SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

One of my friends has read everything by Asimov,and is looking for other sci-fi recommendations. Given that this is where his taste lies, can you recommend some other authors and titles?

Judy wrote: "One of my friends has read everything by Asimov,and is looking..."

Everything?!?! GG, they must have had some time on their hands. The man was so prolific!

Jensownzoo wrote: Everything?!?! GG, they must have had some time on their hands. The man was so prolific!"

I have a friend who did that, too, and yeah. For a while it was like, "um, you do realize there are other authors besides Asimov, right?" LOL.

Clifford D. Simak has a similar feel, though my exposure to him is pretty limited.

I would also say Larry Niven. As for someone that is still actively writing today, maybe Charles Stross.

Robert Silverberg is another.

The Worthing Chronicals, and The Homecoming series (The Memory of Earth,The Call of Earth, The Ships of Earth, Earthfall and Earthborn) by Orson Scott Card and The Complete Roderick by John Sladek are pretty good reads. You might even introduce him to fantasy by getting him to read The Dragonriders of Pern series starting with The Chronicals of Pern:First Fall. It reads more like a Sci-Fi novel, which it is. L.E. Modesitt Jr. also writes a ittle Sci-Fi although he is probably best known for his Magic of Recluse books.

Isaac Asimov wrote more than 500 books during his lifetime (1920-1992). He has the honor of being the ONLY person who has authored a book in each of the Dewey Decimal System classifications.

I would have your friend try Arthur C Clarke.

Jack McDevitt writes SF similar in orientation to Asimov. Any Asimov SF fan would enjoy McDevitt.

Also, for those who have not read the 500+ publications of Asimov, try his 'Opus' series. Every 100 books was an Opus of the previous 100, e.g. Opus 100.

Wow, great recommendations. I've read Clarke and McDevitt, so can definitely agree on those. I'll also give him all of the others. Thanks so much for the ideas!

I know -- how can you be such a big fan of sci-fi but only read one author??

BunWat wrote: "I would not agree about Pern. McCaffrey's writing and Asimov's writing are very different."

I agree. I adore Anne McCaffrey, but her writing isn't very similar to Asimov's. She has co-authored some fun sci-fi books with Elizabeth Moon, though. :)

Ben -- I haven't read Charles Stross. What do you recommend I start with?

I would try Robert J. Sawyer. Great hard Sci-Fi, and he really delves into all of the aspects of the ideas he creates.

Good suggestion -- I'm a huge Robert Sawyer fan myself.

I would try Allan Steele. He has a lot of books in space. He is a former journalist so usually he has very good stories, and he is prolific.

I would also recommend Karl Schroeder. He has several sf books that are very well written including Permanence and Sun of Suns and its sequels.

If he likes sf mysteries, you might suggest Peter Hamilton's mysteries like Mindstar Rising

James Hogan has big idea sf about aliens, ai and exploration and Elizabeth Moon writes good sf about traders, freighters, spies and ex space navy warriors.

I'll second Orson Scott Card's Worthing Chronicles - it was inspired by Asimov's original Foundation trilogy.

Wonderful ides, thanks! When I gave this fellow the list you all came up with, he was speechless!

Another book to consider is Mike Resnick's Birthright. It is an older book done in the style of the early Foundation books. Has your friend read the Foundation trilogy by Brin, Benford, and Bear?

Do the whole speculative fiction tour. Do Bradbury, Heinlein, Clark, maybe a bit of Poul Anderson too.