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Post by xdesperado on Mar 27, 2013 14:45:05 GMT -5
Since l learned to read I've loved Sci-fi and Fantasy. My favorites have been a huge influence in both gaming and my own feeble attempts at writing. Others here have mentioned various authors and books in other threads here on the forums. So this thread is a place for us to share some of our favorites that we can relate in some ways to the TB games. Here is a short list for myself: David Drake - Hammers Slammers series and Lt. Leary series. He understands both the military mindset and politics and the often uneasy relationship they share with each other. David Weber - Honor Harrington series. Another auther that gets both the military and political equation right. Steve Perry - Matador series and his books in the Tom Clancy: Netforce series. A bit of Sci-fi a bit of Cyberpunk and a love of the Martial Arts. Maybe reading these again might encourage me to run a Cybersword in CK.  John Steakly - Armor Must read for TA player's, we've got nothing on Felix, just hope to be half as good. There are a number of others I enjoy a lot, but in context with the TB games these top my short list. |
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Post by absimiliard on Mar 27, 2013 15:25:49 GMT -5
I find the Kylara Vatta series starting with "Trading in Danger" by Elizabeth Moon is excellent, and thematically appropriate for the ST universe.
-abs
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Post by xdesperado on Mar 27, 2013 15:31:44 GMT -5
@abs thanks for the reminder about Elisebeth Moon, had forgotten her somehow and yes that series does fit nicely with ST.
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Post by johndramey on Mar 27, 2013 19:48:28 GMT -5
He was mentioned in previous threads, but if you like total pulp sci-fi then John Scalzi's books are particularly fun. His Old Man's War universe is pretty imaginative, and he is currently putting out a weekly mini-novella set in the universe. His characters are always snarky and intelligent, but his writing is funny and snappy. I quite like him. A really great, much more serious sci-fi serious is Graham Sharp Paul's Helfort's War series. I really like his depiction of space combat in the first book, and the rest of the series is good as well. First book focuses on Helfort on a small space light scout, very tense. The rest of the series moves between him on other ships and acting in a much more.... direct way. Very good in my opinion. Another great serious is Robert Buettner's Jason Wander series. This is more of a mind-less series, but definitely scratches the sci-fi war itch. Follows the titular hero, Jason Wander, from his start as a screw up teenager to general in an intersteller war. The story is quite interesting, the foe is pretty unique in the fact that it's totally alien and, until the last book in the series, we don't really know much about it. The action is pretty great. I think the second book in the series is the weakest one, but they are all fun. Anyone who has read those series, I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say about them. The Wander series and Helfort's War are two of my very favorite sci-fi series, and Scalzi is my favorite pop-corn author. |
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Post by xdesperado on Mar 27, 2013 20:24:46 GMT -5
I've read most if not all of the so far published Helfort's War series. Decent read though not one of my top choices. Since you enjoy them have you read Mike Sheperd's Kris Longknife series?
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Post by Phantom Bullet on Mar 27, 2013 20:30:07 GMT -5
I was going to mention Scalzi also! I especially love "Zoe's Tale". I didn't know about the weekly mini-novella, so I'm definitely going to check that out.
Jim Butcher's "Harry Dresden" series is another favorite of mine. I know it doesn't fit in with any of the TB game universe, but I could definitely see myself playing a modified version of CK in a Dresden universe.
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Post by johndramey on Mar 27, 2013 21:05:59 GMT -5
xdesperado, never read the Kris Longknife series, I'll have to check it out! Anything particular I should know about going in? Is it in a similar vein as Helfort's War? I like infantry focused books as much as the next guy, but the first book's depiction of space warfare was amazing. I was honestly a little disappointed that the rest of the series sort of moved away from the naval warfare aspect and more into the infantry aspect. For those that don't know, Helfort's War book 1 is focused almost entirely around a naval engagement in which Michael Helfort is stationed on a Deep Space Light scout. Think of it as a Das Boot-esque submarine thriller in space, the scout has to rely totally on stealth because it would be swatted like a fly if noticed. phantom Bullet The weekly novella is actually pretty fun, they are all part of some over-arching novel that he will release complete in another month or so, but if you want to buy each piece separately you can. If you don't mind audio books, Audible.com has them all up for order/pre-order right now for $.99 (or $.69 for members) and the narrator is good. Click here to go check out audible's listing of the Human Division! The Dresden files are also a guilty pleasure of mine. They are light, fun reads. I pretty much read books to escape reality, so the less thinking required the better. With that said, the Dresden files are particularly fun to read because, while they can be a little formulaic, the stories always move and always have some interesting twists.
