ralps
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Wed Nov-17-04 06:27 PM
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What scifi authors do you all read? |
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My favorites are Anne McCaffrey, Robert Heinlein, Spider Robinson, James White, Piers Anthony, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven and Robert Forward. :bounce:
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CBGLuthier
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Wed Nov-17-04 06:32 PM
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Julian May, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester, Heinlein, Neil Stephenson, Robert Silverburg, Roger Zelazny, Joe Haldeman.
Have read everyone on your list except for James White. Liked them all except for Robert Forward.
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ralps
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Wed Nov-17-04 07:30 PM
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3. If you get a chance try James White. |
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He wrote a bunch of stories about a Hospital/Space Station called Sector General. In 2001 ORB came out with an omnibus of his first Sector General stories called "Beginning Operations" :hi:
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bobbieinok
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Sun Nov-21-04 02:32 AM
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24. his books are really fascinating |
bullimiami
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Wed Nov-17-04 07:10 PM
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mccaffery, heinlen, piers anthony add asimov, herbert (include brian), brian lumley (absolutely amazing vampires). so many more.... then all of the fantasy authors.
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qnr
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Wed Nov-17-04 07:48 PM
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4. Most of those listed by everyone so far, and I'll add |
Technowitch
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Wed Nov-17-04 08:33 PM
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Dan Simmons Marion Zimmer Bradley Niven and Pournelle Stephen Baxter Robert Heinlein Robert Forward James Hogan David Brinn David Gerrold Elizabeth Moon Isaac Asmov Arthur C. Clarke
And lots, lots more...
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kcr
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Wed Nov-17-04 10:03 PM
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Brinn, Tepper, Simmons, Pratchette, Gaiman, McDevitt, Stasheff, Miellville, Kress, Sawyer are all near the top of the list.
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realisticphish
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Thu Nov-18-04 01:08 AM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Thu Nov-18-04 01:09 AM by realisticphish
noone has said Douglas Adams! for shame! those of you who read piers anthony, what do you think of the recent Xanth books? i think they suck monkey balls, compared to the early ones
:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat
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ralps
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Thu Nov-18-04 01:28 AM
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8. I still like the Xanth books but there are other books I like |
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just as much, like Spider Robinson's Callahan's series especially the last one "Callahan's Con". :hi:
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Chovexani
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Thu Nov-18-04 04:22 AM
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9. I've never met a Xanth book I didn't revile |
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I like Piers Anthony, he's not one of my favorite authors but his stuff can be a decent time-waster. The Xanth books though? HATE. Early ones, recent ones, doesn't matter. I can't stand them.
Probably because I really hate the sort of punny, juvenile humor that runs all over them like a bad case of the clap. They remind me of those really shitty April Fool's issues of Dragon Magazine I used to line my cat's litter box with.
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hyphenate
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Thu Nov-18-04 10:34 AM
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13. I haven't read any for a while |
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I kind of think that the author must be bored with them, and is just writing them for the money.
There are other series like that--John DeChancie's Castle series, the Time Wars series by Simon Hawke, Christopher Stasheff's Wizard series, and others. After awhile, they just try to appease the fans, not themselves. And when you use a "formula" to write like some of these people do, it's easy enough to have a template ready, insert a new "McGuffin" and you're halfway there.
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realisticphish
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Thu Nov-18-04 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
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he'll go of for CHAPTERS just to get ONE pun in. it pains me, cause i really liked the first 10-15 books
:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat
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Chovexani
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Thu Nov-18-04 04:24 AM
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10. Octavia Butler is one of my favorites |
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I love her stuff. Although the Earthseed novels are downright scary to read now in light of the current political climate. :scared:
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confludemocrat
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Sun Nov-13-05 10:07 AM
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37. She was on Democracy Now on friday in a longish segment |
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I jotted down two books, if I got it right: Fledgeling and The Parable of the Talents. Anyway, I will look for her books. She grabbed me with her readings that she did toward the end of the interview.
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phantom power
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Thu Nov-18-04 09:58 AM
Response to Original message |
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Edited on Thu Nov-18-04 10:09 AM by phantom power
Greg Egan Greg Benford Greg Bear
John Varley Larry Niven Linda Nagata Neal Stephenson Peter Watts David Brin Barbara Hambly Tad Williams Eric Nylund
Oh yeah, Kim Stanley Robinson
And I like Robert Forward, although he's not a very gifted writer. I'd also include Stephen Baxter in that category. Hard SF writers, in the old-school tradition.
Oops, and Vernor Vinge
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Forkboy
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Sun Nov-21-04 03:11 AM
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26. Kim Stanley Robinson is excellent |
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though his latest,Forty Signs of Rain,is very slow (but it's part 1 of a trilogy so it's just setting up al the characters).The Years of Rice and Salt is the best book I've read in years (read twice now),and the Mars Trilogy is as good a science fiction gets.
