Recommended a sci-fi book for a non sci-fi reader

[TheJimi]

Despite being nerdy about a lot of scientific stuff, I've never really bothered with sci-fi literature.

I quite fancy dipping my toe but it's s bit of a minefield as to where to start. So...for a noob, what do you recommend?

For reference, the closest I've gotten to sci-fi was Flowers For Algernon, which I adored.

[montecristo]

Foundation, one of the greatest science fiction novels, could just as well be a political thriller so you don't have to be into science fiction to like it. The first few pages can be a bit esoteric as they talk about maths; the key plot twists are a lot of fun.

Never Let Me Go is faintly science fiction, and a beautiful book.

Midwich Cuckoos is short and memorable. Likewise The Chrysalids.

Speaker for the Dead, of a similar stature to Foundation, is proper science fiction and a powerful book. Its predecessor, Ender's Game, is a shorter, more lightweight, fun book that is also proper science fiction but could be a story about normal military activities.

The Andromeda Strain is very broadly science fiction - it's an interesting format of pretending to be a true account of an epidemic. I read it when I was 12 and it was only years later that I realized it was fiction.

[DanL]

Almost anything by Iain M Banks, but Player if Games or Use of Weapons would be my starting point.

Edited to change my mind. Consider Phlebas - start at the beginning.

Edited by DanL on Monday 30th October 11:58

[toasty]

I'm not really a sci-fi book fan but I recently read Neuromancer which was quite entertaining and heavily influential in the whole cyberpunk genre.

[TheFlyingBanana]

If you are new to the genre it might be good to start with some of the classics - perhaps Isaac Asimov?

Try some of his anthologies of short stories - in fact try this short story - it is consistently one of his most popular (ten minute read, don't jump to the end!)

http://multivax.com/last_question.html


I'd then recommend contemporary British author Stephen Baxter who is both prolific and brilliant with an incredibly wide range and scope - from hard sci-fi to more "human" and historical stories.

Check out his catalogue on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stephen-Baxter/e/B000APWC...


You could even start by reading HG Wells classic, "The Time Machine", then read Baxter's briliant sequal, "The Time Ships" for a veyr nice intro into classic sci-fi that then turns into much more contemporary "big idea" science fiction.

Edited by TheFlyingBanana on Monday 30th October 15:04

[montecristo]

TheFlyingBanana said:

... short stories ...

Good idea. That's how I started.

Talking of which, these Ray Bradury stories on YouTube are good: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bradb...

[Collectingbrass]

The Martian book - it's far more than the book of the film and the author explains a lot more of the science involved

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/17850...

Jules Verne & H G Wells would be a good start point as well if a little dated, in the language rather than science.

[jmorgan]

Found Banks hard going. All subjective to the reader.

There is a light hearted good read "We are Legion (we are Bob)". Very recently release first book by this author (I think).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32109569-we-ar...

[toasty]

TheFlyingBanana said:

If you are new to the genre it might be good to start with some of the classics - perhaps Isaac Asimov?

Try some of his anthologies of short stories - in fact try this short story - it is consistently one of his most popular (ten minute read, don't jump to the end!)

http://multivax.com/last_question.html

Thanks for that link, great story.

[shirt]

TheJimi said:

Despite being nerdy about a lot of scientific stuff, I've never really bothered with sci-fi literature.

I quite fancy dipping my toe but it's s bit of a minefield as to where to start. So...for a noob, what do you recommend?

For reference, the closest I've gotten to sci-fi was Flowers For Algernon, which I adored.

Sounds to me like Kurt Vonnegut would be right up your street. Try Player Piano, Hocus Pocus, or the seminal and sublime Slaughterhouse 5.

[brrapp]

I'd agree with anything by Ray Bradbury. The Martian Chronicles is a pretty good starting point.

[TheJimi]

Thanks all, I've got a lot of researching to do!

[jmorgan]

Here is one we made earlier.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[TheJimi]

Yeah, I did think about posting on that one but it seems to be for those who are already invested in the sci-fi genre.

[SystemParanoia]

Peter F Hamilton
Pandoras Star



Perfect place to start your sci-fi journey imo


or if you'd like your first book to be much slimmer so you dont have too far to grind through if you hate it.

Try Tau Zero
by Poul Anderson



No multi book story arcs, no prequels or sequels.
just a good standalone scifi book thats not too thick and not too thin.

Edited by SystemParanoia on Tuesday 31st October 12:43

[LordGrover]

Arthur C Clarke.

[jmorgan]

TheJimi said:

Yeah, I did think about posting on that one but it seems to be for those who are already invested in the sci-fi genre.

Have a butchers anyway. I picked up a few good tips in there. Roboteer by Alex Lamb being one. The first book is a great ripping yarn.

[TheJimi]

Cheers dude, I'll wade through it then

[DRFC1879]

I'm not a big sci-fi fan but one of my all-time favourite books (in fact probably the only adult book I've read more than twice) is the complete Hitchhiker's Guide. Bloody genius, that Douglas Adams.

[RogueTrooper]

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman - man vs aliens vs time dilation space opera set in the (increasingly) far future, but it's also a love story as well as an autobiographical commentary on the alienation felt by soldiers returning from combat to civilian life.

If that hasn't put you off, it's actually an enjoyably well-written and entertaining yarn.