OK, as a counter to my post about something you wanted to like but couldn’t get in to, what is something that you love and want to introduce to more people? (I nicknamed trying to get more people into your fandom as “fanpushing” a while back, hence the title)
For me, it’s the comic Saga. I love all the world building and the art, and how it’s continually setting up everything, but still manages to make we scream, “NO!” at everything happening because I’m so emotionally involved. I love the characters, the background, the invented languages (there’s a major one that is based on Esperanto), the tragedy of the star-crossed lovers and how things keep going even when that story meets its tragic ending because life goes on. It’s one of those gritty, crap sack world SF stories that focuses on the humanity (for lack of a better word) of the people in the world.
I enjoy old timey golden age hard scifi series. They are a fascinating time capsule set in the future.
The following two are examples I enjoyed reading, even if they aren’t exactly excellent literature by modern (or really any) standards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starwolf_(novel_series) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seetee_series
Heinlein. He far from unknown, but he should get even more recognition. Stranger in a strange Land is a deeply philosophical book wrapped in a scifi page turner.
Philip K. Dick is also not as famous as he should be. In particular with The Man in the high Castle, pure poetry!
I just read that Stranger In A Strange Land’s original 800 page version was recovered by Mrs. Heinlein and published in 1991 - I’ll have to go find a copy! It’s one of my top books.
Wow, that’s great news! Thanks for sharing! I read my father’s version, so definitely older than 1991.
I just started reading The Moon is a harsh Mistress, I’m hope it keeps up with the hype.
And, again, ignore this comment because it’s just here to force federation.
And also, Saga is really good.
Saga is great! I like the story, but the drawings really bring it home for me.
I was a bit disappointed by Saga, OP. Much preferred Y the Last Man!
There’s a first for everything.
Y was pretty fun. Good characters, in particular.
Despite the first book winning the 2021 SPSFC (admittedly, a much less well-known competition than the SPFBO), I almost never see the Primaterre series by S.A. Tholin mentioned. They are doorstoppers, but very well paced, imo: I inhaled the first two books. If you like space opera that manages to avoid a lot of plot tropes, give the series a try!
(Sidenote: if you’re put off by the “cosmic horror” label on the first book, I recall there being a couple of mildly gory scenes, but it’s mostly in the realm of “unfathomably alien” rather than trying to scare.)
Stop trying to make fanpush happen. It’s not going to happen.
No 😁
For real though, Saga is goddamned incredible.
I dread them ever finishing it, because that will inevitably mean an adaptation attempt. There’s not exactly a great track record of adapting Vaughan’s work, with the notable exception of Ex Machina.
I don’t hear about “The Vorkosigan Saga” anywhere near enough for how good it is.
A scientist gets trapped on a planet with only a barbarian idiot warmonger to help her survive.
Eight or so books later and we get to read about the not quite scandal across her space empire when she takes a new lover and her star romping space knight sons can’t quite figure out how to handle their new stepdad.
And a lot of star empire drama, ego, heroism, and compassion in between. It’s so fun, y’all.
