Any suggested reads for a noob?

[Tommy]

I'm not 100% sure I have really read a "Scifi Romance". I'm open to it though. Anyone have any books they would suggest to someone with an interest in the genre?

[Jan]

Mmmm. I'm guessing you're coming from the Sci-fi angle, so probably sci-fi with romantic elements will be most up to your alley. In that category I'd recommend the Scarabaeus books by Sara Creasy.

In the true SFR category I'd recommend anything by Linnea Sinclair, though Games of Command is my personal favorite. Recently I also enjoyed Beyond the Rain by Jess Granger, but that's a bit on the more steamy side.

[Pauline]

Oh yeah, Linnea Sinclair is great. I also liked DarkShip Thieves which is kind of urban fantasy-ish, but also SFR. I've been working my way through the 100 must read books from The Galaxy Express blog list. But I tend to gravitate toward space opera I find (prob because that's what I write. LOL!) Anyway, you can have a grand adventure here in SFR! :-)

[AnnaM]

If you're coming to SFR from SF you might like (in addition to the above suggestions):

Shards of Honor/Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
The Outback Stars by Sandra McDonald
Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro
Song of Scarabeaus by Sara Creasy
Or even Taking Liberty by Jodi Redford (had a Firefly vibe to me.)

They're are more SF than R.

If you're coming from Romance:

Contact Susan Grant
Body Electric by Susan SQUIRES--I goofed on the author!
Anything by Linnea Sinclair
Taking Liberty by Jodi Redford

[AnnaM]

Outback Stars was one of those series that made me miss many hours of sleep because I didn't want to put it down, and it's one I keep thinking about. I suspect it was partially because I was a Supply Sgt too, just like Myell. LOL. But the worldbuilding and characters are terrific, unique, and memorable.

***One caveat for for those who've never read the series, if you love book one, be sure to have **BOTH** books 2 & 3 on hand before finishing book 2. Trust me. Do it.

Why? Because immediately after 2 you need to read the beginning of 3 or you may get ticked off about the series or bummed. I cried. But good things come after. Really they do. Don't stop at the end of 2. Book 3 makes it all worth it and it's a terrific story. 2 may make some readers wonder about that, but it's all good by the end of the series.

Seriously.

When I finished 2 I cried and then had to wait a couple of months for 3 to come out. If I'd have been warned I would have waited to finish 2 until I had 3 to immediately start.

[new_user]

I will second Song of Scarabaeus and Shards of Honour, maybe Peacekeeper too. I didn't see any romance in Peacekeeper, but someone listed this book as a SFR in a blog, so I'm thinking the next books may have shades of. I believe the Lost Fleet books and Old Man's War also have a hint of it.

[AnnaM]

@Pia: I haven't read many of the SW novelizations either, but from what I understand at least one series picks up right after Revenge of the Jedi and continues on through the years, building on the other books, despite different authors. I don't know which one, though. Wikipedia might say.



@Nu: Old Man's War (book 1, small parts of 2) has a lot more Romance than Lost Fleet, but then the LF books read like one novel with the hints of romance coming together at the end. Don't know what the new book will be like since I won't pay $12 for an ebook. LOL!

I'm currently reading OMW #3, The Last Colony, and it's not romantic, though the relationship is sweet and established. In fact the thing I didn't like about the transition from 2 to 3 was that Mr. Scalzi skipped the biggest possible romantic scene for the whole series so far. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the series but it's not very Romancy. Definitely more of an RSF.

[Tommy]

Wow thanks guys haha. I will have to check these out.

*NOTE: While it is safe to assume I am more likely to like scifi with romance, feel free to throw it all my way as long as it is good. The way some of you up there are separating it into lists heavier on scifi and heavier on romance is great though.

Keep em coming, there's at least 2 other people than me using this thread for recommendations haha.

[AnnaM]

Tommy, the SFR challenge thread is a good place for recs too. Many of us took up the challenge this year.

[new_user]

AnnaM wrote: "I'm currently reading OMW #3, The Last Colony, and it's not romantic, though the relationship is sweet and established. In fact the thing I didn't like about the transition from 2 to 3 was that Mr. Scalzi skipped the biggest possible romantic scene for the whole series so far. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the series but it's not very Romancy. Definitely more of an RSF. "

Aw, really? Nuts. I hate it when that happens. Why wouldn't whatever relationships the hero/heroine develops be as interesting as the action? Are they supposed to be inhuman machines? Anti-social? Hermits? LOL.

[AnnaM]

I know what you mean, Nu. I was really hoping he's show the reunion. But no. It's a couple of years in the future and closer to the Big Picture action. Makes sense I guess from a writing standpoint. That scene should have been at the end of book 2.

Maybe we can all email me Mr. Scalzi and request it as a short story. Course, he'd have to come up with some external plot. LOL.

[Pauline]

I don't think you have to read the Star Wars novelizations in order, but I highly recommend the Timothy Zahn ones. There were three in a row, then two more. LOVED them. Trying to remember the names, my son has the books. Heir to the Empire was one, I think.

Timothy Zahn

[Jadetyger]

Pauline--The Zahn books were: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. He did a follow up, Vision of the Future. I don't remember if there was a fourth book. I stopped reading them shortly after that--the Extended Universe just got too overwhelming for me.

[Pauline]

Yeah, I liked the first three the best.