My first recommendation to read, especially with the issue of what promises to be a great game, it would be:
(http://momentumbooks.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Mars-Trilogy.jpg)
The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
http://www.amazon.es/Red-Mars-Trilogy-Stanley-Robinson/dp/0553560735 (http://www.amazon.es/Red-Mars-Trilogy-Stanley-Robinson/dp/0553560735)
History of the colonization and terraforming of Mars, a trilogy more than recommended and that every lover of science fiction, especially for our Colonizer Chief, to give you ideas for your work.
Hilariously enough, I actually read Red Mars as research for RimWorld when I read that the guys who made Alpha Centauri took inspiration from it.
I'm also totally into Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series.
Alpha Centauri, another great game, I knew that he was inspired by these books.
Unknown Alastair Reynolds books, thanks for the recommendation.
(http://www.digitalwaterfalls.co.uk/spacecraft2k.jpg)
This book is what I was brought up on, great book, Wonderful Illustrations and little storys, gotta be the most I ever read when I was just a Wee Lad!
But would highly recommended! takes from the perspective of a Historical document/Handbook for Spacecraft, featuring a Hypothetical timeline for major events as well!
Quote from: WolveNZ on September 18, 2013, 08:10:29 PM
(http://www.digitalwaterfalls.co.uk/spacecraft2k.jpg)
This book is what I was brought up on, great book, Wonderful Illustrations and little storys, gotta be the most I ever read when I was just a Wee Lad!
But would highly recommended! takes from the perspective of a Historical document/Handbook for Spacecraft, featuring a Hypothetical timeline for major events as well!
I would have gone insane over this as a kid. Maybe I still would.
She is a great book, mine never had that fancy dust cover but just the plain dark blue hardcover!
Im sure anyone who has half a brain would go crazy over finding anything from the series!
Seeing the number of members in the forum (there are 55 registered), my question is?
When you have 100 registered, will have the title of "The First Hundred" (in the book Red Mars, named so for the first hundred colonists) ;D
I have never read sci-fi books, any recommendation for a first read?
Quote from: Yarkista on September 19, 2013, 10:23:56 AM
I have never read sci-fi books, any recommendation for a first read?
The Mars trilogy, as we said, is more than recommended, especially because it's the same theme from the game (colonization)
Other great works of science fiction are Dune by Frank Herbert, and the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov (Foundation, Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation).
Another great book would be Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
Quote from: Kalesin on September 19, 2013, 10:37:32 AM
Quote from: Yarkista on September 19, 2013, 10:23:56 AM
I have never read sci-fi books, any recommendation for a first read?
The Mars trilogy, as we said, is more than recommended, especially because it's the same theme from the game (colonization)
Other great works of science fiction are Dune by Frank Herbert, and the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov (Foundation, Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation).
Another great book would be Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
Thanks for that, ill try and get 'em.
I would really like to recommend Ender's Game and the followup Speaker for the dead both by Orson Scott Card.
They are among if not the best sci-fi books I've read. That being said I do mostly read fantasy and not so much schi-fi.
Another good sci-fi book is Rendezvous with Rama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendezvous_with_Rama
And I suggest reading them before the movie comes out this fall =)
For me, the Golden Compass series was amazing. It's hard to liken to emotional involvement I felt with those books to any others I've read. Such a unique series.
libriomancer.
A really suprising book to me tbh.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PALpLPCESDc/UWkt-lSvfOI/AAAAAAAAaEg/deE7FoQ4V8Y/Hines-LibriomancerUK%25255B3%25255D.jpg)
does anyone know some good books comparible to for instance the fallout universe.
Or in the line of the writing of the warhammer 40K universe they got some awsome series. Ghaunt's ghosts for instance
Has anyone read Vernor Vinge's "A Deepness in the Sky" or "A fire in the deep"? I highly recommend them
I really do like the books of John Scalzi.
"Old Man's War", "Ghost Brigades" and do not forget the problems of a new colony in "The Last Colony" and the view of the teenage daughter in Zoe's Tale.
These three (four) books are about the same characters, but if you want, you can jump over the more military-like first books and read the colony book(s) separately.
The first book "Old Man's War" describes how a 75 year old gets into the space-military and what he did in his 10 years there.
"Ghost Brigades" is about a special military unit he met in the first book.
"The Last Colony" is about the time after his 10 years in the army.
"Zoe's Tale" is the story from "The Last Colony", only from the viewpoint of his adopted teenage daughter.
