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Recommend me Sci-Fi book (easy read)

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Captin ShadowHawk Caldari	Posted - 2007.11.26 23:46:00 - [1] Hi going away on holiday for xmas to visit family but have a long flight ahead of me. Can you recommend me an 'easy reading' Sci-Fi book nothing to epic with complex plots spanning five books :) my simple brain would not handle it.
Sereifex Daku Gemini Sun Knights Of the Southerncross	Posted - 2007.11.26 23:50:00 - [2] Nova by Sam Delany is good.
Derovius Vaden	Posted - 2007.11.27 00:04:00 - [3] Reading is for suckers, you have the internet son.
Micia Minmatar N.A.S.A. Skunk-Works	Posted - 2007.11.27 00:21:00 - [4] Pick up Harry Harrison's "The Stainless Steel Rat". Light & entertaining. If you like that, the sequels & prequels are pretty good, too. Also, by same author, "Bill, the Galactic Hero". Funny & extremely satirical. (The sequels to this classic are pure horse-puckey, though)
SoftRevolution	Posted - 2007.11.27 00:48:00 - [5] Nova is good. Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks is kickass nearly-space opera. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson is a page turner. EVE RELATED CONTENT
Sister Impotentata Caldari State War Academy	Posted - 2007.11.27 00:51:00 - [6] Rendezvous with Rama is an easily digestible classic. It comes in short chapters, and doesn't ask too much of the reader at any one time. But by the time the book is over, you'll have experienced one of the best examples of Sense of Wonder crafting, ever, in all of Sci Fi. Also it'll leave you pining for the implied sequels. Which, should you care to read them, are complete and utter fail. This book is worth reading with its sequels as an example of how "classically perfect" sci-fi can go so horribly wrong. ----- TANSTAAFL Originally by: Psycho John Petrucci If there's any point where you feel it's too difficult, then just stop. Because you just, you don't have it, you're just not good.
Patch86 Di-Tron Heavy Industries Atlas Alliance	Posted - 2007.11.27 00:52:00 - [7] I didn't enjoy Consider Phlebas as much as I might, but the rest of Iain M Banks' Culture novels are all better than excellent. All of them are well worth a look for some decent sci-fi readage. ------ Originally by: CCP Prism X There's no such thing as playing too much EvE! You all obviously need more accounts!
Deety VSP Corp. R0ADKILL	Posted - 2007.11.27 00:59:00 - [8] Originally by: Sister Impotentata Rendezvous with Rama is an easily digestible classic. It comes in short chapters, and doesn't ask too much of the reader at any one time. But by the time the book is over, you'll have experienced one of the best examples of Sense of Wonder crafting, ever, in all of Sci Fi. Also it'll leave you pining for the implied sequels. Which, should you care to read them, are complete and utter fail. This book is worth reading with its sequels as an example of how "classically perfect" sci-fi can go so horribly wrong. Oh come now. With a sig like TANSTAAFL you ought to have recommended a Heinlein book ;) Well, if you won't then I will. Anything by Robert A. Heinlein will do, but starting out I'd recommend the following: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Stranger in a Strange Land Starship Troopers (the movie was a clusterf*k, don't let it dissuade you from the book) Time Enough for Love* ______
Imperator Jora'h	Posted - 2007.11.27 01:09:00 - [9] Hyperion by Dan Simmons is fantastic. While it does extend to two more books the first could be a standalone and you only need to continue if you really like the story. Better the book takes the form of several short(ish) stories albeit all related and interwoven into a larger, overarching story. I'd also recommend The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton although it is part of a series and not really standalone. Nevertheless a great vacation book (also Pandora's Star by the same author but also not a standalone book). For a classic try The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. A collection of unrelated short stories.
Sister Impotentata Caldari State War Academy	Posted - 2007.11.27 01:36:00 - [10] Originally by: Deety Oh come now. With a sig like TANSTAAFL you ought to have recommended a Heinlein book ;) Well, if you won't then I will. Anything by Robert A. Heinlein will do, but starting out I'd recommend the following: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is just too much awesome for the uninitiated. I use it to occasional success with people completely unaccustomed to sci-fi. But for someone who wants a quick hit of sci-fi, it might not suit. Similarly, Starship Troopers is excellent, but it has for many people the preconceived notions that go along with the horrid hollywood treatment. ST needs to be considered among friends with a good snort of brandy and some cigars. And thank god we can pretend we don't really live in a world like that. For light holiday Heinlein I'd recommend The Cat Who Walks Through Walls. Classic Heinlein banter, classic Heinlein settings, and Panthiestic Solipsism fully realised. Originally by: Imperator Jora'h Hyperion by Dan Simmons is fantastic. While it does extend to two more books the first could be a standalone and you only need to continue if you really like the story. Better the book takes the form of several short(ish) stories albeit all related and interwoven into a larger, overarching story. The Hyperion saga is indeed super excellent, especially the last two. However I'd wager the first book is a bit demanding for a "light holiday read." I wouldn't reread the first novel unless I was planning a determined attack upon the whole series. I've reread the second two a half dozen times. ----- TANSTAAFL Originally by: Psycho John Petrucci If there's any point where you feel it's too difficult, then just stop. Because you just, you don't have it, you're just not good.
