recommend me a book (space bums)

**PulseEmitter** · January 20th, 2007, 04:03 PM

i am wishing to read something that has little connection to Earth, little time spent anywhere than on a spaceship actually. involving a person or small crew, not associated with any government or "starfleet". could be con artists, or just explorers, no great moral purpose. sex, drugs, rock n' roll, like cyberpunk, but IN SPACE. anything come to mind??? thanks!

**ArthurFrayn** · January 21st, 2007, 05:26 AM

Off the top of my head, The Cabinet of Oliver Naylor- a short story in Barrington J Bayley's anthology Knights of the Limits fills the bill. Fun story.

Obvious "generational spaceship" novels would be:
Orphans of the Sky-by Robert Heinlein
Cities in Flight by James Blish
and Rogue Ship-by AE VanVogt
My recommendation of these 3 is with some reservation. I just mention them.Google the titles and see if they are to your fancy.

**Beleg** · January 21st, 2007, 08:36 AM

George R. R. Martin's Tuf Voyaging and Nightflyers. Not really drugs, sex, rock'n'roll, but definite con-artistry, whimsy and a chilling horror story.

**beenorthern** · January 21st, 2007, 08:59 AM

Fairly small crew; mostly on a spaceship ...

*Mayflies* Kevin O'Donnell Jr.
*Permanence* Karl Schroeder
*Angel Station* Walter Jon Williams
*Songs of Chaos* S.N. Lewitt
*Babel-17* Samuel R. Delaney
*Myriad* R.M. Meluch
*The Dream Millennium* James White
*The Third Eagle* R.A. MacAvoy

It's been a while since I read some of these, but I think they all fit the bill.

**redhead** · January 21st, 2007, 12:39 PM

cyberpunk, but in space.

read any Charles Stross? he's my new obsession. try Accelerando (it starts on earth, but ditches pretty quick), or Glasshouse.

Joss Whedon's "Firefly" is an awesome tv show that might be right up your alley, space-faring privateers, basically. they find lots of trouble. DVDs are available at nearly any video rental place.

**PulseEmitter** · January 21st, 2007, 06:12 PM

oh boy, so many great recommendations here!
one's i'll pick up first i believe:

Angel Station, Walter Jon Williams
George R. R. Martin's Tuf Voyaging
just found Accelerando available online, think i'll start that one first--at work

yes, i was renting the Firefly DVDs a while back, so rare to find SF TV of that caliber! and the movie Serenity answered all the open questions.

also remembered for myself Red Star, Winter Orbit, short story by Gibson/Sterling that was excellent.

thanks a lot!