Timsvs Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 who do you think is the best sci-fi author of all time? i'm not sure if i could say who i like the best, i don't read heeps..but i'm still curious to see what everyone else thinks..also anyone know any good books (other then dune) that u would recommend for me to read? thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunseng_Harkonnen Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 I think the best is Frank Herbert. And not only becouse he wrote my favourite book - Dune. He had unical writing style, he wrote interesting story and wise story that is difficult do it. I think good is Harry Harrison too. I don`t know if I can call his book "Eden" sf but its not fantasy too. Its something on the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usul Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 I also think Frank Herbert as I don't read any other sci fi (unless you count Warhammer 40000 fiction). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMA_1 Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 I think frank herbert is because not only are his Dune books good but his books based on other universes might even be better. They are in my eyes. destination:void. the godmakers, the jesus incident, whipping star. all sorts of them and they are amazing reading. get them at a used book store they are cheap as heck usually. They are worth more then they sell them for. Also Aurther C. Clark is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inhuien Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 Frank is indeed a fantastic writer, but there's so many more that are as good as him.For s/f of a more modern feel try the like of Iain M Banks, But be careful he writes under the name of Iain Bank as well but its not s/f.And another fav is a chap called Peter F Hamilton. This chap writes BIG, his last trilogy had about 3500 pages. Heavyy!!Gunseng_Harkonnen its nice to here that some else likes MR Harrison have you tried the "Stainless Steel Rat" books? Some of the funniest S/F you can find.Oh one more, Stephen Baxter's fab as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMA_1 Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 oooh also I love isaac asimov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caid Ivik Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 Oh, read Land-Overland Trilogy by Bob Shaw! That's tough! Also Gibson's Neuromancer... Also one czech Ondrej Neff wrote some good things, very good universes are too in Asimov's Foundations or artificially made Battletech.But as says Dune fanatic, Herbert's best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gryphon Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 I don't have "a best author". There are a lot of good ones.Some times even the writing of the book is verry bad but the story on it self is great, just badly written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemafakei Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 Herbert, Pratchett, Tolkein.The first is deep, the second is funny, the third is descriptive. Three key things that are necessary at different times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frodo_I Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 did Tolken do sci fi??? i thought he was only fantasyAnyways, my favorite of all time is Issac Assimov. Assimov is the "Tolkenn" of sci fi, producing over 200 books in his life time, coining the phrase "robotics", "laws of robotics", "psychohistory", and othersAssimov also has great short stories, and there's plenty of compilation books out there of his stories.If you get bored with older sci -fi reading (although i personally believe older reading is prerequisite to the new books) you can try reading authors like Greg Bear, Walter John Williams, Iain M. Banks, Timothy Zahn, Jack McDevitt, and William GibsonOrson Scott Card and Greg Bear are older writers, but they have new books that smack of inventivenessWilliam Gibson coined the phrases "Cyberpunk" and "matrix"i've read alot of Sci Fi by my standards and if you love TRUE sci fi and MYSTERY together in a book you have to get "EXCESSION" written by Iain M. Banks. It will turn your preconcieved notions about robots upside down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMA_1 Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 Well frodo you seem to know your books.lol where is aurther c clark???? and anyways he said tolkein because fantasy and sci fi are kinda brothers in the fiction deparment:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanguard3000 Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 In no particular order:-Frank Herbert (Dune Chronicles, etc)-Harlan Ellison (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, other short stories)-Philip K. Dick (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - the book "Blade Runner" is based on)-Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)-Robert J. Sawyer (Calculating God)-Isaac Asimov (I, Robot)-Others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjCiD Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 ah 42 the answerThe Ultimate More Than Compleat Hitchhikers Guide. All of the series in one big nicely leather bound... it even has the sash for book mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exatreide Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 yep i got that to ;D actuly i borowd it from gila but still its mine till i'm done. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frodo_I Posted May 17, 2002 Share Posted May 17, 2002 Well frodo you seem to know your books.lol where is aurther c clark???? and anyways he said tolkein because fantasy and sci fi are kinda brothers in the fiction deparment:-)Aurther C. Clark. Yeah i think he's a lot like Ben Bova though so i didn't mention him. I could have mentioned Ursula K Le Guin also but she is old and i mentioned three old writers already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobdouds Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 Okay.The five Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy books by Douglas Adams.Battlefield -Earth- by L.Ron HubbardandThe Mote In God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle-'A spellbinder, a swashbuckler...and a brilliant approach to that fascinating problem - first contact with aliens'-Frank Herbert, author of DuneThese are all good reads. Especially the last one, as recommended by Frank Herbert himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobdouds Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 The ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything is ... 42.So whats the question?I love the Hitchhikers books.Also.The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillup Pullman.1) The Northen Lights/Golden Compass2) The subtle knife3) The amber Spyglass.Brilliant books.I have a cat named after Asimov.AND THE BEST POSSIBLE BOOK TO EXPAND YOUR MIND IS...Flatland By Edwin A. AbbottThis was written almost 100 years ago. Yet it is still advanced for our time. It discusses the possibilitys of alternate dimensions as in 2D 3D ect... Narrated by a character from 2D land called flatland called A. Square.When a being from 3D comes, his name the Sphere, and tries to explain to Square the possibilities of up and down, Square struggles with a new concept shows how we human react to new things. When he finally understands, he visits 1D land, or lineland, and 0D land, the singualar entity that thinks he himself exists. And how Square tries to comprehend and suggest to sphere the possibilities of the 4D. Showing that even people who think they are advanced, still cannot bear a new concept.READ IT NOW!!!!Worth it, trust me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjCiD Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 uumm whats 6 x 7how many roads must a man travel down before he becomes a manhow many years till EmpBFD is sequeledall answers 42 ;DI have 6 books in my hitchhikers guildeThe Hitchhikers Guide to the GalaxyThe Restaurant at the End of the UniverseLife, the Universe and EverythingSo Long, and Thanks for All the FishYoung Zaphod Plays it SafeMostly Harmlesswith all the new special effects n stuff in movies nowadays I'd love to see the guide put to a movie ;D Hey they redid Spiderman ;D ahh hell just give me my babel fish and an electric sub-etha signaling device my towel and a few bags of peanuts and I'll be just fine ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caid Ivik Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 Read Karel Capek's Rossum's Universal Robots! Word "robot" was created in 20's by him (in czech it means "working machine"). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frodo_I Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 If you like reading about robots read Issac Assimov's "Foundation" series of booksHe defines the famous "3 laws of robotics" and then just when you think he can't do any more he defines the controversial "Zeroth law"He also goes on about aliens and "sentient worlds". His idea of the "positronic brain" is actually getting some credit today with the research being done into "biological chips" for computers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobdouds Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 uumm whats 6 x 7how many roads must a man travel down before he becomes a manhow many years till EmpBFD is sequeledall answers 42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord J Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 Harry Turtledove has got to be one of the best authors I've ever read, along with, of course, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournell. Jacob, did you ever read the sequel? "The Gripping Hand" Another of thier best works and jaunts into alien cultures. I personally prefer Kevin J. Anderson and Bryan Herbert's writing styles to Frank Herbert's. I enjoy the storyline of Dune and it's subsequent sequels, but it seems more written for the writer than the reader. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a great book, and I have "Restaurant at the End of the Universe" sitting on my bedside table waiting patiently, but I fell in love with "Red Dwarf" long before the Guide even entered my universe. I must also agree with Gunseng about Harry Harrison, definatly one of the best Sci-Fi contributors this side of Dean Koontz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobdouds Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 I haven't read their Sequal, thank you for pointing it out.HHGTTG are great comedy books, but have a crappy Ending.I love Marvin the Manic Depressent Robot. Who turns out 13milllion times older then the universe in the later books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjCiD Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 um, Young Zaphod Plays it Safe, isn't in the same series as the other 5 books in a trilogy of 4.if its not in the same series why did Adams put it in this nicely leather bound with the other 5?are you saying he did a seperate series of 4 books and one of them is named Young Zaphod Plays It Safe ???just a little confused on what your saying... :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanguard3000 Posted May 18, 2002 Share Posted May 18, 2002 I love Marvin the Manic Depressent Robot. Who turns out 13milllion times older then the universe in the later books.ACtually, believe he's 37 times the age of the universe. But I agree, Marvin rules. I always puctured him as being like that depressing guy who plays Ray's cousin on Everybody Loves Raymond. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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