The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion
2000-2014
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What SF are you reading now, 2000-2014?
The Road does seem to be a love or hate sort of book. 111 of my GR friends have read it (about half of them!) & most gave it 1 or 5 stars. I read a couple of years ago. I gave it a 1 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kateblue, I got used to the dialogue, but it was the overblown descriptions I couldn't deal with. And you are right, it was grim.
Mod
It is pretty popular and also pretty fun. Teen girls from the early 90's get caught in a fight between some time-travelers. They travel to 2016, the distant past, and later the distant future. Each girl has a distinct personality and their reactions to the changing society and technology are fun. They are super excited about flat-screen TVs! But the run-down small town of 2016 with the abandoned mall makes them kind of think maybe this is a "bad" timeline and they should try to change it to avert this future.
The series is ending soon, with only 30 issues, or 6 trade volumes, or 3 hardbacks, so it is a good story to get into without making a long-term commitment.
Mod
https://www.pornokitsch.com/2018/03/f...
I want to read 3 of those. (The last one sounds dull.) However, I cannot because these books are all imaginary! I guess I'm glad my to-read pile doesn't need to make room for them.
Ed wrote: "I found this wonderful set of 4 book reviews by Adam Roberts"Yes, these are nice. Stanisław Lem had two books of reviews of imaginary books in the 70s, which are also good
Mod
RJ wrote: "I started reading
Crux by Ramez Naam"
How is it? After reading the first one I didn't feel like reading the rest. But I really enjoyed the Nexus. It justs didn't feel like the story needed more.
Marc-André wrote: "Crux by Ramez Naam"
How is it?."
I've read the whole trilogy and I liked it. If I remember correctly (series often blur is a single plotline) there are more runs, shootings etc
Marc-André wrote: "RJ wrote: "I started readingCrux by Ramez Naam"
How is it? After reading the first one I didn't feel like reading the rest. But I really..."
It's good so far. It's a quick fun read - I get the feeling I could lay on the couch and finish all 600 pages in a day if I put my mind to it and ignored everything else I need to do. Naam focuses on all the interesting possibilities and dilemmas that spring from the technological advances he imagines, and the plot springs from that, just like in the first book. Some characters return and there are some new ones also.
The Games by Ted Kosmatka (2012) was a great change of pace. I haven't read a SF medical-thriller like this in a long time. Gene editing for Olympic pit fights with a lot of money & prestige hanging in the balance. I gave it a 4 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm reading
Recursion by Blake CrouchMemory makes reality.
That’s what New York City cop Barry Sutton is learning as he investigates the devastating phenomenon the media has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious affliction that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived.
That's what neuroscientist Helena Smith believes. It’s why she’s dedicated her life to creating a technology that will let us preserve our most precious memories. If she succeeds, anyone will be able to re-experience a first kiss, the birth of a child, the final moment with a dying parent.
As Barry searches for the truth, he comes face-to-face with an opponent more terrifying than any disease—a force that attacks not just our minds but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects begin to unmake the world as we know it, only he and Helena, working together, will stand a chance at defeating it.
But how can they make a stand when reality itself is shifting and crumbling all around them?
I really, really, liked Recursion. Right now, I am reading We Are Legion with you guys, and what a hoot! I can't figure out where the discussion is, so I will just say that here.
Kateblue wrote: "I really, really, liked Recursion. Right now, I am reading We Are Legion with you guys, and what a hoot! I can't figure out where the discussion is, so I will just s..."It's here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Please join in! I think it's a hoot, too. I really like Bob.
Thanks for the link. I looked all up and down the list of topics and didn't find it.
I finished
Crux by Ramez Naam
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Twelve edited by Jonathan Strahan
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading:
For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor
I finished reading
For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor
Rating: 2 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I guess I just don't love this series. I'll read the third one to finish it off, eventually.
I just finished Panacea by F. Paul Wilson. While it's the first of a trilogy, this book ended well. I'm not sure if I'll read the other books, so I'm looking for recommendations. Are the other books worth it or do they go downhill?Anyway, I gave this one a 4 star review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm reading Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey, a book that I'm not sure would interest most of you. It is a second Urban Fantasy in a group of three about a young woman half-demon who helps the police in her small Michigan town with paranormal problems caused by the attraction of fae, etc, to the town because the Norse goddess Hel has relocated there from Scandinavia. I just finished Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore, which was hysterical and very satisfying. I always love this guy's writing and say I am going to read more of his, and then I don't. I think this time I will keep on with his stuff. I might even buy some instead of borrowing from the library because I think that I should reward authors who really make me happy.
Next up? The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Are you ready, Allan?
Actually, I shouldn't say "next up" because I just got the latest John Sandford, Bloody Genius, from the library and I always try to gobble best sellers and return them because I know there are 100 people in line after me. So I will be reading that for the next couple days.
Mod
All of those sound interesting. Alas, too little time.... I'm still battling with 20,000 Lists of Fish. I will not let it defeat me!
