The Sword and Laser discussion

Hi all

I have been on a sci-fi bender as of late, but now have nothing to read.

More specifically, I reread "The Expanse" series, Marko Kloos's Frontline series, Some of the Undying Mercenary books, and Joshua Dalzelle's Omega Force books.

I need more action-heavy, occasionally light-hearted, space opera-y fun.

What have you got?

House of Suns, Alastair Reynolds.

I love that book. But, I have read all of Reynolds books several times (except the most recent series which I'm less into).

Same with Iain M Banks and Peter Hamilton.

What about any John scalzi? Especially as he is on the brink of releasing the next in the old man's war series.

Glancing at your GR booklist, I'm guessing that the absence of Heinlein, Zelazny, Asimov and Niven are just because your reading of them predate your GR account and that the same goes for Brin's Uplift Wars series. (If no to any of those, I have suggestions ...)

What about The Warrior's Apprentice, Gateway or The Rediscovery of Man?

Alan wrote: "Glancing at your GR booklist, I'm guessing that the absence of Heinlein, Zelazny, Asimov and Niven are just because they predate your GR reading and that the same goes for Brin's Uplift Wars series..."

Correct :) I could not be bothered addding more than a thousand books I had readd before GoodReads. Also, I sometimes just forget.

I've read most of bujold's stuff but I added the other two.

Thanks!

Callum wrote: "What about any John scalzi? Especially as he is on the brink of releasing the next in the old man's war series."

I am up to date on Scalzi. Can't wait to read the new one this week!

Rediscovery of Man is just one of the way's Cordwainer Smith's stuff has been anthologized so you may have read his work in tons of other places. If you've never read him, you're in for a treat. It's not usually lighthearted but it is the most *operatic* space opera I've ever read.

Alan wrote: "Rediscovery of Man is just one of the way's Cordwainer Smith's stuff has been anthologized so you may have read his work in tons of other places. If you've never read him, you're in for a treat. It..."

I'll check him out, thanks.

I don't see any Sawyer on your list. I recently read Calculating God and enjoyed in spite of Sawyer being my nemesis.

Have you tried Gary Gibson? Excellent space opera that reminds me very much of Peter F. Hamilton.

I've only read short stories by him so far, but I hear good things about Tobias S. Buckell Xenowealth books.

Rachel Bach's Paradox series is excellent space opera and I also thoroughly enjoyed Jean Johnson's Theirs Not to Reason Why books starting with A Soldier's Duty.

You've probably already read them, but most of C.J. Cherryh's SF is excellent.

Robert wrote: "I don't see any Sawyer on your list. I recently read Calculating God and enjoyed in spite of Sawyer being my nemesis."

Added your nemesis :)

Lindsay wrote: "Have you tried Gary Gibson? Excellent space opera that reminds me very much of Peter F. Hamilton.

I've only read short stories by him so far, but I hear good things about [author:..."

I read Gibsons shoal series. The first one at least. Memory of light? stealing light? Something like that? I quite enjoyed it, but managed to forget about it. Will grab the second one.

Thanks!

Lindsay wrote: "Have you tried Gary Gibson? Excellent space opera that reminds me very much of Peter F. Hamilton.

I've only read short stories by him so far, but I hear good things about [author:..."

Oh, and I picked up Fortune's Pawn a while ago, but never got to it. I was told it's space romance (after I picked it up), which put me off. How romancy is it?

There's a romance in it. There's also a phenomenal space opera, aliens, power armour battles, bioengineered cyborgs and interstellar politics.

For some people any romance is too much. I call a book a science fiction romance if the romance is the point of the plot. That isn't the case with this series.

Lindsay wrote: "There's a romance in it. There's also a phenomenal space opera, aliens, power armour battles, bioengineered cyborgs and interstellar politics.

For some people any romance is too much. I call a bo..."

Some romance is fine. It does not make me gag:)

Someone did describe it as science fiction romance, but perhaps they just latched on to that part of it.

Thanks, will definitely give it a read (or, in this case, listen).

Fair warning, the series is a three-part novel. You won't get a complete story in the first novel.

Lindsay wrote: "Fair warning, the series is a three-part novel. You won't get a complete story in the first novel."

Thanks. Not worried about that :)

Paul wrote: "Oh, and I picked up Fortune's Pawn a while ago, but never got to it. I was told it's space romance (after I picked it up), which put me off. How romancy is it? "

The first two books, not so much... the third book was disappointing in how much romance was included.

I saw you read Ancillary Justice. Ancillary Mercy is awesome too!

Callum wrote: "What about any John scalzi? Especially as he is on the brink of releasing the next in the old man's war series."

I'm starting to wear out on Scalzi. Dalzelle's my big kick right now, but if the OP has read all of that, then I might be inclined to go for something like Armada or Aurora

Charles Stross or Peter Watts might be worth checking out, as would Vernon Vinge if you haven't read his stuff

Fresno Bob wrote: "Charles Stross or Peter Watts might be worth checking out, as would Vernon Vinge if you haven't read his stuff"

I have been meaning to get to those three authors for quite some time. I'm excited to read their stuff.

Try Robert Buettner. Military Science Fiction and it is fun. Light reading and not a bad story for any of his books. Ifyou want a one off, try Job: A Comedy of Justice. It is everything you want from the master Robert A. Heinlein.

I loved the Paradox series! There is a sex scene in the first book but other then that not much, romance. The author doesn't lose sight of the plot for the sake of the romance.
I also strongly recommend Tanya Huff's Confederation Series AKA The Torin Kerr books. Space Marines, alien races, all the fun stuff!

The Cassandra Kresnov series (first book: Crossover) by Joel Shepherd is a pretty great mix of military sci-fi, space opera and to a lesser degree cyberpunk, with a lot of exploration socio-political themes. One of my personal favourites.

I really enjoyed the Rama series. Creative, not heavy, but good adventure. Rendezvous with Rama is the first book :-)

Try Armor by John Steakly. it is relentless

Gaines, did you read Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker? I thought the ending of Rama was derivative of that. OTOH nothing wrong with stealing from the classics if it keeps us talking about them.

Nope, I haven't read that yet. Although, as Chuck Palahniuk once wrote, "Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known."

Perhaps every author ever published is a thief, whether wittingly or not :-)

I just finished "The Long Way to an Small Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers. Fun, rollicking, optimistic space opera yarn that just might scratch your itch.