Imperator Jora'h	Posted - 2007.11.27 02:17:00 - [11] Originally by: Sister Impotentata The Hyperion saga is indeed super excellent, especially the last two. However I'd wager the first book is a bit demanding for a "light holiday read." I wouldn't reread the first novel unless I was planning a determined attack upon the whole series. I've reread the second two a half dozen times. I preferred the first one over the second two but loved the series. I just found the Canterbury Tales style of the first one fresh especially for sci-fi. And while I would not call it "light" reading who cares if the book is excellent? Some books you kind of feel like you are trudging through but when it is a great book, light or not, that is not an issue.
SoftRevolution	Posted - 2007.11.27 02:43:00 - [12] Ooh! What about short stories? Bite sized and requiring you to remember nothing from chapter to chapter. Phillip K ** wrote some awesome ones. EVE RELATED CONTENT**
Drakesh Caldari CAD Inc. Executive Outcomes	Posted - 2007.11.27 05:08:00 - [13] Try the Forever War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever_War) by Joe Haldeman. Its fairly short and you can buy the whole collection of 3 in one book ("Peace") now - here Although its 3 books in one, the 3rd is not related to the 1st two, and the second is not exactly required as the 1st ends quite nicely... I read them recently and was shocked how good they are. For something a bit 'deeper', try Peter F. Hamilton's "The Night's Dawn Trilogy" as someone mentioned above, or his Pandora's Star pair - both are excellent (but quite long) =============================================
Mary Makepeace Caldari Neh'bu Kau Beh'Hude Ushra'Khan	Posted - 2007.11.27 09:22:00 - [14] if you want simple the you can't go past the Harry Harrison books. Great examples of pace in a sort story, good plot hooks and an excellent sense of humor. The Stainless Steel Rat books are great. Early Heinlein is similar, short, well paced and interesting. A more recent easy to read series is the Honor Harrington series by David Weber, well paced and very exciting climax, not hugely challenging on the brain. Legally downloadable from Bean books free library Iain M. Banks is great but there is usually some brain work involved. Peter F. Hamilton has a fair bit of narrative and can also get your brain to work, at least some of the time. Originally by: Sister Impotentata Originally by: Imperator Jora'h Hyperion by Dan Simmons is fantastic. While it does extend to two more books the first could be a standalone and you only need to continue if you really like the story. Better the book takes the form of several short(ish) stories albeit all related and interwoven into a larger, overarching story. The Hyperion saga is indeed super excellent, especially the last two. However I'd wager the first book is a bit demanding for a "light holiday read." I wouldn't reread the first novel unless I was planning a determined attack upon the whole series. I've reread the second two a half dozen times. I found Simmons very heavy on the narrative, not my kind of thing. Cryptonomicon by Niel Stevenson is so far from light reading that it is in orbit around Pluto. Snow Crash however is much lighter and hilarious as well as getting the brain to work a bit.
Rodj Blake Amarr PIE Inc.	Posted - 2007.11.27 09:29:00 - [15] The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Dulce et decorum est pro imperium mori.
Broska coracao ardente Triumvirate.	Posted - 2007.11.27 09:29:00 - [16] Dune - Frank Herbert Enders Game - Orson Scott Card Hidden Empire - Kevin J Anderson. << epic though. But still awsome.
