general sci-fi and hard sci-fi

[andydepaoli]

I saw some topics with sci-fi titles and/or authors. I would say my favorites were:br
Isaac (the Foundation series especially, though as a kid I loved all the robot stories)br
Stanislaw Lem (Solaris and the Cyberiad are a must, all the Prix the pilot series), br
Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game above all)br
Arthur C. Clark (2001, the Rama series)br
Douglas Adams (just about all of them)br
Philp Dick (most everything)br
Samuel Delany (I only know Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand)br
Carl Sagan (Contact)br
and lots of others like Brin, Aldiss, Frank Herbert and Baxter.br
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I would really like to know what more recent good hard sci-fi has come out. Any one would like to suggest some and discuss them?br
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[cruocitae]

Is the hitchhiker's guide sci-fi? If so, it's one of my favourites. I also like "andromeda"

[Anita]

I'm definitely into IsaacAsimov (love those robots!), Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, andFrank Herbert.

I think Ben Bova may have written some stuff recently. It depends on how you define "recently".

[andydepaoli]

Yeah, forgot Ben Bova, and many many more. Recent I mean within the
last two or three years. Somehow, maybe as a result of growing up, I
miss the fascination with strange new worlds, space travel and
meeting aliens. (Maybe I should try and get abducted br
The Asimov robots were great, especially Daneel Oliver (was that his
name?), though I also like the hints of the mathematics of
psychohistory "The synthesis of the calculus of n-variables and of
n-dimensional geometry is the basis of what Seldon once called 'my
little algebra of humanity'..."br
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I would consider Hitchhikers Guide definitely sci-fi, of course with a lot of humor thrown in.br
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[Anita]

Yeah, I must say that psychohistory fascinated me, too!

It is interesting that Asimov created a "Future History" series that includes not only the Foundation series, including the new ones, but also The Caves of Steel, and The Naked Sun, two of the original Elijah Baley/ Daneel Olivaw detective novels. He does show up later in the "Future History" saga.

I must admit that I love Daneel! He is one of the coolest of Asimov's manyrobots.

Perhaps my fascination with robots and space might be due tothe era that I grew up in. I just might be a tad bit older than you, Andy.

[andydepaoli]

It's funny you (Anita) should mention being older (I strongly doubt it, today being my birthday to boot).br
I do agree with you that there must be something of ideals in the
period we (I have a feeling it is true for both of us) grew up in and
that Asimov wrote. Just today, (it's election time in Italy) I was
talking to some younger people and I was surprised as to how many of
them think the priority in voting is personal gain and interests. I
remember growing up thinking one voted for their ideals.br
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Getting back to sci-fi, wish I could find something that I could revel
in like the Foundation series. I am not much into fantasy, though I
must say "The Lord of the Rings" (the book) did capture my imagination.
I think the Foundation series (especially the sequels) had a lot of
ideals, a kind of vision of harmony that perhaps was a foretaste of
some "new age" values.br
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