Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 385086 times)

Steph · « **Reply #1680 on:** December 04, 2012, 06:01:46 AM »

Science Fiction / Fantasy

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Welcome to the whole universe! This is where we gather to share our experiences in science fiction and fantasy. We like everything, from Gregory Benford to Stephanie Meyer—hard science to magic and fantasy.

Come in, sit down with us, and tell us what you are reading or have read, what you like or dislike.

Links:
Fantastic Fiction, bibliographies of 15,000 authors

Discussion Leader: PatH

Andre Norton lived to be quite old.. That is not her name of course. When she started writing, men were favored. so she made up an ambiguous name.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1681 on:** December 10, 2012, 08:52:08 PM »

I just finished Halo: Primordim. Rather mediocre for Greg Bear. It was very ho-hum until near the end.

Steph · « **Reply #1682 on:** December 11, 2012, 06:07:20 AM »

I finished another Terry Pratchett a few days ago. It was a lovely one all about Rincewind and actually China in disguise. He is so very very funny.

PatH · « **Reply #1683 on:** December 12, 2012, 10:22:36 AM »

I remember the China one. Very funny indeed. I have to read Small Gods for my f2f group. I'll report on it when read.

Steph · « **Reply #1684 on:** December 13, 2012, 06:12:42 AM »

Small Gods is very good indeed, although I still love the ones on Death and /or the witches the most.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1685 on:** December 13, 2012, 08:02:53 AM »

Just started Jack McDevitt's Polaris, the second of his Alex Benedict novels. Alex is an antiquities dealer who comes into possession of artifacts of a derelict space ship. Many of the artifacts are destroyed in an act of sabotage designed to keep anyone from finding out what really happened to the ship. That, of course, sets Alex off on a quest to discover just that, and who wanted it hushed up.

PatH · « **Reply #1686 on:** December 13, 2012, 11:08:33 AM »

Those of you in the discussion of The Hobbit already know this, but for the rest of you, when we started that discussion, we mentioned the possibility of afterward reading Pat Murphy’s There and Back Again. This is a light-hearted Space Opera which closely follows the plot of The Hobbit, only with spaceships and the whole galaxy to journey in. It’s good sci-fi even if you haven’t read the Tolkien, but if you have, it’s really fun to see how clever she is. If you're interested, not a full-fledged discussion, more a chat, come on over to the Hobbit discussion and say hi at

http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=3623.msg178162#new

But even if you don't want to talk about it, it’s fun to read. It’s out of print, but some libraries have it (mine does) and Amazon has a few cheap used copies

Amazon

and alibris has lots

alibris

That strange character on the cover is Gandalf.

Steph · « **Reply #1687 on:** December 14, 2012, 06:04:32 AM »

I am one of the few science fiction readers who started The Hobbit over and over and not got over 100 pages, Just did not like it or any of the Tolkien series, so dont think I will take on the other book either.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1688 on:** December 19, 2012, 08:17:47 AM »

I guess now that Ray Bradbury has passed away, we will start seeing some of his works on Project Gutenberg. They have just released four volumes of Futura Fantasia, two for each year 1939 and 1940, which he edited. Self published, it only lasted those four issues, and apparently, were mostly his own writings.

Steph · « **Reply #1689 on:** December 21, 2012, 06:19:50 AM »

Am reading Remnant Population that someone here recommended. Very very odd book, but I am enjoying it. The concept of being the only person by choice left on a planet is interesting as she is an older woman.

Babi · « **Reply #1690 on:** December 21, 2012, 08:33:22 AM »

That was an odd book, STEPH. I also enjoyed it well enough; I simply never did
quite see what the author's point was in all this. Unless it was simply a crotchety
dislike for people and society in general.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1691 on:** December 21, 2012, 10:34:36 AM »

I finished Jack McDevitt's Seeker last night. As usual, very interesting and good. There were a few small things in this one that didn't seem to add up but overall it was good. What a surprise to discover that there are three more in the Alex Benedict series. I don't know if McDevitt can top Seeker for sheer magnitude of the discovery of a 9000 year old lost colony.

I am into a short story (I think) by Philip K. Dick called The Defenders now. It is not really my cup of tea, but I'll finish it anyway. Then I am on to something other that Scifi for a while.

Steph · « **Reply #1692 on:** December 22, 2012, 06:10:31 AM »

Philip K.Dick..oh me, have not heard that name for years. I never liked his stuff..

PatH · « **Reply #1693 on:** December 23, 2012, 12:13:23 AM »

I liked some of Dick's stuff, but I tried to read the much-admired The Man in the High Castle four times and always got stuck not very far in. The last time was for my f2f book club. I went to the meeting anyway, and the conversation convinced me that I wasn't missing anything.

Steph · « **Reply #1694 on:** December 23, 2012, 06:45:24 AM »

He is incredibly popular still with young males..

Frybabe · « **Reply #1695 on:** December 23, 2012, 07:20:04 AM »

I just started Jack Campbell's (real name, John G. Henry), The Lost Fleet: Dauntless. I am impressed by how well he portrayed the main character's survivor's guilt and the pressure of living up the expectations heaped on him as an unwitting/unwilling hero.

PatH · « **Reply #1696 on:** December 23, 2012, 01:40:09 PM »

If you like Dauntless, you're in luck, Frybabe, the series has six books. Hemry is a retired naval officer, and it shows in his concern for keeping up standards. The books are full of magnificent sea battles (they're sea battles even though they are fought in 3 dimensions) and I've fought my way across the universe with Black Jack Geary. He tends to repeat background stuff too much in later books, but they are still good.