Abraham Azadian Sharks With Frickin' Laser Beams Mercenary Coalition	Posted - 2007.11.27 10:34:00 - [17] Strata The dark side of the sun - Terry pratchett's sci-fi novels Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by an 'orrible **... me!
ry ry StateCorp	Posted - 2007.11.27 10:36:00 - [18] Originally by: Derovius Vaden Reading is for suckers, you have the internet son. TLDR Please resize image to a maximum of 400 x 120, not exceeding 24000 bytes, ty. If you would like further details please mail [email protected] - Cortes
Miss Anthropy School of Applied Knowledge	Posted - 2007.11.27 10:49:00 - [19] Get anything by Philip K ***. His books are usually short (between 200-300 pages) and are full of brilliance. I recommend any of these; The Man In The High Castle* The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch A Scanner Darkly Clans Of The Alphane Moon We Can Build You Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? Martian Time-Slip Ubik Time Out Of Joint Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said Valis These are the most widely read of his books (and his best). I may have missed one or two though. As a cautionary note, I wouldn't read Valis until you've read a few of his other books. Valis was written after PKD had a mental breakdown (which becomes pretty apparent from the novel's content); ergo, Valis is definitely one of his more bizarre works. Hell is other people's ringtones.
ry ry StateCorp	Posted - 2007.11.27 10:51:00 - [20] Edited by: ry ry on 27/11/2007 10:57:41 Originally by: Broska Dune - Frank Herbert dune is one of my favorite books, but it's anything but easy reading. same goes for people suggesting Banks and stuff - the culture novels require your full attention and have vast tracts of detailed descriptive prose and historical reference that has no real baring on the story. similarly, short books != easy reading. Kurt Vonnegut's books are all fairly brief but similarly demanding of the reader. for easy reading sci-fi, try something like starship troopers. Please resize image to a maximum of 400 x 120, not exceeding 24000 bytes, ty. If you would like further details please mail [email protected] - Cortes
Suze'Rain Caldari	Posted - 2007.11.27 13:57:00 - [21] "Accellerando" or "The Atrocity Archives" by Charlie Stross. good books, both quite hard scifi, but well written, and easily read.
Avon Caldari Black Nova Corp Band of Brothers	Posted - 2007.11.27 14:38:00 - [22] Originally by: Rodj Blake The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy ^ This Eve-Online: The Text Adventure
Mary Makepeace Caldari Neh'bu Kau Beh'Hude Ushra'Khan	Posted - 2007.11.27 14:51:00 - [23] Originally by: Suze'Rain "Accellerando" or "The Atrocity Archives" by Charlie Stross. good books, both quite hard scifi, but well written, and easily read. you found Accelarando easy to read? I thought it was one of the most challenging modern hard scifi books out there, I mean the main character had their intellect spread into a distributed network of pigeons let alone the future shocked beginning where information and ideas are thrown at the reader at an astounding rate. Although, he Atrocity archives was plenty fun.
Imperator Jora'h	Posted - 2007.11.27 15:11:00 - [24] Originally by: Avon Originally by: Rodj Blake The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy ^ This Yeah...honestly for the OP I have to third this one. Can't go wrong at all with The Guide. Loads of fun, laugh your ass off.
Mary Makepeace Caldari Neh'bu Kau Beh'Hude Ushra'Khan	Posted - 2007.11.27 15:41:00 - [25] Originally by: Imperator Jora'h Originally by: Avon Originally by: Rodj Blake The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy ^ This Yeah...honestly for the OP I have to third this one. Can't go wrong at all with The Guide. Loads of fun, laugh your ass off. me too, it's mostly harmless
Harm Gently Naughty 40 Triumvirate.	Posted - 2007.11.27 17:14:00 - [26] I'd take Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
Raoul Endymion Gallente x13	Posted - 2007.11.27 17:29:00 - [27] Hyperion by Dan Simmons The Foundation by Isaac Asimov Dune by Frank Herbert Ringworld by Lary Niven a few of my favorites.. not actually 'easy read', but i dont really think that there's alot of good 'easy read' sci-fi out there.. /raoul x13 Website ~ x13 Killboard ~ x13 Recruitment
Patch86 Di-Tron Heavy Industries Atlas Alliance	Posted - 2007.11.27 17:33:00 - [28] Originally by: ry ry Edited by: ry ry on 27/11/2007 11:02:48 Originally by: Broska Dune - Frank Herbert dune is one of my favorite books, but it's anything but easy reading. same goes for people suggesting Banks and stuff - the culture novels require your full attention and have vast tracts of detailed descriptive prose and historical reference that has no real baring on the story. Similarly the peter f hamilton books recommended were all part of epic galaxy-spanning phonebook sized volumes. and short books != easy reading. Kurt Vonnegut's books are all fairly brief but similarly demanding of the reader. more importantly, since when have PKD books made much sense in the first place? for easy reading sci-fi, try something like Robert A. Heinlein's starship troopers. edit: somebody already mentioned it! well done that man. I agree about Dune and PKD being some tricky reads (excellent stuff though- PKD is probably one of my favourite authors, and Dune is an epic), but I don't agree about Banks. In my opinion they're fairly simple to just pick up and read. They're detailed, well thought out and beautifully written, but that doesn't make them particularly challenging. Beautifully written doesn't automatically = difficult read (despite what anyone who's ever attempted to read a Booker Prize winner might be forgiven for thinking). ------ Originally by: CCP Prism X There's no such thing as playing too much EvE! You all obviously need more accounts!
