by Isac Asimov
A classic series of short stories of the Foundation. A center of knowledge to prevent thousands of years of barbarism is created by the psychohistorian and mathmatician Hari Seldon.
A must read.
Highly recommended.
by Isac Asimov
The second book in the original Foundation trilogy.
The First Galactic Empire is crumbling as predicted by Hari Seldon and the Traders are ruling Terminus threatening the Foundation.
Highly recommended.
by Isac Asimov
The third book of the original Foundation trilogy.
Is there a second foundation? Where is it and why?
The Foundation trilogy won a Hugo Award in 1965 for "Best All-Time Series".
Highly recommended.
by Isac Asimov
498 years has passed since the creation of the Foundation and the second Foundation and everything is going according to Hari Seldon's plan - or is it?
Years after writing the original Foundation trilogy Asimov wrote the folowing sequels. Some scoff at the idea but if you loved the original trilogy you will love the new series.
Highly recommended.
by Isac Asimov
The First Foundation is searching for Earth with the telepathic robots of the planet Gaia.
Foundation and Earth has links to Asimov's Robot stories.
Not the best of the Foundation stories but still recommended. Great ending.
by Isac Asimov
Having read the rest of the Foundation you most likely will have a fascination with Hari Seldon - the creator of the two Foundation and the protagonist of the Foundation stories.
This is the story of the young Hari Seldon.
Highly recommended.
by Isac Asimov
Chronologically between Prelude to the Foundation and Foundation.
Cleon II rules Trantor while the Empire is descending into anarchy. Seldon is fighting to limit the chaos that will follow.
Asimov's last book before his death in 1992.
Highly recommended.
by Isaac Asimov
A collection of Asimov's robot short stories written between 1940 and 1976.
Some are ok, some are really good and a few - like for instance Segregationist - are brilliant. Some are a bit dated which at times is slightly funny (for instance calling the sciencetists slide rule geniuses).
A few short stories (Robot Dreams, Christmas Without Rodney, Cal, Kid Brother, and Mother Earth) are not included in The Complete Robot.
The Complete Robot does also not contain the robot novels (The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn, Robots and Empire, The Positronic Man (though based on the included short story The Bicentennial Man)).
Recommended.
by Isac Asimov & Robert Silverberg
Originally an Asimov short story expanded into a novel by Silverberg.
In a world orbiting a six sun solar system there is no night - exept every two millennia. Imagine a world populated by people who have never experienced darkness - imagine what happens when night falls.
Recommended.
by Isaac Asimov
Contains the short stories Profession, The Feeling of Power, The Dying Night, I'm in Marsport without Hilda, The Gentle Vultures, All the Troubles in the World, Spell My Name with an S, The last Question, and The Ugly Little Boy.
As always Asimov is original but I think never more so than in The Last Question where man continuesly ask the question "Can entropy be reversed?" to a series of more and more powerful computers during billions of years always getting the answer "THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER". When the computer finally had computed an answer "matter and energy had ended and with it space and time". At least read this brilliant short story for the answer.
The New York Harald Tribune wrote:
Excellent.
Recommended.
by Iain M. Banks
Jernau Morat Gurgeh is a master game player that is sent to the Empire of Azad to play the game of Azad.
The Idea, you see, is that Azad is so complex, so subtle, so flexible and so demanding that it iss as precise and comprehensive a model og life as it is possible to construct. Whoever succeeds at the game succeeds in life; the same qualities are required in each to ensure dominance.
An ok read.
by Orson Scott Card
Aliens have attacted earth and almost defeated the human race during two invasion attempts. This is the story of the third invasion. An invasion that will seal the fate of the human race.
But even more so it is the story of the gifted children that are trained in the art of war so that humans will once again be victorious.
An excellent book on strategy and what it is like to be different. So much more than just another Sci-Fi "shoot up the aliens" book.
Welcome to the human race. Nobody controls his own life, Ender. The best you can do is choose to fill the roles given to you by good people, by people who love you.
Winner of both the Hugo and the Nebula awards.
Highly recommended.
by Orson Scott Card
Volume two of the Ender saga.
3,000 years have passed since Ender defeated the Buggers. Ender is now a speaker for the dead and for the first time since the Buggers intelligent life have been found. Ender travels to the mystic world to speak for two dead xonologers killed by the strange piggies but also hoping to find the right world to resurrect the the hive queen - the last of the buggers.
“You were getting bored with your life, anyway, Ender.”
“Yes. But I am middle-aged now. I like being bored.”
The novel, however, is anything from boring.
Winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards.
Recommended.
by Scott Orson Card
The Hugo-nominated third volume of the Ender saga.
