 July 2, 2008 - 7:39pm | Help! I need suggestions for really good science fiction novels to read/ listen to. I convert books from pdf to mp3 format, and listen while i drive/work/live, and I would appreciate suggestions from people as to what to listen to next. i have read: the honor harrington series the lensman series conrad starguard series foundation series 2001 series most of the drizzt du'urden series (i do SOME fantasy) ringworld series poslene series (john ringo) freehold series I also have a collection of programs to easily convert from pdf to mp3 if anyone wants them. i have access to about 14000 titles, so i'll probably have anything you suggest. thanks, copycat042 |
 August 8, 2010 - 4:35pm | I would Suggest "Ender's Game" and all that follow. "Rondezvous With Rama" and the books that follow < Hard Sci FI... NO FTL James Axler's "Outlanders" Also John Ringo but after the Posleen War is The Spy Stuff Involving Callie O'niel Great books also Oh and outside of Sci-Fi "The Wheel of Time Series" Robert Jordan It's a Great Protrayal of Various Factions working against each other tp Annoy the main characters. The bombing starts in five minutes. |
 August 8, 2010 - 6:10pm | "Rondezvous With Rama" and the books that follow < Hard Sci FI... NO FTL I found the ideas in the first Rama book very engaging as to how a species would investigate a universe where FTL didn't exist. Also John Ringo but after the Posleen War is The Spy Stuff Involving Callie O'niel Great books also I would note that the first Posleen book is Hymn Before Battle and that it and the 2nd set up events for the stand alone book Watch on the Rhine which IMO is Ringo's best super awesome story, I cant rave enough about that one. Plus there is a great quote from one of the latter Hymn Before Battle books, "Thats what happens when you let red necks play with anti matter." - which ever book that was in the series was a good one too. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
August 24, 2010 - 5:10pm | Armor By Steakly - different bt intriguing and gets me in the mood to write Nor Crystal Tears by Orson Scott Card - Want a view from a vrusk - take a read.... Death is lighter than a feather Duty is heavier than a mountain |
 August 24, 2010 - 9:35pm | @LanWarder: Nor Crystal Tears is by Alan Dean Foster, and deals with the first contact between Humans and Thranx, but yes is a good look at an insectile race. Good book! Long live the Frontier! |
August 26, 2010 - 4:14pm | Ha you are absolutely right, I was thinking of Card because I have been listening to Enders Game on my Ipod at the time I was posting.... Another great book that inspires me to play and or write is 20000 leagues under the sea Death is lighter than a feather Duty is heavier than a mountain |
 March 2, 2011 - 7:42pm | Starman Jones. Unfortunately, I lost the book before I could finish it, but what I read was awesome. If you want to know what an Astrogator's life is like, that's the book to read. It really brings it to life for you. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 March 2, 2011 - 8:14pm | Most of my books are still packed from my move but the ones I kept out Harry Harrison-Deathworld series Harry Harrison-To the Stars series Poul Anderson-Flandry of Terra series David Drake-Hammer's Slammers series Alan Dean Foster-Any books dealing with the Commonwealth. That setting is Star Frontiers they even have Vrusk. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
 March 2, 2011 - 10:45pm | Jerry Pournelle's Mercenary series of books Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle's "A Mote in Gods Eye" Almost anything Ann McCaffrey has written (such as the Dragon Riders of Pern) Tanith Lee's Flat earth series of books Ursula K. LeGuin's earth sea trilogy "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
 March 3, 2011 - 5:25am | Ok, with Deryn's mention of LeGuin and McCaffrey...I have to go with the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Although I liked the Dresden Files TV series, it is a PALE comparison to the books. Once I'm done with those, I'm going to try out his Fantasy stuff in the Codex Alera series. Also then, the Apprentice Adept series by Piers Anthony. It's half/half fantasy/sci-fi. Lastly...and mentioning Cherryh, The Faded Sun trilogy. You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley |
March 3, 2011 - 1:54pm | Read the Codex Alera series and must say it will be better without the huge gaps inbetween books. Best to bone up on your Roman history though. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
March 3, 2011 - 6:48pm | Ok, with Deryn's mention of LeGuin and McCaffrey...I have to go with the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Although I liked the Dresden Files TV series, it is a PALE comparison to the books. I'm missing where the sci-fi comes in on that one.View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
March 4, 2011 - 7:30am | None, per se, but neither does EarthSea or Dragonriders. You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley |
