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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 12/20/2008 11:27:48 AM
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NotDoneYet
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I am a HUGE Ben Bova fan...some may find him objectionable because of his stand on religion in his books. However, if one is interested in seeing what allowing narrow-minded religiousity to effect government can result in, then go for it.
I second the Dragonrider's series...wonderfully written. I'm also a fan of the Eragon books (sorry, can't remember the author's name right now).
But, for me, the ULTIMATE sci-fi series would have to be the 2001 series by Arthur C. Clarke...2001, 2010, 2061 and 3001. Unfortunately, I loaned out 2010 and 2061 to a friend and have yet to get them back...I'd like to re-read them over my vacation...
NDY
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 12/28/2008 2:27:12 AM
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TaoPoohBear
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rae_of_light
Thanks for the input and suggestions, everyone! After work (I work at the library), I went and tried to find as many of those authors as I could. Unfortunately, I couldn't find very many of them, but I found a few, and I'm looking forward to reading them!
For the fantasy readers, I'd love some recommendations in that area as well! I really just want interesting and clean books to read.
Any JRR Tolkien books - his short story "Farmer Giles of Ham" is very entertaining.
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia A. McKillip.
The Belgariad and it's darker follow up The Malloreon. Both are a continuous story set in 5 seperate books each; There's also other books written about two of the main characters - Belgarath the Sorcerer (prequel) • Polgara the Sorceress (prequel) •
I would recomment The Belgariad's 5 books and the Belgarath/Polgara books for any library.
They're written by David Eddings
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 1/30/2009 6:38:56 PM
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book-worm
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Ted Dekker is good maybe start off with Black first for the sci-fi/fantasy end. Frank Peretti, Terry Brooks, and the now late Michael Crichton are good, but Crichton is sometimes a bit graphic. Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan are good science-fiction with the emphesis on science, but they're also very big humanists too so keep that in mind.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 1/31/2009 11:57:52 AM
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Auben
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quote:
Unfortunately, I loaned out 2010 and 2061 to a friend and have yet to get them back...I'd like to re-read them over my vacation...
If I had known that last year I could have given you nice, hardback copies. My husband got some for me at Goodwill and I didn't care for the series after 2010. I returned them all to Goodwill after reading. 
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 1/31/2009 1:44:46 PM
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RJR_fan
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quote:
I have recently started reading sci-fi books, and I've become a big fan already. The concept of other intelligent life out there, of other inhabitable planets, really intrigues me.
You will probably enjoy my essay (click to read) Futures for Sale.
Michael Flynn, a Christian novelist, imagines aliens interacting with the Christian gospel in medieval Germany in his excellent novel Eifelheim.
Theodore Judson is another Christian writer. His Fitzpatrick's War is terrific.
Mormon author Orson Scott Card treats Christian characters with respect and explicitly honors Jesus Christ in his work. There is an unsettling cultic undertone, however. If you read Lost Boys while suffering a flu-induced fever, you might wake up in the middle of the night in the presence of the mormon deity. His Return to Earth series reprises the Book of Mormon. The central characters have an affectionate and respectful relationship with a man-made deteriorating deity.
C. S. Lewis wrote a trilogy of fantasy novels with a science fiction flavor. Read them as sociological snapshots for the most benefit.
Well, I need to get back to work on a dissertation that evaluates the role played by crucial documents in redefining social reality.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 1/31/2009 1:53:09 PM
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RJR_fan
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quote:
Cordwainer Smith*
Paul Anthony Myron Lineberger ("Cordwainer Smith") was a high-church Anglican who literally "wrote the book" on Psychological Warfare. The two indispensable ingredients in this task are truth and love. The enemy you are trying to demoralize must sense that you are being straight with him, and have his best interests at heart.
The project Lineberger took the greatest satisfaction in was a pamphlet that saved the lives of thousands of Chinese soldiers during the Korean war. It told the reader to approach an American soldier, and pronounce a series of "apple pie and motherhood" patriotic (Chinese) words. Do this, and you will be received with honor, and treated with respect.
What the American ear heard sounded like the English phrase "I surrender!"
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/24/2009 2:36:48 PM
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RavagedSanity
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Stephen Lawhead wrote a SciFi series entitled Empyrion which I enjoyed a lot
Isaac Asimov is probably the SciFi writer that I have the most respect for. I think he is a brilliant writer.