Ender is on Lusitania with the resurrected Buggers, the piggies and the deadliest virus you can imagine. The Starways Congress have ordered the destruction of the entire planet.
The novel is heavy on religion and and (pseudo-)philosophy leading Orson Scott Card to acknowledge Jim Frenkel, the editor who wisely turned down the first outline of this book ... back in 1978, telling me - correctly - that I was't ready yet to write such an ambitious novel.
I think, though, that Card should have waited another 20 years before trying. The novel contains a few interesting ideas but basically after 600 pages the situation is the same.
But after the two previous brilliant Ender novels I guess Card is allowed a slip up.
by Orson Scott Card
The fourth volume of the Ender saga.
Children of the Mind was not the complete let down that Xenocide was. Not because it is particulerly good - it is not - but because I did not expect too much.
Card brings the story to an end but not very interestingly. The enemy is defeated and everyone finds God and/or each other which in it self does not make an interesting story.
At least it is only 360 pages.
by Orson Scott Card
A parallel novel to Card's brilliant novel Ender's Game featurering Bean (Ender's lieutenant in Ender's Game).
The novel tells the story of Bean from an orphan on and of the streets to Battle School thereby telling another side of the story of Ender and the fight against the Buggers.
"Do you believe you might be in danger from Achilles?"means to be civilized? That you can wait to get what you want?"
"... He doesn't forgive. He pays back, always."
"You realize that this isn't the way Achilles seems to me, or to Hazie. Helga, that is. To us, he seems - civilized."
Bean looked at her like she was crazy. "Isn't that what it
Recommended.
by Orson Scott Card
Ender has been sent to the colonies and the play for power on earth begins. He who controls the genius children of the Battle School controls the outcome of the future wars.
The story of Bean, Petra and of how Peter Wiggin becomes the Hegemon.
"You have a talent for this, Bean."
"Deception is second nature to me."
A book on politics and the use of power.
Recommended.
by Arthur C. Clarke
In 2130 a space ship enters the solar system on its way somewhere else. Commander Norton and his crew are send to investigate.
Who or what built Rama?
A classic Arthur C. Clarke.
Recommended.
by Arthus C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
The second book in the Rama series.
In 2200 a second Raman space ship enters the solar system and a new expedition is send to answer the unanswered questions from the first Rama.
Rendezvous with Rama was brilliant and so you are stuck reading the rest of the series - because they are there. None of the later Rama books are quite up to the same standard.
by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
The third book in the Rama series.
Three astronauts are trapped in the huge cylindrical spacecraft leaving the solar system in a 12 year journey to the unknown.
Years later a new Rama returns to pick up more humans.
Recommended if you are already hooked on Rama.
by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee
The fourth and last of the Rama series.
A group of colonists are send with the second Rama under false pretext. For years they have to endure a brutal dictatorship as well as conflicts with the other alien races on Rama.
Rama Revealed is quite well written and interesting but the ending is a complete let down. I can hardly recommend it.
by Cory Doctorow
Alan is the son of mountain and a washing machine so naturally he has some family issues.
There is also a cyber anarchist plot that is quite ordinary.
The book is not even close to Doctorow's usual standard. The story never get interesting and it is at times in fact quite stupid.
There is an free online version.
Not recommneded.
by Cory Doctorow
Art Berry is a User Experience Consultant and a member of the Eastern Standard Tribe. Full of brilliant ideas one of which gets him railroaded by his girlfriend and his best friend.
I was too smart for my own good. I could always argue myself into doing the sexy, futuristic thing instead of being a nice, mundane, nonaffiliated individual. Too smart to settle down, take a job and watch TV after work, spend two weeks a year at the cottage and go online to find movie listings. Too smart is too restless and no happiness, ever, without that it's chased by obsessive maundering moping about what comes next.
Better than Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom but Doctorow should have taken a little more time finishing the story.
Eastern Standard Tribe is published under a Creative Commons license and there is a free online version.
An ok read.
by Cory Doctorow
In a world where permanent death have been eliminated and appearences are something that you order Jules has lived a hundred years. He is running Disney World fair and perhaps taking it a bit too seriously - but then again who would not take getting killed seriously.
The truth of the matter is, I’m a bright enough guy, but I’m hardly a genius. Especially when it comes to people. Probably comes from Beating The Crowd, never seeing individuals, just the mass – the enemy of expedience.
There is a free online version
Quite a few cool notions but not really enough to make the story that interesting.
by William Gibson
A fantastic book on virtual reality that still works today even though it was written in 1984.
You need to read this classic.
At least if you are into computers and SF.
Highly recommended
by William Gibson
The second book of the Neuromancer trilogy.
