this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)

Science Fiction

15440 readers
1 users here now

Welcome to /c/ScienceFiction

December book club canceled. Short stories instead!

We are a community for discussing all things Science Fiction. We want this to be a place for members to discuss and share everything they love about Science Fiction, whether that be books, movies, TV shows and more. Please feel free to take part and help our community grow.

  1. Be civil: disagreements happen, but that doesn’t provide the right to personally insult others.
  2. Posts or comments that are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, ableist, or advocating violence will be removed.
  3. Spam, self promotion, trolling, and bots are not allowed
  4. Put (Spoilers) in the title of your post if you anticipate spoilers.
  5. Please use spoiler tags whenever commenting a spoiler in a non-spoiler thread.

Lemmy World Rules

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Tenthrow@lemmy.world
1
Favorite Science Fiction Books (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago by Izzy@lemmy.world to c/sciencefiction@lemmy.world
17 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

What are some of your favorite science fiction books and why? If you had to pick only a few. As of writing this post my favorites are the following.

  • The Quantum Magician
  • Three Body Problem
  • Children of Time

I tend to like in-depth explanations of the fictional science that exists in-universe as well as a good mystery.

top 17 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] emr@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 years ago
  • Three Body Problem (and sequels, especially The Dark Forest:) it's good scifi, though I worry that a lot of people missed the message.
  • Consider Phlebas/Use Of Weapons: tragic space opera is my favorite kind.
  • Gideon The Ninth: sci-fantasy popcorn with a sass-mouthed narrator.
  • Providence: Fresh take on ubiquitous scifi tropes, and I'm a fan of Max Barry's punchy writing style.
[–] Squirrel@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I really enjoyed Project Hail Mary.

[–] hairwire@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Didn't know about this, going to go out and get this one, thanks! I really enjoyed reading The Martian by the same author way back when.

[–] Izzy@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I recently read Artemis by Andy Weir, but the protagonist had so much teenage angst that it was difficult to finish despite its short length. I'll have to try one of his more popular books instead.

[–] Squirrel@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I haven’t read Artemis but I’ve seen multiple people say that it is his weakest work. There is no teenage angst in this one.

[–] crossfadedragon@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

infinite worlds of maybe by lester del rey. protagonist goes on a journey through alternate worlds in search of his father.

trick is the other worlds stability depends on their probability of occurring in reality. the less likely to occur, the greater chance it will disappear.

i think it was published in the 50s and possibly out of print.

[–] SacredHeartAttack@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The Expanse series has done it for me. Best books I've read in a long time.

[–] Izzy@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I completely agree and love The Expanse. It's more character driven than I prefer, but it is still in my top 10 for sure.

[–] cetvrti_magi@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

For me it is Foundation series because I like it's themes and how they are presented, I really like some characters like Mule and Hari Seldon and it is very interesting to read.

[–] vita_man@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I really enjoyed the 'Foundation' series by Isaac Asimov. 'Rendezvous with Rama' by Arthur C. Clarke is a great one as well.

[–] mPony@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

My favourites are (still) HitchHikersGGTG and Good Omens. I just adore that writing style, I guess.

[–] necrxfagivs@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I'm currently reading The Left Hand of Darkness, and so far enjoying it a lot.

[–] juker@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm a big fan of world building and well fleshed out settings and characters. I love getting lost in descriptive and unique imagery.

  • Hyperion by Dan Simmons - feels like such a lived-in universe, some interesting tales, and a horrifying antagonist in the Shrike.
  • Neuromancer by William Gibson - cyberpunk ahead of its time, great story, incredible atmosphere.
[–] CylonBunny@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I feel like you’d really enjoy House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds. One of the most “lived-in” feeling worlds I’ve encountered since Hyperion. I’m reading Pushing Ice now and haven’t read any of Revelation Space yet, but I’m planning on it.

[–] sjmulder@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I haven't read Quantum Magician but certainly agreed on the Three Body Problem and Children of Time. Fantastic books.

Some others I really like:

  • This Is How You Lose the Time War - short, poetic. Love it.
  • Red Mars trilogy and really anything by Kim Stanley Robinson. Oh also in particular The Years of Rice and Salt
  • Diaspora by Greg Egan and also much of his other stuff
  • Player of Games and Use of Weapons from Ian Banks' Culture series. Haven't read all of them yet.
  • Ancillary Justice
[–] Ongar@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I don't see many people recommending Ancillary Justice, but really enjoyed the series. I thought it was a pretty light read as far as Sci-fi goes, but it ticked all the right boxes for me.

[–] emr@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 years ago

I wouldn't call AJ a light read, just because you spend so much time wrapping your brain around what the narrator is doing and the cultures are so deliberately weird. All the more rewarding for it though imo.