In my opinion, Anne McCaffreys books are more fantasy than sci fi, and they do contain a lot of referrences to sex/sexuality, but I dont think she actually describes anything. She is also an amazing writer
Franks Herberts Dune books are very good.
Timothy Zahn wrote The Icarus Hunt, which was quite enjoyable, but Im not sure about his other books
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/25/2009 6:55:21 PM
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JustinDew
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SuspenseWriter
Dean Koontz (also a Christian) has done a couple of SF novels (Strangers and The Taking)
Dean Koontz is a christian????
I did'nt know that, some of the his books are wierd. To say the least.
quote:
ORIGINAL: uncabeeil
Add me to the SF fan list. Along with John's suggestions, I'd recommend Isaac Asimov, early Robert Heinlein (his short stories from the 50's in particular), Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy),and Phillip K Dick. There are more, but until I get home and can browse my bookshelf these are all I can remember.
A close relative to SF is fantasy. Some of my favorites are JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis (who also has an SF trilogy), Karen Hancock, and Brian Jacques
Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy??? Is that any thing like the movie?
If so all it is is a evolutionist spewing athieistic piece of wierd.
In my opinion Star Wars books are good.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/26/2009 12:26:52 PM
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uncabeeil
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quote:
Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy??? Is that any thing like the movie?
If so all it is is a evolutionist spewing athieistic piece of wierd. No, the books are way better than that lame movie. But if you're going to look for theological accuracy in a work of fiction, science fiction in particular, then you may as well not read it.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/27/2009 1:00:59 PM
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JustinDew
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No, I just thought the movie sorta forced thier beliefs, the only part I liked was the dolphin song.
Is that in the book?
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/27/2009 1:14:11 PM
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uncabeeil
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It's probably been 20 years since I read it, so I don't even remember a dolphin song. But the fourth book in the trilogy (that's what the author called it) is titled "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish". It may be in there.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/27/2009 1:22:53 PM
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JustinDew
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Yeah, that was the name of it.
I looked on Wikipedia and found out the song was only in the movie.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/27/2009 3:04:36 PM
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Auben
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The song is an extended version of what they say in the first book ('so long and thanks for all the fish') when they know the world is coming to an end. It caught on enough to become the name of the fourth book in what was supposed to be a trilogy.
It is pretty apt though in terms of the dolphin's personalities and how they're portrayed throughout the books. I thought it was quite amusing myself.
I enjoy the irony of Hitchhiker's Guide. I'm not sure anyone would be comfortable living inside that brand of cheerful nihilism, but from the outside it's pretty funny.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 2/27/2009 11:50:09 PM
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uncabeeil
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Yup, definitely some of the funniest stuff out there. They're almost like reading Monty Python.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 3/16/2009 2:05:43 AM
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techne
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interesting article on science-fiction and its focus on redemption: sci-fi's brave new world
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 3/19/2009 10:49:15 AM
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techne
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another article of sci-fi (though it is about a tv series - battlestar galactica) - still worth reading though...
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 3/20/2009 11:15:09 PM
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Expatriate
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quote:
ORIGINAL: figmentPez
quote:
ORIGINAL: 9drtr
Fantasy can't, by its nature.
Science Fiction set up to appear as fantasy can! Take Anne McCaffrey's Pern novels or David Brin's "The Practice Effect" for example. (sorry, don't know if I can reccomend either of those. Loved reading both, can't remember specific content.)
I tend to like books that bridge the gap between fantasy and Sci-Fi, going one way or the other.
Did you ever read the Otherland series by Tad Williams? It is one of my favorite sci-fi works to date. Without spoiling anything, think of it on a basic level as a reverse-Matrix: Instead of getting unplugged from this world and waking up in the "real" world, the characters of a futuristic society that relies heavily on virtual reality for entertainment become trapped inside the alternate reality (created by some very evil guys intent on discovering the secret of immortality) that has somehow come into existence inside cyberspace. They travel through a variety of settings, from the trenches of WWI, to a fantasy VR MMORPG world filled with orcs and trolls, to ancient Egypt, to a world that is only one gigantic endless creepy mansion, to a chess board world, to Mars... and that is only scratching the surface.
The first book is called City of Golden Shadow, and if you read even the first few chapters you will be compelled to read the other three books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Golden_Shadow
The only objectionable material is one character who frequently uses God's name as a curse. However, she is often chastised for doing so.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 3/22/2009 10:41:13 AM
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9drtr
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Otherland is on my list. I've read Tailchaser's Song and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and both are superb. But I'm more of a fantasy reader these days.