I found Count Zero long and boring. It is probably not that bad but it cannot even be compared to Neuromancer. Neuromancer was innovative and original which Count Zero is not.
I know people that speaks highly of it but I cannot recommend it.
by William Gobson
Reviewed under Other novels.
by Peter F. Hamilton
Part one of the Commenwealth saga.
A star vanishing behind a force sets of an investigation to find the cause and Pandora's box is opened.
Guardian wrote:
The best book Hamilton has written in years.
It is a page turner but the 1,150 pages could have been edited for even greater effect.
Recommended.
by Peter F. Hamilton
Part two of the Commenwealth saga.
The Prime have invaded the Commonwealth and they seem to be winning. But the Prime have underestimated the human's resourcefulness.
At times quite the page turner. It is, however, much too long with irrelevant sub plots. For instance it takes Hamilton 200 pages before the Primes appear in part two.
Recommended.
by Robert Heinlein
In 2100 the US is a religious dictatorship where John Lyle is an Angel of the Lord guarding the Profet. However, once he falls in love with one of the virgins that "serve" the Profet his fate is sealed.
An ok read.
by Frank Herbert
The tale of the desert planet Arrakis and Paul Atreides who becomes leader of the Fremen in his struggle against the empire fighting for control of a spice that is used for interstellar travels.
A fantastic book on power. This is not just a work of science fiction.
Winner of the Hugo and the Nebula Award.
Probably the best science fiction novel I have ever read. Highly recommended.
by Frank Herbert
The sequel to Dune.
Paul Atreides is now a ruler of 1.000 planets and messiah to the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.
While it cannot be compared to Dune I still recommend it highly.
by Frank Herbert
The desert of is gone and Arrakis is now a green and fertile planet with no room for the gigantic sand worms that produce the spice.
The saga continues. If you loved Dune you will love The Children of Dune as well.
Highly recommended.
by Frank Herbert
Somewhat different that the previous Dune books.
3,000 years have passed and Leto is transforming into a sandworm feeling the despair of seeing the end.
I share your concern for Moneo, but no explanation of mine will help him now. Moneo is trapped. He has learned that it is difficult to live in the present, pointless to live in the future and impossible to live in the past.
Recommended.
by Frank Herbert
The fifth book in the Dune saga.
Set 1,500 years after the death of Leto II. The people of the scattering are returning and along them the threatening Honoured Matres. And Duncan Idaho is back.
Think of it as a plastic memory, this force within you which trends you and your fellows toward tribal forms. This plastic memory seeks to return to its ancient shape, the tribal society. It is all around you - the feudatory, the diocese, the corporation, the platoon, the sports club, the dance troupes, the rebel cell, the planning council, the prayer group... each with its master and servants, its host and parasites. And the swarms of alienating devices (including these very words!) tend eventually to be enlisted in the argument for a return to "those better times". I despair of teaching you other ways. You have square thoughts which resist circles.
Highly recommended.
by Frank Herbert
The Honoured Matres have destroyed Arrakis and only the Bene gesserit are offering some kind of resistance turning their home planet into a new Arrakis.
As all the Dune books Chapter House Dune transcends science fiction.
Highly recommended.
by Neal Stephenson and Frederick George
William A. Cozzano is the perfect presidential candidate. After a stroke he has had a biochip inserted into his brain and his is now wired to the poling system.
A story of the corruptible world of politics.
"We have to run her for something," Tricia Gordon said, staring fixedly at the TV screen.
"Excuse me," Aaron said, "but aren't you all forgetting something?"
"What's that?" Ogle said. They were all staring at him, suddenly quiet.
"We haven't head a word the woman's said," Aaren said. "I mean she could be a raving lunatic."
They all burst into dismissive scoffing noises. "Scew that," Shane Schram said. "Look at that face. She's solid."
"Fuck that shit," Morris said. "That's what writers are for."
Stephenson originally released it under his Stephen Bury alias.
The book is a slow starter but it catches on. It is readable and at times quite ingenious but do not let it be your first Stephenson novel. I must admit that several times I considered not finishing it.
by Neal Stephenson
In a future filled with nanotechnology a priceless interactive book - A Young Lady's Primer - is the turning point of yet another of Stephenson's compelling visions of the future.
If you like Stephenson you will like this book as well.
Recommended.
by Neal Stephenson
Hiro Protagonist is a hacker, a samurai swordsman, deliverer of pizzas in a not to distant future where the United States has turned into a number of corporate city states.
A compelling vision of the future.
The book is full of inconsistencies and should have been edited before it was released.
However, if you like the atmosphere you will most likely consider it a masterpiece. Especially considering it was originally published in 1992.
Highly recommended.
