Two can play Professor Randy's game - What is your favorite sci-fi book? Or series, I'll allow that.
Mine has to be the Shadow quartet from Orson Scott Card. For those who don't know, the Shadow quartet is the story of what happened on earth at the end of the book Ender's Game. The first in the series, Ender's Shadow, retells Ender's Game from the point of view of another character. All of Card's Ender books tend to deal with a grab bag of issues all at once. Most of the Shadow books deal with humanity, that is, what makes us human, what are we here for etc. And for those of us who are already fans of the series, I have heard news that Card wants to write at least two more books in the Ender universe: http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue422/interview2.html
Mine has to be the Shadow quartet from Orson Scott Card. For those who don't know, the Shadow quartet is the story of what happened on earth at the end of the book Ender's Game. The first in the series, Ender's Shadow, retells Ender's Game from the point of view of another character. All of Card's Ender books tend to deal with a grab bag of issues all at once. Most of the Shadow books deal with humanity, that is, what makes us human, what are we here for etc. And for those of us who are already fans of the series, I have heard news that Card wants to write at least two more books in the Ender universe: http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue422/interview2.html
posted by Reacher Eriee at 5:20 PM
10 Comments:
I like Card, too--I've read most of his stuff. Other s.f. books I like: Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, a great novel called The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffeneger, Nancy Kress's Beggars series, and, well, I'll cut myself off there.
Some of my all-time favorite books are "classic" fantasy (rather than s.f.) from a while back, e.g. Tolkien, of course, but also Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser books, Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion saga (especially the Elric series), Roger Zelazny's Amber series... But does anyone even know what I'm talking about? I've read a fair amount of more recent fantasy, too, but I'm still fond of the first stuff I read.
Since reading is not high on my priority list (unless it is the Bible or science textbooks), my list to choose from is very highly exceedingly limited (is that enough adverbs?!?!). But, again, I would go with LOTR or Timothy Zahn's Star Wars books.
Oh Yes, Snow Crash is a wonderful book. If I were not allowed to pick a series it would be my choice as best stand-alone.
I really love the stuff Orson Wells wrote, the Invisible Man, the Time Machine, they are all great reads. Like I've said before I've read most of the star wars books, and Timothy Zahn is a great writer. I really am enjoy the Ender books (now if Ethan will only give me the next one!). Micheal Creighton's Timeline and Prey are both very good reads, and who can forget Sphere??
One of the best SF books Ive read is Frank Herbert's Dune. I also enjoyed all the Star Wars novels, Ender novels, I enjoy most Micheal Creighton's novels, im a video game junkie so I also enjoy the Halo novels, and thats about all I can think of off the top of my head. Ive read far more fantasy than SF.
I have read so many different books I wonder which ones are true S.f books. A few are the Dark Tower series, gryphon series of Lackey's, and would firestarter by stephen king be one? There are many other books I like but most are fantasy books than s.f
Fahrenheit 451, A Clockwork Orange, The Handmaid's Tale, Brave New World . . . I love books that deal with the doomdays of civilization, how civilization radically changes (due to a war, etc.) and how people have to cope and live in that new world. I never read the Star Trek/Wars books, and yes (gasp) I saw the LOTR movies before I read the books
What about Michael Crichton? He really knows how to spin a story that makes you think about where current research in science is headed. My favorite would have to be Prey, though its not his most famous. Timeline was also wonderful.
And I know its not a science fiction novel, but Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is an excellent review of all the history of science and includes little bits of trivia about scientists.
I spent most of my time growing up reading fantasy. I group up on Xanth novels. My favorite one from that series was "Man from Mundania." I recommend that book for an easy fun read. Though for s.f. I would have to go with the Ender series, though I still have more to read, *cough Ethan, Dose couch*. I've watched more sci fi than anything. Most of it is Japanese Anime. Good stuff. Like Trigun, obviously I like it, Fullmetal Alchemist, Outlaw Star, and many more. I currently got my three of the guys on my floor hooked on Fullmetal. The philosophical questions that arise from all those shows. Beauty.
Back to books though. The My Teacher is an Alien was good. I miss simple easy reads. LoL. I'm a kid at heart. Though if you guys want to recommend me a couple I'd be glad to pick the book up and start it.
My favorite s.f. series, well pair, of books is the Empyrion Saga by Stephen Lawhead. It takes an interesting look at trying to colonize other planets and the difficulties that arise trying to set up a government and society while struggling to survive in an alien atmosphere. And as for other favorites, I agree with Professor Jensen, most of my favorite books are fantasy, although maybe not quite as old. The Song of Albion trilogy, also by Stephen Lawhead, is my all-time favorite. Also, anything by R.A. Salvatore.
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