What type of science fiction do you like the best?

[Steve]

What type of science fiction do you like the most? Hard SF, space opera, time travel, classic sci-fi, steampunk, cyberpunk? Do you like reading a variety or mostly stick to type?

[Trike]

Variety. Although I read like I eat, in streaks. For a while I only read superhero fiction and ate dried pineapple for snacks. Then I get burned out on that and go for space opera and ice cream drumsticks. And et cetera.

[Rick]

Easier to say what I don't like which is mostly two broad categories:

Bandwagon fiction - Steampunk because it's popular, zombies because they're selling, etc.

Very near term SF. I generally don't think the world in 5 to 10 years will be THAT different. 20 years is better, but in general, I like to see some real speculation and it's hard to do that in the 20 years or nearer timeframe unless you posit a world-changing event (aliens land tomorrow kind of thing). Spin did this really well, but most near future stuff bores me.

I guess for me I want SF to stretch my imagination so I like things like Alastair Reynolds, Iain M Banks, Chris Moriarity, Ken Macleod. Scalzi, Stross and others can be good too though Stross has been obsessed with the near future stuff lately which leaves me cold.

[terpkristin]

I'm a fan of cyberpunk type stuff, though the only type of science fiction I'm not all that into is military sci-fi. Too many guns and lasers and battles...boy stuff, usually written for boys by boys. If I'm going to read pages upon pages of battle scenes, I prefer knights, dragons, magic, and swords. ;)

[Scott]

Honestly, I'm fairly new to genre fiction. Before I started listening to/watching S&L, my sci-fi was limited to the Star Wars Expanded Universe, so I guess for the time being that's my favorite simply because it's what I've read the most

[Thomas]

I love space operas. I love singularity events. I love last man on earths. I love swords & planets.

I am very picky about time travel. All stories about Alien apocolypses, massive space constructs, cyberpunk, and nanotechnology will be held to incredibly high standards. I will read a good superhuman story, but it better push the limits and have depth of character.

I have yet to read any steampunk I could stomach.

[Michele]

Like Rick, it's easier to say what I don't like -

Hard SF that's full of technical details or battle descriptions or really dry science. I found Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars stuff to be a real trial for example.

Alternate histories based on wars.

Time travel that doesn't take into account the fact that language changes - no modern person would understand even medieval english for example without some kind of training or a babblefish.

I like character driven stories though, so anything with good characters that I can relate to or empathize with is fair game - I just skim the stuff that bores me, like battles where the author gives a blow by blow account, or pages of technical details about how a spaceship is designed or whatever.

[Kris]

I really enjoy space opera and military scifi that is more character driven than action driven. I also like to mix in a good hard scifi book every know and then as well.

[Dara]

I enjoy space opera mostly I think. Clearly Mass Effect is my favorite sci-fi ever. I like stuff that will make me think but also has good characters, not just ideas. I'm not a fan of technobabble. It weighs the story down for me.

[Leesa]

I like space opera, hard sci fi, military sci fi, near-future.

I do like character over action, but if it gets too thinky/introspective/literary, then I'm not a fan. Spin is disappointing me. We spent too much time in the main character's head.

I do like steampunk, alternate history, dystopian. I'm not sure if I've ready cyberpunk, but I think I'd like it.

I avoid zombies (too many of these).

I really wanted to like Downbelow Station but after trying to read it then listen to it, halfway through I had no idea who the characters were or what the point was because my mind wandered so much.

[D.L.]

Michele wrote: "Like Rick, it's easier to say what I don't like -"

I agree. I avoid dark SF, dystopian futures, anything with zombies, and books with guns or swords on the cover. Other than that, I'll read the blurb to see if the book is likely to be entertaining, insightful, or humorous. All three combined are preferred.

[Ryan]

My favorite SF is Space Opera, Star Wars, Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow sagas are my favorites of the genre.

I typically avoid zombie/outbreak SF and Hard SF, zombies are in everything now and it bores me and if I want to learn about how a ship truly works or realistic applications of tech then I'll read discovery news, not fiction that extrapolates on it.

I also really enjoy classic dystopian SF like 1984 or Fahrenheit 451.

[D.L.]

Ah, yes. Dystopian with a cautionary point can be good in its own way. Normally, I read fiction for enjoyment, though, and although books like Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 are undeniably quality fiction, I can't say a really 'enjoy' them. I suppose it's more accurate to say I 'appreciate' them.

