Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke is probably my favorite of his. It's out of print, but you should be able to find it at a used book store or library. Also, if you liked 2001, you would find the Giants series (Inherit the Stars, The Gentle Giants of Ganymede, The Giants' Star) by James P. Hogan good reads as well. If you have a lot of time on your hands, the Dune books by Frank Herbert are good.
<!--QuoteBegin-FeydToBlack+Feb 27 2004, 06:29 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (FeydToBlack @ Feb 27 2004, 06:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Neuromancer by William Gibson (and if you like that, Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. Semi-sequels). His later series (Virtual light, Idoru, and All Tomorrow's Parties) are closer to our time (but still sci-fi). Still waiting for pattern recognition to come out in paperback. Burning Chrome was also very good. Its a collection of short stories (including Johnny Mnemonic, which Keanu should be shot for screwing up). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> I love Gibson. Pattern Recognition <i>is</i> out in paperback, actually, (<a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0425192938/qid=1077922358//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3863674-2301661?v=glance&s=books&n=507846' target='_blank'>clicky</a>), it's by far superior to the Virtual Light triology. My personal favorite Gibson would be Burning Chrome; his incredible imagination is simply wasted on full fledged novels.
Some suggested Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. While not definetely sci-fi, I'd suggest <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060512806/qid=1077922503/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Cryptonomicon</a> to anyone interested. Basically, it details the history of cryptography and hacking from its beginnings in WW2 till today, heavily intersecting it with the historical and political developments surrounding it. Stephenson manages to tie his fictional characters so seamlessly into the real world that you'll often find yourself googling certain names to verify whether they're real historic persons or figments of his imagination.
Philip K. D*ck (I need to look at that filter) ranges from incredibly good to so off the bat that it hurts. I'd suggest checking one of his short story collections (if you speak German, Heyne published an extensive volume under the title '<a href='http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3453217314/qid=1077922758/sr=2-1/ref=sr_aps_prod_1_1/028-9804220-9338113' target='_blank'>Der Unmögliche Planet</a>'). You'll definetely find <i>something</i> you like - and lots of other stuff...
Technically, fantasy is a sub-genre to sci-fi, so I'd like to suggest Neil Gaiman to anyone not yet familiar with him: If you are into comics, his <a href='http://www.holycow.com/dreaming/' target='_blank'>Sandman</a> series is largely considered the best western comic there is. I'd suggest buying <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1563891050/qid=1077922977//ref=pd_ka_1/002-3863674-2301661?v=glance&s=books&n=507846' target='_blank'>Fables and Reflections</a>, which contains a number of issues outside the real story arch, first. If you don't fall in love with 'Three Septembers and a January' or 'Ramadan', comics are just not for you. On the topic of novels, <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380789035/qid=1077923067/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>American Gods</a>, also by Gaiman, is one of the best pieces of literature I've ever read. I doubt I'll have to mention <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0441003257/qid=1077923121/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Good Omens</a>, Gaimans collaborative effort with Terry Pratchett, to anyone in here, but for the sake of completition, I will <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Another no-brainer is Katsuhiro Otomos <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569714983/qid=1077923189/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Akira</a> series. Forget the movie, get the comics.
I'm quite surprised nobody has so far mentioned Stanislaw Lem, one of the greatest sci-fi authors ever. I'd recommend <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156027607/qid=1077923283/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Solaris</a>, an absolutely beautiful book.
I would like to 2nd "The Giver", "Dune", and of course H.P. Lovecraft. Although not exactly dealing with sci-fi, I would also nominate the Wheel of Time series, just for complexity and sheer thoughtfulness of the entire plot.
I second the Wheel of Time, just because it kicks so much arse.
As far as sc-fi goes Asimov's Foundation series, although it has been mentioned it should still be looked at as a must read for fans of modern novels, as you can notice a lot of roots in that series.
I enjoyed the Red Dwarf books myself, would appeal to anyone who likes the TV series <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-dr.d+Feb 27 2004, 07:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (dr.d @ Feb 27 2004, 07:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I second the Wheel of Time, just because it kicks so much arse.
As far as sc-fi goes Asimov's Foundation series, although it has been mentioned it should still be looked at as a must read for fans of modern novels, as you can notice a lot of roots in that series. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> I third the wheel of time books, goto be like the coolest books ever
for scifi i can only think of anne mcaffery's Sassinak, Death of Sleep, and Generation Warriors.
