The first three editions of
Read Outside the Box were great successes. Check out my and my readers' favorite
Biographies/Memoirs,
Adult Mysteries, and
Adult Historical Fiction if you haven't already!
Here's the topic:
Adult Science Fiction
This will be a hard topic for me, because I don't read much science fiction. But I'm always looking for books that will get me to love the genre. I'm excited to hear your suggestions!
What are one or two of the best adult science fiction books you've ever read?
Why?
Leave a comment or email me at alisoncanread@gmail.com with your suggestions.
I'm hoping to post the list in early August, so be on the look out for the newest edition of
Read Outside the Box!!!
Oh, this is easy. The Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre. First book is called GRIMSPACE. Go ahead and read it. See you in two weeks when you've ploughed through the series........
ReplyDeletePsion and Catspaw by Joan D. Vinge! Why? Because Cat sets the standard for male main characters for me. Cat, Sage (The False Prince), and Eugenides (The Thief) tie for my favorites. The sci-fi parts are fun and there are mysteries in each book, plus it's totally cool to read from the perspective of a main character who can read minds. But really, it's all about Cat for me. I'm completely in love with him. He's such a scrappy underdog.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you can't go wrong with Ray Bradbury (ok, you can go wrong with his later short stories, but The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man are amazing). If you can find them, I'm also a huge fan of The Twilight Zone short stories by Rod Serling. Both are more about humanity and less about whiz-bang sci-fi gadgets, so they're great if you're not so into long tangents about laser beams.
I love sci-fi myself, but I honestly can't remember the last adult sci-fi book I've read! I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out for your post though. I can't wait to see the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI'd also have to second Small and recommend Ray Bradbury. I think Fahrenheit 451 is probably my favorite of his, though I've yet to read all of his collective works.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
ReplyDeleteDune by Frank Herbert. One of the very few books I've read 20+ times. Yes, most of those as a teenager, but still... I did read it last year and still love it.
ReplyDeleteA more modern one that's an easy read, Feed by Mira Grant.
I have to go with what the person above me said and suggest Dune, and also A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski (or Brain Plague) but also China Mieville's Embassytown is worth a look. I could go on for hours about this.
ReplyDeleteDune is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteEnder's Game by Orson Scott Card is my favorite.
What a nice Post Suggestion :D
ReplyDeleteThanks in Advance :d
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It's the best!
ReplyDeleteThe Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. HANDS DOWN. Wonderful characters, page-turning plots, "social" science fiction concepts that often have to do with how advanced technology would affect things like parenting or ideas of gender. Adventure! Intrigue! Complicated wonderful quotable women!
ReplyDeleteIf you start with The Warrior's Apprentice, it will probably feel like a gentle transition from YA, since that one is sort of a coming-of-age plot, but you could also start with Cordelia's Honor (previously published as Shards of Honor and Barrayar). It's about interstellar war, politics and being a parent, and two mature adults finding love without looking for it.
Plus! The Warrior's Apprentice is available as a FREE ebook from Baen publishing. http://www.baenebooks.com/p-1290-warriors-apprentice.aspx Because they know you'll want to read the rest.
Thank you for the link! I just added this series to my TBR last week.
DeleteEnder's Game and Dune, definitely. Ender's Game is about genius kids at a boarding school, so it'll be a smooth transition -- I first read it when I was 12, I think. The characters are simply amazing, and it's freaky how accurate the technology predictions have turned out to be. (The words "laptop," "internet," "wifi," and "blog" never appear because none of those words had been invented at the time of writing, but when you read it, you'll go "hey!")
ReplyDeleteAlso, I *love* Lois McMaster Bujold! I usually recommend The Warrior's Apprentice as the starting point. The books have hideous covers, but be not deterred. It's golden inside.
Awe! I wish my book was out, but it won't until early next year. I wrote it specifically for my friends who don't read sci fi because I love sci fi.
ReplyDeleteHere are four books I still think about:
"Nightfall" by Issac Asimov and Robert Silverberg
"Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card
"Memory" by Linda Nagata
"Ringworld" by Larry Niven
My fave sci-fi series is by Gini Koch --Touched by an Alien, Alien Tango ...
ReplyDeleteThe Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre. I would agree with this one too.
This discussion has made me want to go back and reread Dune even though I just read it last year.
ReplyDeleteFlowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
ReplyDeleteAny book by Isaac Asimov
I love sci-fi and still haven't read Dune!
YES! I LOVE Flowers for Algernon! I cry every time I read it.
DeleteThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (both that specific book and the series in general.)
ReplyDeleteThe first DUNE by Frank Herbert. Wow, it's been a while since I read an adult scifi! I'll be interested to read the list you compile.
ReplyDelete1. Robots series by Isaac Asimov (actually any book by Asimov, he's not called the master of hard SF for no reason!)
ReplyDelete2. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the series) by Douglas Adams
These are the first two that popped into my head and my favourites :)
One I really liked is Kkindred by Octavia Butler. I think you could argue that this is historical fiction since she travels to the past, but it is normally classified and shelved under Science Fiction, so I think it definitely works here.
ReplyDeleteI really love and enjoy your "Read Outside the Box" posts!! I bookmarked this one and have only now had a chance to come back and comment. I'm a huge sci fi fan and could go on and on and on, but... below are my top suggestions.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Shoshanah above - Kindred by Octavia Butler is great. Anything by Octavia Butler, actually! Also, The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin - excellent. Both awesomely strong female science fiction writers ahead of their time.
Also, this might sound weird, but I LOVE the Space Trilogy from CS Lewis. Yes, CS Lewis! It's a fabulous 3-book series, I was blown away when I read it. In order: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength. I've been tempted to read it again the past few years, especially after I got it for my dad for Christmas a couple years ago... I think I may have just convinced myself to do so!! Thanks again for a great post :)
Thanks for the great post. Your Read Outside the Box posts are brilliant. You've inspired me to post my own Sci-Fi favourite list on my blog. My favourites are
ReplyDeleteBlade Dancer - S. L. Viehl
Enders Game - Orson Scott Card
Silent Blade - Ilona Andrews
Silver Shark - Ilona Andrews
On Basilisk Station - David Weber
Shards of Honor – Lois McMaster Bujold
Anything by Philip K Dick :)
ReplyDelete