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When we know who is coming, how can we worry about what is coming? When the last hour belongs to us, how can we worry about the next minute?
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 3/23/2009 7:53:48 PM
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Expatriate
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 9drtr
Otherland is on my list. I've read Tailchaser's Song and Memory, Sorrow and Thorn and both are superb. But I'm more of a fantasy reader these days.
I have been watching the TV series based off of the Sword of Truth books by Terry Goodkind, and am thinking of going back and reading the series. I read the first two books and then the inevitable wait between books in a series came and I have never returned to them.
On the topic of Sci_fi that also deals with fantasy, one of the very first series of sci-fi books I ever read was Piers Anthony's Apprentice Adept series. I still remember how much wonder I had when delving into those wolrds for the first time in those books. Anyone ever read those?
Here is the summary from Wiki:
quote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apprentice_Adept:
The Apprentice Adept Series is a seven-book fantasy and science fiction series by Piers Anthony. The series takes place on Phaze and Proton, two worlds occupying the same space in two different dimensional planes. Phaze is a lush planet of magic, where Proton is a barren mining planet of high technology. As the series opens, each person born on Phaze and Proton has an alternate self living on the other world. But if a person on either world lacks a duplicate (for instance if a Proton citizen emigrated there from another planet, or a counterpart from the opposite frame died), he can cross to the other through an energy "curtain" that circumscribes each frame.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 4/12/2009 7:48:08 PM
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Texadan
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quote:
I strongly recommend Mirabile and Hellspark by Janet Kagan.
Oh, yes. I haven't read Mirabile but Hellspark is one of my all-time favorites. I kept my copy and have read it dozens of times.
I'm at present hooked on Jack Campbell's "The Lost Fleet" series, beginning with Dauntless. This is one of the few writers who do not ignore the problems of relativity is space flight and space warfare. Elizabeth Moon is another good one.
For sci-fi with a large dash of humor, try Keith Laumer's Retief books.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 4/12/2009 8:06:03 PM
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Texadan
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I was about to start a topic on online books and it occurred to me you might try out the Baen Free Library for titles and authors. I particularly like "On Basilisk Station" by David Weber.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 4/15/2009 8:12:30 AM
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DaveW
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quote:
ORIGINAL: EFLin
You know, if you liked Star Wars at all, some of those are really well written books. One of the best things about them is that there is no coarse language or suggestive dialogue of any kind. Just pure (unadulterated) science fiction.
I am surprised at the lack of discussion of Kathy Tyers. Only one mention. She is a strong believer and has written 2 full length Star Wars novels (Truce at Bakura and Balance Point) and some short stories including the back-story of the band in Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina.
She has several novels of her own including the excelent Firebird trilogy (similar to SW but much more christian in flavor), published by Bethany House. Her Shivering World book is true Christian SF.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 4/18/2009 1:46:58 AM
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E_Lin
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DaveW
quote:
ORIGINAL: EFLin
You know, if you liked Star Wars at all, some of those are really well written books. One of the best things about them is that there is no coarse language or suggestive dialogue of any kind. Just pure (unadulterated) science fiction.
I am surprised at the lack of discussion of Kathy Tyers. Only one mention. She is a strong believer and has written 2 full length Star Wars novels (Truce at Bakura and Balance Point) and some short stories including the back-story of the band in Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina.
She has several novels of her own including the excelent Firebird trilogy (similar to SW but much more christian in flavor), published by Bethany House. Her Shivering World book is true Christian SF.
I am currently reading the "Firebird" trilogy. They are extremely well written, and can be enjoyed by both Christians and non-believers. Which for my money makes them a great witnessing tool. Especially considering they are mostly written from the point of view of a "non-believer" who finds herself questioning her faith, or lack thereof.
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RE: What is Your Opinion on Science-Fiction Books? - 4/27/2009 4:56:22 PM
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7over6
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Oh my gosh, Im drooling looking over Isaac Asimovs chronology of future history... it's amazing. I wanted to be a cartoonist when I was little and write a story like this stuff!
http://everything2.com/title/Isaac%2520Asimov%2527s%2520Future%2520History
Very impressive, surprised I never heard of it, I read on the wikipedia that Coumbia pictures is doing something towards making a movie adaption in 2009.
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