Good Modern Science Fiction

[doobiedoo]

I re-read [for the umpteenth time] "Tactics of Mistake" by Gordon Dickson.
Despite being written in 1971, the story holds up well.
It is still enjoyable and doesn't have cringe moments like so many sci-fi books from that era.

In Dickson's Dorsai series, the interstellar economy is based on the exchange of specialists.
The Dorsai specialty is honorable, elite mercenary soldiers.

"Tactics of Mistake" was the 1st Dorsai book published.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/776 ... of_Mistake 4.22

[Sandi_k]

Does anyone have good Modern Science Fiction available in Audiobook format?!

DH and I are road-tripping soon, and he's asked for some SF Audiobooks to listen to while traveling. I typically read, haven't done much in the way of audiobooks.

I have downloaded Libby, and synced it to my local library; any recs?

[blortchplop]

Does anyone have good Modern Science Fiction available in Audiobook format?!

DH and I are road-tripping soon, and he's asked for some SF Audiobooks to listen to while traveling. I typically read, haven't done much in the way of audiobooks.

I have downloaded Libby, and synced it to my local library; any recs?

I know this is not quite what you asked, but season one of the Limetown podcast is absolutely great sci fi, and it started as a podcast—made for listening first.

The original page is at https://twoupproductions.com/limetown/podcast, and it's available on various podcast platforms: Apple, Spotify, and probably others. It's also on youtube. I'm not sure which of those allow for offline listening. Stream ripping is a possibility, but it takes time, effort, and often not so user friendly software.

To answer more what you actually asked, perhaps read through the recommendations in this thread or read reviews online, and then search on Libby to see if the ones that you think look good are available as audiobooks.

[mrb09]

Does anyone have good Modern Science Fiction available in Audiobook format?!

DH and I are road-tripping soon, and he's asked for some SF Audiobooks to listen to while traveling. I typically read, haven't done much in the way of audiobooks.

I have downloaded Libby, and synced it to my local library; any recs?

Will Wheaton narrates most of John Scalzi’s books (for the locked-in series, where the protagonist’s gender isn’t revealed, you can choose Will Wheaton or Amber Benson).

Not Science Fiction, but “Rivers of London” is a mix of urban fantasy and police procedurals. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith narrates, he’s absolutely my favorite audio book narrator.

[Sandi_k]

Does anyone have good Modern Science Fiction available in Audiobook format?!

DH and I are road-tripping soon, and he's asked for some SF Audiobooks to listen to while traveling. I typically read, haven't done much in the way of audiobooks.

I have downloaded Libby, and synced it to my local library; any recs?

I know this is not quite what you asked, but season one of the Limetown podcast is absolutely great sci fi, and it started as a podcast—made for listening first.

The original page is at https://twoupproductions.com/limetown/podcast, and it's available on various podcast platforms: Apple, Spotify, and probably others. It's also on youtube. I'm not sure which of those allow for offline listening. Stream ripping is a possibility, but it takes time, effort, and often not so user friendly software.

To answer more what you actually asked, perhaps read through the recommendations in this thread or read reviews online, and then search on Libby to see if the ones that you think look good are available as audiobooks.

Thanks - I have heard of too many poor audio adaptations to base my choice entirely on the book.

So far, I have the first in the Murderbot Diaries (I think he'll enjoy the humor), as well as Project: Hail Mary and The Time Traveler's Wife.

[Sandi_k]

Does anyone have good Modern Science Fiction available in Audiobook format?!

DH and I are road-tripping soon, and he's asked for some SF Audiobooks to listen to while traveling. I typically read, haven't done much in the way of audiobooks.

I have downloaded Libby, and synced it to my local library; any recs?

Will Wheaton narrates most of John Scalzi’s books (for the locked-in series, where the protagonist’s gender isn’t revealed, you can choose Will Wheaton or Amber Benson).

Not Science Fiction, but “Rivers of London” is a mix of urban fantasy and police procedurals. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith narrates, he’s absolutely my favorite audio book narrator.

Thanks. I'll look at Scalzi. (And he hates police procedurals, so that's a No. )

[Abel]

Does anyone have good Modern Science Fiction available in Audiobook format?!

• The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. - N Stephenson (gov agency, time travel, magic)
• Halting State - C Stross (cyber crime, 2st person narrative)
• Three Body Problem, The Dark Forest, The End of Time - Cixin Liu
• The Peripheral - Wiliam Gibson
• Winter World - AG Riddle (harvester blocks earth's sunlight)
• Vessel - L Nichols (woman astronaut against alien mind)
• Three Laws Lethal - David Walton (self-driving cars gain control)
• The Genius Plague - David Walton (fungus controls mind)
• Foundryside - Robert Jackson Bennett (thief, magic object, medieval)

[LadyGeek]

Lady Geek...

