Sci Fi Books (1 Viewer)

[Consigliere]

This is my reading deep-dive of 2024 and it seems that there may be interest here.

Ranked so far for me:

(1) The Expanse (epic and fantastic)
(2) Hyperion (excellent world-building in book #1, just ordered #2)
(3) The Black Cloud (old fashioned but tight and "realistic")
(4) Three Body Problem (fresh idea and good writing but the Chinese names lose me)
(5) Dune (just read #1 for the first time - great but future installments seem questionable)
(6) Hail Mary (good premise, good writing)
(7) The Sparrow (good premise, poor writing)
(8) Cuckoo Cloud Land ("intellectual" but really just OK)
(9) Station Eleven (started, lost interest)

What say you - ranks and recommendations? Thanks...

 

[Sailorsaint]

Hail Mary was great and I think, with a little tweaking, would make another great movie.

 

[superchuck500]

Nothing by Kilgore Trout?

 

[Optimus Prime]

Hail Mary was great and I think, with a little tweaking, would make another great movie.

I assume we’re talking about project Hail Mary by Andy weir

I was thinking more of a TV show but yes love that book

Any thoughts on who could be cast as Ryland?

 

[Optimus Prime]

I’ve owned Hyperion for decades never read it

 

[Optimus Prime]

It’s been ages since I’ve read either but I remember really liking Footfall and Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Haven’t read Mote in Gods Eye yet

 

[Optimus Prime]

Armor by John Steakley

 

[rail]

Red Rising series, Pierce Brown

 

[Sailorsaint]

I assume we’re talking about project Hail Mary by Andy weir

I was thinking more of a TV show but yes love that book

Any thoughts on who could be cast as Ryland?

John Krasinski.

 

[bonnjer]

Red Rising series, Pierce Brown

Be warned, though. The farther you get into the series, the chunkier the books become. Brown likes words. A lot of them.

 

[J-Donk]

Be warned, though. The farther you get into the series, the chunkier the books become. Brown likes words. A lot of them.

It also starts out as scifi hunger games, and turns into a massive space opera. So if you don't like the first book, I would at least pick up the 2nd, and see if it sticks.

CONFESS!

 

[Consigliere]

Nothing by Kilgore Trout?

K. Vonnegut I presume - nothing, not even S5 - would you recommend starting with his classic or one of his Hugo nominees?

 

[Optimus Prime]

Bobiverse books are great

Just started book 4

 

[Consigliere]

(1) The Expanse (epic and fantastic - characters, plot, "realism" all top notch)
(2) Hyperion (excellent world-building in book #1, but #2 is fine but just more of the same plot)
(3) The Black Cloud (old fashioned but tight and "realistic")
(4) Three Body Problem (fresh idea, good writing, sequel even better; but the Chinese names lose me)
(5) Blindsight (clever take on consciousness in context of first-contact story)
(6) Ender's Game (fun little book)
(7) Dune (just read #1 for the first time - great but future installments seem questionable)
(8) Hail Mary (good premise, good writing)
(9) The Sparrow (good premise, poor writing)
(10) The Wall (kind of Young-Adulty but excellent premise)
(11) Long Way To A Small Angry Planet (fun but ultra-woke worldbuilding and dialogue tries too hard to be clever)
(12) Cuckoo Cloud Land ("intellectual" but really just OK)
(13) Red Rising (started, lost interest - seems to be a Young Adult thing)
(14) Station Eleven (started, lost interest)

 

[Optimus Prime]

Bobiverse books are great

Just started book 4

Just finished Heaven's River (book 4) while I liked it, it was my least favorite of the 4. felt way too long to me. Each of the 2 major plots could have been it's own book