Science Fiction Book Club discussion

Not sure how productive this will be but I'm hoping maybe you Sci-Fi experts could help. About 15 yrs ago a roommate let me borrow a paperback to read. It was my first sci-fi book and I remember really enjoying it. The sad thing is I can't remember the title/author/character names, nothing. I do have clear memories of snippets from the book. Example, I remember the characters having to walk through a canyon with these tall, skinny rock formations on which balanced giant boulders. If they were disturbed at all, the boulders would fall to the ground. I remember that image being on the cover art as well. Does this ring a bell with anyone? I've wanted to find that book for years, but every year my memory of it gets sketchier. Please throw out any ideas! Thanks for your help!

Not ringing any bells, but have you looked through the popular authors around that time and prior? Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert are good ones to start with. Just google the author and/or paperback cover art and you should get a good selection of images.

What scifi authors do you like? sci fantasy?

Thanks, Anthony. I feel like the author was female, but I'll give a couple of those names a try.

You might want to try Piers Anthony as well...his books had a bit more sexual undertones which may have given you that female perspective. As far as female sci-fi authors, try Ursula Le Guin (one of my faves), Anne McCaffrey, Octavia Butler, Julie Czerneda and Sherri Tepper.

Do you remember any other details that might help narrow it down?

Not really. I remember some things but not sure if it was the same book. There were these servants, I think they were called shadows? They would wear these uniforms that would make them invisible. So during committee meetings (or whatever it was) if your drink was empty, it would suddenly be full.

There was also a moment where a character was in a cave on the side of a cliff when this flock of huge birdlike creatures flew over. They stank so bad, the character had to bite down on a stick and just let her snot and drool fall out because there was no choking it down.

Like I said, very sketchy. Like trying to remember a dream from 15 years ago!