As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
Sci-fi for someone who doesn't like sci-fi
Szechuanosaurus
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
So I've set myself the challenge of finding a sci-fi novel that my wife would enjoy. My theory is, sci-fi isn't really a genre so much as a setting for other genres, ergo there is no one who can simply not like sci-fi, because if they like some genre of fiction, then there's sci-fi that falls into that category.
Mostly she reads detective novels and thrillers. Ian Rankin, stuff like that. But really, she will read a book if it is good, so the book I choose doesn't have to be 'detective novel in SPAAAAACE!'
'Hard' sci-fi is right out for now. I think it best to avoid space opera stuff as well, she isn't really into pew pew. Nothing too nerdy like star trek, she doesn't want to read about a universe full of different alien species who are just transparent analogies for racial stereotypes and bullshit pretend-science plot devices (who does?).
There are lots of great books that I think she could really enjoy if she opens up to the sci-fi genre, but the first book needs to be a trust-gainer. It's needs to tread the line between being exciting and engaging without requiring prior sci-fi experience to fully comprehend and appreciate.
Recommendations go!
Mostly she reads detective novels and thrillers. Ian Rankin, stuff like that. But really, she will read a book if it is good, so the book I choose doesn't have to be 'detective novel in SPAAAAACE!'
'Hard' sci-fi is right out for now. I think it best to avoid space opera stuff as well, she isn't really into pew pew. Nothing too nerdy like star trek, she doesn't want to read about a universe full of different alien species who are just transparent analogies for racial stereotypes and bullshit pretend-science plot devices (who does?).
There are lots of great books that I think she could really enjoy if she opens up to the sci-fi genre, but the first book needs to be a trust-gainer. It's needs to tread the line between being exciting and engaging without requiring prior sci-fi experience to fully comprehend and appreciate.
Recommendations go!
Szechuanosaurus on
0
Posts
Ubik (Philip K Dick) isn't quiiiite that, but it IS mysteries and craziness and murder plots (in space). So long as she can get through the first 5 pages (a complete barrage of weird terminology) the rest of the book is pure gold.
Or you could just be adventurous and try it out immediately, I suppose
I was going to suggest Altered Carbon, but it really is hard science fiction and probably not what she would like. I'll have to think about it.
if she's got any taste, Morgan will drive her away for good. Amoral, soulless tripe.
Though be warn, some people are put off by the sex scenes and violence.
edit: uh, not the sex and violence.
Getting off the detective stuff, what's The Handmaid's Tale like? I enjoy dystopia myself and it's one I've been meaning to read. How accessible is it to a non-scfi fan? I wonder if maybe 'near-future' scifi is the best route to go? Or classics like Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 that are basically just classic literature, never mind classic scifi.
That's an interesting idea. I have a few collections of specific authors - Philip K. Dick, JG Ballard etc. - but are there books that are collections of short stories from a variety of major sci-fi authors in one book?
EDIT: I thought of Night Watch, but that's only slightly science-fiction, mostly fantasy.
Sure. Every time I go to a library I see a few 'best science-fiction short stories of *certain year* or *certain nationality*' or the like.
EDIT: Alternatively... Find them online.
In a similar vein, you may want to (have her) check out Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's very light on the science fiction elements, but it's about cloning and organ transplants. I suppose it wouldn't be entirely her thing since it's not really a mystery, though she may enjoy the sort of twist it has.
I've read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and it was good, as much of a comedy as a detective book.
There is an air of mystery to the foundation series by asimove, I would recommend it under "good science fiction" in any event.
Also, I can count to "boat".
There is novel by Isaac Asimov called The End of Eternity, that maybe she could enjoy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_Eternity
Cyberpunk isn't high on my list of possibles and definitely not Gibson. Far to abstract and assumed knowledge requirement is too high. The closest I might consider would be Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson, most of which is quite accessible although it occasionally veers of into WTF?
i think you're missing the point of Gibson's writing. he doesn't require previous knowledge, he just speaks as if he was describing the situation to a contemporary... and that's part of the fun... you have to infer the meaning of some words, situations, etc. which i think your detective SO would enjoy
in my experience, the part of Sci-Fi disliked by most is the overly technical explanations of common contemporary items... it's as if every time you spoke of a car you also said "which is a four wheel, internal combustion engine powered conveyance"...
Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury, 1984 by Orwell, Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut and Dune by Herbert aren't hard scifi but might be good intros into the genre. Strangers in a Strange Land and Starship Troopers by Heinlein and 2001: A Space Odyssey are just fantastic but may put her off if you try them first.
And I'm sure I'll think of more, I'm a terrible scifi addict
Actually, Amber would probably be a good choice too, since the first book, Nine Princes in Amber, reads like a detective story.
See how many books I've read so far in 2010
How about Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds? The other books in the Inhibitor series are pretty damn hard, but Chasm City is more of a noir-themed deal.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons is another one I like to recommend for people new to sci-fi.
It's a fair argument, but it can just as easily go the other way - pages and pages of incomprehensible prose making reference to technology and circumstances which the reader is unable to decipher and thus can't access the actual story.
I mean, consider a word such as nanotechnology. To you or I the word conjures up several notions and ideas, a general background understanding of what it is and how it has been used as a plot device in several novels. We have history with the word. To her, it is possible that she wouldn't even know if it is a legitimate science or just star trek bullshit, let alone have a fleshed out understanding of the word to bring to a novel.
I agree with you completely that she would dislike a novel that focuses too much on technical explanations though, indeed she has intimated as much, but likewise she isn't going to enjoy a novel which is completely incomprehensible. I think the most likely culprit is going to be something that is either an alternate history novel like The Yiddish Policeman's Union, set in a contemporary if parallel timeline or a near-future speculative fiction novel where things are familiar enough not to require lengthy technical explanations.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
While a lot of other sci-fi books are great, the ramp up to speed on some of them (Gibson, for example) can be pretty daunting to non sci-fi readers. I've actually recommended/had about 8 friends who don't read much or don't read sci-fi at all read Ender's Game and say that they were surprised to find that they really liked it. Just don't let her read any of his other books.
i dont' think you're giving your SO enough credit... but i'll leave it at that ;-)
And Hyperion. Wow, I hadn't been considering that but...it'd be real in at the deep end stuff, but if she could stay afloat long enough for it to hook her in...
The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds might be a bit easier to start with. Its tied into the same universe, but has some detective/police elements.
Some of Heinlein's work could be good. Stranger in a Strange Land comes to mind.
Well, yeah, I'm kind of conscious about not making out like I think she's dumb, because she certainly isn't. But this is more an issue of context and culture. And, well, I think I have enough of a feel of what she is and isn't comfortable with in general fiction.
I think actually what I need to do is a book-swap. We broadly share similar taste in TV and films but our book reading is very segregated. I suppose if I read some of the books she has enjoyed then I'd have a better idea of what sci-fi would and wouldn't fit with her.
:^:
Both of these were on a reading list for one of my English classes in college, along with We and Brave New World, which also might fit this thread. Best class ever.
Also, Philip K Dick has several detective type novels and short stories. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and "The Minority Report" come to mind.
I'm very tempted to go for something bleak and dystopian just for the huge emotional hook, but that might run the risk of her deciding she never wants to read sci-fi again because it's too depressing.
Vonnegut was a great suggestion, and I wish I'd remembered him. The best place to start would be his short story collection, Welcome to the Monkey House. It has a good mix of stories.
You could also look into post-apocalyptic SF, like John Wyndham's stuff. Though in the interests of full disclosure, I gave my girlfriend The Day of the Triffids to try and she wasn't wild about it. The Chrysalids might be a better place to start.
But it was a very accessible book for someone who isn't a sci-fi buff. There wasn't really any new technology, no flying cars or faster-than-light engines, society was about the same as it is in real life, except for the cloning aspect. It would probably be a good choice providing she doesn't mind very sad, bleak books. And books with more of a personal story than an action story.
What about sci-fi with extra sex scenes and violence? :winky: