science fiction novels

[Roll Right]

Hey folks,

I'm almost finished with Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, and its an amazing scifi novel. I was wondering if anyone could recommend some other scifi novels that are quite good. I'm generally interested in SciFi depictions of warfare, but SciFi novels discussing social development (i.e. We, 1984) and the phenomenology of time and space are very interesting to me. Thanks in advance!

[biisis]

Anathem by Neal Stephenson for Monastic/Scholastic sci fi goodness. A Canticle of Leibowitz for an excellent take on post-apocalyptic society and the retention of knowledge. Blind Sight by Peter Watts for an interesting discussion of the nature of consciousness. 

[ExponentialDecay]

If you liked We, you might like the works of the brothers Strugatsky. I'm not sure of the quality of the translations, but the plot and character development should be good enough to keep the ball rolling either way. 

 

Of the ones I've seen translated, I would recommend Hard to be a God.

[RunnerGrad]

Asimov. All his stuff is great. L.E. Modesitt Jr. also has some great sci-if.

[Nautiloid]

If you haven't read Dune by Frank Herbert (and some of its sequels), go do that now. It has intergalactic warfare, philosophy of time and space, and an analysis of the nature of civilization all in one. 

 

Otherwise, I'm a fan of Aldous Huxley for deep sci-fi social commentary. If you like absurd comedy, Hitchhiker's Guide is a must read. Long Dark Teatime of the Soul, also by Douglas Adams, is good but deals more in absurd mythology.  

Edited June 11, 2014 by Nautiloid

[Maziana]

Try Robert Sawyer for philosophy/consciousness. 

[maelia8]

I'm not sure if you like Fantasy/Sci-Fi crossovers, but the Prince of Thorns/King of Thorns/Emperor of Thorns series is really great for post-apocalyptic fantasy/sci-fi.

[Roll Right]

Thank you for these great suggestions!

[St Andrews Lynx]

Check out Iain M Banks and his Culture novels. 

[maelia8]

Another post-apocalyptic sci-fi series: the MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood. Simply amazing.

[Roll Right]

So I'm starting Starship Troopers today and plan to get to these suggestions after...I keep reading that Starship Troopers is controversial. Anyone know why?

[Roll Right]

I just read a bit on this issue, apparently Starship troopers glorifies war, may be pro-fascist, and may be racist. This ought to be an interesting contrast to Haldeman's anti-war novel that I just finished...

[sweetpearl16]

Check out The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, also by Robert Heinlein. It is one of my favorite sci-fi novels. 

[The Wayfarer]

If you haven't read Dune by Frank Herbert (and some of its sequels), go do that now. It has intergalactic warfare, philosophy of time and space, and an analysis of the nature of civilization all in one. 

 

Otherwise, I'm a fan of Aldous Huxley for deep sci-fi social commentary. If you like absurd comedy, Hitchhiker's Guide is a must read. Long Dark Teatime of the Soul, also by Douglas Adams, is good but deals more in absurd mythology.  

 

I second this -- some of the sequels, however, are out of control.

 

Gibson's Neuromancer is a classic...especially if you enjoy things in the vein of Blade Runner.

[Roll Right]

Thanks for those suggests. I actually just started reading a non SciFi classic though-the grapes of wrath.

[Authorization]

I've recently started to read C.J. Cherryh's Faded Sun series. Awesome fictional politics and anthropology in a sci-fi setting.

 

If you like cyberpunk, William Gibson is a good go-to. So is Richard K. Morgan, who incorporates kind of a hardboiled detective attitude. 

 

If you like your science fiction with more of a fantasy element, C.S. Friedman's Coldfire books are a fun read. 

[ProfMoriarty]

The Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov is a classic - and a good one, too! It may not depict warfare per se, but it does deal with political intrigue in times of war.

also, the Silo series by Hugh Howey