Have you read all the Orson Scott Card books? Everything he writes is good...

No, I haven't. Thanks! I'll take a look once I finish the Culture series.

I just finished the Culture series (Iain M. Banks). They were well written, but a lot of the enjoyment was lost simply because the plots were too complex. Perhaps just reading the first three or so would have been OK.

I'll read a few non-fiction books and then give Orson Scott Card a try with Ender's Game.

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. I download all six books of this "Ender's Saga" series on my Kindle. So far, I agree that this is very good writing and I'm glad I got the series.

[climber2020]

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. I download all six books of this "Ender's Saga" series on my Kindle. So far, I agree that this is very good writing and I'm glad I got the series.

After you read those, consider the Shadow books. The first one (Ender’s Shadow) parallels Ender’s Game from a different character’s perspective. As a whole, I enjoyed these more than the originals.

[protagonist]

+1 Wool

I watched the TV show "Silo" (Season 1...only one season out so far), and really enjoyed it.
I did not know it was based on the novel "Wool".
This is the first I heard of the novel.

For those of you who watched the show and read the novel, did the show follow the novel closely? And what were your thoughts?

[OrderAndChaos]

+1 Wool

I watched the TV show "Silo" (Season 1...only one season out so far), and really enjoyed it.
I did not know it was based on the novel "Wool".
This is the first I heard of the novel.

For those of you who watched the show and read the novel, did the show follow the novel closely? And what were your thoughts?

Like many adaptations, it added some things that weren't in the book and deleted or changed other plot elements. Overall, the concepts are pretty much the same.

The build to the reveal in the book worked better in the book, IMHO.

[targ]

+1 Wool

I watched the TV show "Silo" (Season 1...only one season out so far), and really enjoyed it.
I did not know it was based on the novel "Wool".
This is the first I heard of the novel.

For those of you who watched the show and read the novel, did the show follow the novel closely? And what were your thoughts?

The book was good. The show was/is good.
The show != the book.

Like most books, not everything translates to the screen for various reasons. Some characters are different and/or combined. Some plot elements don't match. If you watch the show, you'll get the gist of the book and vice-versa. It will be interesting to watch the show progress and see whether or not it ends like the book series.

I say enjoy them both.

[Nivek]

I really enjoyed The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Very easy reads but very enjoyable.

As a huge sci fi fan and Trek fan, I absolutely LOVED Redshirts by John Scalzi. Also another easy read but one of the few books I've ever read that was actually laughing out loud.

I also read the Three-Body Problem and the two sequels. Good books but HARD sci fi. Some of it reads like a science text book.

[Dude2]

Scientific American’s staff share their favorite sci-fi books, from beloved classics to overlooked gems and our modern favorites

Science-Fiction Books Scientific American’s Staff Love

[protagonist]

Has anybody read any Jeff Vandermeer books?
I just read some reviews and they seem potentially interesting.

If you have read them, what did you think?
And if you like them, which would you start with?

I was considering Borne.

[evancox10]

And if you want great endings, read Dan Simmons' Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion.

+1 to this recommendation from a somewhat lesser known author. The Olympus series is also interesting but a bit harder to digest, and not as focused. Entertaining though.

[Dude2]

Another triology, Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan. Don't be put off by the Netflix show. Season one wasn't bad, but the rest was drivel. The books are excellent. Not so much flashing back to the past as the TV show.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0841YVP9M?bi ... 807&sr=8-1

Thanks for this recommendation. You nailed it. Excellent read. Ignore the Netflix show.

[telemark]

Translation State by Ann Leckie. An extremely alien race, some very human humans, and a protagonist who everyone underestimates. What's not to like? Set on the periphery of the Ancillary books.

[TwstdSista]

A search tells me it's been mentioned here before (several times), but I'm re-reading the Murderbot Diaries right now. I loved it the first time and am still loving it the second time.

[LadyGeek]

Scientific American’s staff share their favorite sci-fi books, from beloved classics to overlooked gems and our modern favorites

Science-Fiction Books Scientific American’s Staff Love

Thanks! After reading that list and a few reviews, I downloaded the entire Red Rising series (by Pierce Brown) to my Kindle. I'm part-way through the first book Red Rising and am enjoying it very much.

[Dude2]

Science-Fiction Books Scientific American’s Staff Love

Thanks! After reading that list and a few reviews, I downloaded the entire Red Rising series (by Pierce Brown) to my Kindle. I'm part-way through the first book Red Rising and am enjoying it very much.

Well, thank you too.

I read the first book of that series and remember liking it, but did not continue. Maybe that's on the TODO list. Thanks for the reminder.

