[DarthZemus]

Hello. I'm actually fairly new to sci-fi in general (unless you count Star Wars, which I don't). I've actually spent the last few years knee deep in fantasy novels, which I've enjoyed for the most part.

I picked up "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons simply because the cover art captivated me, and I'm glad that I did. I'm currently in the middle of "The Fall of Hyperion."

It is refreshing to read something which I believe may just be more "intelligent" writing. At this point I'm not sure if it's just Mr. Simmons writing talent that I'm so impressed with, or just something that may be inherent in this genre that makes it seem of a higher quality than that of all of the fantasy literature that I have read.

I'm wondering how many of you read both fantasy and sci-fi. I've read a bit of fantasy...mainly Tolkien and Jordan, and I've become burned out. I still enjoy the settings and the mythological nature of fantasy, but I needed something a little more "tangible," if you know what I mean. I think sci-fi may be just the thing I need.

What else is good? I'm interested in the Asimov, and Niven, and Brin, and other stuff that's been around for awhile, but what's some of the more modern stuff that's making a splash?

[ArthurFrayn]

Hi! You might want to take a long scroll through the recommendations thread up above, it probably contains many of the books you might have an interest in and some you may have never heard of,with or course,some accompanying opinons.