Whatcha reading?

I think you'll like the suggestions for you I mentioned a post or two above.

Maybe start with the two from Beaumont. I'm willing to bet they'll grab you.
 
Pàdruig said:
This was my first foray in Tchaikovsky, and I very much enjoyed it. The second in this series is in the next group of books that I ordered.
Click to expand...

I highly recommend the Children of Time series by Tchaikovsky if you like really idea-centered sci-fi. The series is very different from the Final Architecture series, it is more of a speculative evolution story exploring the nature of sentience. I think they are great, The third one came out just as generative AI was becoming a thing, and I thought it really helped me understand the murkiness between true sentience and the appearance of sentience. I can certainly understand if the series isn't for everyone, but I think it is fantastic. I personally prefer to listen to that series as audiobooks though, I really like the narrator's performance.
 
I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi as a rule, but occasionally I'll pick something up...either for action like Marko Kloos, or something a bit more serious like "The Three Body Problem" by Cixin Liu.

I also liked "The Martian" and "Project Hail Mary" as I recall.
 
abbydaddy said:
I highly recommend the Children of Time series by Tchaikovsky if you like really idea-centered sci-fi. The series is very different from the Final Architecture series, it is more of a speculative evolution story exploring the nature of sentience. I think they are great, The third one came out just as generative AI was becoming a thing, and I thought it really helped me understand the murkiness between true sentience and the appearance of sentience. I can certainly understand if the series isn't for everyone, but I think it is fantastic. I personally prefer to listen to that series as audiobooks though, I really like the narrator's performance.
Click to expand...

You aren't the first to recommend that series to me, it's definitely on the list. I'm still kind of learning what I like and dislike in the sci-fi genre. It is a broad and varied field, even more so than other categories in certain respects.

Blues said:
I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi as a rule, but occasionally I'll pick something up...either for action like Marko Kloos, or something a bit more serious like "The Three Body Problem" by Cixin Liu.

I also liked "The Martian" and "Project Hail Mary" as I recall.
Click to expand...

Andy Weir's stuff are fun reads. I don't typically do audio books, but I inadvertently heard a reading of Project Hail Mary the summer before last. My wife was listening to it in the room adjacent to my office, so I got to hear it while I worked. It was quite fun.

As I alluded to above, I am still figuring out sci-fi. I grew up reading classic literature, historical fiction, and encyclopedias. After I left home, I mainly just read mysteries, fantasy, and thriller types like Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. I am finding that good storytelling, compelling intellectual expression, and quality writing can be enjoyable across many different genres. The exploration has been rewarding as a result.
 
I love the classics as well. I grew up on Les Miserables, The Count of Monte Cristo and the existentialists.

In the more modern vein there's something to be said for the likes of Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry...and books like The Young Lions, From Here to Eternity, etc.

It's hard to even know where to start when making a list of all the great books I've had the privilege to enjoy over a lifetime.

For every one I remember offhand, there's so many more that just don't come immediately to mind.

I'll be interested in trying out some of the sci-fi selections, especially if they are beyond just shoot-em-up entertainment. I've always been looking up at the stars. As an early teen I used to take classes on Saturday mornings at the Hayden Planetarium in NYC and for years thought my calling was astronomy.
 
Pàdruig said:
You aren't the first to recommend that series to me, it's definitely on the list. I'm still kind of learning what I like and dislike in the sci-fi genre. It is a broad and varied field, even more so than other categories in certain respects.



Andy Weir's stuff are fun reads. I don't typically do audio books, but I inadvertently heard a reading of Project Hail Mary the summer before last. My wife was listening to it in the room adjacent to my office, so I got to hear it while I worked. It was quite fun.

As I alluded to above, I am still figuring out sci-fi. I grew up reading classic literature, historical fiction, and encyclopedias. After I left home, I mainly just read mysteries, fantasy, and thriller types like Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. I am finding that good storytelling, compelling intellectual expression, and quality writing can be enjoyable across many different genres. The exploration has been rewarding as a result.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is easy for folks to underestimate just how broad the Sci-fi genre is. I like a lot of Sci-fi, but there are sub-genres like military sci-fi that I really enjoy, but not everyone likes. And others like Science Fantasy that I don't usually like, but when it's Dungeon Crawler Carl, it's my favorite new book series in decades!
 
Blues said:
I'll be interested in trying out some of the sci-fi selections, especially if they are beyond just shoot-em-up entertainment. I've always been looking up at the stars. As an early teen I used to take classes on Saturday mornings at the Hayden Planetarium in NYC and for years thought my calling was astronomy.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping other readers here will see this thread and make some good sci-fi recommendations. I think you mentioned that you read the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy (Three Body Problem) - did you enjoy that? I don't recall. It's hard sci-fi, based on my understanding of the term. Where I found the ideas and some of the characters compelling, much of the more science and theory-based stuff went well over my head and I would get bogged down pretty frequently.

Tchaikovsky's Shards of Earth was easier to approach, and I found the politics, characters, and general flow easier to digest. I also started James S. A. Corey's The Expanse series, and that is also feeling very approachable, considering that Corey intentionally avoids getting into the hard sci-fi stuff as much as he can.

Otherwise, the Hyperion Cantos from Dan Simmons is bloody brilliant, in my opinion. I've also recently read John Varley's Gaea Trilogy, Le Guin' Dispossessed, and Snow Crash from Neal Stephenson, all of which I enjoyed. A few years back, I started reading books from David Weber's "Honorverse". I mostly started that because the main protagonist shares the same name as my daughter - Honor. It was fun, but like with many sprawling series, I had to take a break and go read something else. I'll make a return to it eventually, I am sure.

abbydaddy said:
Yes, it is easy for folks to underestimate just how broad the Sci-fi genre is. I like a lot of Sci-fi, but there are sub-genres like military sci-fi that I really enjoy, but not everyone likes. And others like Science Fantasy that I don't usually like, but when it's Dungeon Crawler Carl, it's my favorite new book series in decades!
Click to expand...

I have had multiple people recommend Dungeon Crawler Carl to me. It's on my list; I'll probably scoop it up in my next batch order. I prefer to read physical media myself, but I have heard that Dungeon Crawler Carl is immense fun reading via audiobook.
 
I did like the Three Body Problem, Dylan. And I thought the Netflix adaptation was pretty good as well.

I'll have to look into Tchaikovsky as I see his name coming up every so often.

I think I read one of Dan Simmons' books a few years back.

Will refer back to the recommendations here. Thanks.
 
ElmerKeith.jpg
 
surfkiev surfkiev

Big fan of Hampton Sides. (Read the Grann book as well.)

Have you tried Nathaniel Philbrick? Another excellent author in the genre.
 
Hammer67 said:
X 2. "Blood and Thunder" is excellent.
Click to expand...

"Blood and Thunder" is one I have in hardcover. He can't write a bad book...at least none I've read.

"Astoria" sounds familiar to me, but I'm not sure I read it. I'll have to check to see if I have or not.
 
Blues said:
surfkiev surfkiev

Big fan of Hampton Sides. (Read the Grann book as well.)

Have you tried Nathaniel Philbrick? Another excellent author in the genre.
Click to expand...
Philbrick sparked my interest in this genre 25 years ago with "In the heart of the sea". "The wide wide Sea" was my first Sides book. The focus on indigenous peoples was really interesting and added a new perspective on Cook's last journey. I'll have to read more from him.
 
Definitely check out "Blood and Thunder" by Sides. It gets the "Blues" and "Hammer67" two thumbs up.

(But all of his books are excellent, that I've had the pleasure of reading.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top