What are some good sci-fi books (new and old) for a sci-fi newb to get started with?

K

krazydawg005

Registered User
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
75
I've seen alot online about how numerous good sci-fi novels aren't exactly the best for sci-fi newbs. I myself have only read one true sci-fi novel (Ender's Game). Still, I walk in the sci-fi section of the library and at Barnes & Noble and see tons of interesting books but dont know where to start? Could you guys list some great books I can start with. I want to develop a good sci-fi foundation so then I can dive into a little harder sci-fi and not be so overwhelmed.

Thanks!!!
 
are most of those books good for sci-fi newbs? Cause I know some sci-fi novels aren't the best to jump into at first
 
I don't know all the books on the lists but generally, a good story is a good story is a good story. Many of the Hugo winners are good stories. Most of the books on emohawk's list are good. Pick a title or author and check out the book on amazon.com or ask here.
 
krazydawg005 said:
I've seen alot online about how numerous good sci-fi novels aren't exactly the best for sci-fi newbs. I myself have only read one true sci-fi novel (Ender's Game). Still, I walk in the sci-fi section of the library and at Barnes & Noble and see tons of interesting books but dont know where to start? Could you guys list some great books I can start with. I want to develop a good sci-fi foundation so then I can dive into a little harder sci-fi and not be so overwhelmed.

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

It's difficult to recommend anything specific without having a better angle on what you are looking for. Do you fancy action-adventure SF (Space Opera) or something with a little more character development (that’s not to say that Space Opera can’t have decent characters, of course)?

If you can give me an idea, I can dig out a few titles that I'm sure you'll enjoy.
 
If you are trying to draw yourself more into Sci-Fi, and you liked Ender's Game, try reading Ender's Shadow next, I loved that almost as much as the original.
 
I don't read as much science fiction as I did when I was a kid. I started out by reading Jack L. Chalker's a Jungle of Stars and some of his other stuff. But after I read Asimov's foundation series I was hooked for a long time.

I am also a big fan of Dan Simmon's Hyperion Cantos.
 
I'd recommend Ken Macleod's Engines of Light Trilogy

Also, Iain M. Banks is a must-read sci-fi author (The Culture Novels) IMO
 
Nice one Mugwump. It's difficult to recommend something without knowing their preferences and sometimes, even when you do. "I like cheese, what should I eat next?"

Some of the old recommendation threads have broken links; they used to link to other recommendation threads but no longer since the transition to the new site. I'm having no luck trying to find e.g. the original "Sci-fi: If you like ^^^ then you might like ###" thread.
 
Right, I agree with Mugwump. Are you worried that as a newbie you aren't going to like something with a lot of hard science to it? Do you like political stories or no, humorous or no? Give us some parameters -- we can bounce off of Ender's Game, but if we have an idea of what you fear would be difficult, we could give you better suggestions. I have not read "Ender's Shadow," and am not sure I want to because I think it's going overboard, but many people have raved about it. I can say that I found the immediate sequel to "Ender's Game," "Speaker for the Dead" to be a wonderful book, the third work in the series I did not enjoy as much.
 
I've become fond of David Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr. Here's a place to go see what its all about
http://www.gerrold.com/chtorr/page.htm

If you are looking to see whats available Fantastic Fiction has quite an extensive author index which lists the books too. Great info for sorting tastes.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/index.html

Here's David Gerrolds website

http://www.gerrold.com/index.htm

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/David_Gerrold.htm

c1-300d.gif
 
Last edited:
If you are looking for some good space-opera adventure with an interesting alien culture, I'd suggest Walter Hunt's The Dark Wing the first in series.

IF you are looking for something Epic with good character development and some prognostications of future technology, Peter Hamilton's Fallen Dragon might be your cup of tea.

If you are looking for a future setting with a clash of human and alien cultures, well Karen Traviss' City of Pearl is a great debut novel.

If you are looking for some crazy ideas of the future filled with paranoia try anything by Philip K. Dick, maybe The Man in the High Castle, UBIK, or Dr. Bloodmoney.

If you want a good story of humanity struggling against alien attackers, try Heinlein's Starship Troopers.

You mention Card's Ender's Game - two recent novels similar in theme are Karin Lowachee's Warchild and Robert Buettner's Orphanage.

If you are looking for something Epic, Literate SF, try Herbert's Dune, Ilium or Hyperion by Dan Simmons or Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun.
 
Books

If you want good sci-fi books you should read the ENDER'S GAME series. :D
 
One of my favorite Sci-Fi authors is Jack L. Chalker who passed away this weekend. If you can find some of his early stuff like "A Jungle of Stars" and "Web of the Chosen" these are a good place to start. His Well World series is also quite good as is the Quintara Marathon.
 
I recommend The Dark Beyond the Stars. It's an obscure book about a generational ship, but it is well worth it. A few other favorites of mine are As On A Darkling Plain, Mars, Return to Mars, and Jupiter - all by Ben Bova. And anything Dune related if you're ready to tackle that. :)
 
I recommend "VALIS" by Phillip K. Dick if you would like a "head trip," "The Hostile Takeover Trilogy" by S. Andrew Swann (it's an omnibus) if you want a grim future war with a twist, and "Neuromancer" by William Gibson if you like cyberpunk (things like "The Matrix" and "Hackers.")

Good luck with your search!
 
Try some classics from authors like Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern, C.J. Cherryh's Pride of Chantur, Roger Zelazny's Amber series, and of course Spider Robinson's Callahan's Crosstime Saloon.

Chalker is very good too.
 
Come on people, the the word is sci-fi "newb".

Some of the books listed so far would test the minds of SF veterans, whilst others take for granted familiarity with the tropes of the genre.

Let's not put off a newly recruited enthusiast with inappropriate choices. After all, we need all the help we can get to fight off extinction at the hands of those heinous Fantasy fans! <grin>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Sponsors


We try to keep the forum as free of ads as possible, please consider supporting SFFWorld on Patreon


Your ad here.
Back
Top