Suggest me a Novel...

[Scarecrow]

Kind readers,

Okay, I'm getting to the bottom of my reading pile (currently the compelling, 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman) and with the new Harry Potter still nowhere in sight, I'm looking to read some sci-fi with an original universe (ie - not an established one like Trek or Star Wars). I'm looking essentially for a plain and simple, high adventure Space Opera in the vein of Star Wars. I'm interested in the type of universe where spaceships are as common as cars and Humans are just one of a vast array of wierd and wonderful races. I want something with plenty of robots and ray-guns. I think you know what I'm talking about - something like Traveller =)

Can anyone suggest a novel (or series of novels) along these lines?

Regards,

Crow

 

[Uncle Bob]

Anything by James Schmitz. Two cuts above Space Opera, three cuts above "SciFi". Good Science Fiction and otherwise everything you asked for.

1950-60s stories, but frequently with strong female protagonists. The Telzey stories are a little heavy on the psionics, but very well done. Lots available on www.Amazon.com.

 

[Secrect Cow Level]

THE MIND POOL (previously titled THE NIMROD HUNT) by Charles Sheffield. It's my personal favorite. The technology is great and the aliens are some of the most imaginiative I've ever read about.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Without dusting off the eight bookshelves in the librarium here..
David weber's Honor Harrington series (begin with "Incident on Basilisk Station" proceed from there...)

Scouts out front!

 

[millican]

OK. Two suggestions, and they are just that suggestions.

1. The "culture" "series" by Iain M. Banks. "Series" may be a strong word, collection of novels with a similar milieu is likely a better description. Titles include: "Consider Phlebas", "Player of Games" and "Use of Weapons".

2. A little old, and completely G-rated, but still a personal favorite is the "Lucky Starr" series written by Issac Asimov writing as Paul French. Of course, all the books, save the first one, titles start with "Lucky Starr and . . . ." They will be quick reads.

Hope you find them interesting suggestions.

Have a better one.

 

[Vargr Breath]

Hi
Have you tried the Flinx books by Alan Dean Foster?The first one is "The Tar-Aiym Krang.

 

[Bruce]

The novel "Agent of Change" is a good example of Traveller with some nice drive type distinctions.

they are re-releasing the novels here. I can't remember the authros names.

Two books int he series that I know of and they have a cool alien race in the book. They are very long lived Turtles, don't laugh, but they are realized very well!!!

Bruce

 

[Swordsage]

Along with David Weber's Honor Harrington Series I'd also recommend the new book that he put out with John Ringo called "March Upcountry". It reminds me of a Traveller military campaign that I was in a while back.

 

[DaddyDragon]

If you can find a copy, I highly recommend a book entitled "The Guardsman". Very Traveller-esque, it is the story of a Lionman (and thus has a decidely Aslan flair to it) who is the head of the Imperial Guard at a time when the ruling emperor is going insane.

It will forever change the way you think about playing your Aslan.

Full details:
The Guardsman
P.J. Beese & Todd Cameron Hamilton
Pageant Books
ISBN 0-517-00665-0
Copyright July, 1988
313 pgs

Regards,
Larry

P.S.
Amazon says it is out of print: The Guardsman

 

[Scarecrow]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

I think maybe saying that I wanted something 'Travellerish' wasn't strictly accurate - Traveller is different to everyone. I was more specifically interested in a thigh-slapping Good vs Evil Space Opera.

I've settled on:

The Pride of Chanur - CJ Cherryh
The Price of the Stars - Debra Doyle + James D. MacDonald
The Man Who Used the Universe - Alan Dean Foster
Shards of Honor - Lois McMaster Brujold

I should have thought of AD Foster first as I've read the 'Tar Aym Krang' and 'Icerigger' many years ago, both of which I enjoyed immensely. I may even add some of his other Flynx books to the list =)

Thanks again,

Crow

 

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by Scarecrow:
I've settled on:

The Pride of Chanur - CJ Cherryh
The Price of the Stars - Debra Doyle + James D. MacDonald
The Man Who Used the Universe - Alan Dean Foster
Shards of Honor - Lois McMaster Brujold

I still think you should look at some stuff written before 1980, even before 1970 when you had a better defined sense of morality. Modern Science Fiction dates to about 1930, and there was a lot of good stuff written in the next fifty years. The James Schmitz stories had the sweep, the good vs evil, and were better written than anytrhing I have aseen Foster or Cherryh do.
Trigger Argee of the Scout Service protecting the galactic ancients.
Telzey Amberson, the fifteen year old heiress of the Amberson intersteller trading corporation. She is also has a sense of justice and the psionics to enforce it.
The best is the Demon Breed, about a female marine biologist on a frontier world who turns back an invasion of human space by herself.

