Which Sci Fi book to start with?

[coffeeprogrammer]

Ok, it is time to try some of this Science Fiction Steve raves about. I often, for over an hour sometimes, look for things to watch and am often feel like I am wasting my time. There really in not enough to watch that is good. I’ve never been much of a reader (so far). The last books I have read where not fiction, one by Michio Kaku and one by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and that is really it that I can remember off the top of my head, last few years. I want to give it a try, but I am not sure I want to start with 20+ book series, maybe something short but really good. In terms of TV and movies, I have never disagreed with Steve with the exception of The Matrix. I never really liked The Matrix that much. I do however LOVE LOVE LOVE Star Trek, like Steve, I thought Disco could have been better and moved too quickly and with SNW, I was very happy, loved every episode in Season 1. So what book/series should I start with? This Kindle Unlimited thing might be good so I can start tonight.

 

[PHXdNelson]

Like you, I was never much of a reader, not until I found my first author who I liked. Since then I enjoy it versus it being a choir to do.

Have a look at this book list (link).

I know you said single book, but you don't have to keep going if you don't like it. If I remember right the "
Jack Campbell’s “Lost Fleet” Series" books are not as thick as some of the others.

 

[Dave]

Not single books but, personally, I would highly recommend https://www.goodreads.com/series/96454-ell-donsaii.

To a somewhat lesser extent: https://www.goodreads.com/series/136929-wine-of-the-gods - This starts off like it is going to be "hard science fiction" but not quite so much after the first book. And pay attention to the timeline, things make more sense if you do.

 

[Lob]

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary. A sci-fi story, a life story and very inspiring*


*except to my wife who did not care when I told her about it

 

[Dave]

Like you, I was never much of a reader, not until I found my first author who I liked. Since then I enjoy it versus it being a choir to do.

Nor was I. Someone at work started a book-swap shelf. One of the books on the shelf was Threshold by Eric Flint, Ryk E. Spoor (book 2 in the series) but included a link to a free download of the first book, Boundary. A couple of hundred books later...

 

[rfrazier]

The Bobiverse series of 4 books is very good. The 4th one has more foul language though, and you can skip it without suffering too much loss. The 4th story is good though, except for the language.

The Call to Duty, Call to Arms, Call to Vengeance "Manticore" series is a good trilogy. I think it's part of the Honorverse chain but I don't know about the others. Some of them have foul language too, but these don't.

There are lots of Star Trek novels about all the different TV series. There are lots of Star Wars novels. Most are good. Some are not. I only like Star Wars prior to Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm.

I like to listen to books on Audible. Some of the narrators are great. Some not so much. Some books, particularly Star Wars, have sound effects and music too. It's like living in a movie.

May your bits be stable and your interfaces be fast. Ron

 

[coffeeprogrammer]

Well I decided on a book. I was reading Aurora book one of The Frontiers Saga. I got a little passed where Nathan Scott becomes a Lieutenant and is try to settle problems with his navigator. I like it; it seems like a good story. I don’t have much to compare it too as I haven’t been much of a reader in the past. I am hoping this become a new thing for enjoyment for me. I am reading on Kindle Unlimited, it has a free trial, but it seems to have locked me out saying problem with payment. I didn’t think it would have a payment for 30day hence the free trial. I am using privacy.com, so I guess I will have to figure it out. I got to figure out what other kinds of books are on kindle unlimited that I might like.

 

[coffeeprogrammer]

Well I decided on a book. I was reading Aurora book one of The Frontiers Saga. I got a little passed where Nathan Scott becomes a Lieutenant and is try to settle problems with his navigator. I like it; it seems like a good story. I don’t have much to compare it too as I haven’t been much of a reader in the past. I am hoping this become a new thing for enjoyment for me. I am reading on Kindle Unlimited, it has a free trial, but it seems to have locked me out saying problem with payment. I didn’t think it would have a payment for 30day hence the free trial. I am using privacy.com, so I guess I will have to figure it out. I got to figure out what other kinds of books are on kindle unlimited that I might like.

