Best recent "hard" science fiction? - Democratic Underground

Kurt_and_Hunter

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:25 PM
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Best recent "hard" science fiction?

Best recent (like, this century) "hard" science fiction?

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Forkboy

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:27 PM
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1. Most of Kim Stanley Robinson's stuff would fit, especially his Mars trilogy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_trilogy

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Richard D

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:45 PM
Response to Reply #1

8. I second the Mars Trilogy.

Fantastic.

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n2doc

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:28 PM
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2. Old Man's War trilogy-John Scalzi

Edited on Sun Sep-05-10 08:30 PM by n2doc

Also most of Iain Banks' stuff

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baldguy

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #2

11. If you like John Scalzi's books, read his blog:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/08/18/what-he-said/

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JackintheGreen

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:32 PM
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3. Vernor Vinge needs to be mentioned

I mean, like, NEEDS to be mentioned.

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sharp_stick

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:49 PM
Response to Reply #3

10. Seconded

A fire upon the deep and a Deepness in the Sky are two of my favorites.

Lot's of Fun.

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Salviati

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Sun Sep-05-10 09:42 PM
Response to Reply #10

12. There is apparently a sequel coming out to A Fire Upon the Deep soon...

:bounce:

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pscot

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Sun Sep-05-10 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #10

14. Thirded

High concept sci-fi.

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HiFructosePronSyrup

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Tue Sep-07-10 12:12 PM
Response to Reply #10

21. Those are more space opera than hard science fiction, imo.

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qnr

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:35 PM
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4. Well, 'this century' as in the last 100 years :) I've always liked Robert L. Forward.

He was writing up until about 1997 I believe.

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angrycarpenter

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:41 PM
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5. one of the most unique things I have read in years

is the Greatwinter trilogy by Sean Mcmullen. It is like nothing else and the story sticks with you for a long time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatwinter

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AldebTX

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:42 PM
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6. Another recommend of Forward

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baldguy

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:42 PM
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7. Ian McDonald

Desolation Road & Ares Express

River of Gods & Cyberabad Days

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YankeyMCC

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Mon Sep-06-10 06:07 AM
Response to Reply #7

17. Definately good choices also

even though it's a first novel I really feel "Windup Girl" by Paolo Bacigalupi is in the same league as "River of Gods"

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YankeyMCC

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Mon Sep-06-10 06:07 AM
Response to Reply #17

18. del

Edited on Mon Sep-06-10 06:24 AM by YankeyMCC

wrong spot

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msedano

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Sun Sep-05-10 08:46 PM
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9. ernest hogan

Edited on Sun Sep-05-10 08:47 PM by msedano

Cortez on Jupiter and High Aztech

http://www.flurb.net/10/hogan10.htm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M7LXYgknXMk/TFzczxHqfMI/AAAAAAAAA9U/fNZXHz1YFwI/s400/Illegal+AlienEse.jpeg

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Salviati

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Sun Sep-05-10 09:44 PM
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13. Ian M. Banks, and Richard K. Morgan

Are two of my favorites.

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cemaphonic

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Thu Sep-23-10 03:16 PM
Response to Reply #13

30. I wouldn't consider Banks remotely "hard"

I mean, I'm pretty sure he got the idea for the Lazy Gun by watching Road Runner cartoons.

But yeah, he's one of the best recent sci-fi writers.

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SheilaT

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Sun Sep-05-10 10:49 PM
Response to Original message

15. Jack McDevitt's books.

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ProgressiveProfessor

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Mon Sep-06-10 12:10 AM
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16. James P. Hogan incl Code of the Lifemaker and Child of Yesteryear

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YankeyMCC

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Mon Sep-06-10 06:24 AM
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19. Ben Bova - Grand Tour novells

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Orrex

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Mon Sep-06-10 08:14 PM
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20. "Quest for the Future" by A.E. van Vogt was about the hardest science fiction I've ever read

Terrible book. Terrible!

Oh, wait--that's not what you meant.

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petronius

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Sat Sep-11-10 10:49 PM
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22. Two suggestions: Ian McDonald, Greg Egan (nt)

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pitohui

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Sun Sep-12-10 01:57 AM
Response to Original message

23. oh for craps sake THIS century is the last ten years

Edited on Sun Sep-12-10 02:01 AM by pitohui

everybody's going back to the 90s or earlier?

iain banks and (MAYBE i think he's getting worn out) ks robinson are the only ones listed so far who are doing anything THIS century
and they're old, don't get me wrong, but they're not youthful men

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Red Riding Hood

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Mon Sep-20-10 08:14 PM
Response to Reply #23

25. what's wrong with the 90s?

ok -- so maybe you already read all of that stuff..

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Orrex

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Mon Sep-20-10 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #23

26. You know that the rare and esoteric term "century" also refers to a span of 100 years, right?

It doesn't have to be any particular hundred years as outlined by the Julian calendar.

If someone says "The battle occurred ten centuries ago," they don't mean "it happened on or about September 20, 1010."

Loosen up on the literalism.

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pitohui

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Tue Sep-21-10 01:32 PM
Response to Reply #26

27. i'm just teasing but also frustrated we hear so little from new writers

Edited on Tue Sep-21-10 01:33 PM by pitohui

i don't think we're well served if we only hear about the old guard, my library has become hopeless, to them kim stanley robinson is someone that they can now figure has been around long enough that they can finally invest in a book or two

it's just frustrating, are the young writers no more? are they all shuffled off into writing for the movies or something and for novels only the older guys remain?

surely we do not have to go online and ask to find out about the well known writers of the last 100 years but who is doing good and serious work who got started in THIS century?

does anyone know? apparently not...

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Orrex

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Tue Sep-21-10 02:11 PM
Response to Reply #27

28. Ah! In that case, please accept my apology for a lack of humor.

:blush:

And while we're on the subject, you're absolutely right; the "giants" of s/f had a lot to offer in their day and are rightly regarded as cornerstones of the genre, but their writing had a lot of failings, too.

It's way past time we let the contemporary authors have the spotlight for a while.

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pitohui

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Tue Sep-21-10 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #28

29. no worries

sometimes i struggle to say what i'm trying to say...

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pscot

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Sat Sep-18-10 05:08 PM
Response to Original message

24. Greg Bear Darwin's Radio

Humanity resists its genetic destiny; a thriller about evolution.

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Kurt_and_Hunter

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Sun Nov-14-10 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #24

31. Loved it, and the sequel

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