The three Gregs are also very good.Greg Bear's Darwin's radio and Darwin's Children were both very enjoyable.
Stephen Baxter did a book with Arthur C. Clarke called the Light of Other Days that was fascinating.
'Space is what keeps everything from being in the same place. Right?' With these words Hiram Patterson, head of the giant media corporation OurWorld, launches the greatest communications revolution in history. With OurWorld's development of wormhole technology, any point in space can be connected to any other, faster than the speed of light. Realtime television coverage is here: earthquakes and wars, murders and disasters can be watched, exactly as they occur, anywhere on the planet. Then WormCams are made to work across time as well as space. Humanity encounters itself in the light of other days. We witness the life of Jesus, go to the premiere of Hamlet, solve the enigmas that have baffled generations. Blood spilled centuries ago flows vividly once more - and no personal treachery or shame can be concealed. But when the world and everything in it becomes as transparent as glass and there are no more secrets, people find new ways to gain vengeance and commit crime, and Hiram Patterson finds new ways to keep his Machiavellian schemes secret.
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hyphenate
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Thu Nov-18-04 10:25 AM
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12. I've read so many through the years |
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Right now though, I'm more into fantasy than SF. I would say my favorites include Tad Williams, Connie Willis, anthologies, Piers Anthony, Madeline L'Engle (even though some of her books fall on the juvenile side), Jane Yolen, Patricia McKillip and other such writers.
In the past, my faves have included Larry Niven, Alan Dean Foster, Kevin Anderson, Robert Heinlein, Ike, Harlan Ellison, etc.
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ruthg
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Thu Nov-18-04 11:02 AM
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Is Robert Charles Wilson...
My favorite of his..... The Chronoliths
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Gothic Sponge
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Thu Nov-18-04 12:12 PM
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15. Still working my way through the Herbert Dune books |
Ready4Change
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Sun Nov-13-05 12:33 PM
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38. I became less enamoured of them as they went. |
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I felt the first was the best, and stands very well on its own.
The others, imo, were more cashing in on the moment, rather than needed on their own merits. I'd say continue reading them so long as you are enjoying them, then don't worry about the rest.
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franmarz
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Thu Nov-18-04 02:02 PM
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Asimov and Ley-and Heinlein are my very most favorites. I have not been into Scifi in the past few years, but watch the films on TV instead.
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ismnotwasm
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Thu Nov-18-04 02:52 PM
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18. All of the above plus |
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Julian May, C.J. Cherryh, and Ursula Le Guin
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lazarus
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Thu Nov-18-04 04:57 PM
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19. not a fan of McCaffrey or Anthony |
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Piers Anthony is a hack, McCaffrey is just too, I dunno, I just feel my estrogen levels rise whenever I read her. :D
Niven and Pournelle I can only take when they're together.
Forward's good.
Vernor Vinge is awesome.
Heinlein was my first, so I'll always have a place in my heart for him. (Hint: look at my username, he's half the reason I have that).
Question: Are we going to be discussing fantasy here as well, or just SF?
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Robeson
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Fri Nov-19-04 03:13 AM
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20. Bradbury, Clarke, and Asimov are favorites... |
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...but then again, I love a lot.
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Wilber_Stool
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Fri Nov-19-04 03:38 PM
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Edited on Fri Nov-19-04 03:39 PM by Wilber_Stool
I think he's the best when it come to characters. Niven is a good pure science-fiction (as opposed to fantasy) writer.
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Mabus
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Fri Nov-19-04 08:40 PM
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Edited on Fri Nov-19-04 08:41 PM by Mabus
are my favorites.
I fell in love with Heinlein when I read "Stranger in a Strange Land" and fell for Harlan with "Repent Harlequin said the Tick Tock Man."
I want to add Philip K. Dick and Philip Jose Farmer, especially the Ring World Series.
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sans qualia
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Fri Nov-19-04 10:31 PM
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23. *gasp* No Rudy Rucker fans? |
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I loooooove Rudy Rucker. He's so damn hot.
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bobbieinok
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Sun Nov-21-04 02:37 AM
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25. read many--Elizabeth Moon, Barbara Hambly, David Weber, M Weiss |
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etc etc
like some Heinlein, HATE some Heinlein
Hal Clement..Mission of Gravity: one of the all time best science sci-fi stories
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NewHampshireDem
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Sun Nov-21-04 11:22 AM
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27. Please, tell me someone here reads Iain M Banks ... |
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He is without a doubt the one of the *best* authors I have ever read, and that he happens to write sci-fi is a big plus. He is wildly popular in the UK, but is more of a cult(ure) figure here in the US. He writes both sci-fi and straight fiction. http://www.iainbanks.net/I also would recommend John C. Wright's "Golden Age" trilogy. Each book was so good that I read it in a single weekend.
http://www.sff.net/people/john-c-wright/
I also think some of the best sci-fi ever written is Jonathan Lethem's work, especially his debut, Gun, with Occassional Music. I also really enjoyed Amnesia Moon.