Steph · « **Reply #1697 on:** December 26, 2012, 11:36:53 AM »

Yes, I am not overfond of battlesof any type and dislike the sci fi that seems to be that, so avoid that particular author.

Babi · « **Reply #1698 on:** December 28, 2012, 09:31:07 AM »

I turned on my computer this morning, STEPH, and was delighted to see that Val
had found a new background that you would love. A Terry Pratchett illustration...
A merry looking giant turtle with scenes, people, and places piled on his back.
I'm just waiting for her to wake up to ask her if this is a single or one of a set.

Steph · « **Reply #1699 on:** December 29, 2012, 05:53:05 AM »

Ah Babi, that sounds like such fun.. I do love the turtles..and Pratchett of course.

Babi · « **Reply #1700 on:** December 29, 2012, 09:01:27 AM »

Valerie couldn't tell me the name of this series of backgrounds (they rotate) but
they all seem to be illustrations of favorite children's books/characters. Very colorful and cheerful.

Steph · « **Reply #1701 on:** December 30, 2012, 06:22:10 AM »

With the new windows 8,.not quite sure if I can have a screen saver thing.. Got a book of simplified, so will look it up.

Babi · « **Reply #1702 on:** December 30, 2012, 09:00:40 AM »

I've been too long without a scifi book. Val brought me two from the library
yesterday, both authors I have not read before, but have been recommended
here. Greg Bear and Jack McDevitt. I do hope I like them; they have written quite
a few.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1703 on:** December 30, 2012, 09:49:04 AM »

I am fond of both authors. In fact, I am waiting on my next Jack McDevitt book from the library. Forget the name, but it is the fourth of the Alex Benedict series. The next Greg Bear will probably be his last of the Halo: Forerunner series which is not due out until 2013. If it is too long a wait four of his other books at home to read.

Steph · « **Reply #1704 on:** December 31, 2012, 06:14:46 AM »

I think I have a unread Terry Pratchett somewhere and will dig it out for the New Year.

Babi · « **Reply #1705 on:** December 31, 2012, 09:11:37 AM »

I am enjoying my first Jack McDevitt...'Polaris'. I am already confident I will
want to read more. The Greg Bear...when I get to it,...is 'Queen of Angels.' From
the jacket, I get the impression this is not an angelic being so I am curious as to
what Mr. Bear is plotting there.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1706 on:** December 31, 2012, 02:44:44 PM »

A Talent for War is the first Alex Benedict book. I read that years ago and barely remember what all it was about. I think I am going to have to reread it. Polaris is the second. I'm glad you like it. It's a little spooky, or at least he tries to make it a bit spooky. It isn't necessary to read the series in order. Each adventure is a pretty much a stand alone, with minor references here and there about previous adventures.

BTW, while Polaris and Seeker are written as if Alex's assistant, Chase Kolpath, is telling the story, A Talent for War is written as if Alex is telling the story. I should be hearing from the library in a day or two to pick up the next one, The Devil's Eye.

Steph · « **Reply #1707 on:** January 01, 2013, 06:11:38 AM »

Babi · « **Reply #1708 on:** January 01, 2013, 09:35:46 AM »

Thanks, FRYBABE. I knew there was "A Talent for War", but not about "The Devil's
Eye". I was disappointed to see my library doesn't have the new Greg Bear series.
I haven't read anything of his, yet, but the response to "Halo..." has been
encourating.
Maybe they will once they get the mix-up at the library straightened out. (Not all
the books got where they were supposed to be after the new construction.)

Frybabe · « **Reply #1709 on:** January 01, 2013, 07:41:08 PM »

I was very surprised and delighted to see that there were three more to the series. I had thought
Seeker was the last. In fact, it was so spectacular that the tale seems hard to top. We shall see.

marcie · « **Reply #1710 on:** January 01, 2013, 09:58:49 PM »

Off and on I've been enjoying the Twilight Zone marathon on TV today and yesterday on the Syfy channel. Some of the episodes are as great as I remembered the Twilight Zone... with many famous actors too.

Steph · « **Reply #1711 on:** January 02, 2013, 06:10:19 AM »

I get my star trek fix on Saturdays when BBC has the Next Generation on in late afternoon..

marcie · « **Reply #1712 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:08:51 AM »

I love STNG too, Steph.

Steph · « **Reply #1713 on:** January 03, 2013, 06:42:49 AM »

I always laugh.. My younger son only watches if Deanna Troi is featured.. Oh well.

Babi · « **Reply #1714 on:** January 03, 2013, 08:49:52 AM »

I'm sure Ms. Troi would be flattered, STEPH.

marcie · « **Reply #1715 on:** January 03, 2013, 11:21:22 AM »

LOL, Steph.

Steph · « **Reply #1716 on:** January 05, 2013, 06:25:31 AM »

It is surprising what science fiction books make it to the movies and why..Some simply cannot.. although McCaffreys books would make excellent serious animated films.. Never been tried as far as I know, but they are not childrens books at all.

Frybabe · « **Reply #1717 on:** January 07, 2013, 08:24:09 AM »

I finished The Devil's Eye last night. As I suspected, McDevitt wasn't able to top Seeker, IMO. However it was a good read. Benedict's assistant, Chase Kolpath, took center stage in this one.

Babi · « **Reply #1718 on:** January 07, 2013, 09:30:52 AM »

Chase Kolpath takes center stage in "Polaris", too. It's amazing how many times her
scientific know-how pulls her and Benedict out of death traps in outer space. And usually
the scientifc explanation of exactly how she does this goes way over my head. Despite
all this, I like her and am enjoying the book. Almost finished, so maybe I can find "Seeker".

Frybabe · « **Reply #1719 on:** January 07, 2013, 10:55:57 AM »