Subject:
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Re: Science Fiction (was Re: Transit Time to Mars)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.geek
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Date:
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Thu, 16 Dec 1999 19:40:52 GMT
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Viewed:
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511 times
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Nephilim wrote:
>
> In lugnet.off-topic.geek, Ben Olmstead writes:
>
> > 1 - Larry Niven, arguably the best SF author ever. Discounting
> > Clarke, Card, Gibson, Herbert, Asimov, Adams, and Stephensen, who are
> > also all arguably the best SF author ever (well, I despise Gibson,
> > but hey). Wrote hard Sci-Fi, though--he based pretty much everything
> > in science fact.
>
> I smell a fun geek topic. Best books by these authors?
>
> I would submit:
>
> "Rendezvous with Rama" as Clarke's best work.
Haven't read it, actually, so no opinion.
> "Ender's Game" as Card's.
Of the Card books I've read: definitely.
> Either "Dune" (the obvious choice) or "God Emperor of Dune"
> for Herbert.
Either _Dune_ or _The Dosadi Experiment_, in my opinion. (Yes, Herbert
did write some non-Dune-series books. Most of them were _really_ bad.)
> "The Mote In God's Eye" by Niven (and Pournelle). (Argue with
> me about this one, if you please, Ben =)
I haven't read it. Of the Niven books I *have* read, I'd rate, mmmm...
oh, any of them. They're all good.
> I can't pick a "best" by Asimov (the too-easy choice: Foundation)
> or the others on your list.
I prefer the Robots series.
Neal Stephenson: Either _Snow Crash_ or _The Diamond Age_. These two
are my favorite books _ever_, so don't knock 'em. ;-)
Gibson: Should have gotten even a vague clue about computers before he
ever started writing. This is probably what makes Gibson a _really
horrible_ author (IMHO) and Stephenson a _really awesome_ writer. But
that's just my opinion. (And, of course, I've still got signed copies
of Neuromancer and Mona Lisa Overdrive...)
> In the "too-easy" category, RAH usually gets props for
> Stranger in a Strange Land - I'd like to hear another
> choice. Go for it, Lar.
Gods, I really didn't like SIASL. The only Heinlein book I didn't like.
I think I like _Job: A Comedy of Justice_ best.
> Authors not on your list, with works I would list as canon
>
> Varley: "Steel Beach"
> Farmer: "To Your Scattered Bodies Go"
> Robinson: "Time Pressure"
I honestly haven't read any of these authors (yes, yes, deprived I am,
hmm?).
--
Ben Olmstead/BEM
<bem@mad.scientist.com>
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Science Fiction (was Re: Transit Time to Mars)
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| (...) I smell a fun geek topic. Best books by these authors? I would submit: "Rendezvous with Rama" as Clarke's best work. "Ender's Game" as Card's. Either "Dune" (the obvious choice) or "God Emperor of Dune" for Herbert. "The Mote In God's Eye" by (...) (25 years ago, 16-Dec-99, to lugnet.off-topic.geek)
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