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Post by Lt. Hathaway on Mar 27, 2013 21:07:10 GMT -5
Yeah for this thread! I've read most of those, just downloaded the first of the Helfort. What to add... I like the Brits as well, Alistair Reynolds ' Revelation Space series, I'm reading Stephen Baxter's Xeelee sequence right now, (2000 years down, 15000 to go!)
(4.9 mag earthquake made the power blink, had to download the Helfort twice.)
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paxdad
Hero
[ Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Fill 'er UP!
Posts: 211
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Post by paxdad on Mar 27, 2013 21:11:19 GMT -5
Some books I enjoyed in no particular order.
Dan Abnett's Gaunts Ghosts novels.
Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Keith Nolan Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970
Godfather of Cyberpunk William Gibsons Sprawl Novels, Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive.
Clancey's Hunt for Red October
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Post by johndramey on Mar 27, 2013 21:16:41 GMT -5
Some books I enjoyed in no particular order. Dan Abnett's Gaunts Ghosts novels. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh MistressKeith Nolan Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970 Godfather of Cyberpunk William Gibsons Sprawl Novels, Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive. Clancey's Hunt for Red October To continue my audio book push, Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress in audio form is probably the best audio book I've ever listened to. The narrator does an absolutely amazing job of catching every character's nuance, and listening to Mike's character evolve throughout the story is amazing. Seriously, click that link and give it a listen. |
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Post by xdesperado on Mar 27, 2013 22:18:41 GMT -5
johndramey the Kris Longknife series is probably closer to the writing of David Weber or Elizebeth Moon than the Helfort's War series. Oh and in case anyone hasn't read it yet Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a must read. The rest of his series isn't quite as strong as the original novella and ensuing full length novel but still very good. Not really a good fit with the TB games which is the only reason I didn't include it in my short list in the OP. Three that should have been in my list are: Robert A. Heinlein - Starship Troopers Philip K. Dick - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (reissued under the title Blade Runner when turned into a movie) Stephen King - The Running Man Forget the movie versions of Starship Troopers and especially The Running Man as they share little more than the title's with the books. Blade Runner is much closer to the book but still lacks some of the depth you get in the book.
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Post by ntsheep on Mar 27, 2013 22:39:19 GMT -5
Some of my favorites are the Battletech\Mechwarrior books and the Robotech books. Also love any thing to do with the Alien and Predator movies.
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Post by Phantom Bullet on Mar 28, 2013 0:57:26 GMT -5
johndramey personally, I hate audio books. It takes the fun out of holding a book in hand. paxdad Gibson and Heinlein were one of the first authors that I've read when I was younger! xdesperado can't believe I forgot about Ender series! I actually put off reading Starship Troopers for a long time because I unfortunately saw the movie first, but I was pleasantly surprised when I finally read it about a year ago. I actually haven't watched Blade Runner yet, but I've read the book years ago. For some reason or another, I keep on missing the opportunity to watch it. ntsheep Have you ever played Battletech/Mechwarrior tabletop? I still have nightmares whenever I see a tape measure ::shudder::
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BlastGT1
Templar
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Turning ships into shards with Alchemy
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Post by BlastGT1 on Mar 28, 2013 2:33:05 GMT -5
Ender's Game and the three after it were all fantastic reads IMO, although the first was the best. There is also a second, parallel series that follows Bean, one of the kids in Ender's troop, first book is Ender's Shadow. It is also a great read, and much of the first book interacts with Ender's Game, but from Bean's perspective.
_______________________________
"Issue the standard Cadar greeting, Ensign."
"But sir, that's one of our allies!"
"I know that, Ensign. We're confirming that the treaty is still in effect!"
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Post by xdesperado on Mar 28, 2013 2:59:10 GMT -5
BlastGT1 thanks for reminding me that I got the title of Ender's Game wrong...edited it now. Flu and trying to multitask has my brain functioning well below normal currently.  Your right that all of the books in the series are very good reads as are most of Orson Scott Cards other books and novellas but Ender's Game at least in my opinion is an absolute masterpiece that towers over the rest.
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