March 4, 2011 - 9:04am | Actually Dragon Riders is considered science fiction because Pern is on a future world as is evidenced in one of the books (the one about the spaceship). I Admit however that the Earthsea trilogy is not sci-fi, however it is one of the influences for the creation of D&D which eventually led to Star frontiers (see how I managed to tie that into Star Frontiers). Another author who'se stuff I like is Barbara Hambley though I don't know how much Star Wars expanded universe stuff you care to read anyway her non Star Wars stuff is really good too. Did anyone mention Frank Herbert's Dune series yet? "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
March 4, 2011 - 10:17am | Ah, I never read Dragonriders past the first compiled set of books. I think the last one was "White Dragon" or something. Doon.....dessert planet. Mmmmmm..... You can't argue with the invincibly ignorant. - William F. Buckley |
March 5, 2011 - 7:10am | The Dragonriders series looked like fantasy until we find out they are actually a lost colony of a fallen star empire. The dragons are genetically engineered and there are stores of lost technology around but not easy to find at all. So does that make it straight Sci-Fi (SY-FY) or post apocalyptic? Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
March 5, 2011 - 9:30pm | I know I promote David Weber fairly often but, I've just finished Storm from the Shadows and I'm nearly finished with Mission of Honor (it was a slow day at work so I got a big chunk of it done while on the time clock!) Anyhow I was very nearly moved to tears while Reading Mission of Honor- must have been some dust that blew into my eye throught the open window of the delivery van. At any rate its some kick butt space opera that Weber puts out. you can get a free copy of the first book in the Honor Harrington series here: http://www.webscription.net/p-304-on-basilisk-station.aspx I got hooked when I had a sales call appointment but needed to kill 2 hours till then so I went into a nearby Barnes and Nobles for a cup of coffee and figured that I'd read a book for 2 hours and not buy it. However I could not settle on a book and suddenly encountered a $1.99 special promotional copy of "On Basilisk Station" and figured what the hey, needless to say I left the store with the book- $1.99 and it was a good story! Then 2 days latter I was the proud owner of all (at that time) 8 of the Honor Harrington books. I like to tell people that David Weber is like crack cocaine for sci-fi readers- my own sister in law call me a son of a B for giving her a copy of On Basilisk station as she was so thoroughly hooked and had to read all 12 books available at the time. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 5, 2011 - 10:03pm | F.M. Busby's Rissa and Tregare series is one of my favorite Science fiction series (I believe there are six books) And who could forget Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End, and of course Bradbury's Martian Chronicles is a great read as well. I would mention Heinlien as well though some of his stuff is dated quite a bit. and let me also mention Andre Norton while I'm mentioning great Science fiction authors who have too many good books to just name a few. Oh I almost forgot....who can forget about H Beam Piper's Fuzzy Sapien series. "Hey guys I wonder what this does"-Famous last words "Hey guys, I think it's friendly." -Famous last words "You go on ahead, I'll catch up." -Famous last words "Did you here that?" -Famous last words |
March 6, 2011 - 11:47am | Deryn_Rys said---I would mention Heinlien as well though some of his stuff is dated quite a bit. Ah you do realize you are talking to a bunch of people who can't let go of a 1980's game? When it comes to dated Sci-Fi I say bring it on. What OLD SCHOOL authors do you have? To start with would anyone consider any of the hundreds of Star Trek and/or Star Wars novels (I use the term loosely) to be good reads or adaptable to Star Frontiers. Stop laughing without those two we would never have gotten Star Frontiers. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
March 6, 2011 - 3:20pm | @ rattravel As I progressed into high school I stopped reading Star Trek novels as at that time it was just the original characters- Spock, Kirk and crew and you knew that nothing would happen to them and after reading a half dozen of those they just started to seem flat- none of the authors really invested any character development either as they really couldn't. However, I did read a DS9 novel called Fallen Heros that really really rocked, involved an artifact brought back to the Alpha Quadrant that was a emergency homing beacon for a xenophobic race. If any of their soldiers got separated they could activate this device and it would send them a certain number of days into the future (a week I think) and send a subspace call for pickup. the purpose was that the soldier would be sent to the approximate time that relief would show up. 2 of the main characters are with the artifact when they accidently activate it and end up on the station in the future finding it trashed and everyone killed. The relief force showed up early and started demanding their soldier and ripped the station apart. so the book worked on several levels: you witness the heroics of everyone to resist the aliens though they all died and you witnessed Odo and Quark trying to unravel the mystery and set things right. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 March 6, 2011 - 7:08pm | I have always been intrigued by H Beam Piper's Fuzzy Sapien series. I have never read it but wanted to try it out. I just can't find it around anymore. I remember going into Waldenbooks and checking them out all the time but always coming out with another Alan Dean Foster Commonwealth novel. I'll have to check the library again now. -iggy |