Meanwhile what I got most out of the above recommendations was to buy the first book of a series

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth Book 1) by N. K. Jemisin which won the Hugo.

May I also suggest that there are also very interesting things in the "fantasy" genre that I wouldn't want sci fi fans to miss out on. For example, I remember really liking the following

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lies_of_Locke_Lamora

Not all fantasy is blood and guts and slashing. The above is an interesting tale about a bunch of thieves and the books set up for the "long con".

Enjoy.

[magicrat]

Check out The Book of Glads series by Todd Glider. Incredible thought provoking reads

[heartwood]

Thanks! After reading that list and a few reviews, I downloaded the entire Red Rising series (by Pierce Brown) to my Kindle. I'm part-way through the first book Red Rising and am enjoying it very much.

Well, thank you too.

I read the first book of that series and remember liking it, but did not continue. Maybe that's on the TODO list. Thanks for the reminder.

Meanwhile what I got most out of the above recommendations was to buy the first book of a series

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth Book 1) by N. K. Jemisin which won the Hugo.

May I also suggest that there are also very interesting things in the "fantasy" genre that I wouldn't want sci fi fans to miss out on. For example, I remember really liking the following

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lies_of_Locke_Lamora

Not all fantasy is blood and guts and slashing. The above is an interesting tale about a bunch of thieves and the books set up for the "long con".

Enjoy.

Thanks! I enjoyed the 3 books in the Locke Lamora series years ago. Thanks for reminding me.

Wikipedia suggests that there are sequels coming in 2025: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Lynch

However a search on the new titles on Amazon shows me no publication dates.

[MrBobcat]

Translation State by Ann Leckie. An extremely alien race, some very human humans, and a protagonist who everyone underestimates. What's not to like? Set on the periphery of the Ancillary books.

I'm reading Ancillary Justice by the same author, really enjoying it.

[moltentoothpaste]

Translation State by Ann Leckie. An extremely alien race, some very human humans, and a protagonist who everyone underestimates. What's not to like? Set on the periphery of the Ancillary books.

I'm reading Ancillary Justice by the same author, really enjoying it.

The entire trilogy is terrific. Enjoy!

[surfinagin]

Got back into reading awhile back, with focus on fiction-
Decided to try SciFi -just finished Project Hail Mary.

This book was reasonably entertaining, but not fascinated by heavy doses of "science" that the nerds probably love.

Any recommendations for SciFi books/series that are more simple-minded (like me LOL) -just a fun escape into other worlds and imagination?

THX

[bikefish]

Didn't see these mentioned yet:

• Greg Egan's short stories are my absolute favorites. Hard sci fi and heavy on the ideas. I also enjoyed Permutation City, one of his novels.
• Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. Notable for the combination of an interesting premise and human characters.
• Contact by Carl Sagan. I saw the movie first (favorite movie) and still loved the book. I think it does a better job fleshing out the characters. Always great when the hero of the story is a radio astronomer.
• The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin. One of her shorter ones, and I couldn't put it down.

I'll put in a 6th recommendation for Ted Chiang. I read sci fi for the ideas, and he delivers.
Add a 2nd recommendation for The Peripheral by William Gibson. Interesting concept and very well told.

I think I will give The Peripheral a whirl.

[protagonist]

Didn't see these mentioned yet:

• Greg Egan's short stories are my absolute favorites. Hard sci fi and heavy on the ideas. I also enjoyed Permutation City, one of his novels.
• Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. Notable for the combination of an interesting premise and human characters.
• Contact by Carl Sagan. I saw the movie first (favorite movie) and still loved the book. I think it does a better job fleshing out the characters. Always great when the hero of the story is a radio astronomer.
• The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin. One of her shorter ones, and I couldn't put it down.

I'll put in a 6th recommendation for Ted Chiang. I read sci fi for the ideas, and he delivers.
Add a 2nd recommendation for The Peripheral by William Gibson. Interesting concept and very well told.

I think I will give The Peripheral a whirl.

It is also a streaming TV series, and a good one, though there has only been one season so far. I hope it is renewed because it left a lot of loose ends.

[protagonist]

Got back into reading awhile back, with focus on fiction-
Decided to try SciFi -just finished Project Hail Mary.

This book was reasonably entertaining, but not fascinated by heavy doses of "science" that the nerds probably love.

Any recommendations for SciFi books/series that are more simple-minded (like me LOL) -just a fun escape into other worlds and imagination?

THX

I'm a nerd, but check out "The Long Run" by Daniel Keys Moran.
It would appeal to both nerds and sociologists. You would probably like it, even if you preferred Star Wars to The Matrix (arrrgh!)
Quite revolutionary for its time.

