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Author Topic: Science Fiction Reading?  (Read 8991 times)

Offline gunug

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Science Fiction Reading?
« on: September 30, 2015, 03:13:49 PM »
I can recall the "required reading" lists of classes I took in college back in the 1970's; kind of grim sometimes.  This
is a list of weird science fiction books that someone thinks you should read:

http://io9.com/5892742/10-ultra-weird-scie...equired-reading

Of the 10 I've read seven; I don't know if I'm interested in the others.  Does anyone else have a must read that ought
to be here?  I'm thinking almost all of Ray Bradbury and, although it's kind of hard going, the Foundation Trilogy books
(more than three now) and probably the Dune books (however many there were of those)!  Thinking.gif
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Offline jchuzi

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2015, 06:11:02 PM »
One of my all-time favorites is Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. It can really blow your mind about the existence of God and the Devil.
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Offline gunug

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2015, 09:34:32 AM »
While I admire "Stranger in a Strange Land" and have read the abridged and now the unabridged versions several times I think other books he's
written like "The Number of the Beast" are actually better in some ways.  "Stranger" had a lot of laid back hippie types rooting for it I think!  rolleyes.gif
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Offline krissel

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2015, 02:13:10 AM »
Whenever the subject of science fiction comes up I think of a short story I read many years ago that I wish I could find again.

It was in a paperback I bought somewhere back in the early 60's that had maybe 10 stories by different authors.  The basic idea of the tale concerned people who "stepped" through invisible "windows or doors" into another dimension or parallel space that existed in the same time and place. It was a perfect explanation for why people often just disappeared without any trace. What I remember is that the main character stepped through and found himself in a world where people were used as slaves by wolf-like creatures. I don't remember much else and I would love to find it again.

I've spent countless hours online trying to track down the story and even purchased used books that had story titles suggesting a possible hit. I also posted on a couple sci-fi forums asking for any help but nothing. Sounds strange but it has haunted me for over 50 years.

Maybe I should write my own version and publish it, then the real copyright owner will come after me and it'll end my search. toothgrin.gif
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Offline jchuzi

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2015, 04:36:23 AM »
QUOTE(krissel @ Oct 3 2015, 03:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Whenever the subject of science fiction comes up I think of a short story I read many years ago that I wish I could find again.

It was in a paperback I bought somewhere back in the early 60's that had maybe 10 stories by different authors.  The basic idea of the tale concerned people who "stepped" through invisible "windows or doors" into another dimension or parallel space that existed in the same time and place. It was a perfect explanation for why people often just disappeared without any trace. What I remember is that the main character stepped through and found himself in a world where people were used as slaves by wolf-like creatures. I don't remember much else and I would love to find it again.

I've spent countless hours online trying to track down the story and even purchased used books that had story titles suggesting a possible hit. I also posted on a couple sci-fi forums asking for any help but nothing. Sounds strange but it has haunted me for over 50 years.

Maybe I should write my own version and publish it, then the real copyright owner will come after me and it'll end my search. toothgrin.gif

I remember that one! The wolf-like creatures were called ruhks (or rukhs, I'm not sure of the spelling). Maybe a search for that term will turn up something? I did a quick Google search but don't have the time now to do anything more extensive.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2015, 04:38:32 AM by jchuzi »
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Offline gunug

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2015, 01:40:28 PM »
Mentioning this reminded me that I too remember something of this; not the name or author though!  I think there is a library at KU that collects science fiction (James Gunn teachers up there).  

Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction
« Last Edit: October 03, 2015, 09:38:35 PM by gunug »
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Offline jchuzi

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2015, 06:55:56 PM »
When I was young, I was a voracious reader of sci-fi books. One of my favorites was "The World of Null-A" by A.E. van Vogt. I enjoyed Isaac Asimov back then, but I have since lost my interest in his writings. I can, however, enthusiastically recommend "Tales From The White Hart" by Arthur C. Clarke. It is a collection of short stories that is very witty and, sometimes, rather naughty.
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Offline gunug

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« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2015, 09:36:58 PM »
Just picked up Ray Bradbury's "Now and Forever" which is probably a repackaging of some stuff from the old pulps but I don't think I've read
this before (copyright 2007).
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Offline krissel

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2015, 12:34:23 AM »
QUOTE(jchuzi @ Oct 3 2015, 05:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I remember that one! The wolf-like creatures were called ruhks (or rukhs, I'm not sure of the spelling). Maybe a search for that term will turn up something? I did a quick Google search but don't have the time now to do anything more extensive.


You're the first person who has validated my search. clap.gif I began to imagine I had only dreamed of that story.  I haven't been successful using variants on the rukhs name so far but thanks for the info.   notworthy.gif

Thanks Gunug for the link. salute.gif  That place has almost too much but I've spent a couple hours there looking. So far no luck.

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Offline RNKIII

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2015, 07:52:46 AM »
I enjoyed the series of books by Michael Scott... Believe it begins with ""The Alchemyst". Needs to be read in sequence as the story unfolds / grows.  Believe there are 6-8 in the series.  Not deep but entertaining.

Bob K.   rnkiii
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Offline Paddy

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2015, 03:00:26 PM »
I loved Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness and have read a lot of her other books as well.

Doris Lessing's Shikasta was a favorite from a long time ago - not sure what I'd think of it now.

More recently, I really enjoyed Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake trilogy (though she doesn't call them "sci-fi").

Another list of 25 best sci-fi books that has a lot more info...

http://bestsciencefictionbooks.com/top-25-...ction-books.php
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Offline gunug

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2015, 02:14:14 PM »
I'm currently reading James S.A. Corey's "Cibola Run" which is the 4th in a series but I've only read the previous one.  So
far I haven't run into anything that I couldn't understand that would make me go back and read the first two:

http://expanse.wikia.com/wiki/Cibola_Burn

These are big, fat, meaty books that are full of the details of life in space or on a distant planet.  Make a good movie series
but that probably won't happen!
« Last Edit: October 05, 2015, 02:15:58 PM by gunug »
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Offline Frances144

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2015, 10:38:43 AM »
I used to read a lot of science fiction.

I need to look up some of the titles.  

Will get back to you!
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Offline Frances144

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2015, 10:55:25 AM »
Grass by Sheri S Tepper
Logan's Run trilogy
The Books of the Black Curren - Ian Watson

Oooh, there were others.  Can't remember them, but remember being enthralled.
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Offline jwboyd

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Science Fiction Reading?
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2016, 09:35:58 AM »
C. S. Lewis piqued my interest with his "Our of the Silent Planet" and "Perelandra." Even as a child, I wondered if Mars was a dead planet because its inhabitants used up all of its resources, and if Venus is somehow being prepared for possible future inhabitants.

Though they are not books, the "Ancient Aliens" television episodes are intensely fascinating to me. Keeping an open mind on this issue.
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