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paulk
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Mon Nov-22-04 07:15 PM
Response to Reply #27 |
28. I've read several of his books - |
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They're hard to find here in the states - I got most of mine in, of all places, Nepal.
Another obscure British writer I like is Keith Roberts (Pavane, The Chalk Giants). His books are also very hard to find here.
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NewHampshireDem
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Tue Nov-23-04 05:30 PM
Response to Reply #28 |
29. I ordered mine through amazon.co.uk |
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Well worth the shipping charge if you place a big order ... I think it came out to be about $2 or $3 bucks a book, which isn't too unreasonable.
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ruthg
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Wed Dec-01-04 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #27 |
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looks interesting.....which of his SF books would you recommend starting with???
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paulk
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Thu Dec-02-04 08:44 PM
Response to Reply #31 |
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My favorite. A full blown space opera - reminded me of Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep". Top notch.
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ruthg
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Wed Dec-01-04 11:51 AM
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30. Robert Charles Wilson is a current favorite |
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especially The Chronoliths, Mysterium and Blind Lake.
I have also enjoyed Robert J. Sawyer lately and I am quite fond of Robert Reed, Nancy Kress, Greg Bear and Gregory Benford and Connie Willis ( mostly for fun).
Past favorites include Arthur C Clarke, Heinlein, Larry Niven, JG Ballard and Ursula K. Le Guin ( her SF rather than fantasy).
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phantom power
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Wed Dec-01-04 12:00 PM
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He wrote The Ring of Charon, and The Shattered Sphere, both very entertaining.
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TrogL
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Wed Dec-01-04 01:48 PM
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33. Delaney, Zelazny, Brunner, Lem, Farmer |
Bridget Burke
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Thu Dec-02-04 09:40 AM
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34. Raised on the Holy Trinity |
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Heinlein, Clarke & Asimov, that is. Andre Norton when I was very young. Lots more since then.
Favorites I haven't seen mentioned: Fritz Leiber, Tanith Lee, Cordwainer Smith, Avram Davidson & R A Lafferty.
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robbedvoter
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Thu Dec-02-04 09:05 PM
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YankeyMCC
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Sun Nov-13-05 04:20 PM
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Asimov Heinlein Clark Philip K Dick Chalker - Mostly sentimental value for me Swanwick Kim Stanley Robinson Steven Baxter Kress Kage Baker Greg Bear - although I have read any by him in a long time
I'm sure there are many I'm forgetting particularly all the short story authors I enjoy in my Asimov's Magzine. That makes up about 80% of my SF reading but it is difficult to remember all their names of the top of my head.
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porter
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Tue Nov-15-05 04:43 PM
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Asmov, Chalker and several of the other future types are good, but I like what I call "fictional history" ( or as my wife tells it - "any cover with a dragon") Eddings, Salvatore, McCaffery, Tad Williams, M. Weis
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Mythsaje
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Fri Oct-06-06 04:43 AM
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41. I tend not to like "hard" sci-fi. |
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BORING. Great if you're an engineer or something, but I'm far more interested in the human element than the technical aspects. If an author spends more than a couple pages explaining the science behind it, straight into the void with it.
For some reason that doesn't apply to David Weber, and I'm not sure why.
Heinlein
Herbert--Primarily the Dune Series. I know too many people didn't read past God-Emperor. Too bad for them. The last two books were about the Bene Gesserit. And I am/was fascinated by the very concept of the Bene Gesserit.
Alan Dean Foster
Philip Jose Farmer (World of Tiers--classic)
Andre Norton when I was a kid. I about had a fit when they made that damn "Beastmaster" movie. Goddam vultures.
Niven and Pournelle
Orson Scott Card (though I much preferred Alvin the Maker to the Ender stuff).
Spider Robinson. Callahan's rocks!
Elizabeth Moon
Sheri S. Tepper's "True Game" series was pretty cool.
I've always preferred fantasy to sci-fi, but these days it's all too damned incestuous for my taste. I want to see something original, not more of the same pseudo-medieval nonsense. That's been done to DEATH.
I'm even more partial to Urban Fantasy, but, then again, since that's what I write, I may be a bit prejudiced there.
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Reader Rabbit
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Fri Oct-06-06 06:38 AM
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42. These days, I prefer Bujold, Cherryh, LeGuin, & Sharon Shinn |
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All women. Hmm....
Oh, wait! I like Allan Steele's Coyote series, too, so there ya go!
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semillama
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Fri Oct-06-06 10:05 AM
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43. absolute favorite would be David Brin |
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but I really enjoy Asimov and Dick. Also Le Guin. I actually haven't read much sci-fi lately, mostly fantasy. Not sure why. I like the genre.
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