Book recomendations for a newbie

[Colum Paget]

So, someone I know who is intelligent, but not very educated, and who's led a somewhat rough-tough life, is interested in SF. They've not got much scientific knowledge, but they welcome a literary challenge. What books should I recommend? (Frankenstein and Flowers for Algernon are already up)

 

[Brian G Turner]

Clarke's "2001" and Herbert's "Dune" immediately come to mind as classics that are relatively easy to read.

Not sure about Frankenstein, though - found it quite long-winded, really.

 

[Nerds_feather]

The Stars, My Destination by Alfred Bester would be my recommendation! Or Non-Stop by Brian Aldiss. There are SF Masterworks editions of both.

 

[J-Sun]

Dunno what to say in terms of a title or two based on that information but be sure to check out all the stickies about "X Recommendations for the Unenlightened" in the GDB forum.

 

[The Judge]

I'd definitely think again about Frankenstein if I were you -- I found it turgid in the extreme, so unless your friend is into maudlin long-winded Victorian prose I'd scratch it from the list. I also second Dune as being an easy read.

Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny -- it's dense and not an easy read, but there's no science stuff to fall over, and if your friend has any interest in India and/or religion generally he will find it intriguing. I think Liz Williams is also to be recommended, though I've only read one of hers, Winterstrike, which is flawed but still a good read.

 

[iansales]

How about something that isn't between 50 and 200 years old? Intrusion by Ken MacLeod was published this year and is definitely worth reading (see the review on this site).

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Aldiss' Helliconia
Dune
Day Of The Triffids

 

[moroti]

Samuel Delaney's Babel-17 might suit the bill.

 

[kromanjon]

Someone said Intrusion and I can recomend that as well. Otherwise New Model Army or By Light Alone, both by Adam Roberts, are great reads or perhaps The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Adam Roberts' Snow is a great (if occasionally frustrating) read.

 

[Southern Geologist]

Intrusion is getting some interesting commentary. I will be very happy when it comes out on this side of the pond next month.

 

[merritt]

Dust - Charles Pelligrino

 

[jastius]

Robert A. Heinlein has a selection of rough and tumble reads that are a detailed social commentary. Starship Troopers, for instance was written in support of his views upon the need for a type of nuclear godfather in the world...this might still be an interesting discussion point with the third world arms race that is undergoing. For a change of pace, Stranger in a Strange Land explores our ideas of the whole judeochristian mythos as examined from the perceptions of an outsider, and the nature of love and compassion.
My other recommendations for a new science fiction reader are Isaac Asimov's Robot series, and the usual selections from Ray Bradbury; Fahrenheit 451, which explores censorship and personal liberties, Something Wicked This Way Comes, with its exploration of the worth of the life of an individual, while I Sing the Body Electric and The Illustrated Man are two short story collections. As these are given as a sort of science fiction introduction to children by schools, they should be suitable.