Hydraxian Gallente Infinitus Odium The Church.	Posted - 2007.11.27 18:31:00 - [29] Although not small.. or light at all... Peter F. Hamilton's Pandora's Star and Judas Unchanged are epic books.... really, really recomend them
Xanos Blackpaw Amarr The Firestorm Elite	Posted - 2007.11.27 18:44:00 - [30] empire from the ashes by david weber Playing minmatar is "like going down a flight of stairs in a office chair firing an Uzi".

CCP Whisper	Posted - 2007.11.27 23:00:00 - [31] The Stainless Steel Rat series is indeed good, vintage Sci-Fi that is easy to read and very entertaining. I would also recommend any of Isaac Asimov's short story collections. Dune is easily my favourite sci-fi novel of all time, but may be a bit too epic for one flight. You might want to consider some of the following: - Old Man's War by John Scalzi - Singularity Sky by Charles Stross - The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle - Neuromancer by William Gibson - Vurt by Jeff Noon - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Gateway by Frederik Pohl

Voltron Fury	Posted - 2007.11.28 19:58:00 - [32] Larry Niven . Ring World, Foot Fall & The Man-Kzin Wars
Anwylyd Al'Vos Minmatar LightSpeed Industries	Posted - 2007.11.28 20:25:00 - [33] While not technically sci-fi... I'd recommend: Gunslinger - Stephen King (while it is the first of 7 books in the dark tower, easily read by itself, and devourable if you are not careful) Back to sci-fi: The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy is always epic win. _ . - Justice, Mercy, and Faith My soul has horizons further away than those of early mornings, deeper darkness than the night
Khanivore The Kingsmen	Posted - 2007.11.28 20:50:00 - [34] anything by Neal Asher Grindlinked, Line of Polity, Brass Man, Polity Agent... all great books
Glassback Body Count Inc. Mercenary Coalition	Posted - 2007.11.28 21:42:00 - [35] Originally by: Imperator Jora'h Originally by: Avon Originally by: Rodj Blake The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy ^ This Yeah...honestly for the OP I have to third this one. Can't go wrong at all with The Guide. Loads of fun, laugh your ass off. Been racking my brains, yet the answer is clear.^^ (Excessions is imho the easiest Iain M Banks book to read with lots of shooty shooty) G. BH Kharnubis > Need more people against the MC meanies
LUH 3471	Posted - 2007.11.28 22:23:00 - [36] Edited by: LUH 3471 on 28/11/2007 22:24:58 Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy
Miss Anthropy School of Applied Knowledge	Posted - 2007.11.28 22:25:00 - [37] Originally by: LUH 3471 Nightsdawn Trilogy That's hardly light reading though isn't it? Each book is over 1000 pages. Hell is other people's ringtones.
LUH 3471	Posted - 2007.11.28 22:26:00 - [38] Edited by: LUH 3471 on 28/11/2007 22:27:51 it is an awesome light cost story which reads very fast
ry ry StateCorp Veritas Immortalis	Posted - 2007.11.28 23:15:00 - [39] the problem is, the story is very much on-going. some low-hanging plot threads may be tied up at the end of each book, but the three books are clearly the beginning, middle and end of the story proper. besides he's either be skim reading, or on a really long flight to finish any of them in a single sitting. genuinely awesome books (which i'd recommend you read in order some time OP!) but probably not what he's loking for here. Please resize image to a maximum of 400 x 120, not exceeding 24000 bytes, ty. If you would like further details please mail [email protected] - Cortes
Ademaro Imre Caldari Eye of God	Posted - 2007.11.28 23:47:00 - [40] Edited by: Ademaro Imre on 28/11/2007 23:49:16 Originally by: Sister Impotentata Similarly, Starship Troopers is excellent, but it has for many people the preconceived notions that go along with the horrid hollywood treatment. ST needs to be considered among friends with a good snort of brandy and some cigars. And thank god we can pretend we don't really live in a world like that. Starship Troops by Heinlein is a good sci-fi book to read, by a well-known sci fi writer. The story is told in first person by a soldier at a war's end or before a new one starts. Goes through his boot camp training, and war exploits. Nothing like the movies. The only similarity is that Buenos Aires gets blown up, and humans are fighting bugs, and some similar names. Its like Rogue Warrior goes to space, but without any cursing, s the Heinlein book was meant for all ages. Read page exerpts; Linkage
