Imagine taking two novellas, printing them, ripping the back cover off of both, and then gluing them together like a normal book, but with two front covers.
EI_Sparks, oh! i think i remember seeing an old pulp book like that, you read to the middle then flip it over and do the same right? you say there's a mars book like that? neat. was it written by robinson? have u read it? if you've read it what did u think, is it as well written? BTW, thnx for all the info. piirx, sorry for skewing your thread so much, hopefully others will have some more recomendations for you. Its just that the mars chronicles is the best sci-fi series ive EVER read (to me, robinson did for mars what tolkein did for middle earth). If you haven't read it give it a try.
buffys, Yes, that's the one. Written by Robinson, worth the read. It's not quite the same universe as green and blue mars, so it's really an alternate universe that split off from the mars universe after red mars.
Actually I haven't read that series, but since you all think of it so highly, I think I'll go out and buy the first one (Red Mars, right?). Also, has anyone here read Eternity's End? Thanks, piirx
Is there a book written by asimov, where robots become intelligent enough, and use the three rules, to cross univerrse barriors, and find an ideal universe for human development?
Never heard of it Faf. There is one where a robot transcends the three laws by postulating a zeroth law, and even one where something similar to what you describe happens, but I'd be ruining a lot of good books with any further comment...
piirx, here's a couple others i thought of. - "ringworld" by larry niven - have you ever heard of a dyson sphere? If not, its a theory that a very advanced species could build a huge sphere around a star (the diameter of earths orbit for example) thereby accessing the total energy of the star and the inside of the sphere would have the area of thousands of earth size planets to inhabit. "ringworld" is a story set on a "dyson ring" (a giant ring around a sun instead of a sphere) - its been about 10 years since i read it but i remember really enjoying it. - the "enders game" series by orson scott card - earth has to train groups of the best and brightest children to fight an alien race. i won't say anything else, i don't want to ruin anything incase you decide to check it out. I absolutely devoured these books, i just loved them. buff
Thanks buffys, but i've read both of those. Ringworld was pretty good, and so was ender's game, but I didn't really like the continuations of either of those series. ~piirx
Anyone read alastair reynold's work? I am thinking of picking up revelation space or chaos city. I've heard good things about them...
piirx, ive never read the continuations of ringworld (didnt even know there was any) but like i said i did enjoy most of the ender series - im kinda curious now, what didn't you like about the rest of the books? the mars chronicles is a lot more hard science than either (i hope you still look at least at the first one). One thing tho, there are a ton of characters so it takes a little to get moving but the characters are drawn very well and many carry thu much of the series. Its kinda like reading a future history of humanity, it feels very, very real. as i mentioned before "alterted carbon" is a really fast paced book but less hard science (sort of cyberpunk - almost opposite in style and pacing to the chronicles), its great if your in the mood for something quick moving. fadingCaptain, never read alastair reynold before, what kind of sf does he write? buff
STUNNED!!! I am astonished that no one else has mentioned Stephen R. Donaldson's Gap series. These are absolutely, without question, the best science fiction I've ever read. If you have not read them, do yourself a favor, and read them now. Caution: these books are not for the faint of heart, or for those easily offended by language, violence and sex.
buff, From what I gather, hard SF that is very epic in scale. Looks way ahead like say, dune. I also wanna read the mars trilogy you have been talking about. paul, i really need to finish the gap series. dammit too much to read!
fadingCaptain, distant future stuff IMO is the hardest to pull off well, but if its done right its my favorite kind. Do you know what is the best alastair reynold book to begin with? is it one series or are there more? buff
buffys, That is what I am trying to decide. I think the best place to start will be 'revelation space'. That is his first and he just released the sequel so it seems like a good place to start. The plot sounds pretty damn cool to me. Check it out.
paulsamuel, cool! another author ive never heard of. what can you tell me about Stephen R. Donaldson, and the Gap series for that matter. i don't want any spoilers but im curious, its obvious you loved it so tell me what you can. buff
glad you asked S.R. Donaldson: his other novels are all Fantasy (AFAIK) which includes Lord Foul's Bane, his most famous novel series. The GAP series of novels are his only real SciFi that I know of, and man are they hardcore. Donaldson likes the concept of anti-heroes and he has one in Lord Foul's Bane and a badass anti-hero in GAP series. In the GAP series, however, the anti-hero is contrasted by a relatively pure heroine. Donaldson has packed a lot of adrenallin pumping action into his GAP series, which is almost non-stop. The kind of action which will not allow you to put down the book, and makes you resent the author when he interrupts the action with some descriptive aspect of the novel. There are multiple story lines, a complex and rich plot, and extremely well developed, if disturbing, characters. I repeat my caution: not for the faint-of-heart or those easily offended by language, violence or explicit sexual scenes. Have Fun, you'll thank me!
