The Sci-Fi Book Thread

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Ukerric

Bearded Ape
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Finished Peter Hamilton's latest, A Night Without Stars, the second and conclusion to the Faller duology.

It's a bit weaker than most, but then, Hamilton always has difficulties finishing stories. I mean, the main twist of the book was not even set up in the previous one, and it feels a bit forced. But otherwise, it's still very enjoyable, as most of Hamilton. A bit too many cameos, though.
 

Composter

Golden Knight of the Realm
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Just popped in to say that the Armada Wars by R. Curtis Venture is some pretty good stuff. Fast-paced, character-driven sci-fi.
 

Wombat

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I could use some recommendations for new material.

I borderline adore Niven and own a copy of everything from Stephenson, Scalzi, Bear, & Banks as well. I appear to enjoy logic puzzle world building over all else.
 

slippery

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I need some suggestions for what to read now. Just finished the lastest Peter F Hamilton book. Recently read Confluency books which I enjoyed.

I'd prefer something in the vein of Hamilton. Future Space Opera that doesn't dwell too much on the details but just tells a good story.
 

Dynalisia

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I need some suggestions for what to read now. Just finished the lastest Peter F Hamilton book. Recently read Confluency books which I enjoyed.

I'd prefer something in the vein of Hamilton. Future Space Opera that doesn't dwell too much on the details but just tells a good story.

Hooking my wagon to Slippery's. Bonus points if there's some political intrige/power struggle and not just military/physical action, but I'm down for both.
 

Void

Experiencer
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I've probably pimped it in this thread or one like it in the past, but I highly recommend the Paratwa trilogy by Christopher Hinz. First book is Liege-Killer, and is still my second favorite book of all time (Black Company being #1).

It isn't space opera, but it is future setting, people live in cylinders in orbit because Earth is too toxic, and in the days just before Armageddon they had created warriors/assassins called Paratwa which were one consciousness in two bodies. They were all thought to be destroyed, with one of the most violent being called the Liege-Killer because he was tasked to kill other Paratwa.

Good amount of political intrigue, mystery and figuring shit out, and violence. Highly, highly recommend it.
 
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Ukerric

Bearded Ape
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Just read thru Weber's latest Honorverse, Shadow of Victory and it's kind of messy. It's chiefly far too many side stories from the "current" events, with relatively little meat adding to the main story. I wouldn't have been surprised if it was a collaboration, but no, it's all Weber. Half disappointed.

Starting now the other Weber book that came out today, At The Sign of Triumph ; I hope it's better.
 

gogusrl

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Finished reading Death's End, the third book in the Remembrance of Earth's Past series by Cixin Liu.

Can't say I've enjoyed it as much as the others, it had some nice turns but overall was weaker than book 1 and 2 and ofcourse an unsatisfying ending.
 

Palum

what Suineg set it to
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Read the Alexis Carew series if you like Honor Harrington. Great first four books, tried them out since they were free on kindle unlimited.

Author has superb pacing. It's traditional heroic arc space opera and it's very heavy on the sailing aspect and 17th century English fleet setting, but it's extremely well written.

My only criticism is if the next book doesn't introduce a more dynamic antagonist, so far they've been fairly simple.
 

Valorath

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Just read thru Weber's latest Honorverse, Shadow of Victory and it's kind of messy. It's chiefly far too many side stories from the "current" events, with relatively little meat adding to the main story. I wouldn't have been surprised if it was a collaboration, but no, it's all Weber. Half disappointed.

Starting now the other Weber book that came out today, At The Sign of Triumph ; I hope it's better.

I just finished War of Honor and started At All Costs. Friend of mine tells me this is one the best.

Hope he is right. I enjoy the series but there is always a lot of politics and not enough shooting for me.
 

slippery

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I just finished The Legacy Fleet and Independence (first of the trilogy after fleet) and enjoyed them. Nothing crazy, some future space battles. The first few chapters of the first book are crazy rips from BSG, and somewhere in the third book made me think very strongly of some Picard Borg stuff. Was an okay read though, something like 7/10. Enjoyable, doesn't take too much brain power, reads quick, doesn't delve on dumb stuff, interesting take on aliens
 

Ukerric

Bearded Ape
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Amazon's Best of 2016 SF Books is up.

And I've read... 1 out of 20 (plus the 3rd Cixin book, which is on the "to read, after finishing the 28 books still unread" pile). Well, I know what to look for. After those books.

The one I've read is The Invisible Library, which is a 2015 book, but now out in paperback. Book #2 of the series is out, book #3 is coming soon.
 

spronk

FPS noob
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Amazon's Best of 2016 SF Books is up.

And I've read... 1 out of 20 (plus the 3rd Cixin book, which is on the "to read, after finishing the 28 books still unread" pile). Well, I know what to look for. After those books.

The one I've read is The Invisible Library, which is a 2015 book, but now out in paperback. Book #2 of the series is out, book #3 is coming soon.

thanks, i haven't read most of that list either. i did read cixin #1 but didn't really like it, might as well try #2 soon. I'm balls deep in Malazan unfortunately, got the omnibus or whatever thats all 10 books and its fucking 9000 pages. goddaaaamn its gonna take me a year.
 

khorum

Murder Apologist
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Amazon's Best of 2016 SF Books is up.

And I've read... 1 out of 20 (plus the 3rd Cixin book, which is on the "to read, after finishing the 28 books still unread" pile). Well, I know what to look for. After those books.

The one I've read is The Invisible Library, which is a 2015 book, but now out in paperback. Book #2 of the series is out, book #3 is coming soon.
LOL WTF... those are all rabid SJW authors. NK Jemisin is a vicious cunt and Charlie Jane Anders is a dickchopper who worked for GAWKER blogging against the sad puppies for years. She admitted to shitting on Robert Charles Wilson (hugo for Spin) and Vernor Vinge (hugo for Rainbows End) for purely "heteronormative" reasons.

None of their shit is worth the paper it's printed on.
 
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Void

Experiencer
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I don't know about their SJW-ness, but yeah in general most of the "best of" lists I've looked at have been complete shit because of it. Movies, books, comics, pretty much anything you can make a list out of, is complete and utter horseshit because they put things on there for reasons besides actually being "good." Write a book/comic/movie about a transgender girl struggling to cope with bigotry? Fucking "best of the year" even if even SJWs would have trouble finishing it because it was so atrocious. Fuck, Aamina's book about being a young girl or whatever it was, would probably be on someone's best of list if they didn't know he was a fucking white male writing it.
 

khorum

Murder Apologist
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The last safehold book is out. It's a guilty pleasure but holy fuck did he drag it out for the last few books.