A treasure for the weekend
I am a science fiction fan, as most of you know. I used to be an avid one, but not so much anymore that I haunt the book stores.
I do keep an eye out for sequels or something fresh from favorite authors.
Today on a whim, I went to Barnes & Noble for lunch and found a treasure for the weekend that combined both.
Among my many, many favorite SF authors are:
Isaac Asimov – Who gave us Foundation and The Three Laws of Robotics,
Anne Mccaffrey – Who taught dragons to fly, and ships to sing
Larry Niven – The Kzinti and Ringworld
Steven Brust – Assassins can be complicated and fun
Robert A. Heinlein – Master of both adult and bubble gum SF and Strangers in Strange Lands
E.E. “Doc” Smith – Gave us THE Lensmen and ships that were AU’s in diameter
Hal Clement – Who played with gravity in a big way
T.H. White – Who wrote the best Authurian legend ever
J.R.R. Tolkein – who brought us elves, dwarves and hobbits in an epic way
Alan Dean Foster was one of the authors I discovered first when first introduced to science fiction in book form. I cut my teeth on “The Tar-Aiym Krang” and have been fascinated by Flinx and Pip for many years. The stories of Flinx have been written over the last 35 years by Mr. Foster and at last, at long last, the final novel is out. The series conclusion.
For those not familiar with the series, here is a list of the novels in the order they should be read (not by published date):
* For Love of Mother-Not (1983), ISBN 0-345-30511-6
* The Tar-Aiym Krang (1972), ISBN 0-345-29232-4
* Orphan Star (1977), ISBN 0-345-25507-0
* The End of the Matter (1977), ISBN 0-345-25861-4
* Flinx in Flux (1988), ISBN 0-345-34363-8
* Mid-Flinx (1995), ISBN 0-345-38374-5
* Reunion (2001), ISBN 0-345-41867-0
* Flinx’s Folly (2003), ISBN 0-345-45038-8
* Sliding Scales (2004), ISBN 0-345-46156-8
* Running from the Deity (2005), ISBN 0-345-46159-2
* Bloodhype (1973), ISBN 0-345-25845-2
* Trouble Magnet (2006), ISBN 0-345-48504-1
* Patrimony (2007), ISBN 978-0-345-48507-6
* Flinx Transcendent (2009), ISBN 978-0345496072
And there are several smaller short stories in his various anthologies.
If this is your first introduction, then I am both proud to bring it to you, and awed at the magnificent adventure before you.
Enjoy.
My faves are the “Belgariad” and “Mallorean” by David Eddings and the “Song of Ice and Fire” series by George RR Martin (which was recently picked up by HBO as a series, squeee!) I highly recommend them, if you haven’t read them already! They’re fantastic.
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I can honestly say that I have NEVER read any of those…
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You have just given me some great ideas for my husband for Christmas. He is just crazed about science fiction, maybe this will get him back into reading! I made fun of him while he was reading this book called, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”. My understanding is that it is epic as far as SF goes, but I couldn’t help myself. 😉
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RYN: *cracks up* Well said… Er… Written.
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RYN: I have read the first, but I have yet to get my hands on the rest, though I’m sure I will. Kinda interesting, but still too spacey for my likings – reading it none the less. :o) The home world is more appealing than all the space jump crap.
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Oh and did I mention – you’re mostly right about the T.H. White, but I wonder, Have you read The lost years of Merlin series by T.A. Barron, or the Mary Stewart ones, or even the Mysts of Avalon by whoever the fuck chick that wrote it? and BTW the George RR Martin series that Fluxity suggested, totally right, totally awesome. But it’s fantasy, not scifi – much more up my alley. :o) Of course if we’re taking that walk, I highly recommend the recluse series by L.E. Modisett jr, and the death gate cycle by margaret weiss and tracey hickman… and I’m just going to stop now before I can no longer stop myself from wandering out to my bookshelves to list off more that I suggest – which would still be many. :o)
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so you consider Tolkien to be scifi? I would consider him more fantasy, but maybe I’m mistaken. I do like your taste though! It makes me want to read more and more!
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