SLCLS Genre Study discussion

People are looking for them- any ideas?

I just read a book, "Containment" by Christian Cantrell. It is definitely science fiction (the action takes place on an enclosed human colony on Venus) but there are definite mystery elements to it. I found it very readable and it made me think. I would recommend it to people.

I mentioned Isaac Asimov's Robot novels in the Paranormal thread, and, though I'm not familiar with them, the Turing Hopper series mentioned there sounds like Sci-Fi to me.

There's a Top 10 Greatest Science Fiction Detective Novels Of All Time list on io9.

Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict series looks interesting.

I just finished a book called The Pines by Blake Crouch which is a science fiction mystery. I really enjoyed the book because I didn't realize it was science fiction until almost the end of the the book and I spent most my time trying to figure out what was going on, along with the main character.

Cherie wrote: "I just finished a book called The Pines by Blake Crouch which is a science fiction mystery. I really enjoyed the book because I didn't realize it was science fiction until almost the end of the the..."

Cherie- at the training, several people were asking for a list of sci fi mysteries. As the central selector for sci fi, have you seen any others?

Donna Andrews Turing Hopper series are great. The main character is an AI computer. I think much of the Steam Punk, like the selections from Readers Choice, have had a mystery heart to them. The settings just happened to involve a historical bent with gears and pulleys.

We read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children in our book group at West Jordan this month. It is in the adult mystery section, which is an interesting cataloging choice as it is really much more of a teen fantasy novel. It does have some elements of science fiction--at least according to the folks at the book group--they thought it was too science fictiony.

Timothy wrote: "I mentioned Isaac Asimov's Robot novels in the Paranormal thread, and, though I'm not familiar with them, the Turing Hopper series mentioned there sounds like Sci-Fi to me.

There's a Top 10 Greate..."

Thanks for that link, I liked that they mentioned the Victory Series by Tanya Huff, Dresden series by Jim Butcher. I have had Bester on my TBR list for a long time so I will have to get to that soon.

Jennifer wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I just finished a book called The Pines by Blake Crouch which is a science fiction mystery. I really enjoyed the book because I didn't realize it was science fiction until almost the..."

I just finished another mystery that was fantasy. It was called the "Thieftaker" by D. B. Jackson. It's set just prior to the American Revolution when the colonists are becoming fed up with all the taxes imposed by Parliment. The thieftaker is also what they call a speller--he can do magic spells.

If they don't mind reading a graphic novel, Watchmen - one of the best works of comics ever - is not only great, but a mystery! The plot revolves around the question of who is seemingly taking out "masks" (super heroes) one by one.

Topher wrote: "If they don't mind reading a graphic novel, Watchmen - one of the best works of comics ever - is not only great, but a mystery! The plot revolves around the question of who is seemingly taking out..."

Sounds like a great suggestion for a 'crossover' mystery for GN lovers!

Has anyone mentioned The Rook by Daniel O'Malley, one of our Reader's Choice nominees, yet? A girl is dropped into another person's body, has no memory of who she is, and the body's previous occupant has set up a series of letters and information to help her solve the mystery of who is trying to kill her in the secret paranormal agency she is a (now) a part of. Pretty cool stuff.

Just realized this might be better served under the Paranormal Mysteries subsection, but since it has sci-fi elements, it still might appeal to the patrons who are asking.

I LOVE the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Only books 1-3 have been published in the US so I have imported the other 4 from the uk!
It combines a snarky witty detective skeleton and a world of magic with some deciding elements. I can't wait for book 8!

Cetaganda and Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold are hard sf novels within a larger space opera series that are structured as mysteries. I guess they could count as sf mysteries, because the plots revolve around solving a murder mystery. What say you? But, oops, they are two of the weaker books in her Vorkosigan series, imho, because not a lot of character development happens during both books. Side effect of the mystery structure, perhaps?

Allison wrote: "I LOVE the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Only books 1-3 have been published in the US so I have imported the other 4 from the uk!
It combines a snarky witty detective skeleton and a world of magic w..."

Just ordered this one on audio-it sounds good...

Here is a list of some authors that have written SciFi mysteries.

Peter Hamilton
Jack McDevitt
Matthew Hughes
J.D. Robb
Richard Morgan

Natalie wrote: "Allison wrote: "I LOVE the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Only books 1-3 have been published in the US so I have imported the other 4 from the uk!
It combines a snarky witty detective skeleton and a ..."

I kind of love Skulduggery Pleasant. Not as much as I love Flavia DeLuce or Hank the Cowdog, mind you, but I do love him.