March 8, 2011 - 7:32pm | Fuzzy Sapiens is excellent. It explores the nature of Sapience and the point at which a race can be considered sapient. It's a future legal drama. And you just can't hlep but loving the fuzzies. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
 June 21, 2011 - 9:12am | Here's a wrinkle. I'm (still) warming up to run an SF game based on Warriors of White Light for my 12-year-old son and his friends. One of the moms likes to keep her sons reading during the summer, so asked me for suggestions that relate to the game. So, Coast Guard in Space-- who's got some book suggestions? For an 11- and 12-year-old group, keep it clean. |
June 21, 2011 - 11:21am | I know I sound like a broken record on this but you probably can't go wrong with On Basilisk Station by David Weber from baen.com You can get a free by opt from the company's web site. It in the tradition and style of C. S. Forester's Hornblower series except in space. No sex and if there is any language it will be very little. Navy commander taking command of her first cruiser with impossible mission. If they ha e a tablet or smart phone the y can check it out for free before dropping money for the other 20 books. Possible the Sector General novels by White they're clean. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
June 22, 2011 - 4:25pm | Yeah, Put, I agree with jedion 100% there. OBS would be a great read for your kids to gear up for WotWL. Go get it! Long live the Frontier! |
June 22, 2011 - 7:32pm | I've loved that book since I had an hour to kill waiting till a sales call and popped into a chain book store for coffee and a bit of a read that I wasn't going to pay for since I was going to put the book back on the shelf. Spied OBS as a special trade copy with the price actually printed on the cover: $1.99. Curiousity made me pick it up and I ended up walking out with it. Hey, cant really go wrong buying a book for $2. Within 3 days I was back at the store buying everything in the series at full price. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 July 2, 2011 - 1:37am | In the Talent Universe series the star that Pern orbits is mentioned as one of the last colonies to be targeted by the ark-ships in the timeline, and considered to have been lost... in the chronologically first book in the Pern series, there are a few talents that had snuck into the roster for the ship and hiding among the colonial settlers, mostly telepaths of all levels, and kinetics under level 4, one prime is possible but not known, as the doctor who altered the dragons who might have been a level 1 bio-kinetic... (I don't think that is spoiler material) the two series are definitely connected... Oh humans!!  We discover a galactic community filled with multiple species of aliens, and the first thing we think about is "how can we have sex with them?".~ anymoose, somewhere on the net... so... if you square a square it becomes a cube... if you square a cube does it become an octoid? |
 June 23, 2011 - 10:19am | Curse you Jedi!  . I had downloaded the On Basilisk Station book a while back when you first mentioned it. However, I finally got a chance to start reading it yesterday and now I can't put it down. Ad Astra Per Ardua! My blog - Expanding Frontier Webmaster - The Star Frontiers Network & this site Founding Editor - The Frontier Explorer Magazine Managing Editor - The Star Frontiersman Magazine |
June 23, 2011 - 5:23pm | Since promoting it just now I decided to see if I could open it on my New Droid. Seeing as how I had not read the book on the droid I was unable to open any of the formats so settled for reading it on line in a browser window and I'm going to have to do the full reread! But then I've reread this book at least a dozen times so its all good to me. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
June 28, 2011 - 1:10pm | I have all of Honor-verse (I think?) in PB, but I hadn't honestly thought of springing it on them. I know our library has them (that's how I got started), so that's do-able. I'll look for Sector General. BTW, not quite on topic, but still really cool: Airborn and Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel. Classic boys' adventure, with pirates and science and airships! I think there's a 3rd book, but I haven't gotten to it yet. |
June 28, 2011 - 5:30pm | Looking back on the comments, regarding Elizabeth Moon, it her penchant for heroines that have been discharged may have more to do with her compatriots than her own career, because it's actually quite easy to get booted from military service, and quite easy to have a corncob-up-his-butt superior officer latch onto you as a whippingboy because he doesn't like what side you butter your bread. I've heard plenty of stories from friends in the military. It's not exactly a cultured atmosphere in the military. Also, I found my Starman Jones book again, and it was fantastic. It did indeed focus very intently on the Astrogation side of things from beginning to end. I'm putting that one on my "don't sell" shelf. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