[Robert of Dale]

I won't avoid a book just because elements in it are popular, but I don't generally seek out books on that basis either. I go by recommendations, either from friends or in the last couple of years, good reads book clubs. :P

So far this year, I've liked

* Steam Punk + Zombies (Cheri Priest's Clockwork Century series),
* Space opera + Zombies (James S.A. Corey's Expanse series),
* Modern day outbreak-like zombie/vampires (Guillermo del Toro's The Strain trilogy)

... all hightly rated, but except for The Strain, I didn't pick them up for the zombies. I also have really liked:

* Post Apocalyptic without zombies (Wool),
* Military SciFi without zombies (Scalzi's Old Man's War series).

... So I guess I'm well rounded, since I've read so much non-zombie sci-fi. ;P Funny, I hadn't realized that was a common thread this year. Plus, I'm finally going to start reading Song of Ice and Fire, so there's another zombie-infested book outside of SciFi. Hmm.

[terpkristin]

Ooh zombies. I'm sick of zombies (and vampires and werewolves) but if someone recommends a book with one, and it's a person I trust, I'll often give it a whirl.

[Rick]

I don't avoid things like zombie books because they're popular but rather because they tend to be derivative, formulaic and feel like the author is doing the book for sales reasons. That's not 100% accurate of course, but it's close enough for me that I'm OK with excluding those books.

[D.L.]

Robert of Dale wrote: "* Military SciFi without zombies (Scalzi's Old Man's War series)."

I enjoyed that series, too. I'm a bit hesitant about his latest book that was originally released as a series, though. I may pick it up eventually.

[Dara]

I tend to avoid zombie stuff now because it feels overdone. The one exception was the Feed by Mira Grant (haven't read Deadline or Blackout. Just keep falling down my to-read list). In that book, the zombies were almost more background than foreground. It was immensely interesting and the end? Wowwww.

[Trike]

I don't discount books just because they might be working an over-exposed genre, but I will admit that I tend to skip over some books because they're in a fashionable segment.

For instance, I will pass on zombie books in general, but the Dead World series of loosely-connected novels by Joe McKinney are some of the best zombie stories I've ever read. They remind me of Paul O. Williams' Pelbar Cycle from the 1980s, where the post-apocalypse landscape was merely the setting for some really interesting stories.

[Rick]

Trike - you know, that might be an interesting thread or set of threads. "Zombie/steampunk/whatever books that are worth it even if you don't like Zombie/steampunk/whatever books."

[Ryan]

Robert of Dale said:
So far this year, I've liked

* Steam Punk + Zombies (Cheri Priest's Clockwork Century series),
* Space opera + Zombies (James S.A. Corey's Expanse series),
(endquote, I don't know how to quote properly on this site yet)

I had no idea The Expanse involved zombies, I'm reading the ebook right now, I'm only a few chapters in and I really like it so far. But from what I've read so far I assumed it was going more towards war and politics rather than zombies.

[Michael]

Some people are talking about zombie related books. Their preference towards them or away, primarily because its a focus of modern mediums.

Does anyone else find that fascinating? I mean, if something interests you, if something excites you(plural) wouldn't it be logical to seek knowledge about it? I for one, have been drawn into the zombie pop-culture. I see it as an awesome relatively new exploration (sometimes taking decades to draw out the best parts). Not zombies, but the human nature aspect. Seriously, the best stuff is just now coming about. Let it grow, let if fester, let it develop and just maybe it becomes something totally different and amazing.

For example the best video game of the year was Last of Us, not entirely zombie based but definitely related. One of the best shows on TV right now, The Walking Dead is absolutely related. Hell, I've even been reading the comics (also awesome and doesn't do the whole movie vs. book things where one is better, both are great)

The point is, dig in. Don't hold up mental barriers because of prior notions. Find the goods and enjoy them, isn't that life?

[Rick]

I dont LIKE zombies, the 'culture' around them or the massive bandwagoning that people are doing to turn out works that are zombie related just so they can get a piece of the pie.

Charlie Stross posted a short story on his blog that takes place in his Saturn's Children universe. The story was written for an anthology called Engineering Infinity that the editor wanted to be "hard SF stories, for a new century" and given Accelerando and other work, I grabbed the story eagerly. But Stross' story was, basically, a posthuman zombie story. It's an OK short work, but that kind of thing pisses me off because it's cheap and easy and caters to the 'ohhh zombies' crap that's all around.

You're saying I should pay attention to something because it's popular. But I read what *I* like. Not what others are liking. If the two coincide, great. But my likes aren't dictated by the herd.

