SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hi, I'm new here. Just wanted to mine you guys for recommendations if you have any.

I'm fresh off a Mass Effect 2 (game) kick, and I'm looking for books with similar stories. For the uninitiated, the best way to describe Mass Effect would probably be "Dirty Dozen in space". I love space opera (particularly Alastair Reynolds and Iain M. Banks), and I love the idea of recruiting a small band of misfit and outlaw anti-heroes for a mission. If you know any books with similar themes and concepts, please let me know.

Chuck wrote: "Hi, I'm new here. Just wanted to mine you guys for recommendations if you have any.

I'm fresh off a Mass Effect 2 (game) kick, and I'm looking for books with similar stories. For the uninitiated..."

Hammer's Slammers series by David Drake might fit the bill.

David Drake Hammers Slammers

While I don't have much experience with Mass effect, here are a few military space sci fi books that I can recommend.

Old man’s war series – John Scalzi
Fallen dragon – Peter F. Hamilton (check out his other books also)
Consider Pheblas – Iain M. Banks
Forever War – Joe Haldeman
Ender’s game – Orson Scott Card
Vorkosigan saga (12 books I believe) Lois McMaster Bujold
Startide Rising series – David Brin

These are a good start.

Thanks for the replies.

I've actually read many of the suggested books already. Great stuff, but they're lacking that key Dirty Dozen "team-building" aspect I'm particularly looking for at the moment.

Hammer's Slammers sounds interesting...I'll give that a whirl.

Try David Weber's March Upcountry (book 1 of the Prince Roger series)

Nathan wrote: "Try David Weber's March Upcountry (book 1 of the Prince Roger series)

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I second that! Good suggestions from Bookbrow as well - I added some to my to-read list.

Bookbrow wrote: "While I don't have much experience with Mass effect, here are a few military space sci fi books that I can recommend.

Old man’s war series – John Scalzi
Forever War – Joe Haldeman

Did you intentionally omit the sequels to The Forever War?

forever peace - Joe Haldeman
forever free - Joe Haldeman

Suman wrote: "Bookbrow wrote: "While I don't have much experience with Mass effect, here are a few military space sci fi books that I can recommend.

Old man’s war series – John Scalzi
Forever War – Joe Haldem..."

I actually have not read the Forever sequels are they worth pursuing?

Bookbrow wrote: "I actually have not read the Forever sequels are they worth pursuing?"

I think they got a bad rap, because *nothing* could measure up to the impact of [Book: The Forever War]. I think they extend the story in interesting ways, and are worth reading.

Robert Aspirin's Phule's Company

Suman wrote: "Bookbrow wrote: "I actually have not read the Forever sequels are they worth pursuing?"

I think they got a bad rap, because *nothing* could measure up to the impact of [Book: The Forever War]. I t..."

I see, this is always the challenge of the successors to a great first book. I'll check them out. This was also the case with Old man's war series, Enders game series, etc. Although I loved the follow ups almost as much.

Thanks

While it is fantasy and far from a space opera, I thought I would mention The Black Company by Glen Cook. This series is perhaps the most "dirty dozen" I have ever read.

Erick wrote: "While it is fantasy and far from a space opera, I thought I would mention The Black Company by Glen Cook. This series is perhaps the most "dirty dozen" I have ever read."

The "dirty dozen" analogy seems to be almost a template for fantasy stories, ie. Lord of the rings, etc etc. That and the boy who becomes a man storyline. I was thinking of the numerous fantasy stories that do subscribe to the "small band of misfit and outlaw anti-heroes for a mission" minus the space part of course.

Bookbrow wrote: "The "dirty dozen" analogy seems to be almost a template for fantasy stories, ie. Lord of the rings, etc etc. ..."

Don't see how. The dirty dozen were a bunch of villains given a dishonorable mission, in order to win back their lives and/or freedom. LOTR features a group of the best and most honorable of every race in Middle_Earth.

Tanya Huff's Valor series is one you might like to look at.