All in all I really love these books and have them read multiple times already. ;D
Additionally:
In my youth I liked the series "Ren Dhark". But I can't really recommend the 'newly' released books. They dropped most of the interesting background of the earlier paperbacks, so that the books are rather boring..
I grew up on a steady diet of science fiction, and there is a lot of stuff out there... I have a lot of favorite authors. I did actually just read the Mars trilogy a year or so ago, for the first time. Great series!
Quote from: Yarkista on September 19, 2013, 10:23:56 AM
I have never read sci-fi books, any recommendation for a first read?
My first recommendation would be to check out your local library, especially if you never have. Yes, you can borrow books for free - also music and movies. Another recommendation is the Baen Free Library (http://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx), which cycles various books up for free (Baen is a publisher, free books are volunteered by the authors; the idea is to offer a book as a teaser, to spur interest). Oh, and of course don't forget about Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Science_Fiction_%28Bookshelf%29)! Just because a story is old doesn't mean it's bad. For example, Haplo mentioned Scalzi (good reads) - one of his was Fuzzy Nation, which was based off the old H. Beam Piper stories, at the Gutenberg link.
Robert Heinlein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein) - very prolific writer, Starship Troopers is probably my favorite (the book, not the movie!).
David Drake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Drake) - gritty, futuristic military sci-fi; most notable series is Hammer's Slammers, a merc company. Uses ancient history as a basis for plot lines.
David Weber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Weber) - more military sci-fi; has been called "Horatio Hornblower in space". Quite complex storylines.
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modesitt) - fantastic author. The Saga of Recluce series is great fantasy, and the Parafaith War is a great sci-fi story. Very detailed characters.
Ah, there are so many others. I'd really really recommend just hitting a library and browsing the science fiction area, and find stuff that sounds interesting.
I always pick up any new Peter F. Hamilton books that come out. "Fallen Dragon" though, is still one of my long-time favorites.
Quote from: Finjinimo on October 08, 2013, 02:52:48 AM
I always pick up any new Peter F. Hamilton books that come out. "Fallen Dragon" though, is still one of my long-time favorites.
Same, loved his Commonwealth saga, well the first three at least.
If you liked those, I'd highly recommend the following trilogy if you haven't already read them
http://www.danielabraham.com/books-2/the-expanse/
Well worth a read and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
The Red Mars trilogy is an absolute classic. There are lots of science fiction books i'd like to recommend. But in keeping with the "landfall" or "colonization" theme I would suggest a book called Jem by Frederik Pohl. It's good, not an absolute classic (but it remains on my bookshelf). It's a solid sci-fi about different factions colonizating an alien planet. Lots of cool ecology and speculation on how different factions would choose to engage with a variety of semi intelligent and possibly conscious native species.
Quote from: JugglerX on October 08, 2013, 10:40:20 AM
The Red Mars trilogy is an absolute classic. There are lots of science fiction books i'd like to recommend. But in keeping with the "landfall" or "colonization" theme I would suggest a book called Jem by Frederik Pohl. It's good, not an absolute classic (but it remains on my bookshelf). It's a solid sci-fi about different factions colonizating an alien planet. Lots of cool ecology and speculation on how different factions would choose to engage with a variety of semi intelligent and possibly conscious native species.
thanks for the tip.
Read some reviews. Now waiting for the books to arrive.
Anyone here a fan of Richard Morgan? I love sci fi noir, the more gritty and violent the better, and Altered Carbon is one of my favorites
Also Warren Hammond's Kop, Ex-Kop, and Kop Killer are also excellent and would probably be enjoyed by Rimworld fans. It's set on a distant rain-soaked rotting world where the early colonists and poor live in crime-ridden slums while they deal with the powerful and technologically advanced newcomers
atm im reading pure.
Quote from: Semmy on October 01, 2013, 08:43:57 AMOr in the line of the writing of the warhammer 40K universe they got some awsome series. Ghaunt's ghosts for instance
It's also got some very bad books. Like the Ghaunt's Ghosts series. =P
An carelessly tacked-together sequence of battle scenes. Definitely for WH40k fans who want precisely that.
John Ringo or David Weber also offer "much dakka"... but almost always as part of an actual plot.
(even though Weber often uses
the plot =)
Ringo's Troy Rising series is something I'd recommend. Near-future so not
too crazy... but getting there when the humans start adapting alien technology in true redneck fashion. =)
Dune (Dune Chronicles #1)
Simply one of the most original and epic sci-fi stories ever; certainly a classic for it's era. The story of a family, a spice trade, a religious inter-steller jihad, the temptations of power and much more. Later books by family members are derivative, but the original few are well worth it!