[Michael]

Maybe this applies to you or maybe it doesn't but the point i was trying to bring light to was even if there is a topic/issue/genre that maintains and cultivates a strong bandwagon following doesn't mean that it should be avoided. It is actually more likely produces something better as compared to something more obscure. That's a statistical look on it, the more trial and error, the more it evolves to greater chance for something significant to be produced.

[terpkristin]

Michael wrote: "...even if there is a topic/issue/genre that maintains and cultivates a strong bandwagon following doesn't mean that it should be avoided."

Totally agree with this. But because there is a lot of crap out there capitalizing on the recent obsession with (fill in the blank: werewolves, zombies, vampires, the next new hotness....), I usually wait until someone with similar tastes to mine reviews it highly here on GR or otherwise recommends it. ;)

[Rick]

MIchael,

As I replied to Trike, threads on what to read even for people who don't like a genre could be interesting, but I don't have any motivation to wade through a lot of zombie books or steampunk books or whatever in hopes that I'll find one I like. A random approach would mean that I'd probably read a lot that I don't like for the few I would like. Given that I have a big TBR pile of things I know I want to read, why would I do that?

But it's not just bandwagoning that turns me off... I don't really care for post apocalyptic fiction in part because it's its own little mini-fad but more because it tends to rehash themes a lot and because it's innately pessimistic. Louise mentioned The Last of Us which will likely be a really well-done game... but really? A story about two people brought together by circumstance, forced to make their way across a hostile post-apocalypse landscape? Gee, THAT'S never been done before.

Some of this is age and breadth of exposure. I'm 55 and clearly remember the release of the Road Warrior movie. I've seen dozens of these stories come and go and at this point they all seem incredibly similar. I'd read an interesting, novel take on the genre, but The Last of Us, Walking Dead, World War Z, etc are all telling the same story that lazy, B-grade creatives always tell. MIra Grant's Feed series intrigues me but I'll likely not get to it simply because of the TBR pile.

[AndrewP]

I like most space opera and some military SF. My other favorite category would be the exploration type books. Ben Bova's grand tour books are good examples, as would be Ringworld. Anything that has cutting edge tech or amazing concepts and ideas.

Some dystopian fiction (not all) I find a total bore. It's like the author was to lazy or didn't have the skill to create their own world, so they just mess up the current one a bit.

Zombies, vampires and stuff I do not categorize as SF.

[Steve]

I think if you like zombie stories that's great, finding a type of story you really like and can rely on being an enjoyable read is a wonderful thing, all the more so when there's a tonne of material out there to keep you busy reading.

I personally don't like books/films/tv shows with zombies in all that much, with the odd exceptions (usually when its fun, tongue in cheek type). I don't know what it is exactly, I don't much like vampire stories either probably for similar reasons. It may be because I like variety too much, and don't like stories that are very formulaic (i.e. I want to be surprised by who I meet in a story and what happens, rather than thinking, when's the next zombie turning up etc).

I take the point that with greater volume there *may* be a greater chance of a real gem turning up, but at the same time these type of sub-genres (zombie, vampire etc) invite authors to be lazy and churn something out quite formulaic, not needing to be too imaginative, with tonnes of cliches that make me groan. I'm sure there are exceptions, and if someone pointed me to a really fantastic zombie book that broke all the rules, did something different and so on, I'd be interested.

[Rick]

Re-reading my posts, I was kind of vague on what I do like... mostly I like farther future things that make me reconsider reality or that take me out of my current reality and show me cool other places. The first category are things like John Varley's books that posit things like intelligent black holes, cloning (and laws around that), easy gender switching. On one level the stories are just fun, but on another they make you think. After all, how would society change if people could switch genders back and forth easily and if they did so with even fewer consequences than getting a tattoo? What if we had cloning technology but it was illegal to have more than one person with the same set of genes alive so that it was you or your clone?

The second category are things like Scalzi and a lot of Heinlein, some Stross. There aren't deep questions usually but they're fun, well done speculations on the future and it's a nice escape for a few hours.

A smaller, third category does well at both of the above. Banks' Culture novels are preeminent here. Reynolds' works, too and some of Ken Macleod's stuff.

