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Your Sci-Fi/Military/Adventure Book Must Read List

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by CJREX, Dec 14, 2017.

  1. Dec 14, 2017 at 1:33 PM
    #1
    CJREX

    CJREX [OP] Well-Known Member

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    recent discussion in the Space and Science BS thread got me to thinking about some seriously good books I've read and that there are probably plenty of recommendations from guys on here that I've missed.

    So post up the really good stuff you've read along with the genre.

    For starters:

    Sci-Fi:
    Larry Niven: Almost anything in the Known Space series
    Alan Dean Foster: The I Inside
    Greg Bear: The Forge Of God and follow up Anvil Of Stars
    Rene Barjavel: The Ice People
    Gregory Benford: In The Ocean Of Night

    Military/Sci-Fi:
    Jason Frost: The Warlord (6 books)

    I'll add more as I think of them.

    Post your favorites.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2017
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  2. Dec 14, 2017 at 1:35 PM
    #2
    otis24

    otis24 Hard Shell Taco

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    Fantastic Idea!

    I just finished reading Old Man's War and the sequels by John Scalzi

    I also read all the prequils to Ender's Game a little while ago. They're not as good as the original but still entertaining.
     
  3. Dec 14, 2017 at 1:38 PM
    #3
    CJREX

    CJREX [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ah Yes! Ender's Game!

    The movie was pretty good too, at least better than I thought it would be.
     
  4. Dec 14, 2017 at 2:39 PM
    #4
    otis24

    otis24 Hard Shell Taco

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    I had really really low expectations for it so I thought it was pretty good as well. I read the book sooo long ago. I've been thinking maybe I should read it again.
     
  5. Dec 14, 2017 at 3:44 PM
    #5
    fathomblue

    fathomblue I used to be disgusted; now I'm just amused.

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    Sci-fi/adventure: "Cryptonomicon" and "Reamde", both by Neal Stephenson. They are both good reads and at times hilariously funny as well.
     
  6. Dec 15, 2017 at 5:15 AM
    #6
    North Star

    North Star I keep planets in orbit

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    The Expanse series by James SA Corey, is probably my favorite right now. The universe the authors created is very likely our future. It takes place 200 years in the future when we have colonized our solar system, with Earth, Mars, and the Belt. The way space flight is described is as realistic as I have come across. From time to travel long distances, to effects on the human body and how drug cocktails have been developed to aid in high G space travel and maneuvers, the detail to explain this all in a realistic vision is fantastic. There's about 9 books in the cannon so far, with a total of 7 released. The show developed by SyFy around the novels is good too, but like anything adapted from books, the written literature are far superior. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(novel_series)

    [​IMG]

    For those that like Japanese Manga, there is a series called 2001 Nights by Yukinobu Hoshino. If you can find it in store, or find it online to read, it is a pretty awesome read with great artwork. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Nights

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Dec 15, 2017 at 5:24 AM
    #7
    JonathanH

    JonathanH Well-Known Member

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    Currently reading Artemis by Andy Weir. A few chapters in, but not bad so far. As far as action goes, I'm a huge Matthew Reilly fan. He's an Australian author. His books, to me, read like big action movies. Some of the things his characters do are crazy. Another cool author is Hugh Howey. Check out the Silo Series.
     
  8. Dec 15, 2017 at 8:46 AM
    #8
    CJREX

    CJREX [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm a fan of Andy Weir's writing.

    I read The Martian as he was writing and posting it on his website.

    HERE is his website with several stories.

    For a quick and funny sc-fi read, I recommend Twarrior there (near the bottom of the page).
     
  9. Dec 15, 2017 at 10:55 AM
    #9
    aphex

    aphex Well-Known Member

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  10. Dec 16, 2017 at 7:38 AM
    #10
    RearViewMirror

    RearViewMirror Saw things so much clearer once you... were in my

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    There are three books I can recommend right off without hesitation.

    1: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It is BY FAR one of the best books I've ever read. If you grew up in the 80's, there are so many pop culture references that it is almost overwhelming. I've read it three times so far. They are making a movie out of it and already just by the trailer... they have fucked it up.

    2: Armada by Ernest Cline. Although not as good as Ready Player One, it is still a very good read.

    3: Opening Moves: The Gam3 by Cosimo Yap. Very original story and very engaging. Well worth a read.
     
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  11. Dec 23, 2017 at 4:11 AM
    #11
    Beaner Taco

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    Just finished reading the series by William Forstchen and do recommend them.

    One Second After
    One Year After
    The Final Day
     
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  12. Dec 25, 2017 at 5:02 AM
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    rleete

    rleete Grumpy old man - get off my lawn

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    Asimov, The Foundation Trilogy.
     
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  13. Dec 25, 2017 at 7:25 PM
    #13
    CaptAmerica

    CaptAmerica Asphalt Avenger! TTC#13

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    Middle period Heinlein:
    Stranger in a Strange Land
    The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
    Starship Troopers (a manifesto on situational leadership, personal responsibility, and civic duty disguised as sci-fi - avoid the movie, it blows)

    David Brin’s Uplift saga:
    Sundiver
    Startide Rising
    The Uplift War

    Currently reading the Mortal Engines books. If the movie follows the book, it’s gonna make stupid money. Also agree with Rearview about RP1 and Armada. Fun, awesome reads.
     
  14. Dec 25, 2017 at 7:44 PM
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    Notoneiota

    Notoneiota Claud Bawls molested my cat.

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    Starship Troopers the book is so good...and nothing like the movie. Definitely a must read. If you are at all military-minded you have to read this book.
     
  15. Dec 25, 2017 at 7:58 PM
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    OmegaMan73

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    Sci Fi- Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton. A must read.
     
  16. Jan 9, 2018 at 11:46 AM
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    Don5352

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    Some really cool shit
    That was the first one to come to my mind, as well. Anything by Asimov is gonna be good. Read the Trilogy a long time ago. You're either an old fart like me, or someone whose in the know recommend this awesome book to you.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  17. Jan 10, 2018 at 9:27 AM
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    rleete

    rleete Grumpy old man - get off my lawn

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    Old fart. I read all the big names: Heinlein, Bradbury, Clarke, Asimov, Niven, Dick and many more.
     
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  18. Jan 10, 2018 at 9:32 AM
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    Dubs Chops

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    We are legion dennis taylor. 3 books all great!
     
  19. Jan 10, 2018 at 9:35 AM
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    Pikestaco

    Pikestaco Newbie

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    need to learn more about this stuff
    Just watched over the holiday the movie “American assassin” with my father in law. He said the books are great. Just ordered the first one on Amazon. Wish I could have read the books before seeing the movie. But meh. Still excited.
     
  20. Jan 13, 2018 at 4:34 PM
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    ampsw20

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    Pretty much just SF recommendations here, I find the military stuff to be a bit too cliche and poorly written (except for Starship Troopers, God that was an amazing book)

    Peter Watts' Blindsight and Echopraxia are pretty good if you take your time and don't need an easy read

    Ian McDonald's Luna series is good, interesting take on a Corporate society on the moon and more "flighty" than Andy Weir's Artemis, but also more complex and a bit more clever I think

    Greg Egan has some pretty trippy stuff, I only read two or three of them. Good if you are into future VR/copies of a personality.

    I concur with a prior reference to the Expanse, though the show leaves much to be desired.

    John Sandford's Saturn Run was excellent. I am a big KSP fan, so thought it was cool that they used it to model some of the concepts. I know they used Orbiter too but I lacked the computing power for that sim.

    If there are fantasy/mixed genre recommendations desired, I have a ton as well.
     

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