The payment/privacy.com thing just wanted me too unpause the card and it charged it $0.00, works now.

 

[coffeeprogrammer]

I wanted to let the forums know that I finished book 1 of the Frontiers Saga late last night. I can’t imagine it being any better, very good story, like a good movie. So I guess if I stick to Steve’s suggestions starting out, I likely will have good luck. I will be starting book two soon, I actually can’t wait to see how things go. While I reading the first one I felt almost like I didn’t want to put it down, that has not happened in a very long time, but I have other things that I need to do from time to time. Thanks!

 

[Dave New]

I'm on the last book of the 2nd part of the series. It's true that when you get about 2/3 of the way through the book, it becomes a real page-turner. The author seems to know how to spin a real good space opera. Looking forward to finishing the next 15 books and the series.

 

[coffeeprogrammer]

I did take a bit of a break from reading for about a week or more I think, but I am on book six "Head of The Dragon", and I have to say, I now love reading. At least reading this. Thank you Steve, I no longer have to spend time at the end of the day looking for something to watch when I can get some enjoyment from at least one of the book series you have suggested. I can’t wait to continue reading this and the others you have suggested over the years. Hopefully, your science fiction PDF read list is updated at least will be before the end of SN. (Or maybe the after the end of SN as you might have more time to check out more stories for us).



Chad

 

[Dave New]

Well, it seems that Part 3 of the Frontiers Saga is not complete, yet, so instead of starting on episode 1 (book 1) of the last part of the series, I picked up where I had left off on "Wheel of Time", after having watched the one (and so far only) season of "Wheel of Time" on Amazon Prime, I found it enjoyable to continue on with the books. There are fourteen books in the series, and no, they are not on the 'unlimited' service, so I have to pay for each one, but I find I'm getting a good bang for the buck, since each volume is about 3x-4x the length of a Frontiers Saga episode.. And I have another 'unlimited' space series, "Silver Ships", cued up after I'm done with those books, courtesy of a mention in a recent SN podcast. I don't think I'll run out of stuff to read anytime soon.

 

[drwtsn32]

Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary

Seconded.... highly recommended!

 

[Toes1949]

Ok, it is time to try some of this Science Fiction Steve raves about. I often, for over an hour sometimes, look for things to watch and am often feel like I am wasting my time. There really in not enough to watch that is good. I’ve never been much of a reader (so far). The last books I have read where not fiction, one by Michio Kaku and one by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and that is really it that I can remember off the top of my head, last few years. I want to give it a try, but I am not sure I want to start with 20+ book series, maybe something short but really good. In terms of TV and movies, I have never disagreed with Steve with the exception of The Matrix. I never really liked The Matrix that much. I do however LOVE LOVE LOVE Star Trek, like Steve, I thought Disco could have been better and moved too quickly and with SNW, I was very happy, loved every episode in Season 1. So what book/series should I start with? This Kindle Unlimited thing might be good so I can start tonight.

Many years ago I stumbled onto a late night showing of a movie from 1954 called "Forbiddrn Planet." At first I thought it was kind of hokey, but I kept watching and I became entranced. The movie would be very topical now with all of our concerns about AI and Elon Musk exploring enhancing the human brain. I don't know whether or not there was ever a book published that this movie was based on. However, I very highly recommend the movie if it can be found. Books I recommend include: the Foundation series by Isaac Asminov, the We Knew They Were Coming series, Childhood's End, Dune, the Edgar Rice Burroughs sci-fi books, and any books the Terminator movie was made from. All of these books and movies bb\
are predictive of what we are actually beginning to face today. They concern AI, brain transpplants and thefts, a computer technology that controls 100% of our daily lives, and a huge step in evolution concerning the next enhancement of human intelligence. I have each of these books and movies to be fascinating and utterly disturbing.

 

[hyperbole]

I don't know whether or not there was ever a book published that this movie was based on

Forbidden Planet is based on The Tempest by William Shakespeare

 

[Barry Wallis]

Forbidden Planet is based on The Tempest by William Shakespeare

You beat me to it.