In all of these I value story, plot and characterization over wow factor, but wow factor is a big plus. Ideas are cool, but sacrificing plot or character for them is a turnoff (Greg Egan, looking at you...). Hard SF (using only things we know are possible in current physics) is fine, but like all rules it should be a guideline and I don't mind violating it, especially for things like FTL. My most recent read that did the 'only known physics' think was House of Suns by Reynolds. There's no FTL, but there is perfect stasis and biological regeneration so the protagonists move through time (6 million years) by going into stasis and doing sub-lightspeed trips. Lots of interesting consequences to this.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Post apocalypse and dystopia
Cyberpunk
Posthuman (quantum reality, genetic mod, etc)

[Rick]

Hrm... Jenny, have you read The Windup Girl? If not, that sounds right up your alley.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Rick wrote: "Hrm... Jenny, have you read The Windup Girl? If not, that sounds right up your alley."
Yep! :)

[Trike]

Rick wrote: "Some of this is age and breadth of exposure. I'm 55 and clearly remember the release of the Road Warrior movie. I've seen dozens of these stories come and go and at this point they all seem incredibly similar. I'd read an interesting, novel take on the genre, but The Last of Us, Walking Dead, World War Z, etc are all telling the same story that lazy, B-grade creatives always tell. MIra Grant's Feed series intrigues me but I'll likely not get to it simply because of the TBR pile."

Very good points. There's definitely a lot of "been there, done that" in a lot of this stuff.

I also agree about the Walking Dead; Kirkman is definitely a B-list writer (if that) who's entire schtick is remixing previous work. Heck, the Walking Dead even begins exactly like 28 Days Later, almost beat for beat, and Invincible is just a Superman/JLA remix.

That said, World War Z stands out among zombie literature. Brooks really examined the underlying reasons why zombies terrify us, to a greater degree than anyone else has to date. That's one of those books I'd recommend in a Best Of thread.

[Daran]

Unlike in fantasy, I can't use sub genre to guide me. I like William Gibson, but dislike most other cyberpunk. I loved Arthur C. Clarke, and will read anything by Ben Bova, but most hard sf is boring for me. With military there isn't even a single author I consistently like. I like Ender's Game, I think Starship Troopers has some good bits, and I like Old Man's War, but by no means do I like everything those authors have written.

Space Opera is about the only one I can be sure I'll at least finish. Too much Star Trek I suppose. Lois McMaster Bujold, David Weber, and Alastair Reynolds are my favorites in that particular group.

[James]

Daran wrote: "Unlike in fantasy, I can't use sub genre to guide me. I like William Gibson, but dislike most other cyberpunk. I loved Arthur C. Clarke, and will read anything by Ben Bova, but most hard sf is bo..."

That's a good point about subgenre being a less reliable guide in sci-fi than fantasy. I love my urban fantasy (even the poorly written stuff, and there's a lot), my epic quest fantasy, and my alternate history. My sci-fi appreciation is a lot more idiosyncratic though. I have some favorite authors (Heinlein, Timothy Zahn, Gibson) but no real genre obsession.

[[deleted user]]

Michael wrote: "That's a statistical look on it, the more trial and error, the more it evolves to greater chance for something significant to be produced." Not necessarly. Think of Harliquin Romances, they churn them out by the basket load, I don't think there's a good book in the lot. Or the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Bobsie Twins, Horatio Alger, Goosebumps, and so on. More doesn't always mean that something will improve. It could mean there was a great work that was copied and endlessly retold by those only looking for a quick buck. Just look at the movies for plenty of examples of that.

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

Rick wrote: "I dont LIKE zombies, the 'culture' around them or the massive bandwagoning that people are doing to turn out works that are zombie related just so they can get a piece of the pie. "

This is not me trying to say you are wrong or change your mind or anything. I'm using this comment mostly as an example, because I do hear the criticism of 'jumping on the bandwagon' and I often wonder how fair it is.

Often, a book is more likely to be published if it covers whatever the big thing of the time is. It often happens that a book written and rejected years ago gets picked up because it is now 'current'. So it isn't always about folk trying to grab their piece of the pie, so much as getting some recognition for something no one was interested in a while back. A person also might just have got lucky, and had the right thing ready at the right time.

Of course, if the subject matter isn't to your taste, you won't want to read it, but I feel bad for anyone being judged as cashing in just for having something which fits with the current trend. It isn't always the case.

as for the main topic, I really don't know yet what my preference might be in those terms - I'm terrible at categories and can never figure out what things fit in which boxes, but I agree with Michelle that character driven stories will always be appreciated.

I also quite like a claustrophobic sort of feel, so stories where people are trapped on a ship at some point will usually interest me, as did the whole silo thing in Wool.

[Tyler]

I love me a big, chunky space opera book.