EDIT: OMG BS H4X! lol WoT|Lanfear <---- Lanfear!! from wheel of time <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Jim+Feb 27 2004, 04:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Jim @ Feb 27 2004, 04:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I enjoyed the Red Dwarf books myself, would appeal to anyone who likes the TV series <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> Yah, I read those a while ago. They were funny and all, but for the most part (atleast the first two books) just followed the TV show word for word with a few new bits thrown in. Although, I like BTL in the book more.
<a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764287591/qid=1078004797/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-0547435-7914304?v=glance&s=books' target='_blank'>John B. Olson and Randall Ingermanson - Oxygen</a>
The link has a far better description, but basically it's a near future (2012) novel about four people going on an expedition to Mars, and having the spaceship sabotaged. There is a high chance of the saboteur being on the spaceship. Paranoia ensues
I really liked Timeline, but that was probably due to the reason that other books were too hard to read (Ender's Game I managed, but Speaker for the Dead? Guh!). It's something like the movie, although it's kind of strange that a number of college kids would risk their lives for a professor.
Comments
I love Gibson. Pattern Recognition <i>is</i> out in paperback, actually, (<a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0425192938/qid=1077922358//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3863674-2301661?v=glance&s=books&n=507846' target='_blank'>clicky</a>), it's by far superior to the Virtual Light triology.
My personal favorite Gibson would be Burning Chrome; his incredible imagination is simply wasted on full fledged novels.
Some suggested Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. While not definetely sci-fi, I'd suggest <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060512806/qid=1077922503/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Cryptonomicon</a> to anyone interested. Basically, it details the history of cryptography and hacking from its beginnings in WW2 till today, heavily intersecting it with the historical and political developments surrounding it. Stephenson manages to tie his fictional characters so seamlessly into the real world that you'll often find yourself googling certain names to verify whether they're real historic persons or figments of his imagination.
Philip K. D*ck (I need to look at that filter) ranges from incredibly good to so off the bat that it hurts. I'd suggest checking one of his short story collections (if you speak German, Heyne published an extensive volume under the title '<a href='http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3453217314/qid=1077922758/sr=2-1/ref=sr_aps_prod_1_1/028-9804220-9338113' target='_blank'>Der Unmögliche Planet</a>'). You'll definetely find <i>something</i> you like - and lots of other stuff...
Technically, fantasy is a sub-genre to sci-fi, so I'd like to suggest Neil Gaiman to anyone not yet familiar with him:
If you are into comics, his <a href='http://www.holycow.com/dreaming/' target='_blank'>Sandman</a> series is largely considered the best western comic there is. I'd suggest buying <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1563891050/qid=1077922977//ref=pd_ka_1/002-3863674-2301661?v=glance&s=books&n=507846' target='_blank'>Fables and Reflections</a>, which contains a number of issues outside the real story arch, first. If you don't fall in love with 'Three Septembers and a January' or 'Ramadan', comics are just not for you.
On the topic of novels, <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380789035/qid=1077923067/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>American Gods</a>, also by Gaiman, is one of the best pieces of literature I've ever read.
I doubt I'll have to mention <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0441003257/qid=1077923121/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Good Omens</a>, Gaimans collaborative effort with Terry Pratchett, to anyone in here, but for the sake of completition, I will <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Another no-brainer is Katsuhiro Otomos <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569714983/qid=1077923189/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Akira</a> series. Forget the movie, get the comics.
I'm quite surprised nobody has so far mentioned Stanislaw Lem, one of the greatest sci-fi authors ever. I'd recommend <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156027607/qid=1077923283/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-3863674-2301661' target='_blank'>Solaris</a>, an absolutely beautiful book.
I second anything good said about H.P. Lovecraft.
As far as sc-fi goes Asimov's Foundation series, although it has been mentioned it should still be looked at as a must read for fans of modern novels, as you can notice a lot of roots in that series.
As far as sc-fi goes Asimov's Foundation series, although it has been mentioned it should still be looked at as a must read for fans of modern novels, as you can notice a lot of roots in that series. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I third the wheel of time books, goto be like the coolest books ever
for scifi i can only think of anne mcaffery's Sassinak, Death of Sleep, and Generation Warriors.
EDIT: OMG BS H4X! lol WoT|Lanfear <---- Lanfear!! from wheel of time <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Yah, I read those a while ago. They were funny and all, but for the most part (atleast the first two books) just followed the TV show word for word with a few new bits thrown in. Although, I like BTL in the book more.
Star Trek: Odessey series
Star Trek - The Next Generation: Q-Zone series
Star Trek - Deep Space Nine: Warped
The link has a far better description, but basically it's a near future (2012) novel about four people going on an expedition to Mars, and having the spaceship sabotaged. There is a high chance of the saboteur being on the spaceship. Paranoia ensues