Or Jack Vance. His Demon Princes series where a terran assasinates the seven alien rulers responsible for an atrocity.

Or H. Beam Piper. Space Viking, where a man turns Avenger when his wife is murdered and eventually builds an interstellar empire in the ashes of the collapsed Federation. The Cosmic Computer, set a hundred years earlier, where people on a salvage yard of a planet struggle to save their planet from the Long Night, fighting pirates and religious fanatics by turns.

Some of these are out on Amazon, but best of all you can find then in a used book store for $.75, uh 50p to you.

 

[N.I.C.E. Labs]

I'd go for some of Larry Niven's Known Space stuff. Protector, Ringworld, the Man/Kzin Wars series...there's a wealth of stuff in his universe that fit the bill. For the most part you can pick a story and not go wrong. He's more science based than opera so his things have theory to back them up...but the flavor is plenty there.

Another great series is Fred Sabberhagen's Beserker series.

 

[justacaveman]

"March Upcountry" with David Weber and John Ringo.

Just about any of David Drake's Sci-Fi stuff.

Marching through Georgia (and sequels) by S. M. Stirling.

 

[Father Fletch]

<<snip>>
Or H. Beam Piper. Space Viking, where a man turns Avenger when his wife is murdered and eventually builds an interstellar empire in the ashes of the collapsed Federation. The Cosmic Computer, set a hundred years earlier, where people on a salvage yard of a planet struggle to save their planet from the Long Night, fighting pirates and religious fanatics by turns.
<<snip>>

I have to concur. MTU has a very H. Beam Piper feel to it. Contra Grav, machine guns, long space trips where the only contact is by interstellar mail. he even had a feel for automation and labor issues where the computers were not all filling rooms. lots of nukes, RPV missiles, few lasers. "Pick your self up by the bbot straps. His heroes are often surronded by compentent companions (player group anyone?) IMHO Piper has a lot of the Traveller feel that I get from the LBB, as well as the later works

 

[phydaux]

I much concure with the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. Just plain good.

I have not read the David Weber/John Ringo colaboration March Upcountry, but the John Ringo solo work Hymn Before Battle (first in a series) is, without a doubt, the BEST sci-fi piece I have read since Mote In God's Eye.

 

[Simon Jester]

I also would recommend John Ringo's (and now also David Weber's) "March" books:
-March Upcountry
-March to the Sea
-March to the Stars (due out in January)

If you're in a darker frame of mind just about anything by David Drake is good, but I would definitely suggest the following two to start with:
-Redliners
-The Sharp End (A "Hammer's Slammers" novel, yet able to stand on its own.)

For a more comedic read, a short trilogy of books by Walter Jon Williams is perfect. They are all, unfortunately, currently out of print but still available on Amazon.com:
-The Crown Jewels
-House of Shards
-Rock of Ages
These books are the source of one of the more interesting occupations I've ever come across in a science-fiction story: the Allowed Burglar. It is definitely part of My TU, and will probably make its way into yours, as well.

Simon Jester

 

[James Bolivar DiGriz]

For something with a pulp flare and plenty of action the "Deathworld" trilogy by Harry Harrison was a great read. The “Stainless Steel Rat” stories are more humorous sci-fi, but also great. He did a graphic Novel with Jim Burns, as the illustrator, called "Planet Story". Super illustrator. Actually, the best as far as I’m concerned.

I have to agree with everyone who suggested David Drake and David Weber, though. Some great stuff there. I just finished "The Apocolypse Troll", by Weber, and it was good.

The Classic "Starship Troopers", by Heinlein, and Armor, by Steakley(I loved it!!) are essential reading. Arthur C. Clarke's novel, "Rendezvous with Rama", is a good sci-fi exploration/adventure but the follow up novel, "Rama II", put me to sleep.

Finally, I would recommend "Ender's Game", by Orson Scott Card, as simply a terrific science fiction story.

 

[hunter]

Originally posted by phydaux:
I much concure with the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. Just plain good.

I have not read the David Weber/John Ringo colaboration March Upcountry, but the John Ringo solo work Hymn Before Battle (first in a series) is, without a doubt, the BEST sci-fi piece I have read since Mote In God's Eye.

Reading those now, great stuff!

Might I recommend

1) the Bolo series! These are especially good if you are an Ogre fan.
2) The Sector General series about an interspecies hospital. Very good stuff.
3) the StarDoc series, another 'medical' sci-fi series but good action and kinda weird story line

Hunter

 

[Scarecrow]

Hunter,

On the subject of reading, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the second Traveller's aide issue - especially 'Grand Endeavour' and 'Reactivation Clause'.

I'm looking forward to the third one.

Crow