For me it's The Diamond Age
Just a great mix of memorable characters, and so, so many cool ideas.
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For me it's The Diamond Age
Just a great mix of memorable characters, and so, so many cool ideas.
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Loved it, but it is more comedy than Sci-Fi.
For more true sci-fi, I would have to say Flight of the Dragonfly. I have a promotional copy around here some place.
Solfe
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'That was tops! Who's not good at math? I was all, "Four!"' - Finn, Adventure Time.
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Probably something when I was fourteen or so.
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The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.
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VERY difficult to pick 'the best I've read', a great deal of great SF to choose from. I'll say Haldemans The Forever War and David Wingrove's Chung Kuo series. I could probably make a list of 10 - 15 'best' if I wanted to.
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I actually haven't read much sci-fi. But Azimov's The Foundation Trilogy was awesome.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
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Starship Troopers
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My tastes in SF are eclectic, to say the least. What I'm into varies greatly depending on what mood I'm in.
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
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I too can't pick a single one. I also differentiate between books I really liked (best for me) and books that are "the best" (such as from a literary critic or proper physics point of view).
Among my favorites are "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress", "Rendezvous with Rama", and John Varley's Titan trilogy.
I'm also a big fan of SF short stories. Larry Niven's "Known Space" and a lot of John Varley's short works are great.
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Hmm. I haven't read (err, finished) a Sci-Fi novel in some time. I used to be a huge fan of Michael Crichton . . . somewhere along the way, my tastes changed drastically. Still, 'Sphere' has to be up there.
I usually say 20,000 Leagues is my favorite though. (Notice a theme? Most head to the heavens, I prefer the ocean.)
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Er, has anybody noticed how funny the thread title is?
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If I'm listing the books I would have read, I'll be here all day! Some haven't even been written yet!Originally Posted by Paul Beardsley
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
Established Member
Some great picks.
I'd add "Dragon's Egg" by Robert Forward, "The Practice Effect" by David Brin and "The City and the Stars" by Clarke.
Established Member
Yea.... the "(or wanted to, but have been prevented)" is curious.
OP are you so young that someone is censoring your reading choices?
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I don't think that's the OP's intention. It's simply the opposite to "(or tried to read)".
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I'd probably say The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or Starship Troopers. I reread those each about once a year.
Et tu BAUT? Quantum mutatus ab illo.
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I shouldn't have watched the movie, I think I've only re-read Starship Troopers once since it came out.
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I keep re-reading the book so that I can erase the movie from my mind.
Et tu BAUT? Quantum mutatus ab illo.
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Try the animated series, Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles. It will wash the bad taste from the movie out of your minds.
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
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The Many Color Land by Julian May; or maybe I can skip to the chase and just say the whole Saga of Pliocene Exile. That is an odd series due to the time traveling, technically there are two trilogies, and two, three or four stand alone books depending on what and how you count.
Solfe
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'That was tops! Who's not good at math? I was all, "Four!"' - Finn, Adventure Time.
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Sounds good, thanks.
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Does it say something about me that I keep Starship Troopers and The Forever War next to each other on the bookshelf, and often read them concurrently?
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
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I have. Can't say it helps much. It's bad in it's own way. Worse in others.
Et tu BAUT? Quantum mutatus ab illo.
Established Member
Ringworld by Larry Niven.
Starship Troopers is up there, too. So is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
Surprised no on has mentioned Stranger in a Strange Land yet, but I can understand why. It's more fantasy than sci-fi.
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There are a few that I've really enjoyed, but they're written for a youth audience and I worry that if I re-read them, I might not enjoy them as much. However, from what I remember of them, they remain my favorite SF books.
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I partially agree with what Mike Alexander posted, the best SF is what you read when you were (are) 14. I also agree with others about The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: it is one of my favorites. Many of his juveniles are lots of fun. Starship Troopers is just too preachy, though.
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A lot of military SF suffers from the same problem; I enjoy good MSF but if it turns into a polemic, it turns me off.
STARGAZING: All I see are the lights of a billion places I'll never go. --Howard Tayler, Schlock Mercenary
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Of (slightly) more modern Science Fiction I've read (my reading had really fallen off; my new Kindle may (ahem) rekindle that) the books Anvil of Stars and The Forge of God by Greg Bear were very very good.
Random musings:
Enjoyed Starship Troopers, and the Movie and the animated series. Like his short stories but never finished Stranger in a Strange Land or Time Enough for Love (may try again one day).
Anything by Larry Niven I enjoy. Haven't read third Moties book (it's by Pournelle's daughter) yet (it's cheap on Kindle... ) but book 1 is my own #1. Currently reading Fallen Angels. Haven't much liked Pournelle-solo stuff (I expected to like the Janissaries stuff, but didn't) but really like any of the collaborations.
Have bought The Forever War (based on what I've read in this thread) and am watching for more "suggestions"...
Get up, a get-get, get down.
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I first got started on Glory Road in high school, which was okay and kinda fun but a little odd compared to current culture then went on to read Stranger and Mistress. I didin't actually read Starship Troopers until college where it was required reading for a Political Theory class, which fits with the preachiness.
...
I actually do like The movie and series for Starship Troopers on their own, kinda, but I have to put the book out of my mind or else I get mad.
The first Mote book was good, but got really slow at the end where it changed from an adventure story to a love story and detective novel only to end with a flash-forward. I haven't read the sequels. Maybe I will.
BTW, I don't think anyone should read Time Enough for Love without knowing they want to. There's other stories you should read first so that it makes sense. And even then, just keep in mind that it's an old man's deranged sex fantasy.
Et tu BAUT? Quantum mutatus ab illo.
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