Interact: Discussions: Sci-fi recommendations

My dad bought me "Slan" AE Van Vogt for my birthday as it was one of his favourites when he was a lad.  To return the favour I bought him "Foundation" Isaac Asimov for Father's Day because I believe it's a 'classic', but really I know nothing about sci-fi.

I enjoyed "Slan" and thought it was a bit like "1984", are any of these titles similiar- not too fantastical ?

Nichola Aloha

Currently reading: Seventh Heaven
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I'll make a recommendation.

Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by kate Wilhelm is a dystopic novel set in a bleak future where humans are dying out and a wealthy family decides to take up cloning to ensure some kind of future for humanity. The clones become dispassionate and at odds with the natural world and the book is closer in spirit to Slan.

Foundation is part of an epic seres of Asimov novels about a galactic empire. It may be different from Slan but I'm sure your father will enjoy it.

If you want any further info on any sci fi just ask.

Wordy Rappinghood

Currently reading: Strangers
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Here are two to try...

John Twelve Hawks - "The Traveller" + "Dark Rivers" (Think "Highlander" meets "X-Files"

Joseph Delacy - "Meat" (darker than dark dystopia)

James

James Pearson

Currently reading: The Road
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Hi Nichola

A very helpful BookRabbiter started a catagory called top 100 SF books - you might want to have a wander round.

Best

Kieron

Kieron Smith

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Another fave of mine are the David Brin Uplift Wars sequence (start with "Sundiver"..."Startide Rising" is one of my all-time favourites!!!)

James

James Pearson

Currently reading: The Road
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Try Ursula K. Le Guin and Connie Willis.  Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" is particuarly good, imo.

(I read "The Traveller" and found it very thin stuff)

Buffy Squirrel

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I know a lot of people really rate Iain M. Banks' Culture Series, I've only read one so far - Consider Phlebas - but it was really good.

Rob Johnson

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I thought "Player of Games" was better than "Phlebas".  They are a bit overwritten for my taste, tho'.

Buffy Squirrel

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Hey Buffy

Agree with you (partially) on Twelve Hawks...It is scifi action cheese, but sometimes that is just what the doctor ordered.

I like the books anti-establishment vibe too.

To add to list of scifi must-reads "Neuromancer", "Mona Lisa Overdrive" and "Count Zero"...Seminal cyberpunk classics from William Gibson (see where the Matrix originated!)

James

James Pearson

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I recently enjoyed Earth Inc. by Michael Bollen. It's a sci-fi/satire set in the 2050s - really funny.

http://www.bookrabbit.com/catalogue/detail/bookid/3302340/Earth-Inc-

Caroline Rance

Currently reading: Black President
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