Recommendations wanted - space opera/ big idea sci-fi

[Tyler Danann]

Thanks Mr. Evil Overlord!
I read a bit of Brin - the whole dolphin thing was pretty fun, actually. But his style didn't make me feel like I want much more of it.
I totally forgot to mention Dune - definitely one of my all-time favourites. But who the heck doesn't like Dune?
I really appreciate this conversation here - it has given me loads of great leads and is certain to keep me going through the next long while.

Brin is one of those authors you 'get' his peculiar wave-length or you repel from it.

I struggled through his entire The Postman book (big time repulsion, it was like reading the allegory for a one-world-state etc) and felt it was written very one-sided with *only* his mindset and no other on certain things.

So if you are writing it is important to consider the readers more open-frequency / balanced aspect rather than force them down one side's extreme.

 

[J Riff]

Looks like humour-based stuff, so maybe try Sheckley, H. Harrison, F. Brown and ohhhh ...maybe a bit of K. Laumer, if you aren't afeared of older stuff.

 

[AE35Unit]

I totally forgot to mention Dune - definitely one of my all-time favourites. But who the heck doesn't like Dune?


.

Well I tried reading it but struggled and nearly threw the thing aross the room!
So annoyed was I that this much-raved classic was not for me I listed it on bookmooch so someone else could drool over it.

Would like to try it again in the future tho...

 

[zaltys13]

Well I think it's great, and if I could find my copy I'd re-read it...

If I can find my copy I will send it to you gladly.

 

[BigBadBob141]

Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon The Deep" has some interesting ideas and even more interesting Aliens.
The is now a prequel and a sequel, but I haven't read them yet.
The Known Space stories and novels of Larry Niven are good.
As are the stories of John Varley starting with "In The Hall Of The Martian Kings".

 

[AE35Unit]

Id have to recommend Alan Dean Foster's Icerigger trilogy!

 

[Bugg]

Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon The Deep" has some interesting ideas and even more interesting Aliens.
The is now a prequel and a sequel, but I haven't read them yet.

I thought the prequel, A Deepness in the Sky, was every bit as good as A Fire Upon the Deep - it's a completely separate story, apart from one character who appears in both, and includes yet more fascinating aliens.

I didn't think the sequel, The Children of the Sky, was particularly necessary. It's a direct follow on from AFUtD. It was enjoyable, but nowhere near as good, in my opinion.

 

[Bugg]

Just wondering if anyone here has read either of these?

The New Space Opera - "An anthology of epic interstellar adventures from dazzling stars in the SF universe: Kage Baker, Stephen Baxter, Gregory Benford, Tony Daniel, Greg Egan, Peter F. Hamilton, Gwyneth Jones, James Patrick Kelly, Nancy Kress, Ken Macleod, Paul J. McAuley, Ian McDonald, Robert Reed, Alastair Reynolds, Mary Rosenblum, Robert Silverberg, Dan Simmons, Walter Jon Williams."

The New Space Opera 2 - "Some of the most beloved names in science fiction spin new tales of interstellar adventure and wonder. Neal Asher; John Barnes; Cory Doctorow; John Kessel; Jay Lake; John Meaney; Elizabeth Moon; Garth Nix; Mike Resnick; Justina Robson; Kristine Kathryn Rusch; John Scalzi; Bruce Sterling; Peter Watts; Sean Williams; Tad Williams; Bill Willingham."


I'm tempted to try the first one at least.

 

[Mirannan]

Forge of God and Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear; the Berserker series by Saberhagen. Both very good IMHO.

And for space opera in the grand style, the two series that started the genre: Lensman series and the Skylark quartet, both by E.E. Smith.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Forge of God and Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear; the Berserker series by Saberhagen. Both very good IMHO.

And for space opera in the grand style, the two series that started the genre: Lensman series and the Skylark quartet, both by E.E. Smith.

Saberhagen's Berserker books were wonderful! And the Lensman books have really got something, too. I read this 20 years or so ago, and really enjoyed the books...the scale of the ideas is still quite impressive.

 

[BAYLOR]

Honor Harrington.

 

[BAYLOR]

Warahmmer 40k Gaunts Ghosts and Caiphis Cain