Revelation Space Series

[romulus]

According to Wiki it is Hard Sci Fi. And for the most part I think its deserves to be considered Hard Sci Fi but there is few things in there that I don't really think would be considered possible or accurate according to modern science (Greenfly changing whole planets into trillions of glass bubbles, I guess micro biospheres for exp).

I still liked the books though. I had never heard of the guy who wrote them, what interested me in the book was the picture on the front and the summery on the back.

But it was interesting, different from most sci-fi I'm used to. Up until reading Revelation space only sci-fi I had exposed my self to was soft like Trek, and mix sci-fi/fantasy like Star Wars (guess Trek could fit there too).

Just finished Chasm City and that’s pretty much it for the main novels in that series. I will probably have to get Galactic North from Amazon, got to find out if Alastair resolves the greenfly threat or if he just goes with the future that was hinted at with the "Shadows." Also want to see why if humanity could beat the inhibitors, no matter how much help they had, why they cannot beat this thing. And if Green fly is converting star systems into trillions of small biospheres why do people need to flee, whats so bad about living in a small glass biosphere? Or why cant they just make other nanites that can break down the trillions of biospheres and remake them into planets after Greenfly has move on the next system…

Anyway now I'm wondering what other Hard Sci-Fi writers are good. Preferably somebody who is still writing now. I understand that if the science was "accurate" at the time the book was written it is still Hard Sci Fi even if recent discoveries would make it obsolete. But I want to read sci-fi where the science is still accurate for most part.

Thinking about picking up some of Larry Niven's books but I'm not so sure of his ring world books. He has other stuff I know buy I don't know. I'm also more interested in the space opera but willing to look into other stories even if there set in modern times or close to modern times.

 

[Fencer]

Just finished Chasm City and that’s pretty much it for the main novels in that series. I will probably have to get Galactic North from Amazon, got to find out if Alastair resolves the greenfly threat or if he just goes with the future that was hinted at with the "Shadows." Also want to see why if humanity could beat the inhibitors, no matter how much help they had, why they cannot beat this thing. And if Green fly is converting star systems into trillions of small biospheres why do people need to flee, whats so bad about living in a small glass biosphere? Or why cant they just make other nanites that can break down the trillions of biospheres and remake them into planets after Greenfly has move on the next system…

If you want the question to the Greenfly question, including why if humans stopped the Inhibitors they couldn't stop the Greenfly, you'll need to read Galactic North, the titulars story of the book.

Anyway now I'm wondering what other Hard Sci-Fi writers are good. Preferably somebody who is still writing now. I understand that if the science was "accurate" at the time the book was written it is still Hard Sci Fi even if recent discoveries would make it obsolete. But I want to read sci-fi where the science is still accurate for most part.

Well Alastair Reynolds does have some other books, The Prefect and Diamond Dogs, Turquoises Days which are set in the same universe as the Revelation Space story, as well as Pushing Ice. you could try books by Charles Stross. He's got some space opera's , Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise, and halting State which is a near future story. Vernor Vinge's Fire in the Deep and Deepness in the Sky are fairly hard. His Rainbow End is a near future story. Stephen Baxater writes Hard Sci-fi in pretty much every flavour from Near Future to Epic Space Opera. If you want a a starting point try the Destiny's Children books (Coalescent, Exultant, Transcendent, Resplendant) which are representative of what I've said.

 

[Roshi]

For a second I thought I read SPACED...

 

[theARE]

Loved Revelation Space and Chasm City, fantastic books. The rest in the series got a bit more average until I really wasn't that engaged with them by the time I got to Absolution Gap. They are still decent, but you could tell he needed a break from that universe by then.

Century Rain and Pushing Ice were good stand alone books and it was nice to see something fresh from him.

The Prefect was a great read, and a Welcome return to the Revelation Space universe. It's not quite as good as Chasm City, but not that far off a real return to form where that Universe was concerned.

Looking forward to the new book House of Suns to come out in a few months, its a different Universe again, but I think the concept sounds interesting.

If you enjoy Reynolds, I'd recommend you checking out China Mieville. While his stuff is more Fantasy than Sci-fi I think the 2 authors complement each other well. Reynolds tries to comply with Science as much as possible while Mieville wonders off in to his own unique fantasy world.

 

[Steve Roby]

I've got one or two of Reynolds's books but haven't read it/them yet. Along with too much other stuff.

If you like Reynolds, try Iain M. Banks; I'd recommend starting with Use of Weapons. You might also want to try Richard Morgan, starting with Altered Carbon.

 

[Jedara]

China Mieville

Perido Street Station is a brilliant book, as is The Scar. Lost it a bit with the third one I thought though.

Whoever recomended Stephen Baxter earlier was spot on. The Xeelee sequence is one of the most epic science fiction series you'll read. I first read the Destiny's Children part of the sequence first but I'd recomend reading Timelike Infinities and Ring first, and then picking up anywhere you feel - Raft and Flux are pretty standalone and Coalescent, Exultant and Transcendant, whilst a trilogy, are linked thematically at most. Baxter is pretty much viewed as the heir to Author Clarke

Dan Simmons is another excellent author - I'd recommend either the Hyperion series or Illium/Olympos. Neal Asher has some fantastic books out at the moment too - kind of a space opera/cyberpunk mash.

 

[JGordon]

I really enjoyed the Revelation space series, but I agree that it averaged out a bit at the end. Pushing Ice is one of my all-time favorites, I really hope he returns to that universe to flesh it out a bit. Century Rain was also good, a bit more of a "tight thriller" rather than space opera, even though it dealt with world-wide destruction.

I have yet to read galactic north.

 

[Hyperspace05]

I've read three of the books:
Revelation Space - I Liked it.
Redemption Ark - Not very good.
Absolution Gap - I really liked it, although the epilogue left me cold, so I have no more interest in the series.

I would agree with others about Dan Simmons. IMO the best SF author, although his stuff is somewhat less "hard SF", more veering into space opera territory.

 

[Mistral]

I had a long list of titles for you but *&#@ system glitched. Try Allen Steele-great hard scifi. Also Keith Laumer's BOLO is good. Niven/Pournelle have co-authored some good stuff and David Brin is worth checking out.

 

[theARE]

I've read three of the books:
Revelation Space - I Liked it.
Redemption Ark - Not very good.
Absolution Gap - I really liked it, although the epilogue left me cold, so I have no more interest in the series.

You've missed a treat if you haven't read Chasm City though, easily Reynolds best book in my view. It's not really part of the story ark of the other books, though there are some elements that interlink.

His latest book in the same universe - The Prefect is also a good read, though not quite as good as Chasm City. The biggest appeal of The Prefect for me was that it gives you a glimpse of life in the Glitter Band and Yellowstone before the plague hit.

I can understand that you felt the Revelation Space ran out of steam , I agree it did, but Reynolds more self contained books are stronger in my view and are certainly worth having a look at.

 

[PicardManeuver]

I know this thread's kinda ancient but to anyone who happens to read it, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Larry Niven.

Specifically, for a first time reader I'd recommend starting with either the Ringworld trilogy, or the two books "The Smoke Ring", and "The Integral Trees".

Also his Man-Kzin wars series and Known Space universe are some of the most fleshed out Hard SF I've read, with David Brin's "Uplift" universe and Alastair Reynold's "Revelation Space" universe being his chief competition.

Azimov's "Foundation" series is another great read, though slightly harder to get into.