CSNbbs

If so, who are some of your favorite authors? Are you going to any cons this year?

I don't do cons, but I do love the genre.

Big fan of Dune, so Frank and Brian Herbert. I like Turtledove's alt-histories, when he bothers to write decent ones. G.R.R. Martin, when he actually bothers to write. I also enjoy Tsutomu Satō's work.

(03-15-2024 02:00 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote: [ -> ]I don't do cons, but I do love the genre.

Big fan of Dune, so Frank and Brian Herbert. I like Turtledove's alt-histories, when he bothers to write decent ones. G.R.R. Martin, when he actually bothers to write. I also enjoy Tsutomu Satō's work.

Good stuff. I disliked the Dune books, but like the later ones. Turtledove was great when he started, but became progressively less so.

Currently reading through the various The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell. I really enjoyed the first series, but the sequel series isn’t quite as good thus far.


While not really SciFi, I’m a huge fan of pretty much everything Taylor Anderson writes.

(03-18-2024 09:30 AM)GrayBeard Wrote: [ -> ]Currently reading through the various The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell. I really enjoyed the first series, but the sequel series isn’t quite as good thus far.


While not really SciFi, I’m a huge fan of pretty much everything Taylor Anderson writes.

Destroyermen is definitely SF; I was in an anthology with him. As for Campbell, he is a very, very nice guy, particularly considering his rank in the Navy and success as a writer. I was on a panel with him early in my career and he was great to me.

I used to dabble in Terry Brooks books when I was younger.

Mostly the Shannara series.

(03-19-2024 04:22 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: [ -> ]I used to dabble in Terry Brooks books when I was younger.

Mostly the Shannara series.

I bought the first one brand new in hardback in 1975, and Brooks signed it for me during a swing through Memphis. Really nice guy.

I'll admit, there were things about the reboot series I liked, and things I didn't...but the original was original...

Timothy Zahn..met him at a con a few years ago here in Memphis

(04-13-2024 07:10 PM)gotigers1 Wrote: [ -> ]Timothy Zahn..met him at a con a few years ago here in Memphis

Midsouthcon. Yep. I was on a panel with him and he was incredibly gracious. Someone asked a question and he gestured for me to answer it first. I said "they didn't come to hear me, Mr. Zahn, they came to hear you."

"They came to hear both of us. And please call me Tim."

Great guy.

(04-13-2024 06:29 PM)GoodOwl Wrote: [ -> ]I'll admit, there were things about the reboot series I liked, and things I didn't...but the original was original...

And the original had Maren Jensen...

I have read virtually every Issac Asimov book and short story. I also enjoyed the Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter series- the books, not so much the movie.

I am a fan of old time radio programs as well and would recommend the Dimension X and the X Minus One science fiction series from the 1950s. They have dramatizations of many short stories by famous authors of the genre.

(04-16-2024 03:49 PM)TigerCane Wrote: [ -> ]I have read virtually every Issac Asimov book and short story. I also enjoyed the Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter series- the books, not so much the movie.

I am a fan of old time radio programs as well and would recommend the Dimension X and the X Minus One science fiction series from the 1950s. They have dramatizations of many short stories by famous authors of the genre.

Great stuff. The Masters were masters.

David Eddings with the "Belgariad" and "Mallorean" series.

(04-25-2024 11:54 AM)TUCandoit Wrote: [ -> ]David Eddings with the "Belgariad" and "Mallorean" series.

Classics! I wrote to Eddings once, and he responded with a five page hand-written letter. I still have it.

I loved the classics: Barsoom, Foundation, Heinlein.

I also read Perry Rhodan as a child and teen (I grew up speaking his language). Maybe I shouldn't admit that.

Lately I've tried to broaden my sf scope. I read Jemison's Broken Earth, which was 2 1/2 very good books. Unfortunately she wrote a trilogy. I am now reading Tasha Suri.

But I still have a liking for blood-thunder-and-space-battle.

(04-28-2024 11:46 PM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ]I loved the classics: Barsoom, Foundation, Heinlein.

