Comments on: Introductory Science Fiction Books for Literary Readers http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/ Science Fiction Novelist, Blogger, Web Programmer Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:36:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Rick Klaw http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-3566 Rick Klaw Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:52:18 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-3566 I dedicated a "Geeks With Books" <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/columns/geeks127.htm" rel="nofollow">column</a> complete with a book list to this very subject. I dedicated a “Geeks With Books” column complete with a book list to this very subject.

]]> By: A. C. Ellis http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-2137 A. C. Ellis Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:05:41 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-2137 What a great list! I have read every one of them. A. C. Ellis Science Fiction and Mystery/Suspense http://www.acellis.net a.ellis@att.net Send an e-mail with "newsletter" in the Subject line and receive a FREE newsletter What a great list! I have read every one of them.

A. C. Ellis
Science Fiction and Mystery/Suspense
http://www.acellis.net
a.ellis@att.net
Send an e-mail with “newsletter” in the Subject line and receive a FREE newsletter

]]> By: Jakob http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-1068 Jakob Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:51:41 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-1068 What not to list: Ilium and its sequel Olympos by Simmons, he's not just political, he's judgmental and islamophobic - something that shocked me and made me extremely disappointed seeing as he was one of my favorite writers up until that point. Apart from that, there's not much science in Olympos, but in Hyperion, Simmons balanced that with great narrative. Olympos goes from being decent to really shitty for many reasons. Plot and story arcs that make no sense, and below it all, a view of Islam that would even make the worst religious zealots look uncomfortable, a view that I believed was long ago buried and forgotten in the minds of rational intelligent beings. The kind of view that makes countries go to war, over and over again. What to list: Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion by Simmons. At least Hyperion because it's such a wonderful book. An imaginative fantastic journey. Many stories in one, all beautifully interwoven. Simmons' magnus opus, or magnus cantos even! :) Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. It balances Heinlein with its political stance and it also has an environmental thrust, a macro scale epic story about terraforming, politics and also quite near future. Mimsy Were the Borogoves by Lewis Padgett - science fiction doesn't need space ships to work! This short story delivers essential SF with small means and a very non-speculative setting. A movie is being made. Flowers for Algernon - I read it when I was fourteen and it moved me. It's still one of the best pieces of SF writing I know. Maybes: Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds - maybe not his best but it never lets down the pace. Might be a bit too much space and technology to some people. Tau Zero - by Poul Anderson... this is one of the best SF novels I've ever read. It's hard science fiction but it's also deeply philosophical and manages to deliver a lot of SFish ideas through very few pages. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem. Also philosophical but in a very psychological way. A must-read for any serious SF fan. I've given this book to friends and they've loved it. What not to list:
Ilium and its sequel Olympos by Simmons, he’s not just political, he’s judgmental and islamophobic - something that shocked me and made me extremely disappointed seeing as he was one of my favorite writers up until that point. Apart from that, there’s not much science in Olympos, but in Hyperion, Simmons balanced that with great narrative. Olympos goes from being decent to really shitty for many reasons. Plot and story arcs that make no sense, and below it all, a view of Islam that would even make the worst religious zealots look uncomfortable, a view that I believed was long ago buried and forgotten in the minds of rational intelligent beings. The kind of view that makes countries go to war, over and over again.

What to list:
Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion by Simmons. At least Hyperion because it’s such a wonderful book. An imaginative fantastic journey. Many stories in one, all beautifully interwoven. Simmons’ magnus opus, or magnus cantos even! :)
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. It balances Heinlein with its political stance and it also has an environmental thrust, a macro scale epic story about terraforming, politics and also quite near future.

Mimsy Were the Borogoves by Lewis Padgett - science fiction doesn’t need space ships to work! This short story delivers essential SF with small means and a very non-speculative setting. A movie is being made.

Flowers for Algernon - I read it when I was fourteen and it moved me. It’s still one of the best pieces of SF writing I know.

Maybes:
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds - maybe not his best but it never lets down the pace. Might be a bit too much space and technology to some people.

Tau Zero - by Poul Anderson… this is one of the best SF novels I’ve ever read. It’s hard science fiction but it’s also deeply philosophical and manages to deliver a lot of SFish ideas through very few pages.

Solaris by Stanislaw Lem. Also philosophical but in a very psychological way. A must-read for any serious SF fan. I’ve given this book to friends and they’ve loved it.

]]> By: Jane Roberti http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-1065 Jane Roberti Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:04:11 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-1065 Thanks so much for your literary sci-fi list. I am one such literary reader: DF Wallace, DeLillo, Borges, Calvino, Melville, are some of my favorite writers. But in the past year I've become obsessed with literary sci-fi and horror. Some books I've read in this year include: --"Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell A very literary, genre-bending, difficult to follow but brillant book. It is a 19th century sea-adventure story, a detective novel, and a futurist sci-fi book. Blew my mind! --"Magic for Beginners" by Kelly Link --H.P. Lovecraft stories. Though a pulp writer he influenced ALL the great 20th c. sci-fi authors, as well as literary ones (Borges!). He's like the E.A Poe of sci-fi. Thanks so much for your literary sci-fi list. I am one such literary reader: DF Wallace, DeLillo, Borges, Calvino, Melville, are some of my favorite writers. But in the past year I’ve become obsessed with literary sci-fi and horror. Some books I’ve read in this year include:
–”Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell
A very literary, genre-bending, difficult to follow but brillant book. It is a 19th century sea-adventure story, a detective novel, and a futurist sci-fi book. Blew my mind!
–”Magic for Beginners” by Kelly Link
–H.P. Lovecraft stories. Though a pulp writer he influenced ALL the great 20th c. sci-fi authors, as well as literary ones (Borges!). He’s like the E.A Poe of sci-fi.

]]> By: Lew Glendenning http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-1067 Lew Glendenning Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:43:47 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-1067 All of C.J. Cherryh's non-fantasy stuff. Her 'Foreigner' series is very good writing, very serious characters. All of C.J. Cherryh’s non-fantasy stuff. Her ‘Foreigner’ series is very good writing, very serious characters.

]]> By: Alan http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-1066 Alan Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:10:27 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-1066 I think George Stewart's Earth Abides would be excellent choice. I think George Stewart’s Earth Abides would be excellent choice.

]]> By: Mary Peterson http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-1014 Mary Peterson Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:32:43 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-1014 I stumbled upon this blog, as a new reader of science fiction looking for recommendations. Thank you so much for all these and genuine literary commentary. I stumbled upon this blog, as a new reader of science fiction looking for recommendations. Thank you so much for all these and genuine literary commentary.

]]> By: dave http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-1051 dave Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:34:24 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-1051 These are the books that I have lent to readers (folks who read a lot) that succeeded in getting them to try other works that fall into the SF/fantasy realm: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (certainly qualifies as fantasy) Little, Big by John Crowley (might be my favorite book ever) Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis Also: the short stories of Wolfe, Tiptree, Ellison and especially Lafferty. As a side note, Lafferty's Okla Hannali is the most beautifully written, heartbreaking yet funny historical novel I've ever read. Not remotely science fiction, but give it to people anyway. These are the books that I have lent to readers (folks who read a lot) that succeeded in getting them to try other works that fall into the SF/fantasy realm:
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (certainly qualifies as fantasy)
Little, Big by John Crowley (might be my favorite book ever)
Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis

Also: the short stories of Wolfe, Tiptree, Ellison and especially Lafferty. As a side note, Lafferty’s Okla Hannali is the most beautifully written, heartbreaking yet funny historical novel I’ve ever read. Not remotely science fiction, but give it to people anyway.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-975 Jeff Thu, 05 Jul 2007 05:16:49 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-975 I was unfamiliar until your post. I "amazoned" the man and now look forward to reading his work! Looks like my kind of material, to be sure. Appreciate the recommendation my friend! Always seeking another brick for this fortress of books (mostly s/f) that snakes through my room like The Great Wall. I was unfamiliar until your post. I “amazoned” the man and now look forward to reading his work! Looks like my kind of material, to be sure. Appreciate the recommendation my friend! Always seeking another brick for this fortress of books (mostly s/f) that snakes through my room like The Great Wall.

]]> By: punninglinguist http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/science-fiction/intro-literary-sf/#comment-974 punninglinguist Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:48:09 +0000 http://www.davidlouisedelman.com/?p=228#comment-974 Jeff: Have you tried M. John Harrison's "Light"? I gave this to Jacques Barzun's wife, of all people, and she got sucked in because it actually _is_ a realistic literary novel for the first 50-some-odd pages. Jeff: Have you tried M. John Harrison’s “Light”? I gave this to Jacques Barzun’s wife, of all people, and she got sucked in because it actually _is_ a realistic literary novel for the first 50-some-odd pages.

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