, Heinlein and Clarke. You might want to check out Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy (Red, Green and Blue Mars), as well as some of C.J. Cherryh’s stuff (I’d start with Downbelow Station). In addition, Jack McDevitt reminds me of Clarke. Infinity Beach is a good stand-alone to start with.

 

[JeanetteMax]

Thanks everyone - I definitely have a giant list of books now. . . I'll try some of it, in between work.

To answer everyone -
I am very prejudiced against modern sf, and not for any specific reason, just that every time I try a modern sf story (and I do sometimes) they aren't as interesting, or even (shock) well written. . . (exception: Chiang)

I guess I like authors that throw off ideas - and I'll take the wooden characters if I have to.

Sorry, chrispenycate - I like pure science, and sociopolitical stuff, and Simak (if that's Clifford Simak you mean). So I guess I'll try all of the above.

What I really liked about Asimov was the whole jumble of ideas - science, sociopolitical, and otherwise that he put in - and how he follows those ideas to logical (sometimes ridiculous) results. . . (Like "Reason", "Bicentennial Man", and "The Last Question". . .) Heinlein did it more obviously, but (I think) Asimov did it best.

 

[JeanetteMax]

Good luck with living forever - You might want to try Tuck Everlasting first then.

 

[Connavar]

Me i have seen Jack Vance is pretty damn good of you want to read more of old school SF.

Pohl's Man Plus was interesting


Philip K. Dick is great too.

 

[guitarking]

Can I recommend the SF Masterworks series by Gollancz. I'm not sure how many of these you would class as "modern" as it covers a range across the 20th century but I found it's very good for introducing me to new authors.

All in all a good collection though, I would strongly recommend I Am Legend (Richard Matherson)which needless to say should be read in preference to any film made to date of it. It was the first I read in the series (I originally picked it because it was a quick read) and rate it as one of the best books I've read.

I base this, by the way, on the fact that I have read almost all of Asimovs sci-fi and found I liked a lot of the books in the collection. Maybe we have similar tastes and you'll feel the same.

 

[j d worthington]

Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore
C. M. Kornbluth
Theodore Sturgeon
Alfred Bester
Raymond Z. Gallun
Fredric Brown
Frederik Pohl
John Wyndham
Kingsley Amis
Poul Anderson
Harry Bates
Eando Binder
Lloyd Biggle, Jr.
Anthony Boucher
Leigh Brackett
Edmond Hamilton
Ray Bradbury
A. Bertram Chandler
Lester del Rey
James Gunn
Gordon R. Dickson
Zenna Henderson
Fritz Leiber
Judith Merrill
Stanley G. Weinbaum....


And don't forget to look up anthologies edited by Anthony Boucher, Damon Knight, Groff Conklin... as well as the Science Fiction Hall of Fame volumes, which are full of older sf writers you may find appealing....

 

[Jimcalagon]

One author who is not widely recognised and yet has been around a long time is Vernor Vinge who has written a small number of very intelligent SF books. My favourite has to be his epic "A Deepness In The Sky".

 

[BAYLOR]

Jack Williamson

 

[BAYLOR]

Keith Laumer
Harry Harrison
Fred Saberhagen
Charles Sheffield
Zach Hughes
Piers Anthony

 

[JimC]

L Sprague DeCamp