I also read Perry Rhodan as a child and teen (I grew up speaking his language). Maybe I shouldn't admit that.

Lately I've tried to broaden my sf scope. I read Jemison's Broken Earth, which was 2 1/2 very good books. Unfortunately she wrote a trilogy. I am now reading Tasha Suri.

But I still have a liking for blood-thunder-and-space-battle.

Most of the best space stuff is now written by Indies. The old Traditional model is fast dying out, but if you like classic type stuff I can recommended some popular series you might not be aware of.

(04-29-2024 02:30 PM)TigerBill Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-28-2024 11:46 PM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ]I loved the classics: Barsoom, Foundation, Heinlein.

I also read Perry Rhodan as a child and teen (I grew up speaking his language). Maybe I shouldn't admit that.

Lately I've tried to broaden my sf scope. I read Jemison's Broken Earth, which was 2 1/2 very good books. Unfortunately she wrote a trilogy. I am now reading Tasha Suri.

But I still have a liking for blood-thunder-and-space-battle.

Most of the best space stuff is now written by Indies. The old Traditional model is fast dying out, but if you like classic type stuff I can recommended some popular series you might not be aware of.

Thanks, I'd like that.

Agree on the traditional model; I saw this thing where some C-suite types from the Big Five set up their own shop and declared themselves "disruptive" because they were using freelancers instead of paid staff in an NYC office and it was just . . . sad. Might have been innovative in 1982. Meanwhile, Brandon Sanderson raised $41 million for a set of four novels, bypassing the old model and using Kickstarter. Now that was disruptive.

I really liked Jemisin's clear, direct prose; I'm not fond of writers who get too precious (I came up as a newspaper reporter, inverted pyramid/20-word-lede/no words you can't pronounce).

But I'm not as familiar with the Indy scene as I should be; a bout of depression left me cut off from many things I once enjoyed, and I'd like to have them back. So I'd appreciate the suggestions.

(04-29-2024 04:53 PM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-29-2024 02:30 PM)TigerBill Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-28-2024 11:46 PM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ]I loved the classics: Barsoom, Foundation, Heinlein.

I also read Perry Rhodan as a child and teen (I grew up speaking his language). Maybe I shouldn't admit that.

Lately I've tried to broaden my sf scope. I read Jemison's Broken Earth, which was 2 1/2 very good books. Unfortunately she wrote a trilogy. I am now reading Tasha Suri.

But I still have a liking for blood-thunder-and-space-battle.

Most of the best space stuff is now written by Indies. The old Traditional model is fast dying out, but if you like classic type stuff I can recommended some popular series you might not be aware of.

Thanks, I'd like that.

Agree on the traditional model; I saw this thing where some C-suite types from the Big Five set up their own shop and declared themselves "disruptive" because they were using freelancers instead of paid staff in an NYC office and it was just . . . sad. Might have been innovative in 1982. Meanwhile, Brandon Sanderson raised $41 million for a set of four novels, bypassing the old model and using Kickstarter. Now that was disruptive.

I really liked Jemisin's clear, direct prose; I'm not fond of writers who get too precious (I came up as a newspaper reporter, inverted pyramid/20-word-lede/no words you can't pronounce).

But I'm not as familiar with the Indy scene as I should be; a bout of depression left me cut off from many things I once enjoyed, and I'd like to have them back. So I'd appreciate the suggestions.

You bet. I am VERY up on the Indie/Small Press scene, so if there is anything you have questions about just let me know.

For really fun, no-nonsense Mil SF/Space Opera, try Salvage Title by Kevin Steverson. The first three books are in development in Hollywood, and the script of #1 is finished in first draft.

There is also Prince of Britannia by Fred Hughes, The Moon and Beyond by John Siers, and Cherry Drop by P. A. Piatt. And then are the 93 books (and counting) of the Four Horsemen Universe, #1 being Cartwright's Cavaliers by Mark Wandrey. Full disclosure: these are all friends of mine, and I have written in the 4HU. They are all fun, very well written and edited books, though.