I started Children of Ruin. Looking forward to dive in to this follow up of the magnificent Children of Time.
Leo wrote: "Looking forward to dive in to this follow up of the magnificent Children of Time."Opinions differ sharply on the value of "Children of Time." I didn't like it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...#
1.5 stars, for me (at best).
Peter wrote: Opinions differ sharply on the value of "Children of Time." I didn't like it: https:/..."That's fine of course. Allthough 83% 4 and 5 star ratings seems to me to prove the opposite.
Definitely of the 5-star range here! "Children of Time" is for me in the top 3 best SF I've read in years.
Gabi wrote: "Definitely of the 5-star range here! "Children of Time" is for me in the top 3 best SF I've read in years."For me as well! While I agree that there is nothing groundbreaking in terms of ideas, the resulting melange is wonderful
Gabi wrote: "Definitely of the 5-star range here! "Children of Time" is for me in the top 3 best SF I've read in years."Oleksandr wrote: "For me as well! While I agree that there is nothing groundbreaking in terms..."
I'll hop on this bandwagon. I found the book through this group and adored it. Since then I have read Deepness in the Sky and recognise a lot of the context in which Children of Time was based, but it hasn't dimmed my appreciation of it. If anything I think Tchaikovsky does a better job of allowing the reader to relate to an alien psychology/culture.
Mod
A month or two back I read Longer by Michael Blumlein. The central issue in the book is whether a character would accept a medical treatment for rejuvenation or would allow himself to die a natural death. I liked it a lot. Today I learned that Blumlein died soon after that was published. That makes me re-evaluate it a bit. I wonder whether there was anything personal in it. Did he face a similar choice?
Just started The Road. Its style is way too lyrical for my taste. Currently struggling. I 've heard it's pretty grim so I 'm nervous for that as well.
Kateblue wrote: "The Road is grim but I could not stop."The Road is grim but the prose is poetry in motion...
Gregg wrote: "Kateblue wrote: "The Road is grim but I could not stop."The Road is grim but the prose is poetry in motion..."
Agree completely. Amazing book.
Gunpowder Moon by David Pedreira was really good. HE3 mining on the moon in the midst of a tense political situation. Great characters & an especially appropriate narrator made it a real pleasure. I gave it a 4 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clark was a disappointment. I gave it a 2 star review here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recently finished the two books in the Upon This Rock series by David Marusek. First Contact
Frustratingly little known.
Great writing, original, outrageous, funny, My husband turned me on to them and we had a great time discussing them.
Highly recommended.
I finished: 
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And I started reading:
Apex by Ramez Naam
I’m reading pines by Blake crouch and really enjoying it.
Really like Crouch. He's still warming up as an author, I think. after you read the three, try dark matter (but you can stop Pines at any time. All of the books have an OK ending.)
I tried dark matter and found the opening off putting. I’ll give it another go.
I started Dark Matter once before I got going. I did not like the beginning either. I had forgotten.
😂 good to know I am not alone on that one!
I liked "Pines", but stopped after the first one. It made its point & I couldn't see where continuing the story would help. I liked "Dark Matter", too.
Ji - really? There’s lot of intrigue left with pines
Atl wrote: "Ji - really? There’s lot of intrigue left with pines"I can see that, but it was good & complete enough on its own. I very much doubt I'll like it more if I continue reading & may well like it less. For instance, I really liked Red Rising & wish I'd stopped with it. I read at least 2 further books & they weren't up to the bar it had set. I read just Leviathan Wakes, first of the Expanse series, & was quite content. From what I've seen of the TV show & heard from others, continuing to read the series wouldn't have made me very happy.
Imho the "Pines" books go downhill with each volume ...
Mod
I've also become addicted to online videos of people traveling to various places I'll probably never go myself. (Yemen, Mauritania, Afghanistan, etc.) I've never understood the popularity of "Around the World in 80 Days", but I guess it works for some people the way these travel videos work for me. Seeing someone have adventures that are more fun for me to see someone else have than they would be for me do to myself. (I'm spoiled. I need air conditioning, clean clothes, showers, nice bed, ....)
Pines and leviathan wakes. Well I do like adventures, but since I’m the working poor, those aren’t an option. I’ll try red riding next.
The Evolution of Science Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
Judas Unchained (other topics)Pandora's Star (other topics)
Troublemakers: Stories by Harlan Ellison (other topics)
Dark Matter (other topics)
Dark Matter (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Peter F. Hamilton (other topics)Blake Crouch (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Blake Crouch (other topics)
Blake Crouch (other topics)
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I get what you mean about his style, but I thought that it was OK. He's not SF, really. He's one of those "literary" guys. The book just pulled me in and, even though I didn't really like it (I am sick of apocalyptic books), I could not stop reading it.
Right now I am reading the Murderbot series and I just finished Recursion, which was not as great as Dark Matter, but was still excellent. Plus, some fantasy.