Sister Impotentata Caldari Elite Angels Of Death	Posted - 2007.11.29 00:12:00 - [41] The best way to describe Starship Troopers? Full Metal Jacket on awesome. Kubrick had to have been influenced by ST when he was screenwriting FMJ. Ringworld is a super-ultra-mega classic of Sci-Fi. Easy to learn, a lifetime to master. Similar to Dune but for different reasons. Niven has a masterful imagination, but poor poor writing discipline. You really have to work to get the full sense of wonder out of it. The words are easy enough to read, but he doesn't make it come alive on the page. It's more like a story outline, and then you go smoke a fattie and figure it out for yourself. I'd really like to be involved in a re-write of Ringworld. I could make it better. I bet my stuff on it. Dune. Oh sweet Dune. Frank Herbert goes against everything I learned about creative writing. I had drilled into me "Show don't Tell". I write like Stienbeck (or so I flatter myself). Herbert writes like Herbert. A sentence in three verbs. It works wonderfully, but not the way I was taught. Another writer who uses such technique to similar effect is Gibson. Idoru is a cultural explosion in an easy eight-hour read. Iron Chef meets Dog the Bounty Hunter. ----- TANSTAAFL Originally by: Psycho John Petrucci If there's any point where you feel it's too difficult, then just stop. Because you just, you don't have it, you're just not good.
Suze'Rain Caldari	Posted - 2007.11.29 00:54:00 - [42] Originally by: Mary Makepeace you found Accelarando easy to read? I thought it was one of the most challenging modern hard scifi books out there, I mean the main character had their intellect spread into a distributed network of pigeons let alone the future shocked beginning where information and ideas are thrown at the reader at an astounding rate. Although, he Atrocity archives was plenty fun. Mentioned your comment to Stross in the pub earlier this evening, to much bemusement... even though it's never safe to feed the ego. Hugo-award winning writer he may be, but to their cats, he's just a particularly convenient food-ape :) and, yes, it's hard sci-fi, and fries the brain, but it's easy to read and flows well enough that it's easy reading. Then again, I like stuff that makes my brain go "plink"... like the KGB Lobsters, or the pigeons later on... :)
Avery Fatwallet	Posted - 2007.11.29 00:58:00 - [43] SNOWCRASH ffs
Mary Makepeace Caldari Neh'bu Kau Beh'Hude Ushra'Khan	Posted - 2007.11.29 07:20:00 - [44] Originally by: Suze'Rain Originally by: Mary Makepeace you found Accelarando easy to read? I thought it was one of the most challenging modern hard scifi books out there, I mean the main character had their intellect spread into a distributed network of pigeons let alone the future shocked beginning where information and ideas are thrown at the reader at an astounding rate. Although, he Atrocity archives was plenty fun. Mentioned your comment to Stross in the pub earlier this evening, to much bemusement... even though it's never safe to feed the ego. Hugo-award winning writer he may be, but to their cats, he's just a particularly convenient food-ape :) and, yes, it's hard sci-fi, and fries the brain, but it's easy to read and flows well enough that it's easy reading. Then again, I like stuff that makes my brain go "plink"... like the KGB Lobsters, or the pigeons later on... :) The pace is good, i still didn't find it an easy read as the idea a miniut begining made me stare off into space a lot to absorb the concept. I also loved the impact this had reinforcing the "future shock" theme. Elegant writing. So which pub was this and can i come over and worship? or just come by a pet his cats, i don't have one atm as i am living in a flat in switzerland and i miss them terribly. I feel the shift in Accelarando as hard scifi represents a modification of the genre, hard scifi is all about the tech, rockets, surviving in zero g etc, Stross is moving it towards information theory. I also really like the glasshouse. I love the idea of a post scarcity economy. for more brain go plink, try Jeff Noon's Vurt (sureal) and Greg Egan's Diaspora (hard scifi more information theory) oh well, off to the lab to recearch self replicating nanotechnology
Chainsaw Plankton IDLE GUNS	Posted - 2007.11.29 07:55:00 - [45] Originally by: Broska Enders Game - Orson Scott Card this!!! (okay so there might be some other books in a series, but the plot stands alone)
Lord Viathan Caldari State War Academy	Posted - 2007.11.29 22:38:00 - [46] For a heavy read I like Dune but nice light scifi is Starship Troopers which is a phenominal book and Battlefield Earth which is an awesome book that spawned a horrible movie. ------------------------------------------------ Only When you forget you are human, will you remember; You are a god. WWMD - What Would Mal Do?

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