[SirRob]

I've hardly ever read anything thats sci-fi and I was wondering if someone could reccomend something thats quite good. I prefer things that aren't too trivial but I also like to be entertained a lot.

[Vitriol]

The best way to start is probably with a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke; there must be over a hundred different collections out there, and you should be able to pick one up in a second-hand store without much difficulty. Of Time and Stars by Clarke is particually good.

After that, go for something by an author that's won the Hugo and Nebula awards (I could be wrong, but I think one is aawarded by a vote of fans, showing that the book is entertaining, and one by critics, showing some degree of literary quality).

Again, Asimov and Clarke are good, also I'm told Orson Scott Card is, and I'd personally plug David Brin.

Good starting books:

Mote in God's Eye - Niven/Pournelle
Rama - Arthur C. Clarke
The City and the Stars - Arthur C. Clarke
Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke
Foundation - Isaac Asimov
The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov

Oh, and just about any collection of short stories by Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury (make sure it is actually sci-fi), or Simak.

Enjoy!

[Lady Fox]

Some more recommendations:

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

The Coldfire Trilogy, In Conquest Born, and The Madness Season by C.S. Friedman

Dune by Frank Herbert (a true classic)

[whitebelly]

I've heard so many excellent things about Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy.

What do you veterans think of it?

[SusF]

I enjoyed the first two, but it took a bit of time to get into them. I ran out of gas on the third one.

More recomendations. Larry Niven has some good SF out there, too. Neutron Star short stories, Ringworld, and many other books. He also did several collaborations with Jerry Pournelle.

Susan

[ZorPrime]

A good one is Jumper by Steven Gould. Surprisingly good. Try it you will love it for sure.