[surfinagin]

Got back into reading awhile back, with focus on fiction-
Decided to try SciFi -just finished Project Hail Mary.

This book was reasonably entertaining, but not fascinated by heavy doses of "science" that the nerds probably love.

Any recommendations for SciFi books/series that are more simple-minded (like me LOL) -just a fun escape into other worlds and imagination?

THX

I'm a nerd, but check out "The Long Run" by Daniel Keys Moran.
It would appeal to both nerds and sociologists. You would probably like it, even if you preferred Star Wars to The Matrix (arrrgh!)
Quite revolutionary for its time.

Thanks!
BTW -I liked the Matrix

[moltentoothpaste]

I think I will give The Peripheral a whirl.

It is also a streaming TV series, and a good one, though there has only been one season so far. I hope it is renewed because it left a lot of loose ends.

Unfortunately it was canceled. A real shame.

[Sandi_k]

Got back into reading awhile back, with focus on fiction-
Decided to try SciFi -just finished Project Hail Mary.

This book was reasonably entertaining, but not fascinated by heavy doses of "science" that the nerds probably love.

Any recommendations for SciFi books/series that are more simple-minded (like me LOL) -just a fun escape into other worlds and imagination?

THX

I'm a nerd, but check out "The Long Run" by Daniel Keys Moran.
It would appeal to both nerds and sociologists. You would probably like it, even if you preferred Star Wars to The Matrix (arrrgh!)
Quite revolutionary for its time.

Read Armageddon Blues first. It gives the backstory for Trent.

[surfinagin]

I'm a nerd, but check out "The Long Run" by Daniel Keys Moran.
It would appeal to both nerds and sociologists. You would probably like it, even if you preferred Star Wars to The Matrix (arrrgh!)
Quite revolutionary for its time.

Read Armageddon Blues first. It gives the backstory for Trent.

Thanks!

[protagonist]

I'm a nerd, but check out "The Long Run" by Daniel Keys Moran.
It would appeal to both nerds and sociologists. You would probably like it, even if you preferred Star Wars to The Matrix (arrrgh!)
Quite revolutionary for its time.

Thanks!
BTW -I liked the Matrix

Then you must be a closet nerd.

[protagonist]

Read Armageddon Blues first. It gives the backstory for Trent.

Thanks!

I would agree in most situations, but The Long Run is a much better book. I read The Long Run first (I had a hell of a time trying to find it pre-Amazon!), then went back and read Emerald Eyes, and finally found Armageddon Blues on Amazon years later. I am sort of glad I did it that way, bc I am not sure I would have read the others if I started with Armageddon. I don't think I missed much by reading the others as prequels.

Anyway, nice to find another DKM fan!

[Sandi_k]

Thanks!

I would agree in most situations, but The Long Run is a much better book. I read The Long Run first (I had a hell of a time trying to find it pre-Amazon!), then went back and read Emerald Eyes, and finally found Armageddon Blues on Amazon years later. I am sort of glad I did it that way, bc I am not sure I would have read the others if I started with Armageddon. I don't think I missed much by reading the others as prequels.

Anyway, nice to find another DKM fan!

Ha! We've talked about DKM before.

I agree that TLR is better. But TAB gives a lot of political and character backstory. It's a more juvenile read, but it's a fast one, and makes TLR that much more enjoyable, as you're already comfy with the politics and governance issues.

Happily, DKM has them all available now, instead of in the Prior Years, where all his fans haunted used book stores and ABE.com to find copies.

[evancox10]

Got back into reading awhile back, with focus on fiction-
Decided to try SciFi -just finished Project Hail Mary.

This book was reasonably entertaining, but not fascinated by heavy doses of "science" that the nerds probably love.

Any recommendations for SciFi books/series that are more simple-minded (like me LOL) -just a fun escape into other worlds and imagination?

THX

Try CJ Cherryh Chanur saga. Don’t worry if some of the diction doesn’t make 100% sense, it’s supposed to be a little “alien”. (Edit: not sure if stuff from the 80’s counts as modern or not . Her Hammerfall books are a bit newer, and read that way too.)

[surfinagin]

Got back into reading awhile back, with focus on fiction-
Decided to try SciFi -just finished Project Hail Mary.

This book was reasonably entertaining, but not fascinated by heavy doses of "science" that the nerds probably love.

Any recommendations for SciFi books/series that are more simple-minded (like me LOL) -just a fun escape into other worlds and imagination?

THX

Try CJ Cherryh Chanur saga. Don’t worry if some of the diction doesn’t make 100% sense, it’s supposed to be a little “alien”. (Edit: not sure if stuff from the 80’s counts as modern or not . Her Hammerfall books are a bit newer, and read that way too.)

Thanks!